Thread: *~*~*~*Ariel's (krazykat) Birth Lodge*~*~*~*

What an experience you had during the birth of your DD. I'm so glad that both of up made it through alright given what you both had do deal with before, during, and after labor. Scary. How long was your DH home after the birth before he redeployed? Is he going to be able to get a leave for the birth of your DS?

Yay Ariel! You are so close to meeting your little boy. I can't wait to hear all about your HBAC.

I just love love loved your story of how you and DH met! I remember you posting some stuff about your experience with your l&d with DD on the Sept board but wow, what a roller coaster! TFS.

Wow, I'm sorry you had such a tough birth. At least it pushed you to be more informed this time. I hope you have a much better experience with this birth

Joy, she was born on Thursday and he was gone by the next Thursday, and DD was in NICU for six days They told him they would do their best to get him home this time, but we aren't going to pursue it. If he comes home now, this will be the only leave he gets, so DD would have to go 10 months without seeing him. We decided not to do that to her. Plus I don't want to be pressured to have the baby at a certain time, etc like I was with DD. It was extremely stressful thinking, what if I have the baby before he gets here? what if he comes and I don't have the baby until after he leaves? etc, kwim?

Originally Posted by MrsMangoBabe

Wow, I'm sorry you had such a tough birth. At least it pushed you to be more informed this time. I hope you have a much better experience with this birth

Oh I TOTALLY agree. Other than DD, that was the best thing to come out of the whole experience. I know more now than I would have ever been motivated to learn if it hadn't happened that way. Her birth definitely changed my life and views on a lot of things.

Welcome to your lodge, Ariel! I've enjoyed stalking you on the September board! The story about how you met your DH is so sweet. I also had a stranger serve as my witness (long story super short- the waitress at our favorite bar)!

I'm sorry your DD's birth was so rough. Just from reading your posts I'm positive you'll have a much better birth experience this time around.

TFS your stories. Your daughter's birth was quite eventful. I hope your son comes into the world in a much more peaceful manner!

TFS your stories. I am enjoying getting to know you better. I understand some of what you went through with DD with the NICU as I experienced that as well. It is a horrible experience. I am sure things this time will be much better.

This little guy's story so far:

Most of you have seen me through a lot of the challenges we have faced this pregnancy. After DD, DH came home 6 months later and we began to readjust to family life. It was rough, I'm not gonna lie. We had some very hard times and I even thought about where I would go if I left him. He hadn't really done anything, but I think I was just in a bad spot; unhappy with myself, and unhappy with everything. We did a marriage retreat sponsored by the Army, and that was a turning point. I also was on anxiety and sleep medication briefly. Then, I joined a program called Transformation (Here is my profile with before and after pics if you are interested: http://www.transformation.com/ariel_elizabeth2002) and began to get physically healthy again.

So he came home June 1st, and in September I got a BFP. Unfortunately, it was not meant to be, and I began to bleed shortly after. I stayed on track with my exercise and eating and by November, I had lost nearly 30 pounds. I was also running 3-4 days a week and had worked myself up to six miles! The Trasformation puts a lot of focus on healing the inside to change the outside, so by that time our lives had changed drastically for the better. All the while we weren't trying (especially since I had so many physical goals I was trying to meet), but we weren't doing anything to prevent it once again.

A couple of days after Thanksgiving we had to move to a temporary furnished apartment because we found a renter for our house. We celebrated DD's first birthday, and then prepared for a move to Alaska on December 31st. By that point, I had "feeling" I might be pregnant, but I hadn't had a chance to test. We got to Fairbanks (at a very cold negative 40 degrees!!), and the next afternoon in the hotel room, I found a spare test I had just happened to have in my suitcase and I POAS. I walked into the bedroom where DH was playing with DD and said, "Well looks like you have done it again" in a really stern tone. He looked at me like WTF? And I said, "I'm pregnant!" We were both exstatic. Ironically, I suspect that I conceived the night of DD's birthday... hehe!

Shortly after our arrival in Fairbanks, we were deferred to Anchorage (400 miles away) and had to move again. Then within 30 days he found out he was scheduled to deploy again. When he left this past time, he had just barely been home a year.

So originally I had planned for a NCB in a hospital, but I quickly found out how limited I would be as a VBAC and decided I am too tired and too lonely to fight by myself. If DH were here to advocate for me I would probably feel a lot better about the hospital. After Bradley classes and Hypnobabies, I found myself considering homebirth over and over again. I can't think of a place I am more comfortable, I would be a basket case if I had to be away from DD, and I want as little intervention as possible to give me the best chance of a VBAC. DH was able to attend Bradley with me, and when I mentioned an HBAC, he was suprisingly on board 100%. We did a lot of research and soul-searching together and we were reassured over and over again that HBAC was our best option.

In between there, DD and I moved from Alaska, to West Virginia, to North Carolina, while DH stayed in Alaska to get ready for deployment, and I have gone from the military hospital, to a natural-minded (fantastic) OB in Alaska, to a CPM in West Virginia, to a CNM here in North Carolina (at about 30 weeks pregnant).... SHEW!

So here we are! I've been basically following the Brewer Diet, and I have kept up an hour of cardio, 5-6 days a week. Sometimes I go swimming for an extra 30 minutes afterwards. I practice deep (flat-footed) squats and kegels every day, and I am faithfully following the Hypnobabies maintenance program. I also drink 100-120 oz of water a day. I have faith this time that I will be much more at ease with whatever happens because I know that I have prepared myself physically and mentally to the best of my ability. I have educated myself as much as possible, and I have a great birth team that supports and understands my desires.

AND I have you ladies Thank you so much for guiding and supporting me along this journey. I am so happy to share it with you.

Wow, what a birth story! I am even more excited for your hbac!