Finally sitting down to write another update on pregnancy number 3!! This is not the most recent belly pic but it is the most recent one i have on my computer! I am 28 weeks and this pic was taken around 25 weeks. I will upload some more in the next few days. I feel like my belly is smaller than it was with Olivia but I feel like she's consistently growing though. I think when I get a little further along my midwives will possibly want another ultrasound to make sure she's still doing great.

I think I forgot to mention in my last post that she was measuring in less than the 3rd percentile with size, according to the ultrasounds that I had at around 20 weeks, 22 weeks and like 24 weeks. Not sure about the exact dates at this moment. But in each ultrasound she had consistently grown from the last one. Staying nicely in her curve. So I am hoping she is continuing on that pattern. The ultrasounds looked great in every other aspect though. Fluid was good, placenta is posterior, the umbilical flow is good as well as the uterine artery flow.

So last Wednesday I had an appt with my homebirth midwife at her office. I just have to add, so far I LOVE the experience of planning a home birth with these wonderful ladies. Its so different than being under care with an OB and even a CNM.  Its so personal, laid back, and refreshing. Pregnancy and birth is a natural beautiful process not a medical condition, and I love being under care somewhere that treats it as such. Im an individual in this care setting, not a number or a paycheck. Not to say every OB views their patients this way at all! ;)

The appt went well though. I was 27 weeks at the appt.  The worst part was Justin not being able to make it. Hopefully its the only one he has to miss. I had the kids, and was nervous about that but they did fantastic for me.  Last appt I measured 20 cm. at 24 weeks This appt I measured 23.5 cm. at 27 weeks. My midwife did not have a weight estimate but definitely felt like she has grown from last appt, just from palpating. Palpation is another beautiful thing in midwifery. My last appt my midwife felt around and estimated baby girl to be a little over a lb. I ended up having an ultrasound the very next day and she was 1 lb 3 oz. So dang she's good! I love how hands on these ladies are. Its like going back to the basics, how I imagine things used to be before the medical profession took over prenatal care and delivery.

I had my hemoglobin test done and it was 10ish. Which, if i remember correctly may be a tad low. Blood pressure and baby's heart rate and everything else looked good though. Olivia insisted we listen to her "baby" with the fetascope which was cute ;) She loves to rub my big round belly and say "just like a penguin" it makes no sense but to her it does. I love a 2 year olds mind.

I feel like for a few months Justin had major reserves about a home birth finding out about her size. Having one IUGR baby I think those fears are justifiable but I think we are working through them as we go.  I may write a post just on fears and how to combat them just because I think its important to work through them for the next 12 weeks. So when delivery gets here we are more than confident in my body's ability to deliver her safely into this world. Don't get me wrong I am VERY confident in my decision to have a home birth and trust the midwives that I have, but preparing for a birth in general fears can arise. Well until next time! 3 more weeks of classes and then finals and ill be on break from school. Which I am more than ready for. :)

I wanted to start this blog to document my pregnancy and planning my home birth. I want to remember for myself and it will be out there for anyone that could be helped by our story. I am 26 weeks pregnant with our 3rd little one and we are currently planning a home birth. It will actually be an HBAC (home birth after Caesarean) I want a place to write down my fears my feelings my excitements and anticipations. Please keep in mind this is personal information and the last thing I need or what is criticism the purpose of this blog was not intended for that.

My first child who is 3 years old now was  a csection. He was IUGR and only 3.10 at birth. We had a trial of labor and around 4-5 cm he started having fetal distress, so I ended up with a section. His birth and the events after still scar my heart and soul as a mother and I can barely talk about his delivery without shedding tears. People don't realize the life long effects ,whether good or bad, have on a mother.

My first born was only 5 months and still exclusively nursing when I found out I was pregnant with number 2!!! I knew immediately I wanted a VBAC and wouldn't accept anything less than trying. I went to my first prenatal appt with my OB and mentioned a vbac to him. Without hesitating he said absolutely not. He wanted me to have a scheduled c-section. I then found a CNM that would allow me to try for a vbac to care for us and deliver my baby. She was wonderful and I loved the switch from an OB to a midwife. Because of my previous baby with IUGR she scheduled a few more ultrasounds than usual but it was a pretty uneventful pregnancy. At 36 weeks we went for an ultrasound to check her size and they suggested an induction for low fluid and her size, which was estimated around 5 lbs. I think they were scared that she might have growth problems like her older brother. Although i'm a small person at only 5ft even so its likely a 5 lb baby at 36 weeks is perfectly normal for me.

So thankfully I had a successful VBAC and although there are things I would have changed about her labor and delivery ultimately I got a vbac and that meant more to me than anything.

So here we are at 26 weeks with our 3rd and for many many many reasons I decided a home birth is what my heart really desires. We found a midwife (whom I will not name) and we love her!

My first trimester was rough! I had terrible morning sickness but around 20 weeks I finally started feeling more like myself! So far everything looks good, I did see an OB for concerns about her size but the Doctors couldn't find any problem that could be causing her to be small, so I am comfortable staying with my plan of a home birth. I feel like my midwife is more than capable of tracking her growth and making sure she is continuing to grow at a good rate.  At my 20 week anatomy scan they saw echogenic bowel but only about 10 days later it was already resolved. So heres my journey in a nutshell up to where we are now! I have an appt with my homebirth midwife next week and she hopes to see growth. She wants the baby to be around 2 lbs or close to it. At my last appt I was 24 weeks and measuring 20 so she will want to see some growth there as well. Until next time!! I'll try to update as much as possible! :)