I'm reading Dean Karnazes 50/50 book and came across this part where he said if something has more than 10g of sugar in it, to avoid it. Then I checked some of the things that I eat - bars that I practically live on during the work day (balance bars, clif bars, etc), granola bars for snacks, and they have more than that! I'm going to look for some less sugar items, but let me know if you have any suggestions on that.
I'm a vegetarian and in my head just like logging a workout, I try to make sure I get enough veggies and fruits for the day and the past couple of months I have been somewhat slacking off but I'm bored of their incorporation! I know soup is a good way and I try to be creative. One thing veggies do to me is totally gas out my stomach. So if I have them for dinner, the rest of the night is nasty! If I do them for lunch then running after work can be difficult stomach wise. Maybe I'll have to avoid the beans and broccoli and move on to less gaseous items.
On a completely different note, I've been looking into getting a doula mainly for help with childbirth. I have been reading up and it seems like there may be a faster recovery if you don't get an epidural, and a doula gives you a better chance at going natural, less chance of c-section. Since we have no idea what to expect, I was mostly thinking to have someone there to advocate for us, and to give a better chance of going drug free, and to know what is going on incase an emergency C-section might come up? The part that is iffy to me is that I'd only know this person for about a month and how comfortable will I feel with another person in the room, and will it take away from just the 2 of us working through it. Also they are pricey, like 700-900 bucks! I guess I want the best chance of going natural only to have more control and less injury so that I can get up and run as soon as possible and start preparing for Boston. Any mamas out there who have any experience or advice please pass it along!
It is back to work tomorrow for most people who have had a nice long vacation. Have a happy Monday!
I didn't use a doula, but in some ways, I wish I had. My first birth was very medical and it would have been nice to have another person to help me get through. I did have wonderful nurses though. My second was a homebirth and I didn't use a doula, but the midwife assistant was really helpful in keeping me focused and giving me suggestions for handling the pain. Personally, even though I didn't want an epidural, I did end up having one for my first and it didn't cause any issues with recovery. I felt like I could have gone for a run the minute I was done delivering (not something I'd recommend though LOL). With my second, I obviously didn't have one and I felt just as good as I had the first time.
ReplyDeleteUnless you give birth at home by yourself, there will be a lot of people you don't know in and out of the room. Knowing the doula for even a month will likely give you enough of a relationship that you'd find them helpful. Most doulas will follow your lead as far as how involved you want them to be. So, they can just be the person making sure the nurses are listening to you and bringing you and your husband drinks,etc and giving your husband bathroom breaks or they can be very involved and a true second support person. Their role is up to you and you may not know until you are in labor exactly what role you want them or your husband to play.
Good luck with the decision!
For what it's worth, I had an epidural and recovered super-quick. I, personally, had no desire to feel a lot of pain and even with the epi, I gave birth quickly and healed up really well. Good luck with whatever you decide!
ReplyDeleteSame story for me--had the epidural and recovery was not too tough. The fact that you're in amazing physical shape will have more bearing on your recovery time than the epidural, from what I've read. The nurses were amazed how fast I pushed out Henry, partly due to the epidural masking the pain and partly due to being in good condition from running. I bounced back pretty fast, too.
ReplyDeleteAlso to echo MCM Mama, I don't think the people in and out of the room will feel like much of an issue once you're in the situation. By day 2 in the hospital, I was so used to strangers seeing my boobs, I lost all my inhibition when nursing.
All that said, if you want to go the doula route, ask the hospital if there are any studies on doulas going on. When I had Henry, I was offered the chance to use a doula for free as part of a clinical study on pain management. B/c I knew I wanted an epidural, I didn't take part, but you might want to look into it.
Best wishes to you as you get closer--so exciting!
I don't know much about babies, but I do know something about getting sugar out of diets...I don't eat any refined sugar.
ReplyDeleteGood sugar free snacks are apples & bananas and other fruits...I live on it! Like 4 bananas per day :) They are sweet and delish, but all natural.
Yeah, I'm no help with the babies either, but making granola or protein bars is a great way to cut bakc on the sugar.
ReplyDeleteGood luck!
I think I would have had an epidural if my labor has lasted longer. It scared me to think of not having the use of my (very important) legs though, so that's why I tried it without first. I think the key to a successful labor is to be well informed about your options going in, ask plenty of questions, and then be ready for anything to happen. I would think that if you and your husband are well informed and outspoken, you could get by without a doula. If you don't feel confident speaking up to doctors and nurses and voicing your opinion to them, get the doula. ;)
ReplyDeleteUh oh. I just looked at the sugar in the sour watermelons I'm eating and needless to say, it's over 10. I'm going to see how many things in the house fall into that category.
ReplyDeleteI think having someone in the room who understands everything going on and that can advocate for you would be a huge help. I wanted to go drug free but after 24 hours of labor and petosin induced contractions that were coming without breaks I was just exhausted. I don't know I was fighting the epidural, the relief was amazing. Then everything proceeded to go wrong and I still ended up needing a c-section so I went through a lot of pain and suffering for no reason. And trust me, you won't even notice one more person in the room. I am still shocked at how many people came in and out of my room and looked at my privates.
ReplyDeleteHaving a baby is so special, and how you choose to do it is so personal. The doula sounds wonderful. But keep an open mind to all options. Dont be afraid to ask for the epidural when the time comes. Capisce?
ReplyDeleteGood luck with the doula search and all the birth-related decisions. I've never given birth but I"m fascinated by all the options and opinions. I hope whatever you choose in the end is right for you and a good experience. :)
ReplyDeleteITA with Kristina. I had an epidural with the first and was totally good to go the next day. If they let me and the kid go home 5 minutes after I birthed her I would've been out the door LMAO!
ReplyDeleteGood luck with your decision chica!
on the food issues: I simply cannot get by just on fruit, so my compromise is to bake my own cookies and granola bars using less sugar or "better" natural sweeteners (mainly honey or agave nectar).
ReplyDeleteI'm also ironically bad about eating my veggies lately. While I love a good salad, I don't really enjoy eating raw foods constantly anymore. Soup is my fav, or I'll also make a big batch of roasted veggies to put on sandwiches all week.
As for the doula, I'd echo that you certainly won't notice the presence of yet another person in the room, and even meeting her one time prior to delivery would make her a virtual pal compared to all the other strangers in the room.
That said, with the drug vs. drug-free decision I didn't feel a lot of pressure to have an epidural, so I never felt at odds with the staff. Add to that my quick labors, and it would have turned out to be a waste of money for me (in hindsight, of course).
I was really surprised when I started looking at sugar totals! I have been eating Kashi bars for awhile and believe they are pretty low. the only thing I still eat with fake sugar is often yogurt..otherwise I've found making my own banana bread or pumpkin bread over the last few months has been great to lower some of the sugar.
ReplyDeleteLet me know what you think of 50/50 overall, I haven't read it yet, but am curious.
I'm looking forward to reading that, too... Did you read his first book? I have a copy if you want to check it out. He's crazy - but he tells good stories!
ReplyDelete4 g of sugar = 1 tsp. When I look at it that way, it helps me to see just ho much sugar is in something - when I transfer it into teaspoons. Then it seems like a lot.
ReplyDeleteI was all about the epidural! It wore off really fast, and I had no problem recovering.
I don't have any personal experiences, but I know from two of my friends (one had a baby 8mo ago and the other is due in May) that a doula can be great and a lot more personal than a Ob. i think with regards to c-sections, I've heard it's good to have a loose birth plan but not to keep your heart set on it. The first friend had her heart set on everything being as natural as possible but ended up having to have a c-section. I think not being totally natural really disappointed her at first, and in retrospect she wished she had mentally prepared for things to change last minute.
ReplyDeleteGood luck with your planning!
i agree with all those who said you won't notice one more person staring at your nether regions. and it may sound insane, but you really won't care (at least not much). i'd say don't bother with the doula if you are ok with the idea of just going with the flow, and if you like your doctor...you might want an epi, might not, i found out that i changed my mind and wouldn't have wanted someone trying to talk me out of it!
ReplyDeleteHey Natalie,
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year and happy belated birthday.
The doula craze hasn't quite hit the UK yet (although getting more popular) but I'm interested to hear how you get on.
I bought the Karnazes book for my husband, so I'll be reading it when I'm off on maternity leave....which starts on Friday.
Not being a woman I can only tell you that my wife had the epidural the first time, a natural birth with a midwife the second time, and she definitely preferred the second experience over the first for many reasons. Do what you feel is right and you can't go too far wrong I think. I am keeping my fingers crossed for your and the baby's health!
ReplyDeleteWell, I had a doula...and still ended up with an epidural. But, I really don't think that I would have made it through 24 hours of labor without meds if she wasn't there. That being said, if you are going to get a doula, spend the $$ and get a really good one with LOTS of experience. My doula was very supportive, but she had only attended 10 births. We called her the "discount doula."
ReplyDeleteP.S. You can still move your legs when you have an epidural...you just can't stand. And, they said that it was my physical stamina that kept me from getting a c-section...2.5 hours of pushing/basically doing crunches. The midwife didn't think that I would make it, but my hubby told her that I was in phenomenal shape for a preggo. You will be, too!
ReplyDeleteI told J we should look into getting a doula when we decided to have a baby and he said it sounded like some sort of voodoo. Sigh.
ReplyDeleteI have heard wonderful things about doulas. And from what I have heard from EVERYONE I know that has given birth, after a few hours, so many people have looked up your hooha, that you don't even notice it anymore. The doula will be no big deal.
If she's not there, there will be a Dr and 3 other nurses there too doing the same thing, but in a less personal way.
Whatever you decide, you'll do great. You are in great shape and that will be a big indicator of how you will recover.
I'm getting so excited (and nervous) for you!
I'm commenting late - but wanted to give my two cents. One of my best friend's mom is a doula, and my doctor's office also had one available. I've heard they are wonderful - but I opted out because they both were really anti-drug, and I didn't want to feel guilty about getting an epidural if I wanted one (which I did...and it wore off during labor, so I doubt recovery would be an issue). They were both just a wee bit too granola for me - but I think maybe you should meet with yours and see how you feel about her....I think you'll know if it's right for you once you've met her and discussed her plan of action in regards to helping you through labor. Honestly, having a baby is such a crapshoot of an experience - you gotta just have an open mind and prepare yourself for anything. I REALLY didn't want to have a c-section...even got my breech baby flipped over to avoid one - and after 17 hours of labor, ended up with one anyway because his darn head was too big. I was super emotional about having to go through a c-section...so next time, I think I'll be more prepared and not have any expectations whatsoever.
ReplyDeleteYou're in fabulous shape and I think you'll push that baby out no problem! But don't let yourself have too many expectations at the same time, you know? It's one of those things that's really just out of your control in the moment... your body decides what's up. And yes, I second what everyone else says - as wierd as it sounds, you won't give a CRAP about who's in the room...all modesty goes out the window when you're having a kid!
I'll throw in with the other mamas in saying that because you are in good shape, you should bounce back pretty quickly regardless. I had an epidural AND an emergency c-section and recovered quite quickly - and I didn't run all through pregnancy like you did. Do what feels comfortable for you!
ReplyDeleteMaybe I'm just retarded (I prefer out of the loop), but I've never even heard of a doula, LOL. But I'm the type who likes to check all my options and be prepared for any possible scenario. Do what feels right for you, but at least be prepared that things might not go as planned (life rarely does, right?)
ReplyDeleteAbout the sugar, I am shocked sometimes how much sugar things have. I am trying to cut back, because the holidays definitely put me in sugar overload. I'm thinking it's also why my skin is so bad lately.
And I'm also trying to be better about fruits and veggies (because if I stuff myself with those, then I won't have so many cravings for the sugary stuff, I'm hoping). Definitely look into lower-gas veggies, though (broccoli is a big offender, as are brussel sprouts, but there are plenty out there that aren't as bad).