Comments for Sign on the Window http://signonthewindow.wordpress.com Fri, 16 May 2008 05:10:56 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=MU Comment on Mennonites on retreat… by signonthewindow http://signonthewindow.wordpress.com/2008/05/13/mennonites-on-retreat/#comment-103 signonthewindow Thu, 15 May 2008 18:15:24 +0000 http://signonthewindow.wordpress.com/?p=50#comment-103 amazing entries! amazing entries!

]]> Comment on fear and trembling by Old friend of Jacob's http://signonthewindow.wordpress.com/2008/05/06/fear-and-trembling/#comment-102 Old friend of Jacob's Thu, 15 May 2008 16:12:22 +0000 http://signonthewindow.wordpress.com/?p=45#comment-102 Some [unsolicited] Tips: 1. Have a super high protein, low carb diet. 2. Know your Group B strep status (test at ~35 wks). If you're positive, no vag exam until you feel you are ready to push (this is during labor). 3. Refuse all internal exams in the office as there is no info to be gained if you're not in active labor and they will just mess with your body and not tell you. 4. Do not be induced unless you are over 42 weeks gestation. After 40 wks if they want to induce you, do Kick Counts and Non-stress tests to know how well your baby is being supplied by the placenta. Keep in mind the average first-time mom carries her baby for 41 weeks. 5. In labor, try to stay at home and relax as much as possible, when you are starting to not talk between contraction, it's time to go. 6. Do your best to avoid an epidural and Pitocin. Right when feel that you can’t take it anymore, you’ve made it to the end! 7. DO NOT LET THEM BREAK YOUR WATER unless you are at least 7-10 cm dilated. (Once your waters have broken, you're on a time clock.) 8. If you waters break before you go into labor, relax. Don't let anything into your birth canal; walk; do nipple stimulation. Take your temperature every 4 hours and watch for a low-grade fever. Refer to point #5. This is going to seem strange at first. Basically the medical system does not like anything that challenges its ways. So make sure that you seem non-opinionated about your birth in the hospital. Be like, "I still just want to wait on the epidural and pitocin for right now. Thanks of your help!" To tell you the behind-the-scenes dialogue, they say that anyone with a birth plan and a doula is an automatic C/S. I don’t know if this is the case because they C/S women out of spite, or if it’s because the women feel unsupported to the extent they can’t relax and focus on having a baby. Once you get to the pushing stage, they like to really hurry that along. So do your best to politely say “I know it’s been two hours, but I am confident I can get the baby out, so let’s just wait a little while longer on the vacuum or forceps. Thanks!” So the gist of having a successful hospital birth is relaxing yourself and calmly and very politely declining unnecessary medical interventions. Yall are going to be great partners in birth and parenting, enjoy every moment! Some [unsolicited] Tips:
1. Have a super high protein, low carb diet.
2. Know your Group B strep status (test at ~35 wks). If you’re positive, no vag exam until you feel you are ready to push (this is during labor).
3. Refuse all internal exams in the office as there is no info to be gained if you’re not in active labor and they will just mess with your body and not tell you.
4. Do not be induced unless you are over 42 weeks gestation. After 40 wks if they want to induce you, do Kick Counts and Non-stress tests to know how well your baby is being supplied by the placenta. Keep in mind the average first-time mom carries her baby for 41 weeks.
5. In labor, try to stay at home and relax as much as possible, when you are starting to not talk between contraction, it’s time to go.
6. Do your best to avoid an epidural and Pitocin. Right when feel that you can’t take it anymore, you’ve made it to the end!
7. DO NOT LET THEM BREAK YOUR WATER unless you are at least 7-10 cm dilated. (Once your waters have broken, you’re on a time clock.)
8. If you waters break before you go into labor, relax. Don’t let anything into your birth canal; walk; do nipple stimulation. Take your temperature every 4 hours and watch for a low-grade fever. Refer to point #5.
This is going to seem strange at first. Basically the medical system does not like anything that challenges its ways. So make sure that you seem non-opinionated about your birth in the hospital. Be like, “I still just want to wait on the epidural and pitocin for right now. Thanks of your help!” To tell you the behind-the-scenes dialogue, they say that anyone with a birth plan and a doula is an automatic C/S. I don’t know if this is the case because they C/S women out of spite, or if it’s because the women feel unsupported to the extent they can’t relax and focus on having a baby.
Once you get to the pushing stage, they like to really hurry that along. So do your best to politely say “I know it’s been two hours, but I am confident I can get the baby out, so let’s just wait a little while longer on the vacuum or forceps. Thanks!”
So the gist of having a successful hospital birth is relaxing yourself and calmly and very politely declining unnecessary medical interventions.

Yall are going to be great partners in birth and parenting, enjoy every moment!

]]> Comment on Mennonites on retreat… by Sara http://signonthewindow.wordpress.com/2008/05/13/mennonites-on-retreat/#comment-101 Sara Thu, 15 May 2008 02:15:20 +0000 http://signonthewindow.wordpress.com/?p=50#comment-101 Okay - to give you fair warning, Mark and I are sitting here, having post-choir rehearsal drinks and are getting VERY punchy. We think we are HILARIOUS at this hour. Some examples, for the ECUSA: Elizabethan Settle-mint Thomas Cranberry Crunch Vanilla Media Samuel Sea-Berry Pie Book of Common Praline Okay - to give you fair warning, Mark and I are sitting here, having post-choir rehearsal drinks and are getting VERY punchy. We think we are HILARIOUS at this hour.

Some examples, for the ECUSA:

Elizabethan Settle-mint

Thomas Cranberry Crunch

Vanilla Media

Samuel Sea-Berry Pie

Book of Common Praline

]]> Comment on Mennonites on retreat… by Kristin http://signonthewindow.wordpress.com/2008/05/13/mennonites-on-retreat/#comment-100 Kristin Wed, 14 May 2008 16:51:20 +0000 http://signonthewindow.wordpress.com/?p=50#comment-100 That looks like a cold, cold baptism! You've got to really want to be Mennonite to go into that water, huh? Very cool. Still working on the Baptist Ben and Jerry's Flavor. I am thinking it would be a container that had a few sections to represent the theological divisions that seem to keep many in our denomination separate from one another. Sigh. I would like to think that my "section" tasted best though--which just goes to show how far I have to go... That looks like a cold, cold baptism! You’ve got to really want to be Mennonite to go into that water, huh?
Very cool. Still working on the Baptist Ben and Jerry’s Flavor. I am thinking it would be a container that had a few sections to represent the theological divisions that seem to keep many in our denomination separate from one another. Sigh. I would like to think that my “section” tasted best though–which just goes to show how far I have to go…

]]> Comment on it is time. by Kristin http://signonthewindow.wordpress.com/2008/05/08/it-is-time/#comment-99 Kristin Tue, 13 May 2008 17:52:27 +0000 http://signonthewindow.wordpress.com/?p=46#comment-99 Congratulations and blessings to you! Congratulations and blessings to you!

]]> Comment on it is time. by isaac http://signonthewindow.wordpress.com/2008/05/08/it-is-time/#comment-97 isaac Mon, 12 May 2008 12:21:50 +0000 http://signonthewindow.wordpress.com/?p=46#comment-97 Great to hear this news. Great to hear this news.

]]> Comment on fear and trembling by signonthewindow http://signonthewindow.wordpress.com/2008/05/06/fear-and-trembling/#comment-96 signonthewindow Sun, 11 May 2008 23:41:39 +0000 http://signonthewindow.wordpress.com/?p=45#comment-96 Caren - We did see it! Fortunately we knew someone who had netflix. It was great to see but a little discouraging because homebirth is definitely not available to us. Speaking of.... OFOJ - We would LOVE to have a homebirth. We were actually joking about registering for one : ) But KP doesn't allow and we're looking at $3000+ out of pocket. We've done what we can to make the best of our situation. We aren't giving birth at a KP facility but one of their private affiliates (they have too many births for their hospitals). And Southwest Medical has a midwife on call 24 hours a day so we will avoid an OB. Unfortunately we will have no idea which midwife that will be. We're also planning on hiring a doula to help us with the process. If we could break the bank for this one we could. But it's just not realistic for us at this point. We have quite seriously discussed unassisted homebirth if my labor comes really fast.... Carla - Thanks for the reminder. It isn't cheesy. It's the truth. Caren - We did see it! Fortunately we knew someone who had netflix. It was great to see but a little discouraging because homebirth is definitely not available to us. Speaking of….

OFOJ - We would LOVE to have a homebirth. We were actually joking about registering for one : ) But KP doesn’t allow and we’re looking at $3000+ out of pocket. We’ve done what we can to make the best of our situation. We aren’t giving birth at a KP facility but one of their private affiliates (they have too many births for their hospitals). And Southwest Medical has a midwife on call 24 hours a day so we will avoid an OB. Unfortunately we will have no idea which midwife that will be. We’re also planning on hiring a doula to help us with the process. If we could break the bank for this one we could. But it’s just not realistic for us at this point. We have quite seriously discussed unassisted homebirth if my labor comes really fast….

Carla - Thanks for the reminder. It isn’t cheesy. It’s the truth.

]]> Comment on fear and trembling by Carla http://signonthewindow.wordpress.com/2008/05/06/fear-and-trembling/#comment-95 Carla Sun, 11 May 2008 23:27:13 +0000 http://signonthewindow.wordpress.com/?p=45#comment-95 Not to sound cheesy, but when it all comes down to it, you can't control your birth experience even though I know that thought scares both of us. You can set it up to be a positive whole birth experience by hiring a doula and midwife (like you have), but in the end let me encourage you with this... Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him and he will make your paths straight. Not to sound cheesy, but when it all comes down to it, you can’t control your birth experience even though I know that thought scares both of us. You can set it up to be a positive whole birth experience by hiring a doula and midwife (like you have), but in the end let me encourage you with this…
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him and he will make your paths straight.

]]> Comment on fear and trembling by Old friend of Jacob's http://signonthewindow.wordpress.com/2008/05/06/fear-and-trembling/#comment-94 Old friend of Jacob's Sat, 10 May 2008 18:02:26 +0000 http://signonthewindow.wordpress.com/?p=45#comment-94 Seriously, seriously, seriously, look into homebirth. Follow your intuition, don't go the medical route. I am both an RN working in mother/baby in the hospital and also an apprentice to a certified professional midwife group (homebirth). If nothing else, go and have a few free consultations with homebirth midwives. Oregon is one of the best places in the States to have a midwife-attended homebirth. It's true you might have to pay her cash, but it will be the best money you ever ever ever spent. K-P honestly gives bad coverage/care anyway and kicks people out of the hospital ASAP (24H for a vaginal, and 48 for a C/S). If you go the medical route, find a nurse-midwife and ask her what her C/S and induction rate is. It's never too late to switch care providers. I know I sound pushy, and I apologize for that. But I can't even count how many families I take care of who were completely raped of their birth in the hospital. Seriously, seriously, seriously, look into homebirth. Follow your intuition, don’t go the medical route. I am both an RN working in mother/baby in the hospital and also an apprentice to a certified professional midwife group (homebirth). If nothing else, go and have a few free consultations with homebirth midwives. Oregon is one of the best places in the States to have a midwife-attended homebirth. It’s true you might have to pay her cash, but it will be the best money you ever ever ever spent. K-P honestly gives bad coverage/care anyway and kicks people out of the hospital ASAP (24H for a vaginal, and 48 for a C/S). If you go the medical route, find a nurse-midwife and ask her what her C/S and induction rate is. It’s never too late to switch care providers.
I know I sound pushy, and I apologize for that. But I can’t even count how many families I take care of who were completely raped of their birth in the hospital.

]]> Comment on it is time. by Brooke http://signonthewindow.wordpress.com/2008/05/08/it-is-time/#comment-93 Brooke Sat, 10 May 2008 16:19:35 +0000 http://signonthewindow.wordpress.com/?p=46#comment-93 I do wish you the best. I have to confess I'm a little sad the Episcopal Church will be losing a good Anglican, though I understand that would be a lonely space to occupy these days. I do wish you the best. I have to confess I’m a little sad the Episcopal Church will be losing a good Anglican, though I understand that would be a lonely space to occupy these days.

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