Thread: *~*~Kara's (K&Jplus5) Lodge~*~*

Great story! I love the name you picked out so pretty.

Welcome to your lodge! Going back to read your intro now!

Welcome to your lodge! Great intro & cute belly. Can't wait to read more about you.

Just checking in

Welcome to your lodge!! I'm just now catching up. You and your husband have such a sweet story - thanks for sharing.

Looking forward to following along with you

Only a few more weeks left Kara! I am SO excited to get that call/text! Callie is going to be so loved with all her sisters and her bro, not to mention you and Jeff!!!

I wanted to see if I could re-create my birth story with DD, but I seem to be having a very hard time doing so. I was 20 when she was born, and I believe being so young and naive contributed to what happened during her birth, and that I was also married to a very unsupportive husband, but that's another story in itself.

As far back as I can remember, I have always been enthralled with babies, how babies get here, and where they come from. but never did I think that woman had choices! When it came to having Emily, I did what I thought I was “supposed” to do. Listen to my OB. I did the internal exams, which were incredibly painful. I agreed to an induction when I was told she was going to be 9 or 10lbs, and that my pelvis would not be able to birth a baby that big. I thought it was ok to get hooked up to Pitocin and have AROM within an hour of the induction being started. Never once did I think it was ok for me to question what decisions the doctors were making for me and my unborn child.

After a long labor, of which also included a fever because of the epidural, and a round of antibiotics, and multiple threats of a c-section, it all came down to 20 minutes. 20 minutes to push my baby out, or I was going to have to have a c-section. I worked like mad, and got her out with 10 minutes to spare. Then, come to find out, she had meconium in her waters, so her and I were deprived of the skin to skin contact right after she was born, because she had to have her lungs suctioned.

I have always felt that there was something missing from the day she was born. And, in looking back, I see how wrong my OB was and how uneducated I was. She was 7 lbs 3oz, my pelvis is ‘proven’, and there was no reason for me to be induced. From there on out, I did what I could to find out what I could change for the next time.

When I moved to be with my now husband, I ended up doing some volunteer work for the local birth center, which also includes a school to become a midwife. I came to know the midwives and some of the students. I experienced a whole new outlook on child birth, and what your choices can be. I gained a whole new respect for childbirth, and the different options that were out there. I heard the stories and saw the pictures of babies that were born at the birth center or at a home. I also learned of all the benefits of having a natural birth. I was hooked!

I feel a thousand times more prepared for this birth. I haven’t been embarrassed to ask questions, like I was with Emily, or worry about what my body *might* do during the birth. I have found a group of 4 midwives, who I adore and I am very comfortable with them. They have helped build my confidence, and also have helped Jeff. His 3 kids were all born by c-section, so this will be a new experience for him, and also a new experience for me, since we are taking the natural route. We are both relaxed about the impending birth, and so very excited!

Thank you all for the warm welcomes, and since I'm not much or a writer or journaler (is that even a word?!) I'm looking forward to sharing this with everyone, and have something to keep for Callie's baby book!

Also, I had DD take an updated belly pic yesterday. Finally! LOL She’s a pretty good photographer!

I'm so glad your journey led you to where you are now.
Great belly pic!

Originally Posted by K&Jplus5

Thank you all for the warm welcomes, and since I'm not much or a writer or journaler (is that even a word?!) I'm looking forward to sharing this with everyone, and have something to keep for Callie's baby book!

*lol* that was my thought

Look at you bump....It's so cute.

Tomorrow we have our 36 week check up. I know it will be the standard weight, BP, heartbeat and fundal height check, but I feel like I need to be asking more questions. We are already on the same page for my wishes for the birth, but I feel like there is something missing...and I can't put my finger on it. I also find out my GBS results tomorrow. Crossing fingers for a negative result!

Other than that, I have been having BH, but nothing horrible, and they are few and far between. I guess I need to start deciding on what to bring to the hospital, and putting that together. I still have at least 3 weeks, right? lol