Breast Pumps, Peditricians, and More...

Hello J.! Congrats on your uncoming birth!
I have used a medula pump for all 3 children & love it. They have cups that are soft against your nipple when pumping - so much nicer that the ridged ones!!!
As far as your birth YOU GO GIRL!! I have done all 3 of my children w/o pain medication. My middle came on his own, but the other 2 I was induced for medical reasons. I can tell you beginning induced the contractions are a bit stronger. I found breathing truly did help. I found a cd that relaxed me and have used it for each birth. When I needed to regroup I shut out the world and focused on the music. My husband is so supportive. He tells me how amazing I'm doing and would watch the monitor to let me know when the contraction was ending - it was so helpful.
I do tell everyone to go in with a plan B incase. But honestly I didn't. I told my husband we would get divorced if they gave me anything (obviously would be different if c-section needed).
GOOD LUCK to you. I wish you a speedy devlivery! You can do what ever you put your mind to do.
Smiles,
M.

Hello J.,
Just a few thoughts in response to your questions.
I am back to work full time and use two different pumps...one that stays at home and one that runs on a battery that I carry everywhere else with me. By far the better one is the Medela Pump In Style that I use when I am at home. When I am at work I use the Even Flow Comfort Select. It runs both on AC and on AA batteries so it works for me because we do a lot of running around and camping in my family. If you go on to Medela's website they actually have a little quiz that they have you take in order to assess what type of pump might work best for you, so you might look into taking that.

As far as natural childbirth goes, my husband and I chose to birth at the BirthCenter at St. Mary's with our midwife. It is a low intervention birth place right down the hallway from the regular Women, Infants, and Children unit that allows for both the feel of home with the knowledge that should there have been an emergency help was literally a few feet away. I went through my total labor at home and arrived at the hospital ready to push. Our son was born 1 1/2 hours later, and it was one of the best experiences I have ever had...to realize what your body can do. By the time he was ready to arrive in the world all I wanted was to push. The only desire I had for pain meds was when I was at the end of labor (transition) at my house -- so either way that wasn't going to happen. I bought a book about hypnobirthing which helps with breathing and read it on my own at home.

I am a pastor as well and one of my parishoners is a doula. She loves her work as a doula and says that she helps people in whatever way she sees necessary -- sometimes that means holding hands or rubbing backs, and sometimes that means coaching a partner through birth in order to help a birthing mom in the best way possible. We had our childbirth classes through Birth Partners which is in Naugatuck, and they have both classes specifically geared toward natural childbirth as well as doulas & lactation consultants who are very available to answer questions, etc.

No matter what happens on your big day, I wish you the very best!
Blessings,
J.

Hi J.,
I used the Medela pump in style when I had my daugther and I plan on using it again when I have baby #2 (37 weeks pregnant right now).
As far as the birth, I had an epidural with my daugther and didn't feel drugged up at all. It didn't take long for me to have feelings in my legs either. They had to increase the epidural meds because my daugther was born with forceps which caused alot more pain afterward and they wanted to make sure I couldn't feel anything.
The only thing that happened to me b/c of the epidural is I got sick a couple times, I have a sensitive stomach at times. They gave me something in my IV and then I was fine. Hope I helped.
I live in Cheshire. I don't know any pediatricians in Southington.

K.

Hi, I have no advice for pumps or pediatricians in Southington. Sorry. The pedi we use is in Prospect/Waterbury line and he is very good. So if that's not too far and you'd like more info let me know. I was writing to let you know that I think it is great you want to do natural labor without epidural. I did it with my 1st (who's now 5) and will plan on it again with my 2nd (due in Jan.) Unless there are complications leading to a c-section natural drug-free birth can be done and it's not as bad as everyone makes it out to be. Yes, there is tons of pain which obviously is expected but from my experience it's more the mind frame with which you approach it. If you go understanding there will be a lot of pain but that you are strong and capable of enduring it for a short time which would make everything better in the long run then it is very doable. Contractions are painful but really the only time it gets "unbearable" is when you actually are starting to push and then it's over before you know it. However, if you go thinking it will be so much, I'm not sure if I can do it but I want to, etc....that type of thinking, I believe, is what leads women to give up and want the epidural. Just believe in yourself and your capabilities as a women to do it. Think back to pre-drug days. How do you think those women did it and survived! Good luck to you and hope all goes well for you!!

I live in Cheshire and use Greg Germain in Cheshire, I love him and it may not be that far depending on where in Southington you are. I used a Medela pump in style that was a great pump and many of my friends also used it, You can even get one in a back pack style so when you take it places it is not so obvious. They even make a car charger plug if you need to use it on the go. As for epidural, I had one with each child, I totally remember their births and I could get up shortly afterward - I remember with my second I was able to use the bathroom before they moved me from the delivery room back to my room so it could not have been that long. Good luck and enjoy the new baby.

I can't help with the breat pump or pedi, it's been too long to remember what pump I had. But I can tell you that when it comes to birth, be flexible about what you want...know your options but alot depends on you and baby. I had a friend who wanted an epi, didn't get one b/c when she got to the hosp she was already 8.5 cm. I was going on over 16 hrs with my water broken and no labor, so had to be put on pitocin, not really what I wanted, and was hard, fast labor. I took the epi and was able to walk and feel my legs, and even the birth quite honestly. I still knew when a contraction was coming and when to push. Another good friend had to have an emergency section b/c the baby was in distress. So much can happen, that it's best to educate yourself and then remain flexible. Do what is best at that moment for you and baby. Good luck!

If you would like to learn more about the different breast pumps and which one would possibly be best for you and your specific situation/needs feel free to contact me at Lactation Services of Southington. I have The Medela Pump in Style for sale and the Medela Symphony breast pump for rental. I would be happy to give you all the information you need regarding pumps. I am thrilled that you are considering a natural childbirth. There are alot of benefits. I would also be happy to speak to you privately about pediatricians in the area that are breastfeeding friendly. You can check out Lactation Services of Southington on facebook or find me at www.breastfeedingservice.com. Best of luck on a wonderful delivery and birth experience.

I don't have much to offer (unless you want your pedi in Bristol!) except to say--I'm one of those Moms who blacked out for the birth. The epi (which never worked right anyway) wasn't the issue--I'd be much more wary of the injectables!

Good luck!

Breast pump:

I have a Medela one that comes in a backpack. I got it through my insurance company when my youngest was born at 35 weeks. http://www.target.com/gp/detail.html/602-###-###-####-###...

I loved it. Easy to use, fairly quiet, I love how it all has a home (inside the backpack).

HTH - feel free to message me if you want