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BIRTH Story

Baby...YES! Jonathan Stephen Hopkins! OCt 25th. 6 lbs 2 oz. 20 inches. little fella...so petite looking! I ended up having an emergency c-section. took my husband half an hour to convince me that we needed it. at the doc's on wednesday i was 1cm, 80%. right after the appt around 5PM, i started having contractions. They got to be 3 minutes around 8. but then they died down to 10, 15 minutes. so we waited. at 11, we went to bed. at that point they got sooooo painful and then 3 minutes apart. at the hospital i was 3 cm, 90%. hour later, 4cm, doc broke water. but then i stopped progressing. Jonathan's heart was getting very high. baseline of 180. he moved his head to my sacrum and gave me extraordinary pain. nothing was helping. gave in to c-section. born at 9:35AM!

He is doing well. mom, on the other hand was in the hospital for 6 days with severe edema with the vulva!!! doc didn't dare to take our catheter for fear i wouldn't be able to pee. problem was my thyroid and extremely low albumin protein levels. now i am a nervous wreck caring for such a small creature...such a HUGE responsibility! still breast feeding, but that is not going very well. have to use the nipple shield...having a hard time with him latching on to my breasts themselves. i really want to BF for at least 6 months. pretty upset about this. but hubby is extremely encouraging! don't know what i would do without him.

it is soooo cool to see Matthew so excited with Jonathan. blessing to my heart!

I found out I was pregnant by mistake. I had horrible abdominal pain on a monday and decided to go to the hospital. The doctor thought it might have been a miscarriage. But my quantitative tests 2 days later indicated quite the opposite. The pain was (and still is over a week later) a result of many ovarian cysts bursting. Way to start the prego! My husband and I are extremely excited. We will have been married about 2 1/2 years before the baby comes, Lord willing. This is my first pregnancy ever. So I am a little nervous about what to expect. My sisters did not have a good prego. Hopefully, I will not follow suit.

You no doubt have seen me in various rooms talking about natural progesterone cream. My goal in writing about this is to introduce the idea to women. If I could get one lady in here to go out and do research on her own and contemplate the usage of progesterone cream for herself, I would be very pleased with my actions. Here are a few reasons I recommend this for others:

* Please note, if you are pregnant and your pregnancy is going well, I do not suggest using this cream. There are several women who use progesterone during pregnancy because of a history of m/c. In most cases, their own progesterone is very low and not producing HCG and therefore miscarry. You will find that many doctors prescribe synthetic progesterone (usually suppository) to these women. Otherwise, this cream may be used outside of pregnancy, and often without birth control. Progesterone may or may not decrease the efficacy of the pill. After all the point of using progesterone cream is to get balanced and the pill tricks your body into being a little off balance to prevent pregnancy.

1. Progesterone (and estrogen for that matter) is a fat soluble hormone. It doesn't make any sense to obtain progesterone via pill, injection, rectum, etc. Obtained these ways, the progesterone goes first to the liver to be digested, where it changes form and excreted and can not be used as it was intended. So because of that, the doctor will have to give you more than you need (than if you used the cream) just so that some can get to ultimate destination.

2. This cream I put forth to you is natural, not synthetic. Synthetics are very dangerous. So when you think about it, the doctor has to give you a higher concentration of this synthetic progesterone, giving you more chance for you or your baby (more likely in the long run) to be susceptable to negative effects of the drug.

3. You do not need a prescription from the doctor. Yet this cream is highly affordable. This is a great benefit. First, you are in charge of your life, instead of a doctor who has how many patients to care for? Second, you will start to understand what your body is saying to you and be educated to change some things without having to go to the doctor and spend money.

4.I cannot tell you what WILL happen to you as you use this. I am not a doctor. This is only to inform you of your choice. This is a decision ONLY you can make. I just want to give you information about what is out there that is good for you. I can only tell you what has happened with me and my clients while on this cream. For example: A few years ago (before I met my husband), I got off the pill. I was on the pill for my ovarian cysts. After a few months of progesterone, I was regular in my cycle within a week. Prior to the pill I could miss 2 months of a pd and not be alarmed. I had the most beautiful skin (also thanks to a new skin regimen). My migraines went away. I had NO cramps during my period. I did not get ovarian cysts either.

Most people experience relief from depression. Some lose weight. While others just enjoy a great period. One of my clients was informed enough to understand that this cream is known for preventing breast cancer. Since her family is prone to it, she is warding it off.

5. Finally, in Dr. Lee's books, "What Doctors May Not Tell You About....Menopause, Premenopause, Breast Cancer," He puts forth a very strong and convincing argument that the natural progesterone creams have little to no negative side effects. He promotes these creams with no bias to one particular company.

Ultimately, I HIGHLY encourage you to read up on YOUR hormones. YOU need to keep yourself and YOUR BABY healthy. If you care not about such things, then continue life in the dark and relying on doctors, and ignore the information I have put forth. Let me make myself clear here. I do think doctors are necessary for our lives. They are good, but sometimes they have too many patients or they are not up to date on health issues. Most doctors have not done their own research on these creams so they rely on what was put forth eons ago. Since the 60's there is new evidence that synthetics are harmful to us. Why they ignore all this, is beyond my comprehension. This Dr. Lee has taken a revolutionary stand against women dieing due to hormones. I would be happy to email you some excerpts from his book. Just drop me a line via email.

Week 10: My ovarian cyst pain is not as frequent or so harsh any more. I am going to the doctor in just 20 minutes to see how that is doing. I am hoping that it is disintegrating! My husband and I will also hear the heart beat for the first time. Sometimes I feel like I am having twins. I feel much larger than I thought I would be at this time. I haven't had much nausea. When I do, I eat just a little something and it goes away. From week 5 to 9, I was wanting to devour everything. This feeling has subsided somewhat. I get full quicker now. I have put on about 5/6 pounds. I have to pee so frequently, just amazing. I get a little embarrassed. The bathroom is in front of the reception's desk and I, for the most part, can hide my stomach. So she probably thinks I have a medical problem. And constipation! constipation. I take 2 herbal colon cleanse, been eating york peppermint patties, and drinking apple juice to help. I believe I finally found the right stuff to make me go.

Oh, and of course, I am growing out of my clothes. I figure I have 1 maybe 2 weeks left for 3 pairs of pants/skirts. I did make one pair of pants and a shirt. The pants are stitched so that in a few months I can let them out and have more room.

My church is very excited. There is one other girl that is prego. She is due in June. This church hasn't had babies in at least 7 years. So they completely redid the nursery. New carpet, paint...

Question: How is everyone else's website so cool looking. how do you all get that fun stuff on there? and where did you go to get it?

Week 11 (April 12)

I haven't had much ms. But all of a sudden yesterday and today around 9 AM I am getting a strong feeling of not feeling well. I have also had a strong pain on my right side (where the baby is). It only lasted for a couple minutes at a time and for about 3 hours. took my breath away. For the most part I am wearing maternity tops. still have 3 bottoms i can wear. Feel like a wanna be, but they are more comfortable. I am certain my cyst is still with me (dang it). peeing and of course constipated. next doctor appt is 2 weeks from today. getting my hair done today. wish me luck! Acne up the wazoo. Though i do feel like I have it more under control than not using anything. I just want my beautiful skin back! All worth it for the bean!

Week 12 (April 20)

I have started wearing maternity tops. Even in those tops, my bump is visible. Very proud to my baby bump. I have been feeling a little more ms, but nothing terrible. I have gained a total of 9 pounds so far. I am glad I haven't done a pound a week. My acne is starting to settle down some...YEA! I am guessing in another 2 weeks I will have little to none. Oh, and my hair. I dyed it last week. I was going for a darker blonde, but I got dark brown. Ahh! Oh well, I was looking for a change. And for a week I liked it, but now I want to go lighter. My light eyebrows and dark hair looks funny on me, I think. We will just have to see especially when my acne clears up. I have a bad impression of how I look now anyways. Peeing has settled down some. I can sleep through most nights now. I do stop drinking around 7 or 8 PM. I have been going to bed between 9 and 10pm. I have noticed a slight increase in energy this week. OHHH. MIGRAINES! They last me 2 days. Nothing helps. I take Benedryl, so at least I can sleep for 3 hours and "not" have the pain. But they are pretty miserable. Constipation has been less of a nuisance. Still not up to par, but better. Go to the doctor on April 26th!

Husband is extremely excited. We do have bittersweet emotion about all of this. We want this baby greatly, but we also love our relationship with each other. We have so much fun together. Now we won't have much time with each other. I am going to miss this stage of life, but I keep hearing it is for the better. Any one else feel this way? Anyone have advice?

WEEK 13 (April 26)

I am in maternity clothes completely. Still only have gained 9 pounds. I do hope to not gain more than 40. Otherwise not much else has changed. I see me doctor today. Hopefully I will also find out how my cyst is doing. I haven't had a problems in a long time. I am entering my 3rd week on new thyroid medication. It is hard to tell if I am feeling better (more energy, more libido) because of the medicine or because I am in 2nd trimester. I will say this though with that other medication I was on I was tired all the time and brain foggy and loss of libido. So maybe a combination of the 2 is helping.

Week 15 (May 7)

Not to much to report. But the biggest news is...ta da...we felt the baby move. This was last thursday (May 3rd). I was laying on my side and had Matthew hold my tummy up because there was a lot of pressure on the side..i was guessing it was where the baby was. I felt "gas." But then thought...no, i know what my gas feels like. A minute later I told him I felt the bean. At that time he was feeling the heartbeat!

Other than that, my acne is lessening quite a bit!! Constipation is not so bad. I have stopped using the colon cleanse pill and i am still regular to at least once a day. I have started drink a lot more water and using peppermint oil (on my temples, neck, behind the ear) to ward off migraines. So far, I had 2 potential migraines and they went away after those two remedies. By the way I got the peppermint oil from a health food store. Peppermint is the only herb I will use indefinately while pregnant. Others I use sparingly. I have not read anything negative about peppermint during use of pregnancy. I am getting a lot of cramps. But am reassured that I am just growing. Cannot wait to find out the sex. I just hate calling my bean "it." I will hopefully find out the 2nd week in June!

Going down to Florida May 19th to visit mom and show Matthew my stomping grounds. Going to be a very quick trip. Had to do this before my 38 year old sister moved in with my mom with her husband, 2 kids, 4 cats, and a gerbel. I say all that because I am so irritated with it all. Guess I am venting a little. 38 years old you need to grow up. There is always the issue where you run into problems. But she just doesn't want to spend the money on her condo and mooch off of mom and abuse her. SIckening.

Also going to DC the first week of June. Should be a lot of fun. Hubby is going to school and I get to play. Lots of walking!

Week 17 (May 25)

We went to the doctor late yesterday to find out the sex and the result was:

It's a BOY!!

I was hoping for a girl. Partly because I know girls (besides myself, I was a nanny to my neices some time ago). I am afraid that there is going to be this club that includes my son and husband. They will be playing with cars, wood, hunting. And I will be left out of fun...admittedly, that kind of stuff is not fun to me. Also, at a certain age, it is just not "cool" to hug mom or cuddle with her. And I am a big cuddle person. But then I think of how fun it will be to go to his games, that he will be taller than me and look down on me when he is older and "stick" up for mom. I get excited about his possibilities of becoming a mayor of a town just like his daddy wants to. I look forward teaching him about solar energy, chemistry, biology. And getting him in the dirt with me to work on the gardens. And to see him grow up to be a man that will know how to care for a wife...just like his dad, that will be so awesome to see. SO I think I have decided that this is going to be a great little blessing.

Other news: I have gained 14 pounds!! That is not what I wanted to weigh at this point in the game. Very saddened. I think I gained about 3 pounds when I went to see mom this past weekend. We ate out every meal. On this past sunday, I felt my boy move. I placed my hand on where I thought he was moving and my hand would move up. This happened for about a total of 5 times. Very cool. We did go bike riding, beach, played with my neices, and showed Matthew where I grew up and went to school. My sister was on her good behavior. I really feared that she would be a wench and Matthew would have to put her in her place...but she was good. And my mom's cats...ahh Clifford is soo cute.

Well, that is all I have for now. OH, wait, my acne is getting better. I have one big blemish, and just a few scattered little ones (from where I place my cell phone on my cheek. I got a bluetooth last night) that are easy to cover up. Beautiful skin here I come!

WEEK 18 (June1)

Well the greatest news is that my acne is seriously going away.I do not have any blemishes that anyone can see.There are still some there, but I am the only one that knows it.I have been feeling very well.In fact better than before I was pregnant.I am on new thyroid medication (made from pig) and I think it is doing a better job than the synthetic drug I was on.However, I am still tired.The difference is that during the day I have great energy.I am in bed by 9 and awake by 6:30.Allergies are a little worse than non-preggers.But I am also not taking much to supress them.

My baby boy is doing well.I feel him occasionally.I can't wait when the time comes that I wake Matthew up with the bean kicking or punching him in the back.Thatwill be hilarious...at least the first time.I treasure my sleep, so I am a little hesitant about being excited about being woken up in the middle of the night.Bye-Bye sleep (as I know it).

Going to Washington D.C. next week.So I will not be on here as much, if any.I plan to catch up with you all the first chance I get.Take care!!

Week 21 (June 18)

Not much to report except that my boy is moving a LOT. Freaks me out every time. I either jerk or make a low sounding yelp, everytime. Husband finally got to feel him move. Though he still has no patience to wait long for him. Started my baby registry!

Week 25 (July 18)

Had a bowl of ice cream and my son was moving a lot. So much so that I had never felt him move this much thus far.

Week 27 (July 31)

Starting to have hip pains when I sit, go to stand, walk, and change positions in bed. Occasionally, my tummy will hurt as though it is tired of trying to support the extra weight. I end up sitting down for a few hours and I am fine. The baby's movements becoming less like the feeling of twitches and more of a feeling of an actual limb. I think he is lying sideways. I feel him kicking/punching on my left and right sides. Had my 1st shower this past weekend. WHAT A BLESSING! Got a stroller, play pen, bouncer, play gym, clothes, diapers, toys, books....Praise GOD! We only had a basinet. I am still hopeful to get a crib and highchair from a doctor in the area.

Week 38 (October 17)

So I am getting stronger BH's. On a pain level they are about a 7, when they used to be a 2. They seem to only happen at night. Last night i had 4 an hour, for 2 hours. We can feel our boy's feet more. Matthew likes to "grab" his feet, but little Mister pulls away to move somewhere else. I am 50-60% effaced (last week I was 40-50%), no dilation. His head is in good position. Gained about 39 pounds. We have everything we are going to need for this baby at this point. Still waiting on Matthew to finish painting the changing table, crib, and book shelf. Bags are packed.

HOME-BASED BUSINESS

Oh and some of you ladies have been asking about home-based businesses to have when you stay home with your little one(s). Check out www.arbonne.com. Go to the link "Arbonne = Results." It is not a pyramid! No quotas. Natural products. Many, and I do mean MANY women reach top status in a year and make at least $20,000 per month and drive the company car...mercedes (style of their own choosing). There is a start up fee of $30. And you do not have to buy all of their products to start. In fact they recommend that you don't "keep" or store products. It is too costly and that is not what Arbonne supports! Ask me if you want to know more about this business opportunity. It may or may not be a fit for you. My business website: www.naturalalternatives4u.myarbonne.com

I just received this website: http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=special_coverage&id=5326367 This is a news cast up in the Chicago area that showed the lucrative business of Arbonne and how some women are supplementing their income.

Some other ideas are: Pampered Chef, Scrapbooking, typing up Doctor notes so they are actually legible, having your own day care. If you like jewelry, there is Premier Designs. I can hook you up with some women who do some of these businesses..let me know. Good luck. Let me know if I can be of further assistance!

Skin Information (Acne while preggers)

I thought I would include some information about acne while pregnant. I have read so many ladies on this site "plagued" with acne. I myself am going through this issue. I am cleared up and as of today, 8-10-07. I get a blemish about once a week...just one...that's amazing if you ask me. I do not intend to hide any information from you, including what I am going through. There is just some basic information that we as women just do not receive. My secret is by following the guidelines I have listed below as well as an anti-acne system through Arbonne.com. I find their dietary skin supplement pills (herbal and safe according to my doctor) to best for my acne. The skin care I use as well as the cosmetics do not have mineral oil or alcohol. Even my husband agrees there is huge improvement when he thinks back 4 months.

1.) Acne will happen with some women while they are pregnant. It is normal. And most women who do have issues usually have issues on a monthly basis with their menstration occurs. It is hormonal and is something we just have to wait out...UNFORTUNATELY!

2.)Some ingredients to avoid to prevent worsening our condition!

--Mineral Oil: MO is actually gasoline that is cleaned up a few more times than what we get at the pump. There are about 45 different names for MO. But most commonly we read on our products mineral oil. The molecule of MO is much to large to enter into our skin's pores. Instead it leaves a film that covers our skin's surface. Our skin, our largest organ, cannot properly respirate. Therefore, cannot push out the blemishes on a day to day basis. Not to mention, what ever else that comes in contact with our skin will sit under our layer of MO until it gets so big it finally just gets pushed out by the sheer emergence of the impurity. MO is found in so many of our products, most store bought items and products we order through the mail. These include lotions, sunscreens, cosmetics, facial washes and scrubs, toners, and yes, even our baby products. The only company I have come across that is very flagrant about NOT using MO is arbonne. But do some research and look for other companies that state they do not use this ingredient.

--Alcohol: This alcohol I am referring to is wood alcohol, ie: ethyl alcohol or isopropyl alcohol. These are not beneficial to our skin. These alcohols strip the skin of the correct pH balance. Your skin feels so "clean" when you use these. But 5 to 10 minutes later, your skin feels less clean, rather oily. Your skin is attempting to reach its correct pH. These alcohols are often found in your toners or astringents. Stay clear of these. There are good beneficial alcohols: these are ceteryl alcohols.

Finally, keep track of what is touching your face and eliminate that touch as much as possible. Are you putting your hands to your face to hold your head up? What about phone usage...is your severity where your phones touch? I just recently got a new cell phone and noticed I was breaking out very bad where the phone was touching my face. I started using a bluetooth and my cheeks cleared up well. My husband also knows not to touch my face as much...sounds mean, but there are more places for him to touch me. :0

HEADACHES/MIGRAINES

Just a little history about me. I have suffered with migraines for nearly 10 years now. When I got pregnant they became worse. They were lasting a minimum of 48 hours. I am not very functional when I get them. A lot you all are experiencing this pains as well. I have tried numerous medications for these migraines (prior to pregnancy) and nothing worked, in fact some made me puke. Add to the fact that I do NOT like medicine, give me something natural and safe, with no ill side effects. My best friend told me one day to drink about 3 L of water and dab peppermint oil on temples, behind the ears, neck, and shoulders. A little leary of her suggestion, I was desparate to try anything. So on the day of the next migraine I tried it. It actually worked. Now, this isn't a quick remedy. It took a couple of hours for it to start subsiding. By the end of the work day there was barely any pain. I got my peppermint oil at a natural food store (brand = Herb Pharm). But I am sure any brand will work. And water...well, that one is up to you. Just remember to continually dab on the oil all day long. Thankfully it is a pleasant smell and not overwhelming. I leave my bottle here at work. Best of luck to you all!