Why Hypnobirthing?

Many people have asked me the following questions:

1. Why would you want to go natural?

I have no desire to be drugged when my child enters the world.  I feel as though that would cheapen the experience for me.  I feel that if millions of women can deliver children without pain medication all throughout history, what would make me think that I need it?  I refuse to believe that pain must be associated with childbirth.  If a person can learn to allow him/herself to be relaxed, nearly all pain and fear diminish. Besides, natural costs much less!

2. Why Hypnobirthing?

It is the best method I have found to help empower my body during a process it is naturally made for, instead of fighting childbirth and treating it more like a medical procedure with a "treatment" than the miracle it is.  

For further reading:

www.hypnobirthing.com

www.bellytales.com

3.  Why are you seeing a midwife instead of an OBGYN?

There are many reasons why Robbie and I have chosen to see a midwife throughout this pregnancy.  As for myself, the more I learn about the birthing process, the more involved I want to be with my own child's birth, and midwives are more likely to assist with that.  This makes me feel more like a client, instead of treating me as just a patient.

Another reason we chose this route is the safety and overall comfort of me and my baby, as well as recovery time (for both of us) after birth. Midwives are known to have lower c-section rates, lower episiotomy rates, less complications during birth, and even a higher infant survival rate. Check out these sites:

http://www.ican-online.org/pregnancy/home
http://www.mnmidwife.org/CNMToday.html#other

Roughly one in three births in the U.S. (Utah and Idaho are not excluded) is done by cesarean section. The National Institute of Health says that more than one in ten is considered reckless medicine. That scares me! Most midwives are less than 5%, while most doctors average 25-30%.

For myself and my family, we feel that natural childbirth using hypnobirthing is the best choice, and we're out to prove it works!

For Your Viewing Pleasure....

Apparently, some of you feel pretty strongly about seeing pregnant pictures.  Here you go.  This was about a week ago (24-ish weeks pregnant).  I guess my makeup picks up the light really well.  Sweet.

What a Birthday!

Today is Robbie's 24th birthday, but if you asked him, he'd probably tell you he was 25, or even 23--I promise he's 24. Aside from the fact that I worked from 7:30 am to 5:00 pm, and he went to work at 5:00 pm and won't be home until 3:00 am, it's been a good day.   Luckily, we were able to finagle some things and spend a grand total of 2 hours together today!

This is Robbie's birthday dinner.  He got to take a break from his recent super-health kick and have a Totino's Party Pizza and some Raspberry Shortcake.

Let's also look at the past 48 hours:

Robbie and I have been in the market for a new car for a little bit, and had been looking mostly at SUVs for the four-wheel drive aspect as well as the appeal of not having to bend as far to install a carseat properly. A few weeks ago, we test-drove a Toyota 4Runner that we both loved, but unfortunately, they thought our offer was a bit too low. Thinking about it, we knew that we wouldn't be able to afford the cars we wanted unless we were able to sell our Maxima (which we thought would probably be difficult as the A/C is not currently working, among a few other minor problems). Monday afternoon at about 4:30, Robbie posted an ad on KSL for it. Within 15 minutes, he had already received a call.

The next day around 1:15, we got another call from a mechanic in Payson that offered us $300 less than our asking price without even seeing the car. He said he would drive up right then if we would sell it to him. We agreed, and thus sold our Maxima in less than 24 hours.

This sale complete, Robbie called the owners of the 4Runner we loved and gave them another offer. They accepted. Hooray! We were lucky enough to pay cash for it, so we don't even have a car payment. What a blessing.

This morning, Robbie was able to go pick it up and get it paid for, and I must say, he looks great driving it!

Besides the car (though, let's be honest, I get to be the driver usually!), Robbie also got a copy of Shawshank Redemption and a new discus so that he can start training again to compete in the Spring. I dare say he did well for himself today.

Pixy Stix

Once upon a time, I had a job where we went to an appreciation dinner/training and they supplied us with items for us to dress like fairies for the evening. With the group I was in, they were largely unsuccessful. Regardless, as centerpieces on the table, they had placed magic wands (giant pixy stix with a gold star on the end) for each "fairy" to take home. Being as pixy stix are made of sugar, you'd better believe I took one!

Just now, I cut open the end and very nearly inhaled the entire stick of flavored sugar in under 2 minutes. All my nutrition professors would be displeased, but give it a few minutes, and we'll see if Dax likes sugar!

Please note the actual size of these sugar sticks in comparison to the girl in the picture. Yikes!

More Robbie Logic

According to my husband, snowboarder Peter Line once commented that he could have earned a college degree twice over for all the time he spent in the bathroom if he had used that time to read. Robbie told me this as he came back to the room to grab "The Centurion Principles" from the bookshelf. The book now resides on the back of the porcelain throne.

Personally, I think the guy needed more fiber.