Thursday, August 9, 2012

Falling into place

I was telling Ryan the other day about how I have been feeling so much more confident in my ability to deliver this baby. Seeing how this baby inside of me is growing and developing perfectly and totally naturally has given me this new found confidence in my body and it's crazy cool abilities!

We had my 20 week ultrasound a couple weeks ago and were so thrilled to see that our baby BOY (yyyaaaayyyy wooohoooo!!!!!) is totally healthy and developing wonderfully and on track! I'm very low risk and am doing great as far as health wise, so Ryan and I have seriously been weighing our delivery options (and thankfully we now live in a place that has MANY amazing options!). I went from check ups at a normal OB office in Illinois where everything exciting turned into clinical routine, to a great midwife office here in Napa (who works through the local hospital) where check ups were exciting and I felt warm and welcomed.

Ryan and I feel comfortable there with the midwife office, but were still holding out for one other option. In Santa Rosa (about an hour away from us) there is a free standing birth center that I have been looking into for a few months. When my midwife here in Napa asked me last week if I had decided where we want to deliver the baby, I told her that we were still waiting to see the birthing center. She was so encouraging and even excited about me possibly delivering the baby there! She said she is very familiar with the center, knows and respects the owner/ head midwife, and thought that would be a great place for me! Ryan and I were almost surprised with with her lack of concern- but also thrilled and even more excited to go check out the place! Last Monday I went with my aunt (She delivered one of her children at the same center) to go on a tour of the center. Unfortunately Ryan had to stay behind to work, but I promised we would talk everything out once I got home before any decisions were made.  And thankfully I have a a crazy amazing and supportive husband who value the same things in birth that I do and totally trusts my instincts and judgment. Love him. Anyway... thankfully the owner/ head midwife was free so she took us on the tour and I got to speak with her about many different things. Long story short, it was amazing and everything I had hoped it would be! We have yet to officially make the switch, but Ryan and I both feel like this would be a great place for us to deliver our son! Ah, it's so exciting!

We are so blessed to live in a state that allows birth centers to exist and operate, and even more blessed to be so close to one (yes, an hour away is super close, especially considering how far some mamas are willing to drive to be able to go to a birthing center!). Thank you God!




 And now for the fun little pregnancy update questionnaire thing :-)

How far along? 22 weeks, 2 days

Overall Emotion last month? Peace with where we are, stress over starting a new job, and most of all...thankful for a healthy BOY!!!

Maternity clothes?  Sometimes, but not usually. Still wearing my normal jeans with the rubber band trick to keep them comfortable!

Sleep: Terrible. I'm SO restless and always uncomfortable. Midwife OK'd melatonin to help with falling asleep- and that aspect has been better.... but I feel like I spend more of my time changing positions and rolling around at night than sleeping. Sucks. 

Best moment this month: Finding out were are having a SON! (He was very proud of his boy parts and the technician was 100% sure it's a boy haha!)
Weight Gain: Yikes. ehhhhh like +16 pounds. Hoping to slow down on the gaining! 

Movement: oooohhhhhhh man YES! He is so active! I can feel him all the time and I can even feel him from the outside with my hand when he's moving around! Ryan has felt him many times too! And just this evening we could SEE the movement. His little knees and elbows poking up- so amazing! 

Food cravings: Pizza and fresh tomatoes. ooooo and those tacos from the taco truck that comes to Yountville from time to time!
  
Anything making you queasy or sick: Nope! I'm feeling great!

Have you started to show yet: Yep! Still not a whole lot though.

Wedding rings on or off? on 

Looking forward to: Starting to see my midwife at the birthing center! Taking control of my weight gain.

One thing I did well this month? I walk all the time now that we live in the most beautiful location in the world :-) And our pup doesnt have a yard to be loose in, so we're always talking him out on walks. I've been great at taking all my daily vitamins (prenatal, calcium+vitamin D, fish oil, sometimes B12 and melatonin at night). I have been drinking at least one cup a day of my pregnancy tea, and I have been trying to go to bed early so I can get as much sleep as I can.

Protein intake this month: Good 

Book Currently reading: The Complete Book of Pregnancy and Childbirth, by Sheila Kitzinger (one of the books I borrowed from the birthing center on Monday- I'm excited to read more from their library!).

10 comments:

  1. You're doing a wonderful job Elyse! You seem soooooo on top of things and I'm so very proud of you. Little Stu D. is a lucky kid!

    ReplyDelete
  2. have you read "shepherding a child's heart"? I would recommend it. I'm so excited for you guys! He's going to be such a cute little boy! Excited about the birth center too! How awesome!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. oooo I'll have to check it out! Can't wait to hear more about your pregnancy!!!

      Delete
  3. Elyseiedoodle. Love your blog, love you, love your little bambino and love Brucie and Ryan too.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. love love love to you also my darling! miss you both so much!

      Delete
  4. So happy to hear this update! Sounds like things are going great! I have to admit, I'm a little jealous you have a birthing center:) So excited for you though!!

    ReplyDelete
  5. yipeee! this birth center sounds awesome and I am BEYOND excited for you and how you are preparing for this birthing time :) You are great

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm so excited too! And super excited for you! Can't wait to hear about baby A's beautiful arrival pretty soon!!

      Delete
  6. I'm so happy that you feel at peace with the upcoming birth! I would suggest to start reading baby books now, ecspecially regarding sleep and feeding. That was my number one regret, I read lots of pregnancy books but wasn't prepared with any sleep methods. I've talked to other new moms that also wish they read more baby books instead of only pregnancy books during their pregnancy, because once the baby is here there's no time for reading :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks for the wise advice Carrie! Have any recommendations???

      Delete