New here - an introduction

"Ericka Kammerer" wrote:

Yep. DH = Dear (or pick your favorite other "D" word)
Husband, DD = Dear Daughter.

Ahhh. Thanks

Congratulations!

Thank you!

Give yourself a few minutes to think before settling on a
practitioner. Odds are, if you're with a group practice, whomever
you choose won't be the person on call when you deliver. Also,
your choice of birth location and care provider can make a *huge*
difference in your pregnancy or birth--what tests you have done,
how you act on the results, what interventions you have, how
likely you are to have a c-section or an episiotomy, etc. Before
choosing a care provider, figure out what you *want*, then find
a care provider who routinely provides that to his or her clients.

nodnod. Okay

One book with a lot of information about choices in pregnancy and
childbirth is Henci Goer's _The Thinking Woman's Guide to a Better
Birth_. She certainly has opinions about what is best, but she also
cites the book heavily and provides an annotated bibliography so
that you can look up the research and make your own decisions.
You're very early in your pregnancy, and you've got the insurance
thing to iron out anyway.

nods

Spend some time reading up on your options,
including things that might not have crossed your mind before like
midwifery care or out of hospital birth, and figure out what scenarios
sound best to you. Then go hunting for someone who can provide
what you want--and get really specific. Bedside manner and the
ability to listen and explain is critical, but so is c-section
rate, episiotomy rate, opinions about the need for various tests
(like AFP/triple screen/quad screen, gestational diabetes screening,
etc.) and interventions/policies (IVs, eating and drinking in labor,
continuous electronic fetal monitoring, induction, episiotomy, etc.),
not to mention serious differences in how knowledgeable they are
in how to support the kind of birth you want (especially if you
want a low-intervention birth--many care providers haven't got a
clue how to support you in a way that's likely to help you be
successful at a low intervention birth).

nod

There are lots of women who only find out late in the
game that their provider isn't *really* supportive of what
they want out of their birth. It's a wonderful blessing to
know what you want earlier in the game and really take
concrete steps to find someone who not only talks a good
game, but can back it up with specific evidence that he or
she practices as he or she preaches.

Thank you very much for all the advice!

Best wishes,
Ericka

rj

"Todd Gastaldo" wrote:

Rebecca,

I recently scanned Henci's book - it is good - but there is a key
omission.

Henci does not mention that OBs are closing birth canals up to 30% as they
fraudulently infer surgically via episiotomy/c-section that they are
doing/have done everything possible to allow the birth canal to open the
"extra" up to 30%.

As you look for birth providers, you might want to keep this in mind and
be very specific about being allowed to get off your sacrum (not be on
your back/butt) for the actual delivery.

To allow your birth canal to open the "extra" up to 30%, just roll onto
your side as you push your baby out - or assume some other "alternative"
delivery position besides medicine's favorites, semisitting and dorsal,
both of which close the birth canal up to 30%.

Bewa Some OBs and CNMwives will let you "try" alternative delivery
positions then move you back to semisitting or dorsal (close your birth
canal) for the actual delivery.

KEY POINT: OBs KEEP the birth canal closed when it becomes neccessary to
pull with hands, forceps and vacuums - i.e. - women are generally always
on their backs when OBs are pulling (also when they are pushing - by
chemically whipping the uterus to contract violently with oxytocin or
Cytotec).

This is bizarre obstetric behavior I know - but it is better to learn
about it early in pregnancy when choosing a birth provider.

Good luck.

Thanks a lot!

Todd

"firedancer623" wrote:

Hi and welcome!! Im not currently pregnant, (as you'll find of poster's
aren't - we just can't leave!) but I'm planning on additional children so
I don't feel too bad for sticking around

Seems like if you've been through it before it's good to have you here!

Congrats on the pregnancy!

Thank you very much.

Kari
mom to Kaylie, Noah and Xander

rj

"Sophie" wrote:

Hi and welcome

Thank you!

--
Sophie
mom of 4

"emilymr" emily@xxxxxx wrote:

Welcome and congratulations!

Thank you

I didn't have any morning sickness so I can't help you there -- but my
prenatal vitamins *did* make me feel pukey. Once I switched to the
smaller, generic supermarket brand, things were much better.

Hmm. I was sick before I started taking the vitamins. I got some from the
supermarket at first but the nurse practitioner told me they were no good
and gave me a prescription for the other kind.

Em
baby boy, due Nov. 18

Rj

"Wendy" wrote:

Welcome and Congratulations! There is a lot of great medical advice to
be had here, hope you stick around!

Thank you

Wendy
DS 7-11-03 and EDD 11-23

"Kelly" wrote:

Hello Rebecca Jo-welcome to the group and congratulations on your
pregnancy
and soon to be nuptials.

Thank you.

Some things that have worked for me when nauseated are foods that are
bland
and white. Yes, plain ol' noodles, toast and butter, rice with butter,
crackers (triscuits, not saltines) potatoes, etc.

I'm ready to try anything now. This has been the worst week thus far. Thanks
for the tips.

warmly,
Kelly
#4 2/12/05

Rj

Welcome Rebecca, and congrats.

"Rebecca Jo" wrote in message
...
"Todd Gastaldo" wrote:

Rebecca,

I recently scanned Henci's book - it is good - but there is a key
omission.

Henci does not mention that OBs are closing birth canals up to 30% as
they fraudulently infer surgically via episiotomy/c-section that they are
doing/have done everything possible to allow the birth canal to open the
"extra" up to 30%.

As you look for birth providers, you might want to keep this in mind and
be very specific about being allowed to get off your sacrum (not be on
your back/butt) for the actual delivery.

To allow your birth canal to open the "extra" up to 30%, just roll onto
your side as you push your baby out - or assume some other "alternative"
delivery position besides medicine's favorites, semisitting and dorsal,
both of which close the birth canal up to 30%.

Bewa Some OBs and CNMwives will let you "try" alternative delivery
positions then move you back to semisitting or dorsal (close your birth
canal) for the actual delivery.

KEY POINT: OBs KEEP the birth canal closed when it becomes neccessary to
pull with hands, forceps and vacuums - i.e. - women are generally always
on their backs when OBs are pulling (also when they are pushing - by
chemically whipping the uterus to contract violently with oxytocin or
Cytotec).

This is bizarre obstetric behavior I know - but it is better to learn
about it early in pregnancy when choosing a birth provider.

Good luck.

Thanks a lot!


Welcome. I forgot to say congratulations - so - Congratulations!

Todd

On Thu, 14 Oct 2004 11:46:31 -0400, Rebecca Jo wrote:

I'm 7 1/2 weeks pregnant with my first baby. I'm 22 and baby's father is 25.

Congratulations and welcome to the group!

My due date is May 27th. I've been really nauseous and tired. This last week
it seems the nausea is getting worse. I've only thrown up three times but I
feel like I'm *going* to throw up so much more often than that.

I noticed that sickness got worse if I was very tired and/or my stomach
was empty. What worked for me was eating little bites throughout the day
to keep my stomach filled and rest whenever I got a chance. Ginger is
supposed to work against an upset stomach, but fennel tea works better for
me. When pregnant, I had a craving for bitter and sour things, so I would
start the day with a glass of orange- or grapefruit juice. That would
settle my stomach, and I would have breakfast once I felt better.

Follow your cravings, but eat limited portions. Drinking lots of water
will also help, especially when you feel sick at night. If you don't like
plain water, add a slice of lemon.

--
-- I
mommy to DS (July '02)
mommy to three tiny angels (28 Oct'03, 17 Feb'04 & 20 May'04)
guardian of DH (33)