Yes, we're using a midwife. And no, we're not hippies

When people hear that Austin and I have decided to use a midwife, we hear all sorts of responses. Some people are thrilled for us, others are pretty skeptical...

"You don't need to try to prove anything. No need to be Wonder Woman."

"You know, God invented doctors and medicine for a reason."

"Isn't it dangerous to give birth out of a hospital? What if something goes wrong?"

The truth is, I agree (for the most part). I am not trying to prove anything or be Wonder Woman. I believe that God uses doctors and medicine to help and heal millions of people. I am NOT anti-hospital. If something goes wrong during labor and delivery, I will be incredibly grateful to the OBGYN that saves my life or the life of our baby.

I just believe that there are a lot of misconceptions about midwifery and the birth process. We watched a fascinating documentary on hospital births compared to out-of-hospital births called The Business of Being Born. I don't necessarily agree with everything in the film. I just feel that God designed a woman's body to deliver a baby. Sometimes there are complications, and in those specific instances, it is good to have a surgeon step in. But I believe it is unnecessary to have a surgeon deliver 100% of babies. (OBGYNS are by definition surgeons).

Most other developed countries throughout the world use midwives for the majority of births. The United States stands alone as the country that has surgeons delivering almost all babies, and we have the second worst newborn death rate in the developed world. Obviously something needs to change.

Austin and I are by no means on a crusade to get all women to use midwives and natural childbirth. There are many reasons that hospitals are the better choice for lots of women. But for us, we feel using a midwife is the right decision.

Our midwife is an amazing woman named Donnellyn. She provides all of my prenatal care. I see her once a month, the same way women visit their OBGYN once a month. She does my blood work, checks my blood pressure and pulse, checks my protein and sugar levels, checks the baby's heart rate, and feels the position of the baby in the uterus (all the same things done at monthly check-ups with doctors). She has been such a blessing to us. I have her personal cell phone number, so whenever I am worried about something (no matter how small), I can call or text her, and she gets back to me almost immediately. For anyone who wants to know more about Donnellyn and her midwifery services, this is her website:

http://allaboutbabies.net/

Nursery update

Lots of people have been asking me if we're working on the nursery yet. Mostly, the answer is no. The room we plan to use for the nursery is currently Austin's office, so until he has a new office, our nursery plans are on hold. But we do have an idea of what it will look like eventually. Because we don't know if the baby will be a boy or a girl, the room has lots of neutral colors. Probably forest themed, with reds, greens, browns, oranges, yellows, etc.

Our good friend Erin Rambo made us an amazing pregnancy scrapbook. Each page in the book has a different theme, and I am obsessed with the page in the picture below. It has pretty much become my inspiration for the nursery.

Also, here is a current pregnancy pic at 24 weeks. I think I have officially reached "bowling ball in the shirt" stage.

My Best Friend's Wedding

What a beautiful wedding! Last weekend, I had the privilege of being the matron of honor in my dear friend Katelin's wedding. The ceremony was at a beautiful cathedral in downtown Kansas City, and the reception was held in one of the most unique venues I've ever been to. These are just a few pictures from the weekend. Can you believe that the bride chose those bridesmaid dresses BEFORE I found out I was pregnant?? It is just such a reminder that God is in control, even of the little things.

Take a look at our baby...

Everything looks good on the sonogram. The baby's heart and kidneys are functioning the way they should be. The sonographer said that she estimates the baby's due date to be Sept. 2, which is 11 days after the current due date we're using. Basically, when August roles around we should have a better idea of when this baby is really coming.

She also explained that I have an anterior placenta (my placenta is attached to the front of my uterus instead of the back.) This is not a health concern right now. It just helps explain why I haven't been feeling the baby kick. The placement of the placenta is providing extra padding, but in a few weeks, when the baby is even bigger and stronger, I should be feeling lots of movement.

21 week update

I am 21 weeks pregnant, which means I am more than halfway there! A few updates on me and baby:

• baby is about 7 inches long (length of a banana)
• baby weighs between 10 and 11 ounces (not quite a pound)
• I have had numerous women tell me that I am "pretty big" or "huge" or something of that nature for only being 21 weeks. How lovely. However, when our midwife measured me at 19 weeks, she said the size of my belly was 19 centimeters (exactly on mark!) So take that everyone who thinks I'm "probably having twins."
• the baby begins to start swallowing amniotic fluid around week 21, so it becomes increasingly important to eat the right foods. If I eat a salad, the baby eats salad. If I eat an entire box of sour watermelon candies, well... you get the picture.
• the baby's heartbeat is getting stronger and we should be able to hear it soon using just a stethoscope
• the pretty green shirt in this picture was a surprise gift that my mom and sister mailed to me from St. Louis. I've already received lots of compliments. Thanks mom and Colleen!

One of these things is not like the other...

Now, I've heard people say that you can start to lose your mind when you're pregnant. I'm not sure if I buy into that idea or not. After eating breakfast this morning, I came into the kitchen to clean my dishes. To my surprise, the juice was not in the fridge. No, it was sitting with the glassware.Maybe I would've done this even if I wasn't pregnant. But isn't it a lot more fun to blame it on the baby?

Happy Easter!

I feel like Easter is a perfect time to reflect on God’s graciousness. So often, as I prepare for this baby, I think about all of the “things” that need to be accomplished in the next twenty weeks. We need to buy a crib, stroller, changing table, etc. for the nursery. I need to read books on how to be a good mother and how to breastfeed. I'll go to classes on how to give birth. We will baby-proof our home, and the list just goes on and on.

I am reminded today, Easter Sunday, that God loves me and takes care of me. God is huge. He created the universe and keeps the world in motion. Yet he loves me and has the hairs on my head numbered. Jesus was fully man and knows what it is like to be tempted by worldly things. I can call upon Jesus and ask him to give me the strength not to be consumed by everything that American culture tells me to worry about. Our nursery does not have to be “perfect” by the world’s standards. Everything does not have to match. I do not need the best and newest stroller. The only thing that matters is that Jesus died and rose from the dead. Now his spirit lives in Austin and in me, and hopefully one day in our child. If we are fortunate enough to have a child who knows the Lord some day, all the rest is just details.

"Consider how the lilies grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith! And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it. For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them. But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.” Luke 12:27-31