At 28 weeks...

... Josh and I have decided to change OB's. We went to the hospital tour at High Point Regional  on the 18th and were blown away. I really want to labor freely, free from IV's and the fetal Monitoring. They make a wireless option however we asked the nurses station how many they had and they have ONE! All the women in our tour group were wowed by this and one pregnant mom said "I guess we will have to fight for it huh". The is NO shower or tub in the birthing suite at all and it is very small. There also is no rocking chair. You only stay in the birthing suite about 2-3 hours after the birth and then you are moved to the postpartum room which is MUCH smaller than most kids bedrooms. It is makes Forsyth's postpartum room look like a birthing suite. They also said when the mother is in the process of changing rooms dad goes with baby to the admissions nursery. Where they end up staying for 2 hours. They are bathed here and stuck and prodded and the tour guide made it out like we weren't even asked about the Hep B vaccination it was mandatory I found out later they do give the option. However, it is still mandatory for baby to leave mom for 2 hours.  So after the baby goes to the admitting nursery they are then cleared (if all looks well with baby) to go to the regular nursery. HPR has 3 different nurseries. So in all the baby is moved 3 times and mom is moved twice. Because of cramped space laboring freely would be very tough.

As most of you know I have very high standards for Kendall's birth. LOL!  Probably too high and most of my birthing dreams won't happen but going to HPR pretty much throws everything Josh and I both want OUT THE WINDOW! We really wanted a water birth or at least help from water. We want to have the option to opt out of shots until her immune system can handle them. We want Kendall to be with us unless there is a medical emergency with her. I would like to stay in the same room and not be moved but I understand if another birth is awaiting our room. I would like to be able to move freely during birth and not be tied down to the bed as I said before with IV's and the fetal monitor. SOOOOOOOooooo.....

We looked into a birth center in Mooresville/Statesville and they are willing to accept us. They have only been open since August 1st so Medicaid doesn't cover us having the birth at the Center however, we can go to the hospital down there and have a Center Style Birth. They have 8 Birthing suites all 8 have Jacuzzi's to ease labor. The baby is delivered and placed upon moms belly wiped clean and mom and baby bond before placenta comes out after that the cord is cut. They only put mom on Fetal Monitor on at the beginning and if baby is showing problems and  if no problems exist then the nurse will monitor with Doppler every 30 minutes or so.  Therefore, you are able to labor in jacuzzi, rocking chair, birthing ball, birthing stool, or on all fours on bed etc. the discourage the use of laying in bed. Mom and dad are welcome to decline bathing/Vit K/Eye Ointment/and Hep B Vaccination. Of course doctor will talk with you however politely decline and no more questions are asked or pushed.

The birth center will also allow Josh and I to come down to labor at the birth center so we do not have to spend the entire labor at the hospital! There are 2 Certified Nurse Midwives and one doctor. Doctor Susan Roque. I have talked around and found out Dr Dorn isn't so gentle with tissues if you know what I mean and he has more tears than Dr Roque. Dr Roque does more massage and warming up the peritoneal  area to help ease tearing. Another point for Dr Roque. Also it helps she is a woman.

So they asked we go to Dr Dorn's office for our regular appointment  next week. We will have our glucose test done and as we leave we ask for our Record Request to be faxed to Dr Roque. We will see her 3 weeks later on October 11th. I am so glad we found out before we had to endure our first childs birth there at HPR. And for those who live in Surry County we also had looked into Elkin Hospital however, they refused to allow us off the fetal monitor or allowing us to have a Hep-Lock.

We are really excited now about our birth of our first baby since we know it will probably more of what we pictured and dreamed. We have hired a childbirth educator that has worked with many home birth mom and dads and she will be coming to our house to teach us how to labor naturally without medical intervention or medicine starting October 17th. It is so crazy to think that in 13-14 weeks it will be Christmas and I will be toting a precious baby girl in my arms! I think it just might be the best Christmas of my life!!! :) 28 weeks down 12 more to go!!!            

Ina May Gaskin talking about Natural Childbirth!!!

Positive Birth Affirmations...

It is important for family and friends of mine to realize every birth is different. Every person is different therefore every woman's body is different and every newborn entering the world is different. So we have to expect their birth to be different. Everyone wants a different birth an easy birth. If a mother-to-be wants a stress free and drug-free birth everyone should support them and not tell them all the bad things that could or will happen during the birth. It is all about good Birth Affirmations. If the mother has a great support system from friends and family her birth will be enjoyable and her precious baby will be born just the way she envisioned.

I invite you to take a look at the clicky link above about "Birth Affirmations" and I encourage you to continue to encourage me. I want a birth that is easy and carefree and your words can encourage me. 

I don't wish to hear horror stories anymore or hear the fact you don't believe I can accomplish the birth I want. I have read PLENTY of stories and heard PLENTY of birth stories. I don't have to hear how your child was born  and how terrible your pain was or how great the Epidural is and how I WILL change my mind about it. Pain is something we all view differently in other words what hurts you might not hurt to me. Just the same as you and I have different taste buds we have different pain receptors. While I may feel pain during childbirth I may not feel the amount of pain you did. I might be lucky enough to feel more pressure than pain. It is all in how your support system supports the mother. Therefore, my family should understand if I feel like I need time alone or quietness in the room or etc. that I am not trying to hurt anyone's feelings. I might end up needing my mother more than Josh? Everyone should remain flexible and understanding. And come to the birth of Kendall understanding they may not "see" her enter the world.  Who knows what I will need but I am in no way trying to hurt anyone's feelings. But I do promise to let everyone see her and hold her and caress her shortly after her arrival.

I want everyone that intends to be present for the birth of Kendall to be aware of my wishes and my hopes for her birth and to not feel offended or hurt by what I may say or do. You might agree today but please remember my plea I make today. Please support me and Josh and encourage a easy and carefree birth. Give us Positive Birth Affirmations especially the closer to the due date.

Below I am posting my "List" this is a list I will be giving Dr Dorn and Hospital Staff. And I believe anyone that plans to be present at the birth and afterward should know all my wishes because SOME could apply to you and you may be able to help clarify for the hospital staff if something may present itself.

• Request Hep-Lock
• Request Wireless Fetal Monitor with no external or internal monitoring
• Request NO Epidural, Stadol or Demerol
• Request NO pitocin
• Unless emergency, Delayed Cord Clamping
• Skin to skin contact immediately after birth
• Request Apgar Test to be completed on my chest, unless emergency baby isn't to be taken away from me for any measurements etc. 
• Breastfeeding takes priority over ANY pictures
• Even if born Pre-maturely ONLY breast milk is to be given
• Request Delayed Bathing- If blood is present it may be wiped away
• Request Delayed Eye Ointment 
• Request Rooming in unless medical Emergency
• No Hep B vaccination UNLESS  baby MUST be taken to NICU 
• If Cesarean Section is the ABSOLUTELY only option and baby is not in fetal distress skin to skin contact is REQUIRED after birth and breast milk should be encouraged as soon as possible.  

Some of the things on the list may upset you but I assume if you want to attend the birth then you respect my decisions and if not I do not expect you to attend the birth of Kendall. I have good reasoning for every one of the things mentioned above. 

I hope I have not offended anyone if so I am very sorry but this is something Josh and I have spoken about for months I figure it is a great time to post since Kendall's Birth is just a few weeks away. It will be here before we know it. I hope you respect our decisions and hopes for Kendall's Birth.

Here is a photo of 26 weeks!

While I am on a topic of respect:


Please understand I have always had an issue with what people think of my body. Please respect me and my body word things differently. As Josh says it gives me a complex. I am NORMAL size for 7 months pregnant and have gained a NORMAL amount of weight.  Josh has to tell me how great I look almost everyday to make me feel better about my pregnancy body. In my head I know I am small and there are times I think my belly appears larger but Kendall can move and I look small by the end of the day. Thanks to everyone who has been considerate of my feelings! <3 yall!