Continue reading]]> Two weeks ago I had the most amazing experience.  I gave birth to my fourth child.  At home.  In the water.  With no pain medication.  I did it, even though I didn’t think I could!  Initially I chose home birth because of the cost.  Once I met my midwife, Richelle Jolley, and got more involved with natural and home birth, I started to become passionate about it and had quite the different experience from what I had had in the past with OB’s and hospitals. I”m not sure I could ever go back to having a baby in a hospital now that I’ve seen the difference a midwife can make.  Also, once I did natural childbirth, I felt that I could literally do anything. It was one of the most amazing experiences of my life and I’d love to share it with you.

I have historically had very fast labors (7 hours with the first – induced, 2 hours with the second, and 4 hours with the third – induced), so my midwife and doula were constantly on alert to hurry to my house since I had been in preterm labor for about 6 weeks and on modified bed-rest and then up and going again once I reached 37 weeks (you can read all about it here on my blog).  My husband and I even learned how to deliver a baby on our own in the event that the baby came before the midwife arrived.  I hadn’t gained much weight during my pregnancy (about 17 pounds) and I was a little worried that there might be something wrong with the baby or that he was very small.

August 2, 2013 was a beautiful, warm sunny day here in Orem, Utah.  I woke up around 9 am as I heard my kids shuffling around the house and eating their cereal.  I decided to get up and go give them hugs.  I got to the bedroom door to open it and I felt a gush of water coming out of me.  I yelled to my oldest daughter who is 12 and asked her to go find her dad and tell him my water broke.  I ran into the bathroom.  I wasn’t positive if it really was the water that broke or not.  Then a big gush came out and didn’t stop “leaking” and I knew my water had really broken this time.   We sent our other 3 kids off to play with cousins and focused on the impending labor.  At this time,  I wasn’t having any contractions or other signs of labor, but since we were worried about things going really fast, my midwife decided to come to our home right away.  Her assistant Liz arrived first, then my doula Laurel, Richelle the midwife was next, and then another assistant Katrina came last.  When my midwife arrived, she checked me and I was dilated to a 5.  I was dilated to a 4 for several weeks before so a 5 wasn’t surprising to any of us under the circumstances.

I had a huge burst of energy and was on a serious labor high.  I was going around cleaning the house, picking the garden, making phone calls and other arrangements, and getting food out for the birth team when they arrived.  We filled up the birth pool and got everything ready in case things happened fast.  I still wasn’t having many contractions and the ones I had weren’t very painful or long.

Once everyone arrived, my midwife observed me for a few minutes and said she thought it was going to be a while and that she was going to run some errands close by and that she would pick up some colloidal silver at the health food store to ward away infection since my water had broken and it looked like things might take a while.  I was a little disappointed because I had it in my head that things were going to go super fast and by the time the birth team got to our house, I’d be pushing out a baby…  However, my life rarely goes exactly as planned, so I had some patience to learn!  Once my midwife headed out, Liz suggested we watch Babies, a movie that follows 4 babies from around the world from birth to young toddlerhood. It was totally amazing and I’m so glad we watched it! I highly recommend it as part of a birth plan or even to watch when you are pregnant.  I watched while bouncing on a birth ball.  I don’t think I had one contraction during the whole movie!

After the movie, Liz suggested we go for a walk around the neighborhood.  I was anxious to get out of the house, so we went for a walk and visited a few neighbors, including one who just had a baby.  I had several big contractions while we were out on a walk and my water started leaking out of the large pad I was wearing and starting runing down my legs so we rushed home, worried that things were kick-started now.   We came home and had some snacks to keep our energy up.

My midwife came back suggested another, longer walk.  I was having strong contractions while we were walking but once we came home, they tapered off.  We went on a third walk and I didn’t make it very far as contractions were coming hard and fast.  I was getting quite sunburned with all of this walking around outside!  My midwife checked my cervix again late in the afternoon and after my husband and I had lunch.  I was dilated to a 6.  At this point, I have to say I was quite disappointed that this labor was going so slow.  I had anticipated a quick and easy labor and this was turning out to be easy but not quick!  Everyone sat around and talked for a while, and I tried to stay on my feet to keep the contractions going and to let gravity do it’s job.

About 7:15, Richelle suggested that we needed a change of pace as she felt labor had stalled.  Either the birth team could leave for a while, or we could all go out to dinner together.  I panicked about the birth team leaving, so I decided on the dinner, but I wanted another cervical check before we left.  I was dilated to 7.  We went off in our minivan with the whole birth team to Zupas and got salads.  When we were in line I was having some contractions and I yelled at the guy making my salad because I said no milk products, and he put a milk-based salad dressing on my salad and then had to throw it away and he gave me a dirty look because I didn’t stop him from putting on the dressing soon enough.  Don’t mess with a pregnant woman!

We sat down to eat around 7:45 and I had a few bites and then started having really strong contractions.  They felt like I was getting run over by a truck.  My doula and midwife sprang into action doing counter-pressure for the first time in my labor.  My midwife squeezed my hips and my doula did counter-pressure/acupressure on my hands.  I wouldn’t have been able to get through those contractions without them!  It was so amazing that the entire birth team came together with every contraction to support and help me.   I asked later if people at the restaurant were staring at us and they said they didn’t think anyone noticed what was going on!  I ate a little more of my salad and then decided it was time to go back home around 8:15.

We got home close to 8:30 and all I wanted to do was get in the warm pool and listen to the hypnobirthing scripts on my Ipad.  My wonderful husband got in with me and helped with counter-pressure.  My husband was so patient and kind through out this long, marathon day.  He spent the whole day holding my hand and supporting me and going with me and doing whatever was needed.  I felt very loved!

I wasn’t sure what the best position was, so I sat down for a while and during every contraction, my midwife and doula got soaked from supporting me in the pool.  I was having a hard time feeling comfortable in any position, so Richelle suggested squatting in the water.  As soon as I squatted, I could feel the head descending.  The next 10 minutes were really intense and I was SCARED out of my mind.  I had no idea what to expect since this was my first natural childbirth.  I could get through the contractions relatively well, but I panicked when the baby was coming down through the birth canal.  I thrashed in the pool and got into a few different positions and didn’t know what to do (my midwife did not realize this was my first natural birth for some reason).  I thought I would instinctively know what to do, but I didn’t. The head came and I screamed my head off.  Get it out!  My midwife just looked at me very calmly.  I continued to scream “What do I do now???”  She said very calmly, “Well, Rachel, you need to push.”  I never felt the urge to push on my own.  One small push and he was out.  Born at 9:05.  The only strong labor I felt was about an hour long.  Not bad.  I guess I did get my quick labor, in a way.

They put the baby on my belly in the pool.  He coughed a little to clean his lungs and then just lay peacefully in my arms for a whole hour while still connected to the placenta and the pulsing umbilical cord. He never cried, just laid there peacefully on my belly while my husband poured warm water over him from the pool.  I expected to be grossed out being in the pool with all that blood and birth goo, but I wasn’t and my husband said he wasn’t either.  I was worried that I pooped in the pool, because apparently I had pooped during all of my other labors.  As the baby descended, I totally felt like I was pooping as he was being born.  I asked Laurel, “Did I poop during the labor?”.  She said, “Yep, you pooped a baby, but you didn’t poop in the pool!”  I guess I did poop a baby, or at least that’s exactly what it felt like.

Christopher (I have changed his name for privacy reasons) was born at 9:05pm and was 7 pounds 15 ounces (not bad for 38 weeks!) and 19 inches long.  After he was born, I started having monster after-birth contractions.  Apparently, they are longer and more intense with each successive birth.  I wasn’t expecting this since my other labors were medicated and I didn’t feel them.  I think these after-pains were the hardest part of the whole labor for me.  They were almost worse than the labor pains and everyone was busy taking care of the baby and other post-birth things.  I went into a bit of shock and was in a lot of pain at this point.  I wasn’t aware of anything except the pain. I remember asking if the baby was ok, because he wasn’t crying, and everyone assured me he was just fine.

My midwife gave me 4 Ibuprofens and a placenta smoothie.  I was very tired, sore, and mostly out of it – not aware of anything but the after-pains.  I thought I might faint or just waste away.  I could hardly think.  Richelle suggested carrying me out of the tub and onto the bed.  I wanted to get there myself, so I stood up and then quickly realized I wasn’t going anywhere on my own.  I was very faint!   So, everyone took a part of me and lifted me up, literally.  Those strong, capable hands all worked together to make my birth meaningful and special and I loved those hands!

After getting out of the tub, the midwife looked to see if I had torn.  I had, and needed a few stitches.  She numbed the area and then stitched me up and suggested that I nurse my baby.

We called a friend who happens to be a lactation consultant and lives in our neighborhood to come help me get a good latch.  She came and he latched on well and nursed for a half hour or so.

My husband and I got situated in bed.  I was still a little out of it and very very tired.  The midwife and the team cleaned up everything from the birth and I mean EVERYTHING.  The towels used were folded on the dryer, the pool was cleaned, drained and put away, the Chux pads and anything used during the labor and birth were probably taken with them to dispose of because I didn’t even see them in my trash can.  They left the house spotless.  They all left at 1:30 am and in my stupor I asked, “Why are they all leaving, I’m still having contractions?”  My husband then sweetly answered, you had the baby 4 and a half hours ago.  It’s time to go to sleep now…  I rested but I don’t think I slept a wink that night.  I held my baby and stared at him all night long.

Continue reading]]>

I am having a baby and will be taking a month or two maternity leave from blogging.  I have some posts scheduled during that time, but please excuse any impersonal-ish-ness while I’m away taking care of the baby and myself.  I will post photos and the birth story as soon as I can, so stay tuned!

Continue reading]]> My due date is officially August 17th.  Today it is July 31, which makes me 37.5 weeks along now.  I had to make it to 36 weeks for my midwife to feel comfortable delivering my baby at home (with a natural birth).  Well, that milestone has come and gone, and I’m thinking, “Where is this baby and when is he coming?!”.  I have been having preterm labor contractions for 2 months now.  I was on bedrest for a few weeks which seemed to hold them off until the baby was bigger and more developed.

However, it seemed like after I went off bedrest, things mostly stalled.  Don’t get me wrong, I have TONS of contractions and cervical needling (sharp pains in the cervix – ouch).  Some days, I have contractions all day 5 minutes apart and lasting for a minute and then they just go away once I sleep at night.  Sometimes I have 1 contraction every hour, but every day I have them.  I never really feel like I’m in “active labor” and like the contractions are strong enough to call the birth team to come to my home.  I secretly hope my water will break so I will really know it’s time for labor.  Realistically, since things go very fast for me, I could be in active labor and not really know it and not have time for my midwife to arrive.  I have been dilating a centimeter every 2 weeks, so I am slowly making forward progress.  Sometimes I wonder if I’d rather have a long labor and not have to deal with this for so many months a little at a time.  I don’t know the difference, because it’s just the way my body does things.  I think I am fortunate to have it happen a little at a time, and then a really speedy active labor (about an hour).  When I actually go into active labor, I speed through dilation and don’t even have to push, the baby just comes out without causing me too much pain and distress.  It seems backward to me, but it’s the way my body rolls!

Has anyone else experienced so much preterm labor contractions?  Do you get used to them?  I get them so much, sometimes I don’t even realize they are happening and I get used to them.

The last time my midwife checked me, I was dilated to a 4 and 50-80% effaced.  She said she didn’t think I would last more than 2 weeks.  I’ve made it 1 and a half so far and I think I have dilated and progressed more.  I feel like my body and my baby are wise and  that in the end there is a reason to all of this waiting (and sometimes suffering through painful and exhausting days of contractions).  I feel the baby really low in my pelvis and he has felt like she was literally falling out for a months now.  Now that’s a bizarre feeling!

Now I have been trying to get myself to go that extra little bit and go into labor.  I have been walking a ton, doing yard work, doing leg squats, bouncing on my birth ball, and nothing has pushed me over that hump yet, darn it.

I have compiled a few resources to help you with your preterm labor contractions naturally.  I hope they help!

#1 Cramp Bark Tincture

If it’s too early for you to go into labor, my midwife suggested taking 1 dropper full of a cramp bark tincture every 20 minutes (or longer as needed). She also suggested taking magnesium which will soften the muscles and keep them from contracting. Please ask your doctor of midwife if these things are right for you and your situation. They worked really well for me when used in combination with laying down.

#2 Using Relaxation Techniques

I can’t say enough good things about The Birth Year site and the guided relaxation birth tracks helping me calm down and get centered again. I am sure I saved at least one trip to the emergency room to get labor stopped by learning the techniques of Hypnobirthing. It is a lifesaver and so worth it! I downloaded the tracks onto my ipad so I could listen to them in bed when I am contracting, or even just having a hard time getting to sleep. Highly recommended!

#3 Epsom Salt Baths

Epsom Salt baths were a lifesaver for me and so easy to do. They are relaxing too. I took one every day. Epsom salt will release tension in your body. Soak for about 45 minutes and then try to go to sleep. I didn’t use the kind with lavendar, beacuase I can be allergic to the scent sometimes, but if you are not allergic, lavendar will help your mind and body relax.

#4 Staying Hydrated with Clean Water

Medical studies have been inconclusive in most cases when it comes to whether hydration helps or not to stave off preterm labor, but I believe staying hydrated makes all systems in the body work better and more efficiently.  Make sure you are drinking 8-10 glasses of water per day to stay as hydrated as possible.

I hope this information helps someone out there!  Please share your stories with us, we would love to hear from you!

Continue reading]]> Here’s me at just about 36 weeks preggo.  I’m kind of a pregnancy outlaw.  My body doesn’t go about labor and delivery the same way most other women do.  I’m ok with that and I’m embracing it.  Mostly just because I don’t have a choice and also because, well, my body is wise and it knows how to create a person in my uterus!  What a miracle that is!

In my case I start contracting early on in pregnancy.  I start with braxton hicks contractions around 25 weeks and then by 30 weeks I’m on to the real thing.  I dilate a little at a time.  A little here and a little there. Bada bang, bada bing. With this pregnancy, by 32 weeks I was dilated to a 2 and by 33 I was dilated to a 3.  After having monster contractions for a couple weeks consistently after that, we decided not to check my dilation for a while so as not to start pre-term labor.  With that said, I was dilated to a 5 for 2 weeks with one of my 4 kids and then just started right into transition when labor began actively.  She was born 45 minutes later.  I wasn’t even in that much pain during delivery.  I consider the “pre-labor” contractions much worse for some reason. I was walking around and talking to people in transition.  None, I repeat NONE of the nurses were concerned until they checked me and immediately told me to close my legs and hold that baby in (yeah right?!) until the doctor got there.

So, I will assume I’ve been at a 5 for a couple weeks with this one too.  Being that far dilated, how do I know when I’m really in labor?  Good question.  I don’t.  That’s why I’m compiling these resources to help you and me figure this mystery out.

HOW TO KNOW WHEN YOU’RE IN LABOR

1. Your water breaks

My prayers every night always include, “please help my water to break so I know when I’m in labor and please don’t let it be in a public place!” But luckily, this is a pretty sure sign that you’re in labor.  However, only about 15% of women have their water break on its own before going into the hospital.  Most of the time it is done artificially by the doctor or happens sometime during late labor or just before delivery.

My water broke with my first child, but even then, I had to be induced as it didn’t start labor contractions.  I have a midwife this time around, so she would encourage walking and getting the labor to get kick started if it’s not already after the bag ruptures.

What does it feel like when your water breaks?  For me, it felt like a small trickle and then a big gush about a minute later.  I was able to contain it with a heavy flow maxi pad until I could get to the hospital and I didn’t get my clothes or car wet or anything.  It might be a good idea to carry a pad in your purse if you feel like your water is likely to break in a public place.  Mine broke at a family member’s house.  While it was a little embarrassing, I was so glad I was in labor, I didn’t care!  I felt the trickle and then ran to the bathroom and it gushed out in the toilet, so nothing for them to clean up thankfully.  I think you just have an instinct about it and when it happens, you know! Read this for additional information on how it feels to have your water break.

2. Heavy Contractions or Pelvic Pressure

This is a tough one for me as I experience this for about 2 months before delivery.  It goes off and on.  I could have contractions 5 minutes apart and strong for 8 hours and still not be in active labor, but progressing slower.  In fact, this is my pattern in pregnancy.  I’m not sure if it’s a blessing or a curse, but let’s go with blessing.  I plan on an unmedicated home birth with a midwife this time, so fast is good.

Your doctor will tell you when you have hard contractions that you can’t talk through and are 3-5 minutes apart (and lasting one minute or more in duration), that it’s time to head to the hospital or birthing center.  If I did that, I’d be there 3 times a week.  So, I have to go on intensity and downward pushing pelvic pressure from the baby.  When I feel like the baby is literally falling out, it’s time to RUN to the hospital.  I don’t feel heavy contractions like some do in transition.  I just feel a piercing pain in the vagina (which is the cervix opening) that causes me to stop and catch my breath and then goes away for a few minutes and then comes back.  These pains are not regular and not always 3-5 minutes apart, but i”m still in active labor/transition. I don’t know if other women experience this, but I do.  Every women is different and will feel different in labor. Here is an explanation of what a contraction feels like.  As my  midwife said, real contractions are not just felt on the surface of the belly, they are a hard, painful tightening of the muscles all around the belly and can be felt inside the body too.  I think this is a good way to decipher between Brazton Hicks contractions and the real thing.

3. Your back hurts

Many women feel labor in their back and the pressure is quite strong.  I have mild back pain in labor, and more of a feeling of pressure than pain.  Everyone is different. As you can see from this article, not all women experience this pain in the back. So, it’s not the clearest sign that you’re in labor but it’s a good indication when combined with the other things listed here.

4. Digestive Distress

When I’m in labor, things downstairs in the digestive system just get weird.  This might be TMI, so don’t read the next sentence if you are leary of potty talk!  I poop and pee a lot during labor. My midwife said this is totally normal.  She told me about 3/4 of the time, women spend natural labor on the toilet.  It’s the perfect posture and position to relax and let baby descend.  This kind of created a super fear for me of having a baby in the Target bathroom stall, but the concept makes sense.  The hormones make everything soften down there and there is a lot of pressure on the bladder.  I do throw up and get nauseous with every delivery as well but mostly at the very end.  Here’s a great post of how labor works in labor. You will find it…. moving….

This is really embarrassing, but my husband told me I have pooped with every delivery. When you’re all doped up with epidural, you can’t feel a darn thing “down there” and well, when I push, other “stuff” comes out. I’m told it’s very common and it doesn’t get on the baby. Ask my husband for details, I’m sure he’d be happy to make fun at my expense.

5. Inspiration

I rely a lot on prayer in my life and labor and delivery is no different.  There is just a feeling that something is different.   You may call it intuition, I call it inspiration.  You say potato, I say po-tato.  Whatever.  There’s just an instinct when you know something is different and that labor has begun.  Don’t be embarrassed or forget to rely on that strong power.  It’s your right and privilege to call upon it.

*Update on my pregnancy:  At 37 weeks and 5 days, I am still not in active labor, but am dilated to a 5 and 80% effaced.  I’m hoping for a baby to come in the next few days!

**DISCLAIMER: This post is not a substitute for your doctor’s or midwife’s advice.  Please consult them before trying anything suggested in this post!

Continue reading]]> This is my 5th pregnancy, and there are some things that I absolutely need to get through pregnancy comfortably.  These are my pregnancy must haves. I must say that this pregnancy has been my best, mostly because I’ve been proactive about being healthy and I’ve learned a lot in my previous pregnancies. I’ve learned a lot of things to make life more enjoyable for 10 months. This pregnancy has not been perfect, of course, but it’s manageable!  I also wanted to mention, I never accept money or free products for my posts.  These are things I truly use and have found on my own to help make pregnancy a little easier.

First things first, a good prenatal vitamin is a must for energy and health.  A food based vitamin in your best best and one that is taken throughout the day for sustained nutrition and energy.  I can’t say enough good things about Garden Of Life Prenatal Vitamins. They helped me immensely with morning sickness and just to feel better. I wish I would have known about them sooner!  You take 1 pill with each meal (3 times per day).  These are the vitamins my midwife recommends to her clients as well.  A great addition to prenatal vitamins would be to take a cranberry supplement every day to help with UTI’s which are very common during pregnancy. I have been taking 2 cranberry pills religiously for this pregnancy and I have not had one UTI, whereas with my last pregnancy, I had already had several by 6 months.  You may need help with digestion as well.  If you do, check out my post on natural solutions for digestion here.

The  second item I recommend is a thick and fragrance free Shea Butter cream to put on your belly and breasts every day.  See my post about how this lotion from Bath and Body Works has helped me avoid stretch hmarks during pregnancy.  I can’t say enough good things about the price and quality.  It helps your belly not to itch which is an extra bonus.  Start using is as soon as you find out you’re pregnant.

One thing that helped me get through a few weeks of severe morning sickness was sea bands. I wore them day and night. They are not very comfortable and bothered me quite a bit because they are tight around the wrist, but in the long run, it was much better than constant nausea.  I found ginger tea in conjunction with sea bands to be very soothing and helpful.  I would just boil an inch of ginger in about a quart of water for 15 minutes and add some honey and lemon.  I would put it in the fridge and drink some every day.  After wearing the sea bands for about 3 weeks, the nausea went away (thankfully!). They are worth a try.

The third pregnancy must haves on my list is this pregnancy wedge. The cover is washable which is nice.  I’m not a big fan of the gigantic pregnancy body pillows because I feel trapped in them and like I have to move a 40 pound pillow every time I want to change positions. To avoid one of those monstrosities, I use a soft pillow under my head (I use this one. Don’t let the pricetag worry you, it is THE BEST pillow in the world. I literally can not sleep on another one), a firm king size pillow for under my hips, knees, and ankles, and then this lovely wedge for under my belly.  It’s so comfortable to sleep on my side this way.  The wedge gives my belly a little lift so I’m not twisting my spine out of alignment.  I haven’t had any back pain so far and I’m 6 months along, so my plan is working!

I needed one of these pretty much right away in my pregnancy since my rib cage started expanding when I around 6-8 weeks along. I liked that I didn’t need to buy a new bra, but could use my favorite one for a little while longer. Now that I’m almost 24 weeks, I do need to go up a cupsize and I like this sports bra for working out and this wirefree bra for every day wear. It gives lots of lift while still being comfortable since there isn’t a wire.

For clothing, I have several suggestions.  I really like Gap.com for their awesome sales and return policy (free shipping to return).  I like Old Navy for dresses, and Shade Clothing for the best quality undershirts and tank tops.  They have free shipping on everything and free shipping to return. These undershirts (pictured above) are the staple and foundation of my whole maternity wardrobe, I couldn’t live without them!  I have watched for sales and bought them for $5 and under.  They are great for working out, sleeping in, and for layering.  I also think Kohls.com has some great maternity clothes and if you can buy them when they are doing Kohls Cash, even better.  Occasionally I can find something great on Walmart.com for .97 cents shipping.  They have pretty good pajamas.  I hate hate hate the Motherhood store with all the hate I have.  I will not shop there.  They are overpriced and have a ridiculous return policy. I will avoid it at all costs, but that’s another post.  Kohl’s has many Motherhood brand items such as secret fit jeans.  They are THE BEST.  They stay up and can’t be seen through clothes because the panel is lightweight and they are oh so comfortable!  I have several skirts and jeans with secret fit and I have a hard time wearing anything else.  It seems for me that under the belly clothes always feel like they are falling off and over the belly clothes (except for secret fit) leave giant elastic marks on my belly and make it itchy.  They can also be seen through my shirt which is not pretty.

At some point in your pregnancy, you will probably get acid reflux, this post will help you deal with it naturally and effectively.

I have a few more tips to share with you, which I will do in a later post.  If you have any questions, please feel free to post a comment and I will answer them!

I hope you find this information helpful!

*disclaimer: contact your doctor to make sure that these tips and tricks are right for you, your pregnancy, and your situation!

Continue reading]]> At my last midwife appointment, I found out I was already dilated to a 2 and 0% effaced at 33 weeks.  Now at 34 weeks I am dilated to a 3 or possibly more and in the neighborhood of 50-80% effaced.  I lost my mucus plug and have been having some bloody discharge as well as strong contractions that sometimes last all day, yet sometimes only come every few hours.  My midwife wisely  suggested that I listen to my body and when I’m feeling tired or having a lot of regular contractions, I should lay down, relax, and focus on getting the surges to slow down or stop.  I have used these hypnobirthing tracks to help me refocus my mind, and relax. They have been immensely helpful.

What are some pregnancy bed rest causes?

Age: I am over 35, so I have that risk factor

Dilating Cervix: Another risk factor

Other history of preterm labor: Another risk facor

Placenta Previa: Nope, don’t have that… luckily

Sheesh!  What’s a girl to do?  Is bed rest really the answer?  I did some research and asked some questions and here’s what I found out.

Well, I followed my midwife’s advice and listened to my body went on bed rest for a week (I also had an allergic reaction to a bee sting and my foot swelled up huge and I couldn’t walk on it so that helped me stay in bed!).  The contractions mostly stopped, but I started to have really bizarre things happen to my body.

I started getting really fatigued.  I was in bed all day and could sleep whenever I wanted and while I was extremely tired, I just couldn’t get to sleep and was very restless.  Because I didn’t feel like doing anything in bed, I got really bored which then led to a bit of depression about my situation.

I also started to get really bad muscle aches.  I wasn’t moving around much and my back, shoulders, and legs began to get extremely sore and weak.  I started to worry about going into labor and being able to handle the rigors of doing a natural birth being so fatigued and sore.

Another symptom was impaired digestion.  I wasn’t moving around at all, so my intestines stayed stagnant.  I felt like I couldn’t pee and the food in my intestines would just stay there or come up as acid reflux.  It was horrible because I couldn’t rest because of these symptoms.

I finally decided that my body was telling me that bed rest was making things worse for me and I decided to get up and do light work around the house and go for a drive as well as sit outside for a while and get some fresh air.  This did an immense amount of good for me and I didn’t have many contractions as I let go of the stressors and big things that needed to get done.

I also found this article written by respected author Henci Goer about the possible harms of bed rest.  Statistics do not show that extreme and full bed rest is a good idea for the same side effects I experienced.  You can see the article here. It’s quite compelling and goes along nicely with the advice my midwife (Richelle Jolley) gave me.

Are you on pregnancy bed rest?  If so, please leave a comment and let us know how you’re doing and if it helped you or not.

Continue reading]]> I am 30 weeks pregnant!  I only have 2 1/2 months left to go and I am feeling really great.  I have lots of energy, I sleep well, and I am able to do most things I could do pre-pregnancy.  As you can see from the photo, I am carrying the baby quite high and he is always kicking and floating up into my ribs.  It’s a pretty uncomfortable place for him to be in some respects, but in others, it’s great.  For instance, I can go all night (still!) without getting up in the middle of the night to use the bathroom and I don’t feel as much pelvic pressure as I have in other pregnancies because the baby sits up higher on my frame.  I have a hard time with digestion (and sometimes with being hungry at all) since he is squishing up those organs and some times I have a hard time breathing from the pressure put on my lungs occasionally.  However, overall, this has been my best pregnancy and I feel so blessed to be able to experience it in my old(er) age!

I am starting to prepare of my upcoming home birth with midwife Richelle Jolley.  At my last visit, I asked her, “What do I need for a home birth?” and the answer was an easy one! Luckily, she provides a home birth kit as part of her midwifery fee (see video for additional information about that).  It includes everything needed to actually birth the baby except for towels, washcloths, plastic sheeting to protect mattress and floor, food, drinks, and healing ointments, etc.  She also hands out an information sheet with optional items you can have at your birth like Chlorophyll and Floridix.

I have some additional items that I would like to have for the birth, and right after, that aren’t necessarily required items that the midwife needs to deliver the baby.

• 3-7 towels

• 3 washcloths

• Plastic coverings for mattress and walkways

• Sheets for bed
• Birth Stool and / or Birth Ball (or exercise ball)

• Frozen fruits and veges for smoothies

• Abdominal binder (for after the birth)

• Items needed for comfrey burn paste (wheat germ oil, honey, comfrey leaf powder)

• Red raspberry tea

• Chlorophyll – see link above

• Floridix – see link above

• Cramp bark

• Devils claw

• Latex free gloves (if you are allergic to Latex)

• Birth scripts or relaxation music

• Clothing / gown you want to wear for the birth

• Camera

• Perineal rinse bottle

• Ice packs

• Maxi pads for heavy flow postpartum – bleach and irritation free

• Tucks

• Chux Pads for postpartum

• Nursing supplies (nursing pads, pump, nursing bras, nipple cream, etc)

If you can think of anything else to add to the list, please post a comment to help our readers prepare for their upcoming births!  Let me know if you have any questions.

Continue reading]]> I am 28 weeks pregnant and experiencing a lot of shortness of breath pregnancy symptoms.  I am a small person, only about 5 foot 3 and I carry my pregnancies high as you can see from the photo!  The baby is always up in my ribs and my lungs and stomach get a little compacted a squished in there to make way for the growing uterus.  One bonus of carrying high is that I don’t have a ton of pressure on my bladder, so I can make it through a whole night’s sleep without a trip to the bathroom.  That is definitely nice!

However, there are times, when I am very short of breath.  I know it is normal as it has happened to me before in previous pregnancies and I have spoken with my midwife about it and she wasn’t concerned, but it is alarming to me sometimes to feel like I can’t breathe normally.  Of course, if you are feeling short of breath, talk to your doctor about it or if you feel it is serious, go to the emergency room.  I will give you some tips of things that have helped me when I am experiencing these pregnancy symptoms, but this is no substitute for a doctor’s advice.

EXERCISE

I know it seems counterintuitive, but exercise fills the lungs with air and is sometimes the only thing I can do to feel “normal” again when it comes to breathing.  Start off slow and then build up a little at a time. If you feel faint or exhausted, stop and take a break.  I do the treadmill as my exercise.  It doesn’t bounce me too much and it feels like a good workout.  I have a membership at Planet Fitness for $10 a month and no contract.  I walk about 4 miles 3 times a week and on the days I go to the gym, I generally do not have any problems breathing.  Exercise increases circulation which is a bonus all systems of the body.

DO YOGA

Yoga really focuses on the breath and being mindful of deep breathing.  Find a good pregnancy yoga DVD that you can do in the privacy of your own home and in your jammies if you want to! I purchased this Yoga DVD and have been doing it throughout my pregnancy. I have noticed it relaxes me quite a bit and has given me greater flexibility so that my joints and muscles don’t get stiff.

HALLELUJAH ARMS

I call this hallelujah arms because when you put your arms straight up over your head, it opens up your airways (Hallelujah!) to let more air pass through.  Sometimes I have to sleep this way if I lay down and have trouble breathing.  So put your arms up as high as they go right up over your head and then breathe deeply for 15-20 minutes.

DON’T OVEREAT

When you carry high like me, your stomach will tell you when it’s time to stop eating (usually when you’re about 75% full).  Small meals, spread out throughout the day is best. If you eat too much, you have all kinds of terrible symptoms like acid reflux, heartburn, and for me, shortness of breath.  I try not to eat too much and when I do on occasion, I do this natural acid reflux remedy that really works.

LIMIT STRESS

Stress really affects my breathing rate.  I tend to breathe faster when I am stressed out or anxious, which for a mom of 3, is pretty much a daily or even hourly occurrence.  I try to take 15 minutes to myself each day to read or relax and breathe to bring myself back to a somewhat normal and centered state.  I try to incorporate massage (from an apprentice at a massage school to save money) into my month sometime as that really helps to relax me as well.

I hope this helps you with your shortness of breath pregnancy symptoms.  Please post a comment if you have any questions!

*Don’t forget to contact your doctor or midwife before trying anything new during pregnancy to make sure it’s safe for your pregnancy and your individual situation.

Continue reading]]> I love to read.  I love to be educated on health and wellness and especially want to be educated on pregnancy and birth, since I do plan a home birth this time around.  I find myself having a lot more choices than I have had while having a hospital birth and I want to make educated choices.

Here’s my top 5 inspiring pregnancy books

#1 The Gift of Giving Life by Felice Austin

This book is came highly recommended by my midwife’s assistant and was given to me by a dear friend as a treasured gift.  It is probably one of the best books I have ever read and made me feel empowered and refreshed because I am a mother and just because I am that.  It helped me understand my role and my divine nature and is a very spiritually uplifting book and is a collection of medical advice and women’s birth stories as well as an essay on why motherhood is important and should be valued more in our society.  Your body can make a baby, that’s really amazing!  It is from an LDS point of view, but I think it is relevant for all Moms.  I even have a friend who is not pregnant who read it and was awed by it.  It is quite long, but be warned, it is a page turner!  Feel free to buy a used version of this book and buy a copy for a friend, it’s that good!  If you buy the book, you can also get a free pregnancy meditation download from the book’s website.

#2 Ina May’s Guide to Childbirth by Ina May Gaskin

If you plan a home birth, this is the first book you should read.  It’s so comprehensive and so full of knowledge.  Ina May is THE expert on midwifery and pregnancy/birth.  She has a very down to earth writing style and the book is written on a level that can easily be understood.  I thought it was fantastic and I read things in this book that I had never knew existed from my hospital birth days.  Reading this book made me feel comfortable and safe about home birth and helped me become educated about what I could expect.

#3 Your Best Birth by Ricki Lake

This was a very good and informative book, but it has a definite bias toward home birth.  I, personally, have a definite bias toward home birth, so it works for me.  However, if you are very against the whole natural birth process, this probably isn’t the book for you.  A good companion to this book would be watching the documentary called The Business of Being Born. As we all know, Obstetrics & Gynecology is big business and the documentary opened my mind to how many unnecessary procedures are done in hospitals during birth to avoid being sued and to make more money for the doctors and the hospitals.

#4 Hypnobirthing: The Mongon Method… by Marie Mongon

I think learning meditation techniques like the ones taught in this book are very helpful for any stage of life, not just pregnancy.  I go into more depth about the Hypnobirthing book here in a previous post. There are also CDs/MP3s you can buy to help you learn how to meditate.  I try to do meditation a couple times a week as my midwife says it’s vital for pain relief in labor.

#5 What to Expect When You’re Expecting by Heidi Murkoff

If you see an OBGYN, you will generally be given this book free of charge at your first appointment.  If not, you probably have a friend who owns it, or you can find it used for a couple bucks at the most.  Many in the home birth world feel that this is the worst book ever to be read by a pregnant Mom.  I disagree.  I feel that there is a lot of good knowledge in this book that can be helpful to get you through pregnancy and to help you know what options you have.

I hope this post helps you find some of the right pregnancy books for you!  If you have any questions, please post a comment and I will try to answer it to the best of my ability!

Continue reading]]> Ok, it’s TMI time!  So this is very embarrassing for me to publicly talk about this, but I hope to help someone else who also struggles with hemorrhoids during pregnancy.  This is my 5th pregnancy and first one where I have had chronic hemorrhoids that won’t go away.

Early in my pregnancy, I had pretty severe digestive issues that lasted for many months, and still flares up every now and then even now that I’m  24 weeks along.  I started getting hemorrhoids that didn’t hurt and sometimes bled bright red which indicates internal hemroids as well as external ones (lovely).  Now, it’s been 4 months and they are getting large and I didn’t know what to do about them, so I asked my midwife, Richelle Jolley, what I should do and she recommended Dr. Christophers ointment. She said to put it on every time I went to the bathroom. I tried that for a couple months, but it didn’t seem to do anything at all.

I then turned to the drugstore and got Tucks medicated pads. I use these exclusively to wipe with and it helps so much! It doesn’t make them go away (in my case), but eases the pain of irritation.  I stopped using the Dr. Christopher’s and started using Preparation H ointment religiously 5 or 6 times per day. I feel some relief when I use it, but the hemroids have not gone away.

Next, I turned to a dear friend who sells a natural hemroid remedy.  She hooked me up with some herbs and I am starting those today.  I will let you know what happens!  Here is some advice that she gave me.

NATURAL SOLUTIONS

One natural remedy for hemorrhoids that’s different than the majority of options out there is Hemroid Harry. It’s an herbal blend of pills that are taken orally. The website gives an explanation on what each ingredient does to attack the root of the problem. So instead of masking the symptoms or putting on a “band-aid”, so-to-speak, the formula is designed to get to the root causes of hemorrhoids. For instance, the main causes for hemorrhoids include poor circulation, inflammation, weak veins and the inability to cleanse waste. With butcher’s broom, ginger and cayenne to increase circulation and cleanse waste; witch hazel and white oak bark to take care of inflammation; and stone root to strengthen the veins – the blend appears to have all the answers. Another plus is that it only uses optimally organic or wild crafted herbs without any additives or fillers.

Do:

Cypress oil – apply topically

Pure aloe vera – apply topically

Sitz bath – (only temporary relief)

Pay attention to posture

Keep up with the kegels. (Increases circulation, strengthens veins)

Use a Squatty Potty stool.
Don’t:

Skip the workout (You need to increase circulation!)

Use a doughnut cushion (These actually increase the pressure on the anal veins; instead, use a regular pillow.)

Eat spicy or deep fried foods (These will only inflame the problem.)