Now offering in-home lactation + postpartum support

 

For the last several years, I have worked in several capacities in the birth and breastfeeding community. A birth doula, a breastfeeding peer counselor and educator at WIC, a blog manager and breastfeeding educator at Lactation Link. I took a break for a bit after moving to Minnesota and after my 4th child was born. I'm now re-entering the birth and breastfeeding world by offering in-home lactation support as well as postpartum doula services. While I am not an IBCLC (International Board Certified Lactation Consultant) yet, I am an educated breastfeeding educator/counselor. I can offer personalized breastfeeding education and breastfeeding support for issues like latch, positioning and general troubleshooting. When a case is extra complicated or the family is in need of specialized support, I am happy to refer to the IBCLCs at the lactation clinics at St. Mary's or St. Luke's in Duluth or to the IBCLCs at Lactation Link. I am pleased to offer in-home support in the early days of postpartum when breastfeeding parents most want and need to be home with their babies. More info about booking with me here.

I am also super excited to be offering postpartum doula support with my good friend Amanda Barta. Between the two of us we have more than 8 pregnancies and postpartum experiences! We love helping new families with whatever they need postpartum. You can find more about our services at Amanda's website: Envision Birth. 

Preparing for Our 4th Baby

I opened blogger to write my birth story and found this draft I started a few months ago. Added a few more paragraphs to finish it up. Next up is the birth story!

I'm just about 32 weeks along and really getting excited for this baby! For the first time, this baby was a bit of a surprise but I'm so ready to bring him into our family. I feel like he is already a part of it! The older kids, even little Riah are so aware of this pregnancy and are thrilled to have a new little brother. That has made it all the more real for me too. That and he is probably my most active baby in-utero! He is always making himself known. Can't wait to meet him.

Coming into a new community here in Duluth has positively affected my preparations for this baby. Many of my friends here are just as passionate about birth and motherhood as I am and have had their own homebirths before. There is a great community of birth workers and midwives that I have been drawn to. It's really such a great community and I feel so grateful to be here. My understanding of pregnancy and motherhood has expanded in the last few years and I love that I get to apply it in this, our (probably) final pregnancy and birth.

Physical
Avoiding Kidney Stones
4 days postpartum with Colden and during my 3rd trimester with Riah, I got kidney stones and was hospitalized to deal with the pain. We were determined to not have that happen again. With some research and advice from my midwife, I figured my kidney stones were due in large part to all the Tums I took during those 2 pregnancies. (I only get heartburn while pregnant). I started taking papaya enzymes instead (basically the natural Tums) and they actually helped so much more than Tums. Along with eating at particular times, having better posture while sitting, not bending over after eating etc, I was able to control my heartburn a bit. AND thank the Lord above, avoided kidney stones. Hallelujah!

Yoga
When I was preparing for Colden's birth (my first natural birth), I came across a great prenatal yoga class. That really helped me connect to that pregnancy and taught me a lot about my breath and relaxing for birth. I found another near the end of Riah's pregnancy and it was the restorative peace that I needed! I feel so lucky to have found the best kind of yoga here in Duluth. Women Circling Women is a fantastic resource that is led by Stacy, a kind and gentle woman who truly connects women in the most fundamental ways. I leave her classes feeling rejuvenated and also connected to a community of fellow mothers. I wish everyone had something like it!

Craniosacral Therapy
I get awful tail bone pain while pregnant so my midwife, Stacy and others recommended I go see a craniosacral therapist. Deb has taught me so much about not only alleviating pain but preparing my pelvis so that birth can be less painful. (Sit on your sit bones! Not on your sacrum!) The ability to birth is less about your ability to push but more about how your uterus is situated in your pelvis, how tight/twisted your ligaments are, how twisted your pelvis is, etc. This all lines up with what Spinning Babies has taught for a long time. I used to think Spinning Babies was just for turning breech babies. But breech or head down are only the most general categories for baby's position. The smallest turn of baby's head can make birth that much harder. (I know because Riah was turned!) The things I do with my body during pregnancy and before like carrying toddlers on my hip, sitting on my sacrum, tilting my pelvis under (and more!) all contribute to baby's positioning. Fingers crossed everything I've learned and done make a difference! (Spoiler alert: it did!) Here is Deb's website: http://www.northernlightswellness.com/

Massage/Movement
My friend Maria, a massage therapist and movement teacher has helped me in many of the same ways that cranial-sacral work has. They really complement each other. With help from both of them, I was able to get my uterus centered in my pelvis and baby in the right position. (Again, sit on your sit bones! Not on your sacrum!) Here is Maria's website: https://www.massageandmovement.org/

Mental/Emotional/Spiritual
Nate put up a shelf in our room and I filled it with art prints of mothers and women. Each print has deep spiritual meaning for me. (Artists: Katie Garner, Brian Kershisnik, J. Kirk Richards and Caitlin Connolly) I also went through my favorite birth affirmations from Riah's birth and picked out what spoke to me this time. I made a few more after listening to this podcast. Letting my mind take a backseat and allowing my body to do all the heavy lifting made a lot of sense to me. Also, a couple friends in yoga mentioned some physical/outdoors experiences that had helped them prepare for birth. That made me think about repelling and how you have to let go and back over the ledge. You have to trust your preparation and support. You have to become a part of the mountain. In that vein, I didn't want to have my mind getting in the way of what my body knows how to do. When on the mountain, your mind can really mess you up. You just have to breathe and let the process unfold.

I also displayed photos of each of my family members. One of my mom supporting me through my last labor, that's a very special memory for me. One of me and my dad at my wedding. An old one of me and my sisters and another of me and all my siblings. I wanted to feel their strength and love and seeing them in photos helps! Once I got those up, I felt like I could birth this baby! Their love was surrounding me as I brought one final spirit to Earth.

Practical
I did a bit more food prep this time. A few frozen meals and snacks ready to go. Lots of meat cooked and then frozen. I stocked the pantry with dry goods and other snacks. I stocked my nursing/diaper basket to keep by my bed. (Nursing pads, diapers, wipes, diaper cream, lanolin/nipple cream, water for me, breastfeeding answer book or other book to keep my mind occupied in the long hours of nursing :)

Birth story coming soon!

Other posts about preparing for birth:
Happy Birth
Preparing for a natural birth
Looking past the baby registry

Sacred work of birth

"If a woman doesn't look like a goddess during labor, then someone isn't treating her right." 

-Ina May Gaskin.

I have often come across this quote and as much as I love Ina May, I have rolled my eyes. Yall, birth is HARD. It is WORK. You get sweaty. There are lots of smells. It hurts. My hair is crazy-looking, make-up is smeared. I'm wearing adult diapers for crying out loud! But I as was skimming through my birth photos, looking for something else for a project, this photo jumped out. It caught my breath!

In this moment, I am a goddess.
In a circle around me are women who know birth deeply.
I am being supported. Loved. Watched over.
My eyes closed, I am turning inward for strength. I find it in my breath, in my spirit, in the women before me and around me.
My hands are open, showing that I am open to receiving inspiration.
My brow is high, demonstrating the strength I am feeling.
My neck is tight, showing the intensity of the contraction.
Birth is work, sacred work. The work for a goddess.

This quiet moment means so many things to me. For one, it demonstrates why I love midwifery so much. Women, mothers, reign over the veil that enters into this life. I think midwives know this intuitively and allow the mother to reign there without unnecessary intervention. Of course, there is a need for physicians in many births, but midwives are the experts in normal birth. This connection of women between life here and life before has drawn me to birth so much lately. The possibility of midwifery school is years, perhaps decades, away. But I hope through what I say and write about birth now helps other women see it for the absolute miracle and symbol of Godliness it is.

Please know that you don't have to look like a goddess in *every* moment of birth. There are many moments I did not look like a goddess, believe me. I only post this to try and show a bit of my journey in learning more about the sacred work of birth.

This is also a good opportunity for a plug for birth photography. I am still learning new things about Riah's birth a year later because I have these photos. I am forever grateful my talented friend Cate gave us this amazing gift. They are an absolute treasure to me.

Riah's full birth story.

Riah's Birth Story

All photos by Cate Johnson.

Riah Dianne Parr was born on Saturday May 14, 2016. She weighed 9 pounds and 5 ounces and was 22 inches long. She was born at home surrounded by loving support. We are so in love with her! Her name is derived from my middle name, Moriah. Her middle name is after my mother, Karen Dianne. Just days before her birth I was DONE and telling everyone that birth was a fairytale and that I would be pregnant forever. Now she is sleeping on my chest as I type this. I'm excited to share her birth story...

Pregnancy
I usually gloss over this section when reading birth stories so I'll try to keep it short. Since learning more about birth over the last few years and having had healthy pregnancies, we decided together that a homebirth would be a great option for us. Nate and I went to a Meet the Midwives event to interview homebirth midwives. I researched a handful before going and looked up reviews. At the meeting, I was instantly drawn to Karla Bennett, CNM. She seemed like a sweet motherly figure with great credentials and experience. She is unique in that she is a certified nurse midwife but only attends homebirths. Most CNMs attend hospital births. I was excited to start care with her!

Since I was making a lot of demands for this birth (homebirth, doula, photographer), I conceded on one thing that Nate really wanted: to have the gender be a surprise. We found out Riah was a girl ourselves when she was on my chest!

Quick note about prenatal care with a homebirth midwife: I can't say enough just how awesome it is to have direct access to my care provider. I call and get her, not a receptionist or a nurse or hold music. I text her anytime and get a quick response. She came over on a holiday weekend to check on the baby simply because I was worried. Of course homebirth or birth centers aren't for everyone, but I have thoroughly enjoyed this particular aspect. My prenatal check ups were in my home. She engaged with the boys each time and made them feel important and helpful. It was so nice to avoid dragging them to an office for my checkups.

One of the most frequent questions I got was if I was going to give birth in the water. I think water birth is awesome and I wish more women had that option. But it did not appeal to me really! Probably because my labors are pretty short and my pushing stages are pretty short. And I hesitate to say this because I don't want to offend anyone who has had a waterbirth (really, I think you're awesome!) but it just kind of grosses me out. I've seen too many birth photos of moms sitting in bloody water. And I really like physical contact during birth and that can be harder to do when you're separated by a tub. But now I'm thinking waterbirth might be a good idea for me next time since pushing was so hard this time!

An obstetrician might describe my pregnancy as "uneventful." I am blessed to have normal, healthy pregnancies. First trimester was marked by morning sickness and fatigue. Second trimester was glorious! Lots of energy. Third trimester I was big, tired and grumpy. The end is just so hard. I'd give birth 10 more times but I think I can only mentally handle one more pregnancy. The only real complication was another kidney stone. This time I was 36 weeks. Super lame. I spent a night at labor & delivery for fluids and meds. (Loved getting that bill.) Once it passed, I was super grateful to be past it and tried to enjoy the last few weeks of pregnancy. I took the boys to the park and the Tulip Festival. Holly and Amy took me out for a pedicure. I snuggled the boys close and tried to hang on to Colden's babyhood for a few more days.

Cate literally sent me over 400 photos! She is amazing. I'm terrible at editing out photos so get ready for 400 photos! ;)

I'm Poor! How can I afford a doula?

Now that you know education and support is more important that baby gadgets, here are some ideas on how to pay for that education and support if you are on a tight budget.

1. As I alluded to in my last post, resist buying the expensive stroller and other baby gadgets and instead use that money to pay for your birth education and support.
2. When family and friends ask what you need for the new baby explain, "We are preparing to have a positive and prepared birth and postpartum experience. To help support this goal, we are hiring a childbirth educator/doula/etc. We would be so happy if you contributed to a fund that would help us pay for these services." **Update 6/1/15: See ideas for online cash contribution registries at the bottom of this post.**
3. Also, some birth professionals offer gift certificate options. This is a great thing to have on your baby shower registry. Ask your doula, childbirth educator or lactation educator if they have this option. I recommend taking a class from Lindsey Shipley at Lactationlink.com. She has gift certificate options for her in-person and on-demand video breastfeeding classes!
4. Put away a little money each month now, even before you are pregnant. That way, you won't be surprised with lots of expenses when you get closer to delivery. 
5. Ask about payment plans. My doula accepted a portion of her fee each month until we paid it off at 36 weeks. This is a great option especially if you book your doula early on in your pregnancy!
6. Sell items around the house. Pay for your doula and get rid of junk! Win-win.
7. Doulas, as well as lactation consultants (perhaps even childbirth educators) can be paid for with an HSA account. (Sometimes, check with your particular card).
8. Cut back. Take a month or two cutting back on certain items (eating out, cable, treats, etc) and use that money to put away for your birth education and support. 

Creating a team of knowledgable, experienced and dedicated birth professionals is one of the best decisions you can make regarding your birth and postpartum experience. Allow these wonderful women to surround you with their love and guidance by preparing now!


**Online registries such as myregistry.com, plumfund.com and babylist.com have customizable cash contribution amounts that can be used for the birth and postpartum services you desire.

1. MyRegistry.com allows you to create a "cash gift fund" that you name. It also allows for Paypal payments for that fund. For ideas, you can look at one I made for fun here.
2. Plumfund.com does the same thing, but allows for multiple people to contribute to one item. For ideas, you can look at one I made for fun here.
3. Babylist.com allows you to make custom cash fund items under the section, "It Takes a Village" but does not accept payments. For ideas, you can look at one I made for fun here.

Photo c/o Alisha Gregson Photography

Looking past the baby registry

This topic has been on my mind so much lately! Let's see if I can get my thoughts out coherently...

As a society, we are so focused on products. What to buy next. What to buy that will make our lives more convenient. What to buy to make our neighbors jealous. What to buy to make our lives easier. And companies LOVE this. American consumerism is building markets. Just look at Target. They make millions just from their baby registry. And that is just what I want to write about in this post...

The baby shower is a beautiful American tradition. Perhaps it could be described as a rite of passage. Family and friends surround a new mother, celebrating the gift of life and giving gifts to show her their love and support. I love baby showers. I love partaking in the excitement and anticipation of welcoming a new life to earth. We eat good food, play silly games and give advice to the new mother. She opens gifts and we ooh and ahh over the softest blanket and the tiniest shoes. At the showers I was given, I felt so loved and lifted up! I have such kind and loving family who have given me such thoughtful gifts at showers!

Companies like Target love baby showers too. They love them so much that they even give you a gift when you make a baby registry with them. They want you to make a registry so well-meaning family and friends will buy their products. We let companies like Target tell us what we need to buy (I'm looking at you, $500 stroller) when having a baby rather than relying on our own intuition and common sense. The media and baby registries lead us to believe that we have to have a pristine and perfectly organized and stocked nursery before the baby arrives. I am here to tell you otherwise!

Do you have boobs?
Good. Your baby will be able to survive and thrive for at least 6 months on breastmilk alone. 

Do you have diapers?
Grab a few packs of newborns before the baby arrives and when you run out, your husband can go to the store for more. Gasp.

Do you have a baby carrier?
Not yet? I'm working on a review of my favorites but in the meantime, look for a local babywearing group to try on a few before you buy. (Edit: Here are all my posts about babywearing.)

Those are all the things you need for a baby my friends! (Along with baby clothes because who does not like tiny baby clothes?!) What you really need for a baby is a little harder to put on a baby registry but is a billion times more important.

Parents want to prepare for their new baby and often we look to the baby registry first. I'm here to help you look past the fancy swing, the shiny bouncer and special infant tub. There is more to preparing for a new baby than a list of products. Parents have raised successful children for millennia without any gadgets at all! What they had instead was a village of support...

While we don't live in villages anymore or often close to our families, there is a growing group of professionals who fill this gap with love and passion for what they do.

What would really help new families is SUPPORT and EDUCATION. These are investments in the birth of your child. A moment that only happens once but will affect your family, and often, the mental health of the mother, for years. Childbirth education, doula support, lactation support and postpartum support are not luxuries but important services that empower families. Your birth experience matters. Your postpartum experience matters.

Remember that all of these services are given by professionals. Paying well ensures that you are hiring an experienced and educated professional. As with so many other things in life, you get what you pay for. 

Childbirth education
A quality childbirth education class series (usually NOT at a hospital, in my personal experience) is a wonderful investment in your birth! You'll learn what to expect in the days and weeks leading up to your birth, how to handle labor pain, how to release fears related to birth, learn what options you have during birth and how to make those decisions before labor begins, and to create confidence in yourself and your ability to birth! If you think, "I'm going to have an epidural, I don't need this", think again! Prices range from $200-500.

Doula Support
A doula will reinforce what you have learned during your childbirth classes. She will support you in your birth choices. She will make you feel comfortable and ensure that your partner feels involved.  Your midwife, OB and nurses have several patients to juggle at the same time you are birthing. You and only you are your doula's focus for the entirety of your birth. Priceless support! Again, if you think, "I'm going to have an epidural, I don't need a doula", think again! $400-$1500.

Lactation Education & Support
While many moms begin breastfeeding without any problems, many have trouble at the start. Quality lactation support can save you thousands of dollars in formula (and weeks of pain!). A private in-home lactation consultant visit is around $150. Visits with a lactation consultant in a clinic are about $50. Better yet, take a class and be prepared BEFORE baby comes. Lactation Link has online classes that can be viewed from anywhere.

Postpartum Support
A postpartum doula supports the new family in many ways: preparing meals, caring for older children, helping mom find resources for postpartum mood disorders, cleaning the house, doing errands or laundry...whatever you need. This can be a marvelous gift if the new family lives far from their families. Prices are usually by hour, $20+/hour. Other ideas for postpartum are listed in these important articles: How to Love a New Mother , After the Birth, What a Family Needs and Take Back Postpartum.

*****
All of these kinds of support are things we have replaced with gadgets and the make-it-on-our-own attitudes. New mama! I am talking to you! You do not have to do this on your own. You deserve help. Make whatever changes you need in your lifestyle now to prepare to have these support measures in place when you bring your new baby to earth. I have been blessed to have support through countless meals, grocery trips, gas in the car, the house cleaned and toddler taken care of after I gave birth. I want other moms to know that they can also have this kind of support and more! And let's work to make baby showers a chance for families to help mom pay for these services as well as a time to shower the baby with adorable clothes and a time to educate mom on being a new mom. That is what I loved about mine....

baby hiking boots!

My big sister Mandi lent me her baby and sling to teach me how to babywear. 

My big sisters teaching me how to swaddle!

Also read: Why Your Birth is More Important Than Your Bugaboo.
When you're pregnant, there are more useful things to do than flipping through a catalogue.

 Up next: I'm Poor! How do I pay for a doula?

Happy birth

Breathing through a contraction with the help of my husband Nate and my doula Marcie.

I've become really passionate about the childbirth experience and women's rights in regards to it. I have so many thoughts jumbling around in my mind so I thought I would try to organize them here...

Birth doesn't have to suck! If you've ever been to a baby shower or let's face it, been around a group of women for more than an hour at a time, birth stories are told. I've tried, and I have to really strain to think of a single happy one told in my younger years. We tell them like horror stories. We list all the complications, the doctors' urgent advice, and the pain! Oh the pain! It cannot be adequately described! Your body is being ripped apart! Your husband is in the corner fainting! At the end of each of these stories, we smile down at our children and say, "But oh! It was so worth it to have you!" As they toddle away, we say again, "but the Paaaain!" After I gave birth to Bridger, I understood this. I was stuck in bed, thinking I had to be on the monitors. I slammed my head against the bed until I couldn't take it anymore and asked for an epidural. After that, I was determined to make my next one a better experience!

Another thought on the Horror Birth Story is that women who have had positive birth experiences do not want to make others feel inadequate so they don't share. I wish they would share! Surrounding myself with positive birth stories (in books and on blogs) was one of the best ways I prepped myself for Colden's birth.

All birth stories are valid. They are a part of you and your journey. A healthy mom and baby are what we want out of birth. But they are only a minimum requirement! Ladies, I am hear to tell you that your birth does not have to be a horror story. The Pain does not have to rule your birth. Neither does your doctor. YOU rule your birth. By allowing yourself to go into the Pain, by letting those strong feelings direct how to position yourself during birth, you can have a positive experience. It may not be ecstatic, but it does not have to be terrible. And it does not have to be at the risk of your or your baby's health. A happy birth can happen with an OB/GYN, it can happen in a hospital.

Simply by being free to walk around during labor and choose your birthing position, you can reduce the likelihood of interventions, complications and labor will be shorter. (Evidence for alternative pushing positions here and evidence for movement during labor here and here.)

One of the best ways to experience a happy birth experience is to have continuous labor support from someone that is not your care provider or nurse. Your partner or your mom can give you continuous labor support, but the best outcomes are when the mom has a doula. When a doula offers a mom continuous labor support, she is  less likely to ask for an epidural, 31% less likely to have Pitocin, 28% less likely to have a C-section, 12% increase in a spontaneous vaginal birth and has a 34% decrease in the risk of being dissatisfied with her birth. Moms who have a doula present are statistically more likely to feel less pain. Isn't that amazing?! (Source.)

This can be a beautiful experience that you think back onto with pleasure, rather than a time you had to endure. Childbirth is a pivotal moment in every woman's life. I want to help make that experience an empowering one! This leads me to my own journey as a doula.  I'm so anxious to get going but while I'm breastfeeding Colden the next year, I am focusing on my doula education and certification as well as doing some shadowing. I love this work and can't wait to really get started! Right now I'm reading Your Best Birth and I find it to be a great starting point for those interested in learning more about having a happy birth experience!

Guess what?!

We are excited to announce a new Parr baby coming soon!
Yep, Bridger is getting a sibling.

FAQ
Was this pregnancy planned? Yep!
Due date? Early April
How are you feeling? Great! Nausea has mainly passed. Now I'm just tired all the time.
What does Nate think? He's getting used to the idea ;) But really, he's excited too!
What does Bridger think? I have no idea!
How far apart will Bridger and the new baby be? About 20 months

Went to my first appointment today and saw our little tiny baby moving around! They'll schedule a real ultrasound soon so we can get a more exact due date.

P.S. 1 year-old + chalkboard = disaster 

Maternity wardrobe

I won't kid myself into thinking I was super trendy or anything during pregnancy, but I thought I would share some thoughts on my experience with clothing myself during the last 9 months.

I was lucky to be at my biggest stages during summer. Thus, less clothing was needed. But January through May, I was working as a substitute teacher. I got by with 2 pairs of maternity pants (thanks to my generous mother-in-law!), some of my old pants that had bigger waistbands, 2 maternity tank tops and several of my old shirts that were a little large. I have always been one to wear looser rather than tighter, so that helped me for several months. (It will be interesting to see how much I stretched those out once I am back to normal size! If I ever get back to "normal!") I also made a maternity belly band that helped for a while too! (Here is the tutorial I used. Super easy.)

In the end, I only ended up purchasing 4 new tops. Two maternity tops from Old Navy, one from Target, and one longer, normal size shirt from H&M. I also got a maternity dress from Old Navy that I loved! I wore maxis a lot too. One that I already had from Old Navy as well as a new one from Forever 21 and Gap. The two new ones weren't maternity, but their empire waists helped to accommodate my belly! I purchased two pairs of maternity shorts, one from Old Navy and one from Gap. I love love loved them!

Other helpful things were yoga pants and yoga pant-type skirts. I have this jersey-knit skirt from Old Navy that I have had forever. The waistband is like yoga pants so I could unfold it over my belly. Perfect! (Also, they have a ton of colors of these right now and they are on sale!) Also one DownEast skirt came in handy too with its wide elastic waistband (similar one here).

Basically I purchased only 6 new pieces of "maternity" clothing. So I did a lot of laundry :) And everyone's situation is different. Women who are working would need to buy a good bit more I assume.  We were lucky that I didn't really have to the last few months of my pregnancy. And by the time I was 9 months pregnant, my belly was hanging out of anything I wore anyway. And nothing was better than going nude under a jersey robe! ;) But I did have to get dressed at some point during the day so the above-mentioned clothing did come in handy! :)

P.S. While we are on the topic of maternity clothing, does anyone out there agree with me that the Hatch Collection that is getting so much attention in the blogosphere is just plain frumpy? Most of their items just look like sacks to me!

Things about pregnancy I didn't learn from a book

I read "What to Expect When You Are Expecting" and found that even though it can be really thorough, I learned many things just from experience.  I have only had one pregnancy, so I am nowhere near an expert, but I thought I would share some of the things I learned in the past 9 months.

1. Bra size increase. Of course I knew my cup size would get bigger as I progressed in my pregnancy , but  I was not aware the number size of my bra would also increase. Around 30 weeks, I was noticing a lot of back pain right in the middle of my spine, conspicously where my bra clips together. I tried on a larger cup size and that didn't seem to help the pain. Luckily, my sister suggested I try a larger number size. Let's just say I was so much more comfortable moving from a 32 to a 36. A few weeks later, I went up again to a 38. I assume this means that my rib cage has expanded to accommodate the increased size of my belly.

2. Circumcision. I didn't know this before so I thought I would share. You have to have a pediatrician for the circumcision. I guess I just thought it was magically done by someone in the hospital after the birth? We went ahead and chose one, but if you don't, they will just assign you the one who is on call at the time of your delivery. (The on-call pediatrician, or the one of your choosing, sees the baby everyday you are in the hospital as well, boy or girl). Also, this procedure requires a little more research than I had anticipated. We met with our pediatrician a few weeks before our due date and she was really helpful and answered all of our questions.

3. Contractions. They probably feel different for everyone, but it sure took me a while to realize what I was feeling. I confused them with the baby's movements for the longest time. Mine felt like a tightening/hardening across my belly. Often they were just in one spot, about as big as my hand. And I didn't feel any of the "sweeping motion" from my back to my belly that we learned about in our childbirth class.

**A post on all I know about maternity clothing is coming soon!

40 weeks

Here we are. We made it to our due date! This was taken this morning on a hike up Rock Canyon. Roundtrip, I lugged this belly up the mountain about 3 miles! A few contractions here and there, but nothing spectacular. Hopefully that changes as the day goes on! 

I have been blessed to have such a healthy and active pregnancy. I am so grateful for that! But seriously, there is not a lot of glamourous things about being 9 months pregnant! It's tougher than I ever gave anyone credit for. But each ache and pain will be so worth it when our little baby boy makes his arrival. In case you haven't heard, I can't wait to have this baby!

P.S. Did you know ribbet.com is the new Picnik?


P.S.S. Have you seen these boots? I saw them in the Steve Madden store at City Creek and drooled considerably. I'll buy them when we win the lottery. They make me excited for fall. 

Patience

After a whole night of increasingly strong contractions...we have nothing to show for it. They ended around 6AM. I kept thinking all night, just a few more hours and we can head to the hospital! Haha...

I got my membranes stripped again this morning. If nothing happens tonight, I'm just gonna start planning on being induced on August 13, which is what my midwife has planned. That way, I won't be so depressed like I have been today!

I know I am being incredibly impatient. I just wanna meet our little baby!!

The latest on my uterus and its current occupant

We are sitting, waiting and wishing this baby would come sooner rather than later! Last week at my 38 week appointment, I was dilated to one centimeter but my midwife described my cervix as "stubborn." She suggested an herbal remedy if I was interested. I thought, "why not?" It can't hurt! So I've been taking evening primrose oil daily as well as a cup of raspberry leaf tea. (In addition to my prenatal vitamin of course).

The tea tastes exactly like what it is, leaves. After the third time it wasn't so bad though. I just kind of chug it down now. And apparently it is working because today when my midwife checked my cervix, she had a hard time finding the hole because it was so soft. Score!

She also did a membrane strip (although I like the term membrane sweep better). Basically she separated my  cervix from my uterus to release my prostaglandins which can induce labor. This was more painful than I had really prepared myself for. But I'm about to give birth, so maybe I should just get used to pain! 3 out of 8 patients who have a membrane sweep go into labor as a result. We'll see. Fingers crossed! The carseat base is installed in the car and my bags are packed just in case tonight is the night!

Also, apparently my due date is not August 6, but August 4. That's this Saturday! 3 days away!

Manti Temple Trip

Last weekend we joined our ward for a visit to the Manti Utah LDS Temple. It's one of my favorites. We visited several months ago on the way back from a hike, but this weekend was the first time we were able to spend time inside. I am so glad we went! The interior is so beautiful and ornate! Being in the temple is always a sacred experience.

I have come to realize that maxi dresses maybe aren't the most flattering for pregnancy, but they are so darn comfortable! And one of the few things that fit me!

38 weeks

We are getting so very close! I've discovered that this far into pregnancy, there is basically no such thing as "comfortable." Sleep escapes me. I even tried sleeping on the couch the other night and that was not any more comfortable. But all of that is worth it because he is still active and growing. We are so ready for him to arrive!

36 weeks

I'm really not sad in this photo...maybe just contemplative? ha

If you count by month, yesterday I was exactly 8 months pregnant. It just seems like I would never get this far! At the same time, it really has flown by. But then again, I feel like I've been pregnant forever! Well that's confusing. But anyway, I am more ready than ever to take this little guy home! We have our Pak 'n Play which will be his bed for the first little while. We also received his car seat this week. We spent most of our shower gift cards this week buying diapers and pacifers and baby soap and wooden blocks and other odds and ends. Basically we are ready for you little man, so you can make your entrance whenever you want! 

34 weeks

I'm actually 35 weeks now, but better late than never right?

Flying to and from Canada ended up being quite the adventure. 

I would get up to use the bathroom as soon as I could while in flight and then run in place in the bathroom for a few minutes. I was so worried about blood clots!

I'm glad our traveling is over for now! My back is grateful too! 

32 weeks down, 8 to go!

I am feeling those kicks in the ribs here lately that I've always heard about. I have tried videoing him kicking and moving around but every time I hit "record" he stops! What a little stinker ;)

I had an appointment with my midwife this week and everything is looking good so far. She gave me the go-ahead to travel the next couple weeks. We heard his little heartbeat and felt like such proud parents. Can't wait to meet you little man!

Florida Baby Shower :)

 While I was home, my dear Aunt Janet and cousin Leigh Anna threw me an amazing baby shower! The rubber ducky theme was so adorable! All the food was delicious (chocolate chip cookie Nutella sandwiches! Petit Fours! cucumber sandwiches! Jones soda!) They did so much work and I loved it all!

Mama and all her girls :)

 During the clean-up, the ducky baby bath tub was commandeered by Eden and Randi. Eden dubbed it,"Quack." Quack made many more appearances during my stay.

 Mitzi and Mandi helped demonstrate swaddling for me, with the help of baby Reed of course!

Mandi also helped demonstrate the sling she got me with assistance from Reed! He's such a champ!

 Can't believe Leah is getting married this summer! So happy for you lady!!

 Check out the fancies hanging from the ceiling. Yeah, Leigh Anna made those.

I loved spending time with my '08 girls :)

Love these girls so so much!!

***

The shower was absolutely fabulous and I felt so loved! I went home with a few full suitcase of goodies for our baby! 

Where to start?

I have so many photos from this past week that I want to share! I had a blast visiting family in Florida. I just wish Nate could have come! He was pretty jealous he missed out on so much. 

This trip was very much about Kacey, my little brother. He graduated high school, seminary and got his mission call, all during my 6-day stay! 

Here are some photos from mom's phone at his Baccalaureate:

 Buddies :)

The "little kids," not so little anymore!

The next night was his high school graduation on Memorial Field. 

                            Randi & me                                                    Mitzi and her daughter Eden

 Julio and Leigh Anna enjoying baby Reed

 "Grandfather" and Randi. Isn't this the cutest photo ever?

:)

 "Mimi" and Eden. (Did I spell that right Mama?)

                Tebowing :)                                              Our very handsome graduate.

My baby bump was a good pillow for baby Reed.       Eden giving Baby Reed some loves :)

 The whole Aukema crew!

Nicely done Mitz! 

 Our favorite brother! ;)

Can you tell we are siblings? ;)

This photo made me realize how much Mandi and I look alike!

 Blue & gold! :)                                                          I love this photo!

More family photos and Florida beauty coming soon. 

P.S. Family, I am currently uploading all these photos and more to my Shutterfly share site!