Spa Day

I had to share my pics from before I left for my spa day a couple weeks ago. I decided that I would be brave and show my pale belly in a bikini at the pool. Until I put this on, I dont think I realized how much my tush and chest had grown. I will continue to wear a bikini this summer but I think I might go find a bigger size =)

"Did you see his pecker?"

If you dont know by now, we are having a baby boy!! We had the ultrasound on the 27th and although we had a hard time getting to see his face, he showed the rest just fine. No doubt about it! When my MIL called her mom to tell her, MeeMa asked if she was sure, did she see his pecker. OMG, how funny is that? This woman is soft spoken, never anything off color and I never would have expected this phrase out of her mouth. Too funny!

We started our registry at BabiesRUs but have a lot of revisions to make. Shopped some this weekend and bought him his first oxford shirt. Preppy I can handle =) Found out that the airplane bedding we were leaning towards is being discontinued and if we buy it its a final sale. I wouldnt mind so much if we could see it first but being an on-line only thing, its hard. We have to figure it out so we can get the crib ordered.

Jeremy felt the baby move last night for the first time. I know he wasnt expecting to feel it because his face just lit up when he did. Normally I have to point out where the movement was but last night he told me where he felt it. He fell asleep with his hand on my belly. I love it. It has to be hard for the father since they cant really experience anything. At least this helps him to be connected more.

Our birth classes start next Monday. We are excited to get started. Its going to be nice since its just us and one other couple. It will be at the birth center too so if we have procedural questions, we can have them answered in the space. The new center is amazing. The rooms are bigger and each has its own tub. At the last place, the 2 rooms were connected by a bathroom with the only tub. If 2 women were laboring at the same time, one had to use an inflatable tub. I think seeing the center helped Cheryl to be more on board and get it. She kept commenting on how calm it was and how unrushed everyone there was. I know she was supportive of our decision regardless but I really think this helped ease her mind.

Our house has been a revolving door of guests for the last week so we are going to enjoy having a nice, quiet night to ourselves tonight.

Business of Being Born

Last night, Nancy and I watched this documentary on the status of maternity care in the US. Its the one produced by Ricki Lake and it focused on home birth. Overall, it was worth the time to watch. However, I have to say I am somewhat disappointed in their approach. Im my mind, every woman should have the opportunity to have the birth she envisions for herself, whatever that may be. This film made anything but home birth out to be wrong and scary. I dont agree with that. I mean, yes, I like that they brought up many stereotypes about those that home birth and the safety or lack there of involved. They showed how prepared midwives are when they attend a birth and how they are ready to do what needs to be done for mom and baby. BUT, they also made it out that a hospital birth has to be a traumatic event full of procedures that the mother doesnt need or want. This is not the case in many situations. Yes, there are plenty of interventions that snowball and lead to higher c-section rates and what not. I dont disagree. But many of those mothers request/expect the interventions. (ie pitocin, epidural etc)

I know someone who went to the hospital and had her epidural as planned. She had the birth she wanted for herself. Why is that wrong, bad or traumatic? Just because its not something I choose for myself does not make it a bad decision for someone else to make. Nor should it be wrong or looked down on for me choosing a birth center. Lots of women go to hospitals and have a fully natural birth. While they may have to speak up a little more and be bigger advocates for their desires, they get the birth they want. At the end of the day, that is all anyone could hope for. I just dont see what is so wrong about that.

What I do find fault with is the lack of informed consent that goes along with these interventions. I don't care if you get to induce at a day of your choosing but at least understand what the natural progression of labor should be and how drugs like pitocin interfere and can often lead to other interventions and eventually a higher risk of C-section. Same applies to an elective C. Go for it, but understand that it is major surgery. I feel like many women research their strollers and bottles for safety at a higher level of scrutiny than they do their options during birth.

I just feel that women should have options open to them and that is where I agree with the film. So many women just go to the hospital because they think "its just what you do". Nothing else could possibly be safe since there isnt a "doctor" there. This insinuates that the mother has not thought out her options in the event something goes wrong. Midwives are trained professionals. They arent just a hack with a pair of gloves. They know when to transfer to a hospital and how to screen patients throughout the pregnancy. In the case of a home birth, they make sure where the nearest hospital is. If the situation isnt safe, other plans are made. In my case, I know where I would transfer and like that they have a NICU. Just in case. I dont see where I am less responsible than the woman who chooses to go to an OB in a hospital.

Overall, I dont think this movie will have a great impact or change anyone's mind. If you are pro-home birth/ out of hospital birth, it will reaffirm your feelings. If you are pro-hospital, it will make you angry at how they portray things. I happen to agree that most women are experiencing unnecessary interventions and that with a little education many could be avoided but until women stop wanting the procedures, nothing will change. Until then, its not up to be to judge them for their choices nor do I expect to be judged for mine.

Bedding

Thoughts on any of the following? I am generally not a big theme person for nurseries but a couple of these caught my eye. Crib will either be dark wood or white.

Beach Cottage cutesy for a girl.

Caitlyn without canopy of course. tone down a lot

Early Bird

Julia Jeremy said he likes purple on the dark crib.

Sally Seahorse maybe a bit over the top but I like the colors.

Posy I like the simplicity

Airplanes Jeremy isnt sold but for an airplane theme, I like that it isnt too kitchy.

Brady Another plane theme.

Pinwheel I adore these colors.

Town and Country I love the black and white toile.

Waverly again the black and white toile

odd news day

Can we talk about this story for a minute? Really??? 2 years on the toilet. OMG! I can't even fathom why that sounds like a good idea. The fact that she grew around the seat tells me that she never bathed, never cleaned the toilet, never brushed her teeth, etc. ::shudders:: And yeah for the boyfriend that brought her food and water. How kind of him.... so NOT where I want to eat. I would want this wackado out of my house stat.

If Jeremy refused to get up after, oh, I dont know, maybe an hour, I would be concerned. At no point would 2 years be acceptable to me. Seriously, 20 minutes would make me bonkers let alone that my legs would go numb. I dont even know that a cushy, padded seat would improve the situation...

Anyway, I cannot even believe this happened. If I disappear into the bathroom for 2 years, someone please send me mental help.

poor birdy

Last Friday I played hookie from work. No reason to be there so the whole staff went home. Good times... Anyway, I get home and its pouring rain and starting to lighting and thunder. I have Cha-cha on my shoulder in the bathroom getting ready to clean her nose (yes, its very exciting and she hates it) when a thunder clap spooks her. She jumps off my shoulder and hits the tile. I notice her flight feather is crooked and then I see the bleeding. Great, she has broken a blood feather. As she flaps, blood goes everywhere.

I get her calmed down and get quick-stop packed in there to stop the bleeding. Then I call Jeremy, all upset, to get him to call the e-vet to see what to do. I had him do it b/c our phone books haven't been delivered yet and we haven't had her to the vet here. We find a the only place that sees avian patients and they say the feather has to come out. Well, I cant hold her down and yank a feather with a pair of pliers. So, off to the vet we go. Luckily, she rides pretty well in the car as long as she is on my shoulder. She hates her travel cage. blah blah blah, we get there and it turns out she busted 3 feathers! SO glad I was home when it happened. She was really good for the vet but less than pleased to be there. We spent the rest of the day with me napping and her on the pillow beside me. Poor baby!

Thumper is moving around more. She got pretty feisty Saturday night and I thought Jeremy might be able to feel it but no such luck. I'm reading the Bradley book and a breastfeeding book so my brain is in overload. I need to understand more how to use the Bradley techniques for water labor and birth though. They focus on laying down in a certain position which is not possible in water. However, the water does allow for no pressure so maybe its a wash.

17 weeks and growing

Last weekend I got tired of my hair being frumpy and lifeless. So, I cut it! 6-7" in fact. I like the new look. Its so much easier and having the color cut out makes a difference in the root look. It is far less offensive now :-) Jeremy was a little shocked that I went so short but he likes it. Bonus!

I think the back is a bit crooked but I will go back and ask her to fix it.

I am feeling the baby moving more now. The little taps are so funny to me. I know they will increase in strength so I am enjoying the light movement for as long as I can. Here is the 17 week belly shot.

Sunday was the first baby-day of many to come. We looked at cribs and strollers then went and got some books to start reading to the belly. I think we found the stroller we want. Its the Peg Perego Pliko P3. It has been recommended by other folks with taller husbands, it is much lighter than others we looked at and folds up a little more compactly. It is a little more expensive but I think this will be a splurge we are glad we made. Cribs were a bit harder. I/we want one with a drop side and they are not so easy to find. The less expensive ones have exposed tracks and some were very sharp plastic. No good! The nicer ones can be quite pricey. I just think it will be worth it to have an easier time of getting a sleeping baby down once the mattress is lowered. We found one lowered and I couldnt reach it without being on my toes and even then it was hard to reach all the way in. The looking continues.