We had a busy weekend! Saturday we finished up our birthing class and learned lots of new and helpful information. We were there for 7 hours this time. The class was very good but I was so ready to stop sitting for a little bit at the end. I think both of us feel glad we went but also just completely bombarded with information that it's going to take a little bit to process. Guess that's what happens when you try to learn everything in two days.
At the end of our class our teacher came up to us and suggested that we contact one of her friends that is a Doula. For those of you who don't know (I didn't know what this was before I took this class) a doula is like a birthing coach that helps you through the labor process. A lot of people that want to have a natural labor (no pain meds, etc.) us a doula. I had never thought I would be interested in this. In fact, up to the moment that the teacher suggested this lady, it wasn't even an option in my mind. We had shared a little bit about our pregnancy complications with the class and the teacher had just contacted this lady for us out of the goodness of her heart to see if she was available. Well it was so wierd because as soon as she started telling us about this lady and why she thought she might be helpful to us I had one of those moments where you just get that feeling "this is why we were in the class with this teacher at this time." Kind of crazy but I felt that so strongly that I went and looked the lady's website up and contacted her and now we are meeting with her on Wednesday. The reasons that we're interested is that we both feel like we may need extra emotional support during labor because of the roller coaster we've been on. It's scary enough to go through labor for the first time without having that nagging how is my baby going to turn out thought at the back of your mind. Secondly we think she can really help us advocate what we want to the doctors and the hospital. Because of litigation sometimes doctors and hospitals are over protective in these cases--for example we do NOT want an induction unless there is a valid medical reason for it. I also want to breastfeed and I think the doula will be helpful in getting us started on that and in talking to the hospital staff so that we can have the baby with us if at all possible. I know they take the baby an hour after it is born and do some tests and things but I don't know what kind of extra rigamarole we'll have to go through given our history. Some of this may be unfounded fears, but it would be great to have someone there in case we have to deal with any of them. She charges a very affordable rate for her help so we'll decide for sure if this is what we want after we meet with her Wednesday. I do have to say that I feel like a hippy even thinking about this, but it is crazy how often you end up doing things you never thought you'd consider.
Last night our small group gave us a baby shower along with the other two couples in our group who are having babies. The shower was beautiful and they were so generous. They made a soup and salad dinner and had cupcakes with the babies' initials for dessert. We played several games and they gave us diapers and wipes and books among other gifts. We were really blessed by their generosity. The bedroom I'm keeping everything in is getting full. :) We are so blessed to have great friends here in Dallas. The hostesses took some pictures so hopefully I can eventually get some of those and put them up so ya'll can see how great the shower was.
Tomorrow is the day for the dreaded glucose test. I'm going at 8 in the morning. That works with Aaron's schedule and I don't want to have to wait any longer to eat breakfast! It has been interesting trying to schedule all these doctor things with only one car, but it has worked out. Just proves that it's all what you are used to I guess.
School also starts tomorrow. I have two internet classes and one class on Monday night. I get a reprieve from the Monday night class one more week since it's MLK day today. Aaron did not get today off so he's at work right now. :(
At the end of our class our teacher came up to us and suggested that we contact one of her friends that is a Doula. For those of you who don't know (I didn't know what this was before I took this class) a doula is like a birthing coach that helps you through the labor process. A lot of people that want to have a natural labor (no pain meds, etc.) us a doula. I had never thought I would be interested in this. In fact, up to the moment that the teacher suggested this lady, it wasn't even an option in my mind. We had shared a little bit about our pregnancy complications with the class and the teacher had just contacted this lady for us out of the goodness of her heart to see if she was available. Well it was so wierd because as soon as she started telling us about this lady and why she thought she might be helpful to us I had one of those moments where you just get that feeling "this is why we were in the class with this teacher at this time." Kind of crazy but I felt that so strongly that I went and looked the lady's website up and contacted her and now we are meeting with her on Wednesday. The reasons that we're interested is that we both feel like we may need extra emotional support during labor because of the roller coaster we've been on. It's scary enough to go through labor for the first time without having that nagging how is my baby going to turn out thought at the back of your mind. Secondly we think she can really help us advocate what we want to the doctors and the hospital. Because of litigation sometimes doctors and hospitals are over protective in these cases--for example we do NOT want an induction unless there is a valid medical reason for it. I also want to breastfeed and I think the doula will be helpful in getting us started on that and in talking to the hospital staff so that we can have the baby with us if at all possible. I know they take the baby an hour after it is born and do some tests and things but I don't know what kind of extra rigamarole we'll have to go through given our history. Some of this may be unfounded fears, but it would be great to have someone there in case we have to deal with any of them. She charges a very affordable rate for her help so we'll decide for sure if this is what we want after we meet with her Wednesday. I do have to say that I feel like a hippy even thinking about this, but it is crazy how often you end up doing things you never thought you'd consider.
Last night our small group gave us a baby shower along with the other two couples in our group who are having babies. The shower was beautiful and they were so generous. They made a soup and salad dinner and had cupcakes with the babies' initials for dessert. We played several games and they gave us diapers and wipes and books among other gifts. We were really blessed by their generosity. The bedroom I'm keeping everything in is getting full. :) We are so blessed to have great friends here in Dallas. The hostesses took some pictures so hopefully I can eventually get some of those and put them up so ya'll can see how great the shower was.
Tomorrow is the day for the dreaded glucose test. I'm going at 8 in the morning. That works with Aaron's schedule and I don't want to have to wait any longer to eat breakfast! It has been interesting trying to schedule all these doctor things with only one car, but it has worked out. Just proves that it's all what you are used to I guess.
School also starts tomorrow. I have two internet classes and one class on Monday night. I get a reprieve from the Monday night class one more week since it's MLK day today. Aaron did not get today off so he's at work right now. :(
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