My Birth Plan

I think that a birth plan is very important for anyone about to give birth.  Of course, anything can happen and it is important to be flexible but it is also important to let everyone know your wishes.  I have decided to share my birth plan.

Birth Plan

*I, Brandi Wolfe, am preparing to give birth at Charleston Birth Place.

*My support team includes my husband, Dru Wolfe, and my mother, Terri Paugh.

*Other people welcome in the birth room are my mother-in-law, Connie Wolfe, Liz Reeder and Nicole Hinson.

*We plan on staying home until labor is very active for at least 2 hours.

*I trust my body’s ability to birth my baby.  I plan on a drug free birth.

*I will bring my own food to the birth center.

*I plan on wearing my own clothes.

*I plan on my mom videotaping my birth.

*My guests will remain in the family room until we have had a chance to bond with our new baby and I have had a chance to nurse him/her.

*My desire is to wait for the cord to be clamped until after it has completely finished pulsating at which time I prefer my husband to cut the cord.

*I will be encapsulating my placenta so I wish for it to be treated accordingly.  Living TreePlacenta Encapsulation Services will be performing the encapsulation.

*I plan on birthing in the birth pool.

*My desire is to have my husband in the birth pool with me and assist in delivering my baby if the moment is right.

*I plan on using the Birthing From Within method of childbirth.

*I choose not to bathe my baby.

*I prefer no vitamin K, no eye ointment, and no Hep B shot.

*Should the baby be a boy, I do not desire my baby be circumcised.

*I prefer the midwife provide lots of verbal encouragement, physical touch and be present with me as much as possible.

Should I be transferred to the hospital-

*I prefer my baby to stay with me at all times.  Should the baby need emergency care, I desire my husband to stay with my baby at all times.

*I prefer my midwife stay with me and help me to reach as many of my birth goals as possible.



Did you have a birth plan?

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Boy or Girl? Old Wives' Tales.

I thought it would be fun to go through some old wives' tales to see what we could figure out!  Take a look at these and then vote in the poll at the top of the page!

One of the most popular old wives' tales is if the baby's heart rate is under 140 it's a boy, over 140 it's a girl. Baby's heart rate has been mostly in the 150s and never below 140.

Low belly.

This kid is no doubt low which means boy.

Well, I definitely experienced morning sickness but it seems to be mixed as to what that means. Most sites say that means girl.

Both the Chinese and the Mayan calendars say girl.

I had terrible headaches almost everyday for a few months and apparently that means it's a boy.

Blossoming breasts.

My face broke out and my breasts have definitely blossomed, both of which mean girl.

My hair has gotten thicker, one of the few pregnancy symptoms I am happy to get. Thicker hair means boy.

Unfortunately, I have not had many cravings this pregnancy. At least not anything like my first pregnancy. When I do want something it is usually fruit, lemonade, or sweets of some sort. Sweet is girl but sour is boy so this one is pretty split.

Dru hung his ring over my belly and it started going back and forth and then went in a circle. We did it again and it started in a circle but then started going back and forth so this one is inconclusive.  Supposedly circle is girl and back and forth is boy.

No help!

Children are supposed to be intuitive so I've asked Ila a thousand times. She has gone back and forth so many times. I think she says boy most often but she says sister more than brother. She most often says the baby has a penis but sometimes she says vulva. She says the baby's name is Alice. (I have no idea where that came from but she is pretty certain of this.) So she is no help!

UPDATE:  Ila has now decided that the baby is a girl.  She is very certain of this and gets frustrated if you say that it could be a boy.

Sounds like it is better for your self-esteem if you are pregnant with a boy. Supposedly you look better than you normally do and carry most of your weight in front. I am not fortunate enough to have these characteristics. I do not look better than I normally do and I like to carry my weight everywhere but mostly in the thighs, hips, and butt area. If this is a boy, I got screwed!

I have gone back and forth on this so many times and everyone's guesses seem to be split.  I have no idea so it really will be a wonderful surprise either way!  What do you think?  Boy or girl?  Please vote in the poll at the top of the page!

Were any old wives' tales right for you?  Were any of them dead wrong?  Are there any good ones I missed?

To see more maternity pictures, check out this post or head over to Facebook!

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Slices of Life

Snacking on SC peaches.

Bumble bee splashes.

Stuck in the house.  Might as well work on making it look pretty.

Peek-a-boo!

Grieving.

 Just trying to enjoy the last few weeks with my only child!  I'm in a lot of pain but I have a few things I'm going to do to try and relieve some of it.  We have been working on the house some.  Re-decorating and re-organizing.  Trying to get ready for baby!

It is a little quieter and a little sadder around here.  We had to say goodbye to our beloved 8 1/2 year old boxer.  I wrote in this post about how I could help prepare Ila.  We were lucky to have our vet come to our home which I think was good for everyone.  Ila is doing well for now but I'm not sure she fully comprehends it yet.

I'm now 34 weeks pregnant and even though I'm uncomfortable and in pain, I'm getting so excited!

You can follow me on Instagram for more pictures!

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Maternity Pics!

We had so much fun with Ashley Maone Photography!  She was amazing and as you can see, very talented. These are some of my favorites although it was so hard to pick.  The dress I am wearing was my mom's and the top Ila is wearing was mine!  I'm so glad we have these to look at and remember forever!  Check out Ashley's Facebook page and if you are in the Mid-Ohio Valley area, I highly recommend her! Contact her for a session ashelymaone@yahoo.com or 740-236-2259.

I've gotten a lot of compliments on my dress!  Sorry everyone, it was my mom's in the 80s!  You can either go raid your mom's closet and hope she kept some pretty pieces around or I found this super cute dress that is similar and a great price.  If someone doesn't buy it soon, I might have to snatch it up!

To see more of the pictures, check out my Facebook page!

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Update- 33 Weeks

I was pretty sure a few weeks ago that I had SPD, symphysis pubis dysfunction.  I am now certain that I do.  I am in a lot of pain and have limited mobility which is not good when you have an almost three year old and are trying to get ready for this new baby.  I am going to the chiropractor every week, doing pelvic tilts every day and wearing a super sexy maternity belt to hold my pelvis in place but still going to the grocery store is more than I can handle.  I am trying my best to stay positive but it is hard!

I also think I am developing carpal tunnel syndrome.  The palms of my hands will randomly feel like they are on fire and it radiates out to my fingers.  Just add it to the list!  This baby is trying it's damnedest to make sure it is the last baby that I ever give birth to!  Also, have you noticed how HOT it is?  Well, I have.  It is too hot.

My poor husband has to do everything.  I can't do much walking, bending, lifting, anything really.  He has to do most of the shopping, cleaning, and more cooking than he's used to.  I still do some cooking mostly sitting at the table chopping ingredients while he stands at the stove cooking the ingredients.  He also has to make sure Ila is being played with because I am not much of a playmate these days and he has to take care of me.  He's doing all of this while still working and manages to rub my sore back almost every night that he's here.  He's really stepped up and I'm very appreciative.

On to some positives.  I have made several frozen meals and am working on some more for after baby is here.  I have found the beauty of freezer to slow cooker meals.  I can make four meals in under an hour that are ready to just put in the crock pot the morning we want to eat the meal.  They are full of vegetables and healthy ingredients.  You can find more at another blog which I love, Mama and Baby Love.  So far I've made two sausage, pepper and onion meals, two fajita meals, two teriyaki chicken meals, two savory chicken meals, and three pounds of cooked ground beef with onions, peppers and garlic that I can use for anything from tacos and enchiladas to adding it to marinara or putting it on a pizza.  I'm so excited about this and have at least a dozen more I want to make.  I'm going to come up with a few of my own, too!  It's something I can do while sitting for the most part so I feel accomplished!

I also have a very active baby growing away inside of me.  Sometimes I just see the end of my pregnancy as just that, the end of my pregnancy, but I also will be given a wonderful gift and I have to try and remember that this is all happening for a reason.

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