feedtheartist

When trying to get pregnant, my husband and I both supplemented with folic acid. This was in addition to our daily intake of vitamin C and fish oil, and occasional multivitamin.

We tried for a baby for about nine months before succeeding. In fact, we decided that we should probably make an appointment with a fertility doctor soon in case one of us was defective. I felt generally ill (achy, tired) for a couple weeks before it occurred to me that I might be pregnant, finally peeing on a stick with a positive result.

Throughout my pregnancy, I tried to be more diligent than usual about avoiding potentially harmful substances like msg, transfats and high fructose corn syrup. I also avoided things with high food poisoning risk, like deli meat, soft cheeses, and food from pet owners. Sorry pet-owning-friend, just because you chase your cat off the counter does not negate the fact that it was on the counter in the first place.

The one time I cheated with soft cheese at a wedding, I got very sick. Thanks a lot Kiln Creek; I hate you.

I did continue to eat sushi and sashimi on a near weekly basis, after doing quite a bit of research. We ate at trusted restaurants with consistent high quality, clean health inspections, and we avoided fresh water fish (including salmon). Sushi restaurants are less likely to sicken you than the average fast food joint many Americans frequent.

Morning sickness was the worst during the first trimester. The biohazard fridge at work certainly didn’t help. I would never put my own food in there, but my desk is conveniently located right next to the break room. Thankfully I only had to make an appearance twice a week.

During the nine months trying to get pregnant, I got lazy and put on about 25 extra pounds. My starting weight was around 195. I did not exercise as much as I would have liked, and weighed 240 by the time I was ready to pop.

After getting sick in my third trimester, my manager and team at work had mercy and suggested/ordered me to work from home full time.

I switched OBs mid-pregnancy after having repeated bad experiences at Specialists for Women in Suffolk, VA. I might review them in the future, but all I can suggest is to stay away. I went to The Group for Women in Norfolk, VA. I have mixed feelings on them, so I’ll review them if I manage to sort them out.

Our intentions for labor and delivery revolved around being as intervention free as possible. NO PITOCIN, no epidural, no episiotomy, etc. I’m not so badass as to go for a home birth, so we were set to delivery at Sentara Leigh Hospital in Norfolk, VA. I was partial to this hospital because I received excellent care after surgery a year before.

Unless there is an actual medical reason, babies should not be induced before 42 weeks. I was born at 42 weeks, and had no expectations that my baby would come before that. The doctor wanted to induce at 41 weeks, but agreed to wait until 42 weeks. He got really antsy after 41 weeks actually passed, even though there were no actual medical reasons to be concerned.

He scheduled an induction for 41w6 days provided the hospital could accommodate me. Seeing we were uncomfortable with his initiative, he got upset. He actually had an emotional reaction to us asking one another if that was ok. We agreed because we were put on the spot, but after leaving we decided we just wouldn’t do the induction as long as the baby continued to move and everything felt right. If things reached 42 weeks, we would go ahead in. It was one day, but we wanted to give the baby the chance to come when he was ready. If anyone is allowed to get emotional about the birth of the baby it is me. Not a doctor I hardly know.

Saturday night, 41w4d I went into labor.