Leopold the Lion King! Our Vegan Baby...

From Anita:
Leo is already 10 weeks old!

The birth was actually a wonderful experience. Although I dearly wanted a water birth at the Weslaco Holy Family Birthing Center, I ended up developing preeclampsia at 39 weeks. So off to the hospital. I was induced beginning at 5 am. Was finally given Nubain (a mild painkiller) at 3:30ish and delivered Leo by 4:59 pm - no c-section, no episiotomy, no epidural. I was so freaking proud of myself! Leopold Doss was given a APGAR score of 9, weighed in at 7lbs and 6 oz and was 21 1/4 inches. Very healthy boy!

He has been breastfeeding nearly exclusively for his ten weeks so far. He weighed in at 11 lbs 10 oz at his 2 month exam! He smiles and coos a lot. We are so proud!

Once we get him on solids - I am sure we will have more vegan stories to tell.

My Dr. does not know I am vegan...

From Anita:
Hello Folks,

I keep getting the question "What does your Dr. say about you being a vegan"...and pregnant? I don't know. I've never told him. I think we should regard Drs. as technicians, there to do a technical job and that's it. Why we think they have infinite knowledge about all things escapes me. My Dr. probably took one nutrition class in the 1960s. What is he likely to know about nutrition? He may spout off to me his own preconceived and uneducated comments, but I can get those anywhere, and for free. So no, my Dr. does not know, and I have no intentions of telling him. He spares me about 30 seconds per visit, and that is more than enough for me.

I am, however, obsessed with nutrition info and love to fantasize about making well-balanced vegan toddler meals once little "Leo" is on solids. I've been obsessed with nutrition for years now so I am already pretty well informed. But the thought of feeding a little one is just endless fun for me.

I am very committed to cloth diapering. I've already bought some supplies. We don't use paper towels at my house and I do not use disposable feminine products so why would I use disposable diapers? Not a chance. Everyone sounds dubious, but I am excited - probably overly so considering what I am so looking forward too!

Aside from that, the pregancy is going smoothly, no problems so far, although I sure do whine about the various symptoms I've got...numb fingers, out of breath, little weird pains in my abdomen. I am 26 weeks so far....happy to wait quite a few more!

I'm pregnant - and yes, still vegan....

From Anita:
I will be 20 weeks pregnant in a couple of days, and this week, I had my first craving. I kept thinking I had cravings before, but now I get what a REAL craving is. All I want is fruit cups. With chile and lime if you've got it. I spent $80 on fruit this weekend and have been chopping 'em up. I went to the pulga (the flea market) in Brownsville, got a fruit cup - and I think that is what set it off. Yum! I went to Paletera today at 3:00 -- could not contain myself. I just HAD to go and knowing it is so close to my work - I think I'll be going back.

I keep googling "vegan pregnancy," trying to see some useful info or at least something interesting. SO many articles about celebrities giving up their vegan or vegetarian diets while pregnant. How? I don't get it. I was near some fried mozzarella cheese about 14 weeks in, and that made me ill. I have had very little nausea, unless I smell BBQ or that sickening raw meat smell at the grocery store. They made tripas (cow intestines) at work -- I was gagging worse than I have the whole pregnancy so far. (but if you know the smell of tripas, that is probably a view shared by many non-pregnant folks).

Actually - it's not that I don't get it. I get the whole pregnancy - I want it and I want it NOW syndrome. I am living it every two hours these days. I can see that those that see their veganism as a nice way to keep trim and be "pure" will not want to - not really be ABLE to, during a pregnancy. I just don't see veganism as a sacrifice. I did at first, but I quickly learned I can still be a glutton and be a vegan. Yum yum yum!

Thank goodness Andrew is such a good cook, and is still willing to cook - because I hate cooking now!