J to the third: November 2011

Tuesday, November 8, 2011

Hypnobirthing

**I want to take a second to point out that I am not "better then anyone" or "looking down" on anyone for not having a med-free birth. Everyone is different and has their own beliefs as well as wants. Every birth is different. I know going into labor and delivery (L&D) a mom might have wanted something and got a completely different experience, I get that. But this is what I am planning on, and well, if it works out great. If not I will still have an amazing baby at the end of the day**

"I CAN do it, I AM strong, I WILL surrender" This is the title of a blog that I just read, via blooma. The timing is so wonderful as J and I took our first Hypnobirthing (HB) class last night. Hypnobirthing (click on the link to find more info) is the birthing method we have picked, along with water birth to Labor and Deliver Alex. Well I researched what I wanted and asked J if he felt the same way and went from there. We both agreed that we want a heathy momma and baby at the end of the day and if we can help it a med-free birth, yes I said it MED-FREE birth, that is what we want to do. I understand I haven't gone through L&D so I do not know what I am "in-store" for but I do know my body and I also know this is what I was made to do. I am going to trust my body when I most need it.

Walking into our first class I did not know what to fully expect. I knew that my Doula, Jonna, highly recommend Dawn as our HB instructor and that I would be in wonderful hands. After I introduced myself to Dawn I knew that I did make the right choice.

Empowering. Her first class was just that. Empowering. Reconfirming what I have been feeling my whole life, birthing is what I was made to do. My body knows what to do and when. I took in so many statements from last night I will go over a few that really stuck with me.

#1: When someone tells someone that they are pregnant why do they feel the need to tell the pregnant lady horror stories about birth?? Especially when I tell them I plan on going med-free. Same thing goes for when I tell them I will be Cloth Diapering.

So why is that? Personally I have had a number of women actually laugh at me and say something along the lines of "oh just wait, you'll be begging for meds" or " HA!! Yeah right, good luck with that". I normally shake it off and just go with the flow but I wont anymore. I wont be putting up with that anymore. If they think they can shoot me down, have zero faith in me and feel completely fine to dismiss my opinion I will nicely tell that that is not okay with me. Now I am not a person who deals with confrontation so we will see how the next confrontation goes.

Next someone tells you that they are pregnant tell them the BEST story you can think of, or just congratulate them. Think about it this way...if someone tells you that they are sick you don't think of the worse case story and tell them that. You say "Oh I hope you feel better!!" Or you tell them of a story that you have heard of a HAPPY ending. Remember this for next time you are in this situation.

#2: Turn the negatives into positives/believe in yourself.

Pretty much the same thing here. But I'll go a few steps further. When someone says you cant, follow that up with yes I can!! When I start thinking I cant, I will turn it around and think YES I CAN. The power of positive thinking and positive reinforcement is amazing.

I received a book and print outs last night, both have sections of affirmations. I will be taking some of my fun pens and paper and write some of my favorite ones down. Posting them around the house, in my car, in my purse...wherever I can for reminders.

A few that really stick out to me (and some new ones I found while searching):

I put all fear aside as I prepare for the birth of my baby.
I trust my body, and follow its lead.
I am prepared to meet whatever turn my birthing takes.
I CAN do it, I AM strong, I WILL surrender.
She believed she could, so she did.
She turned her can't into cans. and her dreams into plans.

#3: You CAN DO IT

Also close to the first two points. But this really stuck out to me so I wanted to include it at my top stick out moments.

#4: Practice your breathing.

I will be downloading my CD's with affirmations and Rainbow Relaxation songs onto my computer tonight and then onto my phone so I can listen to them while practicing my breathing all of the time. Especially when I wind down at night. That is the best time to practice my breath. I will also play the songs while doing my prenatal yoga at home.

Our first class was a hit. I came out of it so excited for labor & Delivery. YES I said that. I am excited for my Labor & Delivery. Some might find that funny, others might embrace it. I am just hoping I feel the same way come February!! :)

Sunday, November 6, 2011

6 months already!

How far along? 25 weeks

Maternity clothes? Oh for sure. I have two maternity jeans that I love. Something about being able to wear jeans makes me feel better the wearing yoga pants.

Sleep? For the most part I get plenty of sleep at night, wearing Breathe Rights help. I also love my body pillow!!

Symptoms: Not really. Just aches and pains. I can tell my pelvic bones are moving and grooving, I even have a small wiggle going on.

Best moment this week? Since updating this blog (at 18 weeks) we found out we are having a BOY!! Mr. Alexander John.

Food cravings: Still loving my carbs, nothing has changed there. My appetite has gotten larger, eating more, larger meals...even more then J most meals. Leann Chins have been a crave lately, same with Brueggers bagels. ummmmm.

Gender: BOY!

Belly button in or out? In, but getting closer to a flat button everyday.

Movement: For sure! J felt Alex for the first time on October 23rd!! Tracy was also able to feel him.

What I miss? Being able to have a glass or two of wine. Someday's I am so hormonal I just want drink a nice glass of red wine in my bath.

What I'm looking forward to: My double digit countdown...(November 9th) and 3rd tri (November 16th)

Milestones: I hit and overcome my V-day (Viability Day: Capable of living outside the uterus)

Gender Reveal Party!

I am not sure why it is so hard for me to find the time to blog, its not like I am a super busy person its just not top on my list. When I first started this I wanted it to be so much more then it is. I feel like I now have to back track to catch up on my life events. So here is my first of not too sure how many catch up blogs!

October 8th we had a Gender Reveal Party. Now for those of you who do not know what that is or already do and think its a crazy idea this is what it is and why we did it.

October 7th J and I had THE big U/S making sure this little on in my belly was healthy and growing at the rate it should be. If we were lucky we could get "the money shot". We told the tech that we would love to know the sex, just not while we where there. We wanted the tech to write down in a envelope with the picture, seal it and give it to us. The tech was very good at her job, telling us everything she was looking at and that is looked great for where we should be (size wise). J and I saw the little legs, feet, arms, profile shot and my favorite was looking at our baby's 4 chamber heart. Beating just how it should be. I never thought looking at a heart would move me to tears but when I was looking at MY baby in m belly I had tears streaming down my cheeks. Smiling ear to ear to J in amazement. After checking everything it was time to look at the goods. J and I did not want to look away! So we agreed not to, we are not educated in looking at ultrasounds so we figured it wouldn't wreck the surprise. We did close our eyes when she wrote on the screen/pic what we were having. As she left to print off the pictures I was so sure we were having a girl, seeing nothing that looked like boy. J was fairly sure he saw boy parts, but he followed that with, but I think it was the umbilical cord. So we were still in the dark.

We walked out of the office staring at our baby's pictures, in amazement. Quickly realizing the next time we see our baby will be when he/she is in our arms in the hospital in February. (That is if we do not need another u/s between then and now) SOOOO we then needed to get to the baker's house to drop the sealed envelope off. But we thought it would be fun to stretch out the torture a little longer by going to Outback.

J really, really, really wanted to open it. For some reason I really didn't feel the need to.

After eating the most amazing meal we have at at Outback in a LONG time we headed to the baker's Marie's cakes. I found her through Wish Upon a Wedding (St Paul Chapter). Marie is hands down the best person I have worked with, if I would have had our wedding here and I would have known about her she would have been my cake person for SURE. .....SO we handed the envelope off and it was in her hands. She would be dying the inside of the cake pink or blue with corresponding icing color. J and I actually were able to get to bed fairly easy knowing the sex of our baby was known, but not by us!

October 8th. J and I headed over to my parents house to start decorations. Marie showed up with the cake and that was the first time I wanted to dig into it, but somehow managed not to. My equally favorite vendor showed up, Kristen Elizabeth Photography to start shooting the detail shots before guests arrive. She is also taking my maternity, newborn, 6 month and 1 year shots...pretty excited to have our photographer all set.

THE cake!!!

When people started showing up was when I was So glad we decided to do this. Everyone came in either Pink or Blue (depending on what they hoped/wished out baby would be) and had huge smiles on their faces. Everyone thanked us for letting them be a part of such a special and quine event in our life. J and I are so blessed for our family and friends, we were blown away by everyone coming to find out with us.