2nd trimester, birth centers and love.

I said it with my other pregnancies but this time it's even more true...why is time going by so fast?!? I'm already 24 weeks, feeling great, feeling this baby kick, kick, kick and enjoying every little moment of this pregnancy. 

I mentioned in a previous post about a new delivery method for me this time. My first 2 babies were born in a hospital, with an OB, 1 with an epidural and 1 completely unmedicated. They were great, wonderful, beautiful births.  But this time I wanted something a little different.

Today I had another appointment with my midwife. Yep, an out of hospital midwife at a birth center. It has been such an enjoyable experience, one that I didn't necessarily see myself in 5 months ago. I started this pregnancy knowing I wanted to see a midwife but having such a strong medical background (and a nervous husband) the best fit seemed to be a hospital-based midwife group. The first appointment went well but after learning my insurance wouldn't cover them I had to make a big change. And quick.

I called and called around. I talked to friends. I thought long and hard about what I really wanted for this pregnancy. After learning the frightening statistics of epidural rates with local OB groups and knowing I was seeking an unmedicated birth I decided to interview the birth center. Matt was hesitant while I was nervously excited. 

Well...it went amazingly well. Everything I was seeking for this birth was part of their standard of care. Relationship building was a central factor. Low interventions. Focusing on health and nutrition during pregnancy. Really thorough postpartum support. It had it all and I was sold!

Fast forward 16 weeks or so and my experience continues to be positive. Today I got to chat with my midwife for almost an hour and never felt rushed to leave. My blood pressure was taken at the end of the appointment. I never have to get on a scale, rather just tell them my weight based on my home measurements. Lucy was just as much a part of the visit (Carter was at preschool) as I was and was encouraged to help the midwife use the doppler to hear the heartbeat.  Good nutrition was a key conversation. Balance, trust, support, positive energy and focusing on what I really want is central. It's just amazing! I'm so happy I chose to deliver at an out of hospital birth center this time.

20 weeks

22 weeks

 24 weeks

Don't get me wrong. An out of hospital birth is not for everyone, for a variety of reasons. And I totally respect that. I love supporting women at work, personal friends and friends of friends who are birthing in a variety of environments, in a variety of ways (medicated, unmediated, home birth, c-sections, whatever!). Birth is amazing and miraculous no matter what.
But for me, for this baby, this just feels so right.
Things will be different than a hospital birth. I will have no access to any medications. I will have intermittent monitoring. No IV. Able to eat and drink freely. Access to a bath tub and water birth, if I choose. Snuggling in bed with baby and Matt right after delivery. And....going home just 2-4 hours after I deliver to rest in the comfort of my own bed with a home visit from my midwife 24 hours later to check in on us and perform all the normal routine checks that a hospital would provide.
And, during this whole process, we have chosen to have a good friend capture every beautiful moment. As we head over to the birth center so will our birth photographer! She'll stay with us the entire time and photograph some of the eventful moments for us to cherish later on. I'm so excited for these images (especially since we don't know the sex!) and will post them once I deliver.
So....after writing a novel....that's where I'm at! Happy, healthy and absolutely loving this pregnancy.

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