The last few hours of 2009

Okay I fell off the blogging wagon. I was supposed to blog, I was supposed to take pictures over the holidays, I was supposed to do many things... but instead I slept and ate and ate some more and then slept again, before the eating-sleeping cycle started all over. I was so exhausted after my crazy work month in November I couldn't face doing a cinch of work or being near a computer. I have been like a bear in hibernation.

But I decided it was time to crawl out of the hole and come back to life. And what better way to do that than a party! Tonight I am going to a very glamourous party with wonderful friends and I can't wait. I have got my nails done, chosen my outfit (sort of, there are currently two front runners) and getting ready to fix my hairdo. Feels so good to do this and be normal again. And I am more than ready to say goodbye to 2009, the year of no babies. Maybe 2010 will be the year for me?

And blogosphere, I actually have hope that it maybe THE YEAR. I have some very important news to share with you: Mr. T got his SA done a few weeks ago. Oh yes. His numbers were 36 million sperm! 36 MILLION! He started out with 11 million last year went up to 16 million a few months ago and now we have within range numbers!!! The doctor actually told him that we have a good chance of getting pregnant naturally now. I know! N-A-T-U-R-A-L-L-Y! I mean we can have sex and there's a good chance that I might get pregnant because of it, how freaking weird is that!!! So I have to admit that along with all the hibernation, there has been some between the sheets action - I mean we actually have a chance now, we gotta make the most of it!

However we have both decided to go ahead with another round of IUI in January to start the New Year TTCing off with a big push, we want to maximize all our chances now. There were still some issues with motility in Mr. T's SA but the doc said that motility changes all the time, the real issue was the number of sperm. So we'll keep trying and hoping for a BFP in 2010. 

I also wanted to wish you all a happy and BFP-full new year. In the meantime have a great night tonight whatever you are doing, who knows where we will be this time next year. Pregnant? Mother with baby? Let's hope so. Otherwise.... okay let's not go there now... Happy New Year!

Become a HypnoBirthing Labor Companion/Doula

This training is coming to San Diego in February & will be amazing! Jenny West is a HypnoBirthing instructor & homebirth midwife. You will learn a lot! This would be great for doulas or anyone that has had a HypnoBirth or Hypnobabies birth.

HypnoBirthing Professional Labor Companion Workshop

Whether you have recently enjoyed the HypnoBirthing® training or you have been a practitioner for some time, this is a great opportunity for you to learn more about the practicalities and the joys of supporting a Mom as she calmly, gently and peacefully births her baby into the world.

This workshop of for those that already understand hypnosis and the benefits of a relaxed birth, however may need more information 'everything else' birth related, what's normal, what isn't, what to do when it isn't normal, how to recognize your own limits as an labor companion and when it's time to invite the buffet of technology into the birth.

Course Content:
*Defining the Role of the Professional Labor Companion*Physiology of Pregnancy*Mechanics of Birth*Belief Systems*Pain in Birth*Factors that Effect the Perception of Pain in Labor*Understanding Special Circumstances*Understanding Medical Procedures*Effective Communication with Birthing Staff*Postpartum Basics and Support*Breastfeeding Basics*Marketing Your Services*Loss, Grief and Healing

Instructor: Jenny West
Location: San Diego, CA
Date: February 8th and 9th (Mon-Tues)
We have a lovely venue at 16980 Via Tazon, Suite 260 San Diego, CA 92127

$325 for two full days of fun-filled information, workbook, at least two books filled with great information to fire you up, certification, referrals via the HypnoBirthing Institute and 16 CEU's.
Registration must be completed by January 15th.

Contact Jenny West at jenny@tubsntea. com 505-294-4359 (9-5 MST) orJennifer Lindeman (our local hostess and source of information) hypwithjenn@sbcglobal.net 858-385-9028

You will also receive a “birth related topic” for you to research and present at the Workshop.
Please keep these to one or two pages only, as each participant will be covering a different topic and duplicate copies will be given to each participant as a reference guide to use in the future. The sooner you send this form back, the better your topic choices are!

You will also be required to attend at least five births and send in completed forms in order to receive your HBPLC Certificate. These forms can be found in the back of the workbook you will receive at the workshop.

Please send this to jenny@tubsntea. com prior to the Workshop.
Thank you for your interest and I look forward to learning with you.

Jenny West, LM, CPM, HBCE, TBMP, CST, CD,KHTP,PP&E

HypnoBirthing® Professional Labor Companion Workshop Registration
Date and location of workshop you plan to attend ____________ _________ _________
Name ____________ _________ _________ _________ _________ _________ _
E-Mail ____________ _________ _________ _________ _________ _________
Phone ____________ _________ _________ _________ _________ _________ _
Occupation ____________ _________ _________ _________ _________ _______
Degrees, certifications and licenses related to pregnancy and birth:
Number of births attended:
Hospital –
Birth Center –
Home –
1.Please write a brief biography (no more than 2 pages) describing what brought you to the place of working with women in pregnancy and birth. (Feel free to email this in a separate format, or add it to end of this sheet.)
2.Name the most important thing you would like to take away with you from this workshop.
3.It is highly recommended that you read “Heart & Hands” by Elizabeth Davis; “The Thinking Woman’s Guide to a Better Birth” by Henci Goer and “Hey, Who's Having This Baby Anyway? By Breck Hawk OR anything by Marsden Wagner.

This training will be hosted by:
Jennifer Lindeman
Certified Hypnotherapist
HypnoBirthing Childbirth Educator
(858) 385-9028
www.HypnosisWithJennifer.com

www.AWellLivedLife.Net
www.AWellLivedLife.blogspot.com

Babies, Babies Everywhere

I have to tell you about last night. I was invited to a party at the house of some people I never met before but we have many mutual friends and so Mr. T and I were invited to come along. We walked into the party and it was like baby fest 2009. Seriously. Mothers breast feeding everywhere, push-chairs and baby seats galore and the pitter-patter of little feet all round us. I felt like the room was spinning. My friend who came with us, who doesn't have children, joked to the hostess of the evening, Do we have to have a baby to be able to come in, or what?

As I stood there with a fake smile plastered to my face, worried that my insecure uncomfortable IF-self would start to show, I considered my options. A quick exit  that would not be considered too rude seemed to be a good choice. I made an effort to speak with our hostess, I asked her about her home and where she had had her baby. She explained she had a home birth. She smiled at me and said birth and motherhood are the two issues I am most passionate about. It was like a knife into my stomach. I too am very passionate about birth and motherhood, in fact so passionate that I put myself through all this TTC crap, the tests, injections and everything else.. but this is not really party conversation to share with people you've just met. So I just smiled and thought, yep a quick exit is the only way to save my sanity.

 

But then other guests arrived and they brought their lovely college-aged kids. I spent the whole night talking to them about their plans, college life, the environment and politics.. it was great. They were utterly charming and completely switched on. So refreshing and wonderful to meet young people like that and it totally saved me from noticing the mass of happy new mommies all around me. I survived! 

On other news, Mr. T did his thang at the the lab on Friday and we get the results on Monday. Hoping for some good numbers!