Doula Dilema

Before I got pregnant I learned a little about what a doula is and decided when I was with child that I would look into getting one. Put in simple terms a doula is a labour helper and will pretty much do whatever you need them to do. Within reason of course and besides giving birth for you. 😉

Pretty much the day after I peed on that stick and it was positive I contacted the two local midwifery groups. The advice I was given was to contact them as soon as I might even think I was pregnant 😉 and I guess I should have listened because they both said they were full for the time of my due date. It was disappointing but not much could be done except ask to be put on the waiting list. We started looking into doulas then since we knew we would need help navigating all the hospital policy and such that we had wanted to avoid by getting a midwife.

Then last month we won the lottery. The Blessing Way midwife group in Rocky Mountain House called. They had gotten a third midwife and were taking new clients! Happy day! But stressful. We had to go there for an interview within two days. Luckily they saw us in the evening and Josh was off work. I was worried that it would not work out since they are in Rocky or we would have to choose between risking travelling there in winter for my birth or at the hospital in Red Deer. But it was no contest. We had such a good interview and things just felt right we decided that night to go with the midwives.

We aren't really sure exactly where I might be giving birth. They might come to Red Deer for a home birth, which is my first choice, we could find a birth friendly place in Rocky, or it may be in Red Deer or Rocky hospital. Depends on so many factors. I've pretty much made myself okay with the fact that I need to be flexible and take things as they come.

So back to the doula issue. When we got in with the midwives I wasn't sure we needed a doula anymore, but it seems it's still a good way to go. We have interviewed about 5 as you need to find the right person. We were told when you meet "the one" you will just know. What BS! We have it narrowed to three and they all seem great for completely different reasons and personalities. Like comparing apples and oranges. We plan to make a decision by end of month though.

I'm sure whoever we choose will be wonderful!

Movement

We finally felt you move a couples days ago. Your mom and dad are a little slow sometimes and it took us awhile to realize it was you. Maybe someday I will be able to fully describe to you how truly amazing it was to feel you alive and kicking. It was like you were letting us know you were in there, knocking from the inside.

I wasn't able or believe it until I got your dad to come over and feel you knocking. He thought it was you and I started to cry. So happy to finally meet you, after so much time. Can't wait until next time I feel you move. Can't wait until we see each other face to face.

<3

Oh baby!

We had another ultrasound today and it was so amazing! There really is a little person growing in there! With arms and legs and all that stuff! No longer just a peanut with a heartbeat. So lucky to be able to have Josh come, since he is working today and tomorrow. We closed our eyes for the parts where we might accidentally see the sex of the baby. I think Josh cold tell what we were looking at most of the time. Hopefully he didn't see anything in the other shots to give us a clue. He wouldn't tell if he did, but I wouldn't want the surprise ruined for him.

Another reality check for sure. Things get surreal between ultrasound and appointments where we hear the heartbeat. Bought a stroller, car seat and adapter the other day. Our first big purchase for Scoby. Kinda real, but not like this for sure.

Doctor has one concern that my placenta is low, so he cautioned me to take it easy. Good thing I don't have anymore obstacle races planned! ;)

Spartan Race

My final race of the season was just this last Saturday and it was great! Spartan Super, 14 km and 20 obstacles. Made it in 2 hours and twenty minutes. Quite impressed as I was expecting over 3 hours. Josh and Becky stayed with me and helped out. I think I only really felt I needed to start walking at about the 3/4 mark. As I jogged along some of the trails I talked to Scoby in my head and told him/her we can do it. Poor little thing being bounced around for over 2 hours! Only missed the spear throw and rope climb again this time. I got higher on the rope climb than the Sprint, but it was at the end and I was just too tired I think. Oh and real fire to jump over!! Hoping that will be a good pic. I asked for two medals at the end. When I told the medal girls I was almost 5 months pregnant one looked very concerned, asking me if I felt okay and I swear she was looking around for the EMT's. lol. We didn't stay long as it was pretty chilly by the time we were done. Post race eats at Cities with lots of racers and Josh's mom and sis was goood.

Next day Josh said I was pretty awesome. I kinda shrugged it off a bit, maybe not awesome but kinda cool.

I did order a tab for Scoby's medal that will say how old he/she was when we did the race. It was the first Super Spartan for both of us. I'm glad though that I'm the only one with blisters, bumps, scrapes, bruises and sore muscles. ;)

Dreams

It seems most people call the little one growing inside them some kind of nickname. Ours so far have been peanut, hummingbird, sprout and scoby. Now if you make or have drank kombucha before (a fermented tea drink) you will know what scoby means. For everyone else it means symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast. Weird I know, but some people call their little one alien or parasite so scoby seems a little better to me. ;)

I have been feeling like I am in this in-between stage of my pregnancy. In the first trimester when I was feeling ill most of the time I knew I was pregnant. Since starting my second trimester I have been feeling better. The crazy thing is when I am feeling well all the time it makes me worry if I should be feeling ill. lol. My belly has been growing but it doesn't have that roundness yet that seems to be the big image if what pregnancy looks like. And I don't think I have felt scoby move yet, which really makes me wonder and feel a little guilty at times.

But I finally did have a dream about you last night scoby. I dreamt that you were born a girl and while I don't remember all the details I do remember finally feeling a connection to you. And that sense of awe and wonder people talk about when their child is born. Just staring at this little being who came from me and your daddy. There were no fears and worries at that moment. Just us three, studying each other in silence. And happiness of course!

Back to School

Ah back to school! I remember the days my mom used to make us stand beside each other on the first day of school so she could take a picture. After a few years, especially in my teens, I hated this ritual but still complied. Josh pointed out that in about 6 years or so all the facebook posts and pics of first day of school could be us. Another weird, stressful and somehow nice feeling this evoked. He said could be us though. Since we have become more aware of alternatives to society's status quo in all aspects of life for a time I was thinking about homeschooling if we ever had children. I know it is a long ways way, but something to think about. Today's schools just seemed so messed up at times on what they teach and how they treat children and parents. What do you think of home school vs traditional school?