This coming April, they are holding a certification class in Scottsdale, only minutes away from my parents’ home in Mesa.  I have already been in contact with the instructor and so far I really like her.  This feels like the right class for me and I am ready to go for it!

Hopefully, if all goes well, I will be teaching my first Hypnobirthing class in Utah in May!  If you or anyone you know are interested in taking the class, let me know. 

HypnoBirthing helps mothers have pain-free labor

Enjoy!

Nathan wanted me to post about the sciatic nerve pain I’ve been having. About two weeks ago, I started feeling pain in my lower back on the right side that continued down through my buttocks and into my leg. I recognized it as sciatic nerve pain because of hearing other pregnant women I know complain of it. I never had it with Kaisa. It got so bad that I could barely walk and couldn’t stand on my right leg if it was bent.

At my 37 week appointment, I mentioned it to my midwife, and she showed me some stretches to do. They have helped a TON! I thought I’d share them on here. I’ll try to describe them as best I can. You’ll need your partner’s help for a full stretch.

Start lying down on your back on the ground or a bed (I know, so uncomfortable at this stage!). Bend your right leg and place your right foot at your left knee with the left leg straight. Flex your left foot. Have your partner press your right knee into the ground as far as it will go. Hold this for a minute or more.

Next, bring your right knee up to your chest as far as it will go and have your partner stretch it as far toward your chest as you can go. Continue to flex your left foot and keep your left leg straight.

These stretches have really helped me, hopefully they will work for you!

I had the midwife check my cervix and I am a fingertip dilated and only about 40% effaced. With Kaisa at 36 weeks I was 1 cm dilated and 70% effaced! I now know for sure that I am carrying him higher and I don’t think he’s “dropped” yet, or I would probably be thinning out a little more. That’s fine…I really need him to stay in there until after the 28th, so this is a good thing.

I am trying to be patient, but I can’t wait to hold my little boy!

This pregnancy (my second) has been different in several ways. First of all, I was sick in the late evenings rather than the morning. I started calling my 11pm snack my “fourth meal.” If I didn’t eat it, I woke up sick in the middle of the night and had to eat crackers in bed! Morning sickness wore off right around the second trimester, as it did with Kaisa, but then I had some other interesting things begin.

As my baby bump appeared, I started to feel pulling and stretching in my stomach that I didn’t have with my first. I also had two distinct areas on either side of my abdomen that were tender to the touch. I was worried that it might be something wrong with my ovaries, but my midwife said it was totally normal. I think my uterus is not quite as fit this time, which worries me…what will it be like when I’m pregnant with #4 or #5?

I got in the water (doing water aerobics at the local fitness center) earlier in the pregnancy this time, and it has really paid off. I feel less tired, have less cramping in my legs, less hemorrhoids and less back pain. I highly recommend water aerobics classes to any pregnant woman!

I am also carrying this baby a bit higher (I think it’s because it’s a boy, but who knows?) and as a result am shorter of breath. I am hoping that he will drop soon so I can breathe easier again.

One other things that I’ve had this pregnancy are abdominal cramping and braxton-hicks contractions. I guess I had them with my daughter, but not nearly as severe. I couldn’t even feel them with her. This time, I feel my braxton-hicks very often and sometimes will wake up in the middle of the night with what feels like a charlie horse on one side of my abdomen. I think this might all be related to my uterus not being as strong, but I’m not sure. Maybe my body just knows what it’s doing now and is getting geared-up for labor early on.

Overall, I have had a very healthy second pregnancy and really can’t complain (much). I passed my glucose test with flying colors once again, have no swelling to speak of, and have been able to be fully functional (with a toddler!) so far. Only 4 more weeks to go!