Liliana's Story, Part I

Since it is a rather long story and I want to give background information about the crazy 6 weeks leading up to Lily's birth, I will be posting our birth story in several parts. Please excuse all grammatical and stylistic errors--maybe one day when I have time I will go back through and edit.

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Liliana’s birth story really starts at the end of September. The same week that I was diagnosed with gestational diabetes, I also found out that Lily was presenting breech. For several weeks she had been switching between head down and breech, but it was at this point that she really settled into a breech position. At first I was not panicked, but as the weeks passed it didn’t look like our little one had any intentions of turning except for several occasions when she would hang out in a transverse presentation for a few hours at a time--I could distinctly see a head and bottom on either side of my belly. This was not boding well for my birth plans.

Despite generally having a low pain tolerance, I am a huge advocate of natural birth. I also had no intentions of having a hospital birth. Between the gestational diabetes and my stubbornly breech baby,I was starting to fear that I would “risk out” of having a birth center baby. It turns out that keeping my sugars under control, while annoying, was actually rather simple. Getting Liliana to turn was a whole different ballgame.

As Liliana’s due date loomed closer, my midwives gave me all sorts of exercises to try in hopes that she would turn. Ever tried laying upside down on an ironing board for 15 minutes at a time with a bag or frozen raspberries sitting on top of your belly? It’s not fun, but I did it. I also started going to a chiropractor who used the Webster technique in attempts to flip Lily.

When I hit 36 weeks pregnant and she was still breech, I was told I might want to consider having a version. At first it seemed like a decent solution and I found a doctor willing to perform the procedure. As I researched versions, I realized it wasn’t really a risk I wanted to take. Not wanting to have a C-section [the standard protocol in hospitals for breech presentation], I took the advice of two of Ish’s sisters and called a local homebirth midwife who has experience delivering breech babies. Due to her November full of mommas who were due around the same time as me, she agreed to be my “plan c”, but first she referred me to a wonderful midwife an hour away who has tons of breech delivery experience. I called the referred midwife and not only was she willing to take me on as a client, but she made the time to meet with me and Ish that day. At our meeting, the new midwife answered all of my questions about breech birth and I left feeling confident that if Liliana remained breech that I could and would still have a natural birth.

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To be continued

A bit of "bathroom humor"...

Yesterday we celebrated Super Thanksgiving with Ish's family.  At one point after dinner this conversation took place:

Ish: Do you know where our boy is?
Me: Last I saw him he was in the dining room taking all the oranges out of the fruit bowl. (note: this was about 2 minutes before the conversation took place)

Ish then handed Lily to me so I could go upstairs and nurse her.  As I was on my way upstairs I walked past the bathroom.  The door was open, and what did I see? A very content looking Little Ish sitting in the toilet.  When I asked what he was doing his response was: "Bath".

I called for Ish, who told me that since the damage was already done that I might as well grab my camera.   My brother in-law Walter managed to catch some of it on video.
  


[Note: I only find this funny because he wasn't head down when I found him.  This could have ended terribly.  It is a good reminder to close all bathroom doors when you have a very curious toddler in the house.]

It's a girl!

Liliana was born on November 4th, 2011 at 1:19 PM.  She is an absolute peanut weighing in at 6lbs 5oz (almost a full pound less than Little Ish).  She is 18 inches long (or was...I am pretty sure she's grown already).  She scored a 9/10 on both Apgars.  Also, her blood sugars are fine--a concern since I had gestational diabetes. 

Birth story coming soon...

Daybook for 10/07/2011

FOR TODAY (10.07.11)
Outside my window...Squirrels are frolicking through the grass collecting acorns. Neighborhood children are playing at the playground.

I am thinking...about how much needs to be done before the new baby arrives.

I am thankful...for an impromptu visit from my parents earlier this week.  They decided to visit my little family for their 30th wedding anniversary. 

From the learning rooms...Little Ish's language is exploding.  I haven't done an official word count yet but just off the top of my head I got to 40+ words.  He also has figured out that there are better things to do with blocks than to throw them or eat them.

In the kitchen...there is a lot of measuring of food.  I was diagnosed with gestational diabetes a couple weeks ago.  So far the diet has been going really well.

I am wearing...a blue maternity dress and black maternity leggings.

I am creating...lots of little knitted things.

I am going...to the farm to pick up our CSA share this evening.

I am wondering...how long disputing 2 incorrect medical bills will take.

I am reading...Ina May's Guide to Breastfeeding

I am hoping...this baby decides that being breech is not a good idea.

I am looking forward to...a visit from my sister in a few weeks.

I am hearing...sweet little sleep noises through the baby monitor.

Around the house...there is lots to do.  Diapers need to be removed from the dryer and more laundry switched over.  I will hopefully get all of the newborn and 0-3 month clothes washed and put away this weekend.

I am pondering...very little.  Head colds and pondering don't mix.

One of my favorite things...is a mug of hot milk sprinkled with cinnamon.

A few plans for the rest of the week:The week is almost over.  Dinner with Ish's family tonight and dinner with friends tomorrow night.  Sunday, we rest.

Here is picture for thought I am sharing...

 Please note that Little Ish is now pacifier free!

To join in the fun, visit Peggy at The Simple Woman's Daybook

Some children sleep with teddy bears...

....my child sleeps with a hammer.

Meal Plan: Week of 06/19/11

Pregnancy, especially first trimester, tends to put me in a meal planning rut (perhaps because even the thought of food makes me nauseous).  Now that I have come out the other side of the morning sickness rigmarole, I am trying to get back on top of meal planning.  Here's what we are eating for dinner at Chestnut Hollow this week:

Sunday:  
Veggie Loaded Pasta with Nut & Dairy Free Spinach-Chard Pesto (Note: Pesto recipe was adapted from the "Basic pesto/pistou" recipe in John Ash: Cooking One on One : Private Lessons in Simple, Contemporary Food from a Master Teacher )


Monday:
Asian BBQ Chicken
Lime-Cilantro Rice with Pineapple
Summer Squash

Tuesday:
Mexican Vermicelli
Carrot Sticks

Wednesday:
Flank Steak with Easy Oven Fries
Vanilla and Cardamom Glazed Beets

Thursday:
Bean and Cheese Burritos 
Homemade Guacamole
Rice


Friday:
Pizza at Ish's parents' house

Saturday:
Dinner with friends/birthday celebration for Little Ish

A smattering of photos...