Say what you will - I'm bringing home baby and my placenta!

It is less than a week before Baby Friedman’s induction and I am getting all last minute chores done and trying to get focused on this birth.  I admit that my plan to meditate frequently went out the window after Joe accepted his new job offer, and we started to plan for a job change, a move to Newport Beach, and a new baby all in the same month.  Needless to say, we’ve got a lot on our plates.

                This weekend I made a few bold choices about Baby Friedman’s birth.  First, Joe and I decided we are going to bank the baby’s cord blood.  Joe lost his sister, Molly, when she was only 13 years old to an undiagnosed illness, and I lost my father and my stepfather to leukemia.  We have both experienced loss in a very intimate way.  Hopefully, we will never have to use the baby’s cord blood, and if we ever do, there is no guarantee that the cord blood can be used to cure the illness.  Regardless, we both believe that is it is worth the investment.  

                Secondly, I decided to have my placenta encapsulated.  The first time I heard about this process, I thought it was way too hippie and new-agey for me.  But after speaking with several moms about their experiences with it, I was sold.  The moms I spoke with reported having TONS of energy, an abundance of milk, very little postpartum bleeding, and no postpartum depression.  I never had postpartum depression with Liam, but I was exhausted during those first two months after birth.  And I can only imagine how much more tired I will be now that I have a toddler to chase after in addition to attending to Baby Friedman.  The way I see it, is that there is no harm in trying it.  Worst case scenario – it’s total BS and a bit of money was wasted.  Best case scenario, it does all that it’s advertised to do and I am thankful beyond belief.  Besides, most Eutherian mammals eat their placentas after giving birth.  Humans are among the small minority of Eutherian mammals that don’t eat their placentas.  Granted, most mammals give birth in the wilderness and must clean up all remains of afterbirth so predators don’t come after their young.   But there has to be something said for digesting the baby’s gestational life source.  The placenta is an incredible organ; why waste it?

                I’ll be sure to blog about my experience with taking my placenta supplements!  For those who think I am nuts, say what you will.  I am over feeling pressure from others about what to do during birth and how to raise my children.  Nowadays, there is criticism and controversy over every aspect of pregnancy, birth, and child rearing.   I’ve learned to be confident about what works best for my family.  I still love to listen to other moms and what works for them, but I no longer feel ashamed or like a failure if I’m not following the crowd’s trend. 

Welcome 2012!

                Happy New Year to all! This year is going to be so full of new changes that I’ve set aside the desire to establish any resolutions that will be too difficult to uphold.  Am I giving myself the easy way out? Or is it just that I am so pregnant that anything that uses a substantial amount of energy makes me turn the other direction?  Both are likely possibilities, and due to lack of blood flowing to my brain currently, I think it’s best that I keep my resolution simple and broad: to keep my family happy and healthy!

              As of next Friday, I will officially be a “Stay at Home Mom.”  My new job description is pretty much to fulfill my resolution to my best potential.  I am looking forward to this opportunity, but with this new life change comes plenty of adjustments and a steep learning curve.  Although I have been a mom for two and a half years, I have never been a full-time mom.  I have always had my profession and I identify as being both a mother and a working professional – this will change.  

                But before I can really start to think about how I can be the best full-time mommy I can be, I need to deliver Baby Friedman.  I’m pretty much putting any planning for my future role on hold for the next two weeks until the little lady arrives.  Last week I had my 37 week appointment with my OBGYN.  Yahoo! I am full term and baby is looking great!  Despite my problem-free pregnancy and that baby is thriving, my OBGYN is going to induce my on Friday, January 20^th if I do not go into labor before then.  After consulting with his colleague, who is a specialist with high risk pregnancies and is known as the guru of preeclampsia in Los Angeles, he told me that the baby needs to be delivered before 40 weeks.  Liam’s pregnancy ended with tons of complications and the birth was stressful to say the least. The list of issues that came up was surprising since I am healthy and young.  My doctor wants me to deliver naturally and not have to go through another c-section and he says my best chances for a smooth delivery is get baby out before my due date.

                At first, I was a bit disappointed that the birth was going to be scheduled.  I really want this birth to be as natural as possible.  Of course there is always the chance that I go in to labor before the induction and that would be great.  But after thinking about the situation for a couple of days, I’ve accepted that an induction is very possible and even another c-section is still possible.  There are many women who’ve had successful inductions that have led to incredible birth stories.  There are also many women who hated their induction experience and wish they were firmer with their decision to wait it out.  I guess it boils down to two things for me: 1.) I just want Baby Friedman to be healthy (in the end, the way she gets here is irrelevant) and 2.) I don’t have the balls to assert my desires over my OBGYN’s medical suggestions.  I didn’t go to medical school.  I have to trust that my doctor is making the safe and correct decisions for my child and me. 

                I remember being completely unprepared for Liam’s c-section.  I skipped that part of the baby book reading.  I thought that I would never have a c-section.  Silly me.  I thought c-sections were for women who had more problems during their pregnancy and that a young, healthy woman would never be a c-section candidate.   I now know better.  And I now know that it is important to be flexible and accommodating during birth.  Learning I’d most likely be induced was a bit of a surprise, but it might not be the last surprise of Baby Friedman’s birth story.  

                Baby Friedman’s birth will be my first test to see how well I can uphold my New Year’s resolution.  I am ready for the challenge.  I’ve got my birthing game face on.  The car seat is installed.  Bags are packed (well, almost).  Liam has been asking to see his baby sister.  Last thing to do - have my wonderful husband do some baby and labor reading cram sessions since he’s been slacking.