Here's a few pics of the latest form of the baby belly! This is 31 weeks...
and as of today, 33 weeks!
And this is a bonus pic of Ono testing out the bassinet. I can guarantee that when there's a baby laying in there, she won't get anywhere near the noisy, smelly thing!
Today Mitch and I had an appointment with our OB for an update on the baby's growth and my fluid levels. The ultrasound looked okay, and one of the first things the doctor said was "Your fluid looks good." She said the baby is about 4 pounds, which at 32 weeks is pretty large, but the accuracy of an ultrasound to determine weight can often be off by as much as a pound. A quarter of the baby's weight is no small deal, so we took that with a grain of salt - it could be three pounds, or (heaven help me) five.
Then, the OB changed her mind and decided to look at the fluid again. She measured for a few minutes and told us my fluid was at 10.6. Now, if we hadn't been taking this birthing class with such a great teacher, we would have had no idea what she was talking about. She was referring to my AFI, or Amniotic Fluid Index.
She then went on to explain that she was concerned that the level was low for 32 weeks. She threw out the word "induction" and told us that if it got too low (8) we'd probably have to consider inducing. At this point, I feel like most people wouldn't know what to say and would smile and nod and go home thinking, "Okay, I'm going to be induced."
The reality is that most women measure between 9 and 14 and according to another very reliable OB in our area, the majority of the women he sees measure at 10. So we're actually above average! Additionally, a woman would really be considered at risk if her AFI was 6. Not 10.
Why does this upset me? Because if we hadn't taken the time to research and take a class and educate ourselves, this OB would be able to pressure us into an intervention that we didn't even need! We're determined to bring the level up a bit by drinking more (how can I drink more - I'm already in the ladies' room 20 times a day?!), resting more, and avoiding stress (tough one!). Thankfully our birthing instructor is super supportive and so knowledgeable that we're able to call on her anytime to get reassurance about this.
This is just another reason I get angry about the state of our health care and medical system. It's ruled by intimidation and fear - and sadly, sometimes ignorance by those people we trust our health to. Being proactive and well-educated is the only way you can feel confident that you're getting the treatment that's really the best for you! We both know our baby is doing well and that I'm healthy and we intend to stand up for our rights by asking questions and demanding reasons!
Oh, one more irony for those of you who know what trials we have had with our OB...today I hadn't gained any extra weight after she told me last time I had to keep my weight down (not that I was trying). And today she kept commenting that I looked so skinny to be carrying a "big" baby like this. Well, lady - am I too big or too small? I'll let the way I feel be the judge of how much weight is right, thank you!!
A few weeks ago we had an ultrasound that showed us that baby C was breech! I immediately doubled up on the exercises that our instructor had shared with us, and cut my "reclining" time down a lot (which was hard, because I'm a huge reader and love to lay back and dig in to a good book!). From what my wonderful chiropractor has said, little C seems to be in the correct position now - and we'll find out Monday since we have another appointment - but I'm still doing those exercises religiously!
Interestingly, I've spoken to a few other music teachers like myself and several of them have said that their babies were breech, too. My theory is that we're singing so much every day that the little guys can't help themselves and they just want to be near our voices. So until I stop singing so much, I've been browsing this site, too, and wanted to share it.
It's called Spinning Babies and although I don't love the layout of the website, as it opens a new window every time you click on a link, I do love the content. Ever wonder what an occiput posterior baby was? How can maternal positioning help your labor? Is your baby's body really too big to fit through your pelvis? Check out this great site, and even if you think your baby plans to stay in the head-down position, there's plenty to learn about here!
Here's a snapshot of the bassinet that was Mitch's when he was a baby! The ladder in the corner came from Pennsylvania and is made from old barn slats.
This is the "taggie" that I made with my toy sewing machine. Obviously our colors are pretty neutral, considering our baby is a surprise!
Here we are, 31 weeks into things! Hard to believe there are only 9 weeks left until we meet our baby. I am so thrilled that we're about to become a family, and couldn't be happier to be taking this journey with my fabulous husband.
We're 7 weeks into our Bradley Method classes and have been loving every minute of them. When I first told one of my friends I was expecting, she said, "Wait...let me guess - cloth diapers, homemade baby food and Bradley Method?" She was right on!
One of the things I love about Bradley Method is the empowerment that it gives to the couples. Even though I'm a woman, and obviously was made to make babies, I guess I never had really thought about what my birth experience would be like until I got pregnant. Since then, of course, it has been ALL I can think about.
I didn't really consider the choices that women have for labor. I don't think many women do! One of the saddest things I keep getting from friends who tell me their birth stories is that they still don't realize that they didn't have to have the epidural, which led to the pitocin, which led to the c-section.
Then again, I am the woman who makes her own butter, crafts raviolis from scratch, and sews her own bassinet sheets. I like to break things down and see what it would take for me to do it myself. I don't mind taking the longer route if I know it's going to be more satisfying. I suppose a lot of women would rather just "get the drugs" so that they can have a convenient, pain-free birth (let's talk about this after you have the baby though - is that episiotomy really less painful?).
What do you miss, though, when you take that path? You miss the opportunity to acknowledge yourself as a powerful, competent woman who can accomplish the most amazing task in the world - birthing a child! You miss the chance to share the most ideal, healthiest, and most natural entry into the world with your child. You miss the chance to show your partner what you and your body can do without medical interventions.
I intend to have this baby naturally, with the help of my husband and the preparation we've had. I realize that sometimes medical interventions are necessary, and I don't want to be too preachy before I've actually gone through the process. I will say, however, that I am proud that we have educated ourselves about the choices we have and plan to bring this baby into the world as naturally, healthfully, and peacefully as we possibly can.
And look out world - you've got a future Bradley Instructor on your hands!!
and as of today, 33 weeks!
and as of today, 33 weeks!
