My Childbirth Experience

My childbirth plans:
    
    As many people now do, I prepared a birth plan prior to my delivery. Having read a number of books and articles I understood that childbirth rarely goes as planned but I also wanted to outline some preferences. My birth plan read as follows:

Baby Due Date: September 17, 2014

Birth Plan

  

* ability to labor and push in various positions (rather than on back)

 * intermitten fetal monitoring
* heparin lock (if available)
* no induction until 41 1/2 weeks pregnant or after 12 hours of stalled labor
*if pitocin is neccessary, request to start with lowest dosage
* no episiotomy
* epidural once pain is too hard to manage (so I do not restrict mobility too soon)
* avoid C-section unless absolutely necessary
* once baby is born; request for a copy of the baby footprints and Apgar score.
 

     Prior to my due date I provided my doctor a copy of my birth plan and we reviewed it together.
As I have mentioned before, I love my OBGYN. He found my requests reasonable and he felt they could be accommodated. On my end, I let him know that I understand things may not go according to plan.

      I read too many accounts were people were devastated when childbirth didn't go as planned. It's another reason why I tried educating myself on the variables so that I could be prepared if something came up.  My boyfriend hates that I research and overanalyze  everything and he feels I focus on the negative. I see it as preparing for the worst; this way if all goes smooth I can be pleasantly surprised but if things go bad at least I'm aware of what may happen and I'm less stressed or scared since I " prepared" for it mentally.
              

My due date:
 

     By the end of my pregnancy I was seeing my doctor weekly. At week 39, a week before my due date everything looked good. My baby girl had been in down facing position and I had already been dilated 1 cm as of week 36. I'd see my doctor for another check up the afternoon of my due date, unless I went into labor first.

 

     September 17th came around and still no baby so I went for my check up. I had mixed feelings at this point; anxious for the baby to get here, nervous about labor- specifically the pain, tried of being pregnant and uncomfortable all the time (sleeping, sitting, etc). I know most people don't have their child on the due date since it's just an estimate. Since the little one didn't make an appearance yet I figured she'd be late. I myself was born 2 weeks past my due date. So it was a bit of a shock, going in to see the doctor, to find out that the amniotic fluid was very low (which I noticed and saw in the ultrasound myself) and my docotor's suggestion to induce labor.

 

     As indicated on my birth plan, I didn't want to induce and figured I can wait for the baby at least until 41 and 1/2 weeks. My doctor gave me two options; he said we can wait and I'd come in for another check up in 4-5 days.  However in his opinion if I want a vaginal birth I was better off inducing now rather than later before  more of the fluids were gone. The fluids help cushion and squeeze the baby and move her down during contractions. Without the fluid, some babies panic and go into distress from the muscle contractions during labor resulting in fetal distress- hence C-section.  My other option was to go to the hospital, start on Pitocin to induce labor and hopefully have a vaginal birth by the next morning. We settled on a compromise.  I wanted at least a day to see if the baby comes on her own; I told my doctor that I'd go to the hospital the next evening to be induced if I didn't go into labor on my own. He warned me that as I wait the fluids can diminish but he agreed to my compromise.

      I was nervous that night but also excited that I'd soon meet my baby. Knowing I'd be induced let my partner and I plan for the birth. We'd go in by the following evening. My boyfriend decided to get a good nights rest at his family's house since our futon isn't too comfortable and my big belly and pregnancy pillows took up most of our full size bed. For that reason my boyfriend had been sleeping in our living room for over a month. We figured we'd both need a good nights sleep. He stayed by his mom's house and I had our home to myself.


Early Labor:

     I had been having abdominal pains for the last few weeks. It's normal to have contractions leading up to the birth since it helps the body prepare for labor. So that night I didn't think much of the pains I was having. As the night went on I began to wonder if these weren't actually labor contractions. By early morning (around 4-5am) the pain was intense and I found that rocking on an exercise ball was the only way to get some relief. I wasn't sure how much more I could take before needing to go to the hospital- yet the contractions never stayed in a true rhythm. During the one and only birth class we took, they taught us that labor is a long process and not like the movies. I'd have plenty of time before needing to go to the hospital. They suggest that we wait till contractions are at least 4- 5 minutes apart, lasting a minute and that this continue for at least an hour. Although I was having contractions every 4-5 minutes it wouldn't last an hour. It would continue for 30-40 minutes and then the spacing between contractions grew. Either it was stalling or this was just false labor. I kept waiting for it to become consistent. I had thought of calling my boyfriend to have him come back but there really wasn't much for him to do for me and I wanted him to save his strength for the hospital when I'd really need him. It was the same with the doctor, I thought of calling him but why wake him up at 6am when I knew he'd just send me to the hospital and I'd have more waiting.
    The contractions subsided a bit and I finally started dozing off as I hadn't slept all night. I was surprised when my OBGYN called at 9:30 am. He wanted to check in and see how I am and when I planned to go in for the induction. I let him know about my night and the contractions. He told me not to wait longer and to head over to the hospital after grabbing some breakfast and gathering my things.

Arriving at the hospital:

    We didn't make it to the hospital until 11:45am. Part of the delay was that I could not get my boyfriend on the phone. He was fast asleep and no one was answering the phone (not his cell, nor the house line there). Luckily his family only lives a few houses down the street, so I walked over and rang the door bell till I woke everyone up to let them know "it's time."  The other reason it took us so long is that we didn't feel rushed since I wasn't in active labor and I wanted to stay calm.

     When we got to the labor and delivery department of the hospital I was told to fill out some paperwork and wait in the triage waiting room. Administration came out to speak to me and remind me that since I do not have insurance I would be billed and responsible to pay. They offered a special reduced price for being self pay but only if I could put done $2,000 on the spot. I didn't have that kind of money so had to decline. I was then reminded that I would be billed the full amount. I know it's their job but I could have done without the added stress. My attention turned from trying to stay calm to freaking out about the finances but my boyfriend reassured me that we'd figure it out later and not to get worked up about it now. I was glad he was there with me and he would end out being an excellent "coach" and support person during labor.
     Since my doctor had called the hospital and informed them that his patient was coming in to be induced we skipped the triage exam and a nurse (Krystal) took us in. I was already admitted and a room was assigned to me; room 3 on the 3rd floor. Krystal would be my nurse until the shift change at 7pm. The first hour was all administrative; she took basic information about me. I was given a gown and socks to change into and I was hooked up to a fetal monitor for monitoring the baby's heartbeat and my contractions. The nurse had me get in bed when she hooked up the monitors and my movements were restricted already. That was one thing off my do not want list. I also had an IV put in and all my consent forms had to be signed.

The induction:

     My doctor would be arriving soon but Krystal want ahead to do my cervical exam just before 2pm. I was at 3 cm, not yet effaced (maybe half way) but my cervix was ripe. Just as she finished, my OBGYN arrived. Krystal filled him in and since the Pitocin wasn't started my doctor allowed me one last meal (lunch). He also allowed me to get out of bed, but the monitors and IV restricted me to a chair. I couldn't leave the room but the nurse got me a tuna sandwich from the snack fridge. At 2:30pm, I was started on Pitocin so that it can start my contractions (which had stalled prior to reaching the hospital). I also had a blood pressure cuff put on as well as a heartbeat monitor for me put on my finger. This was not going according to my birth plan, but that's how it goes.
    My doctor left but the staff would keep him informed. I spent the next few hours in the chair killing time. The contractions started but they weren't as intense as I felt at 6am. Teddy would make jokes and keep me calm, although I knew he was as anxious as I was or probably more nervous than me. We killed time listening to music, playing cards, and talking. Krystal would routinely check in on my. She was friendly and I was happy to find out that each nurse was assigned only 2 patients at a time so she would come in often and answer all my questions.
     Teddy stayed with me the whole time... well except for the breaks I "allowed him" to leave. His mother and aunt had come to the hospital even though they knew the labor could take many hours. Visitors aren't allowed in the labor/ delivery room so they were in the visitor waiting area on the above floor. Teddy went out to see them a few times. I of course was confined to my room. The hospital I had my baby at allowed 2 "coaches" in the L&D room. One is usually the husband/ bf/ father. The other could be another relative or a professional assistant such as a doula. I had just Teddy (although I offered to list my mom as a second coach so that she'd have access to see me during early labor). But I let her know that when things pick up and I get close to delivery, I'd rather she wasn't in the room. In the end my mother was busy with work and I told her I was fine with Teddy. She decided to hold off till the baby arrives to visit.
     At 7pm, I still had not progressed much even though my Pitocin dosage had been increased. Krystal finished her shift but she looked into who my night nurse would be. I ended out having two. One nurse was new to the floor and training with another experienced nurse. I'd routinely get my cervix exams from the nurses and the on call doctor. They then would relay the info to my doctor. It was very strange at first to have random people putting their hands inside me and checking my cervix routinely but by the end of childbirth I became used to this and lost any sense of modesty.

Things pick up quickly- real Labor:

     Originally my doctor was hopeful that I'd have the baby by diner time or late evening. When he came to check up on me I was only at about 4 cm. Teddy had just stepped out to grab some dinner that a friend brought to the hospital for him. It was about 8pm. I remember since it was Thursday and we were looking forward to Thursday night football. I love football and it would be a good distraction during labor. My doctor did another cervix exam and then he broke my water.  
     Things got pretty intense very quickly. The water breaking was a hot gush of fluid. It didn't feel like peeing myself but a strange awareness of hot liquid flowing out of me in a few installments. The contractions intensified very quickly and I felt nauseas all the sudden. The contraction pains went from about a level 4 to 8 (on a scale of 0-10). From the start I knew that I'd get an epidural but I planned to hold out as long as possible. I knew that the side effects from the epidural are worse if it's used for longer so I planned to hold off as long as possible. Suddenly I didn't think I'd be able to hold off long at all. With the intense contractions I wanted to call for an epidural within 15 minutes of my water being broken- but I held off. I didn't want to be a wuss. I think the worst part was how sudden the transition was and also that Teddy wasn't in the room when it all happened. I felt vulnerable and alone. I lasted about an hour before I knew I needed the epidural. At that point it was an internal monologue- thinking- " why are you suffering? you don't need to deal with this pain, just get the drug," BUT "maybe I can hold out a few more minutes" or "I'll ask for the epidural the next time a nurse comes in." In the end I don't remember if I gave in and paged the nurse or if I held out till someone looked in on me. I reached my pain tolerance and needed the epidural NOW.
     I also don't remember at what point Teddy came back. I do know that the room he left was not the same one he came back to. When he left to meet his friend and eat I was calm and alert with little pain. I remember there being an unpleasant smell when they broke my water. No surprise as it's all amniotic fluid that has been there for months- full of baby waste. Teddy left me comfortable with mild contractions, ready for some football. He came back to me huddled up to one of the handrails on the bed in fetal position in pain- barely talking. I tried to concentrate on getting through the pain. I was sweating and laying in my fluids and the room stunk.
    I couldn't pay attention to the football game and I waited for the anesthesiologist to give me the epidural. It was ordered but by the time it was placed two hours passed from when my water was broken. Two hours of painful contractions was enough for me.
    The placement of the epidural was uncomfortable but not very painful. I had an additional problem with it since my back has a bit of a curve to it. My leg discrepancy from hip dysplasia has effected my back. I told the anesthesiologist about my hip dysplasia but I wasn't sure if it would affect the epi. He was the one that told me there is a curve to my spine and because of that the epidural placement took a little longer than usual but it did not affect how it would work.
     When you opt for an epidural you automatically get a catheter since you no longer have the ability to feel the urge to pee nor do you have the capability to get out of bed. The epidural further restricted my movements. Although the epi dulled much of the pain I was still uncomfortable and felt pressure on my pelvic region and I was very aware that I was in active labor. Things only got worse.

Things get scary:
    
     I did not have pain in the same sense as prior to the epidural but I did feel intense pressure on my hip/ pelvic area and although everything was dull I knew all the time laying on my back was causing me pain. I tried rolling to my side but when I did, I started to feel hot, then I got extremely nauseated and thought I would vomit or pass out. The machine began to beep like crazy- the nursed rushed in. They checked the monitors, helped move me to lay on my back, put an oxygen mask on me, put a wet cloth on my forehead, and tried calming me and get the heartbeat back to normal. It seems that both my heart rate elevated and then the baby went into distress and her heartbeat was crazy fast. Everything seemed to go back to normal, the oxygen mask was taken off, and everything looked ok- but we had a bit of a scare. Once things calmed down the nurses left.
     And then- it happened AGAIN and AGAIN. The second was the same as the first but the machine seemed to beep like crazy for longer and the baby heartbeat took longer to calm down.  My doctor had been notified but they needed to called in another doctor to check on me and the baby. The fetal monitor that was strapped to my belly  was no longer sufficient to monitor the baby heartbeat and they had to go in vaginally and screw in a monitor to the baby's head to monitor her. There I laying in bed- with lots of tubes, cords, and straps to monitor me and baby, an epi in my back, catheter and internal fetal monitor in my "undercarriage", blood pressure cuff/ IV/ and heart monitor on my arm. This was not at all how I envisioned the birth of my child. And then it happened again! It always began the same way- I'd start to feel hot and week- as if I would pass out, then the nausea swept in, followed by my elevated heart and then baby distress. The beeping machines only worried me more. It was bad. I looked over at Teddy and he looked TERRIFIED! I began to wonder if I would lose the baby. "This can't happen. I can't lose her now. Calm down" I thought. I began to focus on breathing slowly and calming myself and once I was better I focused on the baby. I don't know why but I felt like I could calm her down. We're connected after all- she's inside me. I thought I'd look crazy if I spoke out loud- but maybe she can hear my thoughts somehow. Ok it seems dumb now but at the time it made me feel like I was doing something. I had a conversation with my baby in my head. I kept thinking- it's ok baby girl. Calm down. It's alright. You're ok. On instinct I began rubbing my belly. I did this often during the end of my pregnancy when I'd sit alone and think of my baby. Laying in the bed- I gently rubbed the baby and focused on calming her. Eventually it worked! ok, so more likely than not- I calmed myself down and with time the baby was able to calm down but I like to think that it was the connection between us and her feeling that "mommy is there for her and it'll be ok." that helped.
    After that third distress, I knew that I could no longer move around on the bed- I needed to lay flat, my bed reclined flat, the oxygen mask needed to stay on constantly. I was exhausted. I can't say how much time passed or what the time frame between each of the distress calls. I also remember taking small naps and Teddy dozing off on the heard bench against the wall- but I don't recall if this was before all the panic and distress or between the three or if we finally got some rest after. Regardless we made it to morning and still no baby. The nurses checked me again and believed I was getting there but soon my doctor arrived and when he checked I was only around the 6-7 cm mark. "We're going to need to do a Cesarean section." He said it, the words I feared most. I did not want this. Then again I can't say I didn't see it coming. It was just after 6am Friday morning. My night nurses would be finishing up their shift. I had been in the hospital since 11:45am the day before. Between 2pm Thursday when they pushed the Pitocin and started my labor and this point- I'd been in labor 18 hours! It couldn't go on. My OBGYN said the baby's head hadn't made it down the pelvis.

Unavoidable:
     I knew a C-section was unavoidable. I knew it was the only way. Throughout the night I had intense pelvic pressure. Early in my pregnancy I read about high rates of C-sections for mothers with hip dysplasia. I even checked with my orthopedic but he was hopeful that I could have a vaginal birth and that my hip joint deformation wouldn't interfere. Ultimately it seems my biology resulted in the baby having difficulty reaching the birth canal and caused the labor to stale. We could wait but there was no point- I would need surgery to get my baby girl out. I knew this- but I asked the doctor for some time to mentally prepare. He agreed but he let me know he would notify the ER we were coming soon.
     Things did not go at all according to my birth plan. Not one bit but I tried and I honestly feel that my OBGYN did everything to honor my requests. I did not want a C-section but I truly feel that I exhausted my options first. I delayed going to the hospital, I had the opportunity to begin labor at home- even though it stalled, and I had hours between when the Pitocin was started, when the doses were increased, I was allowed 6 hours from the start of the induction before my water was broken, and all night before the call was made to have surgery. I don't have regrets because we tried everything we could- I labored for 18 hours in the hospital (not counting the night at home of early labor).

 

     In the next post I'll recap the Caesarian section. Don't worry it won't be as long of a post as this.

 

The final stretch

     It's September 8th and the baby due date is September 17th so I'm in the final stretch. I know due dates are more an estimate since it seems rare for people to have their  baby on that date but it's still around the corner. I know the common assumption is that for first time pregnancies you're likely to be late but a number of studies have shown this to be rumor. From what I read it's most common to deliver mid into week 39 but prior to hitting week 40. The issue with estimates and studies like this is that it all depends on how accurate the date of conception is. Most women don't know when exactly they were ovulating or conceived and many give an estimate on the start date of their last period which is how the due date is determined. So it's all a guessing game.
     At this point the baby is full term and according to my OBGYN could be anywhere from 2 weeks early to 2 weeks late. Actually at my check up 2 weeks ago I was already 1cm dilated. Sure that's nothing in terms of labor and pushing out a baby but if I was already dilated about 4 weeks prior to the due date I'd say my baby and body were on their way.
     I have mixed feelings on the labor and when I'd want it to happen. I'm so tired or pregnancy, the lack of sleep, the inability to get comfortable, the aches and pains- that sometimes I just want her to be out already. Then when I think about all the work once she is here; the feedings, diaper changing, constant work, crying, lack of sleep. and responsibility I reconsider and want her to stay in a little longer. That and the fear and anxiety of the labor and birth process puts me in no rush for her delivery. I know women have babies every day and it's been like this for centuries but it's hard not to be scared and worried about the birth. It all seems so PAINFUL, difficult, and unpleasant. I worry too about the recovery after and at times that seems to scare me even more. I try to catch myself and divert my attention to something else because like it or not the baby will be coming out and it's unavoidable. My tendency to overanalyze and overthink just hurts me in this situation since it increases my anxiety and does nothing to prepare me for delivery or calm my nerves. So for now it's a waiting game.

The TMI files: Constipation

     After some debate I decided to go ahead and start a series of posts on the ugly truth of pregnancy. I know it may be "too much information," hence the name the TMI files but pregnancy is not all pretty and honestly I hate how much some people sugarcoat it. So, if you would rather not hear some of the ugly truth about my pregnancy and bodily functions I suggest you skip this post... for others- read on.
     To date perhaps the worst experience of my pregnancy was a particularly bad constipation day. Constipation during pregnancy is rather common. Your body produces hormones that slow the digestive tract, which causes waste to pass through much slower and more of the liquid to drain out resulting in large, hard, and difficult to pass poops. Gross- I know but I'm just being real and telling it as it is. As you get late into pregnancy the distance between the stomach, which is now up in your chest since the baby pushes all your organs into tight spaces, and the anus is pretty long so it feels as it if it takes even longer for things to make their exit... giving all the waste and poop even more time to sit inside and build up. I found myself in this situation after a few days without a proper bowel movement and I knew there was lots built up inside that didn't want to make it's way out.  I was backed up and it was starting to give me pains.
     What made this particular day that much worse is that it was a work day. I'm one of those people that feels odd about needing to take a dump while at work. Some people don't care... I do. To make it that much more difficult- my office has the worst bathroom set up EVER. There is one tiny bathroom; and I need to go through my boss's office to reach it. Yeap, that's right- there is one toilet and it's next to my boss's office. I swear the walls are thin  and I feel that you can hear what's going on in the other room- so if he has a client I can hear everything being said which makes me think they can hear what is going on inside the toilet. So it's obvious that if you are in the bathroom for a minute it's just a pee break- anything more and everyone knows what's going on inside. And finally there's the risk of embarrassment if any noises or smells come from the bathroom. Again some people might not care about all this,  but it gives me anxiety and just makes things so much worse on me and my " ability to do my business" while at work.
     So on this particular day, I started to feel early on that I needed to poop but when I got to the toilet I just couldn't squeeze out more than some rabbit pellets. Mind you I'm also trying to go about my business as quickly and quietly as possible because of the stress knowing that someone is on the other side of the wall and no doubt knows what's going on in the bathroom. The result of which was me giving up on my attempt and heading back to my desk only to try again in an hour or two. You can imagine how difficult it was to focus on work and how time seems to stop making the day drag. I also got that heavy & full feeling and it was difficult to sit still or comfortably at my desk. But no matter how many bathroom attempts I made I just couldn't get it out. Perhaps if I got over my pride, groaned and strained and sat on the toilet for 20 minutes I could have gotten it out but I resorted to toughing out the day and waiting to get home; much like I had done on other days.
     But when I got home it wasn't any easier. I was no longer worried about how long I sat on the toilet or any noises that might come out. Yet no matter how much I pushed and strained it did no good. I began to worry that I'll either push so hard I get hemorrhoids (another common pregnancy "symptom" from situations like this) or that I'll rip my asshole. I'm not even kidding I really wondered how I was going to get what felt like a baseball sized shit through the tight opening. And then as if I needed anything else to worry about it made me think of the upcoming childbirth and how it will be a similar situation only with a baby head and a different but equally small opening. That just stressed me out more and I took another break.  I made a number more bathroom attempts without any luck.
     So what do you do next in a situation like this? What else- you Google it and see what info you can find. What I found out from various posts, message boards, and sites is that at this point an enema wasn't going to help me as it sees I had fecal impactment. I also learned that if I leave the poop there it'll just get harder and worse and lead to a trip to the emergency room. And if that happens how will doctors deal with it? Well they can either try an enema, but it'll probably do no good at this point, so they will Vaseline your asshole and go in manually to break apart the poop into smaller pieces and pull them out of your ass. I'm not even kidding- that is how they handle it. And that is a good outcome because if you leave the waste in there for too long you run the risk of  other complications. For me the embarrassing idea of going to the doctor to have shit pulled from my ass was enough motivation do whatever I could to avoid the ER and get the poop out ASAP.
     So at this point it seemed that I might need to get a pair of gloves, some Vaseline, and go in to break off pieces and pull them out. GROSS. I know and so TMI. I did think of one more option. OK so it might not be much better than option one but still something that ran through my mind; the reason I couldn't get anything out is because the poop had grown large, hardened, and impacted and my anus was just too tense and tight to let it through. So another option was to find a way to relax and stretch the sphincter. When else do people do that? During anal sex. No- don't jump ahead and think that my bf and I had anal sex to get the poop out. I highly doubt he would have gone for it anyway. I can't imagine anyone agreeing  to a proposition like "I'm constipated and full of shit- you want to have anal to help get it out?" working on anyone. Still I have heard that anal is good for constipation and if the opening was stretched more open and relaxed it's plausible that the poop would come out. So anal play seemed like option two.
     My choices came down to a lubed finger up the butt to pull out the poop, a sex toy up the ass to widen the exit, or a combination of the two. I'm not telling you which option I went with but, although not a proud moment, it worked. Since then I've also done my best to eat small meals and make sure waste passes through my system rather than letting it build. More fluids, fruit, and fiber is a good option too but I had already been doing that. Also my work bathroom anxiety eased up a bit- I stopped caring if I was in the bathroom for long or that co-workers and clients might know is going on in there. Better that then letting anxiety inhibit me from taking a poop when I was able to do so rather than let it get to fecal impaction again. I finally started my maternity leave so the work toilet is a non-issue now. So there you have it- the first of my "too much in formation" posts. I know there will be a few more; not sure if anyone will continue to read my blog after but it's a risk I'll take.

Product Review: Mama Mio The Tummy Rub Butter

   
    I should probably begin this by saying that I am the worst person to review a lotion as I am terrible about keeping up with a daily cosmetic routine. That said, after reading lots of information about stretch marks, dry skin, and the need to moisturize while pregnant I thought it was worth while to research and invest in some sort of belly cream or lotion. From what I read Mama Mio had great reviews. They're products can be a bit pricey then again most cosmetics are. So when you compare a daily lotion like this to say a regular face moisturizer by Clinic or any high end product the price point is reasonable. Still I didn't want to order a lotion or cream for $50 bucks only to find it too greasy or heavy and waste my money.
     I'm very picky when it comes to the feel of lotion. I can't stand anything that slabs on heavy and seems to weigh down my skin. I was happy to find that Buy Buy Baby carries Mama Mio products and even has samples that you can try. (Sorry, I know it seems I'm pushing Buy Buy Baby but I really do find it a convenient store to shop at for baby stuff). I tried out a number of the skin products that Mama Mio offers and was surprised to like the Tummy Rub Butter the most. Usually any lotion listed as a butter turns me off since it tends to be heavy and greasy but I thought this one rubbed in quickly even though it does have an initial heavy and thick feel. The scent is also nice- not too much but a noticeable lotion scent. Mama Mio has a number of lotions, oils, and creams and even see a "starter sample/ pregnancy kit" but I decided to just go with this one container. The tummy rub butter lists that it should be used daily and can be used from the neck down so it's not just for the belly but can be applied to your boobs, back/ muffin top wrap around area. I don't see why you couldn't use it on arms and legs as well- even though they do see a special leg lotion.
     As far as it controlling of limiting the look of stretch marks I can't really tell how well it works because I do not keep up with daily use of the butter and because I'm only developing stretch marks now. I think I'll be able to comment more on this after the baby if/ when stretch marks become more of a concern. For now I do feel that the tummy rub butter is good at moisturizing, limiting dry skin, and limiting the itchiness that comes from skin stretching. This might be a bit TMI (too much info) but as my boobs grew with pregnancy they itched like crazy and I do feel that the tummy rub butter helped keep the skin moisturized and limited the itch. So overall- I like the Tummy Rub Butter by Mama Mio and would recommend it to others as a good moisturizer. Again I can't speak to it's ability to limit stretch marks or make them vanish but as a lotion/ cream I think it does the job.
     Below are some other products by Mama Mio. I haven't tried them (well other than in the store) so I can't speak of them but it's just for reference of what else they have to offer. The pricing is from Buy Buy Baby where the photo was taken but Mama Mio products can be bought at other retailers, online on the company site, as well as other online sites such as Amazon. I don't know how prices compare or where the best value is. Oh one more note on Buy Buy Baby, they take Bed Bath and Beyond coupons so I was able to use a 20% off coupon so that helped with the cost factor.

Baby Room

     The baby room is finally coming together and it's making it all seem real. A while back we decided that my bedroom would become the baby room. We got almost all of my belongings and furniture out of the room in May. Although my dressers stay there under a tarp for the last two months in anticipation of room painting. It took Teddy much longer than I hoped but the baby room is finally painted. Since I shoulding be around paint fumes Teddy offered to take care of the painting. He primed the walls, painted the ceiling white, and then got the one accent wall before tackling the three remaining walls. It was months of looking at a tarped and taped up room that we nicknamed "the kill room" a la HBO's Dexter; but it's finally done. The walls at least. There's still spots that need touch up paint and the window frame needs painting but we still have time for that.

     After getting the painting done, Teddy and his friend moved my dressers out and the furniture that we'll use for the baby in. Teddy also assembled the crib. Is say the room is 70% done. We still have decals to put up and well as some framed pictures and decorations. Besides that it's setting up the baby swing,mobile, and other baby gifts. I also haven't figured out the baby "changing station." I think changing tables are a waste of money and space. I hoped to place a changing pad on top of the dresser and manage that way but now I'm worried the space is too narrow.

     The other thing I could use is a seat in the baby room. The only glider (baby rocking chair) that I actually liked is well over $1,000. My mom offered to buy it but I can't let her spend that much on a chair. It's just too much. Even the traditional gliders go for a few hundred dollars which I think is outrageous. Not to mention they are so hideous. You'd think someone would come up with an affordable but practical baby chair. For now I placed an ikea lounge chair in the room but it won't work for me and baby because I can barely get out of the chair now. I'm sure we'll figure something out.

     When we get the room all done I'll post more pictures. It's still a work in progress but at least it has a baby room feel to it already. 2 more months to get it all done and welcome the baby.

Registering with Buy Buy Baby

     Before being pregnant I rarely stepped foot into a baby store so the idea of registering for baby products seemed overwhelming at first. Just the choices of what store to register at seemed complicated. Sure you have the big company baby chains like Babies R Us and Buy Buy Baby. If you want to be fancy and go the high end route- Bloomingdales and some other department stores have a "baby shop" and offer registries. Then there's Target, Walmart, Kmart, and all of those stores. Lastly, there's the internet and even more possibilities for places to register.  I settled on Buy Buy Baby and Amazon.

     I went with Amazon for one of my registries (yes, I did more than one). I like the convenience of the internet and Amazon has EVERYTHING. Plus prime members can get free shipping (depending on the product). The thing that sold me on an Amazon registry (other than the convenience)  is their "universal button." After installing it, you can browse other websites and link items from other sites into your registry. Sadly, I have yet to figure it out so that I can add the universal button so that I can attach a few items from other sites into my registry. I've gone though the directions a few times and even asked Teddy to do it for me since he's more computer savvy and we still haven't figured it out. If anyone knows how to set up the universal button please message me or comment back on how I can do it.

     For my other registry I wanted to pick a store. Some of my guests, like my grandma, don't have a computer nor would they know how to go about using an online registry so I needed a standard store option. I went with Buy Buy Baby for two reasons. 1) they accept Bed Bath & Beyond coupons and 2) I liked their inventory & customer service.

    Originally I though I'd go with Babies R Us but I hated their customer service during my initial trip to the store. There were limited associates on the sales floor and when I needed help and information on a stroller I spent 20 minutes waiting for help. Maybe it's a bit harsh to make a quick judgment on one bad experience but I also read a few negative comments online about their return policy. So I gave Buy Buy Baby a shot.

    Before beginning my registry I spent hours online ready product reviews, watching youtube videos of parent reviews, and even started following blogs like Baby Gizmo. By the time I went to the store to do my registry I had a huge list of my wants and needs. Turns out I didn't need to do all that research on my own. Buy Buy Baby gives you a booklet of things to consider and register for and they even offer you a personal shopper (free of charge) to walk the store with you, answer your questions, and to make suggestions of useful items. I also didn't realize that I could have done my registry bit by bit rather than spending a half day with a scan gun getting all the items that I wanted. It's ok. I took my mom, rather than Teddy, to complete the registry. We made a day of it. After the initial sign up at the help desk, I was offered water as we are shopping (we got two little bottles) and given a goody bag. I've included a picture of the items in the bag; it was a good mix of coupons, promotions of products, and some samples.

     As mentioned before I was offered a personal shopper but I declined since I already know many of the brands and items that I wanted. If I knew the store staff would be so helpful I would have started my registry earlier. Perhaps then Teddy could have come along to do part of it. He decided against it since he know I already had a ton of items in mind and he'd just be bored following me around the store. Had I not research everything first and just worked on sections of the registry at a time he could have been involved. Oh well, hindsight is 20/20.

Acupuncture and Physical Therapy for Hip Dysplasia during Pregnancy

     As I mentioned in a prior post, I have hip dysplasia. Being pregnant has increased my pain and also limited my treatment and pain management options. My back and hip pain is now accompanied by pain of the entire pelvic bone and sciatic nerve pain that sends a shooting pain from my butt down my leg. The shooting pains come on unexpectedly, usually while I'm walking or when I move to get up. The pain varies from day to day but has progressed along with my pregnancy. I was becoming desperate and willing to try anything; which is how I ended out starting acupuncture.
      I have no problems with Western medicine and I do believe that a lot can be said for alternative and holistic medicine/treatments and their healing abilities. My problem is with the needles. I HATE NEEDLES. You'd think I'd get used to it by now because being pregnant doctors are constantly taking my blood, testing this or that. But I still get horribly nervous each time. So the idea of getting pricked with numerous needles and left to "relax" in my human -pin cushion state was not something I wanted to try out. But when the pain gets bad- you'll try ANYTHING to make it stop. And that's how I began acupuncture.
     I've been going to acupuncture about a month now. Twice a week after work I let a nice Korean lady named Naomi stick little needles all over my body. I've learned to clench my teeth and remain as still as possible while she works her magic. Each session begins with her asking how I am doing, where my pain is that day, and the severity of it. She then has me lay down either face down or face up or even sitting and proceeds to stick me with needles. As I mentioned before, I hate needles so I try not to look but from my count it's usually between 15 and 25 needles. After she places them all  she covers me with a thin aluminum like blanket, dims the lights. and leaves me to relax and let the needles do their work.
     Does it hurt? Well that depends. Usually, no. Most times I barely feel the needle but other times there is an instant pressure and pain. Naomi explains it saying that the body is like a roadmap and everything is linked. So if she is treating my hip, she can find a point along that map either on my hand or foot or even elsewhere  that is linked to the hip. Sometimes she hits a point on the map that is blocked so its an instant "trigger spot." Those trigger spots are the ones that hurt and that I feel most. For me there is one on the side of my left hand almost at the corner of what I believe is the "life line," and every time I get a needle there (which is almost every section) it hurts. I've learned to brace myself for it. I think it also depends on what part of the body she is placing the needles. In general hands and feet are more painful. Being pregnant there are certain points that she can't stick me with needles so maybe that's why I end out with so many in my hands and feet. Overall it's not too painful and although I can't say that my pain has magically vanished I do find myself feeling better after my sessions now that I learned to relax a bit more.
     The center that I do acupuncture at is actually a physical therapy and sports rehab center. When I went for my first acupuncture session I also met with the chiropractor and head physical therapist. I already see a chiropractor elsewhere so I didn't opt to switch. As for physical therapy, my orthopedic advised against it until after the baby was born. The therapist at the center was surprised by this because pt is one of the few things that can help during pregnancy. She agreed that some treatments need to be avoided but there were still exercises and massage treatments that can be used to ease the pain. She offered to speak with my orthopedic and obstetrician.
     During my second visit she said she spoke with my doctors and got the approval. Seems my obstetrician was very accommodating where as it seems my orthopedic backpedaled a bit on his earlier statement claiming that he discouraged pt because obstetricians don't take kindly to it. Either way I got the green light and began a series of exercises that will help strengthen my hip bones and core. The other part of my physical therapy includes being stretched out by the therapist, and getting massaged to work out the knots in my back and hip areas and minimize the inflammation to the joints. I admit I love the massage and even though it hurts at times I usually feel better after. The exercises aren't difficult but I sometimes I feel pain while doing them or get sore afterwards. Still I know they are important and with time I hope they won't bother me at all. Overall it's nice to finally have some sort of pain management again. I'm not sure if I'll have the time or continue to go to weekly sessions once the baby is here but for now it helps with the hip, back, and pelvic pain so I just take it day by day and week by week.