Makin' Trouble at the PHU

Mark and I are taking prenatal classes through the Peel Public Health Unit. We are both really enjoying the classes as the teacher is really great. The classes are two hours long, once a week, for seven weeks.

A few weeks ago the instructor explained that recent research indicated that pregnant women shouldn't do kegel exercises because they might cause preterm labour. Now, everything you read, every maternity health care provider, websites, etc. all encourage pregnant women to do kegal exercises throughout their pregnancy to strengthen pelvic muscles. Not to mention the fact that these are the muscles we use to 'hold it'... pregnant women NEVER need to pee, right?

I took a look online and couldn't find any research to support the 'no kegels' rule. At the next class (at the break) I asked the instructor for the curriculum research reference. Last night our instructor reported back. Apparently, my question went all the way to the top of the Public Health Unit system. It turns out that the nurses who work on the prenatal class curriculum went to a conference and heard a researcher discuss her findings... of one study. Apparently the study didn't assert much AND the Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists of Canada position is that pregnant women should be encouraged to do kegel exercises in pregnancy. So, now the PHU prenatal curriculum is being changed back to 'kegel's good'... all because of me. I know... I'm bad ass.

My next project will be to get Brampton Civic Hospital to stop charging women $20 per birth for a package of supplies (diapers, Vaseline, alcohol, peri-pads, etc). More on that later...

27 weeks 3 days

All is well on the baby making front. I'm really enjoying my pregnancy these days.

A midwife friend of mine at work checked baby's position today. S/he is head down, bum under my left ribs, and feetsies using my right ribs for leverage. This explains the achy right side ribs. She reports I have a 'good sized' baby.

I went for a standard glucose blood test last weekend to screen for gestational diabetes. Haven't got the results back yet but I'm not anticipating a result that indicates I have gestational diabetes as I have no signs or symptoms. Drinking the equivalent of a can of orange pop in less than three minutes is a bad idea (which is what you have to do before taking the test) - I don't recommend it if you can avoid it. Blech.

My weight gain has been really good so far - about 21 lbs which is right in the middle of the normal range of weight gain. My blood pressure remains low and my urine analysis continues to be normal at each midwifery visit. Baby's heart beat is strong and healthy and s/he moves around lots.

Belly Pictures by Jordan Lyall

I had a great weekend with some of my favorite girlfriends this weekend in Peterborough. My old university roomie, dear friend, and photographer extraordinaire took some pictures of me and 'the belly'. Here are a few for your viewing pleasure:

The shirt, a gift from Jordan, says "The baby made me eat it".

I still have a 'inny' belly button!

Cant do up my regular clothes though!

I am so lucky to have such a good friend who also happens to be a professional photographer. You can see more of Jordan's work at http://www.jordanlyallphotography.com/ . She takes gorgeous pictures!