2 posts tagged “ucla”
This Week:
1. Shared my 4D ultrasound pictures with the team and family at school. Everyone's first reaction was, 'wow', and 'look at all that detail'. I don't talk about the pregnancy that much with the majority of the staff, so it was refreshing to hear everyone's congrats and positive responses.
2. Mamasource: I used this website to assist a fellow pregger who is in need of a post partum doula, then I saw all the great responses she received. So I replied to a posting from a mom looking to find a better school for her child. It so happens that one of the schools she's interested in, is the same school that one of my cohort members is the president of the board. Small, small world.
3. Prenatal appointment and maternity tour: CNM says, Vida is head down, she's growing well, and heartbeat is 125. Maternity tour: The UCLA hospital is getting a new maternity wing, not ready until May 4th. The old/original side is where I will give birth, the rooms are not so bad. There are plantation shutters painted on the walls and pretty landscape murals, home-like cabinetry, and labor and delivery occur in the same room. Babies room in with mom. I asked a lot of questions, the one that received the most overwhelming response from the other couples was: "You mentioned, that a woman can labor in whatever position is most comfortable, what about delivering in her position of choice?" The director asked who my doctor was, I replied the "CNMs". To which she said I would be fine and can deliver squatting if I felt like it. Another woman followed up because she has an OB, like the rest of the couples. The director said it would be up to the doctor's discretion.
How crazy is that?!?! You are carrying the baby but the 'medical professional' gets to tell you how you will birth the child you carried for 10 months! I realize that's the norm but the women were surprised. One of the woman, Rosy, stayed behind to talk to me about my experience with the CNM group. Rosy wants to try for a VBAC but isn't receiving the support she needs to pursue that decision. She was considering switching but the OB care felt impersonal. I think I convinced her to come to the 'other side'. She asked how did I know to choose them, simple, I knew what kind of birth experience I wanted.
4. 4D Ultrasound, take 2: Last Sunday, the 16th, P, Nana, and I went to Treasured Moments to take a sneak peak at Vida. We had attempted the previous sunday at 2:30 after a lovely and super filling lunch at Porto's cafe/bakery. Well, that was a bad idea, she was in a deep sleep. The pictures posted above are from the 16th.
5. Baby Shower planning: Since we ate at Porto's after the 4D sonogram on the 2nd visit, we stopped upstairs where 'specialty' cakes are ordered. We placed our order for the baby shower on the 15th and the 16th. These cakes are so delicious. I will make sure to take good pictures and post after the shower.
6. Nursery prep: Cleaning out the 'office'. Packing up items we don't use, sort items for Goodwill or trash, post the futon and some other items on Craigslist, in order to make room for the upcoming painting project. We decided green, still torn between three shades: honeydew, garden (something), and something a little darker. I figure we'll do the actual painting the first weekend of March and just wait for the furniture to arrive. I can't wait until I can place her clothes and items in drawers and add decorations to the walls, etc.
Last week:
1. Not much on the baby front, plenty of busy activity at work. I did notice Vida's kicks and punches increasing in strength. Vida's Godmother finalized the invites and sent them out. They're so cute, pink with polka dots and a cute stroller embellishment on the top.
...and to think I thought February was going to be a slow month...so I look at my March calendar and it looks so wide open. Mmm, not so much because my grad work really picks up, along with some EOY (End of Year) projects. So I keep waiting for this 'slow' period to creep up, maybe April?
If I stop working on the 1st, I can see the next 18 (+ or - 14) days being a little slow. I will DEFINITELY stop working on Friday, April 18th. We'll see how I progress...
.
Wow, I am overdue for a pregnancy update. I want to list all the news because my blogging opportunity has been scant these days. I have a new job that has overwhelmed me for the past two weeks. Funny thing, I have been pregnant since I started my position.
Symptoms
Breasts: Still experience some tenderness when pressure is applied as in a hug or a tight strapless dress. I was a bridesmaid to my SIL last weekend, the adrenaline got me through the 18 hour day. Most recently though, my nipples hurt a lot in the shower, it’s as if razor blades are slicing through them when the water hits. I have to shower with my back to the showerhead.
Scent aversions: I don’t like the smell of leftovers, initial whiff of cologne, and trashcans, gross! I have avoided restaurants with fragrant spicy foods such as Indian. It’s a shame because I loved it before. I tend to lean toward simple plain food. Pablo went grocery shopping and I requested pineapple, oranges, apples, berries, plain yogurt, and bean and cheese burritos. He was super sweet, in order to accommodate my request he went to two grocery stores: Trader Joe’s and Albertson’s.
Gas: Enough said. It seems that it is amplified if I am stressed or if I eat too much, too quickly in one sitting. This coupled with frequent urination is no day in the park.
"Mommy brain": OK, I don’t know if this one counts but there are moments where I am not thinking clearly. I tend to misplace items easily and forget instructions when they have just been provided.
Bad skin: The left side of my face keeps breaking out in certain spots, it looks like a constellation. A friend told me that’s a sign of a boy. I also don’t have morning sickness which apparently means a boy as well.
First Prenatal appointment with UCLA Midwives
I am so blessed to have access to this care. There is a team of four midwives. Over the course of your pregnancy you meet all of them so that you are comfortable with any of the four midwives on the day you deliver. My appointment was extensive: noting medical history, ultra sound (which you can view here), breast exam, pap smear, lab work, vitals, and a uterus check. I would just like to speak to the vitals: my recommended weight gain is 15-25 lbs. I know that as the ‘fat girl’ parameters because healthy woman are recommended a weight gain of 25-35 lbs. I really have to stick to my healthy diet. I am beginning to get back on track with the diet but it I need to self-monitor. I can honor my diet better if I keep a food journal. A food journal is a way of ‘embarassing’ yourself into healthy eating. After about three days, you examine your food patterns and recognize the glaring elements that should not be included in your consumption. My husband and I already invested $2000+ into creating and maintaining a food plan with a nutritionist so it’s now up to us to see a long-term return on that financial investment/sacrifice. I think I was supposed to get screened for TB as well but we didn’t get to it. The baby’s heart rate is at 174 bpm. Hooray! My next appointment is October 10th, so you can expect another long post around that time.
