38 weeks!

With only 2 more weeks to go, I can see that there are positives about this pregnancy (besides that we are going to be blessed with a little girl very, very soon!).

* I do not have heartburn!

* No swelling in my feet and cankles!

* I have boys that are old enough to play by themselves. As I write this, they are outside playing with sponges.

Weird things that are happening that didn't happen with the other two:

* Leakage. I have no control over it- I'm pretty sure it's pee.

* I need much food a lot of the time, like 6 regular meals a day (but admittedly, it's been less intense the last two weeks).

8 weeks to go.

My pregnancy has been uneventful lately which is why I haven't posted anything. What's going on with pregnant Leah?:
* Vericose vein? Still there. Yuck.
* I'm eating ALL the time. Most of the time, it's healthy food, but I definitely have a treat or two a day in addition to all the healthy food. :)
* We are still not sure about the homebirth. It appeals to me in lots of ways, but the commotion of being at home makes it not a sure thing.
* For the pregnant women out there having leg cramps- I have found a miracle cure- Liquid Magnesium Calcium. It's amazing. I can now sleep more than an hour at a time!
* Lots and lots of braxton hix contractions throughout the day. These are just practice contractions- my body is gearing up!
* I really don't think my body can be stretched much more.
* Still no name for this baby girl. I can not wait to meet her!!
* As for my attitude?- I feel like I'm doing much better thanks to all the prayers on my behalf! I still get annoyed extremely easy and am tired a lot of the time. I took a nap yesterday and Cal said, "Oh good! Now you won't be as crabby!" So sad. But a little funny, too.

My Cheering Squad

Who will be at my labor?

- Eric, my man who I love and adore. He told me last night he will do as he's told. ;)
- Laura, my good friend who wants to be a doula and is extremely supportive and patient. I got to be there when she gave birth to her baby, Max.
- Nicole, my hippie friend who gave birth at home in a tub and who will be excited and encouraging while I'm freaking out and cursing.
- Possibly my more-than-acquaintance, Tami. I see Tami a lot at parks and we have great chats. She wants to get into birth photography and is building her portfolio. She is so talented and offered to take photos of this wee one for free! To see the pics she just took of Jess' new baby, click here.
- My midwife and her aprentice(s), of course.

Birthing at Home

Why do I want to birth at home? There are lots of reasons that people give birth at home. But the main reasons is more of a logical process for me. I really wanted someone to catch my baby who I would get to know at more of a personal level than a doctor. There are lots of midwife groups up here that deliver at hospitals, but even then, you don't know who will be there to catch and coach you through the labor and they don't get there until right before you have the baby, as well. That's why I chose a birthing center. I would get to meet my midwife, have an appt with her for an hour every month (and more as it gets closer) and be guaranteed that she be the one to catch this baby girl.
Then the more I thought about the birthing center in comparison to my house, the more I realized how ridiculous it will be to get my laboring ass in the car just to drive to a location that has nothing more than my house (besides it being cleaner and having a big tub). Also, birthing centers kick you out of their house 4-6 hours after delivering because they want to get you home in bed with your new babe as soon as possible. So thinking about getting up, getting back in the car and climbing my steps to bedroom right after I have a (probably) big baby come out of my va-jay-jay doesn't sound appealing.
Also, it's a scientific fact that laboring women progress faster in a comfortable environment.
There are many other reasons why women choose to give birth at home, but these are the main reasons that I'm choosing it. I'm super excited. And nervous about the pain. But mostly excited.

Tootie Dog

My 8-year-old pup has been driving me crazy. Since I've come back from Chicago, she has high energy all day and follows me from room to room panting. When I sit down, she rushes her face into my stomach. When she hears a small noise, she barks so loud she about gives me a heart attack. I can't take it anymore. Eric thinks she senses that I'm pregnant and is being over-protective. But I just may kill her.

Coming Baby

I'm pretty sure I'm going to have this little girl at home. It seems way simpler than traveling to a different house. I'm just trying to convince Eric now. :)

Isaac Steven- born 10.27.06

Isaac's birth story:

I was sure I wanted an epidural with Ike because my last epidural was so dang awesome. My due date was November 1st and I thought that I would go early because Calvin was so early. I had lots of contractions that resulted in nothing and the hospital kept sending me home after giving me a shot of tributalin (sp?).

And just a week before my due date, a contraction hit me stronger than anything I had yet felt and I was sweaty and out of breath. Eric walked in and said, "Is it time?" when he saw the look on my face. I said, "Yes, but I need to take a shower first. I'm all sweaty." That was my big mistake. It took so long to take a shower because the contractions were immediately close together and knocked me on the ground every time. By the time we got out the door to drop Calvin off with a friend, I was in tears from the pain and so angry that I had to sit in the car.

We got to the hospital and I yelled, "This is not a drill! Please get me an epidural!" After first checking me in at triage (6 cm dialated), then hooking me up to a water IV, they told me it would be another half hour before they could get me an epidural. I started crying again because I didn't think I could make it that long. After the water was in me, they ordered the anesthesiologist and he took his sweet time getting that needle in my back. I yelled, "I can still feel the pain!" They told me it takes about 20 minutes to kick in. It finally started feeling better but I could still feel all the contractions and my right side felt fuzzy and numb. 20 minutes later it was time to push- and I felt all of it. The doctor broke my water and Ike fell down to where I could see his head in the mirror. I pushed that big kid out in a contraction and a half. 8 lbs; 10 oz.

It was a total of 3 1/2 hours from first contraction to birth.