21 Weeks!

We have made it to 21 Awesome weeks! We are more thrilled each day that goes by and more in love with each other and our baby girl. Especially today, because we got to look at her pretty face again. As an unexpected bonus, one of the pictures was 3D! So everything is looking good so far. We got to see the arteries in her heart and the tech pointed out how they can see fluid in her stomach and that's how they know she is swallowing properly.

At my midwife appointment today they measured my fundal height for the first time. It was right at 20-21 cm. I can finally feel the top of my uterus right at my belly button-- It feels so strange. It's firm but tender and when I lay flat on my back it's slightly uncomfortable and I am very aware of it. It was a wonderful appointment and we borrowed two Ina May Gaskin books and two natural birthing DVDs.

I have been having Braxton Hicks since 18 weeks. I notice them more often now, and also some round ligament pain- which feels like sharp pains near my pubic bone. There are all kinds of aches and pains that go with pregnancy and I am sure I am only beginning to feel them, but I don't mind at all. It is such a miracle to be a part of it. I can't stop looking at our baby girl's picture and noticing how much she looks like her daddy. She has this weird cheek-lip thing going on, but I have another picture that is more smooth. Ultrasounds are weird and bumpy like that! She is such an active girl and always kicking me to death, that it surprised me to see her buck around on the ultrasound at first, but then she fell asleep. She slept like a log for the rest of the time, despite the tech's prods. So the picture we have here is little Adalyn snoozing away with her mouth wide. :)

And here is my 21 week belly picture, actually taken at 20 weeks 4 days. I am finally noticeably pregnant, but you have to really stare. Most people are still surprised to find out I am pregnant!

19 Week Bump!

2 Days early but here is the 19 week bump! As much as I'd like to see a nice little bump it is still the same as at 17 weeks. I can feel her a lot more in there, she is kicking away all the time. I feel my uterus when I move certain ways, and I felt her from the outside for the first time yesterday. She is so amazing, we love her so much already.

Just ordered the last of the vinyl wood flooring for the nursery. After that all we need is blinds, and then I will put her little monkey decals up! So hopefully we will have nursery pictures coming very soon. :)

It's A Girl!

We are thrilled! Our little Adalyn is perfect and ALL girl! See the full video here 17 week ultrasound.

Ultrasound Tomorrow!!

Before I know it, it'll be morning and we will be looking at our little one! I am so excited. Good news- my quad screening came back all normal. The doctor did diagnose me with BV though, so I am on another round of antibiotics. I honestly have never been on them so much in my life! I am normally a very healthy person, but I guess pregnancy just does things to you sometimes. Not worried as long as I can get rid of it and stay healthy for my baby.

My first Midwife appointment is tomorrow after the ultrasound. Hopefully I won't have any reason to see the doctor again! Very excited to start planning this home birth!

16 Week Update

Just got over a UTI. Now I have painful lumps in my groin. The doctor took cultures so just waiting to hear back now. Had to call the midwife and reschedule with her. She's about 45 minutes away and we forgot to save the extra gas!

6 days to go until we get to see if our monkey is a prince or princess! I've been feeling the odd kick here and there for a couple of weeks now but they're coming more frequent now. My belly is expanding but I still look like I have a few too many beers on the weekend. Making some cinnamon rolls right now. Last night I dumped half on the floor and burnt the other half so let's hope tonight is different.

15 weeks!

15 weeks tomorrow and anxiously awaiting our sexing scan! We booked a private one because we are really excited. Two and a half weeks and counting. My registry is all sorted out and I'm ready to send it out as soon as we find out- even though all our stuff is pretty much unisex, so we can use it for the next baby. I want all my family to have it in time for Christmas, because if I am going to have a shower it will be family only and will probably be around that time so everyone is together. SO EXCITED!

Spinning Babies

I was completely unaware that a woman can help get her baby in an optimal position. I was also unaware that some head down positions can be more favorable than others. I have notoriously bad posture. I slouch a lot, which may be due to the fact that I had scoliosis as a kid and never learned to sit properly. I am much more conscious of this now and I realize how important daily walking is. If you are reading this I encourage you to check out Spinning Babies!

They also have a couple of great videos pointing out the importance of having a provider that supports natural birthing.

"If you don't need a cesarean, you can choose not to join the trend of surgical childbirth. If you don't need a cesarean, you might consider giving birth where providers know how to support human birthing. If you don't NEED a cesarean, you might not want to give birth where 1 in 3 women are silently prepared for one without their knowledge."

OBs are surgeons! Simply put, they are trained to cut you open! Why would you want them overseeing your birth? Having a midwife is much better for mother and baby. They specialize in normal healthy births and use the least amount of intervention as possible. If you don't want a homebirth, midwives can attend you in the hospital. If everyone researched their options, many women could avoid being victimized by the medical business.

New Beginnings

I feel like my life has done a complete 180 from where I was last year, and I am so thankful for that. So hello new blog! After losing our little angel at 8 weeks last year, we are now 14 weeks along with our Rainbow Baby! The best part is I am actually now looking forward to giving birth to my first child, rather than fearing it. Yes, I who wanted a child very much my entire life, feared labor. Now that my prospects are set on a homebirth, there is nothing that is going to make me go to the hospital aside from unforseen problems that need monitored.

I went to a Natural Parenting meeting today and it was a relief to mingle with people that share my views and ideals. I was comfortable around them, even though I am normally socially awkward with people at first. I couldn't have met a nicer group! I hope to continue going to the meetups and get more information on childbirthing classes, too. Having never given birth or been a mom I feel a little uneducated. While I helped raise all my younger siblings, I am ignorant to much of the birthing process. When Sarah helped me understand that there can be some things more painful than labor, (like constant forms of pain) it eased my anxiety a little. I also realize I am not afraid of the pain as much as I am afraid of having to go to the hospital if I start to feel like I can't handle it. Hopefully I can overcome that and convince myself I can do it. My husband is being very supportive of the homebirth plans, although he does admit he doesn't think I can do it without drugs. So basically he is calling me a wimp... but I guess that's not unwarranted, I was a complete baby after having my appendix removed two years ago.

Reasons Why I Want a Homebirth:

1.  I want to avoid exposing myself and my child to the large number of antibiotic-resistant strains of bacteria present in hospitals.
2. I don't want to be pressured into an epidural.
3. I want to labor in the comfort of my own home where I can use any methods I want or need to distract myself or ease the pain.
4. I want a birthing pool.
5. I want to be able to get my baby settled in right away.
6. I don't want the discomfort of having to get in the car and come home after the birth, I want to stay home until I feel comfortable going out.
7. I don't want interventions like forceps, and I want to lessen the chance that I may need a C-section.
8. I don't want to be anxious about who has my baby and if they are going to take him or her out of my sight.
9. Most if not ALL of the things my midwife will need, just like in the hospital, she will bring with her.

You have to start somewhere, so even if you know nothing about homebirth you will find information. There is some info on the forum of Baby and Bump, and a LOT of my best information and resources I have found are from  Well Rounded Birth Prep.