2012 has been quite the year for me! I have a lot to be thankful for, but I do have a few goals I'd like to achieve in 2013.
1) Find a healthy balance between being a mom, a wife, and a business owner.
2) Exercising at least 4 times/week and cutting out the minimal crap (ie: bagels, my weakness) from my diet.
3) Making better use of the brain cells I still have left.
All of these goals are important to me for different reasons. Juggling three different roles has its challenges and I'd like to know that I'm doing everything possible to be the best mom, wife, and chiropractor I can be. A healthy lifestyle will promote better health and allow me to enjoy those three important roles to the fullest. A properly functioning brain is important... because it would be nice to remember things such as the last time I shaved my legs, where I put the dog leash, how long the leftovers have been sitting in the fridge, etc.
But let's focus on goal # 3. I find that many of the recurring "issues" in my life arise from my poor memory. It seems simple... write everything down so you don't forget! Right?! Well... I put reminders in my cell phone to sound an alarm when I need reminding. I have a notepad and a personal planner that I bring with me that I REALLY try to write important thoughts down on. I have Google docs devoted to the lists of things I need to get done. I have a dry erase board calendar hanging up just outside our kitchen so my hubby and I can see everything happening in the current month. I feel like I cover all my bases and yet I still seem to forget to do things that are insignificant (folding the laundry before it gets too wrinkly) as well as things that matter (paying bills, following up on important leads, etc.).
I am not trying to make excuses (although I'm really good at it, ask my hubby and watch him roll his eyes!). I think part of the problem is trying to do a million things in a 24 hour period... there just never seems to be enough time. I can now proclaim that moms are the best multitaskers in the world. Period, the end.
Also, I cannot ignore the chronic sleep deprivation I've acquired over the last 8.5 months. I made the decision to nurse my son whenever I'm with him (pump and bottle feed when he's with his dad or grandparents, and he recently started eating purees and finger foods, too). We've (I've?!) created our own version of co-sleeping that's become a routine in our household. My son starts off the night in his crib between 7:30-8:30pm and anywhere from 4-7 hours later, he's up and ready for mommy to sleepily walk into his room, pick him up, and bring him back to bed. I don't have the energy to try to rock him back to sleep and put him down for fear I myself may fall asleep sitting up with a baby on my lap. Safety first, my friends. My sweet little boy uses mommy as a pacifier to soothe himself to sleep... and I let him. Sigh.
At this point I'm sure some of you may be saying "I told you not to co-sleep!" Maybe you are judging me for not being strict and getting him into his crib earlier, or wondering why I'm still nursing my almost 9 month old. Maybe you can relate because you've been there (or ARE there), too. Maybe your little angel baby started sleeping through the night at 2 weeks old (please stop running around town telling people that because the Tired Moms of America are over the boasting. We get it. You sleep well. Congratufreakinglations.)
There's plenty of opinions and advice being thrown around to expectant moms and new moms... and while I appreciate people who think they are helping, (and sometimes they are...) each woman and family has to take this journey and learn on their own. And boy, there's a lot to learn! I truly enjoy having my son close and knowing that I can make him feel safe, secure, and help him comfortably fall asleep. Unfortunately for me, now that he's older and much bigger and stronger, he rolls around in our bed for half of the night, waking me, the lightest sleeper ever, up every few hours with a jab in the ribs or slap in the face. I'd like to think he is having a kick ass dream about something really fun... I have bruises all over my body of which I do not know their origin (well, I guess it comes from my Kung-Fu dreamer). Or maybe it's because I'm super clumsy and walk into bed posts and walls on a regular basis. Did I just admit that? Oh well.
I don't remember what a full night's sleep feels like. I wish I did. I yearn for it. I dream of it. My other mommy friends who are in the Dark Circles Under Your Eyes Club can empathize with me. (I'd like to thank Estee Lauder for making a fabulous under-eye concealer.) I have short moments of frustration and resentment, wondering if I made the best decisions for our family (for our sanity?!), but then I remember that I have one of the most amazing, happy, loving, friendly, chatty, confident little boys I've ever met. I am beyond grateful for this gift we've been given, and am constantly bursting with love for this little chunky monkey. He gets everything he needs, and then some. I hope my hubby's patience will continue to stay strong for this sleep-deprived mama. I'll never stop trying to do better for my son, for my hub, and for myself. Maybe I should start playing memory games to keep my mind sharp. Anyone up for a game of Guess Who? (Does that make me sound young or old?)
All I know is when I finally do get that full night of sleep, you'll hear me singing from the rooftops. Until then, I am accepting donations of Starbucks and Dunkin Donuts gift cards. And Ginko Biloba. Hey, we all have our vices... it could be a hell of a lot worse than coffee! I love caffeine. And sleep. But I love having a happy, healthy son even more... so for now, farewell brain cells. It was nice knowing you.
Thursday, December 13, 2012
Wednesday, October 17, 2012
Grateful at 30
It's a little hard to believe that I just turned 30. It feels like yesterday I was rehearsing at my dance studio 6 days a week and heading to the beach with my best girlfriends on Sunday for a little South Florida sunshine, Uncle Luke blaring on the radio, and a Power smoothie as a reward for our hard work tanning. Oh the priorities of a high schooler... was that really over ten years ago?!
Things have changed quite a bit since then! As I reflect on the last decade or so, I realize how much I've grown and how much I've learned about life, friendship, relationships, communication, health, and being a new parent. I acknowledge and feel proud that I have found confidence in the inner depths of my being that I didn't know existed. This confidence allowed me to take the leap of faith to move to a new state and continue my education. This confidence allowed me to end a long relationship that in my heart I knew was over well before we actually called it quits. This confidence allowed me to choose and be passionate about a career that makes TOTAL sense to me yet many people still don't understand or want to understand it. This confidence allowed me to open my heart to the possibility of (re)meeting someone I barely knew in high school and falling in love again.
There are many wonderful things that I am proud to have accomplished and there are other life-defining moments that I wish would have turned out differently. There are people who have come into my life who will be life long friends. Although (very) difficult to admit, there are friends I have had to let go of... and friends who let go of me, the reason for which I may never know. I married my best friend, the most patient, loving, goofy, kind-hearted husband any girl could ask for, and had my first child. These two boys complete me in a way I could have never fathomed and light up my life every single day.
And of course, I've made many mistakes along the way. Who hasn't?
I am so grateful for all of the opportunities and life lessons that have molded me into the person I am today. They haven't all been easy, that's for sure! With all that I have, in the months approaching this milestone birthday, I still felt there is one thing left for me to do that would truly make me more well-rounded and complete. Part of this journey led my little family of 3 to Spain for a sabbatical, if you will. We wanted some real quality time together and the timing just worked out perfectly for us to be able to make it happen. We ate, drank, explored, reconnected with ourselves and a very dear friend, and put our heads together to figure out the next step in our lives and careers.
After a few weeks of serious introspection, I came back, once again, to this conclusion: I am extremely passionate about chiropractic. It changed my life and made me open my eyes to an entirely new perspective about health, wellness, and life in general. I will forever be grateful for my first chiropractor and mentor who introduced me to chiropractic, philosophy groups and seminars, and the possibility to wake up every morning truly excited to go to work because it doesn't feel like work at all. When I'm 90 years old, I want to look back on my life and know that I went against the grain, that I left a legacy, that I made a difference.
The big 3-0 is a milestone for many people. Some fear it, some embrace it. I chose to embrace this next chapter in my life, I have so much to look forward to! After many discussions and careful thought and planning, I decided to put on my big girl pants and start my own practice, in my hometown, and share my passion and dedication to health, wellness, and chiropractic with as many families as I possibly can. I hope I can impact the lives of the people in my community the way my mentor did for me. I hope I can open up people's eyes to what's really going on in our country's healthcare system and how small changes can make such a huge difference in your health and your life.
Don't get me wrong... when I hear a 90's megamix on the radio or pass by Nova Drive, I will always be taken back to fond memories of my younger glory days! But now it's time to focus on making an impact on my community, and I'm totally ready for the challenge :)
Yours in health,
Dr. Carly, mom, wife, daughter, sister, friend, dreamer...
Things have changed quite a bit since then! As I reflect on the last decade or so, I realize how much I've grown and how much I've learned about life, friendship, relationships, communication, health, and being a new parent. I acknowledge and feel proud that I have found confidence in the inner depths of my being that I didn't know existed. This confidence allowed me to take the leap of faith to move to a new state and continue my education. This confidence allowed me to end a long relationship that in my heart I knew was over well before we actually called it quits. This confidence allowed me to choose and be passionate about a career that makes TOTAL sense to me yet many people still don't understand or want to understand it. This confidence allowed me to open my heart to the possibility of (re)meeting someone I barely knew in high school and falling in love again.
There are many wonderful things that I am proud to have accomplished and there are other life-defining moments that I wish would have turned out differently. There are people who have come into my life who will be life long friends. Although (very) difficult to admit, there are friends I have had to let go of... and friends who let go of me, the reason for which I may never know. I married my best friend, the most patient, loving, goofy, kind-hearted husband any girl could ask for, and had my first child. These two boys complete me in a way I could have never fathomed and light up my life every single day.
And of course, I've made many mistakes along the way. Who hasn't?
I am so grateful for all of the opportunities and life lessons that have molded me into the person I am today. They haven't all been easy, that's for sure! With all that I have, in the months approaching this milestone birthday, I still felt there is one thing left for me to do that would truly make me more well-rounded and complete. Part of this journey led my little family of 3 to Spain for a sabbatical, if you will. We wanted some real quality time together and the timing just worked out perfectly for us to be able to make it happen. We ate, drank, explored, reconnected with ourselves and a very dear friend, and put our heads together to figure out the next step in our lives and careers.
After a few weeks of serious introspection, I came back, once again, to this conclusion: I am extremely passionate about chiropractic. It changed my life and made me open my eyes to an entirely new perspective about health, wellness, and life in general. I will forever be grateful for my first chiropractor and mentor who introduced me to chiropractic, philosophy groups and seminars, and the possibility to wake up every morning truly excited to go to work because it doesn't feel like work at all. When I'm 90 years old, I want to look back on my life and know that I went against the grain, that I left a legacy, that I made a difference.
The big 3-0 is a milestone for many people. Some fear it, some embrace it. I chose to embrace this next chapter in my life, I have so much to look forward to! After many discussions and careful thought and planning, I decided to put on my big girl pants and start my own practice, in my hometown, and share my passion and dedication to health, wellness, and chiropractic with as many families as I possibly can. I hope I can impact the lives of the people in my community the way my mentor did for me. I hope I can open up people's eyes to what's really going on in our country's healthcare system and how small changes can make such a huge difference in your health and your life.
Don't get me wrong... when I hear a 90's megamix on the radio or pass by Nova Drive, I will always be taken back to fond memories of my younger glory days! But now it's time to focus on making an impact on my community, and I'm totally ready for the challenge :)
Yours in health,
Dr. Carly, mom, wife, daughter, sister, friend, dreamer...
Monday, August 20, 2012
The Mom Club
While many of my life defining roles occurred more easily (wife, daughter, sister, friend), some took blood, sweat, and tears to achieve... college... graduate school... becoming a mother!! I waited 29 years to become a mom, and it will be my greatest achievement in my life! I did not realize it could be like this... the mom club, that is. It's the
most rewarding, fulfilling club I've ever been a part of. I always knew
that I would be here one day, but you never really know what to expect
until it happens to you.
I've always known deep down in my soul that I wanted be a mom. There's no way to know when the "right time" to become parents will be. There's no way to prepare for the journey you'll begin when the little stick (or four!) says positive. What I do know is that I have always loved kids-- their free spirits, light-heartedness, resilience, outlook on life. I may have chosen my lifestyle and career because it is congruent with who I am, but being a mom is my calling, my life's purpose.
I honestly didn't really feel like a mom until very recently. I don't think I fully grasped the enormity of becoming a parent right away. That "4th trimester" turned my world upside down! Finally, some of the initial exhaustion, hormonal, brand-new mom fog has lifted and I feel a little more like my myself, but with a different, cool perspective. It's the precious moments when your baby is sleeping, or snuggling with you, or growing and learning right in front of your eyes that makes you realize, "Wow, look at him... I'm his MOM!" It brings me ridiculous joy. It's simply wonderful.
My membership in the mom club has ignited a spark within me to do everything I can to raise our son the best way we know how. I'm sure some of the choices we've made so far have left somewhat of an impression on my friends and family... water birth, exclusively breast feeding (so far), co-sleeping, etc. Whether that impression is positive or negative (or other), it is what it is! I am very proud and confident in our parenting thus far. Please understand... by no means do I think I know everything! I am sure I will make many mistakes! If you want to know more about certain choices we've made, please ask! I don't mind! In fact I like talking about it with people who have open minds. With all the crazy stuff you see in the media, it's important to think outside of the box and stimulate your brain these days, otherwise we all might melt into a pile of reality tv/political mush!
I don't assume, judge, or criticize anyone, so I hope you won't either.
My health and wellness background motivates me to be a more informed parent. I take this information and help families create and achieve their health goals. How cool is that?! I look forward to sharing my journey in motherhood and being a chiropractor with you!
Until next time... hasta luego!
PS- I 100% acknowledge my borderline addiction to posting pictures of my son online. When you are so in love with this little person, it's hard not to share the happiness! Plus, I have lots of friends and family who haven't met him yet. I appreciate my mommy friends who also share in this pastime :)
I've always known deep down in my soul that I wanted be a mom. There's no way to know when the "right time" to become parents will be. There's no way to prepare for the journey you'll begin when the little stick (or four!) says positive. What I do know is that I have always loved kids-- their free spirits, light-heartedness, resilience, outlook on life. I may have chosen my lifestyle and career because it is congruent with who I am, but being a mom is my calling, my life's purpose.
I honestly didn't really feel like a mom until very recently. I don't think I fully grasped the enormity of becoming a parent right away. That "4th trimester" turned my world upside down! Finally, some of the initial exhaustion, hormonal, brand-new mom fog has lifted and I feel a little more like my myself, but with a different, cool perspective. It's the precious moments when your baby is sleeping, or snuggling with you, or growing and learning right in front of your eyes that makes you realize, "Wow, look at him... I'm his MOM!" It brings me ridiculous joy. It's simply wonderful.
My membership in the mom club has ignited a spark within me to do everything I can to raise our son the best way we know how. I'm sure some of the choices we've made so far have left somewhat of an impression on my friends and family... water birth, exclusively breast feeding (so far), co-sleeping, etc. Whether that impression is positive or negative (or other), it is what it is! I am very proud and confident in our parenting thus far. Please understand... by no means do I think I know everything! I am sure I will make many mistakes! If you want to know more about certain choices we've made, please ask! I don't mind! In fact I like talking about it with people who have open minds. With all the crazy stuff you see in the media, it's important to think outside of the box and stimulate your brain these days, otherwise we all might melt into a pile of reality tv/political mush!
I don't assume, judge, or criticize anyone, so I hope you won't either.
My health and wellness background motivates me to be a more informed parent. I take this information and help families create and achieve their health goals. How cool is that?! I look forward to sharing my journey in motherhood and being a chiropractor with you!
Until next time... hasta luego!
PS- I 100% acknowledge my borderline addiction to posting pictures of my son online. When you are so in love with this little person, it's hard not to share the happiness! Plus, I have lots of friends and family who haven't met him yet. I appreciate my mommy friends who also share in this pastime :)
Wednesday, May 9, 2012
The mommy diaries... take one.
*Disclaimer*
This blog is real, uncensored, probably inappropriate and definitely shares TMI. If you don't like it, if you're a man or not a mom yet and you can't appreciate it... why are you reading it?!
I'm exhausted, engorged, and emotional... oh my!
Ryder is 6 weeks old! Currently, he is wrapped nice and warmly on me in his moby (and by warmly I mean he's a furnace and this is South Florida and it's not even summer time yet but still boiling hot outside... WTF). I call him my angel baby when his little head rests on my chest in the moby and he sleeps (see picture below!). He looks so peaceful and I wonder if he dreams of breast milk or a nice big poop? Probably both, because they pretty much consume our lives! I'm catching quick glances at him every few minutes while I cautiously type this blog, making sure not to wake him and carefully sipping some new iced coffee beverage I bought at the store. Last night I prepared, cooked, and ate an entire meal while wearing my son in his moby. I am the ultimate multitasker... or superwoman, either will suffice.
New discovery #1-- Your brain becomes mush after you have a baby. I ramble, I lose my train of thought, I make stupid mistakes that I can only laugh at because otherwise I'd cry. For someone with a post graduate education, I sure feel like an idiot sometimes. Example: I bought my girlfriend's son some clothes/shoes for his birthday... 2T size... and made the card out to him, wishing him a happy 2nd birthday. He turned one this year. I knew this. Oops.
New discovery #2-- I have a new understanding of exhaustion. When you breast feed, the baby (my baby at least) eats on demand. Nursing could be every 2-3 hours on the dot... 24/7. At night I am lucky and he goes a little longer... maybe 3-4 hours. Last night Danny fed the baby a late night feeding and I got to sleep from midnight until 5:45am. Those late night daddy shifts are essential every once in a while! The only downside... when you breastfeed and you don't feed your child for one shift... engorgement (New discovery #3). I imagine engorgement sort of feels like what having new fake breasts may feel like? Nothing can quite prepare you for that uncomfortable feeling... and you better have some nursing pads on! Oh boy.
Thankfully daddy just came downstairs at just the right time so I could unwrap baby, pass him to daddy, recover from my hot flash, and hook up to the pump. It's only 9:30am and I feel like I've been awake since... forever.
New discovery #4-- No one really prepared me for the emotional roller coaster. My hormones have been wacky since I got pregnant, and they have been relentless ever since. I've only had maybe 2 emotional breakdowns in 6 weeks... that's not too bad in my opinion. The first was the worst... a couple days after my best friend flew back to Spain. I didn't know a body could produce so many tears. But I got through it with the company of my dad and some texts and phone calls to some fellow mommy friends. I thank my lucky stars for them all! I don't know how long this up and down thing will last, or the break outs...! All I can do is keep busy (HA! Not too difficult these days) and visit with friends and family, who keep me relatively sane.
I hope I don't sound like I'm complaining? I'm not trying to. It's more of a self-discovery... a vent... to openly share a few of the things I wasn't really prepared for. But with the not so nice craziness that is a post partum mommy comes the pure bliss of waking up every day looking at your amazingly wonderful child. He is a perfect combination of my hubby and me. He is tracking objects and lights. He is starting to coo the most delicious noises, and I swear he will smile on purpose any day now. I've seen many sleep smiles and a few half smiles yesterday. Heaven! The love he brings out of me is hard to explain. It grows every day, which is awesome. The love he brings out of my husband, parents, in-laws, uncles, and his great grandma is pretty amazing too. He brings joy to our entire family and it's a very special time we are all just eating up!
Daddy just took Ryder out for a few hours... their first "boys day out." I don't know what I'll do with myself. Go to the pool? Maybe. Sleep? Hell yes. Shower? A long one! Miss them? Of course :)
This blog is real, uncensored, probably inappropriate and definitely shares TMI. If you don't like it, if you're a man or not a mom yet and you can't appreciate it... why are you reading it?!
I'm exhausted, engorged, and emotional... oh my!
Ryder is 6 weeks old! Currently, he is wrapped nice and warmly on me in his moby (and by warmly I mean he's a furnace and this is South Florida and it's not even summer time yet but still boiling hot outside... WTF). I call him my angel baby when his little head rests on my chest in the moby and he sleeps (see picture below!). He looks so peaceful and I wonder if he dreams of breast milk or a nice big poop? Probably both, because they pretty much consume our lives! I'm catching quick glances at him every few minutes while I cautiously type this blog, making sure not to wake him and carefully sipping some new iced coffee beverage I bought at the store. Last night I prepared, cooked, and ate an entire meal while wearing my son in his moby. I am the ultimate multitasker... or superwoman, either will suffice.
New discovery #1-- Your brain becomes mush after you have a baby. I ramble, I lose my train of thought, I make stupid mistakes that I can only laugh at because otherwise I'd cry. For someone with a post graduate education, I sure feel like an idiot sometimes. Example: I bought my girlfriend's son some clothes/shoes for his birthday... 2T size... and made the card out to him, wishing him a happy 2nd birthday. He turned one this year. I knew this. Oops.
New discovery #2-- I have a new understanding of exhaustion. When you breast feed, the baby (my baby at least) eats on demand. Nursing could be every 2-3 hours on the dot... 24/7. At night I am lucky and he goes a little longer... maybe 3-4 hours. Last night Danny fed the baby a late night feeding and I got to sleep from midnight until 5:45am. Those late night daddy shifts are essential every once in a while! The only downside... when you breastfeed and you don't feed your child for one shift... engorgement (New discovery #3). I imagine engorgement sort of feels like what having new fake breasts may feel like? Nothing can quite prepare you for that uncomfortable feeling... and you better have some nursing pads on! Oh boy.
Thankfully daddy just came downstairs at just the right time so I could unwrap baby, pass him to daddy, recover from my hot flash, and hook up to the pump. It's only 9:30am and I feel like I've been awake since... forever.
New discovery #4-- No one really prepared me for the emotional roller coaster. My hormones have been wacky since I got pregnant, and they have been relentless ever since. I've only had maybe 2 emotional breakdowns in 6 weeks... that's not too bad in my opinion. The first was the worst... a couple days after my best friend flew back to Spain. I didn't know a body could produce so many tears. But I got through it with the company of my dad and some texts and phone calls to some fellow mommy friends. I thank my lucky stars for them all! I don't know how long this up and down thing will last, or the break outs...! All I can do is keep busy (HA! Not too difficult these days) and visit with friends and family, who keep me relatively sane.
I hope I don't sound like I'm complaining? I'm not trying to. It's more of a self-discovery... a vent... to openly share a few of the things I wasn't really prepared for. But with the not so nice craziness that is a post partum mommy comes the pure bliss of waking up every day looking at your amazingly wonderful child. He is a perfect combination of my hubby and me. He is tracking objects and lights. He is starting to coo the most delicious noises, and I swear he will smile on purpose any day now. I've seen many sleep smiles and a few half smiles yesterday. Heaven! The love he brings out of me is hard to explain. It grows every day, which is awesome. The love he brings out of my husband, parents, in-laws, uncles, and his great grandma is pretty amazing too. He brings joy to our entire family and it's a very special time we are all just eating up!
Daddy just took Ryder out for a few hours... their first "boys day out." I don't know what I'll do with myself. Go to the pool? Maybe. Sleep? Hell yes. Shower? A long one! Miss them? Of course :)
Tuesday, April 3, 2012
Happy Birthday Ryder!
Saturday March 24:
Apparently I was in pre-labor all day...! Since this was my first pregnancy/birth and I hadn't had really any "pre-labor" signs up until this point, I had no idea I was in the beginning stages! My girlfriend Ana arrived from Spain the night prior, so we had plans to hang out and catch up all day. We took a 2 mile walk in the morning, went to the pool for a few hours, showered and rested. In the late afternoon we took a drive up to a local health food store to grab some items, including 2 homeopathic liquid supplements my midwife had recommended to help "nudge" me into labor. I figured why not?! Next, we grabbed a chai tea, then dinner, and finally made it home around 10pm. All day I had been feeling a little crampy, but I didn't really think anything of it because the sensation wasn't intense and had no pattern, which is what I thought I should be paying attention to if I was starting labor. Around 11pm I felt the cramps getting a little stronger and I texted my doula Dawna to let her know what was up. She said usually cramping is a sign of the cervix thinning, and when contractions begin, the cervix dilates. She said, you may wake up in the middle of the night with contractions. Wow- this is really happening! I went to bed at 11:30pm with many emotions and anticipation, having a strong feeling the baby was on his way.
Sunday March 25:
I woke up at 12:30am to pee (of course) and as I got back into bed, my water broke. I called Dawna, who asked me to try to describe what happened. Once I did, she told me to call the birth center so they could connect me to my midwife Becky, who was on call. She called me back about 10-15 minutes later, and as I was describing what happened and she was discussing my options for coming in later that morning to get checked, I had my first contraction. It wasn't what I expected... everyone said I'd feel a tightening across the top of the belly that may radiate into my back. Instead, I felt a wave of cramps across the lower abdomen that lasted maybe 30 seconds and then subsided. Once I was off the phone with her, I called Danny, who was on his way home from work (he is usually home much earlier but it had been a particularly busy night and he had to stay late). I told him not to freak out but my water broke and I just had my first contraction. He still had about a half hour drive to get home, so I said please not to speed and to be careful, and I was going to get back into bed. He got home a little after 1 am and after checking on me and giving me his cell phone to start monitoring the contractions on the "contraction app" he had downloaded a few weeks prior (!!), he ran around the house getting bags together and jumped in the shower after a 15 hour work day. Poor guy!
By the time he got out of the shower, I asked him to take over the contraction monitoring because I was getting more uncomfortable. By 2am we had been monitoring the contractions for an hour and the app told us the contractions were lasting 50-70 seconds and were already about 3-4 minutes apart. I really couldn't believe it! Danny thought MAYBE we should call Dawna back and have her come over, and contact Becky to let her know we should be heading over to the birth center. Once we talked to everyone, Dawna said she'd be on her way in a couple of minutes and then we would head out. I finally had Danny wake up Ana because I felt bad waking her up earlier- she was still jet lagged and I wanted her to rest! I got out of bed and labored on an big exercise ball for another 20-25 minutes as the contractions intensified to about a 7-8 out of 10 on a pain scale of 1-10 (haha, chiro's you'll appreciate that description!). I did my best to allow myself to ease into the contractions and to let my body relax as much as possible so that I was working with it instead of against it. I used the breathing techniques I learned and feel they did help me relax. When I did this, I felt the most intense part of the contraction only lasted a small amount of time before it slowly subsided. I did spew out a few curse words at this point but overall, I felt I handled each contraction pretty well! When Dawna arrived she talked to me for a few minutes and then we headed to the birth center (about a 20 minute drive from our home).
Having contractions in the car is not very comfortable, and with each one, Danny sped up a little faster. He flew by a police car, which suprisingly didn't stop us! We arrived at the birth center around 2:45 am and Becky was still setting up the room for me and filling the tub with water. I laid down in between contractions for them to check me and I was already 9.5 centimeters dilated! THIS IS REALLY HAPPENING! Within a few minutes, I was in the tub, which felt really great. At this point the contractions were very close together and definitely a 10 out of 10 for pain and intensity, but the support from Danny, Dawna, Ana, and my midwife assistant Elizabeth helped me get through each one as calmly as possible (still a little cursing going on, but I didn't care!). After about 20 minutes in the tub, Becky checked me again and I was at 10 centimeters. I could not believe how fast this was all happening! I didn't really have time to prepare myself for the speed in which this labor progressed, but I think it was better this way because I just went with it, what else could I do?! Throughout the progression, baby's heart rate was checked with the fetal heart rate monitor and everything was perfect each time. Becky told me if I felt like I wanted to push, I could start pushing with each contraction. This is when some of the uncontrollable screaming started.... right around the time that my parents and in-laws arrived at the birth center and were sitting in the extremely quiet waiting room. I felt so bad screaming as I pushed but I couldn't help it! Ana was there waiting with them, and soothed my mom, who was upset hearing me in pain. Over the course of the next 30 minutes or so (who knows at this point?!), I pushed baby down with each contraction. At one point I think I said (screamed?!) "I WANT HIM OUT!" and Becky and Elizabeth said they could see his head and he was almost here! Within a few minutes and with a few more pushes, baby arrived into the water, and onto my chest at 4:36am ! What an amazing feeling to FINALLY meet my son!
It was extremely surreal how everything happened so quickly, but I don't think I would've changed anything about the experience. I had truly incredible support from wonderful people, and Danny was absolutely amazing. Once I got out of the tub, and baby and I were checked, we tried to get baby to latch on to breast feed. When the cord stopped pulsating, Danny was able to cut the cord and then he got to hold his son for the first time and it was a beautiful moment for the three of us. He then brought Ryder out to the waiting room to meet the Grandma's and Grandpa's and reveal his name! Daddy and Ryder came back in so Becky could weigh and measure baby (8 lbs, 9 oz, 21 inches, healthy, and perfect in every way!).
I am so happy that I trusted my body to know what to do. Of course I believe it helped to be in good physical health before and during the pregnancy, and baby was very healthy throughout the pregnancy as well. It also helped that I am extremely laid back and low anxiety, which obviously is important when you are planning on a labor and delivery that is unlike what most people are "doing these days." Taking the hypnobirthing class, having a doula, a supportive birth center team and most importantly a husband who backed me 150% was exactly what I needed to remain confident and strong through the entire process. We are so happy to finally have Ryder in our lives and thank everyone for their love and well-wishes! Life is good :)
Pretty awesome pictures captured by Dawna... <3
Apparently I was in pre-labor all day...! Since this was my first pregnancy/birth and I hadn't had really any "pre-labor" signs up until this point, I had no idea I was in the beginning stages! My girlfriend Ana arrived from Spain the night prior, so we had plans to hang out and catch up all day. We took a 2 mile walk in the morning, went to the pool for a few hours, showered and rested. In the late afternoon we took a drive up to a local health food store to grab some items, including 2 homeopathic liquid supplements my midwife had recommended to help "nudge" me into labor. I figured why not?! Next, we grabbed a chai tea, then dinner, and finally made it home around 10pm. All day I had been feeling a little crampy, but I didn't really think anything of it because the sensation wasn't intense and had no pattern, which is what I thought I should be paying attention to if I was starting labor. Around 11pm I felt the cramps getting a little stronger and I texted my doula Dawna to let her know what was up. She said usually cramping is a sign of the cervix thinning, and when contractions begin, the cervix dilates. She said, you may wake up in the middle of the night with contractions. Wow- this is really happening! I went to bed at 11:30pm with many emotions and anticipation, having a strong feeling the baby was on his way.
Sunday March 25:
I woke up at 12:30am to pee (of course) and as I got back into bed, my water broke. I called Dawna, who asked me to try to describe what happened. Once I did, she told me to call the birth center so they could connect me to my midwife Becky, who was on call. She called me back about 10-15 minutes later, and as I was describing what happened and she was discussing my options for coming in later that morning to get checked, I had my first contraction. It wasn't what I expected... everyone said I'd feel a tightening across the top of the belly that may radiate into my back. Instead, I felt a wave of cramps across the lower abdomen that lasted maybe 30 seconds and then subsided. Once I was off the phone with her, I called Danny, who was on his way home from work (he is usually home much earlier but it had been a particularly busy night and he had to stay late). I told him not to freak out but my water broke and I just had my first contraction. He still had about a half hour drive to get home, so I said please not to speed and to be careful, and I was going to get back into bed. He got home a little after 1 am and after checking on me and giving me his cell phone to start monitoring the contractions on the "contraction app" he had downloaded a few weeks prior (!!), he ran around the house getting bags together and jumped in the shower after a 15 hour work day. Poor guy!
By the time he got out of the shower, I asked him to take over the contraction monitoring because I was getting more uncomfortable. By 2am we had been monitoring the contractions for an hour and the app told us the contractions were lasting 50-70 seconds and were already about 3-4 minutes apart. I really couldn't believe it! Danny thought MAYBE we should call Dawna back and have her come over, and contact Becky to let her know we should be heading over to the birth center. Once we talked to everyone, Dawna said she'd be on her way in a couple of minutes and then we would head out. I finally had Danny wake up Ana because I felt bad waking her up earlier- she was still jet lagged and I wanted her to rest! I got out of bed and labored on an big exercise ball for another 20-25 minutes as the contractions intensified to about a 7-8 out of 10 on a pain scale of 1-10 (haha, chiro's you'll appreciate that description!). I did my best to allow myself to ease into the contractions and to let my body relax as much as possible so that I was working with it instead of against it. I used the breathing techniques I learned and feel they did help me relax. When I did this, I felt the most intense part of the contraction only lasted a small amount of time before it slowly subsided. I did spew out a few curse words at this point but overall, I felt I handled each contraction pretty well! When Dawna arrived she talked to me for a few minutes and then we headed to the birth center (about a 20 minute drive from our home).
Having contractions in the car is not very comfortable, and with each one, Danny sped up a little faster. He flew by a police car, which suprisingly didn't stop us! We arrived at the birth center around 2:45 am and Becky was still setting up the room for me and filling the tub with water. I laid down in between contractions for them to check me and I was already 9.5 centimeters dilated! THIS IS REALLY HAPPENING! Within a few minutes, I was in the tub, which felt really great. At this point the contractions were very close together and definitely a 10 out of 10 for pain and intensity, but the support from Danny, Dawna, Ana, and my midwife assistant Elizabeth helped me get through each one as calmly as possible (still a little cursing going on, but I didn't care!). After about 20 minutes in the tub, Becky checked me again and I was at 10 centimeters. I could not believe how fast this was all happening! I didn't really have time to prepare myself for the speed in which this labor progressed, but I think it was better this way because I just went with it, what else could I do?! Throughout the progression, baby's heart rate was checked with the fetal heart rate monitor and everything was perfect each time. Becky told me if I felt like I wanted to push, I could start pushing with each contraction. This is when some of the uncontrollable screaming started.... right around the time that my parents and in-laws arrived at the birth center and were sitting in the extremely quiet waiting room. I felt so bad screaming as I pushed but I couldn't help it! Ana was there waiting with them, and soothed my mom, who was upset hearing me in pain. Over the course of the next 30 minutes or so (who knows at this point?!), I pushed baby down with each contraction. At one point I think I said (screamed?!) "I WANT HIM OUT!" and Becky and Elizabeth said they could see his head and he was almost here! Within a few minutes and with a few more pushes, baby arrived into the water, and onto my chest at 4:36am ! What an amazing feeling to FINALLY meet my son!
It was extremely surreal how everything happened so quickly, but I don't think I would've changed anything about the experience. I had truly incredible support from wonderful people, and Danny was absolutely amazing. Once I got out of the tub, and baby and I were checked, we tried to get baby to latch on to breast feed. When the cord stopped pulsating, Danny was able to cut the cord and then he got to hold his son for the first time and it was a beautiful moment for the three of us. He then brought Ryder out to the waiting room to meet the Grandma's and Grandpa's and reveal his name! Daddy and Ryder came back in so Becky could weigh and measure baby (8 lbs, 9 oz, 21 inches, healthy, and perfect in every way!).
I am so happy that I trusted my body to know what to do. Of course I believe it helped to be in good physical health before and during the pregnancy, and baby was very healthy throughout the pregnancy as well. It also helped that I am extremely laid back and low anxiety, which obviously is important when you are planning on a labor and delivery that is unlike what most people are "doing these days." Taking the hypnobirthing class, having a doula, a supportive birth center team and most importantly a husband who backed me 150% was exactly what I needed to remain confident and strong through the entire process. We are so happy to finally have Ryder in our lives and thank everyone for their love and well-wishes! Life is good :)
Pretty awesome pictures captured by Dawna... <3
Friday, March 16, 2012
Tick tock...
Here I sit on a Friday evening waiting for hubby to get home from work. I'm sitting on pillow, drinking pregnancy tea and trying to take full breaths. Baby "dropped" yesterday and I thought for sure something "big" was about to happen. Instead, I just felt his weight really take a toll on me and my pelvis and it's pretty exhausting and uncomfortable. But I swear I'm not complaining! It just means he'll be here very soon! I'll be 39 weeks on Monday. That means I am almost 10 months pregnant. Many people don't realize a pregnancy is actually 40 weeks....10 months, not 9 months. Sometimes you fly by your due date and pass the 10 month mark. That's the better part of a YEAR. I don't think I even realized a pregnancy lasts this long... and it feels pretty freaking long at this point. I almost don't remember not being pregnant. Sounds silly, but it's true. Baby, I'm ready to meet you... come out now please.
I just made a connection with a doula a couple of weeks ago. Danny and I decided she was a great fit for us. For those of you who don't know what a doula is, they are basically like a birth coach who provides emotional support for you during your labor and delivery. For someone who isn't planning on any pain meds during labor and delivery, I felt it was probably a good idea to explore ALL avenues for ways to make my labor a little more comfortable. That's why I took Hypno Birthing (I'll refer to it as HB, and I'll talk more about after baby arrives) and why I feel like having a doula is the perfect addition to my birth plan. Doulas provide options such as aromatherapy, massage, comforting music, knowledge in what positions may be more comfortable for you, ice packs/hot packs, support for the daddy-to-be, treats for your dogs (!), reading your body language to know what stage of pregnancy you're in and when it may be time to head to the hospital or birth center (if you aren't delivering at home, which I am not!)... and more. She even left me with a big exercise ball to sit on for the rest of my pregnancy to make sure my pelvis is in the proper position and that I'm not putting too much pressure on it. When I think of everything and anything I may possibly want to make me more comfortable during labor, she pretty much offers it all. And she is also proficient in HB, as she has trained with and worked with my HB coach for a while now. This means she can help me redirect my focus on my breathing, relaxation, and/or visualization exercises if I get distracted. This is a big plus!
In other news, yesterday was my last day of work! Considering baby dropped yesterday, I'm pretty sure the timing couldn't have been better. I have all sorts of random things planned in the next week or so to keep me busy... doctor's appointments, a professional cleaning of the house (first time ever since we've lived here, and I couldn't think of a better investment at a better time!), a massage (that I won in a contest from my prenatal yoga class- score!), hopefully a date night with the hubs.... our last as a party of two... maybe a mani/pedi, I think I'll choose blue polish :) ...and the arrival of one of my best girlfriends from Spain at the end of the week who has graciously offered to fly here to take care of us and our home for almost 3 weeks (I have the BEST friends!). Oh, and lots of walking! Busy busy busy. What else can I do?!
Until then, please say a little prayer for me to get through this labor and delivery in the best way I can, for the arrival of a healthy baby boy, and for my husband to make it through it all without passing out :)
Lots of love to my friends and family for all you've done and continue to do. I appreciate you more than you could ever know!
I just made a connection with a doula a couple of weeks ago. Danny and I decided she was a great fit for us. For those of you who don't know what a doula is, they are basically like a birth coach who provides emotional support for you during your labor and delivery. For someone who isn't planning on any pain meds during labor and delivery, I felt it was probably a good idea to explore ALL avenues for ways to make my labor a little more comfortable. That's why I took Hypno Birthing (I'll refer to it as HB, and I'll talk more about after baby arrives) and why I feel like having a doula is the perfect addition to my birth plan. Doulas provide options such as aromatherapy, massage, comforting music, knowledge in what positions may be more comfortable for you, ice packs/hot packs, support for the daddy-to-be, treats for your dogs (!), reading your body language to know what stage of pregnancy you're in and when it may be time to head to the hospital or birth center (if you aren't delivering at home, which I am not!)... and more. She even left me with a big exercise ball to sit on for the rest of my pregnancy to make sure my pelvis is in the proper position and that I'm not putting too much pressure on it. When I think of everything and anything I may possibly want to make me more comfortable during labor, she pretty much offers it all. And she is also proficient in HB, as she has trained with and worked with my HB coach for a while now. This means she can help me redirect my focus on my breathing, relaxation, and/or visualization exercises if I get distracted. This is a big plus!
In other news, yesterday was my last day of work! Considering baby dropped yesterday, I'm pretty sure the timing couldn't have been better. I have all sorts of random things planned in the next week or so to keep me busy... doctor's appointments, a professional cleaning of the house (first time ever since we've lived here, and I couldn't think of a better investment at a better time!), a massage (that I won in a contest from my prenatal yoga class- score!), hopefully a date night with the hubs.... our last as a party of two... maybe a mani/pedi, I think I'll choose blue polish :) ...and the arrival of one of my best girlfriends from Spain at the end of the week who has graciously offered to fly here to take care of us and our home for almost 3 weeks (I have the BEST friends!). Oh, and lots of walking! Busy busy busy. What else can I do?!
Until then, please say a little prayer for me to get through this labor and delivery in the best way I can, for the arrival of a healthy baby boy, and for my husband to make it through it all without passing out :)
Lots of love to my friends and family for all you've done and continue to do. I appreciate you more than you could ever know!
(This was about a week ago before prenatal yoga... 37.5 weeks... baby has dropped since then!)
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
A little bit goes a long way
Yesterday marked the 36th week of my pregnancy. It's a little surreal at this point!! Still feeling a LOT of movement (to the point of being uncomfortable, this kid is beating me up from the inside!), lots of baby hiccups too. No Braxton Hicks yet... which doesn't really bother me I guess, although I'd love to know things are getting closer by feeling some of those common "he's coming" signs! Everything is going really well, and I am grateful that the aches and pains I have felt throughout the pregnancy have been relatively minor. Last week I started waking up every few hours with throbbing hip pain. Felt like someone punched me on the sides of my hips/butt and continued to feel the pain throughout the day. I attributed it to the weight gain and sleeping only on my sides, but after discussing it with my midwife and chiropractor, I remembered that the Relaxin hormone is really kicking in right now and making my joints loose. This means the hips are widening in preparation for birth. I also considered the fact that while a more firm mattress may be very supportive and comfortable when not pregnant, when pregnant, it can put a lot of pressure on your body if you are only sleeping in one position. Thankfully my pregnancy brain allowed me to recall that we had vacuum-sealed an old tempurpedic-ish foam mattress topper and it was stored in the garage. We took it out, put it on the bed, and I have felt 100% improvement in my hip pain since that first night I slept on it. What a blessing to not have to spend any $ and find the solution was right in my home already! THANK G-D!
Around the same time last week I also started noticing a little bit of burning pain in my groin and front of the thighs. I pulled out some differential diagnosis from the inner depths of my distant chiropractic student brain and remembered a fun little disorder called Meralgia Paresthetica (pronounced Mer-al-ja Pair-ah-stet-ick-ah). A quick google search confirmed my inclination... when you are pregnant (or overweight, or wearing tight pants, or wearing a tight work belt like a police officer or handy man commonly does...) you can cut off or pinch the nerves that run through the groin area and provide normal sensation to the groin and front of the thighs. Hello 9 months pregnant belly and this weird burning painful sensation. So lovely to meet you after all this time. Thankfully, it comes and goes... and it only comes for a few minutes every few days, so I guess I'll just deal until baby arrives and the belly starts to shrink again. Oh week 35, you were not kind to me... week 36 is shaping up much better!
I wanted to share another experience with one particularly common symptom that I, along with many other pregnant women have had to deal with. When I was about 18 weeks pregnant or so, I started noticing some lower back pain. It started on the left side where my hip meets my tail bone and was aggravated by certain movements such as lifting my leg to get out of the car, getting out of bed, and even doing certain types of adjustments on my patients. I couldn't fathom why, after so many years of diligently taking care of myself and my spine, I would be one of the lucky ones to suffer from unrelenting low back pain in pregnancy. I wasn't even that big yet, so I was a little disappointed and disheartened to feel this pain.
(Ready for your anatomy lesson of the day?!)
Around the same time last week I also started noticing a little bit of burning pain in my groin and front of the thighs. I pulled out some differential diagnosis from the inner depths of my distant chiropractic student brain and remembered a fun little disorder called Meralgia Paresthetica (pronounced Mer-al-ja Pair-ah-stet-ick-ah). A quick google search confirmed my inclination... when you are pregnant (or overweight, or wearing tight pants, or wearing a tight work belt like a police officer or handy man commonly does...) you can cut off or pinch the nerves that run through the groin area and provide normal sensation to the groin and front of the thighs. Hello 9 months pregnant belly and this weird burning painful sensation. So lovely to meet you after all this time. Thankfully, it comes and goes... and it only comes for a few minutes every few days, so I guess I'll just deal until baby arrives and the belly starts to shrink again. Oh week 35, you were not kind to me... week 36 is shaping up much better!
I wanted to share another experience with one particularly common symptom that I, along with many other pregnant women have had to deal with. When I was about 18 weeks pregnant or so, I started noticing some lower back pain. It started on the left side where my hip meets my tail bone and was aggravated by certain movements such as lifting my leg to get out of the car, getting out of bed, and even doing certain types of adjustments on my patients. I couldn't fathom why, after so many years of diligently taking care of myself and my spine, I would be one of the lucky ones to suffer from unrelenting low back pain in pregnancy. I wasn't even that big yet, so I was a little disappointed and disheartened to feel this pain.
I pulled out my notes and resources from school (nerd alert) and started researching the anatomy and physiology of how a woman's body changes through pregnancy. I knew it would make me understand more clearly the changes that were happening to me and hopefully give me a little bit of (mental) relief that although I wasn't comfortable, what I was experiencing was pretty normal.
Here is a summary of what I found:
Towards the end of the first trimester and
beginning of the second trimester, the mommy-to-be may start to feel changes in
her uterus, and even in her spine and pelvic area. These changes become more
apparent as the uterus and baby grow.
The uterus has many ligaments that suspend and support it inside the abdomen and
connect it to other structures in the body. Two ligaments worth mentioning (and
by understanding their function, will help you understand why pregnant women may be
feel some low back discomfort) are...
(Ready for your anatomy lesson of the day?!)
1) Utero-sacral ligament: (ligament connecting the uterus and sacrum, aka, tail bone). This ligament
extends from the back portion of the
uterus, travels around the rectum, and inserts over the middle of the sacrum. This ligament prevents the uterus
from displacing anterior and inferior
(forward and down). If the ligaments
stretch unevenly, they can cause the
sacrum to move out of alignment
(low back pain!). If there is enough
displacement of the sacrum, the sciatic nerve may
become irritated, which causes the burning/shooting pain down the butt and sometimes into the back of the leg. If
the sacrum goes out of alignment,
it can transmit torsion through the ligaments and cause tension within the uterus (this can cause uterus
pain or even a breech, or feet-down
positioning of the baby).
2) Round ligament: This ligament extends from the sides of the uterus,
travels into the inguinal canal (groin area) where
it joins with the inguinal ligament, and inserts
in the upper portion of the labia. This
ligament prevents the uterus from
displacing posterior (backward). Tension of the ligament can increase the tension on the uterus and again
create discomfort or even re-positioning
of the baby.
Changes in a mommy-to-be's
center of gravity, balance, and spinal positioning are common as her uterus and
baby grow. It's important to recognize the body releases a hormone called Relaxin in larger amounts throughout her pregnancy. This hormone literally
relaxes the joints in preparation for the widening of the pelvic girdle, which
will eventually be the area baby exits from if mom decides to have a vaginal
birth. Although this hormone is completely natural and normal, it does
significantly loosen all the joints. Mom may already start to feel changes in
her joints, not only in her pelvis but even other areas as well. Most commonly because of the additional
weight of the baby in the front of the body (creating additional stress on the
spine) the pelvic and sacrum joints are more likely to move out of alignment,
thus the low back pain and possibly sciatica.
Once I reviewed all the info and refreshed my memory, it made SO much sense to me as to why getting adjusted by a chiropractor throughout your pregnancy is so beneficial. So... why?! Chiropractors can help by
analyzing the spine and adjusting specific areas that are out of alignment. This helps to
reduce interference to the nervous system and balance the spine, maternal
pelvic muscles, and ligaments. This in
turn can make mommy-to-be's body function better, which will make her
feel A LOT better! It will also reduce torsion in the uterus and allow for
optimal fetal positioning (head down) in preparation for birth.
I think it is really important not to ignore the signals your body is telling you. Unfortunately, many times people run to the medicine cabinet and want to pop a pill that will make them feel better, but don't necessarily address the underlying issue. It becomes more difficult to do this when pregnant because it will greatly benefit the baby to avoid introducing chemicals into their developing bodies. I would recommend finding a chiropractor in your area that specializes or focuses on prenatal care. You can find a chiropractor at www.ICPA4Kids.org (I'm on there!) and they also have other wonderful pregnancy resources there.
Recognizing what your body needs, whether it's nutritional, emotional, spiritual, or physical is really important. When you take the proper steps to take care of yourself, a little bit goes a long way. It really has for me :-)
Monday, February 13, 2012
Pregnancy is... weird.
I always knew I wanted to be a mom. I have gravitated towards kids my whole life... teaching dance, babysitting, being a camp counselor, working at day care, shall I go on?
I never knew that when I finally made the responsible decision with my husband that we were ready to start "trying" (ie: bye-bye birth control), it would happen so fast. Like within a month fast. Yay for being fertile! Danny likes to think it's mostly because he juices and eats so healthy... sure honey, you have super sperm, add it to your resume :)
Keeping the secret that we were pregnant was HARD! It wasn't a secret for long... soon enough the parents and siblings knew, close friends, relatives... let the opinions begin! Everyone has an opinion when they find out you're pregnant. EVERYONE! They want to know how you're feeling, what you're experiencing. They want to tell you their awesome pregnancy and birth stories. They want to tell you their horrible pregnancy and birth stories that you definitely could have done without. Regardless of my conversations with people and all the (entertaining, silly, ridiculous, informative) blogs I've read, I'm not sure I could have ever really prepared for how my world would change since the 4 EPT tests said POSITIVE ! (Yes, Danny made me take four, just to be sure...)
Now that I'm 34 weeks into this 40 week gig, I'm always a little surprised to hear people say "I LOVED being pregnant." I don't want to sound ungrateful or unhappy that I'm pregnant, because we are extremely happy and excited to meet our son and start a family. I know how lucky we are to have gotten pregnant so quickly and with such little stress, and my pregnancy has been relatively uneventful. BUT, it's very strange to watch your body go through so many changes in such a short amount of time. Physically, physiologically, emotionally, spiritually. Your body is no longer your own. It's amazing when you think about it, but it's also a little crazy. A sperm and an egg meet, multiply, and turn into an embryo, and then a fetus, and then a living breathing baby arrives 10 months later?! What?! I can say I'm enjoying this time. Do I LOVE it? I don't know. Pregnancy is beautiful... but it is also weird.
Many women go their entire lives watching their figure, trying to stay in shape, and then, in the blink of an eye, it's supposed to be ok to watch the scale go up.... and up... and up. It's a very hard thing to digest initially... at least it was for me. Everyone has said, "enjoy this time, it's the only time you shouldn't feel guilty for gaining weight!" But still... it's going to have to come off at some point... so I'll opt out of the 3 slices of chocolate cake/ pint of ice cream every night, thankyouverymuch. Don't get me wrong, I definitely still indulge in my sweet tooth (and carb tooth, if there is such a thing?!) but I'm trying to be relatively conscious of the decisions I make, not only for my body's sake but for the health of baby Tokar, who obviously will benefit from good nutrition as he grows and develops. I've come to terms with my weight gain and I know because I was healthy and active before and will be after pregnancy, in addition to breast feeding, I'll be just fine. I've also been walking my dog a little bit every day, walking (waddling?) on the treadmill at the gym (enjoying the other people's reaction to my baby bump), using the free-weights here and there, and taking prenatal yoga, which I absolutely love. I think if you try to have a balanced pregnancy, you will feel pretty good about yourself. I know I do.
Other than a few mild "normal" symptoms, this pregnancy has been really uneventful. We had a little scare when I received news around week 13 that I was a carrier for a Jewish genetic disease (Familial Dysautonomia, AKA, Riley Day. Never heard of it? Neither had we...). Thankfully Danny's blood work revealed he was not a carrier, so our chances of the baby having the disease were eliminated. The 2 weeks waiting to find out the results were pretty hellish, but ironically we received the good news on Rosh Hashana, the Jewish New Year. I took it as a good sign, and we were extremely relieved, to say the least... hence the big facebook reveal the same day (I'm so lame)!
My biggest concern as of lately is trying to find a comfortable position to sleep in. The body pillow and the ceiling fan are my best friends. I wake up every few hours to switch sides and relieve the pressure from my bladder and see my husband bundled up like it's the North Pole in our bedroom. It puts a smile on my face as I attempt to fall back asleep before baby boy finds a nice spot to jab under my ribs with his growing feet. He always seems to wake up when I do... I guess I should get used to this altered (lack of!) sleep pattern now...
I know these last few weeks will get a little more uncomfortable and difficult as time inches closer and closer to the big day. All I can say is that overall, I'm extremely grateful for my health. My loving fur babies are pretty intuitive as to what's going on with mom... they always keep me company when I'm laid out on the recliner with a heating pad on my low back, indulging in my favorite reality shows and dramedies at night. My husband, god bless him, has been 150% supportive throughout this entire journey, from me changing from an OB to midwives halfway through my pregnancy, to taking hypnobirth and baby classes with me, to researching the best prices and types of diapers and baby products. Even this morning, as I waddled into the shower, he said, "Wow babe, you are all baby belly! You haven't even gained weight anywhere else!" He shot me his gorgeous smile and kissed me on the cheek after kissing my belly. I mean, I could just melt. My parents and in-laws have been extremely supportive, offering wonderful advice without ever seeming to overstep the boundaries of offering TOO MUCH. My chiro girlfriends (and spouses of my chiro guy friends) have been wonderful at keeping me informed, confident, and grounded throughout this experience. I have two dear friends who live locally that are also expecting their first babies, and it's been really nice to go through this with them and connect on a deeper level. I feel so lucky to have such awesome people in my life!
So while I say, pregnancy is weird, I mean it in the best possible way! As I sit here and finish up blog post #2, I wish you could see my belly distort into the weirdest shapes. Baby boy sure is active... if I ever wondered what it felt like to have an alien in my belly, this would be it! I can't even begin to describe what I've learned about myself throughout this process but I wouldn't trade it for anything!
I never knew that when I finally made the responsible decision with my husband that we were ready to start "trying" (ie: bye-bye birth control), it would happen so fast. Like within a month fast. Yay for being fertile! Danny likes to think it's mostly because he juices and eats so healthy... sure honey, you have super sperm, add it to your resume :)
Keeping the secret that we were pregnant was HARD! It wasn't a secret for long... soon enough the parents and siblings knew, close friends, relatives... let the opinions begin! Everyone has an opinion when they find out you're pregnant. EVERYONE! They want to know how you're feeling, what you're experiencing. They want to tell you their awesome pregnancy and birth stories. They want to tell you their horrible pregnancy and birth stories that you definitely could have done without. Regardless of my conversations with people and all the (entertaining, silly, ridiculous, informative) blogs I've read, I'm not sure I could have ever really prepared for how my world would change since the 4 EPT tests said POSITIVE ! (Yes, Danny made me take four, just to be sure...)
Now that I'm 34 weeks into this 40 week gig, I'm always a little surprised to hear people say "I LOVED being pregnant." I don't want to sound ungrateful or unhappy that I'm pregnant, because we are extremely happy and excited to meet our son and start a family. I know how lucky we are to have gotten pregnant so quickly and with such little stress, and my pregnancy has been relatively uneventful. BUT, it's very strange to watch your body go through so many changes in such a short amount of time. Physically, physiologically, emotionally, spiritually. Your body is no longer your own. It's amazing when you think about it, but it's also a little crazy. A sperm and an egg meet, multiply, and turn into an embryo, and then a fetus, and then a living breathing baby arrives 10 months later?! What?! I can say I'm enjoying this time. Do I LOVE it? I don't know. Pregnancy is beautiful... but it is also weird.
Many women go their entire lives watching their figure, trying to stay in shape, and then, in the blink of an eye, it's supposed to be ok to watch the scale go up.... and up... and up. It's a very hard thing to digest initially... at least it was for me. Everyone has said, "enjoy this time, it's the only time you shouldn't feel guilty for gaining weight!" But still... it's going to have to come off at some point... so I'll opt out of the 3 slices of chocolate cake/ pint of ice cream every night, thankyouverymuch. Don't get me wrong, I definitely still indulge in my sweet tooth (and carb tooth, if there is such a thing?!) but I'm trying to be relatively conscious of the decisions I make, not only for my body's sake but for the health of baby Tokar, who obviously will benefit from good nutrition as he grows and develops. I've come to terms with my weight gain and I know because I was healthy and active before and will be after pregnancy, in addition to breast feeding, I'll be just fine. I've also been walking my dog a little bit every day, walking (waddling?) on the treadmill at the gym (enjoying the other people's reaction to my baby bump), using the free-weights here and there, and taking prenatal yoga, which I absolutely love. I think if you try to have a balanced pregnancy, you will feel pretty good about yourself. I know I do.
Other than a few mild "normal" symptoms, this pregnancy has been really uneventful. We had a little scare when I received news around week 13 that I was a carrier for a Jewish genetic disease (Familial Dysautonomia, AKA, Riley Day. Never heard of it? Neither had we...). Thankfully Danny's blood work revealed he was not a carrier, so our chances of the baby having the disease were eliminated. The 2 weeks waiting to find out the results were pretty hellish, but ironically we received the good news on Rosh Hashana, the Jewish New Year. I took it as a good sign, and we were extremely relieved, to say the least... hence the big facebook reveal the same day (I'm so lame)!
My biggest concern as of lately is trying to find a comfortable position to sleep in. The body pillow and the ceiling fan are my best friends. I wake up every few hours to switch sides and relieve the pressure from my bladder and see my husband bundled up like it's the North Pole in our bedroom. It puts a smile on my face as I attempt to fall back asleep before baby boy finds a nice spot to jab under my ribs with his growing feet. He always seems to wake up when I do... I guess I should get used to this altered (lack of!) sleep pattern now...
I know these last few weeks will get a little more uncomfortable and difficult as time inches closer and closer to the big day. All I can say is that overall, I'm extremely grateful for my health. My loving fur babies are pretty intuitive as to what's going on with mom... they always keep me company when I'm laid out on the recliner with a heating pad on my low back, indulging in my favorite reality shows and dramedies at night. My husband, god bless him, has been 150% supportive throughout this entire journey, from me changing from an OB to midwives halfway through my pregnancy, to taking hypnobirth and baby classes with me, to researching the best prices and types of diapers and baby products. Even this morning, as I waddled into the shower, he said, "Wow babe, you are all baby belly! You haven't even gained weight anywhere else!" He shot me his gorgeous smile and kissed me on the cheek after kissing my belly. I mean, I could just melt. My parents and in-laws have been extremely supportive, offering wonderful advice without ever seeming to overstep the boundaries of offering TOO MUCH. My chiro girlfriends (and spouses of my chiro guy friends) have been wonderful at keeping me informed, confident, and grounded throughout this experience. I have two dear friends who live locally that are also expecting their first babies, and it's been really nice to go through this with them and connect on a deeper level. I feel so lucky to have such awesome people in my life!
So while I say, pregnancy is weird, I mean it in the best possible way! As I sit here and finish up blog post #2, I wish you could see my belly distort into the weirdest shapes. Baby boy sure is active... if I ever wondered what it felt like to have an alien in my belly, this would be it! I can't even begin to describe what I've learned about myself throughout this process but I wouldn't trade it for anything!
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
My introduction...
Hello! If you're reading my blog, I assume you:
(A) are a friend, family member, or acquaintance
(B) know something about my pregnancy or background and want to know more
(C) are interested in learning more about health, wellness, etc.
(D) ended up here my mistake
If the answer is D, simply click the "X" box in the top right corner because I'm here to share my experiences, thoughts, opinions, and expectations, whether they're congruent with yours or not. I certainly don't think my blogs will offend anyone, but you may not agree with what I have to say, so here's your chance to get out now!
I have to start by saying that I realize that being a chiropractor and alternative healthcare provider makes me a little different than the "norm" in society. It is not a path commonly chosen, nor understood. Many people have absolutely no concept of what it is that I do, how much education chiropractors receive, how natural healthcare can help them, etc. No, I didn't receive my degree after a weekend seminar. No, I am not a quack. No, I do not crack your bones and make you addicted to my services FOR-EV-ER. Maybe you or your sister's husband's mother's best friend had a bad experience at a chiropractor, and have written off the entire profession forever. That's unfortunate, because when I don't like a certain office or professional, I find someone else instead. These are the types of things I hear fairly frequently, so if you have any other questions or want to clarify common misconceptions, feel free to ask me so I can explain! Maybe you had an amazing, life-changing experience with a chiropractor? If you have, you need to share your story so people will understand how wonderful a body free of interference can truly be!
I'd like to think the personal experiences I've encountered in chiropractic throughout the last 15 years of my life have opened my eyes and my mind to the possibility that we don't have to accept everything that society deems "normal and common" when it comes to health care. Now that I am expecting, I also have to add that my eyes have been opened to other possibilities, strategies, and schools of thought regarding pregnancy, labor and birth, raising a child, and having a family that values and appreciates health and wellness. Health is NOT the absence of sickness and dis-ease. You don't have to subject yourself to "getting by" on medication to keep you "well" (ie: less sick; masking symptoms, hiding the source of your problem. I liken this to taking the batteries out of a smoke detector... the fire is still there but at least you don't have to hear that horrible beeping noise!). You don't have to deny yourself a higher quality of life. You just have to make an effort to learn different approaches to health and make small changes that can drastically improve the quality of your years and how you spend them! If you take the proper measures, you can prevent many of the most common ailments that Americans are suffering from in scary record numbers.You can live a healthy, fulfilling, vibrant life. I don't want to be a statistic, and I don't want my family (or friends) to either. That is why I do what I do, and why I decided to start this public forum to share what I know... as well as receive thoughtful feedback.
When I was introduced to chiropractic at the age of 15, I began to experience improvements in my health and quality of life that I had never imagined could be achieved naturally. Severe, debilitating headaches that other heath care "experts" told me I'd have to just deal with started to decrease in frequency and intensity within a few visits to my chiropractor. My immune system seemed to also gain some strength, and the once/month "sick girl" wasn't getting sick anymore. I was inspired and motivated to continue this lifestyle, and to learn more about this career because I knew I wanted to share my experience with other people who could benefit from the results that I was fortunate enough to have.
Ultimately I realized that it was my life's calling to become a chiropractor and help people experience a better quality of life, naturally. I also loved the idea of educating people about chiropractic and health, because so many don't understand what our bodies are truly capable of.
As I began my pregnancy, I knew that I wanted this experience to be special, even enlightening. I also wanted to learn as much as I could about all things baby, labor, and delivery so I could really prepare myself as much as possible. I realize you can never 100% prepare for what labor will feel like or the moment when your baby arrives and is placed into your arms, but with my beliefs and background, I felt it was my due dilligence to take the steps necessary to be an educated and involved mommy-to-be. I never felt it was enough to just ask mommy friends and family for their advice and call it a day. I've read more articles, books, seen more documentaries, had more serious & educated discussions in the past 8 months than I probably have in the past 10 years! I've researched a variety of topics that I felt were important for a new mom to know about... such as how to make your own baby food, safe strollers/car seats, breastfeeding vs. formula, baby wearing, pediatricians, and some more controversial topics like vaccinations and co-sleeping. I've had debates with people on some of these topics, which have been exhilarating and exhausting! I can't imagine bringing our little one home after 10 months of waiting to meet him, and having only taken the time to get through "What to Expect When You're Expecting" and then just winging it...! I certainly have not and will not ONLY take the advice of medical doctors either. No thanks. That's not enough for me. It shouldn't be for any mom.
I have received a wide range of responses when it comes to some of the things I am doing to prepare for being a mom, as well as the type of birth and lifestyle I want for my son. From the encouragement of loved ones to the rolling eyes of incredulous friends, this journey has tested my strength and confidence in my beliefs, yet empowered me as a woman and soon-to-be mom that I am doing all of the right things, no matter who agrees with me or thinks I'm crazy. At the end of the day, I am grateful for the opportunity to have a fantastic husband, caring family, and circle of friends and colleagues who support me on my journey into motherhood. Even more so, I am grateful to have the insight into knowing that by making thoughtful decisions, reading, educating myself, and not giving in to whatever the media, government, and medical world tells me to do in regards to raising my child, my action, not my complacency, will forever positively affect the life of my son and my family.
In future posts, I look forward to sharing more about the Hypnobirth series of classes I recently took, as well as sharing my birth story, and what is sure to be my many adventures as a new mom.
Thanks for reading :)
(A) are a friend, family member, or acquaintance
(B) know something about my pregnancy or background and want to know more
(C) are interested in learning more about health, wellness, etc.
(D) ended up here my mistake
If the answer is D, simply click the "X" box in the top right corner because I'm here to share my experiences, thoughts, opinions, and expectations, whether they're congruent with yours or not. I certainly don't think my blogs will offend anyone, but you may not agree with what I have to say, so here's your chance to get out now!
I have to start by saying that I realize that being a chiropractor and alternative healthcare provider makes me a little different than the "norm" in society. It is not a path commonly chosen, nor understood. Many people have absolutely no concept of what it is that I do, how much education chiropractors receive, how natural healthcare can help them, etc. No, I didn't receive my degree after a weekend seminar. No, I am not a quack. No, I do not crack your bones and make you addicted to my services FOR-EV-ER. Maybe you or your sister's husband's mother's best friend had a bad experience at a chiropractor, and have written off the entire profession forever. That's unfortunate, because when I don't like a certain office or professional, I find someone else instead. These are the types of things I hear fairly frequently, so if you have any other questions or want to clarify common misconceptions, feel free to ask me so I can explain! Maybe you had an amazing, life-changing experience with a chiropractor? If you have, you need to share your story so people will understand how wonderful a body free of interference can truly be!
I'd like to think the personal experiences I've encountered in chiropractic throughout the last 15 years of my life have opened my eyes and my mind to the possibility that we don't have to accept everything that society deems "normal and common" when it comes to health care. Now that I am expecting, I also have to add that my eyes have been opened to other possibilities, strategies, and schools of thought regarding pregnancy, labor and birth, raising a child, and having a family that values and appreciates health and wellness. Health is NOT the absence of sickness and dis-ease. You don't have to subject yourself to "getting by" on medication to keep you "well" (ie: less sick; masking symptoms, hiding the source of your problem. I liken this to taking the batteries out of a smoke detector... the fire is still there but at least you don't have to hear that horrible beeping noise!). You don't have to deny yourself a higher quality of life. You just have to make an effort to learn different approaches to health and make small changes that can drastically improve the quality of your years and how you spend them! If you take the proper measures, you can prevent many of the most common ailments that Americans are suffering from in scary record numbers.You can live a healthy, fulfilling, vibrant life. I don't want to be a statistic, and I don't want my family (or friends) to either. That is why I do what I do, and why I decided to start this public forum to share what I know... as well as receive thoughtful feedback.
When I was introduced to chiropractic at the age of 15, I began to experience improvements in my health and quality of life that I had never imagined could be achieved naturally. Severe, debilitating headaches that other heath care "experts" told me I'd have to just deal with started to decrease in frequency and intensity within a few visits to my chiropractor. My immune system seemed to also gain some strength, and the once/month "sick girl" wasn't getting sick anymore. I was inspired and motivated to continue this lifestyle, and to learn more about this career because I knew I wanted to share my experience with other people who could benefit from the results that I was fortunate enough to have.
Ultimately I realized that it was my life's calling to become a chiropractor and help people experience a better quality of life, naturally. I also loved the idea of educating people about chiropractic and health, because so many don't understand what our bodies are truly capable of.
As I began my pregnancy, I knew that I wanted this experience to be special, even enlightening. I also wanted to learn as much as I could about all things baby, labor, and delivery so I could really prepare myself as much as possible. I realize you can never 100% prepare for what labor will feel like or the moment when your baby arrives and is placed into your arms, but with my beliefs and background, I felt it was my due dilligence to take the steps necessary to be an educated and involved mommy-to-be. I never felt it was enough to just ask mommy friends and family for their advice and call it a day. I've read more articles, books, seen more documentaries, had more serious & educated discussions in the past 8 months than I probably have in the past 10 years! I've researched a variety of topics that I felt were important for a new mom to know about... such as how to make your own baby food, safe strollers/car seats, breastfeeding vs. formula, baby wearing, pediatricians, and some more controversial topics like vaccinations and co-sleeping. I've had debates with people on some of these topics, which have been exhilarating and exhausting! I can't imagine bringing our little one home after 10 months of waiting to meet him, and having only taken the time to get through "What to Expect When You're Expecting" and then just winging it...! I certainly have not and will not ONLY take the advice of medical doctors either. No thanks. That's not enough for me. It shouldn't be for any mom.
I have received a wide range of responses when it comes to some of the things I am doing to prepare for being a mom, as well as the type of birth and lifestyle I want for my son. From the encouragement of loved ones to the rolling eyes of incredulous friends, this journey has tested my strength and confidence in my beliefs, yet empowered me as a woman and soon-to-be mom that I am doing all of the right things, no matter who agrees with me or thinks I'm crazy. At the end of the day, I am grateful for the opportunity to have a fantastic husband, caring family, and circle of friends and colleagues who support me on my journey into motherhood. Even more so, I am grateful to have the insight into knowing that by making thoughtful decisions, reading, educating myself, and not giving in to whatever the media, government, and medical world tells me to do in regards to raising my child, my action, not my complacency, will forever positively affect the life of my son and my family.
In future posts, I look forward to sharing more about the Hypnobirth series of classes I recently took, as well as sharing my birth story, and what is sure to be my many adventures as a new mom.
Thanks for reading :)
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