[blparent] symptoms of pregnancy

Wed Jan 7 06:15:40 UTC 2009

Since we have had some snow and ice I've taken a few falls, fortunately have
landed on my back but my center of gravity is totally off. I sometimes have
to use my cane as a support to help me get up. smile

-----Original Message-----
From: blparent-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:blparent-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf Of Veronica Smith
Sent: Tuesday, January 06, 2009 10:58 PM
To: NFBnet Blind Parents Mailing List
Subject: Re: [blparent] (no subject)

When i was pregnant I was huge, but got very upset if anyone said that word.

Still to this day, my husband is afraid to use that word in front of me. V
----- Original Message -----
From: "Tammy, Paul and Colyn" <tcl189 at rogers.com>
To: "NFBnet Blind Parents Mailing List" <blparent at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Tuesday, January 06, 2009 5:36 PM
Subject: Re: [blparent] (no subject)

> Hik
>
> This is a very good post, and I agree with it entirely.  Dena, I hope I 
> have
> as good of an experience as you did.  How's that little baby doing?  I 
> can't
> wait for my baby to come now.  I'm so sick of being pregnant!  I feel
> absolutely huge, and I'm starting to have trouble getting up and down the
> stairs now which makes my life harder.
>
> Tammy
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Dena Wainwright" <autumnrose21 at gmail.com>
> To: "NFBnet Blind Parents Mailing List" <blparent at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Tuesday, January 06, 2009 2:03 PM
> Subject: Re: [blparent] (no subject)
>
>
>> One thing I would suggest, particularly if you don't know who will be
>> delivering your baby, is to put together a birth plan and bring it with
>> you to the hospital. our birth plan was a page long, and contained
>> information about our preferences regarding the labor, delivery, and
>> post-natal care for me and the baby. some of the things we included were
>> that we wanted my husband to be given the option to cut the cord, that 
>> one
>> of us needed to be present when they did anything to the baby, that we
>> planned to breastfeed (because sometimes they will offer a baby formula 
>> if
>> they don't know this), etc. we also put in some very specific highlights
>> about my medical history--such as the fact that I cannot have epidurals.
>> the birth plan will clearly express your wishes, which will be especially
>> important if you are unable to make decisions on your own for whatever
>> reason. also, things can change dramatically when you are in labor--pain
>> is definitely a strange animal.
>>
>> another thing I would suggest is that you bring a coach or doulah into 
>> the
>> delivery room with you. this person will be a constent, no matter who
>> performs the delivery, and he or she can advocate on your behalf.
>>
>> I also agree with what has already been said regarding visiting your
>> hospital ahead of time to get a feel for the facilities and the staff. 
>> for
>> instance, do they promote rooming in, do they promote moving around 
>> during
>> labor, what is their c-section rate, etc.
>>
>> I also agree that emphasizing your blindness will often make other people
>> focus on it. our birth plan did not say anything about my blindness.
>>
>> I had an absolutely phenominal hospital experience. not a single person
>> questioned my ability to care for Elise, and no one made any issue of my
>> asking to be shown how to do things. even when I sent Jason home for the
>> night to get some good sleep, no one freaked out about "the sighted
>> parent" leaving me alone with our newborn. no one incinuated that I
>> wouldn't be able to breastfeed, or treated me any differently because of
>> my blindness. the only thing they did to accommodate me was that they had
>> each nurse introduce the nurse for the upcoming shift to me when she left
>> for the day, so I would know that the person coming into my room was a
>> hospital employee.
>>
>> the other amazing thing they did, is that the midwife I had seen
>> throughout my pregnancy rearranged her schedule so she could be there for
>> our birth, so I would feel as secure as possible. the staff was 
>> incredible
>> at describing everything they were doing to me and to the baby. I felt
>> absolutely comfortable and relaxed--totally in control of the whole
>> process.
>>
>> finally, questions about support are standard. a lot of the reason why
>> they are asked, is that professionals want to know what sort of
>> environment the baby will be coming home to, and they also want to make
>> sure a new mother isn't isolated (making her more vulnerable to 
>> post-natal
>> depression).
>>
>> hope some of this helps.
>>
>> Dena
>>
>>
>> ----- Original Message ----- 
>> From: "Jo Elizabeth Pinto" <jopinto at pcdesk.net>
>> To: "NFBnet Blind Parents Mailing List" <blparent at nfbnet.org>
>> Sent: Tuesday, January 06, 2009 10:10 AM
>> Subject: Re: [blparent] (no subject)
>>
>>
>>> Hi, Angelina.  If you haven't done so, consider taking a childbirth 
>>> class
>>> at the hospital where you will be delivering.  This will not only give
>>> you an idea of what to expect, but it will also start to get you
>>> acquainted with some of the nurses and staff.  That way, your blindness
>>> won't be encountered for the first time when you are admitted for labor
>>> and delivery.  Also, don't assume every question about your support
>>> system at home is getting asked just because of your blindness.  When a
>>> woman has a baby, especially if she is alone, she needs help--physically
>>> and emotionally--when she goes home, blind or not.  If you don't have
>>> family nearby, lean on your friends. Be specific in what you need.
>>> People want to help, but they say, "Call me if you need anything."  Then
>>> you don't know what to ask for, or when to call.  Suggest that your
>>> friends could drop over for short visits, maybe bring prepared or frozen
>>> meals.  But anyway, don't assume the doctors or nurses are asking you
>>> about your support system because of your blindness. I had a few ask me
>>> if I would have help at home, I just said yes, and that was the end of
>>> the matter.
>>>
>>> Good luck,
>>> Jo Elizabeth
>>>
>>> It is easy--terribly easy--to shake a man's faith in himself. To take
>>> advantage of that to break a man's spirit is devil's work. Take care of
>>> what you are doing. Take care.--George Bernard Shaw in "Candide"
>>> ----- Original Message ----- 
>>> From: "Anjelina" <cruz.anjelina at mchsi.com>
>>> To: "'NFBnet Blind Parents Mailing List'" <blparent at nfbnet.org>
>>> Sent: Tuesday, January 06, 2009 12:25 AM
>>> Subject: [blparent] (no subject)
>>>
>>>
>>>> Hi there list,
>>>> I'm due next month and was wondering did you take any additional steps
>>>> for
>>>> dealing with people that might be uncomfortable with blindness? The
>>>> doctor
>>>> I've been seeing me throughout my pregnancy will not be delivering so I
>>>> was
>>>> looking for any suggestions for dealing with a new hospital on such
>>>> short
>>>> notice.
>>>> Hope that makes sense.
>>>
>>>
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>>
>>
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>
>
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