However, in support of letting children cry themselves to sleep, the Ezzos say, “God is not sitting on His throne waiting to jump up at our every cry, trying to prove that He loves us.” They also cite Matthew 27:46: “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” Using that verse to tell you when to pick up a crying baby is not merely nonsense; it is sacrilege.
http://www.tenth.org/wowdir/wow1998-04-05.htm
Friday, February 29, 2008
seventeen weeks, 4 days
I have entered into the great debate. How fascinating that so many people feel so strongly about whether you need to breastfeed your baby on a strict schedule in order to encourage...What's a good word, order? Or discipline?... Or else let your baby tell you when he needs to eat, which also helps to properly regulate the milk supply. I guess it is pretty important. While I'm sure that the Ezzos have plenty of good to say, I'm convinved (at the moment) that their take on scheduled feedings is incorrect. While I don't discount everything they say, I got quite a kick out of the point below, made by a pastor (?) in Philadelphia:
Friday, February 22, 2008
sixteen weeks, 4 days
Yesterday I had my first "centering" meeting. It's a program I opted to go through that takes the place of most of my prenatal visits with the midwife. I think I'm going to enjoy it. While most of what they cover in the first couple of classes I have already studied in depth (nutrition, exercise, what you can't eat, pain meds, etc.) it will start to get very interesting when they start to talk about the actual procedures the midwives and hospital use/allow. Those are things the books can't tell you, and they are usually pretty important. (Things such as, Can the baby room-in after birth? How may wires and gadgets can I opt out of in order to stay mobile during labor? When are you going to want to induce me? etc.) A big plus is really getting to know all three midwives, one of which will be at the labor, depending who's on call. It's a very relaxed atmosphere and everyone was very friendly.
I think I might have felt the baby move today for the first time. I know it's a little early for a first time mom---I definitely wasn't expecting it. But it was quite an extraordinary feeling. I haven't felt anything since though. It felt like four little punches and a somersault. We'll see if it's just a false alarm or I start to feel more baby in the near future!
I think I might have felt the baby move today for the first time. I know it's a little early for a first time mom---I definitely wasn't expecting it. But it was quite an extraordinary feeling. I haven't felt anything since though. It felt like four little punches and a somersault. We'll see if it's just a false alarm or I start to feel more baby in the near future!
Sunday, February 10, 2008
2nd trimester
Wow! Time flies. Tomorrow will be the official start of the second trimester at 14 weeks. My body/Baby is changing accordingly. It does seem like my belly has "popped" all of a sudden, and I only have one pair of pants left that I can button.
A big plus is that my energy is picking up quite a bit. Walking up and down the stairs with a laundry basket doesn't quite seem like the marathon it once did. I've also been taking advantage of the great weather here to get outside and walk a couple miles each day right after work. While 18" of snow were piling up back home, it was 74 degrees here in VA. Yesterday I got a special treat---Dustin and I went for a walk together, enjoyed a beautiful sunset, and found an absolutely amazing view overlooking the James River and the Blue Ridge mountains about 1/4 to 1/2 mile away from our apartment, down a little side street we had never explored before. Quite frankly, it was more beautiful than any of the scenic overlooks from the stretch of the Blue Ridge parkway that we explored last fall.
The only thing I'm not enjoying thus far is that about two weeks ago I started getting headaches. Last Sunday and yesterday evening I was nearly incapacitated. Other times, it's just a dull ache. At first, I thought it was because of caffeine (which usually causes any headache I get). However, I've since ruled that out since yesterday I had my usual cup of tea with breakfast. Sleep helps, but doesn't seem to completely cure it.
Here's the latest bizarre trivia I've learned while reading/researching pregnancy and nutrition: A full grown man will die from eating a polar bear liver because it has such a high concentration of Vitamin A in it. So don't go and eat any polar bear livers!
A big plus is that my energy is picking up quite a bit. Walking up and down the stairs with a laundry basket doesn't quite seem like the marathon it once did. I've also been taking advantage of the great weather here to get outside and walk a couple miles each day right after work. While 18" of snow were piling up back home, it was 74 degrees here in VA. Yesterday I got a special treat---Dustin and I went for a walk together, enjoyed a beautiful sunset, and found an absolutely amazing view overlooking the James River and the Blue Ridge mountains about 1/4 to 1/2 mile away from our apartment, down a little side street we had never explored before. Quite frankly, it was more beautiful than any of the scenic overlooks from the stretch of the Blue Ridge parkway that we explored last fall.
The only thing I'm not enjoying thus far is that about two weeks ago I started getting headaches. Last Sunday and yesterday evening I was nearly incapacitated. Other times, it's just a dull ache. At first, I thought it was because of caffeine (which usually causes any headache I get). However, I've since ruled that out since yesterday I had my usual cup of tea with breakfast. Sleep helps, but doesn't seem to completely cure it.
Here's the latest bizarre trivia I've learned while reading/researching pregnancy and nutrition: A full grown man will die from eating a polar bear liver because it has such a high concentration of Vitamin A in it. So don't go and eat any polar bear livers!
Saturday, February 2, 2008
twelve weeks, 6 days
This is really an amazing journey that God has placed us on. Already, I am learning what a full-time job motherhood can be. Wanting the best for our little one, I have spent many hours researching and learning about how to best care for Baby Mann. I have so much to learn! I am particularly thankful for family and friends, their experience, and their willingness to answer all my questions and talk with me.
One thing that has been particularly challenging for me is the tug-of-war I'm in from the traditional medical establishment and those who take a more natural approach to childbirth. I have learned more about bacteria, human anatomy, and health insurance than I ever wanted to know. (Did you know that the "six-pack" muscle actually splits in two as the pregnancy belly expands?!)
The biggest concern that I'm dealing with right now is the fact that (according to my doctor's office) I "must" get pumped full of antibiotics during labor in the event that I test positive for Group B Strep, a bacteria that grows naturally in about 10% to 30% of pregnant women. Even though I only have this relatively small chance of testing positive, it's still been consuming much of my thought and research. You see, I am inclined to view antibiotics as a last-resort measure for a sick person, rather than a preventative treatment! I was disappointed at the response of my nurse-midwife when I asked her about opting out of this treatment, who looked me in the eye and said very seriously, "Most babies die from GBS." I responded that, well, I hadn't researched it enough and we left it at that.
As it turns out, only 0.5% to 2% of babies born to GBS-positive mothers NOT treated with antibiotics even get infected. Of that number, only 6% die (from blood infection, meningitis, or pneumonia). That means that 3 out of 10,000 babies born to GBS-positive mothers NOT treated with antibiotics will die. I don't think that even comes close to "most." Furthermore, there are other risk factors, which I probably will not have, that by far increase the risk of the baby being infected by GBS, whether I test positive or not (premature, poor hygiene, etc.). In addition, studies have shown that while antibiotics have worked fairly effectively (though not perfectly) to reduce the number of baby GBS infections, infection from other dangerous bacteria, such as E. coli, have increased. Many of these other bacteria have developed antibiotic-resistant strains since the introduction of this preventative antibiotic treatment during labor.
I am under the impression that this preventative treatment has become so common because of a group that arose in the '90s to specifically raise awareness of GBS infection in babies. How many other minute risks, bacterias, and viruses are there out there that aren't being addressed in the manner of GBS simply because there isn't a group spreading antibiotic propaganda? I have to admit that this whole experience has caused me to question everything the doctor's office tells me and also makes me wonder what other scare tactics they may use to try and induce me, do a C-section, use pain medications or any other number of things I wish to avoid. If I test positive, it will be a difficult decision. Meanwhile, I'm just praying the test will be negative and am planning a supplemental health regimen of vitamin C, garlic, and other goodies.
So you can see why I say being a mom is already a full time job for me. I feel like the search for truth is endless. I could go on about why I think antibiotics are unhealthy, but I don't want to bore you too much!
I did have an appointment last Thursday, where I met the midwife and had a general check-up (for my own health). I also got to hear Baby Mann's heartbeat! Despite the comment from the midwife, hearing our little one's heartbeat made the whole appointment seem great, of course! I really can't wait until I'm 20 weeks, when we get our 2nd ultrasound. I'm already counting down the days! Meanwhile, I've got some pregnancy Pilates video to do, so I'd better get going. I'd love to hear your comments!
http://www.mothering.com/articles/pregnancy_birth/birth_preparation/group-b.html
One thing that has been particularly challenging for me is the tug-of-war I'm in from the traditional medical establishment and those who take a more natural approach to childbirth. I have learned more about bacteria, human anatomy, and health insurance than I ever wanted to know. (Did you know that the "six-pack" muscle actually splits in two as the pregnancy belly expands?!)
The biggest concern that I'm dealing with right now is the fact that (according to my doctor's office) I "must" get pumped full of antibiotics during labor in the event that I test positive for Group B Strep, a bacteria that grows naturally in about 10% to 30% of pregnant women. Even though I only have this relatively small chance of testing positive, it's still been consuming much of my thought and research. You see, I am inclined to view antibiotics as a last-resort measure for a sick person, rather than a preventative treatment! I was disappointed at the response of my nurse-midwife when I asked her about opting out of this treatment, who looked me in the eye and said very seriously, "Most babies die from GBS." I responded that, well, I hadn't researched it enough and we left it at that.
As it turns out, only 0.5% to 2% of babies born to GBS-positive mothers NOT treated with antibiotics even get infected. Of that number, only 6% die (from blood infection, meningitis, or pneumonia). That means that 3 out of 10,000 babies born to GBS-positive mothers NOT treated with antibiotics will die. I don't think that even comes close to "most." Furthermore, there are other risk factors, which I probably will not have, that by far increase the risk of the baby being infected by GBS, whether I test positive or not (premature, poor hygiene, etc.). In addition, studies have shown that while antibiotics have worked fairly effectively (though not perfectly) to reduce the number of baby GBS infections, infection from other dangerous bacteria, such as E. coli, have increased. Many of these other bacteria have developed antibiotic-resistant strains since the introduction of this preventative antibiotic treatment during labor.
I am under the impression that this preventative treatment has become so common because of a group that arose in the '90s to specifically raise awareness of GBS infection in babies. How many other minute risks, bacterias, and viruses are there out there that aren't being addressed in the manner of GBS simply because there isn't a group spreading antibiotic propaganda? I have to admit that this whole experience has caused me to question everything the doctor's office tells me and also makes me wonder what other scare tactics they may use to try and induce me, do a C-section, use pain medications or any other number of things I wish to avoid. If I test positive, it will be a difficult decision. Meanwhile, I'm just praying the test will be negative and am planning a supplemental health regimen of vitamin C, garlic, and other goodies.
So you can see why I say being a mom is already a full time job for me. I feel like the search for truth is endless. I could go on about why I think antibiotics are unhealthy, but I don't want to bore you too much!
I did have an appointment last Thursday, where I met the midwife and had a general check-up (for my own health). I also got to hear Baby Mann's heartbeat! Despite the comment from the midwife, hearing our little one's heartbeat made the whole appointment seem great, of course! I really can't wait until I'm 20 weeks, when we get our 2nd ultrasound. I'm already counting down the days! Meanwhile, I've got some pregnancy Pilates video to do, so I'd better get going. I'd love to hear your comments!
http://www.mothering.com/articles/pregnancy_birth/birth_preparation/group-b.html
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