My visit today was very good... I am healthy, baby is healthy and my pregnancy is progressing perfectly - no issues
(eg. I do not have gestational diabetes). I no longer have
Pityriasis Rosea - my skin is "back to normal" and improving.
I heard baby's heart beat today (b/t 140 - 150 bpm). Baby is in the anterior position (
http://www.spinningbabies.com).
Pregnancy Overview
I am almost 29 weeks pregnant; I weight 168 lbs; My blood pressure is 95/68; Only
11 weeks left until our baby is born; 77 days are left until my due date (11/1/07);
71% of our pregnancy is completed.
Differences b/t 1st & 2nd Pregnancy:
1)
Pityriasis Rosea (2nd pregnancy)
2) Carrying baby very low
(2nd pregnancy) (could be due to more flexible uterus)3) 168 lbs. @ 35 weeks during 1st pregnancy & 168 lbs. @ 29 weeks during 2nd pregnancy
4) Feel more movement
(2nd pregnancy) (could be due to more flexible uterus)
5) Knew gender of baby @ 5 weeks
(1st pregnancy) - Gender a surprise
(2nd pregnancy)
6) Very busy (work/home)
(2nd pregnancy) 7) Less fear of the unknown, more confident and patient
(2nd pregnancy)Next Steps/Appointments: * September 12th @ 3:00PM - 8th Month Prenatal Appt.
* October 10th @ 11:30AM
* October 25th @ 3:00PM
It is amazing how time flies... I can't believe I only have approx. 6 more weeks before my due date!
Today, I visited Margaret
(Midwife) for my prenatal checkup. I really like her, she's really compassionate, interesting and very genuine.
As for me, all is well. I am healthy, baby is growing and healthy
(strong heart beat). Gerald and I are so happy, excited and looking forward to finally meeting our baby girl or boy. The gender is still a surprise!
Other Information:
Weeks: 34
Weight: 180 lbs.
Blood Pressure: 107/66
Our health insurance will not cover the expenses for an at-home birth, for this reason Gerald and I have decided to plan for a water birth at North Fulton Regional Hospital. We will have a Midwife to help deliver our baby in water and we have a Doula to assist us during labor. Below are website links detailing our choices:
The Hospital:
http://www.northfultonregional.com/CWSContent/northfultonregional/ourServices/medicalServices/WomensHealthCenter/matsvcs.htm
Birth Plan:
http://northfultonregional.com/CWSContent/northfultonregional/ourServices/medicalServices/WomensHealthCenter/Water+Birth.htm
Our Childbirth Doula:
Teresa Howard, CLD, CLE, CPD (CAPPA), CD (DONA)
Owner, A Labor of Love
Labor Doula, Lactation Educator & Birthing in Awareness Educator
http://www.alaboroflove.orgOur Midwife:
Margaret Strickhouser, CNM, MN
http://www.npobgyn.com/newdesign/index.php?page=margaret_strickhouserBirthing Philosophy:http://www.birthingfromwithin.com/blog/philosophy
Gerald and I will attend the following prenatal class (October 12th - October 20th):
Birthing Again
This class is for those who have birthed previously. It is only 9 hours of classes over a Friday evening time with just the moms and two Saturdays with moms and dads for four hours. Teresa Howard teaches this series. The series includes:
- Review and learn more pain coping techniques
- How to ask questions to a "white coat"
- How to push effectively and with less perineal trauma
- Sibling integration
- Birth trauma resolution and self discovery
- Father reminders
- Baby care and breastfeeding
For more information regarding other classes/events please refer to the following link:
http://www.alaboroflove.org/classes&events.html#childbirth_classesI feel great! Well, actually my nights are becoming increasingly difficult, but I'm managing the best I can. We're so excited to meet our new baby.
Today's pre-natal appointment was quick and easy. I now weigh 187lbs. and my blood pressure is 106/64. Baby's heart rate is between 130-140bpm.
Thank you all for your prayers and support as we embark on this new journey and start another chapter in our lives.
My prenatal appointment today was exciting (time is winding down). I feel good, healthy and strong. It's also amazing how sometimes I have bursts of energy yet other times I am completely exhausted.
Gerald and I are steadily preparing to welcome our new baby to his/her home. Our bags are packed for the hospital. We plan to leave the hospital shortly after I give birth so that we may return to our home to recuperate (we have to sign an "early release" form). We have also decided that if we have a boy that we will get him circumsized 8 - 9 days after birth. If we have a girl, well we don't have to worry about that...
Tomorrow is our last day at our Birthing Again prenatal class. We're learning so much from Teresa Howard about pushing more effectively and with less perineal trauma, sibling integration and birth resolution and self discovery. With less than two weeks before delivery we feel more prepared for this second journey of birthing in awareness.
Other Information:
Weeks: 38 1/2
Weight: 187 lbs.
Blood Pressure: 109/73
Beta Strep Negative