I discovered a must-see store for all vegans and vegetarians that live or can easily travel to Chandler.
Food Wise is a fabulous store to get all the grains, organic freeze-dried food, and spices you could need. I'm desperately trying to wean my family off sugar and the sheer number of flavored agave nectar on the shelf was so exciting! I was like a kid in a candy store! They even have TVP chunks flavored in beef, taco, chicken, pepperoni, to name a few. They'll even give you samples of what you're thinking of buying so you know it tastes good before you buy it. If you're "green conscious" you'll love that they sell their products in containers that, when you're done with, you bring it in and simply refill, saving $3. It was obvious I am not the first vegan to shop there and hopefully not the last! Try it!
Saturday, April 24, 2010
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Another step in a unique direction
I'm more than midway through my pregnancy and I decided to can my OB. She came highly recommended and for the most part I was glad to use her. However, after I told her I was switching to a midwife whom she does co-care with, she flat out said, you don't keep coming to me, I won't be available if you have to be transferred to the hospital mid-labor. Well thanks Mrs. OB, with that attitude, and waiting a whole hour to see you for my 15 minute appointment which has become 5 minutes because I'm so late in picking my kids up, you're done.
*This is one thing I've learned, it's very hard to keep strong emotions in check during pregnancy. The tears, the frustrations, hurt feelings, annoying door-to-door solicitors, and it seems like the doctor really should know better.*
Therefore, it is official, I have a midwife, I'm doing a homebirth, and after reading Ina May's Guide to Childbirth I couldn't be happier with my decision.
What brings a person to this conclusion? Do you tell people? One advice I was given is no, don't tell people, they expect that something will go horrifically wrong to confirm all their expectations. For the most part, it appears that the reason women switch is an unpleasant experience with their doctors or the routine of things. I personally have had pretty good experiences with birth, my doctors, and the hospitals. The best experiences were my first two, when I gave birth at the Catholic Medical Center in Manchester, NH. If I lived in the East, I would travel there for this one. As it stands though, I had two nagging thoughts. First, only 10% of birth really need to be attended by a specialist, namly an OB. The other 90% can be done with midwives and in the comfort of your own home if you want. Second, the why not now? wouldn't go away. Sure the closest hospital is 25 minutes away, but I'm switching to a provider that can use the Gaskin maneuver if need be, instead of ordering an emergency C-section.
The clinchers have been wanting a waterbirth and the pampering. My hospital has allowed 1 waterbirth. It would cost me a lot of grief and petitioning to both my OB and the hospital, then an additional $200+ to rent a tub (another reason I really miss the CMC, they had jetted tubs in every room!). The pampering aspect is actually in favor of the hospital. Where else can I take 24 to 48 hours of room service and friends and family happily providing child care for me while I rest and relax? Well, that's where we hit a snag, the room service and rest. Can the hospital really provide yummy vegan food? or simply oatmeal and smoothies? Thanks, but my husband can provide that for me. As for resting, I'm the person who has to sleep in a new bed and place for 2-3 nights before I can actually get a good nights sleep, not to mention nurses coming in every few hours to do stats on me and the baby. I still have good neighbors and family willing to watch the kids so a little white noise and blackout curtains will help me at least rest well right after birth.
So it came down to my husband, "What do you think dear?" He's all for it. He has no idea what has happened to his wife, who told him when we were dating "I will never do a homebirth and homeschooling is out of the question" just so he knew where I stood before deciding to pop the question. Yet, here I am, open to homeschooling, eating a vegan diet, and super excited to make this birth a family event at home instead of appearing to be a medical potential emergency in the hospital.
Times change!
*This is one thing I've learned, it's very hard to keep strong emotions in check during pregnancy. The tears, the frustrations, hurt feelings, annoying door-to-door solicitors, and it seems like the doctor really should know better.*
Therefore, it is official, I have a midwife, I'm doing a homebirth, and after reading Ina May's Guide to Childbirth I couldn't be happier with my decision.
What brings a person to this conclusion? Do you tell people? One advice I was given is no, don't tell people, they expect that something will go horrifically wrong to confirm all their expectations. For the most part, it appears that the reason women switch is an unpleasant experience with their doctors or the routine of things. I personally have had pretty good experiences with birth, my doctors, and the hospitals. The best experiences were my first two, when I gave birth at the Catholic Medical Center in Manchester, NH. If I lived in the East, I would travel there for this one. As it stands though, I had two nagging thoughts. First, only 10% of birth really need to be attended by a specialist, namly an OB. The other 90% can be done with midwives and in the comfort of your own home if you want. Second, the why not now? wouldn't go away. Sure the closest hospital is 25 minutes away, but I'm switching to a provider that can use the Gaskin maneuver if need be, instead of ordering an emergency C-section.
The clinchers have been wanting a waterbirth and the pampering. My hospital has allowed 1 waterbirth. It would cost me a lot of grief and petitioning to both my OB and the hospital, then an additional $200+ to rent a tub (another reason I really miss the CMC, they had jetted tubs in every room!). The pampering aspect is actually in favor of the hospital. Where else can I take 24 to 48 hours of room service and friends and family happily providing child care for me while I rest and relax? Well, that's where we hit a snag, the room service and rest. Can the hospital really provide yummy vegan food? or simply oatmeal and smoothies? Thanks, but my husband can provide that for me. As for resting, I'm the person who has to sleep in a new bed and place for 2-3 nights before I can actually get a good nights sleep, not to mention nurses coming in every few hours to do stats on me and the baby. I still have good neighbors and family willing to watch the kids so a little white noise and blackout curtains will help me at least rest well right after birth.
So it came down to my husband, "What do you think dear?" He's all for it. He has no idea what has happened to his wife, who told him when we were dating "I will never do a homebirth and homeschooling is out of the question" just so he knew where I stood before deciding to pop the question. Yet, here I am, open to homeschooling, eating a vegan diet, and super excited to make this birth a family event at home instead of appearing to be a medical potential emergency in the hospital.
Times change!
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