Future Doula?

The girls were pretending to be mommies having their babies.  Maddie and Eva discussed which one of them was going to have the breech baby, and which would have their baby head first.  Eva lay on the floor, crying out while she pushed.  I watched from the couch and finally said, "You know, Eva, you don't have to lie on your back to push the baby out."  Maddie pipes up from across the room, "Yeah, you could just squat!" 

I guess they do listen to me! 

Adventures in Cloth Diapering

I used only disposable diapers with the 3 older kids. This time, I thought I'd branch out and try the cloth diapers. I was rather surprised to find out that the higher end diapers are about $20 each! Luckily, I found some basic prefolds and covers through Baby Best Buy for much cheaper than that. I also made some using a free pattern on the internet, and used receiving blankets.

Cuteness! These are sweet and absorbent. They're harder to wash though, and dry slower since they are so thick.



My personal favourites: boring white prefolds with velcro cover. They may not look like much, but they're versatile, easy to wash, and easy to use.




I only have a half dozen covers, so my stash only lasts about a day before I have to launder them. Once I get my second order of covers, I'm hoping to only do an extra load twice a week or so.

I'm enjoying it though, and it is helping with the cost of diapers. Gen tends to get a little irritated in the bum area with the disposables, too, so double bonus for cloth!

Belly Painting

39 weeks tomorrow...I thought it was time to do a last minute pregnancy activity with the kids. We got out the paints and brushes and transformed my belly into a masterpiece! They had a ball!

38 Weeks

tick. tick. tick. tock.

It's coming soon! Baby has a very strong, variable (that's good) heart beat. Stubborn as all get out, as he is still resisting getting into position. Those fourth babies...they just do what they want anyway. I've been told to lie on my left side and coax the baby into place as much as I can. He complies when I do that, so really, I think it's just a matter of time before he decides to line himself up. Unfortunately, I don't like my left side and this makes for sleepless nights and a tired mama in the daytime.

I'm anxious to see what this one will be like....boy or girl? Dark hair like me, or strawberry blond like the others? My midwife has estimated at a good 8 lbs, which is a wonderful size. We'll know soon!

Baby Update

Well, I'm all packed...baby's things, my things and the birth supplies are all ready to go for when this baby finally decides to show up. I had my 37 week prenatal yesterday, and we got to hear a good strong heartbeat (about 135 bpm), the baby has wiggled back into an ROA position (on my right side, head down, facing in - yay!), and all systems go from here. The baby is way, way, way down low, which is a bit unusual for a 4th pregnancy. Babies don't normally drop before labour, but normal isn't really my forté. Obviously, this one must feel a need to get ready ahead of time. I'm hoping it means a shorter labour and less pushing for this time.

So now we wait.

The "I Can't" vs "I Won't"

I thought this blog post was very interesting. I live in an area where breastfeeding rates are quite low. As a doula, many women come to me with a desire to "learn" how to breastfeed, or to "fix" whatever isn't working. It's always so hard to find the right way and the right words to help. The same applies to birthing vaginally, and especially naturally (by natural, I mean without meds).

When a woman comes to me for help, naturally, I do my best to support and give information. However, it's so incredibly tricky to say and do the right things without hurting a mom's feelings or damaging her already shaky self-confidence (remember, I work with moms who are going through a huge hormone and life change). Even trickier is when I am faced with the reality that telling my story of successful VBAC, HBAC and breastfeeding relationship - including overcoming weeks of breastfeeding pain and frustration, and months of post-partum depression - makes other women feel angry and guilty. When you go through something so difficult and come through the other side in one piece, you want to celebrate and tell people, "I did it!!" But, I guess every personal victory can be taken as a personal attack. I wish it wasn't that way, but, it is.

I digress. The blog is about the difference between women who can't and those who won't. The comments are really interesting, too, where some women who didn't breastfeed voice their opinions. What I've taken from it is the importance of supporting women from every walk - those who can, those who will, those who try, those who do their best, and those who choose not to as well.

What I'd like to know, Blog Readers, is how does a doula and fellow mother do that? If you have struggled with breastfeeding, what was most helpful to you? What was least helpful? Did you feel put down by anyone, and why? How could you have been helped better? Leave a comment!

34 Weeks

Eep! 6 weeks to go!

I feel kind of funny blogging about my prenatal since it's just more of the same. Once again, I am the most boring pregnant lady in history. Baby decided to wake up and jazzercise as soon as my midwife went to take the heartbeat, so the FHT were 160/min. It's been running on the high end since the start. Some people assume that means a girl, but I think there's still a 50/50 chance either way. I started the pregnancy measuring small, but since the baby has wiggled it's way into the correct position, I am now measuring a bit ahead. Fiew! I hope this means that I'm not really a week or two behind. My weight gain has slowed a bit, but at this point, it's no surprise. The heat we've been having and the smaller tummy space accounts for that. Just less to lose in the long run :)

I had all three kids with me at the appointment. There was nothing to be done for Graedon. He was hot, he was hungry, he was cranky, and I really wasn't much help in providing what he wanted - swimming, candy and a nap. Even going to visit the farm animals didn't distract him. Thankfully, he fell asleep on the way home and is peacefully napping right now. I think we're all due for a swim in the pool, and as soon as Daddy gets home, that's where we're headed.

Stay cool during this heat wave!

Yawn!!

I'm almost 26 weeks - next week I enter The Third Trimester. I capitalized that because it's such a huge step! It won't be long that my prenatals will jump from every 4 weeks to every 3, then every 2, then weekly...gack! I feel like I'm running out of time.

The first trimester was such a drag for me. I gagged and barfed constantly. Everything set me off - smells, food, car rides, hugs. I even gagged when taking too big a breath! I could hardly keep my eyes open from pregnancy exhaustion. Then, the second trimester came and I finally got some relief. Daily naps were a thing of the past. I could eat! I could sleep! Yay!

Now, I'm starting to get the late pregnancy aches and pains, I start nodding off after lunch, and the support pillows are overtaking our bed. Ah well. Such is life before baby.

On the bright side, this new baby is becoming more real to us. We've decided on names (secret!), we're making concrete plans for how to manage 4 kiddos, I am able to feel knees and bum and head in my belly, and my bump is much more active. I am getting mentally and emotionally ready to birth, and physically preparing as well.

We're so blessed to have such good support from our birth team with this pregnancy. Our prenatal care is second to none, and we're really seeing the difference in my overall health - which translates to healthier baby and birth. My stress level is so much lower than with the other three. Richard commented a couple weeks ago that I was "much happier" than with the others. I feel like God has really worked in our lives to lead us to these incredible women who nurture, teach, guide and watch over us.

Here's hoping that the next 14 weeks go smoothly!

Baby Update

Wow, I can't believe how quickly this pregnancy is flying by. I'm now 24 weeks pregnant, which means that in 3 weeks I'll be in my third trimester! How did that happen?

I had a prenatal this morning. The kids came with me, and played the whole time. Graedon had to stay close to me, which he doesn't think is fair, but he can't be trusted around anything of the "no-touching" nature. Luckily, plastic animals and match box cars kept him busy for most of the time!

I'd been measuring a couple weeks behind for my due date, but it looks like baby might be catching up. I'm now measuring just 1 week behind. I have a feeling this baby won't be ready until late August, but only time will tell. Everything else looks healthy, and the only complaints I have are normal pregnancy aches and pains. I was advised to cut back on starches, eat more whole grains, veggies, vitamins C & E (until the last month) and get some mild exercise.

Baby is a feisty little thing. Every time the scope was placed on my belly to get heart tones, baby would kick it away! Rich says that's a sure sign the baby is another boy....we'll have to see about that! Either way, it looks like our child will be named plain old "Baby". We aren't anywhere near to finding a suitable name for this one. Any suggestions?

Alcohol and Breastfeeding

I found this at the Burlington Coat Factory. I admit, I laughed so hard, and then kind of went "hmmm..." and couldn't resist taking a picture.



The writing is a little hard to read, but this box contains 3 strips designed to test for alcohol in your breast milk. I think it sold for about $7.00 USD.

I can understand why some women would want to be extra cautious after a night of partying it up, but rather than rely on a test strip, a bit of common sense might do just as well.

Here's a link to some good info on breastfeeding and drinking alcohol. Basically, an occasional drink isn't a big deal. Alcohol transfers to the baby in amounts equal to what's in your bloodstream. If your alcohol level is at the legal limit of .08, then baby is basically drinking a cooler.

My biggest worry about breastfeeding and drinking alcohol is knowing what you, as a mom, can handle. Some women (and men) see nothing wrong with binge drinking, and drink for the purpose of getting a buzz. Some get a thrill from the "smashed" feeling, and drink with that goal in mind. For the love of your baby, be careful! If you have to care for an infant, you need your wits about you. Just as you wouldn't put your baby in the care of a drunk babysitter, don't be the caretaker if you are not "all there". If you come home in a questionable condition, splurge and keep the sitter overnight. Don't take chances. Although the baby might not get very much alcohol from your breastmilk, it will not be safe if your judgement is impaired, you can't walk straight (let alone carry it) or if you pass out.