I think I feel baby flutters every now and then, not consistant or often, but I think they are there. I have also been able to find my Fundal hight since about week 11, and my midwife was able to feel it as well!

I am eagerly awating my next apointment in a month and am well on my way to having a healthy baby come late October!

I have been showing since about week 7! I think honestly its more my weight shifting around to accomadate a baby then actual baby showing…but exciting none the less!

I have been in childcare 10 years, never met a diaper I couldn’t change, now poop makes me gag and I pawn those diapers off on other teachers.

I must be the only prego lady in the world who hates pickles, I always heard pickles and ice cream, or peanut butter and pickles… but NO pickles make me gag, the smell alone churns my stomach.

I have had one Prenatal appointment, My goal/max weight gain is 25 lbs, and so far everything seems just perfect.

I would like my energy back, but sadly I think that is gone for the next 10 or so years.

and Holy Bucks Anxiety, this one is really personal and I am not ready to share much with the world yet in regards to it, but I now understand what some of my clients have faced.

I am expecting my first child late October! I am exctited to explore birth options first hand in Nebraska now. So far I have attended the Baby Love essentals Baby Fair, and loved it. As a first time momma all the info was great! I also have started seeing Heather Ramsey of the Midwives Place for my prenatal care. At this time I am keeping all birth options open, including, home birth, hopsital birth, and birth center birth.

Currently, I am about half way through the class and so far some of the topics we have covered that I have disagreed with are;
Vaccinations, every child must be vaxed according to my text book, and my professor ~ doing anything but the normal schedule is harmful and parents who deviate ought to be reported and charged with neglect.
Even though there is no law supporting this, it was suggested that we report families of children whom we know are not up to date on their shots. So much for parents making medical decisions for their children, your daycare may very well try to undermine it.
Breastfeeding, we where taught that breastfeeding is great and wonderful, until 6 months, then again it may be considered neglectful if a parent is not feeding their children other types of food, and we should encourage parents to night wean as soon as teeth come in, to prevent “bottle mouth Decay” . We must also encourage parents to use fluoride toothpaste, and fluoride water if they are making bottles, and beware sugary drinks such as juice or breastmilk (!?)
Now the name bottle mouth decay should be a good indicator that it is not caused by breastfeeding, but alas that would be logical. Also breastmilk is not a sugary solution like Formula and Juice. Also note that extended breastfeeding and baby led weaning are not cause for concern, and are actually quite preferable to some of the things passed off as baby food in todays market!
Regulations, This class is suggesting that we have higher, tougher, stricter regulations for childcare centers, and in home centers. Now on the surfice that is not a bad thing, however when the regulations start imposing on what a parent call ask a daycare provider to do I  have to object. Parents need to be able to dictate how and what kind of care their child receives such as setting their own childs feeding pattern (on demand is best, but if parents want every 2 hours, 3 hours or 4 hours the daycare should be free to comply) or how and when the child sleeps. Regulations also cost more to enforce, and the price of care goes up when centers have more over head costs, if licenced centers get to out of reach in regard to cost parents may be faced with the choice of stopping working or finding unregulated care. That does no one any good.

Abuse and Neglect, my text book makes abuse and neglect sound like a lower income issues. Well I have seen abuse and neglect at the hands of upper middle class families and upper class families as well! and to suggest that it is only the poor, or  less educated people who commit crimes of abuse and neglect perpetuates the myth that it can’t happen to someone I know, and we all need to be aware of what real abuse and neglect looks like, no matter who the parent is. The book also suggests things like extended breastfeeding, and selective medical care as neglectful, as well as non-vaxing or selectively vaxing families as neglectful and that to is wrong. Parents need to be free to be parents and make informed and educated decisions in regard to the health and medical care their children receive. Yes their will always be that one family who takes it to far and crosses over into the abuse and neglect territory, but by far medical decisions belong to the family and the family alone.

So parents looking for care for your children, please ask questions, ask their policies on things, and make sure you find a center that supports you, and your child. I would hate for a loving family take their child to a center where all the staff are programed little sheep who do not and cannot think for themselves and make logical conclusions. Also, take any advice your childcare provider gives you with a grain of rice as their information may not come from the best sources, even if they are “highly educated”
My main goal is writing this, as a doula is to stop the spread of misinformation, and to bring to light something many families may not consider… I have been working in daycare for 8 years now and never knew just how the next generation of teachers are being taught until I sat in this class, as most of my classes have been pretty basic info this is the first to go as in depth in regard to some of these issues. Even after the baby comes educating yourself on whats going on is still important

These lovely photos came from Carla Hartly, and the Trust Birth Movement.

But I am most thankful being here, back in Nebraska/Iowa. I have seen our area grow and change and be more and more birth friendly. I have seen new doulas come up, and I have seen great doulas excel. It has been wonderful.

So happy holidays, whatever it is you celebrate, and much love and light to everyone through the holidays.

I will still be serving clients who are birthing in more rural areas of Iowa, I also plan on expanding now to more rural areas of Nebraska as well. Making the move to Bellevue, can only do great things for my doula clients.

We have Eats on Feets Iowa, Eats on Feets, Nebraska, Human Milk for Human Babies Iowa, and Human Milk for Human Babies Nebraska. You can also find forums online, such as Milkshare.

So check your freezers and donate if you can, and if you have a little one and are in need~ ask for help lots of mothers are willing and able to help~ even with special dietary needs. Breastmilk is often touted as liquid gold, but the reality is, even if your struggling with your supply another mother has more to spare, somewhere someone can help!