The Bradley Method

Well this morning I signed us up for our child birth preparation class. Not a class for the typical Lamaze, but for The Bradley Method. After some research, talking with friends and Dr. Brooke, it seems that there are one of two ways to go:
1. The Lamaze/Doctor directed method, where you learn pain distraction techniques and about the med's you can receive to alleviate pain.
2. The Bradley Method, where you learn how to completely relax in order to reduce and work through the pain...and drugs are still an option, but they (The Bradley folks) like to think one of last resort.

It is no secret that I hate pain...I don't even like to be slightly uncomfortable. I prefer temps between 72 - 74 degrees. I am incredibly irritable when I'm hungry or thirsty & can't satisfy these 'needs' immediately. I am a beast when I don't feel well or get too tired. I often proclaim I am dying & burst into tears. Clay laughed the first time I did this (because I was ridiculous)...but luckily by the time all day pregnancy sickness hit he had learned that at that moment I honestly felt as though I might be dying and laughing did not help. Overall he was very supportive through the all day sickness...expect for the time I burst into tears because I wanted a burrito but knew I couldn't eat it because it would make me throw up. He couldn't relate to that one I guess...he just doesn't enjoy Mexican food the way I do ;).

So really my motivation is to minimize the overall pain of labor & the healing process. I'm trying to be as informed as I can in deciding how to accomplish this. Much of what I've read says a natural childbirth leads to a speedy recovery and less pain in total. So we've decided to become very informed. I'm not ruling an epidural in or out at this point. I just want to be well informed should we be blessed with a labor & delivery process that goes so smoothly that we have these options.

The Bradley Method is also called 'Husband Coached Childbirth'...and Clay is up for the challenge. Now we just need for him to be home instead of on a 737 when baby Luci (yep, that's her name) decides to join us out here. For now we are just hoping that Grandma Pierse will continue to be right, and that it'll work out :)

7 ounces

I got call yesterday from Dr. Johnson (our OB-GYN) confirming that all of the ultrasound results look great. She weighs 7 ounces already! I'm also feeling her move more & more...she did a few kicks for me last night before I fell asleep. I'm off to the doctor again on Thursday for my 20 weeks appointment.

Over the weekend I made the second big nursery purchase - a comfy rocker in "basil." Now we have a crib & in 8 weeks we'll have a rocker. Then after my big NHHS (New Hampton High School) girls weekend in March we'll get to moving furniture around & putting the nursery together. Until then the two guest bedrooms need to continue functioning as such!

It's a GIRL!!!

I think we were both too excited to sleep last night...I tossed & turned, while Clay decided to get up & play Warcraft on the computer until 2am. Starting at 8am I was supposed to drink 32 oz of water & not go to the bathroom until after the ultrasound was complete at 10am. For those of you who know me well...that was a tall order. By 9am I was miserable and by 9:10am (our appt was supposed to start at 9am) I was just plain mad. I gave in & went to 'release' a bit...waiting till 9:20a and then released more. Then about 9:30am Clay said something funny and off I ran again to the bathroom. We finally got in for the ultrasound about 9:35am. The technician was doing her thing for about 20 minutes and then decided my bladder was too full & might be squishing the baby! So the torture finally ended and I was able to empty my bladder. Another 20 minutes of looking around and she announced we should turn away if we didn't want to know the gender right then. After the ultrasound was over, the tech told us all looked well and that 'it' was measuring to the day of the due date of 7/18. Then she wrote on a piece of paper (per our request) "IT'S A GIRL" and sent us on our way. A few short minutes later we were headed out for brunch & the big reveal. When we opened the card & saw the ultrasound photo it took us a few seconds to see her note...and then I started to cry at The Egg & I. Long story short - we feel so very blessed that all appears well with Babygirl Pea....

Milestones

I think I have felt Babypea move a few times now! I was watching evening TV on the sofa last week (after my 3 mile walk - so that makes it a little bit more okay...right?) and felt what I first attributed to gas in my lower abdomen. Then I thought, wait...that kind of felt like butterfly wings lightly brushing up against me! I wonder if that was Babypea! I've read the first movements feel like butterfly wings, angel wings, or a light tapping. Since that first flutter, I've felt just a few more taps - which leads me to believe I'm feeling Babypea move now! I told Clay I feel sort of guilty that I am getting all of this time with Babypea before he does, and that I wish we could take turns carrying our children. He told me not to worry...that he was just fine with how it all works as is.

The second milestone happened just yesterday. I was out shopping with my friend Amanda, and a woman working in the store said, "I see a tummy!" It was the first time I've had someone say something to me assuming I am pregnant. And I wasn't even wearing the obvious pregnant shirt that I am in the photo I posted earlier...I was just wearing a T-shirt!

The Start of Week 17

I'm starting to look pregnant now! We find out the gender of Babypea on Valentine's Day...stay tuned for the update!

GO BEARS!!!