introduction

[sandy from Toronto]

Hi,
I am not sure if I am posting to the correct place...I'm new and I haven't quite figured out exactly how the message boards work. I wanted to give a brief intro about myself. I am 34, first time pregnancy due August 17, 2004. I had always expected to have a midwife, but I went into pregnancy with chronic hypertension and discovered that I would have to be followed by an obstetrician. We had a negative experience with the first ob (too long to go into details) but have recently found one we like much better. I also have to see an internist frequently re: my blood pressure and have been on medication since I became pregnant. The pregnancy has so far felt like a highly medically supervised and medically intrusive one...not at all like I had envisioned.
My birth plans are fairly tentative given my blood pressure. So far, it sounds like they will induce me early if my bp rises too much in the 3rd trimester....hoping not to get preclampsia. I hope for natural childbirth, vaginal delivery with no pain meds, but I am also accepting that my birth experience could include cesarean birth.
I am so grateful to have come across these message boards and I am really inspired by all the wonderful mamas' postings I have read so far.

[myjo]

Hello again Sandy!

Sounds like you're going through the same scenario as my neice who's also pregnant with her first. I'll tell you some of the things we've suggested to her.

First of all I know you're already on medication, so anything you take as far as natural remedies should of course be discussed with your OB. One very safe remedy is to drink the juice of 1/2 a lemon or lime with 2 tsps. of cream of tarter in a 1/2 cup of water for three days in a row. Then stop. If you need to you can repeat this once after a rest of two days.

Also, even though it's necessary for you to see an OB, it couldn't hurt to talk to a good wholistic midwife to get her suggestions on diet and remedies for high bp. OB's generally don't know about the importance of diet in preventing and treating these things. If you do, I would imagine that she will emphasize the importance of eating plenty of protein and limiting or eliminating refined sugar. This can have a big impact on bp.

If hope things go well for you! Just don't let the OB's railroad you and make you feel powerless. You can be proactive! If you do all you can to prevent problems and you still have a c-sec, you can then be sure it was really needed, which seems to make a lot of moms feel better about their birth outcome.

[sandy from Toronto]

thanks

Thanks for your reply myjo. I will follow up on your good suggestions.
Sandy

[Solange]

: Sandy

[naturegirl]

Welcome Sandy and Congratulations! I am also going to be a first time mama in August (Due date is the 10th) I am originally from Manitoba. I now live in the US.

Just wanted to say hi and I am sure you will have a nice birth and beautiful baby.

Cheryl

[sandy from Toronto]

Hi naturegirl,
thanks for the welcome. Good luck with your pregnancy and soon to be new baby. First-time motherhood is quite the trip...I find that it is almost too profound an experience to wrap my head around. So many fantastic and intense mixed emotions....I can't wait for the baby to get here. My friend who recently had a baby says that its the longest 9 months you will ever experience and that the last of month of pregnancy feels like it lasts another whole nine months.
Sandy