So far, I've gained a total of 2 lbs. which amazes me since I've given into my cravings for corn dogs, ice cream bars and potato chips/dip. I don't have cravings all the time, so I guess the high calorie/high fat foods are just balancing out with all of the healthy food we usually eat. Even though I haven't gained much weight, my belly is definitely popping out and so I've been wearing maternity clothes. When we get back from vacation, I'll start prenatal yoga. I'm really looking forward to that!

Lee did snap a digital photo of me at 13 weeks, but we still have to upload it . . . will have it posted when we come home from Cabo.



October 14, 2000
Today is 28 weeks + 1 day and I've come to realize that I'm an awful journaler! Three months since my last post . . . I guess I never realized that I would be so busy chasing Mollie around (she gets into everything). I'm already in my third trimester and getting uncomfortable (obviously, still no photos posted here). My weight gain is right on track. This pregnancy is so different. With Mollie, I ballooned right up. This time, my gain has been pretty slow, but steady. I have continued to have cravings, but for sweets.

We opted to have the amnio and thankfully, our baby appears to be healthy. I had heard so many horror stories about amnio's, but in the end it really wasn't that bad, just a little discomfort during the proceedure and some slight cramping afterwards (which is completely normal). So, do we know our baby's sex? Well, Lee definitely doesn't want to know until delivery day. And, I might know, but I'll never say!!!

I never signed up for the yoga class, which I do regret. I wish that I was getting more exercise. Oh well . . .

At my last OB appointment, I spoke to my Dr. about attempting a VBAC (vaginal birth after ceserean), but she didn't seem very supportive. She gave me a handful of reasons why I should consider another ceserean, but then said if I wanna try a VBAC it's up to me . . . there really isn't a medical reason why I can't try. I'm considering hiring a doula to help get me through labor this time. I feel as if I will need someone to offer encouragement during my VBAC, especially if my Dr. isn't so gung-ho on the idea. This week, I have to go in for my Glucose Tolerence Test . . . blah! I remember drinking that icky, sweet stuff during my pregnancy with Mollie. I am not looking forward to doing it again!



October 23, 2000
29 Weeks + 3 Days and I'm starting to feel as if there is no more empty space left inside of me. The baby seems to be pushing up under my ribs and I don't have the luxury of taking deep, full breaths anymore. Lots of kicking and/or punching as I feel bursts of movement everywhere!

My next OB appointment is this Thursday and Lee will come with me so that we can talk to our Dr. about VBAC (again). I've been doing more reading and cooresponding with some VBAC experts over the internet. The more I research, the more I feel that I want to try a vaginal birth.



November 11, 2000
32 Weeks + 2 Days - Well, my last appointment with my OB went okay. Still, my Dr. isn't excited about my VBAC attempt (she has some doubt as to my possibility of success), but says that I can definitely try a VBAC and I think that with a doula's support it will make all the difference in the world.

Lee and I met with Tracy (our doula) last Friday for the first time. She was referred to us by my MIL. Tracy immediately made me feel more confident and comfortable and excited about this VBAC birth. She gave me lots of materials to read and some questionaires to complete. We will meet again this Wednesday to discuss some other things and to make a relaxation tape. I'm already looking forward to that meeting and feel that I am actually taking charge of this birth. Does that sound strange?

As for getting ready for baby (nursery, etc.) Lee and I haven't done a thing!!! We're planning on converting our existing den into a nursery, but that means moving around a great deal of furniture and trying to fit it into a very small space. We've talked about some options, but have yet to move anything. In terms of weekends, we only have six more to get everything done . . . furniture moved, phone line moved, tv cable disconnected/satelite installed, walls painted and room decorated. I guess we better get on the ball!



December 15, 2000
36 Weeks + 4 Days - Had an OB appointment yesterday and an internal exam. Dr. says my cervix is tight and posterior, baby's head is right on my bladder (I could have told her that!). Anyhow, looks as if nothing is gonna happen for a while. Good thing, I suppose, since my Dr. is going to Hawaii for a week!

I've finished up my meetings with Tracy (3 total) and have been practicing the relaxation tape she made for me, a meditation tape that I purchased, and two hypnobirthing tapes that a friend loaned to me. I usually listen to one tape before I go to bed at night. This afternoon, my MIL let me borrow her birth ball and I'm sitting on it right now. It is so comfortable!!! I'm almost embarrassed after all of the jokes Lee and I have made about the birth ball . . . oh well. You never know until you try it!

As far as the nursery is concerned, we've decided to have Mollie and the baby share a room. The baby will be in a basinette in our room for about 3 months and then we'll try moving him/her into the bedroom with Mollie. We figure, we might as well try it and if it doesn't work out we can always convert the den into another bedroom. Making that decision really took a lot of stress off of our shoulders!

Sleeping is uncomfortable, my body is achy and I am soooo ready to have this baby!



January 1, 2001
Well, only a few more days until this baby's edd! I was hoping he/she would come early (like in December), but it sure doesn't look that way. Lee and I have finally settled on names: if a girl, Julia May and if a boy, Julian Edward.

Yesterday, I met with Antje, who is working with Tracy and she will be at the birth. Antje is a massage therapist . . . now how could I turn that down? She seems very nice and I'm looking forward to having my support "crew"!

I'm getting rather impatient at this point. C'mon baby! We're ready and waiting for you to join our family!



August 9, 2004
Well, HELLO. Can you believe that I haven't posted an update in ... 3 years and 7 months! I guess that's what a second kid'll do to you! Our son, Julian was born January 10, 2001. Heathly, beautiful, by a successful VBAC. And now that I've finally remembered by Tripod password, I'll probably even post Julian's birth story when I get a moment.



May 14, 2005
Here it is - FINALLY! Julian's birth story as written in a letter to us by my doula, Tracy Hartley:

Lee called me a little before 1:00am on the morning of January 10, 2001 to say that your bag of waters had ruptured and that we were on the way to the hospital. I arrived at the hospital at 1:30 and was waiting in the hallway by the deserted nurses station to find out where you were, when I heard Lee's voice. I called out your name and followed your voice into the triage rom, where David Dixon, the nurse on duty, was about to examine you.

At 1:40am, David examined you and your cervix was not quite 1 cm dialated, 50% effaced and "very" posterior, and the baby was a -2 station. He took your temperature and blood pressure readings and everything was perfect. David moved you to LDR 3 at 1:55 and we settled in to the room. When David went to start your I.V. you asked if you could have a hep lock instead, but he said it was hospital policy to have an IV for a VBAC. He also said it was hospital policy for VBAC patients to not be allowed any food or drink during labor.

From 2:00 to 2:30, David was doing hospital paperwork, and when it was finished, he left us alone. As soon as he left, we put the birthball on the bed so you could get into the hands and kees position, which you had found so comfortable at home. The monitor was uanble to pick up the baby's heartbeat in that position and David insisted that the baby's heart rate was decelerating and would not allow you to be in a forward leaning position. We were unable to convince him that it was the monitor, and not the baby, that was having trouble with that position, so you got back into bed for a short time.

You moved to a sitting position on the birthball wit your head resting on the pillows on the bed at 3am, but had to get back into the bed when the monitoring problems persisted. You didn't allow David's negativity and concerns to disturb you and were laboring calmly and well in the bed. At 3:40 my pager went off with another client in labor. When I called my other client and my backup, Lee moved to your bedside and sat with you. Your contractions were between 2 and 4 minutes apart and you stayed relaxed, breathing deeply and slowly through each contraction.

At 4:40am, your contractions were becoming more painful and we did some HypnoBirthing relaxation. By 4:52, you were very relaxed, moaning quietly between the contractions and slightly louder during them. Lee was asleep in the chair and you were able to sleep between many of the contractions and even slept through several of them.

At 5:25am, a particularly strong contraction woke you up and between the pain of the contractions and the sound of Lee's snoring, you were able to fall a sleep again. David came in at 5:50 to take your temperature and blood pressure readings and he was amazed that you were able to relax with the sound of Lee's snoring!

At 6:40am, you were feeling nauseous, shakey and teary. Dr. Beaver was due in soon and after discussing your options, you decided you could wait for her to examine you to determine if you were progressing. At 7:00, she still hadn't arrive and you asked David to examine you. He said if was a shift change and it would be better for you to be examined by the next nursing shift, but a few minutes later, he said that they were occupied and he would do the examination.

David's examination at 7:05am showed your cervix to be 4 cm dialated, 90% effaced and the baby had moved down to -1 to 0 station. You decided to get an epidural. At 7:15am, Gloria Pettinelli, your new nurse, introduced herself and said that Dr. Yuen would be in soon to give you the epidural. The procedure was done quickly and at about 8:00am, when you were comfortable, Lee went to buy some film for the video camera.

Dr. Beaver arrived at 8:20am and examined you again. She said your cervix was 5 cm dialted and completely effaced, but she said the baby was still high. At 8:45am, Gloria started the Pitocin to increase the strength of your contractions.

You took advantage of the pain relief to try to sleep, although there was so much noise and a constant parade of nurses in and out of your room, making sleep difficult. You did manage to sleep for about an hour with no interruptions.

At 11:05am, you were starting to feel some pressure and Gloria said Dr. Beaver was due soon and would want to check you herself. Dr. Beaver arrived at 11:40 and examined you. She said your cervix was oval in shape and that it was 4 cm in one direction and 8 in the other, so she was going to call if "6 cm.' She also said the baby was still high.

Lee went to the cafeteria at 11:48 while you tried to sleep some more. When Lee returned at 12:05 I went to the cafeteria. Whe I returned at 12:15pm, your parents were there and they stayed and visted until 1:10pm, when they went to get some lunch. While they were gone, you and Lee were ready to try to get some sleep, but ten minutes later, you started to feel increased pressure.

Gloria checked your cervix at 1:25 and found it to be 9 cm dialated with an anterior lip. The baby was at +1 station and you were making great progress! Your parents returned at 1:50 and everyone was thrilled with the news. Gloria was going to be pushing with a first time mom in another room and said for you to tell a nurse if you felt additional pressure.

At 2:12 you were feeling much more pressure and Gloria came to examine you. Your cervix still had an anterior lip, and the baby needed to turn in preparation for birth. You moved to your side to help round out your cervix so it could dialate completely.

Gloria examined you again at 2:35 because you had felt that something had changed. Your cervix was fully dilated, but the baby was still at 0 to +1 station. You changed positions, moving from one side to the other to help the baby.

At 3:25 Cindy Duley, who was filling in for Gloria, examined you and the baby had moved to +2 to +3 station. Cindy called Dr. Beaver right away.

You tried your first "practice" push at 3:40. We were just in the process of asking Cindy for a squatting bar, which was opposed to, when Patty Price arrived to fill in for Cindy, so Cindy could go to a going away party for another nurse. Patty was very open to using the squatting bar and eager to see how it worked with the rebozo.

You began pushing in earnest at 3:48 with Patty, and Dr. Beaver arrived at 3:50. Both Patty and Dr. Beaver wree impressed with how well you were able to push with your upidural by using the rebozo.

At 4:30, Julian made his entrance into the world. There was "surprise meconium" when Julian's body was delivered and Dr. Beaver called for a pediatric team, but by the time they arrived, it was clear that the baby was fin. While she was waiting for the pediatric team, Dr. Beaver turned Julian around so that Lee could see that it was a boy, but Lee wasn't able to identify what he was looking at. I told him it was becvause he wasn't used to seeing that with Mollie and Dr. Beaver said the baby and external plumbing. Lee was so amazed when he realized that he had a son, because he was positive that the baby was a girl!

Julian had APGAR scores of 8 and 9 -- they don't get much better than that!




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