I have two wonderful daughters who's beginnings were very different.
My pregnancy with my first daughter was a joy. I got pregnant easily and had a mostly uneventful pregnancy, save a little excess weight gain (well, ok, I gained 53 pounds) and very mild morning sickness. My labor progressed very quickly and took just over 6 hours from start to finish. I had taken Lamaze classes at the hospital where I delivered, and found them to be less than helpful during the labor and delivery. The techniques just didn't help me. Still, after 6 hours and 3 pushes I delivered a beautiful (if blue) 7lb. 12oz. baby girl without medication and no tearing (but with a small episiotomy).
My second pregnancy featured Luteal Phase Defect1 issues, Hyperemesis2, hemorrhoids, horrible energy loss and significant tearing during delivery. We used the Bradley Method with this pregnancy/delivery and it made a world of difference in my comfort and stress level. I spent most of my labor in the shower (either at my house or the hospital) which I found very comforting. My water never broke naturally (which was also the case with my first labor) and wasn't broken until I was begging to push. That, along with the hydrocortizone I was given for my hemorrhoids, contributed to my tearing I think. But, I got a lovely (and not blue!) 8lb. baby girl out of it.
 | ONNA.org (or Oh No, Not Again) This page was very helpful to me when I was trying to figure out why I kept miscarrying. I wonderful page for those with inital or secondary fertility problems. |
| ParentsPlace.com
- From pregnancy and baby to parenting parents A wonderful resource with many support message boards for a myriad of issues. |
| Welcome to BabyCenter |
| Midwifery,
Pregnancy. Birth, Childbirth, Breastfeeding A good resource for natural childbirth and breastfeeding. Includes pages on using herbs during pregnancy. |
I heartly recommend the Bradley Method of childbirth over any other method. The difference for me between this and Lamaze was dreadfully apparent and staggering.
| The Bradley Method® Home Page |
| Bradley Method® FAQ |
| Growth
Percentile Calculator Shows what percentile group your baby is currently in based on their weight, height and head circumference. Remember -- these charts are based on formula fed babies! If you are breastfeeding, go to ProMoM.com to see a preliminary chart based on breastfed babies. |
| PediaNet This is a page that will show your baby's projected weight and height at 18 based on their current stats. |
| Help
for Parents of Babies and Toddlers with Sleep Problems Homepage for a doctor who markets a "No Cry" method of getting your baby to sleep through the night, and to go to sleep on their own. Although he says that it will work on any age child, in my opinion the techniques presented are best suited to children ages 8 months and older. |
| Yahoo! Business and Economy:Companies:Children:Babies |
1Essentially,
when I conceive my body doesn't produce enough progesterone to keep the
fertilized egg viable until it implants (and sometimes after). So, I
repeatedly miscarry. We also discovered that the only reason that I
managed to get pregnant with my first daughter was I was taking birth control
pills and steroids. The steroids caused me to ovulate in spite of the BCP
and the pills upped my progesterone level enough that I stayed pregnant.
2 Hyperemisis Gravidum is (literally)
excessive vomiting in pregnancy. It is generally indicated by dehydration
and/or excessive weight loss (>10% of prepregnancy weight).