Crunchy Granola

I’m too crunchy for some people (to the tune of “I’m too sexy”)

I am one of those people who has to know everything about something before I do it.  I’ve read countless pregnancy books, I’m a member of at least 5 different surrogacy and/or pregnancy forums online and on Facebook.  I’ve talked to OB’s, doula’s, labor instructors etc. about pregnancy, labor, and birth and I’ve watched a few documentaries about the whole process as well.  I feel like I am well informed. 

I’ve chosen a natural route for this pregnancy, as I did with my own son 8 ½ years ago. 

Back story – On my husband’s 28^th birthday we went to my OB for my 39 week check-up.  According to the sonogram, the baby (we didn’t know if it was a boy or girl yet) was measuring 12-13 lbs. and would surely add another half to full pound in the next week if given the time.  My OB strongly suggested a c-section concerned that the baby would be too large and get stuck.  Being a young, naive, first-time mom I relented and the next day my son was born. 

While the C/S was uneventful and my recovery went smoothly, I was disappointed for weeks that I didn’t get to experience any of the feelings of labor.  My water never broke, I never once had a contraction, I had no idea what any of that was like.  I felt I missed out on a huge part of being a woman and creating life.  Of course, having a healthy baby was paramount, but it didn’t alleviate my sadness and feelings of failure.

Fast forward to over a year ago – I decided that I wanted to try again.  My husband and I are totally happy with our family the way it is and do not wish to have more children of our own, thus why I decided to become a surrogate.

So now I’m just over 12 weeks with twins and have been doing my homework and finding an OB who is more than willing to help me have the birth that I want.  The babies intended father is also on board, knowing that a vaginal birth is easier for me and better for the babies.

Being that I am on so many forums with so many other women going through similar situations I find it so difficult to read when a woman just accepts that what her OB says is law, and ends up having a c/s because it’s easier to schedule, or because she had one last time, or whatever.  I also find it really hard to read about health issues like pre-ecclampsia as a given.  I wonder how many babies would have been able to go full term if the mother/surrogate knew that a proper diet could almost 100% prevent it in the first place. 

I’m also learning more and more about how chiropractic alignments (something I’ve never given much thought about) could seriously help ease labor by aligning the pelvis and ligaments. 

No, I don’t think crystals or “healing light” waved over me is going to make the pain disappear, but I do think that more women should advocate for their own health during pregnancy by learning more.  I have friends who never even went to a birth class, they just showed up to the hospital the day the OB scheduled their c/s for and that was that.  I find the whole thing disturbing.

So yeah, it appears that I am “crunchy” according to current definitions and I think I like it that way J

12 Weeks

12 weeks already!

Wow!  It’s amazing how fast things are going. 

This is the last week of my first trimester, and other than a tough start this morning (I don’t think the babies like Monday’s either) things seem to be getting a little easier.  I’m less tired and less sick to my stomach in the mornings.  I can also tell that my body is changing.  My waist line is quickly disappearing.  I also felt a flutter last week – it was small and quick, but it was a flutter.  It’s still kind of early for that, so I am going to say it was the perfect storm of right position at the right moment that I felt it.  I should be starting to feel them more and more often over the next couple of weeks.

I am also, ALWAYS HUNGRY!  It’s getting kind of ridiculous.. I can eat a half a sandwich before I feel totally full, then two hours later I’m starving again.  It’s not just an, “Oh I’m hungry again” , kind of feeling either… it’s full on-gonna-eat-the-next-thing-I-see kind of starving.  I’m still craving spicy food too.  That doesn’t seem to be going away anytime soon.

In other news, I have decided to switch OB’s.  While I love my OB, she is not a supporter of VBAC’s (vaginal birth after cesarean) and definitely not with twins.   I found an OB only about 30 minutes from my house that is very pro-VBAC even with twins.  His demeanor was so wonderful when I went for the consult – he’ll even delivery breach.  He said, “I’m old school, we learned to catch them anyway they come out!” 

I’ve also enlisted the help of a doula.  She is the friend of a friend of mine and I know she is going to be an amazing resource and source of support and help for all of us.  For those not familiar, a doula is basically a labor coach.  They are trained and certified in the labor process.  She knows what to look for as far as trouble, and is there to keep me comfortable, make suggestions to ease labor, and to reassure both my husband and M. that everything is okay and normal.  She’s also a wealth of information as far as diet, health, and overall wellbeing and comfort during the pregnancy goes.  Dawn (http://blesseddawnbirths.com/) will be on hand while I labor at home, and help us know when it’s really time to head to the hospital.

So, yes, I’m kind of a crunchy mom, even though these aren’t my babies, and I would really like to have a natural birth with no meds and no c-section.  M. is in complete agreement and trusts my judgement because he knows that I have the babies health at heart.  I’m only semi-crunchy though and will leave options of vaccinations etc. to M., since they will be his kids after all.

We have our next appointment with Dr. C (the new OB) on 10/5 – hopefully we’ll get another sono done and I can post pics. 

10 Weeks

So that’s it – Monday night I took the last of the progesterone shots. 

A total of 65 shots in my rear end. 

It’s been tough to be committed every night to bruises, lumps, and soreness.  I’m so glad it’s over.

At this point, I’m officially off all of my IVF medications and only required to take my pre-natal vitamins.  It’s so nice not to have to remember to take a pill three times a day as well as being ready for a shot every night.

Next Wednesday, 7/19 I have an appointment with a doctor who is pro-VBAC (Vaginal Birth after Cesarean) with twins.  He’s about the only doctor in the DFW metroplex who is not only comfortable but advocates for natural births.  I’d really like the opportunity to try for a natural birth and I know that my current OB, though I really like her, is not as supportive. 

On 9/25 we have an appointment with a Perinatalogist.  She will do more in-depth measurements as time goes on to make sure that both the babies are growing at close to the same rate.  It’s very important that we keep an eye on that just in case one twin starts to lag behind.  M. is planning on being at this appt. so he can help fill in questions about genetics that I don’t have answers for.  It should be a very interesting appointment and we should get another ultrasound.

We’ll be 12 weeks (3 months) on the 24^th so the babies should actually kind of look more like babies and not like gummy bear aliens.

9 Weeks

So I am a little late in updating…

I’m about 9 ½ weeks today and feel pretty good.  My biggest complaint now is just being exhausted all the time. 

Not sure if it’s from getting up at least once a night to use the restroom or just in general, but I don’t feel like I am getting enough sleep.  I’ve been known to take a nap so I am well rested for bed J

The babies are doing great.  I had my first OB appointment on Wednesday and both were measuring right along where they should be, baby A is about 2 days ahead in growth than baby B but they are still close enough together that there is nothing to worry about.

Best news yet – I only have 4 more progesterone shots to go!!  My butt and I are going to have a party on Tuesday around 7pm when I would normally be headed into the bathroom for our nightly ritual.  Seriously, the bruises are pretty bad and I’m really sore but at least it will be over soon.