*~*~*~* Spotlight on MrsBerkley!!!*~*~*~* « Back to Group Discussions

[jodieanneanton]

Ask Away!

(Sorry, ladies.  I got a little behind this week on spotlight threads.  We'll be all caught up tomorrow!  ~Jodie)

[jodieanneanton]

What has been your favorite part of this pregnancy?  

What are you plans for birth?

[MrsBerkley]

This is a rainbow baby for us after a loss last Christmas,so I have really appreciated this whole pregnancy..we have a midwife this time around so ive also loved feeling more responsible for my own health,more aware of how im treating my body,and more informed in general. We are planning for a homebirth in water and I am sooo excited about it!

[MrsBerkley]

Oh! Another thing ive really loved is my 4 year olds reactions and interest in my pregnancy...whenever she feels the baby kick her face lights up and she starts giggling and says "I feel that!!!!" all excited lol,its my favorite

[Chapsie]

We have a lot in common!  This is a rainbow baby for me, too, and I am planning my first home birth (and waterbirth) with an amazing midwife.  I really love the high level of individualized care I've received from her.  I have a 4 year old who is also very excited about the baby!  He is so protective of me and so loving toward his unborn sister!

Tell us a little more about yourself... how did you meet Mr. Berkley?  What was your daughter's birth like?  How did you come to find midwifery care and what was your thought process like in choosing a home waterbirth?  

[MrsBerkley]

 My daughter is the same way,she always wants to feed me and the baby,and she goes out of her way to be so helpful..it's so sweet and makes me so proud of how considerate she is :)

 I met my husband through one of my best friends...I had just gotten out of a 7 year "high school sweetheart" relationship,and she kept telling my about this guy who was so perfect for me and I was very hesitant because him and my ex are both named Kyle lol...but I finally gave in to meeting him,we connected immediatly and we have been together since that very first night! We are coming up on our 5 year wedding anniversary.

 Midwifery was something that I had been aware of,and after witnessing my best friends birth and the births of my niece and nephew,I had realized how much I loved pregnancy and birth and decided that I wanted to become a doula. Then I found out that I was pregnant myself,and realized that I could have a completely different experience this time around. So I did some research,talked to my husband about it...he was about 80% on board lol,but after we met with our midwife,we walked out and he was like YEAH! We can totally do this! She is really amazing and I can't imagine doing this without her..My first birth wasn't neccesarily bad,I have a lot of positive feelings about it...but I was pressured into an induction that in retrospect wasn't neccesary,and reeeeally pressured into an epidural that I was so determined not to have. And I had a third degree tear,and my 9lb baby ended up in the nicu with jaundice and dehydration because I wasn't getting that hang of breastfeeding,but didnt know..I begged for a lactation consultant but by the time I saw one,Alice was already in the nicu,had been given a bottle...It was just a big mess and so much seperation from my newborn. We even had to go home without her!  That was terrible. So the idea of a homebirth and my little one never being taken from me,I feel so hopeful and happy about the experience :)

Edited by MrsBerkley - 2/14/13 at 5:36pm

[cocoanib]

Hi MrsBerkeley!

 I agree, it's so much fun for me to see my babygirl (almost 3 yrs old) getting ready for her sibling and reacting to his movements inside of me.

 Will your little girl be at the homebirth? If so, how have you prepped her for it?

[MrsBerkley]

 We are planning on having her at the homebirth...I started out showing her really gentle,non graphic homebirth videos on youtube,plus talking A LOT about birth in general. I let her kind of take the lead and ask questions as she thought of them. It was really interesting and cool to me the way she reacted too,she hasn't ever seemed grossed out,scared,or anything like that. I think because I just showed them to her like oh this is birth,its totally normal...it would never occur to her to think any other way about it! And now she can tell you all about umbilical cords and placentas and we've graduated to more "realistic" videos,so she can get used to the sounds and the possibility of blood and stuff. I'm not 100% about who else will be present at the birth,but I know if she is scared or uncomfortable at any time someone will be there to occupy her and if we really need,she can go to my sister in laws house. But I have a good feeling about it and I really hope she can have that experience with us!

[scarletsmiles]

That is really cool about how you get to have discussions with your daughter about birth and what it is like. Many times people don't give enough credit to what kids can handle, I love that she is developing a healthy perspective on what birth is.

How has this pregnancy been different or similiar from your other pregnancies?

[MrsBerkley]

 This pregnancy has been very different for me..I had horrible "morning"(ALL DAY) sickness,and almost constant nausea for the entire first trimester for this one,and I think I felt nauseous once or twice with my first daughter.  The biggest difference has been the midwife experience,as well as me being more active in taking care of my health and body. I gained a lot of weight with my first,and it's embarrassing to think about how badly I ate. We have been vegetarian for coming up in 3 years now,but during my first pregnancy I ate an insane amount of fast food cheeseburgers,and a LOT of ice cream! I also didn't have insurance at the time,so I didn't haver a regular doctor,every appointment was with someone different.  This time around it feels really good to be aware of how I'm eating,the little ritual of making and drinking my red raspberry leaf tea,making sure Im not overindulging in my sweet tooth. And having a midwife who takes the time to actually know me and my family,bonds with my daughter and really listens to me..such a different experience! 

[chocolatechip]

What kinds of things do you like to do for fun? What are your favorite things to do as a family? What's your favorite food?