My birth plan!! And finishing up my mixed cd for my Calm Birth....

I finally have a few spare minutes to sit down and type out a birth plan. I have been thinking about this birth for the past few months and definitely have a strong outline of how I want it to go. Let me know if it seems like anything is glaringly missing from it!!

My Wishes for Childbirth - Zoe Elyse Lee

Due Date: 08/01/2010
Patient of Dr Nathan
Scheduled to deliver at Neugarten Birth Center

06/28/2010

Dear staff of the Neugarten Family Birth Center,
  I would like to adhere to this list as closely as possible. Thanks for your kindness, patience, and understanding.

Sincerely,
Zoe Lee

Labor

* I would like to be free to walk around during labor.
* I wish to be able to move around and change position at will throughout labor.
* I would like to be able to have fluids by mouth throughout the first stage of labor.
* I will be bringing my own music to play during labor.
* I would like the environment to be kept as quiet as possible.
* I would like the lights in the room to be kept low during my labor.
* I would prefer to keep the number of vaginal exams to a minimum.
* I do not want an IV unless I become dehydrated.
* Other Labor Preference: I would like to have a water birth.
* Other Labor Preference: I would like to follow my Calm Birth plan and listen to my cd in a quiet place as I meditate.

Monitoring

* I do not wish to have continuous fetal monitoring unless it is required by the condition of Anastasia.
* I do not want an internal monitor unless Anastasia has shown some sign of distress.

Labor Augmentation/Induction

* I do not wish to have the amniotic membrane ruptured artificially unless signs of fetal distress require internal monitoring.
* If labor is not progressing, I would like to have the amniotic membrane ruptured before other methods are used to augment labor.

Anesthesia/Pain Medication

* Other Anesthesia/Pain Medication Preference: I would like to have a natural birth.
* Other Anesthesia/Pain Medication Preference: If I am in extreme pain, I will use the code word: Hamburger to indicate that i am serious about wanting drugs.

Cesarean

* Unless absolutely necessary, I would like to avoid a Cesarean.
* If my primary care provider determines that a Cesarean delivery is indicated, I would like to obtain a second opinion from another physician if time allows.
* If a Cesarean delivery is indicated, I would like to be fully informed and to participate in the decision-making process.
* If Anastasia is not in distress, Anastasia should be given to My husband, Duncan immediately after birth.

Episiotomy

* I would prefer not to have an episiotomy unless absolutely required for Anastasia's safety.
* I would appreciate guidance in when to push and when to stop pushing so the perineum can stretch.
* I would prefer an episiotomy rather than a tear.

Delivery

* I would like to be allowed to choose the position in which I give birth, including squatting.
* I would like the chance to touch Anastasia's head when it crowns.
* I would appreciate having the room lights turned low for the actual delivery.
* I would appreciate having the room as quiet as possible when Anastasia is born.
* I would like to have Anastasia placed on my stomach/chest immediately after delivery.
* Other Delivery Preference: I would like to deliver in the tub, if possible.

Immediately After Delivery

* I would like to have My husband, Duncan cut the cord.
* I would prefer that the umbilical cord stop pulsating before it is cut.
* I would like to hold Anastasia while I deliver the placenta and any tissue repairs are made.
* I plan to keep Anastasia near me following birth and would appreciate if the evaluation of Anastasia can be done with Anastasia on my abdomen, with both of us covered by a warm blanket, unless there is an unusual situation.
* I would prefer to hold Anastasia rather than have (him/her) placed under heat lamps.
* I do not want a routine injection of Pitocin after the delivery to aid in expelling the placenta.

Postpartum

* Unless required for health reasons, I do not wish to be separated from my baby.
* I would like to have Anastasia "room in" and be with me at all times.

Breastfeeding

* I plan to breastfeed Anastasia and would like to begin nursing very shortly after birth.
* Unless medically necessary, I do not wish to have any bottles given to Anastasia (including glucose water or plain water).
* I do not want Anastasia to be given a pacifier.

Photo/Video

* Other Photo/Video Preference: I would like Duncan to videotape the birth.

Other

* I would prefer that no students, interns, residents or non-essential personnel be present during my labor or the birth.



Phew, now let us hope all goes smoothly and I don't have to mention Hamburger!!!

I am putting the finishing touches on my mixed cds for the hospital and will be bringing my ipad as well, so I will have plenty to listen to. I will upload the music list later. Lots of Tori on it, and of course music that I have been playing for Ana right along.

Getting settled takes some time...room by room.

So we are officially in the house and have started unpacking as well as getting the house in order. Right off the bat we had to have the plumber come in and fix the water, as well as the pool people to help get the pool from green swamp to blue pool. It is still green, but getting better by the day.

Also, we had to have the air conditioning guys out to look at the filters and clean the ducts...it was just not getting cool in here. That has been fixed, it is now cool enough to get through the day, though I fear the entire unit (central air) will need to be replaced and upgraded in the next year or so! Phew, it is expensive moving into a new house.

I have sorted through the baby things, and have a list of which items need to be put together first. Also, have picked a small suitcase to pack with the things I will need for the hospital when Ana arrives. I am making Duncan a list to help keep me calm and comfortable when I do go into labor including positions, and massage :)

Now that I feel a bit more settled, I can concentrate on practicing my birthing method, Calm Birth, paint Ana's room a nice pale pink, hang her clothes in her big, empty closet and work on the little craft projects to decorate her room. All of her furniture has arrived and will need to be put together. Her bedding is on the way too!! I just need a fluffy pink rug and some beautiful pink or pink and white curtains and everything will look put together.

I have received a few more prizes since we moved...and will blog about them tomorrow..I was out shopping all day today and am totally exhausted!! Night world..will be chipper tomorrow

XO,

We are IN the new house!!!

                    Photos are from Pleasant Valley Website.

    Greetings from lovely and bucolic Pleasant Valley, NY. We moved in last week, and are starting to settle in. Most of our things are still in boxes, but the boxes are in the right rooms, and our necessities have been located. We had a bit of a rough start with the well water, because it sat for over a month in an empty house, but after adding chlorine tablets twice, the rotten egg smell and taste has been eradicated, and we can appreciate our reverse osmosis water filtration system from Culligan Man! Cool!!

                                  (this area is full of horse farms, sooooo lovely)

    It is so quiet at night, I am loving the peace. Ok, so it is quiet during the day too, and I love how sunny and bright the house is with very few shades and curtains. I get to choose the window coverings from scratch...woohoo, it is daunting but pretty exciting to get to decorate a whole house.

I am getting pretty big, and have slowed down a bit. Today is 34 weeks, so Anastasia is a few weeks away from full-term and about a month or so away from birth! I cannot wait!! I have started making lists for my hospital bag, including getting some new cute pjs to wear for my visitors, music for before, during and after the birth, snacks, necessities, toiletries and a list for Duncan to refer to if he forgets how to keep me calm. Not that I am worried, I have my Calm Birth cd, and will have plenty of relaxing music to refer to when Ana starts to arrive.

 Still: Her nursery looms ahead, I have chosen the colors for the paint, and most of her furniture is ready for assembly and use. She is going to be such a cute little pink princess lovey dovey. I love her already.

   It is hot here today, and I am a bit grouchy after driving to Cold Spring and back to have brunch with my Dad, so I am going to make this short. I will be back with some great wins that I received, and more info and photos of ideas for Ana's room.

Until then, I will post some of the photos of our house from the Real Estate agent's original listing.

My new kitchen!!

Our family room..(not our furniture)

Happy Weekend and Happy Father's Day!!,

We have the closing date, Mom retires, and some fab wins!!

  Well, we did it. We finally have a closing date on our new house. It has been a long and winding road, but it is time for change. Big Change! Monday is the day, and boy am I excited. I cannot wait to move! I will share photos of the new place after the closing, and hope you like it as much as I do!!

  It has really been a week for partying. Tonight my mom celebrated her retirement from teaching. She has been a teacher since 1971, right out of college, and boy does she deserve the time off to have fun! I hope she travels, shops and lives the pleasurable life for all of us. And more time to spend with her granddaughters!!Anastasia will be her 3rd granddaughter in a year and a few months...so it will be so nice to have the three little girls visit, and grow together!

  I promised you that I would tell you about my latest wins, and boy do I have some great ones. I tried and tried to win something fab for Mother's Day, and I won my Mom a really lovely Vera Bradley Bag.

I won the bag from the fabulous site, "The Find", a cool and fashionable blog that I read. The black bag is so versatile, and classic, and the fabulous VB and Find women even threw in a cool black and white purse and matching wallet for moi!! Isn't it pretty?? It is the Alice Night and Day.Thanks the Find, and the Vera Bradley company!!

 Speaking of Facebook, I won another fab Conair giveaway, the matching curling iron to the straightener that I won from Conair. But this time, I won it from the very cool and trendy Beauty Riot site! They have fun quizzes, contests and great hair and makeup ideas based on celebrity style! They gave away the Conair Infiniti You Curl Ceramic curler! It is red, and matches my new straightener, yay!! Thanks, Beauty Riot and Conair!

  Two days ago, I received a bottle of Weleda Pregnancy Oil from the fab blog Designs by Vanessa!! (now the Crafty Nest ). I started using the oil today, and will let you know how it works. It smells divine, and rubbed on really smooth! I love the glass bottle, and if it really avoids stretch marks, then it will be fantastic!! Thanks Vanessa , and Weleda, so far so good. Check out Vanessa's blog for fab contests, and she is expecting too!! Yay for babies!!

 There are a couple more....but I will tell you more about them when I receive them!! Yay! Have a fabulous Friday, and a great weekend. I know I will!!

XO,

We closed!! And what a fabulous Baby Shower!!

32 weeks pregnant, at my baby shower with Megan and Rachael.

                                             

Phew, it has been a hectic few days, but in a good good way! Friday we closed on our townhouse. As of 2 pm in the afternoon, we were "homeless", and moved into Mom's house in New Windsor. The closing went smoothly, and lasted about 2 hrs. There was only one tiny detail that had to be changed, and that is being taken care of. Saturday was a big blur, but mostly we went to the Chalet in Cold Spring, NY to deliver the roses, teddy bears, prizes, and table favors for Anastasia's baby shower on Sunday. After everything was finished, we went out for a nice dinner and relaxed. Mom bought a new car, so we tooled around town, checking out the ride!

Sunday was so much fun! The Chalet is really a beautiful spot, and they buffet was elaborate and decadent. We had added on the seafood platters, so there was even more than usual for their Sunday Brunch. About 50 guests and I enjoyed a warm, sunny afternoon chatting, eating, playing silly baby games, and opening presents. Boy, is this baby going to be a spoiled one. She has no idea. I have a few photos from the day, it was so lovely.

                                                                            The sheet cake

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                                            Teddy Center Piece with roses and Princess Balloon


Once we get settled into the new home, we will take photos of the wonderful gifts Ana received, including all the cute clothes.

Moving Out! Resting at Mom's, and some more wins!!

Well, we did it! Moved 7 years accumulation of furniture, clothes, kitchen appliances, and house stuff!! Oh, and don't forget all the stuff we had before we were married, including an 8 track player (D's), old scripts (mine), Star Wars figures (D's) and hundreds of pairs of shoes and boots (whose do you think??)

It took weeks of packing boxes a little at a time, but we did it. I finished up the kitchen last night, put my feet up and even caught a few zzz's despite the excitement. Then, at 8am this morning the Movers showed up and I left the men to do the heavy lifting (Hey, I AM 31 weeks preggers). I am at my Mom's stealing internet from the neighbors, heehee, and the pups are safely esconced in the basement, where it is dry and cool.

I am awaiting my lunch, and then will have the energy to put up some fab wins, and a great new Lotion that I am testing and will tell you all about!!

Stay cool,