I am so happy to announce that our baby, Lydia Lenora, born at home 10/30/14. 9lbs 9oz, a HUGE head at 14 3/4 cn, and full of sweetness I wanted to share my birth story to tell everyone how The Tummy Team and Fit2b helped me through my pregnancy and labor!
This pregnancy started out 100% better than the last one I had. Lydia is my 4th baby. I didn't know about DR until after the birth of my 3rd baby 2 years ago. At that time, when I tried to measure my DR, I couldn't even find the edges of it, and it took months of fit2b before I could feel it at about a 5 finger width. My pregnancy with my 3rd baby was so awful, full of pain from my hips, lower back and sciatica, that I had 'sworn off' having any more babies. The Lord helped me with the pregnancy amnesia though, and I was joyful when we found out we were expecting #4. I did the Core Foundations program through The Tummy Team about a year ago (before this pregnancy) and closed up my DR to a 1, 2, 1 while still nursing my then 1 year old. Found out I was pregnant a few months later (still nursing, but weaned shortly after-she was ready) and was amazed by how much stronger I felt through out my whole pregnancy. I was also eating much healthier food, but I feel like knowing and understanding my body and alignment made this pregnancy the best, even though I was still taking care of three other little ones 5 and under. I did the prenatal program around 20 weeks along and was reminded of how to take care of my alignment and body while growing the baby. I know my DR began to open a bit, and at times my back would bother me, but it was NOTHING like my pregnancy with my 3rd. I had very minimal sciatica, and it was only when I wasn't paying attention to my alignment. Having a mostly sciatica-free pregnancy is Amazing if you are used to having it every day in other pregnancies. I ordered another, bigger splint from the Tummy Team (the 4 panel) and used it on days that I felt more tired and couldn't hold myself up as much, but I didn't use it daily, and didn't feel like I needed to. Another amazing note, is that I DID NOT LEAK PEE through the Entire pregnancy! My pelvic floor was SO much stronger, and even through sneezes, light jumps (if playing), and even a severe cold with a LOT of coughing at 35 weeks, I didn't feel the need to change my underwear because of leaking! I *might* have had a few slight leaks during weeks 39 and 40 (baby was 8 days late) but seriously, who can say that they have gone that long without leaking in a pregnancy? And it was so minimal, maybe only 3 or 4 times? In short, I felt so great this pregnancy compared to my others!
Okay, birth story: Contractions started coming around 2 am but they were very sporadic and not regulating at all during the first 7 hours. I was highly annoyed (to the amusement of my midwife, and myself now that I am looking back) by how 'slow' this labor was going as opposed to my 7 hour labor with my 3rd baby. After that, I decided to take matters into my own hands, and began purposeful belly breathing and relaxing of my pelvic floor. I walked constantly between 3 rooms and paused with each contraction to make sure I was breathing correctly. Within an hour, I felt my first urge to push. My midwife believes that it is very possible to *help labor along* by mental and physical things just like I was doing. My labor might Not have been too much longer anyway, but I think I helped a lot in making it happen sooner. I pushed baby out in just under 9 hours. Pushing felt stronger and more efficient than it had with other labors. I pushed her out in 4 pushes, the bulging sac took two pushes to get through, and then head and body. I didn't tear at all, even though my daughter's head is quite large
Recovery: at 3 days pp, I feel like I am already almost put back together. I began wearing a splint again about an hour after labor and have worn it almost constantly since. It Felt and FEELS so good to have it on, a HUGE difference to letting belly feel all jiggly for days on end after birth. Ive begun working on belly breathing and alignment again and I can already feel my body working on healing and getting stronger. I'm still working on the nursing position, but since my milk is coming in and working on latch it hasn't been Top priority yet. It will be in the next day or so as baby gets the hang of it better. I do use my back support every time I'm sitting though, and it feels so good to have it there. Anyway, I know this is super long, but hope you can find some inspiration and hope through my story!
Katie~ happy mama of 4.
