Proud Momma!!

Drum roll please... A few days ago--I believe on Saturday--Zyler, at 26 months, peed in his potty for the first time!

He and I had finished his bath, and he wanted to sit on his potty as usual and was repeating "pee potty!" I tried to wait patiently as he stared up at me. I got the feeling I wasn't supposed to stay in the room! (Like his Daddy already!) So, I asked him if he wanted Mommy to go in the hallway, and I told him I'd come back in when he was finished. I left the door cracked so I could watch him through the mirror but he got up and shut to door on me! I softly cracked it back open to look and saw that he was sitting on the potty again. I opened the door a few moments later to check and he said "pee, potty!" Indeed, he had gotten it all in his potty!

It is so funny how proud we are of those "firsts!" I couldn't contain myself and made such a big deal of it, of course. The next evening we tried again with Daddy helping with bath time but while we went in the hallway, he proceeded to pee all over the 1978 shag carpet. LOL!! I laughed and Daddy kind of threw up his hands. We were hoping we'd have a few more months before that started. Maybe we will have to redecorate the kids' bathroom sooner rather than later. ;-)

Abdominal Binder

Last Friday I began wearing an "abdominal binder" for a slightly "pendulous uterus/abdomen." I looked for link to help explain these terms but had trouble finding very much pertinent info. I did find this, though, from Spinning Babies:

Using a pregnancy belt for transverse lie

When the lower abdomen is loose, as with a pendulous uterus, add a pregnancy belt to create an improved slope to the lower uterine segment.

A pregnancy belt helps the uterine ligaments hold the uterus upright so the baby can get into an upright position.

For the mom with loose ligaments, I would suggest wearing a pregnancy belt in the fifth month through to labor, and for very loose moms with a pendulous womb, then wearing the belt through pushing the baby out is safest.

Women with tight ligaments can wear a pregnancy belt too for the support is actually relaxing.

It does help my belly and back feel more supported. I kind of wish I had started wearing it a couple of months ago. I need to take it off at night as it is a bit difficult to sleep with, but it could be that I don't have quite the right size.

I do not have a sideways baby, however! The concern from my midwives is that my uterus cannot work as efficiently if it is slightly angled. Peanut is at 0 station and in good position, so getting her engaged in the cervix is not the concern. We just don't want her to "cook" for too long and get too big if my uterus is not working as efficiently as it could be.

Hypnobirthing Review

(Side note: I am toying around with Blogger's new templates. You likey?)

On Tuesday my advanced student midwife, Janna, hosted Jason and me in her home for a Hypnobirthing review and "fear release" meditation. She is, conveniently enough, also a Hypnobirthing practitioner. We reviewed my breathing techniques and the light touch massage that is oh-so relaxing.

For maybe a week or more, I have been practicing my Rainbow Relaxation script on the CD every night before I fall asleep. Some nights I am unconscious through most of the colors and regain consciousness as the script is ending! :-)

In the past several days, I've experienced a couple of nights of a few productive surges (contractions) that wake me up. No other major labor signs so far, so I guess my body is just "practicing" and strengthening my uterus! I'm hopeful that I will be able to continue getting decent rest... Fingers crossed.

More "Month 9" Ups & Downs

Time for a few more ups and downs:

Downs ... with Ups

• I tested positive again for GBS, as I did with Zyler. (See previous GBS posts.) Not a huge concern, as many women choose not to get the test and deliver perfectly healthy babies... but my supervising midwives were especially concerned for different reasons. I wanted to proceed with a home birth, so we decided to have me test again after I had been diligent about various measures to eradicate the bacteria. The drama and stress of the situation was great, due to details not appropriate for this public media, but we were successful and got a negative result! So, we have a plan of action for treatment during labor, as well as while I am still pregnant (including garlic and a chlorhexidine wash). I am trusting that all will work out as it should. I prayed for God to let me know if I should return to a hospital-planned birth (for IV antibiotics), but I have yet to receive that message. So, just another down that has become an "up." :)
• No imminent signs of labor... but my midwives are hoping I make it at least another week so as to have as strong a baby as possible. (See above bullet.) At my last checkup, however, they guesstimated a good-sized baby at maybe 7.25 lb.
• Got a little cold from Zyler. Nothing too miserable, though.
• I'm still feeling relatively good. Sleep is pretty good (most nights), and my diastasis recti isn't quite as painful as a few weeks ago.
• Zyler's new room (aka "blue room") is coming along. (I know, we need to get some pictures!) Jason and his dad got the sub-floor installed. Now, to purchase new hardwood flooring.

A Wake Up Story | Seventh Generation

A moving clip about the safety of our homes... See original post here:
A Wake Up Story | Seventh Generation

A Wake-Up Story from Healthy Child Healthy World on Vimeo.