Seventh Month - March

Found here

Today’s Exploit:

After my first anxiety attack I started using Cupcake’s hypnotism cd’s that she gave me. It’s a self hypnotism that allows one to go to a happy place and essentially tune out the pain/discomfort.

One of the sessions focused on taking something that causes fear and picturing that process going smoothly and without pain or fear. I used this to focus on my fear of needles. I listened to the session and focused on reducing the fear of getting a shot/IV for a week. After that I’d cycle through three or four sessions every few days. 

I would practice this at night, and I’d practice getting to my happy place quickly and with distractions after going to the gym. Some of the women in my class would make fun of me for taking a nap right after working out, but what do they know?

Thankfully I started when I did because this is the time for the glucose test. First needle stick since the terrifying first doctor visit. 

It actually went quite smoothly. 

I went to my happy place while I waited for the sugar sludge to do it’s job and then when they called me in for the blood draw. 

No shakeys, no hyperventilating and the nurse didn’t ask me if I was going to pass out.

I call it a win.

Now I’m done’ with needles, right?

Sixth Month - February

Who knew one month could last 13 months?

Today’s Exploit:

I decided that having regular panic attacks is not beneficial to me or Monkey. So I did lots and lots of research. I looked up midwives and and birth coaches and doulas and birth centers.

Most of what I found was very religious. Which is not something I’m interested in being involved in a pregnancy/birth. 

I interviewed a couple doulas and a couple midwives. Most of them had so much incense or smelly oils that I wanted to turn around as soon as I stepped into their lairs. I found one that I could stand and put it on a back burner thinking I’d talk to the doctor and ask her opinion.

First I told the doctor about my needle-phobia and explained that I was having panic attacks and looking into maybe using a midwife. Her response was to vehemently lecture me on the fact that my body is now a not entirely mine and that if a c-section is necessary so-be-it. She essentially told me that I’m being selfish for having anxiety and wanting to find a way to alleviate it.

She definitely ensured that I leave her practice and run to the midwife.