Joined BG in 2007 and over 2 years on i'm still here. I wouldn't have gotten through this tough time without some of the amazing girls on here who mean so much to me. It's been a long journey of loss and infertility for us but we're blessed to have survived this far together, we're still madly in love and delighted to add to our family.

About me.....
I suffer from an immune disorder, neuromuscular, vascular/cardiac conditions, pelvic instability SPD DSP and partially corrected scoliosis. As a result pregnancy is especially difficult for me. I've had multiple losses and complications and am high risk.

I have a spinal injury and as a result of all the aforementioned i am housebound and spent the entire 2009 pregnancy on bedrest to keep our lil one cookin'. I put off treatment as this was our last chance at having a healthy pregnancy and baby and i'm hoping i can stay off meds as long as possible. The only way to "fix"the injury and allow me to finally be able to sit up properly is surgery which carries further risk of paralysis. At this point in time i'm not willing to take that risk for the sake of my family, and neither are any surgeons!

I have experience of infertility, chemical pregnancy, miscarriage, stillbirth, Pre-E, IUGR, NICU, PICU and extenive hospital time.






After our previous losses our goal was to reach the third trimester with a baby free of cardiac (or any other) complications. It's devastating to lose your child, and a pregnancy, but I feel blessed to have carried them all and learnt so much from each pregnancy and baby. We made it right to 38 weeks and the pregnancy ended with a much wanted natural home birth.



It took another year to conceive our 6th baby. We conceived this time with the aid of 75mg daily aspirin and fertility reflexology. I would highly recommend both, especially to those who suffer from endo and PCOS like myself. I also took Shatavari which is very nourishing for women and tones the uterus. After endless anovulatory cycles and gyno problems, they turned my reproductive health around in only 6 weeks  

WEEK 38 - LABOUR & DELIVERY
* Aug 30th
- 6am; Heart Trace (decelerations and static) for lack of movement and "solid" bump

* Aug 31st
- 4pm; Scan to check fluid levels - baby stopped growing at 35 weeks
- 4.30pm (ish); SROM, Waters Broke
- 5pm; Heart Trace
- 9pm; Got Home
- 11pm; Contractions - Back Labour

* Sept 1st
- 4am; Contractions every 3-10 minutes (12 hours after waters broke)
- 5am; Contractions every 4 minutes, peaking at 45 seconds
- 6am; Still at home labouring alone. Midwife arrives - 4cm dilated
- 10am; Midwife left. Resting and labouring alone.
- 12 noon; Doula Arrives. Took Homeopathic medication
- 2pm; Midwife returns, got in Birthing Pool
- 3pm; 8cm Dilated
- 5pm; 24 hours after waters broke, back in the birthing pool
- 6:01pm - Gave Birth, to our HEALTHY baby boy AT HOME IN THE BIRTH POOL, I CAUGHT HIM MYSELF. Cord was around his neck twice, and his shoulder and arm. We unfortunately had to cut it loose, but i brought him out the water and on to my chest, he calmly breathed and looked around, no traumatic cries or anything. Born 25.5 hours after my waters broke, 19 hours of back labour, 21 minutes of pushing, 100% natural -NO drugs. At exactly 38 weeks gestation, weighing 6 lb 14 oz, Apgars 9, 10 and 10.





I believe in conscious pregnancy, a healthy lifestyle, breastfeeding and baby wearing to name a few. I had a natural waterbirth at home. Again I am hoping to exclusively b/f for at least 6 months, we will both be using attachment parenting, cloth diapers and homemade baby foods (once he is ready). I'm degree educated and religion plays a strong role in my life. I'm a firm believer in equal parenting.

Although i didn't plan on it (due to my own paranoia), we are co-sleeping. We started at around 2-3 weeks and there is no other way to get our LO to sleep happily.

BABY DIARY
* Day 3 = 6 lb 5 oz; Lost 8% body weight, Jaundice, Tongue Tie
* Day 4 = 1st trip out the house, to hospital SCBU. Milk came in, i've lost 14 lbs.
* Day 5 = Feeding well, gained 40 grams. Cord fell off.
* Day 8 = Up to 6 lb 13 oz, just 1 ounce off birth weight. Finally got 3 hours sleep!!
* Day 13 = First family trip out.
* Day 15 = Baby passed hearing test. I'm about 10 lbs over pre-pregnancy weight.
* Day 16 = 7 lb 4.5 oz.
* Day 23 = 8 lb 1.5 oz.
* 3 weeks = Started 'talking', so vocal and interactive for a boy!
* 4 weeks = Found his thumb. First smile @ 4+5
* 1 Month = 8 lb 12.5 oz. I'm 8 lbs over pre-preg weight.
* 6 weeks = Back to pre-pregnancy weight. First EBM bottle - he managed 1 oz with a lot of difficulty.
* 8 weeks = 11 lb 8 oz. Not managed a bottle ever again, still exclusively breastfeeding

Breastfeeding Achievement Ribbons
6 weeks, 1st Goal down  



BOOKS

Bach Flower Therapy: Theory and Practice, Mechthild Scheffer
Beautiful birth, Suzanne Yates
Birth and Beyond, Yehudi Gordon
Birthing From Within, Pamela England and Rob Horowitz
Birth Your Way, Sheila Kitzinger
Birth Reborn, Michel Odent
Eating for a Perfect Pregnancy, Suzannah Oliver
Gentle Birth Choices, Barbara Harper
Healthy Body, Better Birthing, Francesca Naish and Janette Roberts
Hypnobirthing, Marie Mongan
Ina May’s Guide to Childbirth, Ina May Gaskin
Instinctive Birthing, Val Clarke
Mothering the Mother, Marshall and Phyllis Klaus and John Kennell
Natural Remedies, Denise Tiran
Pregnancy and Birth the Alexander Way, Ilana Machover, Amanda and Jonathan Drake
Preparing for Birth With Yoga, Janet Balaskas
Reflexology as a Tool For Midwifes, Suzanna Enzer
Stand and Deliver, Emma Mahony
Spiritual Midwifery, Ina May Gaskin
The Womans Guide to Homeopathy, Dr Andrew Lockie and Dr Nicola Geddes
The Waterbirth Book, Janet Balaska’s
Your Birth Rights, Pat Thomas

ARTICLES
http://www.reuters.com/article/healthNews/idUSTRE51271Z20090204
http://women.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/women/families/article5525024.ece
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2009-01/nu-pmi011609.php
http://www.thebabywebsite.com/article.1836.Mum_Who_Refused_Abortion_Has_Healthy_Baby.htm

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1217765/For-baby-breast-milk-cappuccino-Morning-feed-gives-infants-natural-pick-up.html

http://www.expressyourselfmums.co.uk/information-zone-articles.asp/subcatID/17/bedsharing.htm

 
*Couldn't care less* (not could care less, that means you do care)
*Definitely* (not definately, definetely or any other alphabetic spagbol)
* It's "2 steps forward and 1 step back" (1 foward 1 back means there is NO progress)

It does get easier. The first 6 months with Orion were that way, too. Aaron and i ended up taking turns holding him all night. But as night feedings started to become less and less, it got easier to convince him to first sleep in a cradle beside the bed and then later to sleep in his own crib.
I know everyone trashes cosleeping.. But it really helps when you have a baby who cant be put down. Plus, it's so great for your milk supply!


I can't believe i have 8 weeks to go either. Pretty soon i'll be in the no sleep boat again with you.
It's weird, but i'm very much looking forward to BFing again. That was by far my favorite part of having a little baby.