Not a birth to attend

Some of you wanted to know if I'll attend my friend's birth. Nope. Unfortunately, she thinks her highly interventive, epidural giving OB is her almighty savior from labor pain. Aaaarrggghhh. I haven't pushed anything on her. She just thinks that women shouldn't have to "suffer" in this day and age of medicine. Nevermind that God's creation was designed to give birth, and for some women, a painless birth.

Isaiah's birth I consider painless. Lot's of pressure, but a wonderful and easy birth.

Let's pray that our upcoming August baby's birth will be just as wonderful.

Yes, you just read that right. =)

practiced clinical skills

One of my pregnant friends is due next week. She called me up and asked if she could come over for a while since she's stopped working for a while. So she came over and asked if I wanted to practice on her!

She had gone to see her OB the day before so already knew what the results should be. Kindof good to have as the "answer key" for my findings. Especially since I'm quite the beginner!

I've been practicing taking blood pressure on Dayton a lot, so I sure wanted to get it right the first time, especially on a pregnant lady! Well, got it right the first time, and it was very close to what her BP had been the day before. Score: A+

Next came palpation. Ever tried to find all the parts of a baby through quite a squishy pregnant belly? Not easy. I figured it out after about 3 minutes. I at first second guessed myself because the baby was in a different from normal position. I told her that I thought I knew all the parts and I was right! Unfortunate for her though, the baby is not in a great position. Let's hope it moves a little more in the next week or so. I also enjoyed actually being able to feel the baby's neck and chin so well. I'm predicting a small baby, around 7lb. Did not feel big. Score: A+.

Finally, finding fetal heart tones. First time I've ever used a fetoscope (non-doppler/ultrasound) on a mom before. I knew where it was supposed to go in relation to the baby, and I found it on the first try. I handed the earpieces to her and she got to hear the baby's heart also. Score: A+

Well, that was the highlight of the week!

Birds & Bees - Grace version

Dayton and I were discussing the other day how we're going to start trying for baby #3. Grace overhears this and here goes the conversation:

Grace: Is there a baby in your tummy mommy?
Me: No, not yet.
Grace: Why?
Me: Because Mommy and Daddy haven't put one there yet.
Grace: Daddy?
Dayton: Yes, Daddy helps.
Grace: No he doesn't, silly daddy.
Me: He does help.
Grace: Why?
Dayton: Because Daddy likes to help! (winks at me)

Grace then goes on to say she doesn't get it. So here's the birds and the bees explanation for a 3yr old.

Me: Mommy has eggs in her tummy.
Grace: 2 eggs?
Me: Lots of eggs. And then daddy waters the eggs. Then a baby grows and gets born after a long time.
Grace: Oooh. And when it gets born, mommy gets a big tummy ache. And she pushes and pushes. And it hurts. And the baby comes out of the 'gina.
Me: Yes that's right! You're a smart little girl.

The next morning, the minute Grace wakes up:
Mommy, did daddy water your eggs last night
Me: No, not yet.

She totally gets pregnancy and birth from all of the birth clips we watch together. There's the 3yr old version for you.

Almost done!

I finished teaching my childbirth classes a couple weeks ago. Got really good feedback/evaluations.

Only downside? I "worked myself out of a job." I was going to attend J & R's birth but they said they no longer needed me since attending my class. Happy that they got so much out of the class but sad that I'm not needed. =( It is so hard to find births to attend! Now what am I going to do?

To complete my childbirth educator certification, all I have to do is submit my work (proof) of teaching my classes. Also have to audit a 12 hour childbirth class. I'm doing that right now at a local hospital where two local doulas are teaching. Interesting to see it from a different and non-Christian viewpoint. 6 couples from all over the world makes it interesting! To complete my doula certification, all I have to do is attend 2 more births. That's it!

Police Arrest 150 More Christians

Thought some of you might find this interesting. Christians are continuously persecuted in Eritrea (NE Africa).

Compass Direct News reports that in a large-scale roundup the past week, Eritrean authorities have detained 150 Christians from at least five of the country’s outlawed churches. Starting Wednesday (October 25), security officers in the town of Mendefera began going from house to house, arresting local Christians from a list they compiled of known members of Pentecostal churches and the Orthodox renewal movement. During the first day’s raids, a total of 38 men and 17 women were incarcerated at the military fort in Mendefera, 30 miles south of Asmara. Local sources confirmed to Compass that police authorities were subjecting the detained Christians to beatings and other physical mistreatment. According to eyewitnesses, at least 10 nursing mothers were among the new prisoners, all of them forced to leave their infants behind.