We heard the heartbeat!

So we had the very first appointment with our midwife and it was so much fun!

Once we got through all of the initial questions and health history it was time for the fun part...listening for the heartbeat. She found it right away and we couldn't believe how fast it was. We only listened for about 10 seconds before I started giggling. I don't know what so was funny but I just couldn't stop and the worst part was that we could no longer hear the baby's heartbeat but just the loud static sound of my laughs!

I finally calmed down by looking out the window and holding my breath and I think I must have scared that little one away. No more heartbeat but was told loud and clearly to knock it off and pay attention with a couple of swift kicks. I couldn't feel them but we could sure hear them!

This was the perfect example of that type of moment when you get to giggling at the most inopportune time and can't stop.

We left there with the biggest smiles on our faces and throughout the day we would look at each other and just start laughing thinking about that most amazing and funny moment that we will remember for the rest of our lives!

Do you have a funny story about something that happened while you were pregnant?

Finally I found my Midwife!

Living in NYC, such a progressive city, I thought that finding a midwife would be much easier than it was. Even though the actual geographical area is quite small there seem to be clear lines marking how far some midwives will travel if you are doing a home birth. It was actually quite hard to find a generous selection of midwives to chose from. Most listings all consisted of the same 10-12 people/practices. Out of those 10-12 some were already booked up during my September delivery date, others would not travel to my area (Bronx, NY) and others I just didn't feel a connection with. The one's I spoke to were nice but just didn't have that open/warmness I was looking for. (somewhat consistent with the same lack of connection I have found with the majority of New Yorkers I have encountered since I moved here 4.5 years ago...still I was surprised). There seemed to be a air of what I can only describe as pretentiousness or superiority that just really turned me off. Now don't get me wrong, I'm sure this is not the case for the majority of midwives out there. Unfortunately, it's just what I encountered in my process of searching.

Finally...I met Linda. Yesterday Tony and I traveled to her home office in NJ (about an hour drive in traffic and snow from our Bronx apartment). The moment she opened the door I felt like we already knew one another! She welcomed us in with a big smile and a huge hug. Yeayyyyy what a relief...she was so welcoming, warm and open that (even if she couldn't tell) I was beaming on the inside. She took her time with us and was willing to talk through any and all subjects and questions that we had. It was great and I knew immediately that our search was over. Here is a link for her website in case you are ever looking for a great midwife in NY: http://www.completewomanmidwifery.com/

Our first appointment is next Friday March 4th and we are really looking forward to it. Finding out that you are pregnant as early as we did (4 weeks) really makes this first trimester seem like forever and I've gotten a little anxious wanting to make sure that we are on track and to get some questions finally answered. I've been really great at reading books and researching on the Internet but there is nothing like speaking directly with a professional who you know is looking out for your best interests.

Side note...I know it's been a few weeks since I last wrote. I did experience a few weeks of lovely nauseousness and extreme exhaustion. I just couldn't bring my self to write about anything unless it was to complain about how crappy I felt! Now that I'm almost 13 weeks I do think I'm starting to feel better and get my energy back. I did notice over the last couple of days I did get slammed with pretty nasty headache, which I never used to get. It wasn't until I got my weekly pregnancy update email for 12 weeks did I learn that that's exactly when those "pregnancy headaches" can start to set it. It was funny to realize that at least I am on track with that!

How was your experience finding a midwife?

Starting the Search for a Midwife

     So yesterday I decided to start my initial search for a midwife in the Bronx, NY. Not as easy of a process as I thought it would be. It seems like there are a TON of midwives to chose from that are located in Brooklyn. Why is that? What is it about Brooklyn that is so appealing to NY midwives? If you don't live in New York you might not think it would be that big of a deal but living in the Bronx and having to commute to Brooklyn on any kind of a consistent basis is not something you want to do. Yes most of these midwives are willing to travel for the actual birth but not for all of the pre-birth meetings and check ups. For each of those it would take hours in commute time alone...needless to say...not something you want to deal with ever, let alone when you are pregnant.

I have found a few options in Manhattan and a couple in Westchester County so we'll see how the rest of this process goes. I'm sure it will all work out exactly like it's supposed to.

Today's mission: Find my first pregnancy book
After a long conversation with my girlfriend yesterday, who had two very successful home births in the last few years, I have a small list in hand for some to start my search. I would normally just order a book my friend suggests on Amazon but I really wanted to take the time to go through some books and get the perfect one for me and this major change in my life. So off to Barnes & Noble I went....I thought there would be a bigger selection to choose from! It seemed like there was only a very small handful of books that were Holistic, Midwife, Home birth based. Nothing was speaking to me. Then, just as I had put all of the books I had pulled out back onto the shelf and was ready to walk out of the store, I spotted one that I had somehow missed and it turned out to be one from my friends list!

 

Magical Beginnings, Enchanted Lives
By Deepak Chopra M.D., David Simon M.D. and Vicki Abrams C.C.E.

I was so excited. Just one look at it and I knew it was the one for me!!
I started reading it as soon as I sat down on the train for my 30 min ride back to the Bronx.
I'm only 1/4 of the way through the book but I already know this is one that I am going to suggest to anyone who is pregnant or trying to get pregnant.

Here is an excerpt from the book:

Nature Creates within you and entire person complete with all his parts in just forty weeks. Throughout pregnancy your body is your unborn baby's universe. You are the rivers, sunlight, earth, atmosphere, and sky for this being growing within you. Your baby's body, mind, and soul are intimately intertwined with your own. Together you express the creative flow of life.

In each moment, your unborn baby is immersed in the sounds and vibrations of your heartbeat and breath. He feels your stress, tension, and fear along with your joy, happiness, and peace. Whenever you move, laugh, cry, eat, eliminate, or rest, your unborn baby responds. The potential of your child's life is encoded in each of his cells, while the environment of your body can either nurture or disturb this growth. Accept this responsibility with joy, for each healthy choice that you make on behalf of your unborn baby nourishes you as well. Your pregnancy can be a magical beginning for both you and your baby.

I LOVE THIS BOOK!!
This is exactly what I was looking for and I am so inspired and excited for this new journey I'm embarking on. I highly suggest you pick this book up.

Update on physical symptoms (4 weeks + 5 Days):
Yesterday early morning started feeling subtle but consistent cramping. It has continued off and on through today. From what I have read this could be from the process of the egg embedding itself into my uterus.
Will keep an eye on it and see what happens. Also have started feeling a bit more tired than usual. May or may not be related. We'll see.