Samuel David Is Here!

I woke up at 2:20AM with some discomfort that was different from all of the “practice” tightening that I had been experiencing for the past moth or so. I got up, walked around and realized that this might be it! I started writing down how often the surges were coming (about 8 minutes apart) & at 3:15 decided to wake up my husband. We got up and worked on getting things ready for the hospital. By 4:30 I couldn’t really help any more as the surges were stronger and coming more often. We called our doula, Gina, and after listening to a few surges over the phone, she decided to make her way to our home. By 5:15AM, when Gina arrived, I was in the tub and breathing*** through each surge. I moved out of the tub around 6:30AM and the surges picked up in intensity. At this point we called Cheryl, our midwife, and had her listen to a few surges. She suggested we not stay at home too much longer, but to do what we felt was right. After 2 more surges we decided it was time to go. Our 30 minute drive to the hospital was intense to say the least. When we got into our room at the hospital around 8:00AM the nurse checked me. She said that she “wanted to make sure she was feeling what she thought she was feeling”, so she actually checked again… I was dilated to 10cm and fully effaced!!! I think I started crying I was so happy! My water still hadn’t broken so we went through a few more surges attempting to let things happen as naturally as possible. Once the midwife on call arrived, Renee, she said that if we let her break my waters that the baby would come quickly. We agreed, and 3 surges later, at 8:34AM, we welcomed Samuel into the world!

It all went just as we had wanted… laboring at home, no interventions & a completely natural VBAC delivery! My wonderful husband, Matt, and our awesome doula, Gina, couldn’t have been more supportive. Their kind hands and encouraging words truly made the experience everything we had hoped for!

I sincerely believe that the gentle care & unrelenting belief and encouragement provided to us by of our midwife, Cheryl, helped set us on the path to this amazing birth experience. Her complete support during our pregnancy played a huge role in making Samuel’s birth a truly wonderful experience. Being treated as a woman going through one of the greatest, most memorable experiences of a lifetime, (instead of as a patient with a medical condition) made a remarkable difference in the confidence my husband had in me and that I had in my body. I know this confidence is the reason we had the completely natural, VBAC experience we so deeply wanted.

I also believe that the wonderful people we met and the teachings we received through the Blooma yoga studio during our pregnancy had a significant impact on how our birth played out. From Childbirth Collective meetings, birthing classes, chiropractic care & the relaxation of yoga, to all of the encouraging thoughts & words and wonderful advice from staff & other members, Blooma was a wonderful asset to have on our team!

To EVERYONE that helped us along the way... Thank you, Thank you, Thank you :-)

36th Week - Lots of practice!

The practice surges (the way we prefer to refer to contractions ) are really increasing this week. I mean, there have been quite a few of them for the past several weeks, but there seem to be even more this week. The practice surges only consist of some tightening and aren't uncomfortable at all, so I say the more practice the better!

Getting out of bed at night and in the morning to use the bathroom is becoming more difficult. Most of this is probably due to Baby Frantz growing, but I'm sure moving into the new house has a little do with it too :-) I'm having some sharp pulling sensations really low on my right side when I try and move my leg after sleeping for a while and the discomfort in the lower right side of my back has really intensified. I think maybe it's time for another trip to the chiropractor.

Last week was my last "full" (four days) week of work. From here on out I'll be taking an extra day or 2 off per week to get things organized at home. I didn't do this with Madeline and really wish I would have. Matt will still take Madeline to daycare during the day so I'll have more time to widdle away at my ever-growing list of things to do (plus squeeze in an extra yoga class or two )

We went and saw Dr. Huldeen again this week - another appointment with an OB was required Not much to report other than the heartbeat was lower this week - about 130. She said this was more-than-likely because the baby was sleeping. This made sense because I hadn't felt any big movements for a while :-) Other than checking the heartbeat, she answered a few questions for us that would come into play only in the unfortunate circumstance that we find ourselves facing another cecarean section. If this happens we still want to be able to stick to as many of our birth preferances as possible... Daddy announcing the sex and cutting the cord after pulsing has stopped, immediate skin-to-skin contact (with Daddy if Mommy is unavailable), limited handling by anyone other than mom and dad, nursing as soon as possible & delaying any infant tests or procedures for at least the first hour or two. They seem to be okay with all of this and said that if Dad has to leave the room with Baby, that our Doula could immediately take his place so that I'm never alone. Knowing all of these things is comforing, but we truly hope to avoid this situation alltogether

Still on the list for this weekend is finishing up our birth preferences and getting our bags packed!

35th Week: New "Signs"

No, I'm not talking about signs of labor, but another type of sign that every woman wants to avoid during pregnancy... I like to refer to them as "mommy marks " - stretch marks is just such an ugly phrase With Madeline I got a few of these lovely marks around the same time (35-37 weeks) - right on my love handles (about 3 on each side), but today I noticed a small one right in the middle of my belly just under my belly button, only about 1/2 an inch long. I'm thinking that the move from my sides to my belly has a lot to do with how I am carrying this little bundle of joy - more out in front. Now, some people have said that this means "boy", but I think it has more to with the fact that the baby is head down instead of breech like Madeline was :-)

Regardless, I'm now applying my "tummy butter" a bit more regularly and hoping that it helps keep more of these little marks from appearing I understand that I really have nothing to complain about because there are some women that get a lot more of these "mommy marks", but it's still something I'd like to try and minimize as much as possible :-)

I forgot to mention that Madeline and I went to see CNM Cheryl again last week and the heart beat was jumping from 140 to about 160 while we were listening. My mom says that during each of her pregnancies, the babies with the higher heartbeats were girls and the lower heartbeats were boys. She's pretty convinced we're having a girl - we'll just have to wait and see!

On another note we moved into our new house yesterday and today! There is so much to do... everything is here, but hardly anything is put away!!!! I have a feeling it will be a while before we are completely settled in - in fact this probably won't happen until well after Baby Frantz has joined us :-) We've tried to put this into perspective and do things one step at a time... focusing on making sure we enough things ready if Baby Frantz decides to make her/his debut a bit early :-)

It's kind weird how the things that you "need" are so different the second time around. With Madeline there was so much time to prepare and make sure the nursery, clothes and accessories were bought, clean and ready to go. This time we know that all baby really needs is a bassinet to sleep in, clean clothes and blankets, mommy (for feeding purposes) and diapers :-)

Speaking of diapers, I went to a little demonstration this week at the Edina Library regarding cloth diapers. We've decided to give them a try this time around, but there are just so many to choose from!!! The demo had samples of the most popular brands so that we could see how each of them work and weigh out the pros and cons associated with each. I think we might get one or two of the most popular kinds and give them a try to see what works best for us... now I just need to find the time to go out and get them :-)

Baby Frantz is still moving around a lot - especially right before bed and early in the mornings. Most of the kicks are in my upper right side - a good sign that Baby is still heads down :-)

34 Weeks - Slowing Down

This week I've noticed that even though everything around me seems to be picking up speed (new house progress, work projects, etc.), I seem to be slowing down! My mind continues to race, but getting from one place to another is physically taking a bit longer :-) I'm also feeling a little warmer than usual most of the time - I sleep with no covers and walk around in short sleeves all day... That's about it for new things I've noticed physically this week :-)

Once again, I went and talked with someone this week about how different I am looking at birth with this pregnancy. I (we) have really had a chance to think about the birth emotionally. I've realized that this is different from how we looked at things with Madeline. With Madeline's pregnancy we were really just trying to figure out how we were going to transition into parenthood - and make sure we had all of the "stuff" we needed to do it :-)

The pregnancy that we lost at the beginning of last year really got me thinking about the emotional side of pregnancy and birth - even though that pregnancy wasn't meant to be, I really feel that it happened for a reason and I think I have gained so much from it :-)

This little being that we've been bonding with for the past 8 months has opened up a whole new world to our little family :-) We are growing and learning just how important it is to pay attention to our emotions and make the most of every moment we have to bond and learn with each other. We are so excited to meet Baby Frantz and continue this wonderful journey!!!

This week Madeline and I took a few more belly shots together...

Madeline singing to Baby
Big Smiles
Happy Hugs

Listening...

Week 33 - Growing

This week things seem to be getting a bit tighter for Baby Frantz (and for Mommy Frantz). There is still a lot of activity going on in there, but the kicks don't feel as jolting. I'm pretty sure this just means that the baby is running out of room to "wind up" before he/she lets go! I feel bigger (tighter) this week, but this could all be in my head... according to the scale I've only gained about a 1/2 of a pound...

I had my last business trip this week. We went to Utah. The mountains were beautiful, but the puffy hands and feet I had when I got home wern't very pretty. I don't remember having much water retention until the last week of two of my pregnancy with Madeline. I'm pretty sure that the swelling had more to do with flying and the elevated altitudes than it did with anything else because after a day at home all of the swelling had gone away.

I also went to talk with someone this week about all of the emotions I'm feeling surrounding the upcoming birth and the feelings I have about Madeline's birth. There are lots of things that have come up and it feels good to be giving meaning to all of them.

Physically, I've been feeling pretty good this week. I little more back pain (now kind-of a shooting pain into my bottom), but this usually only bothers me in the mornings. I plan on going back to the chiropractor soon. The reflux has seemed to have calmed down a bit and the "morning sickness" doesn't seem quite as bad either.

The practice surges are still coming and going randomly. Never a bother, but just an awareness that baby and body are definitely getting ready!

32 Weeks - Morning Sickness?!?!

So I was under the impression that morning sickness was either experienced at the beginning of your pregnancy or throughout all of your pregnancy, but I wasn't aware that you may have it in the beginning and then not again until the 3rd trimester! As I noted in some of my very first posts, my morning sickness during the first trimester was felt, but really wasn't that bad (other than the fact that it wasn't only limited to the morning and seemed to pop up several times over the course of the day). Just as lots of women experience, the morning sickness faded in the 2nd trimester and I felt great! Now, for the past couple of weeks I've once again started not feeling all that great as I'm waking up in the mornings. The nausea tends to go away after a shower and some breakfast, but it's definitely there as I lay in bed after I wake up. Again, it's really nothing to complain about, but I don't remember this happening with Madeline.

We had another great check-up with our Midwife this week - baby is still head down and the heartbeat is right where it should be! Madeline always loves listening to the heartbeat :-) This appointment was fairly short. We talked about the great experience we have had at our hypnobirthing classes and asked how familiar the hospital staff is with this method. Cheryl felt that there wasn't a lot of experience, but that the method was known and accepted. She likes the idea that we plan on having a sign on our door to let people know before they come into the room - she thinks it will really help set the tone in the room :-) Next time, Matt plans on coming to the appointment and perhaps getting the opportunity to go over our birth preferences with Cheryl.

Our hypnobirthing class ended this week and we just can't say enough positive things about it. I think that both Matt and I are very confident that we can have the natural birth experience that we are so hoping for. We will continue to prepare at home using all the things that we have learned and plan to go into our birth experience with a relaxed body and an open mind.

Baby Frantz is very active and loves to wake up in the middle of the night for "dance parties". It's amazing how active the little one is at 2 and 3 AM :-) The movements are still pretty forceful and mainly felt on my upper right hand side - just where they should be!

Week 31 - We're in Position!

There are a few things I forgot to mention last week... one was that CNM Cheryl told me at our last appointment that Baby Frantz is already head down!!!! This is the best news! The last time around we ended up with a cesarean because Madeline was footling breech, but Cheryl is sure this one is head down. Since there really isn't enough room for baby to flip from head down to feet down, we should be in the clear for the VBAC we've been hoping for!!!

Another thing I forgot to mention is that I've been feeling reflux for the past couple weeks and it doesn't seem to be getting any better. Most of the time I just feel it at night when I go to bed, but it has also been known to show up when I'm doing yoga (must be all of those funny positions!) Again, it's really not that bad and definitely something that is pretty easy to deal with :-)

I spent the earlier part of this week in New York at a conference for work. The amount of time on my feet and the not-so-comfortable bed meant a few more aches and pains, but I'm hoping that an extra dose of Yoga should help :-) In fact, yesterday I got to go to my prenatal yoga class and then Madeline and I went to a Tots Yoga class! She had a blast doing positions that imitated all of the animals she knows... a dog, cat, cow, lion & frog. She especially loved reaching all the way up to the sun to get some energy and then laughing as she flopped forward to the ground. We've been bicycling with our feet in the air every day since!

Today we met with one of our 2 possible doulas, Gina. We went over all of our expectations and hopes for Baby Frantz' birth day. She was wonderful to talk to and had some really good advice. We feel more comfortable with her each time we meet and we're sure we've made the right decision! This week our other possible doula, Beth, is coming to our hypnobirthing class with us - we think it will be great to have her there with us :-)

That's about it for this week!

30th Week - Very Encouraging visit!

We had another prenatal appointment this week and it was another very good one! Baby Frantz' heartbeat was just over 160 and mommy's blood pressure was lower than usual (106/61) :-)

CNM Cheryl was just wonderful again this week. I told her about the book I am reading "Gentle Birth Choices" and explained some of the things about gentle birth that I was learning. She said that she had never read this book in particular, but that she knew of the author and was going to add it to her list of books to look into. We also talked about our hypnobirthing class. She was very encouraging and said that she has always been amazed by families committed to using this method.

We went over some of our questions about how we are wanting our labor/birth to progress and she was very supportive. In fact she had several amazing birth stories from last week... she had 7 births in the last 5 days and 6 of them were completely natural - no interventions or medications! She said she hadn't had a run like that in quite a long time, but loved every minute of it and was so glad that her stories were so inspiring to us. We had a great conversation and seem to connect more and more with every visit. She's completely on-board with us wanting no interventions and said that she knows we can do it - she said can "see it in my eyes" :-) I'm looking forward to seeing her more often, as our appointments are every two weeks now!

As far as aches and pains go, not much has changed... still some back pain in the mornings, but I'm hoping that getting back into the yoga routine this week will help!

29th Week: Birthing Classes

Not a whole lot to report this week, but Baby Frantz has had the hicups more and more lately :-) My second session with the chiropractor really seemed to help more with my back pain. She also suggested a prenatal massage so, I called my wonderfully talented cousin who owns her own massage business, Therapeutic Body Massage. I went to her this afternoon for my very first massage ever. I could tell that she found quite a few knots and really worked on breaking them up - I'm looking forward to feeling the results over the next few days! She also suggested that I come back in a few weeks and I definitely will :-)

Matt and I also started taking a birthing class at Blooma - Hypnobirthing.

***Yes, this is our second child, but because I did not experience labor with Madeline (who presented footling breech and was delivered via cesarean) this will be a totally new expereince for both Matt and I - we're trying to learn as much as we can :-)***

Sooo, Hypnobirthing does not mean that I will be hypnotized during the birth, but rather helps develop a meditation/relaxation routine before going into labor. Our instructor is great! She is a registered nurse at a local hospital and has so many wonderfully inspiring stories of women managing and truly loving their birth experiences. She shares an abundance of information on the birth experience and what you should expect so that you are not scared or aprehensive before your big day arrives.

The first class was great and I've really enjoyed learning everything I can with Matt right by my side learning everything right along with me. I've never been much of a "meditaor", but I really want to try... Anything that may help us on our journey to a natural birth is worth taking a better look at!

28th Week: We're in the Third Trimester!

This week Madeline and I went to my 28 week prenatal appointment with CNM Cheryl. We hadn't seen her in 12 weeks (one appointment with OBGyn Huldeen & one with CNM Renae) and we were so glad to have her back! She talked with me for over an hour and answered all kinds of questions I had regarding hospital policies and recommendations she had for a natural labor/delivery. There are some hospital policies that we don't agree with, but Cheryl said that we will work together to make our experience everything that we are hoping for.

At the appointment I had my Glucose screen for gestational diabetes and everything came back clear. I also received my Rhogam shot (because I'm RH- and Matt id RH+) and got to listen to the heartbeat - always Madeline's favorite part! I can't remember exactly how fast the heartbeat was this week, but Baby Frantz definitely had the hiccups while we were listening in! Cheryl said that the hiccups are a great sign and mean that Baby is practicing breathing just as he/she should be :-)

Appointments are every two weeks now so more updates to come!

I mentioned last week that I was going to see the chiropractor at Blooma - Dr. McKinley. Well, I went on Wednesday and she found that my pelvis is out of alignment and that is what is causing my pain. She did a few adjustments, told me to ice regularly, add a few new daily exercises, wear the pregnancy "belt" my cousin so kindly let me borrow and cut back on yoga for the next few weeks. I've been doing as she instructed and still have some pain... I go back in next week for a follow-up and we'll see what finds!

No yoga for a couple of weeks :-( Since Dr. McKinley said to cut back on yoga for the next 2 weeks, Blooma graciously extended my month unlimited package so that I can fully take advantage of the package once I've been cleared to practice again :-)

On another note...We've chosen a doula! Well actually we have chosen 2 doulas... Gina and Beth work together and have worked out a schedule to help them achieve balance between home life and doula life :-) We met with them last Sunday and they seem to be the best fit for us. They have each been doulas for about 8 years and together have attended more than 300 births! We are excited to get to know them and have them get to know us. It is so comforting knowing that we will have someone with us throughout the entire labor, showing us new ways to find comfort, providing insight as to why certain things are happening (and why they are normal), helping us remember to ask the right questions when certain situations arise and reminding us of the plan we've put so much thought into.

I've also started reading a great book I found at Half-Priced Books last weekend, Gentle Birth Choices, by Barbara Harper. It has been very inspiring and definitely reenforces the choices we have been planning for this birth. I highly recommend reading it if you are pregnant or thinking about getting pregnant - its a great reference regarding all of the choices you have during your birth experience.