Hellobee Boards

@dc yoga bee: I think it depends on how much time/money you want to spend. My understanding is that the Bradley Method provides more intensive training and instruction and would really help you prepare for an unmedicated birth. I had an epidural and was fine without having taken Bradley classes (just the simple hospital class), BUT my labor did last something like 36 hours and at times I found it pretty difficult to manage the pain. I don't think Bradley classes would have been wasted (I can clearly remember frantically thumbing through the hospital's handouts looking for more positions to try). I think Bradley includes a lot of partner involvement/coaching, so your DH would have to be up for that.

I am thinking of hiring a doula this time around, even though I am open to having an epidural again. My husband has a high need for sleep and absolutely cannot function without it. I labored the first night completely on my own and it was hard (contractions every 10...then 9...then 8...then 7...then 6...then every 5 minutes, lasting 1-1.5 min each...ALL night). He and my mom were able to help me a lot the next day, but by the 2nd night, he was sleeping again... and I had been up for 48 hrs. My parents likely won't be able to be there this time, so I'm thinking I might need more support than DH can provide. I hope that doesn't sound terrible, but I think it could be the reality if I have another long labor. I expect it will be shorter though given that baby was in a poor position last time (I had back labor for most of the time, suggesting she might have been sunny side up for awhile, and then she had the cord wrapped around her and she came out with her hand on her head. I'm sure it was hard for her to descend wrapped up in the cord with her hand like that). My sister's first labor took about 17 hrs and her second one took 3. So hopefully mine will be shorter.

@78h2o: wow!!! That doesn't sound terrible at all. My DH has no clue what he's doing and I'm not sure if he will just get on my nerves lol. Love him to death, but it's the truth.

@78h2o: I'm pretty sure we have the same ins. BCBS FED? Yes, every 3 months. One of my co workers told me she didn't want to breastfeed but pumping worked out great. And apparently, we have a whole nursing room in our agency.

@LindsayInNY @Hocuspocus We are taking Bradley classes. We just sent in our deposit. Ideally, I want to have natural, unmedicated birth. I think the classes will help me, but especially DH.

@hocuspocus: I did hypnobabies with DD1. It was five classes (that were super long) and I practiced almost every night. I was super annoyed by the whole thing, but I think it was really beneficial for me (I avoided all interventions). I figured that even if the hypnobabies training failed during labor, knowing how to quickly relax yourself would be a good skill to have with a newborn around. My only advice is that if you pick a method (Hypnobabies, Bradley, Lamaze, etc) make a conscious decision that you believe it is going to work. Don't second guess yourself. I do think a part of it is mental, and if you continually tell yourself that Hypnobabies or Bradley or whatever is going to help you, it probably increases the liklihood that it will help you. My husband did attend all the classes, but he also found the book The Birth Partner to be super helpful.
At any rate, if you have specific Hypnobabies questions, I'll be happy to answer them based on my experience.

I also want to give a shout-out to doulas! They are great great people to have around during labor and delivery!

@dc yoga bee: I'm so sorry for your loss. I don't disregard doctor's advice. They've got the medical experience and knowledge not me. I'll happily defer to them in those cases. I'm go with the flow and okay with changes in the situation if it means a happy healthy baby and mommy.

@78H20: We hired a doula with DD1 and I really recommend it. She was a great support to me and my husband. It was so helpful to have someone knowledgeable around to help us out. We had a doula-in-training, so she was a bit less expensive and hiring her was seriously worth every penny.

@hocuspocus: I'm looking at classes called the Confident Childbirth method. They cover a little bit of everything (Hypnobabies, Bradley, Lamaze, etc) since you never know what will work best for you until you are in labor. They also aren't so anti-intervention as some of the other classes. They promote healthy baby, healthy mom (even if that means you end up needing - or heck wanting - interventions).

@MRS.KMM: That class sounds awesome!!

Location: Mpls, MN

EDD: 6/7

How far along: 19w4d

First child? 2nd

First doctor appointment: It was 9/24 (infertility)

Any symptoms so far? Sickness, Exhaustion, Cravings, a big belly!

Who have you told? Everyone knows now

@mamatoboth: hey there! Nope we aren't too far away from each other at all! In fact I was just in MN last week!

@78h2o: Length of labor was what made me really glad I had a doula. I can't believe you let your husband sleep. My DH still whines about how tired he was during labor and he traded off sleeping with my doula. I was up for over 60 hours by the time LO was born.

@dc yoga bee: those little feet are so cute! That is great news everything looked good

I cant wait to see my babies next Saturday!

Check up today went well! Heartbeat sounds great, no questions about my weight/size, still a little ! I was suppose to be back at 20 weeks for our anatomy scan but will be out of town so we'll go in at 21 weeks instead.

@dc yoga bee: Such cute feet!
@LindsayInNY: Glad you had a great checkup!

Just developed some of the first round ligament pain and definitely runs low on the fun scale.

@dc yoga bee: Gah! Pregnancy brain :;)

@dc yoga bee: yes #2 &3 and boy girl

I definitely remember making these changes so I think I used an old version... ETA: I did use an old version because I don't even have myself down, LOL!

Let's try this!:

JUNE MAMAS

June 1: @78h2o (#2 ), @cascademom (#2 )
June 3 (maybe): @hocuspocus (#1 )
June 4: @badwolf (#1)
June 5: @dc yoga bee (#1 ), @BabyMats (#2/3 ), @MrsBrewer (#1 )
June 7: @mamatoboth: (#2)
June 10: @MamaB (#1)
June 11: @merriment (#2 ), @Ifyoulikepinacoladas (#2 )
June 13: @TarHeelBee (#1), @MUI831 (#2)
June 14: @Eko (#1 ), @Ash (#2 )
June 15: @Corduroy (#2 ), @extrasprinkles (#1), @Mrs.KMM (#1 )
June 16: @glitterboots (#2 )
June 19: @Jess1483 (#2)
June 23: @rpparker (#1), @just_ju (#1)
June 24: @MrsKMM (#1 )
June 26: @LindsayInNY (#1 )

@Corduroy: congrats on your boy! Did you have any idea beforehand? You have a daughter, right? Is your husband excited?

@78h2o: I had no idea on the sex beforehand. I've been told I'm carrying extremely low but I think that just means I've had a kid before? My morning sickness lasted longer with this pregnancy but I took unisom which I didn't for #1.

@dc yoga bee: Lo1 is a girl so we're going to have one of each. DH is stoked because his best friend just had a boy and has a little girl DD's age. He was pressuring us to have a boy as if we have a choice.