Crunchy Peas

7 baby bumps

I just thought I would introduce you to the group of lovely people who have committed to spending the next 12 Monday nights with me. 

Aren't they something?  These are the 7 couples who are attending my summer session of natural childbirth classes.  Such a fun group they are.  This week we had a very real and enlightening (I did the enlightening) talk about bodily functions in second stage labor (or the lack of controling them).  Lots of laughing! We also talk about really official stuff like nutrition, anatomy/physiology, coping with contractions, and typical behavior patterns for the laboring mama at each phase of labor.  You know, like cussing in transition.  I am sure that I never swore- wink wink...but as a doula I have seen it all! It is so helpful for the husband to know what to expect from his wife.  I think it helps him to know how he can help her if he understands how far along she is in labor.  If she is swearing...you are in the home stretch.

I am always just so impressed by the husbands.  Each one of them contributes to the pregnancy and labor experience in his own way. It is very interesting to watch them progress with their wives. Eventually they arrive at the startling concept that there is indeed a baby growing inside their wife...and that it is indeed coming out at some point.  For some men, this doesn't happen until they first see the head emerge at the moment of birth!  Others get it much earlier.  I had once couple who underwent an in-vitro fertilization and they actually watched the conception happening on a screen in real time.  For that husband, it was very real from the get go. In any event, I am thankful that they are willing participants coming week after week to listen to me blather on about amniotic fluid and the perineum. 

(probably this is where I should give my husband props for doing the same for me. 3 times. You are the greatest labor support person any girl could ask for honey.  I am not sure that I could've done it without you- except for maybe that one birth (Hannah's) that you insisted on drinking that smelly coffee 2 inches from my face while I was working through transition in the tub.  I probably could have done without that.  Otherwise, you were a Godsend :) 

Looks like August and September are going to be busy!! Can't wait to meet all those little babes.

lots of action

It was a big weekend around here....

 

Our town celebrated it's annual Apple Blossom Festival.  We never miss the parade.

There was lots of flag waving, and dancing in the streets.

For a few hours all the world seemed right and wholesome.

After a busy day on Saturday I was called in at 12:45am for a birth. I arrived home Sunday morning to see my family stumble out of their beds at 7am.   I managed to catch a nap that afternoon and it was a good thing too because I was called again Sunday night at 10pm.  I am definitely feeling fatigued this morning after back-to-back-all-night-long-births.

Good thing I have these two little bunnies to cozy up with all day! Happy Monday (I think that is what day it is)

8am and its midday

So here is a sure sign that I was at a birth EARLY this morning:

Starbucks.  Blech!  I don't really like their coffee, but at 5am it was all that was available.  A soy chai did quite nicely actually.  Another sweet birth for the books.  What was particularly touching about this one was that the birthing mother had her sister there for support (her husband too).  I never had a sister (a crazy but wonderful younger brother instead)...and I am intrigued by the dynamics of female siblings.  Because I have three girls I often wonder how they will interact as adults. Will Emma be there to encourage her younger sisters during their labors?  Will they desire the comfort of each other's familiarity in a moment such as that?  I hope so.

So, already things are moving right along, in fact- I cannot believe that it is only 8am. It already feels like midday.

(aren't these great?  we found them at the thrift store yesterday!)

We are taking a long weekend and I may or may not squeak in another post before we leave.  If not, you'll know where I am.  We are off to visit my Dad and my Grandparents.  Grandma and Grandpa winter down south, and they have just arrived home after being gone for some time.  I am anxious to see them.

I am taking these with me:

With my grandma doting over the girls, I hope to have some time teach myself how to "knitting in the round."  Usually I crochet, but I really like the look of knitting better- especially these sweet little berets.  And, the way crafting has been going around here...I'd better start them now for next winter!  Any tips?  I can pretty much do the basics on regular needles.

Off to make myself a sandwich :) and dig out my umbrella- it's raining again!

ps. How's this for finished piles? Marathon folding session last night.

A baby and a bag

Remember my friend Saci from Hungary?  Well, this morning at 6:40am she had her little baby boy.  I was so fortunate to be with her and husband for a second time as they welcomed this sweet peanut into their family.

Her labor was about 3 hours start to finish, Jared was born in two pushes! Sarah, their older daughter was not so accommodating...so I was glad this time was easier for her. "Easier" is of course a relative term.  Labors that are short tend to be fairly intense.  Saci did a beautiful job of staying calm and relaxed while her body did some major work in a short period of time!  I have been doing this doula thing long enough now that some of my moms are having baby #2 and that is so fun for me.  I was tickled to again be present at such special moment and, of course, had a few happy tears for them.

(left to right: Stephanie-birth assistant, Me-birth assistant/doula, Saci, and Dzahn-midwife)

I wasn't on call this morning but was glad to be invited.  And hey, these short little 3 hour in-and-out births are fun. I could get used to those. However long they last, it doesn't seem possible that I will ever tire of being a small part of such a miraculous event!

And, last night I finally snuck in some sewing.  I have still been carrying around this bag and the wool fabric was all wrong for spring. 

My new favorite color is yellow.  I was trying hard to find a color combination that allowed me to have some yellow without being too annoying.  I wanted the bag to be something that would go with almost anything.  I used the pattern for the Pleated Beauty Handbag from Bend the Rules Sewing.  I bought the fabric and then realized when I opened the book that it was very similar to the one in the picture.

I like the way it turned out and especially love the little button that I added for a closure at the top. (I like my bags to close...you never know what might fall out of it :)

Anyways, we are gearing up for a freezing cold weekend.  The weather was unseasonably warm last weekend and now tomorrow we may get snow.  I was planning to move my seedlings outside this weekend- but maybe I'd better wait.  No matter, there is more sewing to do!

contentment

Another birth last night.  The call came just as I was getting out of the shower at 10:00pm last night.  My instructions were to get there as soon as I possibly could.  The adrenaline began flowing immediately.  I think that I toweled off, changed my clothes twice (I should just get some scrubs because trying to figure out what to wear to these deals is so stressful) slapped on some deodorant, brushed my teeth, kissed my husband (explaining where I was going whilst walking out the door) and made it to the birth center in about 17 minutes.  The baby was born at 10:37pm.  No joke.  A very quick birth.  I was home and in bed by 1:30am.  My confidence is starting to build and I am so thankful for the people who have been patient with me as I learn how to fit in as a birth assistant.  It has been (and this will sound corny with cheese on top) like a real dream of mine coming true. Told you.

The girls were home sick today.  Tough winter for us and germs.   I thought with the warmer weather upon us (sort of) that all this flu stuff would be over.  Not so much.  They were not miserable however, and if the truth were told- I loved having all 3 of them with me for the entire day.  The pace of life slows waaaay down when we are not rushing here and there around the school schedule.  Something that I desperately needed.  A slower pace. A pace slow enough for "dining room table forts" made from blankets- perfect for some reading.

A pace slow enough for elaborate train tracks and imaginary travels.

And cookies, cookies are always good (especially when most of the crew did not have much of an appetite- more for me!!)

I highly recommend Bob and his Little Red Mill- the yummiest stuff is made there.  This muesli mix is tasty on its own...but on the package there is also a super easy recipe for cookies using this cereal.  Throw in a few mini chocolate chips and you have a small bite of heaven.

We were in our pajamas until 4pm. Pretty sure that no one brushed their teeth before then either.  It was jus one of those days where I felt totally and completely content. Me, us...at home. No place I would rather be.

review

I am sorry for all of you out there who aren't really interested in this topic...but I really have birth on the brain right now! I officially have my own "on call" days at the birth center now.  Before, I would just pop in whenever one of my students invited me to be their Douala in labor.  Yesterday I spent the afternoon in training-- going over the emergency procedures with the other assistants at the birth center.  I learned things like how to prime an IV bag, how to draw up pitocin and methergine in syringes for postpartum bleeding, how to switch the regulators on the 02 tanks and how to set them up.  It reminded me that out of hospital birth is really safe for low risk candidates. I already knew this for myself...but it confirmed to me that we are indeed equipped to handle emergencies.

The conversation amongst my company turned to this movie.

It is the movie that Ricki Lake produced called, "The Business of Being Born".  It is now available for viewing via Netflix.  You can either have them send you the dvd or just stream it on your computer- which is what I did last night (I just signed up for the free trial offer and planned to cancel after the trial period was over.)  It was riveting.  I felt as though it perfectly articulated all of my frustrations with the way we handle obstetrics in this country.  I highly recommend watching it and I highly recommend that you get your friends to watch it.  It is very thought provoking and sweet at the same time.  There are several births shown..c-section and otherwise.  I have a hard time watching the sections.  Gruesome.  All in all, a great documentary about the state of birth in our country and what some women are doing about it.  Watch it and let me know what you think!

stop the merry-go-round

I want to get off!  The last few weeks of my life have been busier than I have wanted them to be and therefore, my posts have been less regular.  We have really been enjoying the warmer weather and longer days.  Fresh air feels so good.

This past weekend I had the opportunity to do a little PR for my childbirth classes.  An adorable new store (the only of its kind) opened up here in town and I was invited to be there to hand out flyers.

It is the kind of thing that I am entirely uncomfortable with...you know, making easy and relaxed conversation with perfect strangers, promoting myself.  You never know how someone is going to react when you encourage natural birth. I read and article in our local newspaper last week that stated over 60% of women elect for an epidural at our hospital (that doesn't count Stadol or other narcotic drugs "to take the edge off") Natural Birth Nuts are clearly in the minority.  Everyone seems to have an opinion on the subject and I think they should, I just get nervous stepping out in a group of strangers like that. Thankfully, no one threw rotten tomatoes at me. None the less, it turned out to be a beautiful store and I was drooling over all of the merchandise.

Those cute Petunia Picklebottoms diaper bags are not helping me make a rational decision about having another baby!

In other news, I did some fun sewing and some awesome thrifting on Sunday.  I am running out of time for today though (hey didn't I say I wanted off this merry-go-round?)  Come back tomorrow and the next day to see the products of both.

a little side note

I have that itch.  It is back.  It doesn't ever seem to quite go away.  As Laurel approaches her 2nd birthday, it has become more intense.  Another baby for us?

(Laurel Baby when she was actually a "baby")

I am not good at big decisions.  I can handle little ones with ease.  This morning I made the decision to have oatmeal instead of waffles.  Then, at the gym I decided to skip the third set of shoulder presses. After lunch it was time for the girls to nap but I made the decision to do one more puzzle with them.  But another baby?  That is big. 

   

(Emma the morning after she was born.)

I quite like being pregnant, and I actually like giving birth.  Being a Douala and childbirth educator I am constantly around "baby bumps".  I keep thinking that it might be time to get one of my own.  My husband is not quite on board yet, er- maybe that is putting it lightly.  I have some reservations of my own but they all seem so trivial in the grand scheme of things (gaining weight again, another year or more of nursing, reduction in "me" time).  Really, when it comes down to it, I have the rest of my life to be completely organized, to have a spotless house, to enjoy hours on end crafting/shopping/exercising/doing whatever I want.  This time (you know before my uterus shrivels up) is so short.  This is me hearing my clock ticking for the first time. 

(Hannah at birth)

I love being a Mom, challenges and all.  After 3 girls and 7 years of parenting, it feels like I am just hitting my stride. In fact, there are even times when I think I know what I am doing!  A big family seems so warm and jovial, so fun and lively.  So, I guess I will go on having this internal discussion with myself.  Babies are the best- how do you ever get over them?  How do you know that your family is complete? 

good grumpy morning!

I was called into a birth last night.  I always love this in the moment!  The excitement, the tenderness, the emotions are all over the map.  The couple was sweet, the birth of their daughter Olive was too.  I always come away thankful to have witnessed such a special moment in time.

That being said, I slept for approx. 2.5 hours last night....with my own daughter tossing and turning at my side.  So, here I am- a bit grumpy.  Today I am the recess monitor, I teach childbirth class tonight, my Holiday Traditions Swap package is to be mailed out today, Christmas cards to address, 5,000 gifts yet to make...and on and on.

Good thing I have such a great group of helpers :).  Cute too!

Good Grumpy Morning!  Happy day to you!

classes resume

Well, most of the schools around here resume classes today.  My children don't go back for another week, but I am starting another series of "baby classes" as Emma and Hannah say.  I teach natural childbirth.  Why?  Because it is one of my great loves.  My Father would say that this is one of those traits that makes me "crunchy".  I actually loved being pregnant and giving birth- all three times!  The jury is still out on whether or not I will get to do it again.

(Okay I don't love the stretch marks or the 60lb weight gain...but everything else is pretty wonderful!)

Did you know that the percentage of women who give birth via cesarean section is at an all time high in our country? (I just read this article in Mothering Magazine) Over 30% of mothers undergo major abdominal surgery in order to have their babies.   As a nation, our theology surrounding birth is unfortunately way off.  All the technology is obviously not helping much!

In my classes, expecting parents come each week for 12 to learn how to give birth.  In the presence of normality (which is more often then not), we strive for unmedicated births with little or no interventions. With such a lofty goal in mind, it takes practice and a supportive team.  The hospital here has an epidural rate of 80%.  It is indeed a challenge.  Most of my students are referred by the birth center which is run by two midwives. 

Another added bonus to teaching is actually assisting couples as their doula. I am there to support both the mother and the father as they progress through labor.  As in the picture above (Laurel's birth) I can offer my hand for holding (thank you Melanie). Witnessing a baby's first moment outside of the womb is truly miraculous, but the journey up to that point is also pretty powerful. I am thankful to play my tiny little part in all of it.