We just bought a Chicco stroller and car seat yesterday. It's gently used, shhh, don't tell anyone. We got it got for $150 (thank's mom and dad), instead of $300 brand new. The couple we got it from, their son only used it for like 6 months. It's practically new. Now I just need to save up for a jogging stroller, so I can get back into shape after the baby is born. Those suckers are expensive.

Anyway, we had fun playing with the stroller and car seat last night. I'll post a pic of Lucy, she approved of the basket below the stroller. Hopped right in, it was funny.

 

So I'm having a baby. I'm having it naturally, unless there are some unforseen medical complications. I think I've always said, I was going to give birth naturally for as long as I can remember. At first when I was young, my sole reason to go natual was to avoid the 20 foot long needle they stick in your back for the epidural. (i know it's not that big, but I despise needles) I hate needles so much, that I managed to go 28 years of my life without ever having my blood taken. ha! And the first time I had to do it, I felt nauseous and got all hot and sweaty and dizzy, they had to lie me on the floor, prop my feet up, and fan me with patient charts. Thankfully, I've been able to have my blood taken multiple times since being pregnant and haven't been so dramatic about it.

To prepare for this natural childbirth Joe and I have signed up for the Bradley Method Birth classes, also known as the husband coached birth. I'm glad the class is 12 weeks long, and so is JOe. I think he wishes they'd stop showing videos in class. We've done two classes now, and I'm learning so much.

I sometimes feel like I have to withold this info about going naturally, b/c people react to it with shock. I mean when other women tell me they are going to have an epidural or a c-section, I don't get shocked and say, honey you should really do that naturally. I believe it's every woman's right to decided what their birth plan is, but I also think you shouldn't go into labor and delivery without any knowledge and let the doctors make decisions that could impact your health or the baby's health unless it is truly necessary.

I think too many women have heard horror stories about birthing and just opt for a "pain free birth" (epidural- there are risks with having an epidural that might not show up till after the birth that every women should know about before making that choice).

Maybe this is why when I tell a young 23 year old hygienist that I have a midwife and she asks, what does a midwife do, and I tell her that the midwife is in place of the obgyn and that most women are trying for a natural birth. I hear the dentist tell the hygienist, yes, you heard her right, she said natural. THe hygienist then looks at me with shock, so no pain meds, no epidural, nothing???? I say, yup. She says I'll be praying for ya.

I'll take all the prayers I can get for sure. I just wish young women and all women, for that matter, out there knew more than just one way of birth.

26 weeks pregnant and a Lucy. Neither of us look excited in this pic.

 

26 weeks pregnant!

 

here's me at 19 weeks, i'll post a 25 week belly pic here in the next few days.




i'm finally feeling little boy move around, this has been probably right around before i left for holland. but definately since I've been back, he's moving more. Joe even felt him give a high five or something the other night.