35 weeks, oh MY!

Me at 35 weeks! Where has the time gone?

Tricycle Diaper Cake! From the shower. Too cute!

Good Post

Check out Jen's article over on her blog.

"We hated the anti-abortion zealots because we thought they tried to take away women's freedom; what we didn't understand is that women's freedom had already been taken, when society bought the lie that sex is primarily about bonding and pleasure, and that its life-giving potential is tangential and optional."

Birth & Cycles

In the next 5 or so weeks I'll have a baby... and then in the next few months that follow, my cycles will return. Its been 35 weeks since my last period. That seems so long ago.... and its just now that I have started to notice that its missing.

I know my OB will ask me after the birth if we "need anything" and I may even be asked in the hospital if I want my tubes tied.... bc so many of us are asked, "So are you done?" People will think we are crazy and not be able to understand, you don't always have to listen to the norm... there are other answers out there.

I am really looking forward to getting back to charting my Creighton chart, seeing how my body responds after the birth and when I will ovulate again.

As George and I have taken the walk of a contraception free marriage bc we looked into so many options to plan our family, we have approached birth in the same manner. I'm not saying this will be easy and I am not saying OB and L&D nurses are not needed. There are times when something may go wrong - and that is why we have hired them for this birth.

We have done a lot of research on drugs used during labor and what seems to be "auto-pilot" for L&D in the hospital. I find it very interesting the reponse I have seen out there....and while reading a blog today about the BCP, this pretty much puts into words how I felt pill free and now trying to go drug free for the birth.

"The pill is to contraception, what the epidural is to labor - if a woman does not accept it, she is in the wrong."

Ladies, research what is out there. Every Woman has the Right to Know!

I picked up the quote from this site http://www.sweeteningthepill.blogspot.com What I have read so far seems like some really good post on the BCP.

Baby Shower Photos

Thank you girls. It was a wonderful shower! Such a nice party and a great way to have the guys there too. George and I are so blessed!

More pictures to come......

Baby Pictures!

A couple of pictures from yesterday.

Then don't star in a movie about it!

I commend Jennifer Lopez's statement on where she stands... but don't then star in a movie about it.

ALSO - for the Catholic comment mid-way down. I just love how the article states this guy is a Catholic with his comment, but doesn't state the Catholic church's position on it. Also, I really enjoy how they always go for the "Catholic Comment" when they write these articles.

Jerome Ballard, whose wife had IVF, said their decision to turn to reproductive assistance only made their faith stronger. “I am Catholic, but I believe in life if you want something, you have to make it happen yourself regardless of whether you believe in God,” he said. “We had faith in what we were doing, and IVF was there to help us.”

So he believes more in "getting what he wants" than what God has designed marriage and family to be? Also, he had more "faith" in what he was doing than the plan God could have had for their life.

You can talk yourself into anything you want. However, this is a black and white issue with the church.

32 and 1/2 weeks

Well we just finished a great appointment with the OB. We asked him a ton of questions and he took his time with us to answer all of them. I was very appreciative, seeing that he had a surgery scheduled across the street.

Then we stopped over for our ultrasound! Everything looks great! The lady kept point out how active GC was and how wonderful everything looked. She said between the movement, development, measurements and my overall health its a perfect pregnancy. She really complemented us on how well we have prepared and taken care of the pregnancy. She gave George a lot of complements for what an engaged husband he has been with the whole process too. :) She measured the amount of skin between the baby and the outside of the body (becuase George asked) - she said it looked very good and I was doing a great job at taking care of my health. Perfect weight gain :)

We now have a ton of pictures. The baby is head down and sunny side up right now. She is predicting the last week of Feb as my due date now. The baby is 4lbs and 6oz (I think) so that was her guess based off development. We have learned from Bradley classes not to get hung up on "a date" so we are just having fun with asking and not worried. HOWEVER, I am a little freaked out bc of how much we have to do around this house... like take down the Christmas TREE... before we can bring a baby home :)

I'll post some scanned photos tomorrow of the u/s pictures. We got some with eyes open, hands, yawns and tongue stickin out :) It still doesn't seem real... but its coming together.

Photos to come tomorrow :)

Wonderful Story!!!

You all have to read this story. I have been following AYWH for several months now. Look what has developed in just days. Praise GOD! What a wonderful journey.

http://allyouwhohope.blogspot.com/

Two...Maybe three more to go

I hate all the blood draws. The lady missed on Monday and it took her a bit to get it. I immediately went to the chocolate shop for a treat. :) Two more to go... maybe three.

Afterwards my good friend Amy met me at Babies R Us to finish out the registry. I must admit, I got a little more nervous about things when she was teaching me about the bottles. It’s one thing to walk around and scan sheets, toys and blankets... it seemed oh so real when I am scanning bottles. Do you know they have flow rates? We plan on nursing, but my goodness there is still so much to learn.

We ordered the baby furniture two weeks ago. It’s the one in the picture but an espresso color. Just the bed and changing station – we are keeping things simple.

We started our hospital birthing classes last night. Let me just tell you ladies, if you want to be informed, you have to take more than some two hour class the hospital is offering. We are taking the class so we will be familiar with hospital guidelines and policies. We want to know what legs we can stand on when we are there.

HOWEVER, she totally scanned over so much. I am even now more convinced we will have a birth plan. So much is done today that is basically on autopilot.

For example: After the baby is born she was telling us that we will be able to nurse within an hour. Before nursing she said they put some "medicine" in your IV to help your uterus contract. I raised my hand and asked what medicine might that be? She answered, “Pitocin”. Ahhh NO! Only if it’s absolutely necessary are you giving me that. Which it could be, but should not be an automatic. She even went on to explain that pitocin is the synthetic version of what my body produces naturally after birth... RIGHT, so let me nurse my baby so my body can produce it. I was blown away by how she was snowballing us.

She also told the group, since we are first time moms we will tear or an episiodomey will be given. This is not true. It can happen… but not 100% gonna happen. When someone asked about things we can do to help not tear – she said, “Really, there is nothing”

I’m not saying some things are not necessary... but ladies, take a class and be informed. Walking in with a plan and being educated is the best thing we can do for ourselves. Things might not go according to plan – but at least I am not going to get the autopilot treatment on drugs!

More to come as we continue with two more classes.

Bradley Classes

Anyone familiar with the Bradley Method for childbirth? We are taking classes long distance and things are going really well. This past week we sat in on our instructors class in Fort Worth and realized we are really missing out bc we don't have other couples to talk with.

Any feedback from friends who have experienced a Bradley birth would be really helpful.

Thanks

Nicole