More "Month 9" Ups & Downs

Time for a few more ups and downs:

Downs ... with Ups

• I tested positive again for GBS, as I did with Zyler. (See previous GBS posts.) Not a huge concern, as many women choose not to get the test and deliver perfectly healthy babies... but my supervising midwives were especially concerned for different reasons. I wanted to proceed with a home birth, so we decided to have me test again after I had been diligent about various measures to eradicate the bacteria. The drama and stress of the situation was great, due to details not appropriate for this public media, but we were successful and got a negative result! So, we have a plan of action for treatment during labor, as well as while I am still pregnant (including garlic and a chlorhexidine wash). I am trusting that all will work out as it should. I prayed for God to let me know if I should return to a hospital-planned birth (for IV antibiotics), but I have yet to receive that message. So, just another down that has become an "up." :)
• No imminent signs of labor... but my midwives are hoping I make it at least another week so as to have as strong a baby as possible. (See above bullet.) At my last checkup, however, they guesstimated a good-sized baby at maybe 7.25 lb.
• Got a little cold from Zyler. Nothing too miserable, though.
• I'm still feeling relatively good. Sleep is pretty good (most nights), and my diastasis recti isn't quite as painful as a few weeks ago.
• Zyler's new room (aka "blue room") is coming along. (I know, we need to get some pictures!) Jason and his dad got the sub-floor installed. Now, to purchase new hardwood flooring.

A Plan and Mini Update

Once again, we have a plan of action. Such a relief! So much to be thankful for in this Thanksgiving season...

Janna has a contact who is a CNM (certified nurse midwife) and a CPM (certified professional midwife), and that midwife also works with another combo CNM-CPM midwife. We consulted and had a lovely discussion, and afterward, due to their schedule constraints, they decided I would see each of them at every other visit (Janna will attend every visit). All 3 ladies expressed interest in being at the birth, so Jason and I really feel as though we are getting a "3-for-1" kind of a deal. A few of the details are a bit confusing the way they want to organize it, but overall I am feeling a great sense of peace about our decision. These 2 certified midwives are very experienced in just about every setting imaginable!

I never sit down to stare at the "tube" very often and happened to watch several back-to-back episodes of A Baby Story, which depicts traditional births in a hospital setting. It made me even more confident with our home birth plan.

I am feeling well overall and "Peanut" is moving lots. I can tell she is getting stronger each day. That's right, we're expecting a girl! Part of me is not getting overly excited for a girl as I half expect her to grow that extra appendage that was somehow hiding during the ultrasound.

Zyler is 22 months old and is talking a ton. He tried to repeat just about anything we say, so watch your language! ;-) Sometimes I will ask him to say "hi" to the baby in my belly and he will give my belly a hug. Too precious!

Happy Thanksgiving to all!

Some Bad News...

First off, Peanut is fine! We had our ultrasound last week... more on that later!

My midwife called me as I was almost home on Friday. She has to "release me from care" to put it in legal terms. She had a terrible loss a few of weeks ago. Her best friend died in a terrible car accident and left behind 8 children who look to V. as their second mother. Needless to say, she has been through a lot of stress, and, through prayer, came to the conclusion that she needs to withdraw from midwifery right now.

I completely understand her position and respect her decision 100%. I am very thankful that she did not try to "do it all" and then realize in my 30+ weeks period that she couldn't pull through for me. However, with all the time and discernment I have put into the decision to home birth and interview and find the right midwife for me, I was heartbroken and very upset all evening.

Right now we are leaning toward hiring her student assistant who I am very familiar with already, Janna Grapperhaus. She is close to being a CPM but not quite finished, and she has some options for me of CPMs she can hire to supervise her. Many details to figure out and questions to ask, but I have recently heard rave reviews of Janna's services and abilities which makes me all the more confident in her as a midwife.

Please keep us in your prayers during this discernment process (once again)!

Study - Homebirth is Safe & Regulations Governing the Practice of Licensed Midwives in VA

My midwife gave me two documents I will share with you if you are interested. The first one I found to be quite an interesting read, the study from the British Medical Journal "Outcomes of Planned Home Births with Certified Professional Midwives: Large Prospective Study in NA."

The second was a copy of the "Regulations Governing the Practice of Licensed Midwives" from the Virginia Board of Medicine. Download it from this page. Kind of dry, but a brief read.

First Midwife Appointment

... was Wednesday.
Baby: hr 148 bmp via Doppler; fundal height on target. That "thump thump" sound of the heartbeat is one of the best sounds ever!
Me: BP 110/76; weight up about 7 lb

One of Vickie's assistants did my physical. I am in great health! Yay! :o)

We also discussed the financial agreement and she went over all the rest of the mountain of documents she gave me. She mentioned she was going to drop her billing service but can keep it for me if I want it... What all does submitting your own claims entail? That would be new territory for us. I am crossing my fingers that Southern Health is going to cover part of this birth expense and not just labs and office visits... I have heard different results.

Next appt: in 2 weeks. Need to finalize financial agreement and return my health history and nutritional profile forms.

Home Birth Plan

That is, home birth is our birth plan at this time. Jason and I are each in a consensus about the choice, and feel it is safe. I still have somewhat a reservation about it, but when I think of another dozen reservations against another hospital birth. If you recall, I actually did have a relatively good birth experience with Z. However, I was constantly anxious over the strangers coming in and out of my birth room, and I hated the equipment hooked up to me. I know first labors can be very long and tedious--which mine certainly was--but in the back of my mind I still wonder how much more progress I could have made in the comfort of my own home. After all, I arrived at the hospital around 2300 at 8.5 cm dilated and he was born at 1021 the next day... eek!

Many studies have proven it safe. If you feel so inclined and are at all interested in birth issues, please see The Business of Being Born by Ricki Lake. Truly an enlightening documentary about toady's culture and business of childbirth. I found it at my library. It's a very well done film and has been in the press a good deal.

Certainly lots of details to work out... The first of which was choosing a home birth midwife. (I really wish I could hire Z's midwife who was on rotation that night, but alas, as a busy CNM in the hospital setting, I do not see how that could be an option for her.) I was thorough and interviewed all the surrounding licensed CPMs who would see me. I wanted someone I connected with, obviously. But one particular question I asked each one was if she is Christian. I found only one who was both Christian and I felt that connection. After much prayer and discernment, I have chosen Vickie Ligouri of McGaheysville. (Her link may be broken as she is still working out the fun details of getting the site going.) Since we should be keeping God at the center of our lives, I felt it an important question to ask. What better place to begin the Walk than while under prenatal care in the womb? Vickie is experienced but just beginning to get her business off the ground.

I would like to speak with my previous provider (the team of now six CNM's at Rockingham Memorial Hospital) and see if they would see me should we choose to transfer. I would feel most comfortable going to RMH in a non-emergent situation. However, if we are in an emergency, we are only ten minutes from another good hospital, Augusta Health.

Please comment here on the blog (or Facebook, email, etc.) about any feedback you can share or just any info in general. We appreciate all your prayers and good thoughts for our family!

~ Shalom ~

An OB Collaborating with Midwives

I thought this guy is compelling enough to promote. I sent him a small donation for his legal fight for women's rights to informed consent! Go Doc! http://supportdrfischbein.blogspot.com/2009/08/summary-of-what-is-happening-now.html