A little indulgence on the pregnancy side, I do want to make it clear that although I am anxious about the baby coming in September, it is only because I have so much to do and there are still so many unknowns for me. I know that because of what we have been through with Quentin, there are so many things that will be different this time around when we have this baby. Not because we think we did something wrong with Quentin or expect everything to be perfect, just because it has been 6 years since having a baby before and a lot has changed, in the world, and as far as the knowledge I have goes.
I am sure that I won't do things as easily just for convenience, if there is a more "natural" way, starting with the birth, and moving through feeding (breastfeeding more exclusively, making my own baby food, glass bottles?), bathing (avoiding certain common ingredients in soaps and shampoos) and even development (more attention paid to key milestones that Quentin struggled with). I am pretty sure I cannot do cloth diapers 100%, so don't think I am going completely tree hugger on everyone, I am just screwed up now with my persepective and to be quite honest, I think I will be a fairly strange and weird parent, as if I am not already.
This pregancy has been the same and different for me. I was a little more nauseous than I was last time, but it was still mostly confined to my 1st trimester. I am starting to have heartburn/reflux issues now, but this is about when they came on last time too. The big difference for me is the movement in the womb. I can't believe how much I can feel this baby! She is moving all the time, and there is a good 3-4 week stretch I am in now where there is still plenty of amniotic fluid and the baby's size and activity level are such that the movement is so distinct for this phase I am having a hard time remembering it being this distinct with Quentin.
I was supplementing with progesterone early in the pregnancy because I was right at low-normal, and I have a tendency to be low on progesterone anyway, so that was different for me, but I also ended up starting Armour Thyroid about a month ago. I have my bloodwork and hormones tested regularly now, and they were all fine in December (hence the green light for getting pregant) and by early May, my thyroid was low enough to warrant taking some for the first time in my life. Having enough thyroid has made all the difference in the world for the past month, and it would be VERY easy for the symptoms of hypothyroidism to blend in with the common side effects of pregancy and go undetected - fatigue, weight gain, dry hair and nails, etc.
I have noticed such a positive difference that I wish I had experienced a few months of thyroid supplementation before I got pregant just to see if that would really have made me finally feel as healthy and energetic as I should feel at my age. I am taking the natural version of it and at this point they will have to pry it out of my steel gripped hands. It is amazing how great you feel when you are balanced the right way hormonally! I should know, I've spent 2 years doing it.
Our future daughter is still nameless, but we are discussing it. I am trying to figure out how to do a natural, unmedicated birth without the hassle of birthing classes. If anyone knows how to do that, let me know!
1 comments:
While being induced means I didn't do things completely natural, I think having no pain meds is natural enough.
I got the DVD Laugh and Learn about Child Birth from the library.
Having a short labor probably helped to. Tell your baby that the painful part should last no more than four hours. The grunt inducing very painful part no more than two. Being slightly stubborn also helps.
Post a Comment