1) How does your communication (language, dialect) differ between this forum/other mothers versus outsiders (those who aren't pregnant, don't have children, etc.)? It doesn't really differ that much, I'm still upfront and opinionated with people and love to share my views. I guess I just don't talk that much about babies/birth with people who don't have kids, unless they get me started, and then watch out!

2) How old are you currently? And for the non-first timers; how old were you when you had your other children? 35 (first time mom)

3) What are your goals and values?

Goals: To follow my child's developmental needs; to nurture my marriage; to safeguard my health and well-being (both physical and emotional); to develop myself professionally in order to help my community.

Values: Respect for others' lifestyle choices and beliefs; care for Nature and all its inhabitants

4) Which abbreviations and shorthand terms do you use most commonly that pertain to pregnancy and children? DH, mw, hb

5) Which pregnancy books/articles occupy most of your reading time? midwifery articles, natural birthing books (Ina May Gaskin, etc.), attachment parenting books (I'm currently reading "Baby Matters")

6) Do you visit an OB/GYN, Midwife, or other? Only a lay midwife

7) Are you planning a standard hospital birth, home birth, water birth, or other? Home birth

8) Do you participate in the standard processes of pregnancy (i.e. ultrasounds, glucose tests, quad maker screens, etc)? If you did participate in some and not all, please list. I got blood tests done to check for STDs as well as red and white blood cell levels; I checked my blood sugar 4x/day for two weeks because I refused to do the glucola test. Other than that, I am not doing ultrasounds, amnio, etc.

9) Do you currently exercise? Yes, I walk 2.5 - 3.5 miles about 4 times/week and do light strength training/stretching

10) Do you drink or smoke while pregnant? No

11) Those who had ultrasounds done; did you find out the sex of the baby?

12) And those expecting boys; Circ or no circ? No circ, although I still have to convince DH

13) When is your estimated due date? Jan 12

 

1) How does your communication (language, dialect) differ between this forum/other mothers versus outsiders (those who aren't pregnant, don't have children, etc.)?

I purposefully choose my language to reflect the views of those around it. For example, I don't go on and on about delivering placentas to women that have not done so or are not pregnant. My goal would to be to not alienate others.

2) How old are you currently? And for the non-first timers; how old were you when you had your other children?

I'm 38. I had my first child at 32 and my second at 36.

3) What are your goals and values?

To raise well-rounded, goal-oriented, community-supporting, empathetic children with my partner.

4) Which abbreviations and shorthand terms do you use most commonly that pertain to pregnancy and children?

I don't use any to pertain to my family - I find them annoying. The only pregnancy-related one I use is OB, but I also say OB and not Obstetrician so there is certainly continuity.

5) Which pregnancy books/articles occupy most of your reading time?

None. I'm comfortable/confident in my pregnancy/birthing/parenting choices to not feel the need to bog down with all the minutiae out there.

6) Do you visit an OB/GYN, Midwife, or other?

I see an OB for my pregnancy needs and visit an Endocrinologist every six weeks over the course of the pregnancy.

7) Are you planning a standard hospital birth, home birth, water birth, or other?

I am planning a natural hospital birth. It won't be standard as I don't accept the use of an IV or fetal monitoring.

8) Do you participate in the standard processes of pregnancy (i.e. ultrasounds, glucose tests, quad maker screens, etc)? If you did participate in some and not all, please list.

I have blood drawn every three weeks to monitor my TSH hormone levels, have dating and anatomy scans and generally have one NST at the end of pregnancy. I also check for fetal heartrate via doppler at each OB visit.

9) Do you currently exercise?

Yes.

10) Do you drink or smoke while pregnant?

I've never been a smoker and have chosen to have a few sips of beer over the course of the pregnancy. Collectively around 2 ounces.

11) Those who had ultrasounds done; did you find out the sex of the baby?

I had an ultrasound, but did not find out the gender.

12) And those expecting boys; Circ or no circ?

We are not a circumcising family.

13) When is your estimated due date?

1/25/2012

 

1) How does your communication (language, dialect) differ between this forum/other mothers versus outsiders (those who aren't pregnant, don't have children, etc.)?

I don't think it does. My subject matter might change, but I don't change my language (use of the words vaginal, etc) around "non birthy" people. Maybe use less of the abbreviations (see Q 4)

2) How old are you currently? And for the non-first timers; how old were you when you had your other children?

34 currently. I was 27, 30, and 32 the other times

3) What are your goals and values?

Too much to sum up in a sentence?

To be happy, to raise happy children, not to cause others unhappiness.

4) Which abbreviations and shorthand terms do you use most commonly that pertain to pregnancy and children?

I probably use them all, but around non-birthy people I will use the full phrase

5) Which pregnancy books/articles occupy most of your reading time?

I haven't read a pregnancy book in years, lol. I read a lot of studies on pubmed though.

6) Do you visit an OB/GYN, Midwife, or other?

OB/GYN. Of the old school variety.

7) Are you planning a standard hospital birth, home birth, water birth, or other?

Other. Non-standard hospital vbac.

8) Do you participate in the standard processes of pregnancy (i.e. ultrasounds, glucose tests, quad maker screens, etc)? If you did participate in some and not all, please list.

I do the first trimester screen, not the quad screen (lower false positive rate). I do pretty much everything else - ultrasounds, glucose test, group B strep test, etc.

9) Do you currently exercise?

Yes, I exercise 5 to 6 days a week. I alternate walking 2 miles with a prenatal circuit training video.

10) Do you drink or smoke while pregnant?

I don't smoke. I have had the equivalent of 2 beers this time, about a month apart.

11) Those who had ultrasounds done; did you find out the sex of the baby?

Yes

12) And those expecting boys; Circ or no circ?

No circ

13) When is your estimated due date?

1/2/12

 

Thanks for the responses so far mamas! Looking forward to more, this should be an interesting project!

 

1) How does your communication (language, dialect) differ between this forum/other mothers versus outsiders (those who aren't pregnant, don't have children, etc.)? I don't really talk to many people who aren't parents, except clerks & people like that, so it doesn't really.

2) How old are you currently? And for the non-first timers; how old were you when you had your other children? 37. Oldest at 27, next at 31, next at 35

3) What are your goals and values? Personal or parenting? Personal: finding a career in pregnancy/birthing/parenting that can support my family. Ideally being a midwife, but training is virtually non existent where I love. Parenting: to raise strong, independent adults who find work & family situations that make them happy & fulfilled

4) Which abbreviations and shorthand terms do you use most commonly that pertain to pregnancy and children? Ds, dh, OB,

5) Which pregnancy books/articles occupy most of your reading time? I don't read many books any more. I did read most of the doula reading lists as well as lots of other books. These days I just read articles that people on Twitter or FB post that sound interesting.

6) Do you visit an OB/GYN, Midwife, or other? None of the above. I'm having a 3rd unassisted pregnancy & birth

7) Are you planning a standard hospital birth, home birth, water birth, or other? Unassisted home water birth, assuming labour is long enough to fill the pool

8) Do you participate in the standard processes of pregnancy (i.e. ultrasounds, glucose tests, quad maker screens, etc)? If you did participate in some and not all, please list. I had 2 ultrasounds this time, only because they couldn't get good images of some important structures for the first one. I use a diabetic glucose meter to randomly test my sugars.

9) Do you currently exercise? Not right at the moment, still recovering from the cold of death. Hoping to be well enough to do some soon

10) Do you drink or smoke while pregnant? Smoke, no. Drink, maybe a couple glasses during the whole pregnancy

11) Those who had ultrasounds done; did you find out the sex of the baby? Tried to. Going with unknown but probably boy, though.

12) And those expecting boys; Circ or no circ? Since it's probably a boy, no. All my boys are intact.

13) When is your estimated due date? Jan 17 2012

 

1) How does your communication (language, dialect) differ between this forum/other mothers versus outsiders (those who aren't pregnant, don't have children, etc.)?

First of all, I don't consider them "outsiders". I'm happy to have these people in my life, in one way or another, and I understand they are childless for many reasons. That being said, I tend to gage the extent of how much I talk about having kids, parenting, etc. based on the person. I have childless friends who want to hear everything, and I have some that are still hurting from loss, and therefore prefer me to not talk a lot about kid-related things. I should also probably add that even with my friends who are parents, I probably still won't talk to them much about my plans for consuming the placenta afterwards.

2) How old are you currently? And for the non-first timers; how old were you when you had your other children?

31. I had my first when I was 29.

3) What are your goals and values?

To be the best parent I can be, to give my children every opportunity for learning life's lessons. Eventually, to not go crazy when my daughters bring home boyfriends who are drummers.

4) Which abbreviations and shorthand terms do you use most commonly that pertain to pregnancy and children?

I only abbreviate in the forums, not when I'm speaking. DH, DD, MW, US, C/S...probably more.

5) Which pregnancy books/articles occupy most of your reading time?

None, so far, this time around. I wouldn't mind getting my hands on an Ina Mae book or two, but I don't see myself having that sort of time any time soon.

6) Do you visit an OB/GYN, Midwife, or other?

Midwife.

7) Are you planning a standard hospital birth, home birth, water birth, or other?

Birth Center birth. Maybe a water birth. We are also prepared to have an emergency unassisted home birth, due to my first labor being only an hour and the possibility of heavy snow where I live in January.

8) Do you participate in the standard processes of pregnancy (i.e. ultrasounds, glucose tests, quad maker screens, etc)? If you did participate in some and not all, please list.

1 ultrasound (though if it was determined that more were necessary, I'd be fine with it), glucose tests, Doppler monitoring at every visit, blood tests. Didn't participate in the quad screens, due to the high false-positive rate and it wouldn't affect our continuation of the pregnancy anyway.

9) Do you currently exercise?

Yes. Curling and dance. I also try and walk as best I can, and was playing softball from the beginning of pregnancy, up through my fourth month.

10) Do you drink or smoke while pregnant?

No.

11) Those who had ultrasounds done; did you find out the sex of the baby?

Yes - a girl.

12) And those expecting boys; Circ or no circ?

N/A

13) When is your estimated due date?

23 Jan 2012

 

1) How does your communication (language, dialect) differ between this forum/other mothers versus outsiders (those who aren't pregnant, don't have children, etc.)? This Q was confusing-sorry if I answer incorrectly. I am a native English speaker and most mothers I communicate with do so also. I speak Spanish (not fluently) and 2 pregnant friends do as well. I plan to teach the baby both languages.

2) How old are you currently? And for the non-first timers; how old were you when you had your other children? 28

3) What are your goals and values? To have a peaceful birth and family and to teach my child to appreciate and love all.

4) Which abbreviations and shorthand terms do you use most commonly that pertain to pregnancy and children? HB (homebirth)

5) Which pregnancy books/articles occupy most of your reading time? Hypnobirthing, anything pertaining to homebirth, breastfeeding books by Ina May Gaskin and the La Leche League.

6) Do you visit an OB/GYN, Midwife, or other? Midwife only

7) Are you planning a standard hospital birth, home birth, water birth, or other? Homebirth in water.

8) Do you participate in the standard processes of pregnancy (i.e. ultrasounds, glucose tests, quad maker screens, etc)? If you did participate in some and not all, please list. None-no ultrasounds or tests.

9) Do you currently exercise? Yes, yoga and brisk walking daily. Some light weightlifting.

10) Do you drink or smoke while pregnant? none

11) Those who had ultrasounds done; did you find out the sex of the baby? n/a

12) And those expecting boys; Circ or no circ? If male, no circumcision.

13) When is your estimated due date? Jan 2012

 

Loving the responses, ladies! Keep them coming please!

And Kass, definitely an interesting response to the first question and that is FANTASTIC! Seriously, I plan on teaching my little girl to be bi-lingual however I only speak English (very little Spanish and German from being taught at school) and am hoping I can teach her while she's young. However, I probably should have worded the question differently, it was difficult for me to decide how I wanted to word it. What I meant was do you talk to other non-pregnant people differently than you do on here (or in real life)?

 

1) How does your communication (language, dialect) differ between this forum/other mothers versus outsiders (those who aren't pregnant, don't have children, etc.)?

I really haven't talked much about this pregnancy to non-parents online or off. I know that while my pregnancy is thrilling and interesting to me, most people who aren't also pregnant or who haven't been involved in pregnancy really don't need a large level of info on my situation. If I'm asked questions (how far along are you, do you know the sex of the baby, etc) I'll answer but I really don't volunteer much info.

2) How old are you currently? And for the non-first timers; how old were you when you had your other children?

I'm 27 now. I was 25 when my older son was born.

3) What are your goals and values?

Related to birth or just in general? For childbirth, I'd love to have another natural birth, hopefully with less whining on my part. (Really: that's my goal for this birth, complain less.) Life in general, I just want to look back at what I've done and not regret it.

4) Which abbreviations and shorthand terms do you use most commonly that pertain to pregnancy and children?

I don't use a lot of abbreviations... some of them are just out of character for me or too hard for me to remember (I would never call my husband "dear husband", so DH doesn't appeal to me; I can never remember AF because I don't think of my period as auntie Flo, etc.).

Some of the more intuitive/easier to remember ones I do use, like PP for postpartum, AROM for artificial rupture of membranes, stuff like that.

5) Which pregnancy books/articles occupy most of your reading time?

This time I really haven't done a lot of pregnancy related reading. I read Ina May's newest book and will probably go back and re-read some of my favorite birth stories out of Spiritual Midwifery and Ina May's Guide to Childbirth, but that's probably about it.

Last time I read everything I could get my hands on, with a crunchy/natural bent.

6) Do you visit an OB/GYN, Midwife, or other?

I see an extremely natural birth friendly OB, and have a doula.

7) Are you planning a standard hospital birth, home birth, water birth, or other?

Hoping for a second natural hospital birth. My first one was great, completely interventionless except for AROM. I spent most of it in the tub and was allowed to get up and push however I wanted, etc. I have no complaints about the hospital aspect at all and I actually don't want a homebirth unless it can be in someone else's house!

8) Do you participate in the standard processes of pregnancy (i.e. ultrasounds, glucose tests, quad maker screens, etc)? If you did participate in some and not all, please list.

Some: I had second trimester blood screening (AFP I think) because I was going in for blood tests anyway, and I had a 20 week anatomy scan. I didn't do first trimester blood screening this time and skipped the NT scan, and am waffling on whether or not I want to do the glucose screen.

9) Do you currently exercise?

Yes! I bike to and from work every day, about 8 miles with hills both ways. I also still do a lot of walking and carry my 30lb two year old around in an ergo pretty often.

10) Do you drink or smoke while pregnant?

I've had a sip of wine here and there, but that's about it. (I don't smoke outside of pregnancy either, so that's a moot point with me.)

11) Those who had ultrasounds done; did you find out the sex of the baby?

Yes.

12) And those expecting boys; Circ or no circ?

We didn't circ my older son and won't circ this little guy. (There's another abbreviation I do use. )

13) When is your estimated due date?

1/15

 

Just like the title says I'm writing a paper for my English class about expectant mothers and part of the project is interviewing; so if you would please answer the questions I have listed below. *Must be pregnant to participate

1) How does your communication (language, dialect) differ between this forum/other mothers versus outsiders (those who aren't pregnant, don't have children, etc.)?

I pretty much cater my language to the people with whom I'm talking...when it's mothers (currently with kids) and people on this forum, I feel like I have the freedom to say what I really want, and ask the questions I really want. When it's my friends who have no kids, I usually don't talk about pregnancy/kids, unless they ask. With my mothers-in-law and their generation, I censor and actually avoid several conversation topics (such as homebirth and babywearing, unless they bring them up), mostly to avoid the 'you should/you shouldn't' conversations lectures. (Actually, believe it or not, my husband's grandmother is the most supportive (in our extended family) of us having a homebirth!!!)

2) How old are you currently? And for the non-first timers; how old were you when you had your other children?

I am currently 29.

3) What are your goals and values?

I'll interpret this as my goals for my family, which is basically to home-educate our children, teach them how to love learning, that they can do anything they can dream of, to love others, and to be kind to people.

4) Which abbreviations and shorthand terms do you use most commonly that pertain to pregnancy and children?

I only use abbreviations in the forums, and usually it's the ones that make sense to me...e.g. OB, circ, etc. I prefer to write out the words, and only use abbreviations or short-terms when the same phrase appears often in whatever I'm writing.

5) Which pregnancy books/articles occupy most of your reading time?

I've recently finished several, and so I'm taking a bit of a break and catching up on my fiction

. What I've most recently finished are: Ina May's Guide to Childbirth (can't remember the exact title), The Birth Partner, and a doula book.

6) Do you visit an OB/GYN, Midwife, or other? Midwife

7) Are you planning a standard hospital birth, home birth, water birth, or other? Water birth at home.

8) Do you participate in the standard processes of pregnancy (i.e. ultrasounds, glucose tests, quad maker screens, etc)? If you did participate in some and not all, please list.

Hubby and I decided not to do the 12-week test (AFP? APS? the one that checks for the chance of neural tube defects and Down's), but I did have the morphology ultrasound (had to go back twice, baby didn't cooperate), and I did the glucose test because I have a family history of diabetes, and it's also my first baby (I plan on skipping it in subsequent pregnancies). I also hear the baby's heart with a Doppler at every appointment.

9) Do you currently exercise? Yes, I walk about 6 kilometers a day, and will be starting prenatal yoga in the next couple weeks.

10) Do you drink or smoke while pregnant? I don't smoke (even when not pregnant), and I have severely limited my alcohol intake (e.g. half a glass of wine at Thanksgiving)

11) Those who had ultrasounds done; did you find out the sex of the baby?

Yes, a girl!

12) And those expecting boys; Circ or no circ?

Not applicable for this pregnancy, but we've already discussed the issue and there will be no circumcision for any sons.

13) When is your estimated due date?

January 3, 2012

 

1) How does your communication (language, dialect) differ between this forum/other mothers versus outsiders (those who aren't pregnant, don't have children, etc.)?

On this forum, I speak freely about the pregnancy, but outside, I tend to speak about everything but, especially if they have no children.

2) How old are you currently? And for the non-first timers; how old were you when you had your other children?

I am 31. My first child was born when I was 16. I gave the first baby up for adoption because of my age.

3) What are your goals and values?
My goals are to have healthy children and raise them to be respectful and value education.

4) Which abbreviations and shorthand terms do you use most commonly that pertain to pregnancy and children?

Because I used ART (assisted reproduction treatments) most of my abbreviations are for those. IVF, IUI, follie, embie, stimming, PIO, but I also use BF (breastfeeding)

5) Which pregnancy books/articles occupy most of your reading time?

When You're Expecting Twins, Triplets, or Quads: Proven Guidelines for a Healthy Multiple Pregnancy, has been my bible this pregnancy.

6) Do you visit an OB/GYN, Midwife, or other?

I see an OB and a perinatologist since this is a high risk pregnancy.

7) Are you planning a standard hospital birth, home birth, water birth, or other?

Hospital Birth

8) Do you participate in the standard processes of pregnancy (i.e. ultrasounds, glucose tests, quad maker screens, etc)? If you did participate in some and not all, please list.

I have had at least 17 ultrasounds so far and will have at least 8 more before we are finished. We have had many complications this pregnancy. Subchorionic hematoma, shortened cervix, vaginal bleeding. Plus, being a multiple pregnancy, more scans are needed to make sure babies are growing properly and are not stressed. I am already diabetic, so no glucose test for me. I declined to have any extra screening for downs or any defects.

9) Do you currently exercise?

Currently I am on full bedrest and am not allowed up for more than 10 minutes at a time. So, no.

10) Do you drink or smoke while pregnant?

Nope

11) Those who had ultrasounds done; did you find out the sex of the baby?

Yes

12) And those expecting boys; Circ or no circ?

No circ!

13) When is your estimated due date?

Twins mature faster than a singleton and the placenta breaks down at 38 weeks, so my adjusted due date is 1/14/12, but I would have hit 40 weeks on 1/28/12

 

1) How does your communication (language, dialect) differ between this forum/other mothers versus outsiders (those who aren't pregnant, don't have children, etc.)?

I do talk more about pregnancy here than I do 'In Real Life', though it doesn't differ much from how I speak with other parents of young children. I probably don't bring up poop in everyday conversation with anyone but playground acquaintances and my close friends who are at the same parenting stage that we are.

2) How old are you currently? And for the non-first timers; how old were you when you had your other children?

I'm currently 34, was a few days shy of 33 when I had my first.

3) What are your goals and values?

Our goal is to raise happy children who share these values with us: Leave things better than you find them. Treat others well, even when it's hard. Don't ignore injustice just because it isn't being done to you. Waste hurts everyone. Those are the biggies, with lots of specific things that tie into them.

4) Which abbreviations and shorthand terms do you use most commonly that pertain to pregnancy and children?

I tend to avoid the abbreviations. I use MIL for Mother In Law because it's cumbersome to type out, but tend to use DH or DS sparingly--preferring the whole words. Like another poster said I use OB in real conversation instead of Obstetrician, so I would use it here. Not many others come to mind. Sometimes posts riddled with abbreviations bother me, but I'm getting used to them.

5) Which pregnancy books/articles occupy most of your reading time?

I try not to go overboard with books and articles. I read The Happiest Baby on the Block in my first pregnancy, I check out articles when I have specific questions in mind. We read a little bit of Dr. Sears when we were babysitting a high-needs baby. I figure it makes more sense to consult books/articles as needed rather than try to plan for every contingency. It's easy to create worry.

6) Do you visit an OB/GYN, Midwife, or other?

We use the nurse midwives at our local hospital currently, though I'm in contact with a homebirth midwife in the town we may be moving to.

7) Are you planning a standard hospital birth, home birth, water birth, or other?

We're expecting another natural (not quite standard) hospital birth. We are open to whatever happens. If we move I'm likely going for a homebirth. (Hypnosis for Birth is our plan in either case.)

8) Do you participate in the standard processes of pregnancy (i.e. ultrasounds, glucose tests, quad maker screens, etc)? If you did participate in some and not all, please list.

We've gone along with few 'standard' tests that our midwives suggest. I've done a glucose test, we had two ultrasounds, we did the general bloodworkups. We decline any extra genetic testing/screens. I've declined to do extra glucose tests, choosing to use a home meter instead here and there just to make sure things are fine. I don't see a need for anymore ultrasounds. I'll get a strep culture at 36 weeks. We do like to hear the heartbeat at our appointments!

9) Do you currently exercise?

I don't work out. I chase a toddler around all day. I take walks with him. I stretch some.

10) Do you drink or smoke while pregnant?

Non-smoker anytime. I did have a few sips of champagne at our wedding reception--one per toast. In the future I might have a half a glass of wine if I get really strong cramping/contractions early. Tried a few sips of special micro-brews when we were out one day. I'd say I drink approximately 1/8 of one drink per month if you average it out. I didn't even do that in my first pregnancy--Nil.

11) Those who had ultrasounds done; did you find out the sex of the baby?

We did! With our first it was for my husband. It seemed fair--he wanted to know, I didn't, but he didn't get to feel every flutter and kick. This time he would have been cool with a surprise, but I figured we might as well know. We wouldn't have gotten a special ultrasound just to find out gender if we lived someplace that doesn't tell. (It's a boy!)

12) And those expecting boys; Circ or no circ?

No Circ. If our sons want to mutilate their own genitals when they're older they may with my support. I'm certainly not doing it to them without their consent.

13) When is your estimated due date?

January 8th 2012!

 

I'm loving these. Miss Kaitlyn are you going to share your answers with us?

Answering the Goals and Values question started a small dialog with my husband--we agreed that my answers were sort of a 'close enough for a questionnaire' summary.

We could (and maybe should) write a book about our varied goals and values and how we mesh them together in respect to raising our children together. When you marry someone who could have tagged a second minor in philosophy onto his degree what do you expect?

 

1) How does your communication (language, dialect) differ between this forum/other mothers versus outsiders (those who aren't pregnant, don't have children, etc.)?

In general, I think it doesn't differ too much. I probably explain a bit more to those who have never been pregnant or had a child whereas I assume other mothers, especially those on this forum, will have had similar experiences. I try to never assume I know someone else's position on certain things (like natural childbirth, cosleeping, etc) but I'm probably less defensive on these forums about some of my positions than I am with people I know in real life since I'm by far the "crunchiest" person I know.

2) How old are you currently? And for the non-first timers; how old were you when you had your other children?

I'm 32 (today, actually

) and was 28 when my daughter was born.

3) What are your goals and values?

This is such a broad question! But in general, to make the world around me a better place by small steps and influencing the people around me. I hope to raise my children to value a hard days work and to treat those around them as they would like to be treated (or better!). I also hope to teach them to think for themselves and value education.

4) Which abbreviations and shorthand terms do you use most commonly that pertain to pregnancy and children?

hmm, in real life, not too many but on the forums I guess BF for breastfeeding and that's probably the only one I routinely use.

5) Which pregnancy books/articles occupy most of your reading time?

Mothering, of course; A Thinking Woman's Guide to Childbirth; Gentle Birth Choices and Hypnobirthing are the main ones. I try to avoid "mainstream" articles and books because I always feel they have a lot of incomplete information or use scare tactics rather than being evidence based.

6) Do you visit an OB/GYN, Midwife, or other?

I have an OB for this pregnancy, due to "risking out" of a midwife because of chronic hypertension that came to light during and after my previous pregnancy. I had a midwife for my first pregnancy.

7) Are you planning a standard hospital birth, home birth, water birth, or other?

I would say other. My only option in my area is hospital birth but I plan on staying home as long as possible and refusing interventions. I know this is harder than it sounds based on my experiences during labor with my first pregnancy but I am better prepared now.

8) Do you participate in the standard processes of pregnancy (i.e. ultrasounds, glucose tests, quad maker screens, etc)? If you did participate in some and not all, please list.

I participate in some: I received ultrasounds at 11 and 20 weeks; I just did the glucose tolerance test and I plan on submitting to the group B strep test. I do not participate in the prenatal screening for fetal abnormalities.

9) Do you currently exercise?

not aside from chasing after a toddler.

10) Do you drink or smoke while pregnant?

No, although I didn't expect to get pregnant the cycle I did because the previous two cycles were wacky so I did do some (fairly significant) drinking before I missed my period, which I normally would have abstained from.

11) Those who had ultrasounds done; did you find out the sex of the baby?

Yes, its a girl

12) And those expecting boys; Circ or no circ?

13) When is your estimated due date?

January 12th by dates but January 3rd by u/s.

I think that completes it, I've tried thinking about these questions over and over lol and before I drive myself crazy I just wanted to get it posted!

 

Hello mamas!

I wanted to bring back this thread from the grave and let you all know that I got a 100% on my paper. Thank you for ALL the responses! They REALLY made for a rock solid paper. My professor is NOT an easy grader but I put a lot of time and effort into this paper and it paid off. She told me it was a graduate level paper and is having me enroll in her honors 1020 English class. She also had me fill out an honors program application along with a scholarship application *fingers crossed*! She even asked permission to use the paper and the brainstorm (I used a 'mind map' program to lay out the format of the community) for her other classes as an example AND is forwarding the paper to a professor at a University near here. (I go to a community college - all I could afford! lol) So..not to brag or anything..lmbo. But I couldn't have done it without you ladies! The interview responses were the rock of my paper. Glad I put all the effort into it too..it blew her away and now I have a FANTASTIC reference.

 

Go you! Growing a baby AND rocking at school What was the paper about in the end?

 

I tell ya..school runs my LIFE. It was on discourse communities (Swales) each community has a certain level of standards and we needed to research a community that met those standards and defend it.

 

Yay! Congratulations on the great grades and the honors promotion!

 

I'm so happy for you, that's awesome!!!