UC Support Thread - Page 3

[echospiritwarrior]

Wow- gone a day and look what I miss!

HELLLOOOO everyone! This is wonderful! I feel the love

reducereuserecycle- your screen name. I just graduated with a degree in resource and environmental studies, I'm sure like a lot of people here we try our darnedest to tread lightly. anyhow to answer your question I think I'm about 37-38 weeks now. Today is one of my due dates and the other is in October, I think I'm somewhere in the middle around the middle of September... believe it or not DP read a couple of pages in Emergency Childbirth tonight- looks like he may get it read before baby comes!

nightwalker- labor your way... just think all your ailments will end soon!

preggieUBA2C- count me into the the "looking forward to labor and birth" club! I can't wait! Wow, what a fascinating thing those mamas to be actually go through, it must be especially interesting to have your "can't wait" attitude in that kind of a mental climate!

scarletbegonias- I'm so happy to hear you so much more confident today!

zjande- I think that's a perfectly valid reason to explore UC! My first labor was rather precipitous and the reason for originally considering UC.

So, I guess I'd best introduce myself a little better. I'm Vera (28) and have one wonderful daughter 27 months. Pregnancy feels so natural and simple and beautiful to me. I never had morning sickness in either one and I just adore all but the last few uncomfortable weeks (now). Last time it seemed only natural to have a midwife attended HB but I seem to defy all the "norms" -- she had me anticipating a 24 hour labor and to be 10 days past edd. I had a two hour labor With totally irregular contractions) at 39 weeks. She was there for the last 15-20 minutes of my daughter's birth. That is why this time I originally considered UC, but then I hired my midwife and kept plugging along on auto pilot until....

the whole edd thing. Today is my first edd (LMP) and 5 Oct is my next one... so I'm now positive I will give birth in between now and then anyhow her insistence on the whole accuracy of the ultrasound has me wishing I went UP too. I do look forward to the fact that I can call my MW with any concern before rushing off to a hospital but I plan on calling her until after the birth.

I truly look forward to labor! Everything happened so fast last time, I think I had my body working against itself because I was fairly scared. I had transitioned and was pushing before our midwife arrived, and I think I'd set myself up for needing that mental crutch which is what caused my labor to be so intense. I hope to be so relaxed this time that I actually have more like a 3-4 hour labor so that I can enjoy myself! I think this time my contractions will be pleasurable not painful!

I'm hungry for some more reading material so if anyone has any great suggestion of the top of their head I'm game!

everyone


It's so nice to feel the

[shell024]

Wow PreggieUBA2C! That is a nutso policy. Sounds like its all about the $!

I'm having trouble keeping my mouth shut when I want to shout my beliefs but know that it would cause unwanted/awkward conversation....

[moonfirefaery]

*waves* Hi. I'm Heather, and I am 35 weeks along with my second child--first UP/UC. I saw a midwife at 16 weeks briefly to check the fetal heartrate and have been doing my own care since then. I feel great, just tired and very abused by the feet in my womb. I've got my birth kit ready and am just patiently waiting now. I am scheduling an ultrasound for the end of the week or next week because of concerns about the location of my placenta. I think it may possibly be too low, so we're going to have a peek just to make sure. If the midwife is concerned about it then I may have her at the birth or decide to deliver in the hospital. If not, it's full speed ahead.

[ScarletBegonias]

i, too, always look forward to labor and birth. i love it! i tell everyone i know, when they ask, that pregnancy is awesome, but in my mind it's * nothing* compared to labor and birth. they are usually confused , impressed and shake their head.

gotta go, dd is climbing all over me!

[lactivist]

I am another in the looking forward to birth club. Not much longer now and I will get my wish. I was lucky to come to UC in a non-traumatic way. I thought about birthing alone with my first but just thought I was crazy. After my second was born and the midwives barely did anything I read a UC story. I was hooked. I knew that was the way for me. My last birth was so empowering. It got me through some seriously rough patches in his first year. Knowing what I had done I knew I could make it through with strength and courage. It is bittersweet that this will be my last baby but I see myself being an advocate for mothers' choices for a long time to come.
Wendi

[dantesmama]

I'm 2.5 weeks postpartum - second baby, first UP/UC, and I'm still in awe over how amazing the whole experience was!

My first son was an OB-attended hospital birth, and a pretty negative experience. After that I decided I'd never birth in a hospital again (barring serious complications, of course). I learned about UC a few months before we ttc'd our second baby, and after my initial "that's nuts!" reaction, I realized it made so much sense and couldn't imagine birthing any other way. Once we conceived I wasn't entirely sure whether I'd have an unassisted pregnancy. I figured I'd wait til the end of my first trimester and then see how I felt about seeking out prenatal care . . . and at that point I had done more research and came to the conclusion that it wasn't necessary unless I felt something was wrong. I had a very peaceful, lovely pregnancy. DP was never 100% on board with UP/UCing, but he respected my needs enough to go along with it (and he knew that there was just no way I was changing my mind ).

My labor and birth was incredible. It was almost entirely stress-free (except for after I called DP home from work - his boss called FIL, who works for the same company, and told him DP had gone home because I was in labor. So all the ILs knew what was going on and we were bombarded with phone calls and threats of MIL coming over - they knew we were having a homebirth, but I said we had a midwife : . My labor pretty much screeched to a halt at that point, until I had DP tell everyone it was a false alarm, not real labor). I labored alone once things got intense, and gave birth kneeling at the foot of our family bed. Catching your own baby, in your own home, with your own family, is an incredible feeling. There was absolutely no anxiety. It felt like the most natural thing in the world.

One of the most significant things I'm noticing now is how connected I was to Jasper as soon as he was born. I was so in tune with him throughout my pregnancy, because I had accepted full responsibility for everything instead of hiring someone else to be responsible. I had been communicating with him since the night I felt him implant, and I *knew* him already. When he was born it wasn't at all like I was "meeting" someone for the first time - it was like a reunion. I didn't experience that when I had Dante, my firstborn. Have any other UCers experienced this?

It's great to have a thread like this!

[paphia]

Hi, I'm Christine. Currently 6 weeks. This will be my 2nd child, first up/uc. Nothing to report, I'm only having mild pg symptoms, which I am enjoying a lot. I'm getting super-serious about my diet, as I would love to grow a big, fat baby. DD was only 6 lb 2 oz at birth (ob care, natural birth in hosp but not bad overall) and I felt like I didn't do a good job.

I too long to labor and birth again. I have wonderful dreams about painless birth where I catch the baby myself.

I'm still trying to decide when I should tell my family. I'm really enjoying having this time all to myself. Also, I hate my family's nervous vibes that they dump on me. Maybe we'll wait until the baby is born!

[amyjeans]

today is a bad day

well, I needed to vent. I tried with my sister, my husband and the dog- just not cutting it.
Feel for me mamas!
my kids are making me nuts, my youngest thinks our 4 month old Saint Bernard is a pony. The other day he (the dog) bit my oldest in the face- (long story- totally my own fault for not crating him while i went to pee for 2 min!) everyone is fine.He really needs to get into Obedience school fast, but classes don't start until SEPT 13!!?!?!??
I am sooooooooooooooooo flippin nauseous(sp?) nothing is appealing to me accept dunkin donut bagels and cocoa puffs.
My 3 yr old is having temper episodes because we fell off the "Feingold" wagon with my poor eating habits and now everyone is suffering!
Everyone has the runs from the crap food I recently bought. I just cant eat meat this time around (must be a boy!)
My GP is on my case for being so heavy and not going to an OB for this pregnancy. Uhm, no thanks, I am not up for the threats.
uggh,
someone come rescue me!

Deep breath...
Okay- here is my ideal day- help me visualize it.
DH comes home, packs me a bag and sends me off in his car (no car seats!) for a 3 day weekend ALONE in a hotel. I order room service every day, lounge around in a soft terrycloth bathrobe and sleep whenever I feel like it. I order all the movies I can- get a massage or two, drink champagne and get a bit tipsy!
He takes 3 days off of work, cares for the kids and the dog and never calls for help, never stops by the hotel to check on me or say the girls just really missed you.

Help me visualize this dream- I want to make it come true!!!!!!

Okay, thanks for letting me vent and daydream!

[shell024]

Amyjeans

[PreggieUBA2C]

Originally Posted by dantesmama

I had been communicating with him since the night I felt him implant, and I *knew* him already. When he was born it wasn't at all like I was "meeting" someone for the first time - it was like a reunion. I didn't experience that when I had Dante, my firstborn. Have any other UCers experienced this?

I felt that way with all of our babes, even the ones with midwifery care, once I knew I was pg. With ds1 I had no idea until something like 16 weeks but once I knew he was there, we made quick work of getting to know one another . Then with the next pgs I also knew from implantation and had the same 'knowing' relationship with them. I had a midwife for the first two and then a c/s with an OB for shared care at the last few weeks, but with our mw, I did all of my prenatal care anyway- even in their clinic. I came in, weighed myself, did my own pee stick, and because I was interested, learned how to determine position so that even though our mw double-checked, I always told her where the child was. That's not at all the same as UP, but I still did know that ultimately my pg was my responsibility, although I am not sure that this is the reason for my closeness and connection with our unborns.

My response to our children emerging has always been, "It's so nice to see you!" not meet you. I have known them all so well that I can tell you what music they like, how they like to play, what agitates and excites them, all the things that are just as obvious when they've emerged and are visible. They live in my body!!! I cannot imagine how I could NOT know them, but I do know mamas who have shared that they had no idea who the babe was who was born to them until they had spent the first few months out of the womb. That baffles me. I don't get it. Not critisizing, just baffled.

BTW, my UP consists of communicating with dc and trying my best to be as healthy as possible in every way. I don't actually weigh myself or do any testing whatsoever and will not unless I think there's a specific reason to do so.

I honestly cannot imagine going back to prenatal appts and u/s and all the tests (I've refused every one except for the pee stick glucose and protein during pg1- since then, I haven't done a one); it would be like trying to unlearn. I just couldn't do it.

I am concerned now about my near-slips with my plans. It's happened several times when I've caught myself on the verge of saying it out loud just the last few days; this is unusual for me. Must be because I'm pg...

Oh, and I have to have my birth pool delivered from the US to a friend in the south of Canada so she can wrap it in brown paper and leave no trace of the labels that indicate the contents, and then ship it to me here. So many hoops... but totally worth it! I almost enjoy the secrecy of it; I feel like an international spy... or just a mama who doesn't have to endure any talk of how dangerous this is since everyone thinks I'll have the same experience as they did (a truly dangerous one, I might add). Dh and I have a plan for how we'll explain things if anyone figures out that I haven't actually left. Heehee.

[quarteralien]

Alexandra, that was beautiful. I hope to be better connected to future children. I haven't yet had a UC, not sure if I'll UP, but I definitely want to feel more connected.

[PreggieUBA2C]

Dear Amyjeans,

Firstly, more to you.

Secondly,

Originally Posted by amyjeans

...while i went to pee for 2 min!

I hope you can laugh with me about the ambiguity of this statement YOU PEED FOR TWO MINUTES?!!!

Dh and I call that a 'Harley Pee' because of a dog we sometimes look after whose entire torso must be one gigantic bladder. It is seriously not an exaggeration that this dog pees for two to three minutes, continuously. Dh timed him. His name is Harley. You had a Harley pee. Or you were just away for 2 minutes, which isn't nearly as amusing; completely normal and fine, but not amusing really.



I hope you have a better day tomorrow, and if your visualisation manifests in reality, I am a green, green monster of jealousy ; but I do hope it does happen for you.

Happy dust for you:

[quarteralien]

Originally Posted by PreggieUBA2C;9026900Dh and I call that a 'Harley Pee' because of a dog we sometimes look after whose entire torso must be one gigantic bladder. It is seriously [I

not[/I] an exaggeration that this dog pees for two to three minutes, continuously. Dh timed him. His name is Harley. You had a Harley pee. Or you were just away for 2 minutes, which isn't nearly as amusing; completely normal and fine, but not amusing really.

Thanks, I needed that!

[FreeLove]

The Long Piss Goodnight

I believe I've actually peed for two minutes or more...

Early early one morning I got up to use the restroom in a half sleep stooper. I could feel the baby pressing the pee process much too quickly for my narcosleepy body. Apparently the baby saw that I wasn't moving fast enough to the toilet. After some careful manuvering in the dark, I stumbled my booty on to the cold toilet seat and exclaimed "hold on sweetie, hold on I'm almost there" My body shutterd with the delight of relieving myself "Ahhhhhh"! The weird thing was after I had done the whole sigh of relief thing and was waiting for it to come to a satisfying end, I couldn't stop, I just kept on peeing? It felt really weird cuz my body felt like I was done and the gratification part was over with, but I just kept on peeing like my body forgot to turn the faucet off. I didn't know what to do, my pelvic muscles weren't in charge anymore. I was just go'n with the flow

The next day I told this story to DH and he just gave me this really confused look and I was like "I know, I don't get either" I guess it's just another one of those moments you on;y experience during pregnancy.

[Marlet]

Oy! I had to rewrite my birth story but I got it done! I think I need to go through and edit though...it ended up being 8 pages long! DH is going to get me a secure page set up so I can password protect it and then I'll post it for those who want to read it.

The short version though would go something like this: I woke up in labour. DH came home. DD left. I pushed a baby out.

[reducereuserecycle]

The short version though would go something like this: I woke up in labour. DH came home. DD left. I pushed a baby out 


[rajahkat]

"Dh and I call that a 'Harley Pee'"



And in our house it's a "Kong" because years ago we were waiting in line at Universal Studies to ride Kong and dh had to pee but refused to get out of line in case he'd miss the ride. I think we were in line for like 45 minutes. I couldn't enjoy the ride at all because I was afraid dh was going to wet himself. After the ride, He said he'd never peed that long before in his life, so now everything is rated acording to that. "oh, it was only a half Kong"

Kat

[Marlet]

Voila!

[Pseudopods]

Thanks everyone for the warm welcomes.

Originally Posted by shell024

Jordan, WELCOME!!!!! I hope you find pleasant comraderie here in your learning : I've always loved the women here. And sending you blossoming fertility vibes! ((((((()))))))))

Thanks! You know, this trying to conceive is so different from my usual "Hey, I might be pregnant!" kind of conception. Both of my kids were surprises, and this is a whole different experience. My last pregnancy, I wasn't expecting it, but I felt I was pregnant very soon after implantation. So, of course, this time, I'm waiting/feeling/hoping for signs, and not sure if I'm imagining it or if it's really there. I'll be sure to keep ya updated.

[shell024]

today was the first time that i was having strong ffeelings about wanting that "perfect birth" that doesn't exist. wanting to do it over as a chance to "fix" certain things. It felt weird. I know I don't want to get pregnant again just yet. thats for sure! I just feel like if I had remembered to light candles, play music, and a couple other little tweeks, Ds2's birth would have been even more awesome. I'm trying to acknowledge these feelings and come to terms with his birth already being perfect, in that birth is spontaneous, unpredictable, changeable, subconscious, and that his birth was the way it "needed" to be. *sigh* Why do we have such desire to control?