Tuesday, 20 August 2013
Due Date
Today's my due date! I feel like I should get a cake or something, considering it's pretty clear this baby isn't going to show up.
Friday, 16 August 2013
Book Review: Ina May's Guide to Childbirth
For those of you who don't know, Ina May Gaskin is considered one of the pioneers of midwifery in the United States (and really, North America). In a time when midwifery care was not the standard of practice in North America, she and her friends taught themselves to help women give birth naturally without (for the most part) obstetricians. The start of this movement comes from the fact that OBs are surgeons, and as such are not taught to attend normal births. Fast forward half a century and it was easy for me to find a midwife in Ontario for my pregnancy care. I never even had to speak to an OB, and it's covered by provincial healthcare. I feel very lucky to live with such choice.
Ina May wrote her first book called Spiritual Midwifery decades ago and has long since been an integral book for people learning about natural birth. The book I am reviewing, Ina May's Guide to Childbirth offers a two part book to prepare you for natural birth with the first part being positive birth stories as told by the women who experienced them and the second part being Ina May's overview of the birth process in America. I bought this book from iBooks for $20, which was well worth it in my opinion.
The first part helps you prepare mentally for childbirth by normalizing the birth process, especially for first time pregnancies. Birth in our culture is usually talked about in very generalized terms, like "It was a Tuesday and you were born late at night" or "The labour slowed and then the doctor gave me a c-section and you were born". People don't seem to feel comfortable talking to their daughters and friends about the specific processes that influence birth and labour or the interventions that were given with little discussion about the true implications of accepting them. Maybe it's because nearly everyone I've ever talked to in my circle of family and friends has had the standard hospital birth with epidurals and obstetricians and didn't know (at least at the time) that there could be another way. My grandmother recently asked me if I was going to give birth "cold turkey". She had all 4 of her kids with anaesthetic of some kind and doesn't seem to think there's a reason to go through it the way her mother had to. Ina May makes you believe that birth is normal and it's nothing a woman's body can't handle. Knowing that makes me feel empowered and capable. The book is set up with an entire section of these birth stories to make it easy for you to go back and read them when you're feeling overwhelmed.
The second part contains practical information like common medical interventions and what really happens to your body and baby when you use them. There's a good explanation of the chain of events that often lead to Cesarean section in hospitals, starting with medical induction. There are also honest explanations of side effects to interventions that are not scientifically studied and are therefore not mentioned by an anaesthesiologist or obstetrician. For example, babies born to mothers that have received epidurals often have a lot harder time establishing breast feeding. Usually you are just told about the potential problems that could go wrong with the mother from that, such as the possibility of death or paralysis or having a headache that lasts for months. In this part she also talks about how to have a natural birth without a midwife, when you are stuck advocating for yourself. Things like how to let doctors know about your preferences and how to ask them questions about the practices they are suggesting.
This book was overall informative and empowering and I will need to remember to try to relax and think of those who have gone before me when it is time for me to be in labour (which should be any time now, come on baby!).
Ina May wrote her first book called Spiritual Midwifery decades ago and has long since been an integral book for people learning about natural birth. The book I am reviewing, Ina May's Guide to Childbirth offers a two part book to prepare you for natural birth with the first part being positive birth stories as told by the women who experienced them and the second part being Ina May's overview of the birth process in America. I bought this book from iBooks for $20, which was well worth it in my opinion.
The first part helps you prepare mentally for childbirth by normalizing the birth process, especially for first time pregnancies. Birth in our culture is usually talked about in very generalized terms, like "It was a Tuesday and you were born late at night" or "The labour slowed and then the doctor gave me a c-section and you were born". People don't seem to feel comfortable talking to their daughters and friends about the specific processes that influence birth and labour or the interventions that were given with little discussion about the true implications of accepting them. Maybe it's because nearly everyone I've ever talked to in my circle of family and friends has had the standard hospital birth with epidurals and obstetricians and didn't know (at least at the time) that there could be another way. My grandmother recently asked me if I was going to give birth "cold turkey". She had all 4 of her kids with anaesthetic of some kind and doesn't seem to think there's a reason to go through it the way her mother had to. Ina May makes you believe that birth is normal and it's nothing a woman's body can't handle. Knowing that makes me feel empowered and capable. The book is set up with an entire section of these birth stories to make it easy for you to go back and read them when you're feeling overwhelmed.
The second part contains practical information like common medical interventions and what really happens to your body and baby when you use them. There's a good explanation of the chain of events that often lead to Cesarean section in hospitals, starting with medical induction. There are also honest explanations of side effects to interventions that are not scientifically studied and are therefore not mentioned by an anaesthesiologist or obstetrician. For example, babies born to mothers that have received epidurals often have a lot harder time establishing breast feeding. Usually you are just told about the potential problems that could go wrong with the mother from that, such as the possibility of death or paralysis or having a headache that lasts for months. In this part she also talks about how to have a natural birth without a midwife, when you are stuck advocating for yourself. Things like how to let doctors know about your preferences and how to ask them questions about the practices they are suggesting.
This book was overall informative and empowering and I will need to remember to try to relax and think of those who have gone before me when it is time for me to be in labour (which should be any time now, come on baby!).
Thursday, 15 August 2013
Neighbourhood Review: Rooster Coffee House
Let me just start by saying how lucky I feel to have such a perfect coffee shop sitting at my streetcar stop. Having just moved from Markham, it feels like heaven. Warden and 7 just doesn't have what I'm looking for.
Rooster Coffee (on King St. E, haven't visited the original yet) is the kind of place I just feel instantly at home in.
They have a variety of seating options, including a couple of couches. The way their seating is set up is in groups so that you can either sit with a bunch of people you know or a bunch of strangers. It's nice because it makes it so easy to say hi to someone new. It's the kind of place where I've seen people I went to school with (in Waterloo) and also my neighbours.
Their music is a collection of interesting tunes from a variety of decades and genres. The thing I like most about it is that it's not overly loud. I also have never heard anything that's currently on every radio station, which is a nice change.
Their snacks and pastries seem to be a collection from bakeries around the city and they are always fresh and so delicious. Sometimes it's important to remember that you don't need a cookie or brownie every day, even if it's the best brownie you've ever had. Ever. As a side note, they are always willing and happy to serve you when you run into the store 5 minutes to closing to get desert.
They make excellent espresso and coffee. Obviously. But their summer drinks are very interesting. Their cold brew is a step above everyone else's. And definitely superior to my overnight fridge brew.
The raspberry iced tea is a magical drink that's distinctly iced tea mixed with raspberry lemonade. It's a perfect balance of sweet and tart. The straight shakeretto is a shot of espresso that's been sweetened and shaken over ice, martini-style. It makes you feel quite fancy as you stand there for your drink to be shaken.
There are other coffee shops in the neighbourhood, but since moving here 6 weeks ago, this just seems to be the place where we always end up.
Rooster Coffee (on King St. E, haven't visited the original yet) is the kind of place I just feel instantly at home in.
They have a variety of seating options, including a couple of couches. The way their seating is set up is in groups so that you can either sit with a bunch of people you know or a bunch of strangers. It's nice because it makes it so easy to say hi to someone new. It's the kind of place where I've seen people I went to school with (in Waterloo) and also my neighbours.
Their music is a collection of interesting tunes from a variety of decades and genres. The thing I like most about it is that it's not overly loud. I also have never heard anything that's currently on every radio station, which is a nice change.
Their snacks and pastries seem to be a collection from bakeries around the city and they are always fresh and so delicious. Sometimes it's important to remember that you don't need a cookie or brownie every day, even if it's the best brownie you've ever had. Ever. As a side note, they are always willing and happy to serve you when you run into the store 5 minutes to closing to get desert.
They make excellent espresso and coffee. Obviously. But their summer drinks are very interesting. Their cold brew is a step above everyone else's. And definitely superior to my overnight fridge brew.
 |
| Raspberry Iced Tea and the Shakeretto |
There are other coffee shops in the neighbourhood, but since moving here 6 weeks ago, this just seems to be the place where we always end up.
Tuesday, 13 August 2013
39 Weeks Pregnant
Why am I still pregnant? Every day has felt like a lifetime for the last few weeks. It hurts to move, it hurts to not move. I waddle. I really wish the baby would just schedule the arrival and send me an invite. It's not that I need to be in charge of when this happens, it's more that I'd like the security of knowing it will someday happen. I guess regardless, there will be a baby here in no longer than 3 weeks. I don't even want to know how I'll feel at 40 weeks and a day.
I'm as ready as I'll ever be for baby to show up, so please consider doing so shortly!
I'm as ready as I'll ever be for baby to show up, so please consider doing so shortly!
Saturday, 10 August 2013
Neighbourhood Review: Craft Dogs
Best hotdogs ever.
Craft Dogs makes their hotdogs on site in small batches and it shows. They have a pretty small menu, but they do what they do well. That's the way a restaurant should be. The atmosphere is always friendly and the staff are pretty funny. They sing and dance and are happy to tell you about their product.
I ordered an original hot dog, which is made of local beef and pork and is absolutely huge. You can get any number of delicious toppings on it. I also got the fries and peach ginge rale. They make the fries and even the pop there too! It's amazing. The only thing better would have to be a local beer, but I guess I have to wait for that (due in 10 days!).
It was so good, it didn't even give me heartburn - which at 38 weeks pregnant is a feat for any food. I love this place and I'm lucky it's a few blocks away from our house.
Craft Dogs makes their hotdogs on site in small batches and it shows. They have a pretty small menu, but they do what they do well. That's the way a restaurant should be. The atmosphere is always friendly and the staff are pretty funny. They sing and dance and are happy to tell you about their product.
I ordered an original hot dog, which is made of local beef and pork and is absolutely huge. You can get any number of delicious toppings on it. I also got the fries and peach ginge rale. They make the fries and even the pop there too! It's amazing. The only thing better would have to be a local beer, but I guess I have to wait for that (due in 10 days!).
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| Naked Dog with fancy mustard, smoked tomato ketchup, and a pickle |
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| Chicago Shout-Out |
It was so good, it didn't even give me heartburn - which at 38 weeks pregnant is a feat for any food. I love this place and I'm lucky it's a few blocks away from our house.
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