Placenta Encapsulation

I did a lot of research on placenta encapsulation.  Since 80% of women experience the baby blues, I wanted to make sure that I could do everything I could to decrease my chances.  My midwife suggested Placenta Benefits.  I read the entire website and also emailed my friend Wendy who is an acupuncturist to ask her advice.  She also had a baby by C-section and was doing her own placenta encapsulation herself.   I did experience post baby blues the third day of being the hospital.  It was the first day I could shower and when I undressed and saw my scar I just broke down in tears.  I saw the huge staples across my abdomen and I completely lost it. After I showered I visited the Nainoa in the NICU and cried my eyes out.  I felt so sad, depressed and disappointed with how everything turned out. This was not my birth plan! This was not the journey I had envisioned in my head!  I knew that taking placenta pills was going to help.

Jodi the owner of Placenta Benefits came over.  The whole process took two days.  She was so professional, personable, friendly and really knowledgeable.  She was super super clean and sanitary.  I could tell she really knew what she was doing.   I was really impressed that she has trained 50 women from all over the world in this special process.  

Because I had a C-Section the hospital froze my placenta right away. Here are a few photos of the process.

"Placenta Encapsulation...Easy as 1..2..3!"

Love the magic bullet

Me, Jodi and my bottle of my placenta in pill form!

I started to take my placenta pills yesterday. I feel pretty good.  I have energy and I don't feel any sort of baby blues at all.  Even though my sleep is on and off all day I feel rested.  I started to walk with Ivan when he walks the dogs.  My pain from surgery has decreased substantially.  I no longer need my pain meds!!  

From Homebirth to Hospital: The Story of Nainoa

     Wednesday May 20, 2009 at 2:45 am is when my journey started.  I woke up feeling what I thought were my practice contractions (although they were a bit stronger).   I decided that for some reason I had to poo (which never happens at that time).  Fifteen minutes later another contraction happened and again I had to poo.  Wondering if it was pre-labor I looked at one of my handouts and sure enough, contractions along with bowel movements were part of pre-labor.  Ten minutes later after another contraction I decided to wake up Eye to let him know what was going.  When he woke up he was like "Really?"    After an hour of timing my contraction they went from 15 minutes to 10 minutes to 7 minutes, all lasting about 30 seconds long.  The pain was definitely manageable.  I was feeling excited that I was going to meet my boy at some point soon.  I didn't want to get too excited though because I knew it could be a long day. I asked Eye to heat up the jacuzzi outside since it was way to early to call for my tub.  

     About 5:30 am I went outside and it was gorgeous.  It was so quiet and the sun was just about to rise.  Both the dogs came out and hung out with me while I sat in the warm jacuzzi.  I felt so peaceful and ready for whatever my labor was going to be. Each contraction started to get closer together.  They were around 3 minutes apart lasting 30 seconds long.  The surges were manageable.  I just breathed through them knowing that I had time to rest in between.    We called Jollina for the tub and called my BFF to let her know what was going on.  We also called my parents to let them know that they should start thinking about driving home since they were in Bakersfield.    I was surprised how close my contractions were considering I only started 2 hours ago!

     At 7:00 am Eye called  Tiffany, my doula, and April, my midwife, to let them know where we were at.  I labored in the jacuzzi for a while, ate some watermelon, drank water and then threw up twice against the rocks.  Thank goodness we were outside.  Kiko wanted to play ball and I tried to throw his ball in between contractions.   Oh Kiko.   Jollina came over to set up the tub so that everything in my room was ready for me.   Eye was so awesome.  He breathed with me while kneeling on concrete and made sure I stayed hydrated.     

    We went upstairs and I laid on my left side to try and get some rest.   My contractions were still 3 minutes a part lasting 30 seconds long.  I got on my hands and knees during some of them.  I swayed for some,  or laid still.  Tiffany came over around 8:30 am and my contractions went to 2 minutes, 30-40 seconds long.  Her hands were a Godsend!  She massaged me, reminded me to get the tension out, told me to go with low deep tones.  Eye was so supportive too.  He always breathed with me, held me as each contraction came.  They were such a good team together. They were my angels.   I felt great.  Even though the contractions were getting stronger,  I was feeling strong and able to do the work.  My body was meant for this, I knew I could do it and I was ready and open for it to get harder. 

           

     For the next 5 hour I labored everywhere.  In the tub, the bathroom, the bed, everywhere in my room.  It was awesome.  The dogs were chilling on the bed.  Everything was perfect.   My contractions were getting intense, still lasting 2 minutes a part, 45-50 seconds long.  Sherry, my midwife's assistant who was also one of my angels showed up around 12ish and started to set things up.  The surges were strong and I managed to get through them with the help of Eye, Tif and Sherry.  Time was flying by.  I had no concept of time.  I never once looked at a clock.  

     April arrived at 1:00 PM and at that time I was 8cm already.  (She told me after the fact because I never really wanted to know)  I thought for sure that I would meet my boy very soon. He might be here before his Grandparents come back home.   

    For the next 5 hours my contractions were getting stronger and I was in transition for 5 HOURS.  At several points April and Sherry would suggest different positions whether it by on the bed, next to the tub, in the tub, on the toilet, on the stairs.  I wanted to do everything I could to get the boy down my pelvis.  He just wasn't moving.  At 7:00 pm April decided to break my water to hopefully help the boy come down.  He just wasn't moving and I had been already dialated for hours.   When she broke the water there was meconium, but we didn't worry because the boy's heart beat was still strong.   They suggested I try and pee and as I was having a contraction the boy's heart beat dipped.   April then said, "He's not happy in there, I think we should go to the hospital." I didn't hesitate,  "Let's go."

    Everything changed in an instant.  We were leaving our amazing environment to go to the hospital.  I got in the back of the truck.  My contractions were crazy.  They were one minute apart lasting 60-90 seconds apart.  April told me to stay on my knees with my head on my hands.  It was very important for me to stay that way the whole car ride.  That 8 minute drive was the longest drive ever.  I had never focused so much in my life.  I had to breath, keep calm and not move from my position.  Of course we hit every red light and missed the turn into the emergency drive way.   April called ahead to the hospital and contacted Dr. Bolnick (married to a midwife).  He was going to be my OB for the night.  I felt reassured when Sherry told me that he's not a cut-her-up kinda of guy.  I was so relieved because I did not want to go under the knife. 

    As we pulled up to the emergency, I kept breathing  and got wheeled in to the bright hospital.  Thank goodness we pre-registered at Summerlin.  We went straight up to Labor and Delivery and I took off my dress and got on the hard bed.  It was such a whirl wind.  I got strapped to a fetal monitor and a contraction monitor.  I was now stuck to the bed.  Unfamiliar nurses, questions asked, things to sign, contractions kicking my ass.  I had no rest between contractions.  They were lasting 90 seconds long.  It was all so different.  Thank goodness I had my angels there.  Tiffany, April, Sherry, Ivan and my Mom all helped get through.  Dr. Bolnick came in, checked me and let me push for 2 hours.  The boy still didn't come down.  I was exhausted by that point.  I just didn't have it in me.  I just wanted to sleep.  I was suffering unnecessarily.  I couldn't deal with the pain, I didn't have it in me.  After 3 hours of pre-labor 4 hours of active labor, 6 hours of transition, a car ride from hell, 2 hours of pushing, I needed some help.  We decided to get an epidural so that I can sleep and hopefully the contractions will move the boy down and I will have the strength to push him out after I got some rest.  

   Epidural please, PLEASE.  Of course it took for ever for the anethesiologist to come.  I was screaming, "PLEASE HURRY, PLEASE SOMEONE HELP ME, PLEASE GET HIM, PLEASE!"  I was thrashing around so hard my IV came out, blood everywhere.  He finally showed up after what seemed to be an eternity. Then came THE hardest part of the whole day.  Stay still during my strong surges? Are you high? Are you crazy?????  I don't know how I did it but I did. When I has hunched over Eye said baby's heart beat really dipped.   It took the guy 3 tries to get it right.  It took so much out of me not to move.  I can't believe I did it.  All that hard focus paid off because my legs went numb and I finally had relief. 

   Enter Dr. Bolnick stage left.  "He's not moving, he's up there and he's not coming out.  She's not even a zero."  (if crowning is +4, he was up there and I was a zero)  "I think it's time for a C-Section, listen there was a lot of meconium..."   "NOOOOOOOOOOO"  I screamed.   That wasn't the plan I had!  I didn't even want to be in the hospital.  I just wanted to sleep and I promise I'll push him out.   But there was the meconium.  Damn f-ing meconium!!!  If that wasn't in the equation, I would have been more persistent.  But I knew that in the end that was the right call.

    Ivan got scrubbed up. I got more drugs and the rest is history.  I was so out of it. The only important part of the story here is that Nainoa Santiago Gines Delaforce was born at 10:46 PM on May 20th at 7 pounds 13 ounces and 21 inches long. 

                      Ivan:  "You know we are keeping the placenta right?"

                Dr. Bolnick:  "What are you going to make stew?"

Random Guy:  "Really, you make stew?"

No we are keeping the placenta to encapsulate it.  Haven't you ever heard of placenta encapsulation?

   Because Nainoa had trouble breathing he was sent to the NICU.   They seem to think he inhaled meconium.   He also had low electrolytes which caused them to run a series of tests.  I won't bore you with all the miscellaneous tests they did on him because it honestly makes me very upset.   It was so hard not being able to bond and breast feed right away.  There were times I  just sobbed by his bed because he looked so helpless hooked up to so many wires and cords. Needless to say on May 25th (the day he was due) we brought him home healthy and happy. I am so thankful that he is has a clean bill of health.  

   Looking back at the whole experience.  I feel I still had my homebirth that I planned.  It was such an amazing experience laboring at home with my angels.  I feel like a strong woman who knows how to labor naturally.   I plan on having a homebirth if and when I get pregnant again.   Even though I ended up having a C-section, I always knew it was a possibility.  Things happen as they are suppose to happen.  I am not in control.  What matters now is that I have a beautiful son who needs me.  I am so thankful for that.  I am thankful that he is out in this world and he is healthy.   I am truly blessed.

    Thank you to my angels, Ivan, Tiffany, Sherry, and April.   Thank you everyone for all your love and support you have given us through email, text, voicemail and Facebook.   Your love got us through our trying times at the hospital.   We love you all so much.  

Aloha,

Coralissa, Ivan and Nainoa

39 Weeks

I'm 39 weeks today!  Eye took this picture while I was doing Pilates on my new equipment.   I always feel really strong after I exercise.  I haven't been walking as much because it is just to0 hot now and I have to pee every 5 feet so I can't walk my mile anymore.  But we have been swimming everyday which I LOOOVE.   I feel so weightless.  I hate getting out of the pool because I feel soooo heavy.    I've been trying not to obsess about my due date next Monday. He'll come when he is ready.   I'm keeping busy teaching, reading, napping and spending time with my husband.   Being patient is hard for me but I have learned through out this whole process that there are things I cannot control.  So with that being said time to go swimming!!!

For Your Sunday Reading

I saw this article in the Business section of the L.A. Times.  The title of the article is "Childbirth: Can the U.S. Improve?"  I'm not surprised it's in the Business section.

This article from one of my favorite blogs MarvelousKiddo.  It's a great childbirth story done cartoon style.  Very funny.

Last night Eye and I went to see No Doubt at Mandalay bay.  It was their first stop on their U.S. Tour. They rocked!  We sat to the right of the sound board and just before the concert we saw Gwen's 3 month old and 3 year old carried through the crowd with the big noise cancellation ear muffs on. Since there are other kids on the road with the band, Eye and I began to wonder how many busses they have?  One for each family?  How coool and tiring that must be!

Napping with my babies

I have been taking the advice of my BFF and getting in as many naps as I can before the boy comes.  Haukea (the all tan one) and Kiko (the spotted one) always love to snuggle up with me when I nap.  Boy are they up for a rude awakening when the boy comes!!!   We have a Arms Reach C0-Sleeper next to our bed and the dogs don't go near it.  I've pretty much trained them not to even look at it when they jump up on to our bed.  My chiropractor did the same thing when her son was born so hopefully the sleeping situation will work with us too.   At night Haukea mostly sleeps by Eye's feet and Kiko sleeps on top of the covers.   I just get way to hot for them to sleep by me and they get way to hot for me too.   I'm trying to enjoy my dogs as much as I can because I know they will be lacking the attention they need when baby comes. They love Grandpa and Grandma so they won't be too starved for attention.   I am so curious on how they will react when we have another pack member.   I asked my midwife her opinion on dogs at home births and she said that dogs are fine.  They know what's happening to me and they usually just watch over me.  I know Kiko might have a hard time because he's the one who follows me everywhere I go and he won't be getting in the tub with me.  We'll see.....

Stompin' in Utero @ 38 Weeks

I'm not kidding when I say that my boy is definitely Stomping in the womb.  I'm serious.  The amount of times I feel his feet stomp on my ribs and see his feet or heels protruding out of my belly is crazy.  Maybe it's because I Stomped until 5 months.   I guess he's just use to it by now.  Today I had to go through fetal monitoring and he just didn't want to stay still.   He was moving all around making music out of whatever he can kick.  Needless to say his heartbeat was great.  The ultrasound tech said he looked great.  My amnio fluid was at 19.5 which is good. (they like to see it above 10)  She said when my water breaks it's gonna GUSH out.   He was practicing breathing which is great.    He's gonna come out with a lot of hair!  We saw it floating around in the amniotic fluid.  

Today I took my mom and Eye to see a foreign film called Sin Nombre.  It was great.  I like foreign films, especially in Spanish.  During the movie I definitely felt a couple of Braxton Hicks contractions.  Eye calls them "practice hicks" because they are practice contractions.  It didn't hurt, it just felt like period cramps.  My stomach got really really tight during the contraction.   Sigh...it's definitely coming.  I can't believe I'm already 38 weeks.  Where did all that time go?  

My Mommy

Here are some of my favorite photos of my Mom.  I am so thankful and so blessed to have such an amazing mother.  Her unconditional love has no end.  She gives and gives and asks little in return. She has truly shaped the woman I am today.  I hope I can become the mother that she is to me.  I love you so much Mommy and I am so happy we live under the same roof!!!  Happy Mother's Day everyone!

Interview with Ani DiFranco

I am huuuge Ani DiFranco fan.  I've been a fan since the early 90's.  I've followed her career till now.  I actually met her in Paris in 2000.  My friend Darren played drums for her and the whole band came to see Stomp.  I was so nervous!  I remember hearing her distinct laugh from the audience and getting all giddy.   We all had dinner together and the next night we saw her peform.  It was awwweeessome!!  I ran across this video on my new favorite social networking website  MyBestbirth.com.  This video is originally from a great website you should check out  Mindful-mama.

I'm  listening to Ani now.  I think I'm going to add her to my birthing music!

Spoiled

My parents have been here for about two weeks and I must say that my husband and I have been spoiled everyday.  Every morning we wake up to full breakfast.  Not like our normal breakfast which usually consists of cereal with milk or if I feel like cooking, eggs with toast.  I'm talking about a full on  meal.  Eggs, fresh rice, cut tomatoes and fresh fruit on the side.  Dishes are always done and all my clothes are washed and folded so perfectly.  I'm not even going to go into lunch and dinner and that fact that there are freshly baked goods on the daily.   I mean I left to go to the chiropractor this morning and came back and my bed was made.  It's CRAAAZZZY!!!  I feel so extremely lucky.  My BFF said to me yesterday, "Duuude you are sooo hooked up."  I really am. I am so thankful.  I am so happy my parents live with us.  I know that when the boy comes, I will be so supported in every way.  Family is so important and I hope that I can instill that to my boy.  Thank you Mommy, I love you so much. 

3-D Ultrasound @ 36 Weeks.

Since Dan pointed out that I haven't blogged in 9 days (his exact word was "lazy"), I decided to come back with a bang.  Yesterday we had our final ultra-sound and they actually gave us a 3-D picture of the boy for free.  We weren't expecting it because it costs like $200 and we were just going to wait to see him.  So here he is!  The ultrasound measurements say that he is 7 lbs 6 oz. He might be big.  Well look at the size of his..... heeheeee.   The measurements say he's also measuring 38 weeks and I'm only 36!  I'm not too worried because I know that ultrasounds are an educated guess so he might be big he might not.   Birdie and a few other of my friends think he's coming early.  Maybe he'll be a Taurus like my Dad and my brother.   My midwife checked me yesterday and I am half a centimeter dialated.  April said also that my cervix was soft.  A good sign!

A few things to check out.  Ricki Lakes new social networking website for expecting moms and moms.  My Best Birth.  She also has a new book coming out.

Also Ivan and I just watched another birthing movie called Orgasmic Birth.  Having an orgasm during child birth?  Really?  It happens...but it's so hard to wrap your head around it!