That's right - I'm 20w4d today, so even according to my French city's standards - which counts 40w3d for due dates - I'm into the second part of my pregnancy. Only if this one decides to stay inside as long as his or her older brother, then I'm not quite there yet...
Anyway, it doesn't really matter. Everything is going the way it should. Belly is growing, I feel the baby moving more and more, and I'm feeling pretty good. Leg cramps are nothing compared to my first pregnancy, but maybe that's still to come or the homeopathic treatment I gave myself (cuprum metallicum and nux vomica) did the trick, who knows...
I bought a doppler after I saw that it was much cheaper than I thought those things would be, but to be honest, I hardly use it. I prefer feeling the baby's kicks and moves - somehow I feel that those are signs he/she wants to give me him-/herself that everything is going okay in there, and with the doppler I'm somehow intruding on his/her space, or is that weird?
We should know the baby's sex at the next ultrasound in two weeks time. Somehow I'm thinking it's a boy, but no real reason for it other than that I don't know any better as my previous pregnancy was a boy. Friends around my son's babysitter say it must be a girl because a few of their pregnant friends who are due in January are all expecting girls. But then I think that ours was conceived a few months earlier, so their 'wisdom' might fall short...
I had my first prenatal yoga class this evening and it was good. A different class and teacher than I had with my first pregnancy, I think I like this one better (she's also a midwife), a little more down-to-earth. Classes are every other week, so I will try to get some discipline to also do some exercises at home, although knowing myself that will probably not happen...
I've also signed up for prenatal swimming/water exercises for which classes begin next Friday (you see, it's "la rentrée" - referring to start the new school year at the beginning of September, but also meaning all other activities, even if they're not meant for school children at all, have a summer hiatus and start up again in September - and oh my if you're trying to get into a class in mid-season!). Looking forward to that. It's in an aquatic center a bit out of town, but looks very nice, much better than the municipal swimming pools close by. We've also signed up for Saturday morning 'swimming' activities with our toddler at the same center since he showed so much love for being in the water this summer, so that should be fun too.
Other than that I'm still extremely busy with work. Had a huge deadline today, which I still haven't met, but I'm now waiting for input from two other people before I can send the docs off, so it's pretty much out of my hands (and I figured everyone has gone home anyway, so not much difference if they get it now or tomorrow or Sunday - besides, did I mention I don't get paid for this job...?! - but it's worth it, I hope). Luckily I didn't get any angry emails or phone calls, so I'm pretty zen.
Showing posts with label prenatal excercises. Show all posts
Showing posts with label prenatal excercises. Show all posts
Friday, September 9, 2011
Sunday, May 17, 2009
Message for A - yoga in Paris
Hey A, I hope you're still reading my blog (and that you had great beta doubling numbers!). My yoga teacher gave me two people to contact in Paris for yoga classes. She told me she's not sure they're doing specific prenatal yoga classes, but if not, they should be able to direct you to someone who does.
1: Sylviane Gianina
75001 Paris
sylvianegianina [at] gmail [dot] com
2: Marina Margherita
75001 Paris
marina [dot] margherita [at] orange [dot] fr
Hope this helps!
1: Sylviane Gianina
75001 Paris
sylvianegianina [at] gmail [dot] com
2: Marina Margherita
75001 Paris
marina [dot] margherita [at] orange [dot] fr
Hope this helps!
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Birthing classes
Yesterday I had my second birthing class with the independent midwife (see this post). This time together with two other pregnant women (for whom this was their 7th class and one of them seemed about ready to deliver!) - the first time it was together with one other woman whom I will see again at next week's class (and who should then also be at her third class). I'll have a total of eight 1-hour classes in the coming weeks.
Mostly what we do are some breathing exercises to use during contractions (like breathing out for at least 30 seconds) and labor, exercises to relieve back pain and restore balance, and others to make you more aware of the perineum, including visualizations, all in order to make it a bit more supple in preparation for labor (in the hope to avoid it from tearing). Yesterday we also learned some techniques on how to push - that was still a bit surreal to me, I must admit, but I'm sure it'll come in handy! I'm not so good with the visualizations ("pretend your perineum is a grotto, and your organs are hanging from the ceiling like chandeliers..."), but I'm doing my best. :-)
Not sure if going with the independent midwife is so much better than taking the classes at the hospital, but at least it's convenient, because it's only a 10 minute walk from my house.
Mostly what we do are some breathing exercises to use during contractions (like breathing out for at least 30 seconds) and labor, exercises to relieve back pain and restore balance, and others to make you more aware of the perineum, including visualizations, all in order to make it a bit more supple in preparation for labor (in the hope to avoid it from tearing). Yesterday we also learned some techniques on how to push - that was still a bit surreal to me, I must admit, but I'm sure it'll come in handy! I'm not so good with the visualizations ("pretend your perineum is a grotto, and your organs are hanging from the ceiling like chandeliers..."), but I'm doing my best. :-)
Not sure if going with the independent midwife is so much better than taking the classes at the hospital, but at least it's convenient, because it's only a 10 minute walk from my house.
Saturday, January 24, 2009
Update on my various pregnancy discomforts
A quick update on my recent pregnancy-related discomforts:
1) The itch (which I talked about here, here, here and here) is still not gone! It tricks me about once a week in thinking that it's almost over, only to come back in full force the next day. Consulting Dr. Google doesn't give me any answers, because all I find gives 'yeast infection' as result, which the lab test showed I don't have. I've already banned panty liners, shower gel and soap. I'll now also ban fancy undies (since the last time it returned it was on a day I was wearing those) and will stick to the simple cotton ones, even when I think the itch is (almost) gone. On bad days I now take some homeopathic anti-itch cream, which seems to give more relieve than the cream the doc first gave me (the other cream, which was more of a anti-fungus medicine just gave me a burning sensation). I really hope it doesn't stay with me for the rest of the pregnancy...
2) The cramps (see this post) are a lot better. Fortunately I've only had the horrible nightly leg cramp once. I elevated the foot-end of the bed with a pillow, as suggested in one of my pregnancy books, and am making sure I'm getting enough calcium, potassium and protein (and I'm already on magnesium B6 supplements). I've been free of belly cramps too (knock on wood), just some round ligament pain, but nothing serious.
3) The near-fainting spells (see here and here) have not been back either since the last event at the post office on Monday. I've upped my iron intake, so maybe that's why. Thursday's prenatal yoga class was great (I think partly because I made sure to take it easy in the morning and had a relative early lunch which allowed me a 20-minute nap before going to yoga), I could even do the bend over without getting light-headed.
4) Fatigue - I'm still taking afternoon naps, but don't have to set the alarm anymore, I now usually wake up after 20-40 minutes.
So all in all I'm doing pretty well and my belly is growing at a rate of about 1 cm a week. Next checkup on February 3rd, next u/s on February 13th.
1) The itch (which I talked about here, here, here and here) is still not gone! It tricks me about once a week in thinking that it's almost over, only to come back in full force the next day. Consulting Dr. Google doesn't give me any answers, because all I find gives 'yeast infection' as result, which the lab test showed I don't have. I've already banned panty liners, shower gel and soap. I'll now also ban fancy undies (since the last time it returned it was on a day I was wearing those) and will stick to the simple cotton ones, even when I think the itch is (almost) gone. On bad days I now take some homeopathic anti-itch cream, which seems to give more relieve than the cream the doc first gave me (the other cream, which was more of a anti-fungus medicine just gave me a burning sensation). I really hope it doesn't stay with me for the rest of the pregnancy...
2) The cramps (see this post) are a lot better. Fortunately I've only had the horrible nightly leg cramp once. I elevated the foot-end of the bed with a pillow, as suggested in one of my pregnancy books, and am making sure I'm getting enough calcium, potassium and protein (and I'm already on magnesium B6 supplements). I've been free of belly cramps too (knock on wood), just some round ligament pain, but nothing serious.
3) The near-fainting spells (see here and here) have not been back either since the last event at the post office on Monday. I've upped my iron intake, so maybe that's why. Thursday's prenatal yoga class was great (I think partly because I made sure to take it easy in the morning and had a relative early lunch which allowed me a 20-minute nap before going to yoga), I could even do the bend over without getting light-headed.
4) Fatigue - I'm still taking afternoon naps, but don't have to set the alarm anymore, I now usually wake up after 20-40 minutes.
So all in all I'm doing pretty well and my belly is growing at a rate of about 1 cm a week. Next checkup on February 3rd, next u/s on February 13th.
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Which birthing class to choose?
I know I still have about at least a month or two to think about this, but as it's ICLW I thought I might get a few more reactions than normal, which could help me with my choice (or make me even more confused).
In France, the state-run insurance covers 8 birthing classes of 45 minutes each. You have the choice to do these at 1) the hospital where you're going to deliver, 2) at the "protection maternelle et infantile" (PMI) department of the social services or 3) with an independent midwife. There are also three different methods to choose from: 1) Classic (Lamaze); 2) Haptonomy; 3) Sophrology.
I asked a few friends and two of them went to the same independent midwife, the first one did a more sophrology-based class with her and liked it, the second one did haptonomy and although she liked the method, she was not impressed with the midwife. It was her second pregnancy and she had done a classic birthing class with her first one, so it didn't matter too much that her second class was not such a success. At the information meeting in the hospital that I went to a month ago, the midwife there said that she wasn't convinced that haptonomy only would be enough to sufficiently prepare you for labor.
I went to the hospital on Tuesday to check out their information book about the various options. Their recommendations in choosing a birthing class were as follows:
The PMI offers group classes on Tuesday afternoons. My neighbor went there for her birthing class and she was happy with it (and apparently it's free).
I've also called a midwife (not the one my two friends went to, because of the negative reaction of one of them) in my neighborhood. She's doing sessions with 2-3 people, you can choose if you go every week, or every two weeks. Also lots of flexibility in times (morning, afternoon, evening). I asked her what method she did but she talked so fast that I didn't understand (and I was too shy to ask again), but I think it's Lamaze.
The advantage of doing the one at the hospital is that I'll really get to know that place and its people, which might be comforting the moment we go there for the delivery. However, the part where they have their info sessions (and I assume also the birthing classes) is pretty old, so not a very nice place to be (the maternity ward itself was completely renovated, so that's much better).
The advantage of going to the independent midwife is that hubby might be able to join for a few sessions if he wants, it's more intimate (but also less chance to exchange experiences with other pregnant women...), and I will get to know that midwife which might be handy in case we decide to opt for the short hospital stay after delivery. Normally in France you stay in the hospital for three to four days after delivery, but if you feel up to it (and you have some extra help at home) there is an option to leave after 48 hours. In that case a midwife will come visit you for an hour at home for two more days. To qualify for this, you have to get a form at the hospital, fill it out together with the midwife and put it in the bag that you're going to take to the hospital for the delivery. If you and the baby get the medical OK to leave after 48 hours, you can then make your final decision at the last moment (so if you rather stay in the hospital, even though you've filled out the form etc, that's fine too).
And the PMI... well, I really hadn't considered it until I asked my neighbor and she told me she went there. Apparently you also go there after the baby is born for the first check-ups, so it might not hurt to get to know its services beforehand either...
Sorry this has become such a long post. I hope most of you stuck around until the end and have some advice for me on what to choose... Thanks!
In France, the state-run insurance covers 8 birthing classes of 45 minutes each. You have the choice to do these at 1) the hospital where you're going to deliver, 2) at the "protection maternelle et infantile" (PMI) department of the social services or 3) with an independent midwife. There are also three different methods to choose from: 1) Classic (Lamaze); 2) Haptonomy; 3) Sophrology.
I asked a few friends and two of them went to the same independent midwife, the first one did a more sophrology-based class with her and liked it, the second one did haptonomy and although she liked the method, she was not impressed with the midwife. It was her second pregnancy and she had done a classic birthing class with her first one, so it didn't matter too much that her second class was not such a success. At the information meeting in the hospital that I went to a month ago, the midwife there said that she wasn't convinced that haptonomy only would be enough to sufficiently prepare you for labor.
I went to the hospital on Tuesday to check out their information book about the various options. Their recommendations in choosing a birthing class were as follows:
- Keep in mind the distance between your home and the location of the class.
In my case, hospital, PMI and independent midwife are all at walking/biking distance from my home (where the hospital is about a 30 minute walk and the midwife 10 minutes). - If you've already done a birthing class once for a previous pregnancy, it might be nice to try a different method/location.
N/A. - If your husband wants to participate, it's better to go to an independent midwife (at the hospital husbands are only invited for one session).
Hmm, we haven't really talked about this yet. He might want to, but he travels so much for work, that I doubt this is feasible. - If you cannot come to all the sessions of a series, better go to an independent midwife.
Well, I think that if it's just me and I don't have to depend on hubby's travel schedule, that I should be fine. - If the planning for the series you wanted to take part in is fully booked, go to independent midwife or PMI.
OK, so this depends on my own organization of when I go there to register, which should not be a problem. - Choice of method.
See above.
The PMI offers group classes on Tuesday afternoons. My neighbor went there for her birthing class and she was happy with it (and apparently it's free).
I've also called a midwife (not the one my two friends went to, because of the negative reaction of one of them) in my neighborhood. She's doing sessions with 2-3 people, you can choose if you go every week, or every two weeks. Also lots of flexibility in times (morning, afternoon, evening). I asked her what method she did but she talked so fast that I didn't understand (and I was too shy to ask again), but I think it's Lamaze.
The advantage of doing the one at the hospital is that I'll really get to know that place and its people, which might be comforting the moment we go there for the delivery. However, the part where they have their info sessions (and I assume also the birthing classes) is pretty old, so not a very nice place to be (the maternity ward itself was completely renovated, so that's much better).
The advantage of going to the independent midwife is that hubby might be able to join for a few sessions if he wants, it's more intimate (but also less chance to exchange experiences with other pregnant women...), and I will get to know that midwife which might be handy in case we decide to opt for the short hospital stay after delivery. Normally in France you stay in the hospital for three to four days after delivery, but if you feel up to it (and you have some extra help at home) there is an option to leave after 48 hours. In that case a midwife will come visit you for an hour at home for two more days. To qualify for this, you have to get a form at the hospital, fill it out together with the midwife and put it in the bag that you're going to take to the hospital for the delivery. If you and the baby get the medical OK to leave after 48 hours, you can then make your final decision at the last moment (so if you rather stay in the hospital, even though you've filled out the form etc, that's fine too).
And the PMI... well, I really hadn't considered it until I asked my neighbor and she told me she went there. Apparently you also go there after the baby is born for the first check-ups, so it might not hurt to get to know its services beforehand either...
Sorry this has become such a long post. I hope most of you stuck around until the end and have some advice for me on what to choose... Thanks!
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Too much
I never forget that I'm pregnant, but sometimes I forget that that means I can't do everything I used to do. Today was a good example of trying to do too much - and my body definitely told me this was not the way to go!
The day started at 4.15am because my hubby had a very early flight to catch. As he is coming back by train tonight, he couldn't leave the car at the airport, so I drove him. I went back to bed around 6.30am and got up again at 8am. Went grocery shopping at the big hypermarket and bought a lot (there were a lot of 'buy 2 get 1 free' promos). Tried not to lift too many heavy stuff, but still...
Back home around 11.30am, time to put all the groceries away, do laundry, and make myself some lunch. I felt a headache coming up but only had about 10 minutes to lie down before I had to head out to my prenatal yoga class, which started at 2pm. Yawning all the way there because this was right around my usual nap time... The headache had gotten worse and I remembered that I almost fainted last week, so I took it very easy and it seemed to go OK for about 10 minutes, but when we had to do a forward fold I felt my head spin and had to sit down otherwise I would definitely have fainted. Pfff... the instructor was very nice and she said that it is quite common in the first 4 months of pregnancy, but I don't have this problem during my other yoga class when I do forward folds etc, so I suspect it still has more to do with my crazy morning and the missed nap. Hmm, I'll make sure I'll be very zen next week before the class (and maybe have lunch early so I can have a 30-minute nap before going to class) and see how it goes - although then she probably won't allow me to do forward folds at all!
When walking back home I decided I would not put my body through more stuff today, so I postponed my other (regular) yoga class, that I normally have at 6pm on Thursdays, to either tomorrow afternoon or Monday evening. I've been taking it very easy the rest of the afternoon, and spent most time on the couch, even postponing working on a translation I'm supposed to do to tomorrow (and I only worked for 1 hour on it yesterday, so it's not really progressing). Headache is still there. Time to eat some soup...
The day started at 4.15am because my hubby had a very early flight to catch. As he is coming back by train tonight, he couldn't leave the car at the airport, so I drove him. I went back to bed around 6.30am and got up again at 8am. Went grocery shopping at the big hypermarket and bought a lot (there were a lot of 'buy 2 get 1 free' promos). Tried not to lift too many heavy stuff, but still...
Back home around 11.30am, time to put all the groceries away, do laundry, and make myself some lunch. I felt a headache coming up but only had about 10 minutes to lie down before I had to head out to my prenatal yoga class, which started at 2pm. Yawning all the way there because this was right around my usual nap time... The headache had gotten worse and I remembered that I almost fainted last week, so I took it very easy and it seemed to go OK for about 10 minutes, but when we had to do a forward fold I felt my head spin and had to sit down otherwise I would definitely have fainted. Pfff... the instructor was very nice and she said that it is quite common in the first 4 months of pregnancy, but I don't have this problem during my other yoga class when I do forward folds etc, so I suspect it still has more to do with my crazy morning and the missed nap. Hmm, I'll make sure I'll be very zen next week before the class (and maybe have lunch early so I can have a 30-minute nap before going to class) and see how it goes - although then she probably won't allow me to do forward folds at all!
When walking back home I decided I would not put my body through more stuff today, so I postponed my other (regular) yoga class, that I normally have at 6pm on Thursdays, to either tomorrow afternoon or Monday evening. I've been taking it very easy the rest of the afternoon, and spent most time on the couch, even postponing working on a translation I'm supposed to do to tomorrow (and I only worked for 1 hour on it yesterday, so it's not really progressing). Headache is still there. Time to eat some soup...
Thursday, January 8, 2009
First prenatal yoga class
So this afternoon I had my first prenatal yoga class. I've been doing a regular (Iyengar) yoga class for the past three years and will continue to do so, but thought it might be nice to add a class specifically for and with pregnant women. I must say it was completely different from anything I'm used to in my regular yoga class. I think I like the activities/postures of the Iyengar class a lot better (at least for the moment, this might change as I get further along in my pregnancy) - this prenatal class is more like I imagined yoga classes to be like until about five years ago when I was completely not into yoga and I would rather go sweat it out in the gym...
But besides that it was pretty good (even though I almost fainted because I was showing off too much in the beginning and I was now doing excercises during my usual nap time...) and nice to be away from my computer screen for an hour. I also liked being just with other pregnant women - and it was a very small group: only 6 women, of which most were much further along with their pregnancy then me, so some beautiful big bellies.
So I paid for 10 classes and will go back next week. And in 30 minutes I will go to my other yoga class. Bit weird that they're both on Thursday, but oh, well, that's how it is (not much choice in yoga classes in this city).
But besides that it was pretty good (even though I almost fainted because I was showing off too much in the beginning and I was now doing excercises during my usual nap time...) and nice to be away from my computer screen for an hour. I also liked being just with other pregnant women - and it was a very small group: only 6 women, of which most were much further along with their pregnancy then me, so some beautiful big bellies.
So I paid for 10 classes and will go back next week. And in 30 minutes I will go to my other yoga class. Bit weird that they're both on Thursday, but oh, well, that's how it is (not much choice in yoga classes in this city).
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