So back to the Birth Center - when you show up for your appointment, they give you your chart, and you perform your own urine test and check your own weight which I thought was fun! I then sat and talked to Nancy about my health history for a while, and we listened to the baby's heartbeat. Then, came all the paperwork that I needed to fill out! All in all it was such a different experience than any other I have had at an appointment before. I am go glad that I switched.
We decided to change my due date after I told her that my period/cycle the month we conceived was a bit off. We deduced my cycle was 30 days, not the normal 28 which makes me due the 13th not the 11th. Lucky 13!
I have homework to do, too, before my next appointment. I have to pick 2 days and write down everything I eat and how much. I also have to read and sign some paperwork that Eric needs to read too. We need to book our childbirth classes that the birth center hosts, and I want to sign us up for Hypnobirth classes too! Those classes are out in Wayne on Saturdays at a maternal wellness center. Currently I am reading a book on that, and have some relaxation MP3s to practice with but I have not tried that yet! We are going to have a very busy spring - I am tired already.
On another note...
This week while Eric was gone, I started to research car seats and strollers which has been very overwhelming and confusing. Why are there so many!?? I also need to decide on a breast pump, which cloth diapers are best among a million other things. I really just want to wrap the baby up in material and just carry it on my head until its 16 and can drive itself around. Might just be easier!
Your birthing center sounds AWESOME!!!!! My midwives always had me do my own weight/urine checks, too. I loved that.
Hypnobirthing seems really cool! I used a lot of deep breathing/relaxation during labor. Worked well for me! I found water to be really relaxing for me too. Do you have a Pilates balance ball? They are really great for pregnancy/labor!!!!
BREAST PUMPS: the Ameda Purely Yours is supposed to be a good one…and of course the Medela Freestyle and Pump In Style are both excellent. Pricey, but excellent. And believe it or not people will actually buy/sell these used (they just buy replacement tubing for them) so you will be able to sell yours when you are done with it!!
CAR SEATS: I have always heard that the Britax ones are the best! But I don’t think they make an infant seat (just a convertible one). We used a Graco SnugRide with the girls and thought it was just fine.
Cloth Diapers: skip the diapers altogether and do Elimination Communication! LOL!! Seriously though…do you have a place out there where you can go and check out all the different kinds? There is a new place in the Burgh… www.pittsburghclothdiapers.com that will schedule consultations with customers. I didn’t do a whole lot of cloth diapering (I did do it a little), but I always thought FuzziBunz looked great!!! (They are pocket diapers.) Many of my friends just used plain old pre-folds and the snappi fasteners.
What kind of baby carrier do you want?? (Moby Wrap? Mai Tai?) We have our LLL Area Conference in 3 weeks and there will be a lot of vendors……
Thanks Chris! As far as diapers, I looked at FuzziBuns and Bum Genius in person. But I would love to see ALL of them in person. I will have to research that.
I have a exercise ball - and the BC has some in the suites! And a jacuzzi tub, etc. All the fun stuff.
Dont know about the carrier. I hear everyone tel a different story about how thier baby didnt like one or the other. But the baby bjorn seems so popular! I looked at the mobi wrap in person and that seemed neat but kind of complicated.
Again. Where is there a place where you can try all of these things out!!
Id love to get a used pump. I saw some on craigslist. I need to talk my friend into giving me hers!