Pre-Prep weekend

We've had some special visitors the last few days!  Good talks & laughter has been shared!

Hope this finds all well!  Hugs, Tim, Brennan & Baby Girl

The promised picture

I think Baby Girl grew a few pounds the last week!  Suddenly I feel huge!

Hugs, Tim, Brennan & Baby Girl

28 weeks & my fears

Baby Girl is 28 weeks today!!!  She is getting so strong!  We love to feel/see her move!  We feel so blessed to have a healthy baby!  The other night, Tim was talking to her and he said her name & she moved right up to his voice!  So amazing & precious!  I love soaking up these moments!  This is why we only want a few of Tim & I's close family members here after birth.  So our home is quiet, peaceful, with no distractions & we can soak up many more amazing, precious moments.  Tim is working in Fresno, so no picture today.  My cousin Kara & another Sister worker will be here tomorrow evening & I'm sure Kara will take a picture for us!  We are excited to have them here!

I've had some fears the last few weeks, I thought maybe if I wrote them out it would help.   My biggest fear is not what having a baby will do to my body but what the hospital/OB will do to me & my Baby Girl.  I've been told by my OB to leave for the hospital when my contractions are five minutes apart for over an hour (it takes about 40 min. to drive to the hospital) or of course if my water breaks I'm to call and tell them what is happening.  Honestly, I feel this will get us to the hospital too early, we will be there taking up a room/nurse, they are a business and they are going to try & speed the process up (80% of the time end result no matter the first kind of intervention ends in a C Section.)  I  really want to be home (my comfort zone) stay away from the hospital as long as possible & after birth only be there the required 24 hours (hospital policy.)  The more I learn about hospitals/OB Docs/insurance....I DO VALUE THEM but I also see how I (& baby) just become a number (a procedure) and they want to hurry us up and get to the next one.  A C Section is quicker & less liability for OB/hospital than a natural birth.  The C Section rate in the USA has skyrocketed and yet our death rate (mom or child) has not decreased.  All other major countries have found that natural birth is the best and their C Section rates have decreased.  Is it because in the USA we are all about time/being quick and not necessarily about the experience?  Interventions/C Sections are better for the hospital/OB/maybe insurance but shouldn't it be about the Mother & Baby?  Time/money vs. life/the experience.  I've been educating myself, I'm not just talking to one person or grabbing this information out of thin air =)  My Mom did really good through birth and labor w/ us kids.  I'm really hoping I have inherited these genes from her!  I know my Mom stayed active during her pregnancies and she has a high pain tolerance.  Her midwife told her to stay home till she couldn't walk through a contraction.  I've been staying somewhat active, I keep having setbacks (colds & lower back pain.)  I feel like I'm kind of fighting a loosing battle.  I fear not staying active & not being strong enough to have Baby Girl.  But I know I can't just keep active when the back pain is so strong it is shooting down my legs & I feel like my back is going to give out or when I'm just exhausted.  I know me & Baby Girl need rest too.  I'm going to a chiropractor that specializes in working w/ pregnant women.  He has been impressed w/ my alignment, flexibility, relaxation & activity...until this last appointment.  He asked me if I was still being active.  So, my goals are to eat healthy, exercise and learn more how to relax.  I know all of these will help me to have a good/better labor & birth.  Life is all about balance isn't it?  Hugs, Tim, Brennan & Baby Girl Moore

27 weeks picture & more news

Babycenter says, "This week, your baby weighs almost 2 pounds and is about 14 1/2 inches long with her legs extended. She's sleeping and waking at regular intervals, opening and closing her eyes, and perhaps even sucking her fingers. With more brain tissue developing, your baby's brain is very active now. While her lungs are still immature, they would be capable of functioning — with a lot of medical help — if she were to be born now. Chalk up any tiny rhythmic movements you may be feeling to a case of baby hiccups, which may be common from now on. Each episode usually lasts only a few moments, and they don't bother her, so just relax and enjoy the tickle."  

 Yesterday one of our friends & their 7month old baby were hit by a car running a red light.  This has been a fear of mine since we have moved down here.  People run red lights quite often and the speed limit is 45-55.  Our friends car (a small SUV) was hit so hard it rolled twice!  The hospital was keeping/observing them for 6 hours, I think that is great.  Thankfully as of last night, they were both okay!  Tim & I had decided that the Britax car seat was what we wanted, but now w/ a 7 month old being in this horrible of an accident and she is okay, we are 100% sold on Britax!

Best news this morning!!!! Tim will be in Fresno for his month of Transmission work!!! The crew will just be doing "routine work" so he will get to be home every weekend (most likely!) I'm so so so happy!!! ♥  

Also cousin Kara Grow will be here around Wednesday!!!  She will be here till the Buttonwillow Grounds are ready for the workers! Excited for her to be here!  

Hope this finds all of you well!  Hugs, Tim, Brennan & Baby Girl

My better half

Tim worked from 5am to 11pm yesterday!  Thankfully today they have a "regular day" and he got to start @ 7:30am!  Needless to say when he got home I was not ready for the 27 week picture HAHA!  We will probably get one tonight =)   Just didn't want anyone to worry or think something happened!  Have a great day!

My honey 12/12

Breastfeeding update...

"New Legislation

What’s the new legislation about breast pumps?
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has adopted guidelines for several woman-specific health services to be covered by health plans. These services include “breastfeeding support, supplies, and counseling.” According to the HHS Web site Healthcare.gov, "Pregnant and postpartum women will have access to comprehensive lactation support and counseling from trained providers, as well as breastfeeding equipment." The Web site adds: "Breastfeeding is one of the most effective preventive measures mothers can take to protect their health and that of their children. One of the barriers for breastfeeding is the cost of purchasing or renting breast pumps and nursing-related supplies." 

What does this legislation mean to me?
This means that commercial health providers are now required by law to allow breast pumps as a covered expense for lactating women. There is some variation around co-pays, depending on your insurance carrier and plan."

So be sure and call your insurance and see what/how much they will cover!

26 weeks!

Baby Girl is moving, moving!  =)  According to Babycenter: "The network of nerves in your baby's ears is better developed and more sensitive than before. She may now be able to hear both your voice and your partner's as you chat with each other. She's inhaling and exhaling small amounts of amniotic fluid, which is essential for the development of her lungs. These so-called breathing movements are also good practice for when she's born and takes that first gulp of air. And she's continuing to put on baby fat. She now weighs about a pound and two-thirds and measures 14 inches  from head to heel."  

Car seat/stroller set......

I've been working on baby girl's registry today...one item I just can't settle on...Attention new moms~please help me~ I'm looking for a car seat/stroller set that is safe, easy to steer and doesn't take a ton of space.  If you have a set you love please let me know =)

25 weeks!

Head to heels, baby girl now measures about 13 1/2 inches. Her weight around pound and a half.  She's beginning to exchange her long, lean look for some baby fat. As she does, her wrinkled skin will begin to smooth out and she'll start to look more and more like a newborn. She's also growing more hair — and if you could see it, you'd now be able to discern its color and texture.  Baby girl has been doing gymnastics in my tummy, enjoying her space I guess!  We went to the OB yesterday, my blood pressure is the lowest it has been during the pregnancy!  Baby girl's heart beat was 150!  So we are both great!  Hope this finds you all well!  Hugs, Tim, Brennan & Baby girl

P.S.  Yesterday my sister found out she will be having a Baby girl too!  Coming August 1st!  Very exciting!

24 weeks!

Only 16 weeks to go!  

Monday night at birthing class I was to tense up a muscle group, Tim was to find what was tight and find a way to get me to relax those muscles....problems was, I started laughing and couldn't keep tense haha! I hope me & my sister both have our mom's labor/birth genes and that we get to be home the same day w/ our babies like she was w/ us!  I've been doing a pregnancy work out every other day, stretching & yoga on the other day and resting Sat and Sun.  I feel great doing this and baby girl seems to enjoy it too =)  Hugs, Tim, Brennan and Baby Girl