16 weeks and an interesting article...

So we are finally 16 weeks! I always thought it would be more "real" here but it still feels the same, LOL! Maybe at 20... :-).

My belly...

The baby...

From Babycenter.com, "Your baby is now about the size of an avocado (about 5 inches / 11.6 centimetres long from crown to rump and weighing approximately 4 ounces / 100 grams). In the next three weeks he'll go through a tremendous growth spurt, doubling his weight and adding inches to his length.

In or out of the womb, babies are playful creatures. Yours may already have discovered his first toy -- the umbilical cord -- which he'll enjoy pulling and grabbing. Sometimes he may even clutch it so tight that less oxygen gets through, but don't worry -- he doesn't hold onto it long enough to harm himself. The circulatory system and urinary tract are in full working order, and he's inhaling and exhaling amniotic fluid through his lungs.

Sometimes, when you move suddenly, you may a feel a slight pain in your sides. Ligaments on each side of your uterus and pelvic walls are stretching as your baby grows. It's normal to feel some pain, but if it continues for a few days or escalates, talk to your doctor."

Yum...I LOVE avocados :-).  

SO when I was looking for images of a 16 week baby...I came across this...creepy, LOL!

In other EXCITING news...Andrew and Theresa had their baby boy on Tuesday! I just can't believe he is finally here! We are going to see him Friday and I am already dying, LOL! Congrats Lichter family..."Baby Boy" Lichter (as his name isn't set yet and this is what we call babies in the NICU) is absolutely precious!

Here is the interesting article I was talking about...Meg sent it to me. Let me know what you think!

Birth plan? Doula? Natural birth? Not here you don't.

October 29, 2009 by Amy Gates in Moms & Family

A sign posted at the Aspen OB/GYN Women's Center in Provo, Utah has many women up in arms. What's so offensive? Read for yourself.
The sign reads as follows:

Because the Physicians at Aspen Women’s Center care about the quality of their patient’s deliveries and are very concerned about the welfare and health of your unborn child, we will not participate in a “Birth Contract”, a Doulah Assisted, or a Bradley Method delivery. For those patients who are interested in such methods, please notify the nurse so we may arrange transfer of your care.

I first learned of this sign from Naomi, the Denver Doula, who posted it on Facebook. Being a doula (which is misspelled on the sign) herself, she took a particular interest in it. When she called the Center and inquired with the receptionist as to why the sign was posted she was told, "in case there is an emergency we don't want anyone to get in the way of the doctor doing what he has to do."
Annie from PhD in Parenting was inspired by the sign to write How Not To Have a Natural Birth and believes the center might as well have said:

Because Physicians at Aspen Women’s Center care only about doing things their own way and making as much money as possible from unnecessary birth interventions, even if it poses greater risks to the welfare and health your baby, we will not participate in a “Birth Contract”, a doula-assisted, or a Bradley Method delivery. For all patients who have done any research into having the safest birth possible, please notify the nurse so that we can transfer you to a facility that cares less about control and money.

Annie added, "I guess we can at least credit them with warning women in advance. Many hospitals with the same attitude don’t have a sign hanging out front."
Amber responded, "I always thought the big ‘trust birth’ poster in my midwives office was a little cheesy. Now that I’ve seen the alternative, I think it’s truly marvelous. Really."
Miriam Zoila Pérez of Radical Doula wrote a post called Signs You Don't Want to See at Your OB-GYN's Office. She believes the sign could be translated to say:

We don’t care at all what you want as a parent, or a person in labor. We want a patient who will sit quiet and do what we say–no matter what. Oh and if you have a partner you want involved, tough. Your desires don’t matter.

Miriam adds, "They should change the name of the center to the 'Unborn Children Center' since they don’t seem to care too much about the women involved."
A commenter named Janna responded saying, "That’s what bothered me most about this hateful little sign–not once is the “welfare and health” of the MOTHER mentioned, just the “welfare and health” of the “unborn child” and the “quality” of the “deliveries.” Who would want to give birth in a place where they’re the lowest priority on their caregiver’s list? I hope women in this area have other options and the opportunity to have safe, healthy, supportive births."
Does no doula, Bradley Method birth or birth "contract" equal no women's rights?


Summer who writes at Wired for Noise says signs like this one and stories like the lack of choice with regard to our reproductive health and doctors' personal "birth plans" make her sometimes think Doctors Hate Women.

What does it say when women have to escape, have to run away in order to do something as normal as give birth? What does it say when women are treated like children, talked down to, insulted, lied to, and handed letters telling them what the god-head doctor will allow or not allow. When all you want to do is give birth and you’re doctor is more concerned with telling you to sit down and shut up, what is that if not hatred?

I have to agree with Annie that at least some doctors are upfront with what they will and won't "allow" as part of their practice. Kudos to them for being honest. Hopefully that will allow women to look for another care provider while she's still early in her pregnancy.
Rest assured if the OB/GYN I had at my daughter's birth would have given me a piece of paper with her "rules" or had a sign posted like that at the Aspen Women's Clinic, I would have found another care provider pronto. Instead, however, she paid me lip service and acted like she cared about my birth plan (though she didn't act very well and that should have been a big clue for me) and said we could "try" Hypnobirthing, etc. However, when push came to shove (no pun intended), it was her way or the highway. I had my healthy baby girl at the end of it and for that I am truly thankful, but I also got a lot more than I bargained for (and not in a good way). Then again it was that experience lead me to pursue a home birth for my second child and become a home birth advocate.
Although I admire the Aspen Women's Center's honesty, I find it truly offensive that they imply that if a woman wants a doula, natural birth, or has a birth plan, she is not concerned with the welfare and health of her baby (so much more personal than "unborn child" don't you think?) or is even putting her baby's life at risk. Studies have shown that when doulas attend birth, labors are shorter with fewer complications, babies are healthier and they breastfeed more easily. And how exactly is choosing a Bradley birth not good for the health or welfare of the baby? "Bradley® classes teach families how to have natural births. The techniques are simple and effective. They are based on information about how the human body works during labor. Couples are taught how they can work with their bodies to reduce pain and make their labors more efficient." What about a birth plan or "contract?" Is that harmful to the "unborn child?" The American Pregnancy Association suggests, "Creating a birth plan can help you have a more positive birth experience."
There are other things I find offensive as well, like Janna mentioned above, the mother does not seem to be included in the equation at all. Is there any concern for her "welfare and health?"
Who's time money welfare are they really concerned with? I'll let you draw your own conclusions. I've obviously already drawn mine.
Contributing editor Amy Gates blogs about green living, attachment parenting, activism and life with an anxiety disorder at Crunchy Domestic Goddess.