Hypnobabies, Take Me Away!

When I was pregnant with James, my midwife suggested that I take Hypnobabies.  I did the home course, along with The Bradley Method class, and absolutely loved it.  It helped me to realize that every "strange" feeling is normal, that my body is healthy and perfect, and the power of positive thinking and imagery.  It teaches self-hypnosis to help remain calm in the face of the storm, and to be able to enjoy the miracle of birth instead of looking at it as something that needs to be numbed.

Among the little things I learned to agree with are:

• A woman doesn't "deliver" a baby.  She "births" a baby.  The mailman delivers the mail, and the pizza delivery person delivers a pizza.  A woman does not give birth to a pizza.
• Similarly, a doctor/nurse/midwife does not "deliver" a baby.  S/he helps the mother through the birthing process, and many times "catches" the baby.  The woman does all the work.  Again, we aren't talking pizza here.
• There is no such thing as a "due date."  Babies are not on a strict timeline, and are not "due" to be here by a certain date.  There is, however, such thing as a "guess date," which gives approximate time the baby may be born.  "Guess dates" are generally in the middle (40 weeks) of a 4-5 week timeline known as "full term."   Please don't ask when a woman is due; it gives unneeded pressure and the impression of impending eviction.  And don't start to pester when the guess date rolls around (and, for the love of your Creator, don't mention being "overdue!").  Nobody is late, everything is cooking just normally.  Just relax.
• "Labor and delivery" is known as "birthing time," because we don't need to attach any negative connotations to birthing a baby, which a most wonderful and miraculous time (and, yes, to some women even enjoyable).
• "Contractions" are "pressure waves."  Again, replacing a negative connotation with something that has less fear attached to it.

...and that's my rant for the day.  :)

Gift Registries for Baby #2

At the risk of being crass or sounding presumptuous, here are our gift registries (I've had a couple of people ask me to post this, and that's why I am commiting Miss Manners' cardinal sin).  We certainly don't expect anything, especially since most of the things we need are the "big items" (i.e., expensive).

Amazon.com (main registry):  http://www.amazon.com/gp/registry/baby/1HQ8T9ZRYHJJR

Babies R Us:  http://www.toysrus.com/registry/search/index.jsp?_flowExecutionKey=_cD3A14592-0A51-E136-9D2B-17B25FC2857D_k96210BEA-CD07-8A28-A01D-766A2AAA2366&overrideStore=TRUS

What's in a Name?

Since we found out we are having a girl, we have been thinking about girl names.  We have so many boy names we like, but girl names have been a bit harder to come up with.  We do have a couple we really like.  But we are going to keep her name to ourselves until she's born.  We also want to meet her first and let her "help" us (or inspire us) to name her.

It's a Girl!

James is getting a little sister!  We are so happy.  Of course, I would have been thrilled with a boy, too- boys are so much fun!  Everything on the ultrasound checked out great for the little girl- she looks really healthy, and is growing just as she should.

After tellling him that there was a baby in my tummy, I asked James if he wanted to give the baby a kiss, and he threw his arms around my tummy and kissed me over and over.  He is going to be such a wonderful big brother!

Life is good!

Baby #2 18 Week Pics

Here are some pics from our 18 week Fetal Anatomy Scan.  We found out the gender, too!  We'll keep that under our hats for a little bit.

 There was some thumb sucking...

18 Week Fetal Anatomy Scan

I have my 18 week fetal anatomy scan today to check the baby out and make sure that there are not abnormalities.  Of course, if there were, we would prepare ourselves to deal with them in whatever way we could.  We may find out the gender, too.  I'm just waiting for James to wake up, and am drinking my water (not the recommended 32 ounces.  Sorry, ultrasound techs, but you do not need my bladder that full).  I will post an update later.

Nuts for Donuts

Oh, how I love pregnancy cravings (sarcasm should be detected here!).  Some women crave salad or veggies or fruit.  Not me.  I have been craving donuts and pastries (which I never eat), the same craving I had with James, and fast food (never eat that either).  With James, I thought about donuts everyday, and never had one.  I did give in to Del Taco (fries, bean burrito, shake) one time this pregnancy, but then it made me so sick that I just remember that feeling whenever I want fast food.

I know people say you are "eating for two" when you're pregnant, but really that's not true.  You only need about 200-300 extra calories (after 1st trimester- in the 1st you don't even need extra calories), which doesn't go very far when you are hungry all the time!  So I am trying to get those extra calories from food that nourishes me and my baby, and not from sweets.  No matter what that donut-shaped devil on my shoulder is saying! 

It's not that I am staying away from all food that I crave- I do have the occasional craving for a vegetable or Indian food.  I'm just trying to stay away from the unhealthy stuff.  We don't have sugar, sweets, highly processed foods, or dairy in our home, so it makes it easier not to whip something up when I want it (i.e., cake with extra icing, cupcakes, mounds of sugar on top of ice cream...).  Luckily, we live far enough away from shops that, when a craving hits at home, I am usually too lazy (or busy with James) to go in my car and get what I want.

My "Blah" Tummy

Is it possible for morning sickness to return?  I've had an unsettled stomach for 2 weeks now.  A couple of nights ago I woke up thinking I had the stomach flu, but nothing happened (even though I felt like I was going to die for an hour or so) and I fell asleep after a while.  I've been able to eat just fine (unlike the first bout with morning sickness), but just feel "blah," tummy-wise. 

Oh, and speaking of tummy, my Ergo (baby carrier) is getting a little uncomfortable with James sitting on his sibling.  Maybe one of these days I will learn how to wear him sideways (the directions are almost impossible to understand). 

Here We Go Again...

Who would have thought I'd be using Our Fair Baby again- for another baby?! 

I am 17 weeks along, and boy is it different this time.  The main difference is that I am more calm, knowing a little more about what to expect.  With James, I really struggled with the type of birth I wanted.  I found the first little scratch paper I would take to my then doctor, and it had all the things I didn't want:  To be confined to the bed, an epidural that doesn't allow me to walk, continuous fetal monitoring, a urinary catheter, IV's, to stay overnight, etc.  This was my first indication that I didn't want a hospital birth.  But I didn't know that I had any other options.  Thank goodness I found my midwife, who gave me the type of care I wanted and deserved.  So for Round Two, I've been seeing the same midwife, and there is no internal struggle about what I want or don't want.  It's such a relief. 

Anyhow, so far, so good here.  I've gained 3 pounds since the beginning (but it feels like 15).  Baby looks great.  Genetics blood tests all turned out negative (which is good).  I had some pretty bad morning sickness (nausea only) from weeks 7-12.  It stopped for a few weeks, but I've been feeling slightly yucky for about a week or so-- I sure hope morning sickness hasn't returned.  That's the worst, and I didn't have it with James.  I am still eating well and exercising 5-6 days a week, so that really helps me feel good. 

We're going in for our Fetal Anatomy Scan next week- I'll post pics then.  I am really torn on having ultrasounds.  They haven't really been proven to be safe, and some studies show that the waves actually change the makeup of the baby (in total plain English).  I am just going to ask for it to be short and abdominal (they don't need to do vaginal ultrasounds, which I didn't know until I met the US tech who works at my midwife's).  I am pretty sure this will be the last one (I had one earlier).