To Doula or not to Doula?

When we first got pregnant, the one thing I wanted to research right away, was a doula. I knew that I wanted one there for our first child and birth experience. My oldest sister had one with her last of 3 kids and had a natural birth. The research supporting the success of having a natural birth with a doula is enough to convince me it is worth every penny.

I had to convince Gilles that a doula is not a replacement for him. He is my main support, my rock and the one I want by my side through the birth. A doula is simply there to help him, me and remind us of the decisions we intended to make. They've been there, they have experience.

I went through the doula websites in our area of the city as a way to narrow down the search. I found one website that just felt like "the one". At around 8 weeks I emailed to get a meeting/interview with them. I fully intended to make more meetings with a few others, but after we ended up talking for so long with the duo and being kicked out of Starbucks because it was closing, we knew we'd found the right team.

The Serene Mama Doula team is great. We essentially get 2 doulas for the price of one. We meet with them both for all our meetings and on the day our baby comes, one of them will be there with us. They are each others back up and we get to know them both.

We get support through the moment we hire them to a few days after we get home with our new bundle. They will go through everything from nutrition, tips for exercise and relaxation, a lending library of books, videos and just a quick call to reassure me when I have questions. They help us picture our perfect birth, and help us achieve it. They also talk with us about realistic expectations. They don't shy away from the details or the things no one talks about.

For us and our birth plan, we are planning to be in a hospital. From experience with my sisters and reading books, I feel like having a resource there for the duration that knows what is going on and provide support is key. The OB or Dr comes in infrequently and really only when it's time to push or there is something wrong. Nurses can be great, but depending on how long your labour is, you may see a number of different ones. Having Gilles and a doula there as constant support is priceless.

Week 17

How Far Along: 17 Weeks

Baby Size: Onion, 5 Inches long

Symptoms: Stuffy nose. Hungrier a lot more, but having to eat smaller meals. My back has started to breakout a little which I haven't had since high school. Hopefully that stops soon. It could be due to dairy intake, so I'll play with that a little. I have about a two hour window before I have to pee. Back aches if I walk too much or sit too long.

Weight Gain: Up 2 lbs from prepregnancy weight

Sleep: Definitely side sleeping permanently now. I have to get up 1-2 times a night to pee now.

Best Moment of the Week: Feeling more movement from baby.

Worst Moment of the Week: Feeling irritated for no reason

Any cravings or aversions: Milk. I love just having a glass.

Wedding ring on or off: On

Belly Button In or Out: In

What I'm looking forward to: Gilles being able to feel the baby.

What I miss: Relaxing on my back

Emotions: Alternating between being super happy and content to irritated.

Nursery: Went through everything that we have for baby already and did inventory. I didn't think we had much left to register for, but we will have plenty. 

Shopping: I bought a two new shirts this week. One is sparkly for Gilles Christmas party this weekend, and the other was 50% off. Also picked up new undies!

To-do checks: Blood tests Tuesday. Prenatal appointment Friday

Week 16

How Far Along: 16 Weeks

Baby Size: Avocado

Symptoms: Back ache, Round Ligament Pain - had really researched this much but wow can it smart a little. I had some pain while sitting at dinner in a restaurant one night. I had one day of morning sickness that hit me hard. Thought I was rid of it, but apparently not.

Weight Gain: Nothing this week. Still up 1lb.

Sleep: I dug out the wedge to have under my belly when I sleep on my side. It's not always needed, but helps sometimes when I'm having trouble getting comfortable. Still sleeping like a rock.

Best Moment of the Week: Gilles telling me about a dream he had about our future baby. I'll leave the sweet details out, but it was the best thing to hear. Fitting into my first pair of maternity jeans!
Feeling flutters! Very soft, but definitely flutters.

Worst Moment of the Week: Morning sickness coming back for a day

Any cravings or aversions: not feeling chicken wings at all. Tim Horton's breakfast sandwich.

Wedding ring on or off: On

What I'm looking forward to: Feeling stronger movements

What I miss: Shrimp

Emotions: Excited still. I'm still loving being pregnant and enjoying all the changes

Nursery: We bought a crib, dresser, stroller/carseat and bedding this weekend! They will be delivered after Christmas - by choice - so we can get it, set it up and not have to store it while we host family over the holidays. At least I think it will. The confirmation email said next Friday, so we'll see when we actually get it.
We also got a Pack 'n' Play that we'll wrap up for Christmas. My mom is giving it to us as a gift, but I picked it up on sale now. 

Shopping: I bought new bras and underwear and a new pair of tights. 

To-do checks: Go for blood tests.

Week 15

How Far Along: 15 Weeks

Baby Size: Naval Orange. 2.5 ounces, 4 inches

Symptoms: I'm starting to feel amazing with more energy and have a bump to show. I still have the stuffy nose feeling but that could be the cold I'm starting to catch. I'm having moments of shortness of breath. Digestion is starting to slow down.

Weight Gain: Gained 1 lb

Sleep: It's uncomfortable to sleep on my back so an elaborate pillow system is set up in bed now. Still sleeping soundly and only having to wake up once to pee.

Best Moment of the Week: The house got cleaned by Gilles. I popped. Definitely have a bump now!

Worst Moment of the Week: Back pain. Hoping that working out will help make my back stronger and ache less

Any cravings or aversions: McDonald's Cheeseburger. I felt disgusting eating it, but it tasted SO GOOD

Wedding ring on or off: On

What I'm looking forward to: Prenatal massage Friday

What I miss: Nothing this week. I had that "I love being pregnant" moment this week

Emotions: Happy, Excited

Nursery: Nada. 

Shopping: Bought some new bras and underwear. Things are expanding!

To-do checks: Get blood tests done, book next prenatal appointment, book 18-20 week ultrasound

Week 14

How Far Along:  14 Weeks

Baby Size: Length of a lemon

Symptoms: M/S seems to be gone. I'm getting hungrier. Definitely always thirsty, but I'm finding that drinking water all day I start to get sick of it and then feel yucky. Stuffy nose, but I'm pretty sure it's not from a cold

Weight Gain: 

Sleep: I have a huge body pillow that is working great for hugging between my knees. It relieves some pressure and I can sleep on my side really well. I'm starting to get cramping in my hands when I wake up which sucks.

Best Moment of the Week: Got to hear the HB for the first time. Gilles was there and heard it too. Getting to Second Trimester

Worst Moment of the Week: Dry heaving from having to clean up our dogs puke

Any cravings or aversions: I craved a Tim Horton's Breakfast sandwich one day. It was delicious

Wedding ring on or off: On and it's turning lots now that snow/winter has settled. My hands get so cold my rings always feel big

What I'm looking forward to: Having my bump grow

What I miss: Eating whenever rather than RIGHT NOW

Emotions: Excited. Calm. Powerful

Nursery: Looked around in Sears and liked what they had. Still just window shopping

Shopping: Ordered some BumGenius cloth diapers. A store in Calgary had a Buy 6 get 2 Free sale.

To-do checks: Nothing baby related. Focus on teaching and studying this week

Week 13

How Far Along: 13 Weeks, which by some books/apps is 2nd trimester, and others it's still first.

Baby Size: Peach

Symptoms: Morning sickness came back a couple days last week. Most of the time it had to do with smells. My sense of smell is much much stronger lately. I'm getting a little more energy back.

Weight Gain: I am -l lb from pre-pregnancy weight. Happy my body is gaining weight! Most people hate gaining weight, but for me it's the one thing I have always struggled with, so losing weight is ALWAYS a concern to me, and now being pregnant, it's an even bigger worry, even though I know it is normal in the first trimester. I'm happy to be gaining weight back and according to some charts, I should be gaining about 1 - 1.5 lbs a week from now until the end.

Sleep: Horrible sleep last night, but the rest of the week was great. I'm starting to sleep on my sides because it's not comfortable on my back anymore.

Best Moment of the Week:  Being able to workout. Feeling like I have a belly. I had a black shirt on this week and Gilles said he could definitely tell there is a bump

Worst Moment of the Week: Getting sick a few mornings and being really run down after doing too much in one day

Any cravings or aversions: Nothing this week.

Wedding ring on or off: On

What I'm looking forward to: Hearing the heartbeat this week (hopefully) and having my belly show more

What I miss: Prepregnancy pants. Still not big enough for maternity pants yet, so I'm at that awkward in between phase. Tights and tunics.

Emotions: Had a good week emotionally. I was very stressed at the beginning of the week, but feeling much better and happier

Nursery: Nothing yet. Just more research.

Shopping: Haven't bought anything, but I did receive quite a bit this week. I got my nursing cover, pads and bracelet from the uddercovers.com website. Received my carseat canopy from a similar website. Got a bag from SIL that has a Moby wrap, a superman costume, Oilers booties and a boppy head rest for baby in the carseat. I'm keeping the Oilers boots for Gilles stocking for Christmas

To-do checks: Meeting with the doulas Wednesday. Prenatal appointment Friday morning. Should be able to hear the heartbeat this time so Gilles is coming with.

12 Weeks

How Far Along: 12 Weeks

Baby Size: Plum

Symptoms: Backache. The top of IT band is really sore, but I think it's from overdoing it on a long walk.

Weight Gain: Sadly lost 6 lbs in a week. I think it might have just been the day, but who knows :(

Sleep: Can't sleep on my back. Ache sets in

Best Moment of the Week: Revealing on Facebook we're going to be parents. It took me a few tries to get the dogs both sitting and looking at me, but I love the picture. They are going to be big sisters!

Worst Moment of the Week: Throwing up due to the dogs food. Opened up a new can for Beta and the smell hit me. Having 3 meltdowns in one day. I've been overwhelmed with a lot lately and the littlest thing has me in tears. I'm hoping this passes.

Any cravings or aversions: Milk. I crave milk.

Wedding ring on or off: On

What I'm looking forward to: No more nausea. This week and last week I've been feeling so much better. I'm hoping that fatigue is on it's way out the door

What I miss: Running. Fall is when I started running the first time and the cold air makes me miss it. I know it's safe to run, but I'm not comfortable doing it.

Emotions: Excited. Nervous. We now wait until 20 weeks to peak at the little one again.

Nursery: Researched cribs but won't be buying anything until after Christmas. The Man Cave on the other hand is coming nicely.

Shopping: Nothing this week

To-do checks: Take a bath and relax. Start prenatal yoga. Start my prenatal workout DVD