All Things Natural: Whole30 Day 22 & 34 Weeks Pregnant

Now on Day 22 of Whole30...things are going well!

Brian and I have both had dreams about off-limit foods, which they say is common during Days 12-15.  My dream involved a huge box of doughnuts (in which I avoided eating the chocolate one, keeping my Lenten promise, but not the sugar-filled non-chocolate ones!!) and Brian's involved eating a sandwich with bread!

Overall, we both like eating this way and are happy to have a meal-plan each week.  They say participants on Days 16-27 should experience Tiger Blood!  This strange Charlie Sheen reference means your energy may be through the roof, cravings are under control, clothes are fitting better, workouts are stronger, and you have a real sense of self-efficacy.  I'd say I fit in the category that sees improvement daily...my energy is steadier, I have a firmer handle on cravings, and I'm experimenting with new, delicious foods.  Here are a few meals we've made... 

Drunken Noodles made with zucchini

Sausage and brussels sprouts hash (with sweet potatoes for breakfast) and chicken dinner

Technically desserts and breakfast cereals aren't part of Whole30 - but I've made some with all Whole30-friendly ingredients :)

Green fruit 'dessert' for St. Patrick's Day

Fruit parfait for Feast of St. Joseph (delicious berries, coconut-milk whipped cream, and date-almond cookie crust)

Homemade granola (nuts, raisins, dates, coconut flakes, and coconut oil)

They say Days 22-27 are The Scales (and Mirror) are Calling!  Meaning you may be taking an embarrassing number of selfies....I haven't caught Brian taking any, but here's mine:

So, now nearing the end of the 34th week...here's a pregnancy update!

We've got the "nursery" - aka, the corner of our bedroom - set up.  I wouldn't have the larger crib in there yet -- but someone decided to vacate his crib this week so it was necessary to remove it from his bedroom...

We're still not exactly sure how Francis manages to get out of his crib wearing his sleep-sack.  Ellie never climbed out of her crib (we had to transition her to a bed at 2.5 years) - so we were quite surprised when Francis started doing this last week (just shy of 23 months).  We've transferred his mattress to the ground and added pillows and blankets around it - that's where we normally find him (when he's not knocking at his locked door to come out).  He's definitely not sleeping through the night anymore though (it's only been a week) and this morning began Daylight Savings Time here...so fun times with sleep schedules!

  

I've learned a lot about giving birth in Austria since my last post.  I met with a doula - or a hope-to-be doula - only to find out that she has yet to attend a birth (other than her own children).  She was very nice and offered to be there by my side, and to come and clean or watch the kids after I return home.  But doulas are not popular here in Austria like they are in the US because the midwife has a much larger role that appears to include what US doulas do.

For pregnancy, it is required to meet with an ob/gyn and s/he does all the required examinations and fills out your MutterKind Pass (this ensures you get money from the government / health care is socialized here).  For labor and delivery, however, everything is really handed over to the midwives.  It is the law that a midwife must be present for all births, even c-sections.  There are no labor & delivery nurses.  An on-duty doctor will come in for the actual delivery.  When I asked my midwife what his role is - she said to be there as an extra set of hands and to announce what time the baby is born!

You have a couple of options for midwives... you can either use the ones on-duty when you arrive at the hospital or you can hire an 'elective' (private) midwife.  I met with a private midwife at the hospital where I'll deliver yesterday and she was wonderful!  Her English was very good, she's very experienced, and we got along very well.  She will be on-call for my delivery beginning two weeks prior to my due date and for as long past my due date as I go.  

She showed me the hospital's birthing facilities and I was so impressed!  It's much more like a US birthing center than a hospital.  Each room has a calming theme and is wall-papered like a bedroom.  The hospital "bed" is not like beds in the US.  It transforms into all of these different positions so you can be seated in it, kneeling in several ways, or laying down (although she said most wouldn't deliver a baby laying down).  There is also a two-person chair, where Brian could sit behind me, that will have a rope or cloth attached above it for labor and delivery.  And there is a birthing ball.  One room has a tub for labor or water birth.  The bathroom with shower is down the hall.  There is another room that looks just a like a bedroom with a queen-size bed.  This is where you go if your water breaks but you are still in early labor.  (Apparently if your water breaks at home, you're supposed to call an ambulance and arrive on your back).  Next to that room is a wall covered with a leaf-pattern that folds away...that is where the equipment is for an emergency c-section.  She told me that if there is an emergency they can have the baby out in 5 minutes.  If there is a problem with the baby, he will have to be transferred to another hospital - as this hospital only has a visiting pediatrician three times a week (we're in the middle of the country out here).

 Every question that I had written down after reading Ina May's Guide to Childbirth and from watching the Mama Natural birthing videos - was met with the answer you'd hope for in the natural setting.  It's just the way they do it here!  (Which was something Ina May pointed out - most European countries have continued to do things more naturally, in the hand of midwives, with far fewer complications or deaths for mother & baby compared to the US).  Medications will not be readily offered (although epidurals are available if necessary, she said they'd try natural remedies or essential oils first); free movement the entire time; intermittent monitoring; lights dim; water birth available; immediate skin-to-skin; delayed cord clamping; breastfeeding asap; no bath for baby; delay exams for bonding; etc.

Having met with my midwife and seen the labor and delivery unit - I feel at peace...but am still wondering, Can I really do this?!  I hope the answer is yes!! :)