Sorry for the lack of updates, but things have been WAY busy around our household!
First off, Thanksgiving went down without a hitch, and I can say that I am dang proud of the feast I had laid out for my 'in-laws'. I made mashed potatoes and gravy both from scratch and since D's dad normally makes the feast for their family and uses instant for both, he was raving about both...I'm pretty proud :) The only downside to Thanksgiving was that I spent a good two or three hours that night sick as a dog. I know it wasn't food poisoning since a.) no one else was sick, and b.) I'm a culinary whiz and don't have a tendency to food-poison, so it was either just Baby B didn't like something I ate and decided to send it back, which I frequently feel nausea from, OR...her extremely violent movements that night were enough to make me sick. I'm almost positive that it's the latter, since she was moving with such force that you could see it across the room in the mirror. D's mother mentioned the next day that "It looks like the baby moved!", so that more or less confirmed my suspicions and with a little luck and a lot of prayer, maybe Baby B has finally moved into position and won't need my doc to try to turn her at my appointment Wednesday (please God!). Otherwise, though, Thanksgiving was awesome :)
Friday was equally awesome with all our Black Friday shopping, but got off to a rocky start since I had only gotten a few hours of sleep thanks to the aforementioned night of being up sick. I think I had managed to finally fall asleep on the futon sitting straight up (though slightly slouched over a trash can) around 3AM, so our 7AM date to meet up with D's family came very, very prematurely! Anyhow, there were only a couple things I really, really wanted (a robe from target, The Proposal DVD and Breaking Dawn), and D is a Black Friday badass and found them all for me immediately, and usually while gloating how he got the last copy. Sweeeeeeeeeet! I also got some pyrex dishes for $2 a piece, which is a great deal, seeing as how I am now an approved holiday-hoster! I started to crash mid-day, after a massive meal of Stuffed Avocados at Trudy's, but managed to pick myself back up in time to get our littlest kitty to the vet for yet another UTI. ARGHHHHHHHHHH! I have to take her back Tuesday (though just to drop off and pick up later), so I'll spare you the diatribe about my frustrations with her vet (though know that they run pretty deep at this point). I just want my poor little kitty to be better. PERMANENTLY. That's the part they seem to keep screwing up. Friday night was amazing, since we had managed to pick up both Sorry and Scattergories during our Black Friday shopping, so we had a little mini game night just the two of us. (I am super competitive by nature, and I trace this competitive spirit's origins back to Sorry. Nothing gives me greater joy than saying, "Oops, SORRY!" and then laughing my head off when I kick your ass. At a children's game. Oh, poor Baby B!)
Yesterday was amazing in a different way, seeing as how I was exhausted from the previous two days of nonstop moving and shaking and basically laid on the couch almost all day long. I played stupid internet games, watched Gossip Girl season 1 episodes, watched some Arrested Development and ate myself silly (I'm dreading my weigh-in on Weds!). Hoping for a bit more of the same today!
Hope everyone had a great holiday weekend!!!
Sunday, November 29, 2009
Saturday, November 28, 2009
35 Weeks!
How your baby's growing:
Your baby doesn't have much room to maneuver now that he's over 18 inches long and tips the scales at 5 1/4 pounds (pick up a honeydew melon). Because it's so snug in your womb, he isn't likely to be doing somersaults anymore, but the number of times he kicks should remain about the same. His kidneys are fully developed now, and his liver can process some waste products. Most of his basic physical development is now complete — he'll spend the next few weeks putting on weight. (For the record - our baby is still doing major acrobatics in there, so much so lately that I've been sick on more than one occasion from her constant, prolonged movements! And there is no way she weighs in at only 5 1/4 lbs considering that...)
How your life's changing:
Your uterus — which was entirely tucked away inside your pelvis when you conceived — now reaches up under your rib cage. If you could peek inside your womb, you'd see that there's more baby than amniotic fluid in there now. Your ballooning uterus is crowding your other internal organs, too, which is why you probably have to urinate more often and may be dealing with heartburn and other gastrointestinal distress. If you're not grappling with these annoyances, you're one of the lucky few.
From here on out, you'll start seeing your practitioner every week. Sometime between now and 37 weeks, she'll do a vaginal and rectal culture to check for bacteria called Group B streptococci (GBS). (Don't worry — the swab is the size of a regular cotton swab, and it won't hurt at all.) GBS is usually harmless in adults, but if you have it and pass it on to your baby during birth, it can cause serious complications, such as pneumonia, meningitis, or a blood infection. Because 10 to 30 percent of pregnant women have the bacteria and don't know it, it's vital to be screened. (The bacteria come and go on their own — that's why you weren't screened earlier in pregnancy.) If you're a GBS carrier, you'll get IV antibiotics during labor, which will greatly reduce your baby's risk of infection.
This is also a good time to create a birth plan. Using our form will help you focus on specifics — like who'll be present, what pain management techniques you want to try, and where you want your baby to stay after you deliver. It will give you a starting point to discuss your preferences with your medical team. Childbirth is unpredictable, and chances are you won't follow your plan to the letter, but thinking about your choices ahead of time — and sharing your preferences with your caregiver — should take some of the anxiety out of the process.
Thursday, November 26, 2009
Happy Thanksgiving!
Hope everyone is having a glorious Thanksgiving so far! As much as I'm looking forward to a slice of pumpkin pie this evening, what I love most about Thanksgiving is watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade bright and early that morning, taking in the burgeoning scents of Thanksgiving food.
This year we're hosting Thanksgiving, seeing as how I'm a bit too far along to travel comfortably and without risk. I'm pretty happy about the arrangement, seeing as how I LOVE to cook and am just too uncomfortable to head anywhere in a car for several hours. I'm actually quite looking forward to putting the turkey into the oven and starting on some of our family traditions, including my mom's delicious mashed potatoes and one of my other personal faves, candied yams :) Delicious!!
Add to the holiday excitement our last regular season football game tonight, and not only that but the ever-exciting Texas vs. Texas A&M rivalry game, and I can't see a moment of this day that I'm not looking forward to!
In the spirit of Thanksgiving traditions, here are a few things I'm thankful for:
*D, for being so far beyond amazing and supportive as we transition from two to three. I try to play down my public declarations of my feelings for you, but know that I love you and am more thankful for you than you can even imagine.
*Our baby! I cannot wait to meet you!! I know it's cliche to say this, but I could never have imagined loving a little person whom I've never met (though feel constantly!) as much as I love you. Please hurry up and come on out at any time now...
*My family. I always miss you guys so much this time of year, and that goes twice as much for this year as we await our own new arrival. I love you guys!
*D's family. It's so amazing to me that the addition of this new little person into our lives will intertwine our families forever. I'm so happy to be spending this wonderful holiday with you guys, and am ever thankful to have people here that act as my family.
*My home. So many new additions to the house, rooms, etc. this year continue to make this one of my favorite places in the world. I am so blessed in this economy to have kept my house, and am so thankful to have this wonderful place to share with D and our baby.
*The D's. Enough said :)
*Our amazing, enormous cast of loving, supportive and understanding friends. In a hugely trying time for us, all of you have stepped up and embraced the changes in our lives and we couldn't do it without you guys. While you may think it's no big deal, we couldn't do this without your love and support. Also, thank you for not calling me fatty.
*Our pets, as much of a pain in the butt as they may be lately! We only get stressed out about their health and behavior because we love them all SO much, and I am so thankful to have one kitty curled up on my lap right now while the other sleeps soundly in our bed. And yep, pup, I mean you, too.
*We've had a really lucky year as far as the economy goes, and I am ever grateful for having a roof over our heads, power and heat and air conditioning, enough food to fill our bellies (and the babies ever-hungry appetite!), and two working vehicles to keep us able.
Thank you God for all your provide us with, and for the many, many blessings in my life :)
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Belly Shots: 34w4d & Other Significant News!
I'm a bit late with this one, but here it is:
I stole D's t-shirt while I did laundry and baked chocolate chip banana bread. He's not a big guy, as you can see by the way my belly is testing the limits of that fabric! :)
Other than that, what else is new? Hmm...not too much. I've been having some contractions here and there, but definitely nothing to write home (or in our case, call the hospital) about. They probably have a little something to do with the constant moving and shaking I've been doing, some of which is due to my insatiable desire to clean and bake bread...how domestic, right?
Ooh - I remember what I was going to say! I bought my breast pump today. How...exciting? Technically it's the modern equivalent of a torture chamber from what I've heard from some mommies, so I don't know if excited is the right word, but it's definitely a huge check off my dwindling to-do list. I got a Mi Pump double electric pump by The First Years after reading many reviews on the not-$300 pumps, and am really hoping it'll work out. The great news is I got it secondhand from a woman who wasn't able to breastfeed, so I got it for only $40. That's right - $40!!! I'm pretty impressed. Everything has been sterilized since I got home, and now we're home free :) I guess we just need a baby and my milk to come in! I was even able to set it up and get it to work (I didn't try it out obviously, but everything was running and making noise and moving as it should have!) without even opening the instruction manual...yay! I'm man-like in my impatience with written instructions :P
Now I'm just baking bread, doing laundry and watching DVR'd Private Practice until D gets home from work in an hour. Tomorrow his parents are coming into town since traveling didn't appeal to me this year, so I'll be up bright and early to roast my second turkey of the week and to get started on mashed potatoes, candied yams and green bean casserole. Hosting Thanksgiving makes me feel like such an adult! That, and the enormous baby in my belly perhaps.
Also crossed off my to-do list this week was squaring away paperwork, etc. for the baby's baptism. I was previously Mormon (I know - shocking, right? I've never been what you'd call a practicing Mormon though) and D is catholic and part Jewish (his words, not mine!), but little Baby B will be baptized at the Episcopal church I have found and currently attend after much research, both in literature and in practice/church visits. Confused yet? Anyhow, yesterday I met with my Rector about her baptism and filled out the paperwork. I'm not one to do the whole Sunday service baptism pomp and circumstance, and would want it to be strictly family and friends, so we'll be opting for a Saturday afternoon sometime before she's six weeks old. In other related news, I'll be getting baptized as well! I was baptized into the Mormon church when I was 8, as that is currently acknowledged as the age of reason (Ha! Clearly whomever decided that hadn't spent much time with eight-year-olds!), and while I was happy with my decision at the time, I am no longer a member of the church in either practice or spirit, and would like to be baptized in the same faith (and church) as my daughter. It gets a bit dicey with the Mormon religion anyhow, as since some of their tenants are so drastically different than the other Christian religions, not every church recognizes their baptism as a baptism into a Christian faith, and so that just kind of sealed the deal on my decision. The Rector said he could do both baptisms at the same time, but I would really prefer not to take away from her day by any means, so I'll be doing mine at some point prior to hers.
And in still more news, I just got off the phone with my insurance this second, and Baby B can be added to my policy for under $95 a month, with all her well-child check ups being 100% FREE. Sweet! Last night I was looking at child premiums, and they were in excess of $450 A MONTH for children under 2, I KID YOU NOT. That's apparently just if I was uninsured and needed an individual policy for her. Insane! So that's great news cause I freaked out a bit for a minute there :)
Happy Thanksgiving all!!!!!!!!!
I stole D's t-shirt while I did laundry and baked chocolate chip banana bread. He's not a big guy, as you can see by the way my belly is testing the limits of that fabric! :)
Other than that, what else is new? Hmm...not too much. I've been having some contractions here and there, but definitely nothing to write home (or in our case, call the hospital) about. They probably have a little something to do with the constant moving and shaking I've been doing, some of which is due to my insatiable desire to clean and bake bread...how domestic, right?
Ooh - I remember what I was going to say! I bought my breast pump today. How...exciting? Technically it's the modern equivalent of a torture chamber from what I've heard from some mommies, so I don't know if excited is the right word, but it's definitely a huge check off my dwindling to-do list. I got a Mi Pump double electric pump by The First Years after reading many reviews on the not-$300 pumps, and am really hoping it'll work out. The great news is I got it secondhand from a woman who wasn't able to breastfeed, so I got it for only $40. That's right - $40!!! I'm pretty impressed. Everything has been sterilized since I got home, and now we're home free :) I guess we just need a baby and my milk to come in! I was even able to set it up and get it to work (I didn't try it out obviously, but everything was running and making noise and moving as it should have!) without even opening the instruction manual...yay! I'm man-like in my impatience with written instructions :P
Now I'm just baking bread, doing laundry and watching DVR'd Private Practice until D gets home from work in an hour. Tomorrow his parents are coming into town since traveling didn't appeal to me this year, so I'll be up bright and early to roast my second turkey of the week and to get started on mashed potatoes, candied yams and green bean casserole. Hosting Thanksgiving makes me feel like such an adult! That, and the enormous baby in my belly perhaps.
Also crossed off my to-do list this week was squaring away paperwork, etc. for the baby's baptism. I was previously Mormon (I know - shocking, right? I've never been what you'd call a practicing Mormon though) and D is catholic and part Jewish (his words, not mine!), but little Baby B will be baptized at the Episcopal church I have found and currently attend after much research, both in literature and in practice/church visits. Confused yet? Anyhow, yesterday I met with my Rector about her baptism and filled out the paperwork. I'm not one to do the whole Sunday service baptism pomp and circumstance, and would want it to be strictly family and friends, so we'll be opting for a Saturday afternoon sometime before she's six weeks old. In other related news, I'll be getting baptized as well! I was baptized into the Mormon church when I was 8, as that is currently acknowledged as the age of reason (Ha! Clearly whomever decided that hadn't spent much time with eight-year-olds!), and while I was happy with my decision at the time, I am no longer a member of the church in either practice or spirit, and would like to be baptized in the same faith (and church) as my daughter. It gets a bit dicey with the Mormon religion anyhow, as since some of their tenants are so drastically different than the other Christian religions, not every church recognizes their baptism as a baptism into a Christian faith, and so that just kind of sealed the deal on my decision. The Rector said he could do both baptisms at the same time, but I would really prefer not to take away from her day by any means, so I'll be doing mine at some point prior to hers.
And in still more news, I just got off the phone with my insurance this second, and Baby B can be added to my policy for under $95 a month, with all her well-child check ups being 100% FREE. Sweet! Last night I was looking at child premiums, and they were in excess of $450 A MONTH for children under 2, I KID YOU NOT. That's apparently just if I was uninsured and needed an individual policy for her. Insane! So that's great news cause I freaked out a bit for a minute there :)
Happy Thanksgiving all!!!!!!!!!
Starbucks.
This morning, when I stopped for the weekly skinny hazelnut half-caff latte I allow myself at Starbucks, I was acosted by the man standing next to me at the register.
Man: "That baby is going to come out wide awake and with ADD," he informed me.
Me: "Really? I usually don't stop here, but I ran out of adderall this morning," I replied.
The look on his face was totally worthwhile :)
Happy early Thanksgiving everyone! Belly pics, nursery pics and updates to come this afternoon or evening!
Man: "That baby is going to come out wide awake and with ADD," he informed me.
Me: "Really? I usually don't stop here, but I ran out of adderall this morning," I replied.
The look on his face was totally worthwhile :)
Happy early Thanksgiving everyone! Belly pics, nursery pics and updates to come this afternoon or evening!
Monday, November 23, 2009
Success!
Just as a quick update, Thanksgayving was a total success. We raised over $1,000 for SafePlace, the battered women's shelter, as well as filled three boxes with 150-lb. capacities to take to Capitol Area Food Bank - yay! Thank you to all who came out and spent the holiday with us, eating like gluttons and giving with your hearts (and wallets) wide open! I already cannot wait until next year, and cannot believe that this time next year I'll have an 11-month-old!
Next year we have an even better plan for raising money for the charities by partnering with the bar and liquor distributors in order to take a portion of the sales profits! I already cannot wait!
Next year we have an even better plan for raising money for the charities by partnering with the bar and liquor distributors in order to take a portion of the sales profits! I already cannot wait!
Sunday, November 22, 2009
Happy Thanksgayving!
So while it is not the actual Thanksgiving holiday yet, today (at least for me) is much, much better. It's Thanksgayving - my absolute favorite holiday of the year.
It all started six years ago, when ten lonely, family-less-for-the-holiday homos decided they needed one reason a year to indulge the cravings they so obviously denied themselves the rest of the year, seeing as how it's nearly always beach-body season in Austin. Anyhow, the result was a potluck that celebrated both the gay community, and their impressive inherent tolerance for large quantities of liquor. They found a great bar/restaurant downtown that agreed to not only let them use their venue but to provide full service at the event and close down to the public for the day, so long as they met a certain bar tab. Done, and done. The event has spiraled now to include a guest list of nearly 500 people, usually around 350 of which are able to attend, with each person hand-crafting their own side/dessert/appetizer/etc, while each of the ten hosts is responsible for a turkey or ham. We bring our dishes, set up shop, and the wonderful staff does the rest, with a massive Thanksgiving dinner being served up to friends and family, both old and new. This is my third year as a host, and since you're probably saying, But you're not gay?!, you should know I'm as close to their favorite accessory as you can get. I mean absolutely no offense to my family when I say this, but the upwards of 300 people that will gather downtown to celebrate the impending Thanksgiving holiday with me today are my family. I love the other hosts, and many of my guests that will be attending, the way I love my mother and grandmother and aunt and D and the baby, and am so very grateful and blessed to be able to share in this event with them. Seriously, I love you guys more than any cliched words on a silly little blog could express. On this day of giving thanks, I am so very thankful for you all and your love and support of me and my family (can you believe I have my own family now?!) during this amazing and life-changing event. You all are the absolute best uncles that any little girl could ever ask for, and I'm only now starting to realize how insanely lucky (and spoiled!) Baby B is going to be. Thank you for your unwavering support, love, and ridiculous tolerance of Brooklyn's (inside joke - sorry) antics you have been. Thanks for holding my hair back, taking my keys away, and being my shoulders to cry on. I could not ask for a better group of friends.
On a less sappy note, I am proud to say that our event is in it's sixth year of benefiting the Capitol Area Food Bank, and while we have donated money to SafePlace in the past, this year we hope to raise quite a bit of money for the shelter through a raffle of prizes that have been so generously donated by some great local (and other non-local) businesses. Thank you guys for all you do! Let's celebrate how fortunate we all are to have one another, while raising money and donations for those who aren't as lucky and hopefully help to change their situations!
It all started six years ago, when ten lonely, family-less-for-the-holiday homos decided they needed one reason a year to indulge the cravings they so obviously denied themselves the rest of the year, seeing as how it's nearly always beach-body season in Austin. Anyhow, the result was a potluck that celebrated both the gay community, and their impressive inherent tolerance for large quantities of liquor. They found a great bar/restaurant downtown that agreed to not only let them use their venue but to provide full service at the event and close down to the public for the day, so long as they met a certain bar tab. Done, and done. The event has spiraled now to include a guest list of nearly 500 people, usually around 350 of which are able to attend, with each person hand-crafting their own side/dessert/appetizer/etc, while each of the ten hosts is responsible for a turkey or ham. We bring our dishes, set up shop, and the wonderful staff does the rest, with a massive Thanksgiving dinner being served up to friends and family, both old and new. This is my third year as a host, and since you're probably saying, But you're not gay?!, you should know I'm as close to their favorite accessory as you can get. I mean absolutely no offense to my family when I say this, but the upwards of 300 people that will gather downtown to celebrate the impending Thanksgiving holiday with me today are my family. I love the other hosts, and many of my guests that will be attending, the way I love my mother and grandmother and aunt and D and the baby, and am so very grateful and blessed to be able to share in this event with them. Seriously, I love you guys more than any cliched words on a silly little blog could express. On this day of giving thanks, I am so very thankful for you all and your love and support of me and my family (can you believe I have my own family now?!) during this amazing and life-changing event. You all are the absolute best uncles that any little girl could ever ask for, and I'm only now starting to realize how insanely lucky (and spoiled!) Baby B is going to be. Thank you for your unwavering support, love, and ridiculous tolerance of Brooklyn's (inside joke - sorry) antics you have been. Thanks for holding my hair back, taking my keys away, and being my shoulders to cry on. I could not ask for a better group of friends.
On a less sappy note, I am proud to say that our event is in it's sixth year of benefiting the Capitol Area Food Bank, and while we have donated money to SafePlace in the past, this year we hope to raise quite a bit of money for the shelter through a raffle of prizes that have been so generously donated by some great local (and other non-local) businesses. Thank you guys for all you do! Let's celebrate how fortunate we all are to have one another, while raising money and donations for those who aren't as lucky and hopefully help to change their situations!
Saturday, November 21, 2009
The Nursery is Finished!!!!!!!!!
It's a miracle. Baby B's nursery is complete!
Like I mentioned earlier this week, we had bought her bookcase off Craigslist last weekend, but were waiting until D's dad came into town in order to haul it upstairs to the nursery. Well, this afternoon the guys came through, bringing not only her bookcase but the new changing table we got from the D's upstairs and completing her nursery! Here are some pics of the finished product:
Her new changing table - thoughts compared with the old one? We still have it in case I decide I like it better...aren't you jealous you're not D? ;)
The new bookcase:
Finally a picture where you can tell her room is actually pink!
Now all I need to do is hang two pictures - one is for her first year month-by-month collage, and the other a signed piece from the baby shower - and we're good to go. But since we've done our Thanksgiving shopping, picked up D's dad from the airport and then pigged out on Matt's El Rancho, and now are getting ready to head to the Texas vs. Kansas game, I'm pretty sure I am maxed out on energy I can expend for one...lifetime.
Like I mentioned earlier this week, we had bought her bookcase off Craigslist last weekend, but were waiting until D's dad came into town in order to haul it upstairs to the nursery. Well, this afternoon the guys came through, bringing not only her bookcase but the new changing table we got from the D's upstairs and completing her nursery! Here are some pics of the finished product:
Her new changing table - thoughts compared with the old one? We still have it in case I decide I like it better...aren't you jealous you're not D? ;)
The new bookcase:
Finally a picture where you can tell her room is actually pink!
Now all I need to do is hang two pictures - one is for her first year month-by-month collage, and the other a signed piece from the baby shower - and we're good to go. But since we've done our Thanksgiving shopping, picked up D's dad from the airport and then pigged out on Matt's El Rancho, and now are getting ready to head to the Texas vs. Kansas game, I'm pretty sure I am maxed out on energy I can expend for one...lifetime.
34 Weeks!
How your baby's growing:
Your baby now weighs about 4 3/4 pounds (like your average cantaloupe) and is almost 18 inches long. Her fat layers — which will help regulate her body temperature once she's born — are filling her out, making her rounder. Her skin is also smoother than ever. Her central nervous system is maturing and her lungs are continuing to mature as well. If you've been nervous about preterm labor, you'll be happy to know that babies born between 34 and 37 weeks who have no other health problems generally do fine. They may need a short stay in the neonatal nursery and may have a few short-term health issues, but in the long run, they usually do as well as full-term babies.
How your life's changing:
By this week, fatigue has probably set in again, though maybe not with the same coma-like intensity of your first trimester. Your tiredness is perfectly understandable, given the physical strain you're under and the restless nights of frequent pee breaks and tossing and turning, while trying to get comfortable. Now's the time to slow down and save up your energy for labor day (and beyond). If you've been sitting or lying down for a long time, don't jump up too quickly. Blood can pool in your feet and legs, causing a temporary drop in your blood pressure when you get up that can make you feel dizzy.
If you notice itchy red bumps or welts on your belly and possibly your thighs and buttocks as well, you may have a condition called pruritic urticarial papules and plaques of pregnancy (PUPPP for short). Up to one percent of pregnant women develop PUPPP, which is harmless but can be quite uncomfortable. See your practitioner so she can make sure it's not a more serious problem, provide treatment to make you more comfortable, and refer you to a dermatologist if necessary. Also be sure to call her if you feel intense itchiness all over your body, even if you don't have a rash. It could signal a liver problem.
Friday, November 20, 2009
Childbirth Education Class - The Final Installation.
First off, HOORAY! It's over. Even better? I heard through the grapevine that my insurance will refund your class fee if you complete the series of three classes, so I'm waiting for a $50 refund. Sweet! Although I'm not sure if anyone else has ever tried to get money BACK from an insurance company, but I don't see it being as easy as they made it sound. Maybe I'm just a cynic, though...
Class last night was informative. We covered c-sections, had a pediatrician stop by to answer questions and talked about newborn care and what to bring to the hospital.
First things first: C-sections. While I've known from the start that this would be an emergency-only option for me, since I've seen some moms go through rough recoveries and would never elect to have the procedure, this was more than confirmed last night. Not that a vaginal birth sounds like a walk in the park or anything. I mean, seriously? These are my only two options? How depressing... Anyhow, we watched a video about c-sections, which included up-close and personal shots of the procedure. Now I firmly believe that knowledge is power. But there is a difference between being comforted and taking heart in knowing what will happen to me in the case that I require a c-section, and having vomit-inducing visuals of the procedure. I just think some things are better knowing, but not being able to picture, don't you? Anyhow, D was a trooper and told me when not to look (the majority of the video), and then when the baby was out and we could coo over how cute (not that cute, actually) he looked. We both agreed ours would be significantly cuter (duh). Anyhow, that was that. I'm still staunchly against having a c-section unless necessary. Somehow, though, I see it as being a real possibility due to my tiny pelvis. Eh, I'm sure if midway through labor they told me they were going to have to pull her out my nostrils I would agree, so really, in the end all that matters is that our daughter arrives healthy and safe!
What's next? Oh yes, the pediatrician. Eh, I tuned him out seeing as how people were asking dumb questions (ie. if the baby pees on his circumcision incision, should we call the doctor? No, idiot, pee is sterile. How did you suppose that doctors had controlled for the fact that as far back as circumcision goes, of course babies are going to pee on the incision. I mean, seriously.) and we've already chosen ours. Next.
As far as what to bring to the hospital, the instructor spent far more time emphasizing that we should bring as little as possible than she did compiling an actual list, so I don't have many new ideas. I do know, however, that our hospital supplies everything from panties to diapers (as it damn well should for what it costs to have a baby!), so I think we're pretty set with what we have packed so far (More on that in a later post once it's finished). I'm pretty certain that the bulk of our baggage will be for D, since he's quite particular about never being cold in the slightest and will be lugging along his own blankets and pillows, and I'll be damned if I give birth in a sweltering room. Or even one above 65 degrees. I'm talking meat locker-ish temps for me! We'll warm it up once Baby B is here (and I'm not working up a sweat burning upwards of 1,000 calories an hour!)
Speaking of Baby B, she has a name! I won't be announcing it until she's born, but I'm 99% sure she has a name now :) I'm very excited. I've been using it every once in a while when talking to her to try it on for size, and it fits her perfectly! Check.
Oh yes, on a slightly gross note, I think I may have lost my mucus plug yesterday? I'm not particularly sure (as one never really is the first time, I hear), but I'm about 80% sure. Gross, I know, but a sign that even if it's still weeks away, Baby B knows I'm in a hurry to meet her. I'll take it :)
Hope everyone has a wonderful Friday, and a great weekend! Just 38 days until Baby B is set to come into the world (please be sooner, please be sooner!) This weekend is our last football game, and a doozy given that Colt is poised to set the record for the winningest (isn't that word ridiculous?!) quarterback in college football history, we're set to stay undefeated, and we'll all but clench our spot in the National Championship game! HECK YEAH! Not to mention that D's dad (who I really, really like) is coming into town and it's his first game, and it's the seniors last home game. Holy macaroni! Sunday is another big day, with our annual Thanksgiving potluck and fundraiser downtown that I'm hosting for the third year in a row, and usually has upwards of 300 people in attendance. It benefits the Capital Area Food Bank and Safeplace, our local battered women's shelter, so if you live in the area, please come on out! Email me or leave a comment for further info :) The more, the merrier!
Class last night was informative. We covered c-sections, had a pediatrician stop by to answer questions and talked about newborn care and what to bring to the hospital.
First things first: C-sections. While I've known from the start that this would be an emergency-only option for me, since I've seen some moms go through rough recoveries and would never elect to have the procedure, this was more than confirmed last night. Not that a vaginal birth sounds like a walk in the park or anything. I mean, seriously? These are my only two options? How depressing... Anyhow, we watched a video about c-sections, which included up-close and personal shots of the procedure. Now I firmly believe that knowledge is power. But there is a difference between being comforted and taking heart in knowing what will happen to me in the case that I require a c-section, and having vomit-inducing visuals of the procedure. I just think some things are better knowing, but not being able to picture, don't you? Anyhow, D was a trooper and told me when not to look (the majority of the video), and then when the baby was out and we could coo over how cute (not that cute, actually) he looked. We both agreed ours would be significantly cuter (duh). Anyhow, that was that. I'm still staunchly against having a c-section unless necessary. Somehow, though, I see it as being a real possibility due to my tiny pelvis. Eh, I'm sure if midway through labor they told me they were going to have to pull her out my nostrils I would agree, so really, in the end all that matters is that our daughter arrives healthy and safe!
What's next? Oh yes, the pediatrician. Eh, I tuned him out seeing as how people were asking dumb questions (ie. if the baby pees on his circumcision incision, should we call the doctor? No, idiot, pee is sterile. How did you suppose that doctors had controlled for the fact that as far back as circumcision goes, of course babies are going to pee on the incision. I mean, seriously.) and we've already chosen ours. Next.
As far as what to bring to the hospital, the instructor spent far more time emphasizing that we should bring as little as possible than she did compiling an actual list, so I don't have many new ideas. I do know, however, that our hospital supplies everything from panties to diapers (as it damn well should for what it costs to have a baby!), so I think we're pretty set with what we have packed so far (More on that in a later post once it's finished). I'm pretty certain that the bulk of our baggage will be for D, since he's quite particular about never being cold in the slightest and will be lugging along his own blankets and pillows, and I'll be damned if I give birth in a sweltering room. Or even one above 65 degrees. I'm talking meat locker-ish temps for me! We'll warm it up once Baby B is here (and I'm not working up a sweat burning upwards of 1,000 calories an hour!)
Speaking of Baby B, she has a name! I won't be announcing it until she's born, but I'm 99% sure she has a name now :) I'm very excited. I've been using it every once in a while when talking to her to try it on for size, and it fits her perfectly! Check.
Oh yes, on a slightly gross note, I think I may have lost my mucus plug yesterday? I'm not particularly sure (as one never really is the first time, I hear), but I'm about 80% sure. Gross, I know, but a sign that even if it's still weeks away, Baby B knows I'm in a hurry to meet her. I'll take it :)
Hope everyone has a wonderful Friday, and a great weekend! Just 38 days until Baby B is set to come into the world (please be sooner, please be sooner!) This weekend is our last football game, and a doozy given that Colt is poised to set the record for the winningest (isn't that word ridiculous?!) quarterback in college football history, we're set to stay undefeated, and we'll all but clench our spot in the National Championship game! HECK YEAH! Not to mention that D's dad (who I really, really like) is coming into town and it's his first game, and it's the seniors last home game. Holy macaroni! Sunday is another big day, with our annual Thanksgiving potluck and fundraiser downtown that I'm hosting for the third year in a row, and usually has upwards of 300 people in attendance. It benefits the Capital Area Food Bank and Safeplace, our local battered women's shelter, so if you live in the area, please come on out! Email me or leave a comment for further info :) The more, the merrier!
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
34-Week Appointment!
My appointment this morning went very well. First off, I hadn't gained any weight. Maybe .2 of a pound or something, but overall, no weight gain. YAY! And before certain individuals start lecturing me, know that when I asked my doctor about this he said that it's perfectly fine, and that he's not concerned about it a shred. That brings me to a total of 21 lbs. in 34 weeks. Not too shabby! I'm definitely on track to stay under 30, which is my goal. Or at least it has been, since I realized keeping it to 25 probably wasn't going to happen, nor did my doctor want me to.
It was hard at first for them to find Baby B's heartbeat. Despite having felt her move as I was laying back for them to measure me and use the doppler to find her heartbeat, my heart stood still for a minute as I watched the nurse search and search. When she finally did find it, it was up right near my rib cage, further adding to my suspicions that Baby B is breech, if not flat out transverse. Either that or she's got her legs split to kick me on each far side, and has a long torso! Dr. R said not to worry about it for the time being - she still has time to drop. If she hasn't by my 36-week appointment, though, he may need to try an external version to get her to move. Doesn't sound too fun, but I'm hoping she'll settle on in where she should be with due time. If she won't move, though, it'll be c-section time, but we'll cross that bridge when we get there!
I haven't mentioned this because it's just plain weird, but I've been experiencing a touch of pica. For those of you unfamiliar with this condition, it's the experience of craving non-food objects. Many times people will crave dirt, gravel, etc., but in my case it's shown it's affections for toothpaste, aspirin and paper. I haven't acted on these cravings, of course, but I will freely admit that it's the strangest thing in the world to ask yourself, "What do I feel like eating?" and have your inner voice respond, "A napkin." My doctor said that this is very common in pregnant women so not to be upset by it, but to be sure not to act on any of the cravings, particularly aspirin. Well, duh. Anyway, I mention this not only to single myself out as a freak of nature, but so that if anyone else out there is experiencing this same phenomenon, now you know that not only are you not alone, but you're considered par for the course.
With regards to my near trip to L&D a week and a half ago, my doc said that this is likely to start occuring more and more often and with more intensity, and that if I have more than ten contractions in the course of an hour, to go to the hospital and call him immediately. Other than that, to trust my judgment like I did before :) It seems for as much as his nurse seems to dismiss my concerns as overreacting, my doctor and I seem to be on the same wavelength, for which I am eternally grateful.
Two weeks until my 36-week appointment, and then weekly from there on out until Baby B arrives! YAY! The only crappy thing is that from here on out I'll have weekly cervical checks, and I'm not really psyched for that. Oh well, though. At least she'll be closer to being here!
It was hard at first for them to find Baby B's heartbeat. Despite having felt her move as I was laying back for them to measure me and use the doppler to find her heartbeat, my heart stood still for a minute as I watched the nurse search and search. When she finally did find it, it was up right near my rib cage, further adding to my suspicions that Baby B is breech, if not flat out transverse. Either that or she's got her legs split to kick me on each far side, and has a long torso! Dr. R said not to worry about it for the time being - she still has time to drop. If she hasn't by my 36-week appointment, though, he may need to try an external version to get her to move. Doesn't sound too fun, but I'm hoping she'll settle on in where she should be with due time. If she won't move, though, it'll be c-section time, but we'll cross that bridge when we get there!
I haven't mentioned this because it's just plain weird, but I've been experiencing a touch of pica. For those of you unfamiliar with this condition, it's the experience of craving non-food objects. Many times people will crave dirt, gravel, etc., but in my case it's shown it's affections for toothpaste, aspirin and paper. I haven't acted on these cravings, of course, but I will freely admit that it's the strangest thing in the world to ask yourself, "What do I feel like eating?" and have your inner voice respond, "A napkin." My doctor said that this is very common in pregnant women so not to be upset by it, but to be sure not to act on any of the cravings, particularly aspirin. Well, duh. Anyway, I mention this not only to single myself out as a freak of nature, but so that if anyone else out there is experiencing this same phenomenon, now you know that not only are you not alone, but you're considered par for the course.
With regards to my near trip to L&D a week and a half ago, my doc said that this is likely to start occuring more and more often and with more intensity, and that if I have more than ten contractions in the course of an hour, to go to the hospital and call him immediately. Other than that, to trust my judgment like I did before :) It seems for as much as his nurse seems to dismiss my concerns as overreacting, my doctor and I seem to be on the same wavelength, for which I am eternally grateful.
Two weeks until my 36-week appointment, and then weekly from there on out until Baby B arrives! YAY! The only crappy thing is that from here on out I'll have weekly cervical checks, and I'm not really psyched for that. Oh well, though. At least she'll be closer to being here!
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Don't. Touch. Me.
I am a nice person, I really am. Despite my ability to sound off against things that piss me off on my blog, I am ridiculously mild-mannered about some things in person. I hate confrontation (though not enough to avoid it in cases where something really is bothering me), and so I generally get caught in awkward situations out of the desire to not hurt someone's feelings.
Case in point: Our dry cleaner. I see this person on a weekly basis, and have for going on a year now. She's a very, very nice woman, and I like her. I truly do. She always makes conversation with me, asks me about my day, and naturally I reciprocate. Furthermore, it's the best dry cleaner in town and has the best rates, so when you start to wonder why I don't just find a new dry cleaner, that's why. Anyhow, as my pregnancy has progressed, she's found such joy in touching my stomach. I HATE this. And no, not because I'm unfriendly or a total, uptight bitch the way some would have me believe when I mention to friends/family my desire to not be touched, but because it's never okay for someone to invade your personal space and touch you! I'm just not that person. I don't like strangers to touch me. Acquaintances either. Even one of my best friends ALWAYS asks before he touches my belly, and every time I say yes, but thank him profusely for asking. What on Earth makes people think it's okay to reach out and put their hands on the belly of a pregnant woman? Would these same people touch a non-pregnant woman's belly?! No. Of course not. That's just....weird. And intrusive. And completely against all societal norms. So what the hell makes people think that now, when I'm actually more sensitive and carrying around the most precious thing in my world in there, that different standards would apply?
Anyhow, it's gotten to the point where I absolutely dread going to the dry cleaners. I desperately want to say, tactfully, "Please don't touch my stomach - I don't like that," but of course am too big of a pushover to actually do it. At least I was until today. Today, after ten minutes of beating around the bush and putting off the dry cleaners run, I decided I would mention as nicely as possible that I would prefer a hands-off policy. I then spent another ten minutes giving myself a pep talk that this is in fact an okay thing to ask of someone else and that it doesn't make me an unkind human being. Finally, I was ready. I went in, and as she made her move, I made mine, noting politely that I would prefer not to be touched. What did she do? She laughed it off, like clearly I had to be kidding, and TOUCHED. ME. ANYWAYS. I was so caught off guard that I just stood there. I mean, I definitely wasn't expecting that reaction...the thought never once crossed my mind that she might completely ignore my expressed request.
Anyone else have experience with this? Do I have no choice but to either a.) just let her touch me, despite how much I HATE it and want to punch her in the face everytime she gets near me, or b.) switch dry cleaners? I'm hoping there's another solution I'm not seeing. Should I just start touching her stomach every time she makes a move for mine, so she can see how awkwardly this type of unwelcome advance equates to a non-pregnant person? Should I just suck it up, so that when I have my abs back I can ask her to feel then? I just don't understand the way people react to pregnant women.
Case in point: Our dry cleaner. I see this person on a weekly basis, and have for going on a year now. She's a very, very nice woman, and I like her. I truly do. She always makes conversation with me, asks me about my day, and naturally I reciprocate. Furthermore, it's the best dry cleaner in town and has the best rates, so when you start to wonder why I don't just find a new dry cleaner, that's why. Anyhow, as my pregnancy has progressed, she's found such joy in touching my stomach. I HATE this. And no, not because I'm unfriendly or a total, uptight bitch the way some would have me believe when I mention to friends/family my desire to not be touched, but because it's never okay for someone to invade your personal space and touch you! I'm just not that person. I don't like strangers to touch me. Acquaintances either. Even one of my best friends ALWAYS asks before he touches my belly, and every time I say yes, but thank him profusely for asking. What on Earth makes people think it's okay to reach out and put their hands on the belly of a pregnant woman? Would these same people touch a non-pregnant woman's belly?! No. Of course not. That's just....weird. And intrusive. And completely against all societal norms. So what the hell makes people think that now, when I'm actually more sensitive and carrying around the most precious thing in my world in there, that different standards would apply?
Anyhow, it's gotten to the point where I absolutely dread going to the dry cleaners. I desperately want to say, tactfully, "Please don't touch my stomach - I don't like that," but of course am too big of a pushover to actually do it. At least I was until today. Today, after ten minutes of beating around the bush and putting off the dry cleaners run, I decided I would mention as nicely as possible that I would prefer a hands-off policy. I then spent another ten minutes giving myself a pep talk that this is in fact an okay thing to ask of someone else and that it doesn't make me an unkind human being. Finally, I was ready. I went in, and as she made her move, I made mine, noting politely that I would prefer not to be touched. What did she do? She laughed it off, like clearly I had to be kidding, and TOUCHED. ME. ANYWAYS. I was so caught off guard that I just stood there. I mean, I definitely wasn't expecting that reaction...the thought never once crossed my mind that she might completely ignore my expressed request.
Anyone else have experience with this? Do I have no choice but to either a.) just let her touch me, despite how much I HATE it and want to punch her in the face everytime she gets near me, or b.) switch dry cleaners? I'm hoping there's another solution I'm not seeing. Should I just start touching her stomach every time she makes a move for mine, so she can see how awkwardly this type of unwelcome advance equates to a non-pregnant person? Should I just suck it up, so that when I have my abs back I can ask her to feel then? I just don't understand the way people react to pregnant women.
Favorite Thing of the Week!
I'm not much of a rule follower. During my first trimester, I was much better about limiting caffeine, etc, due to my overwhelming fear of miscarriage, but since I hit the 'safe zone', I've thrown caution to the wind and done what I need to do to get through the remainder of my pregnancy, much of which involves caffeinated beverages (I mean, I already have the fat-free, sugar-free version. If they're not caffeinated, then what the hell are they actually made of?!). The consistent exception to this rule has been (besides obvious toxic substances - duh) deli meat.
As you may have noticed by this point, I have bad luck. While the risk of listeria is super low, the risk of being bit by a brown recluse spider is actually LOWER and that one has happened, so I have chosen to err on the side of caution. I stay away from unpasteurized dairy products and beverages, homemade Caesar salad dressings, and sadly, turkey :( One of the first things on my Go-get-me-food-I-just-bore-your-child!!! list is a Beach Club from Jimmy John's, and I cannot wait to sink my teeth into it! Until then, however, I made a recent discovery that is rocking my world: Stouffer's Smoked Turkey Panini!! I know you can have deli meat if it's heated to an internal temperature of 165 degrees, but the thought of microwaved deli meat is enough to make me gag. In this case, however, it's delicious warm, and after being microwaved in a convenient panini for nearly four minutes, you can rest assured that it's safe for consumption by you and your little tot. In case that's not good enough, it's also smothered in cheese, bacon and sourdough bread, but low in fat and calories, making it my ideal meal. Listeria be damned!
As you may have noticed by this point, I have bad luck. While the risk of listeria is super low, the risk of being bit by a brown recluse spider is actually LOWER and that one has happened, so I have chosen to err on the side of caution. I stay away from unpasteurized dairy products and beverages, homemade Caesar salad dressings, and sadly, turkey :( One of the first things on my Go-get-me-food-I-just-bore-your-child!!! list is a Beach Club from Jimmy John's, and I cannot wait to sink my teeth into it! Until then, however, I made a recent discovery that is rocking my world: Stouffer's Smoked Turkey Panini!! I know you can have deli meat if it's heated to an internal temperature of 165 degrees, but the thought of microwaved deli meat is enough to make me gag. In this case, however, it's delicious warm, and after being microwaved in a convenient panini for nearly four minutes, you can rest assured that it's safe for consumption by you and your little tot. In case that's not good enough, it's also smothered in cheese, bacon and sourdough bread, but low in fat and calories, making it my ideal meal. Listeria be damned!
Monday, November 16, 2009
SIX WEEKS!
Just six weeks from today and our baby girl will be making her entrance into the world (given that she doesn't decide to head for the hills sooner!)! I CANNOT wait!
This weekend we went and picked up a five-shelf bookcase to complete the nursery - and we got it for only $15! Sometimes my ability to find an amazing deal amazes even me! D's dad is coming in this weekend for the Texas vs. Kansas game, so once he gets here the guys are going to haul it upstairs, at which point I'll go to town on placing books and other items strategically on the shelves and Baby B's nursery will be officially finished! YAY! I can't wait to see the finished product (and post pics!!!)!
In other news, Baby B is a squirmy little thing these days. I had read that her movements might feel as though they have slowed down and her quarters get more and more cramped, but so far this has not been the case. I swear the other night while I was babysitting she moved for nearly five straight hours. No joke. I was pretty sure that such prolonged fetal movement was nearly impossible, but I am now a believer. Hopefully she'll learn to sleep more often than that before she makes her grand appearance!
Happy Monday, everyone!
This weekend we went and picked up a five-shelf bookcase to complete the nursery - and we got it for only $15! Sometimes my ability to find an amazing deal amazes even me! D's dad is coming in this weekend for the Texas vs. Kansas game, so once he gets here the guys are going to haul it upstairs, at which point I'll go to town on placing books and other items strategically on the shelves and Baby B's nursery will be officially finished! YAY! I can't wait to see the finished product (and post pics!!!)!
In other news, Baby B is a squirmy little thing these days. I had read that her movements might feel as though they have slowed down and her quarters get more and more cramped, but so far this has not been the case. I swear the other night while I was babysitting she moved for nearly five straight hours. No joke. I was pretty sure that such prolonged fetal movement was nearly impossible, but I am now a believer. Hopefully she'll learn to sleep more often than that before she makes her grand appearance!
Happy Monday, everyone!
Saturday, November 14, 2009
I Heart Vicki Iovine.
If you don't know who that is, chances are you just don't recognize the name. Did you by chance pick up a copy of The Girlfriend's Guide to Pregnancy when you first found out you were pregnant? If not, go running to the nearest Half Price Books. If so, the author was the fantastically honest Vicki Iovine. I noted early on that we seemed to have very similar thoughts about childbirth and pregnancy, so as my pregnancy starts to draw to an end and my childbirth and post-pregnancy reading commences, one of my first picks was The Girlfriend's Guide to the First Year of Motherhood. I've only just started it, given that I'm babysitting for a whopping 8-9 hours this evening (I've lost my mind is the only reasonable explanation for why I would agree to that!), and already I found a passage that not only I could relate to, but completely excuses my near fit at the obligatory rooming-in that my hospital requires. In my defense, as most new mothers think this is ideal, this is what this seasoned veteran (she has four children, our only obvious difference in personality) had to say about the practice:
Most hospitals now allow you to keep your baby with you in your room at all times if you are capable of caring for her yourself; in other words, you're not feverish or high on painkillers. This practice is called rooming in and it is quite fashionable for expectant mothers to insist that they will allow nothing but rooming in after their baby is born. I don't want to generalize, at least not on every page, but these rooming-inners are usually the same women who are marching behind the natural childbirth banner. In other words, these are women setting rules and standards based on no actual familiarity with having a baby. Not a good idea.
Give yourself the option of keeping the baby with you all the time or letting the nursery staff care for him or her while you attend to such luxuries as a sitz bath or sleeping for more than forty-five minutes. We Girlfriends implore you to rest as much as you possibly can for your way-too-brief stay in the hospital because you will not be allowed to lie down and be cared for again until you have your next baby, and by then you'll be feeling too guilty about the firstborn to enjoy it. You may think that you are fine and that caring for the baby is a breeze, but THIS IS A TRAP! You are high on a cocktail or adrenaline and infatuation, and your baby is going to wake up in a few days, never to closer her eyes again (or so it will seem). Your only hope, aside from a full-time nanny, is to hoard sleep now.
My thoughts exactly.
While I was explaining to my mother during her visit back in September my desire for the baby to stay in a nursery while I was in the hospital, she reacted in a way that suggested that this was a desire akin to running the dog over with my car just for the hell of it.
"Maybe you'll change your mind when you have her," she assured me, as though at twenty-four weeks pregnant I was already displaying qualities of an unfit mother.
"Doubtful," I assured her.
Sure enough, I'm still anti rooming-in. Too bad my hospital doesn't give a damn. I can see why the nurse might have been caught off guard by my question now, though. She thought I was a first-time mom. While technically that is true, there is nothing first-time about me, having dealt with two different sets of triplet newborns on a full-time basis, and having taken part in about 12046378462934 children's lives at this point.
On a slightly related (but less opinionated) note, here are some books I recommend to anyone currently prepping for the big day and the postpartum period:
Baby Laughs - Jenny McCarthy
Sippy Cups Are Not For Chardonnay - Stephanie Wilder-Taylor
ANYTHING by Vicki Iovine
The Pregnancy Bible (This is a great one for dads also, since there are detailed and illustrated how-to instructions for new babies!)
The Pregnancy Recovery Guide - Dr. Glade Curtis
I'm sure there'll be a much larger list to follow, but this is what I've gone through in the past week and a half, and the ones I would recommend!
Most hospitals now allow you to keep your baby with you in your room at all times if you are capable of caring for her yourself; in other words, you're not feverish or high on painkillers. This practice is called rooming in and it is quite fashionable for expectant mothers to insist that they will allow nothing but rooming in after their baby is born. I don't want to generalize, at least not on every page, but these rooming-inners are usually the same women who are marching behind the natural childbirth banner. In other words, these are women setting rules and standards based on no actual familiarity with having a baby. Not a good idea.
Give yourself the option of keeping the baby with you all the time or letting the nursery staff care for him or her while you attend to such luxuries as a sitz bath or sleeping for more than forty-five minutes. We Girlfriends implore you to rest as much as you possibly can for your way-too-brief stay in the hospital because you will not be allowed to lie down and be cared for again until you have your next baby, and by then you'll be feeling too guilty about the firstborn to enjoy it. You may think that you are fine and that caring for the baby is a breeze, but THIS IS A TRAP! You are high on a cocktail or adrenaline and infatuation, and your baby is going to wake up in a few days, never to closer her eyes again (or so it will seem). Your only hope, aside from a full-time nanny, is to hoard sleep now.
My thoughts exactly.
While I was explaining to my mother during her visit back in September my desire for the baby to stay in a nursery while I was in the hospital, she reacted in a way that suggested that this was a desire akin to running the dog over with my car just for the hell of it.
"Maybe you'll change your mind when you have her," she assured me, as though at twenty-four weeks pregnant I was already displaying qualities of an unfit mother.
"Doubtful," I assured her.
Sure enough, I'm still anti rooming-in. Too bad my hospital doesn't give a damn. I can see why the nurse might have been caught off guard by my question now, though. She thought I was a first-time mom. While technically that is true, there is nothing first-time about me, having dealt with two different sets of triplet newborns on a full-time basis, and having taken part in about 12046378462934 children's lives at this point.
On a slightly related (but less opinionated) note, here are some books I recommend to anyone currently prepping for the big day and the postpartum period:
Baby Laughs - Jenny McCarthy
Sippy Cups Are Not For Chardonnay - Stephanie Wilder-Taylor
ANYTHING by Vicki Iovine
The Pregnancy Bible (This is a great one for dads also, since there are detailed and illustrated how-to instructions for new babies!)
The Pregnancy Recovery Guide - Dr. Glade Curtis
I'm sure there'll be a much larger list to follow, but this is what I've gone through in the past week and a half, and the ones I would recommend!
33 Weeks!
How your baby's growing:
This week your baby weighs a little over 4 pounds (heft a pineapple) and has passed the 17-inch mark. He's rapidly losing that wrinkled, alien look and his skeleton is hardening. The bones in his skull aren't fused together, which allows them to move and slightly overlap, thus making it easier for him to fit through the birth canal. (The pressure on the head during birth is so intense that many babies are born with a conehead-like appearance.) These bones don't entirely fuse until early adulthood, so they can grow as his brain and other tissue expands during infancy and childhood.
How your life's changing:
As your baby fills out even more of your belly, lots of things might start to change: Whereas before you were sashaying, you may find yourself waddling. Finding an easy position to sit in — let alone sleep — is becoming more of a challenge. And bumping into chairs and counters is par for the course.
You may be feeling some achiness and even numbness in your fingers, wrists, and hands. Like many other tissues in your body, those in your wrist can retain fluid, which can increase pressure in the carpal tunnel, a bony canal in your wrist. Nerves that run through this "tunnel" may end up pinched, creating numbness; tingling, shooting or burning pain; or a dull ache. Try wearing a splint to stabilize your wrist or propping your arm up with a pillow when you sleep. If your work requires repetitive hand movements (at a keyboard or on an assembly line, for instance), remember to stretch your hands when you take breaks — which should be frequently.
Friday, November 13, 2009
Childbirth Education Class - Part II.
Let me first start off by saying our new instructor, Lori, is great. I much prefer her to last week's little agenda-pusher. One of the first things she said was, "Tonight we're going to talk about inductions, tours the hospital, and go over breathing and epidurals. Even if you're not planning to get an epidural, you should know that 90% of women end up getting one, planned or not, because let's face it ladies - breathing through labor? Ha! More power to you if you can, but I sure as hell couldn't." I loved her immediately.
We started off with a heartwarming little chat about forceps and vacuum extractors. Awesome. I know women that have experienced both of these things, so I'm not too terribly concerned about it, but I'm also keeping my fingers crossed they won't be needed, especially after having an up close and personal view of both tools!
From there we moved on to inductions, a topic I was particularly interested in for obvious reasons, and was happy to note that she (and so hopefully the rest of the staff at my hospital) seemed supportive of them generally, whereas some are quite...judgmental, for lack of a better word. She even gave 'wanting your baby to come before the holidays' as an acceptable reason to be induced, so once again, if Baby B makes it that far, my induction is all but set in stone at this point given the support of my medical team. There wasn't anything she said that I didn't already know - induction requires continuous monitoring, blood pressure measurements to be taken every 15 minutes, etc. - but I think it was a learning experience for D, which is definitely what we want!
After that it was time to chat about epidurals, and by chat, I mean full-on demonstrate from the sterile drapings to the epi needle. I'm not exactly what you'd call needle-shy, but I did need to look away for a minute. She mentioned the risks, of course, and something that had managed to not pop into my head came up: paralysis. I guess it goes without saying that anytime they're poking around at your spine this is a risk, but this has definitely come up in my mind and in my dreams since last night, and I'm none too thrilled about it. Keep in mind, though, that the risk is really, realllllllllllllllly low (.000004%), and that once again, 90% of women end up with epidurals. She also assured us that the youngest of their anesthesiologists had done several thousand epidurals, so that was reassuring. Slightly. I still fully intend to take advantage of one, though, rest assured. Now I'm just unnecessarily nervous about it.
After that we all went for a tour of the hospital. I had actually been through there before when I went to pre-register, but this tour was definitely more complete, with the "War of the Worlds" lights brought down out of the ceiling and the bed being pulled completely apart, instead of just the mention of it I got last time. Again, I left the room completely nauseated. D did mention after the fact, though, that the room was much nicer than he'd imagined with the wood floors and paneling and the size being much closer to that of a tiny studio apartment than a regular hospital room, and I must say I agree. This was also where the low-point of the class happened for me. While Lori was going on and on about how great it is that our babies all get to room-in with us, I felt the need to ask this:
B:"What if we've had a particularly long and/or difficult labor, or are recovering from a c-section? Can the nurses take the baby for a bit?" Thinking for sure the answer wuold be yes, I never thought about how asking this question might make me look (normal, perhaps? anyone?). Apparently, what she heard was, "I'm a terrible mother-to-be and don't love my child in the slightest," since the look she gave me was enough to make me blush.
L:"Well no, we're not really supposed to, since we don't have a nursery here." Then she brightened up and said, "That's what dad is for!"
I thought D might pass out. My instincts here were later confirmed, since he spent the entire drive home asking about how to comfort her when I'm resting, who could show him how to bathe her, how to change a diaper, how to tell if she's hungry...the works. I thought it was pretty cute. We also met another couple in there that, while a little older than us, are in law school, and so naturally D runs into the mom-to-be. We sat together and gossiped and gaped wide-eyed at one another while the epidural needle stared us in the face, and talked about our birth plans and pediatricians, etc. Turns out they're interviewing the pediatrician I picked for Baby B today, and the dad had lots of questions, which caught D off guard. I'm a pretty take charge type of woman, so I've handled a lot of those decisions thinking he was uninterested, but apparently he's starting to notice. "Wow...that other dad really knew a LOT. I mean, a lot. It's not that I'm not interested," he explained to me on the car ride home. "I just don't really know about these things." Oops. My bad. I love that he wants to take on a more active role, though, so I'm encouraging it at all fronts from here on out. He even rubbed my back when we got home and practiced pushing on my hips to relieve back labor...so cute.
Next week we cover c-sections, newborn appearance and care, and what to bring to the hospital. Then (hopefully) we won't be heading back up there until D-day arrives! YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
We started off with a heartwarming little chat about forceps and vacuum extractors. Awesome. I know women that have experienced both of these things, so I'm not too terribly concerned about it, but I'm also keeping my fingers crossed they won't be needed, especially after having an up close and personal view of both tools!
From there we moved on to inductions, a topic I was particularly interested in for obvious reasons, and was happy to note that she (and so hopefully the rest of the staff at my hospital) seemed supportive of them generally, whereas some are quite...judgmental, for lack of a better word. She even gave 'wanting your baby to come before the holidays' as an acceptable reason to be induced, so once again, if Baby B makes it that far, my induction is all but set in stone at this point given the support of my medical team. There wasn't anything she said that I didn't already know - induction requires continuous monitoring, blood pressure measurements to be taken every 15 minutes, etc. - but I think it was a learning experience for D, which is definitely what we want!
After that it was time to chat about epidurals, and by chat, I mean full-on demonstrate from the sterile drapings to the epi needle. I'm not exactly what you'd call needle-shy, but I did need to look away for a minute. She mentioned the risks, of course, and something that had managed to not pop into my head came up: paralysis. I guess it goes without saying that anytime they're poking around at your spine this is a risk, but this has definitely come up in my mind and in my dreams since last night, and I'm none too thrilled about it. Keep in mind, though, that the risk is really, realllllllllllllllly low (.000004%), and that once again, 90% of women end up with epidurals. She also assured us that the youngest of their anesthesiologists had done several thousand epidurals, so that was reassuring. Slightly. I still fully intend to take advantage of one, though, rest assured. Now I'm just unnecessarily nervous about it.
After that we all went for a tour of the hospital. I had actually been through there before when I went to pre-register, but this tour was definitely more complete, with the "War of the Worlds" lights brought down out of the ceiling and the bed being pulled completely apart, instead of just the mention of it I got last time. Again, I left the room completely nauseated. D did mention after the fact, though, that the room was much nicer than he'd imagined with the wood floors and paneling and the size being much closer to that of a tiny studio apartment than a regular hospital room, and I must say I agree. This was also where the low-point of the class happened for me. While Lori was going on and on about how great it is that our babies all get to room-in with us, I felt the need to ask this:
B:"What if we've had a particularly long and/or difficult labor, or are recovering from a c-section? Can the nurses take the baby for a bit?" Thinking for sure the answer wuold be yes, I never thought about how asking this question might make me look (normal, perhaps? anyone?). Apparently, what she heard was, "I'm a terrible mother-to-be and don't love my child in the slightest," since the look she gave me was enough to make me blush.
L:"Well no, we're not really supposed to, since we don't have a nursery here." Then she brightened up and said, "That's what dad is for!"
I thought D might pass out. My instincts here were later confirmed, since he spent the entire drive home asking about how to comfort her when I'm resting, who could show him how to bathe her, how to change a diaper, how to tell if she's hungry...the works. I thought it was pretty cute. We also met another couple in there that, while a little older than us, are in law school, and so naturally D runs into the mom-to-be. We sat together and gossiped and gaped wide-eyed at one another while the epidural needle stared us in the face, and talked about our birth plans and pediatricians, etc. Turns out they're interviewing the pediatrician I picked for Baby B today, and the dad had lots of questions, which caught D off guard. I'm a pretty take charge type of woman, so I've handled a lot of those decisions thinking he was uninterested, but apparently he's starting to notice. "Wow...that other dad really knew a LOT. I mean, a lot. It's not that I'm not interested," he explained to me on the car ride home. "I just don't really know about these things." Oops. My bad. I love that he wants to take on a more active role, though, so I'm encouraging it at all fronts from here on out. He even rubbed my back when we got home and practiced pushing on my hips to relieve back labor...so cute.
Next week we cover c-sections, newborn appearance and care, and what to bring to the hospital. Then (hopefully) we won't be heading back up there until D-day arrives! YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Eviction Notice.
Note: I saw this on another blog I frequent, and thought it was hilarious and oh-so-fitting!
Pregnancy Eviction Notice
Dear Baby B,
Pursuant to the provisions of this pregnancy, you are hereby given an eviction notice and notice to vacate, on or before December 28, 2009, the premises and appurtenances owned by B, Mother of the City of Bellyville, which premises are now occupied by you. The current tenant has 45 days to gather her belongings and vacate the premises or she will be physically removed from the property. She is being evicted due to breech of contract and destruction of property. Expansions only to the front of the house, within reasonable limits, were discussed. Not only have these limits been exceeded, but additions to the back of the house were also made. Remodeling and gutting of the home was never approved, nor was changing the initial layout and base structure. Due to property damage caused by these unapproved renovations, there are now leaks in both the upper and lower levels of the home. Any further problems will result in immediate and forceful removal.
Sincerely,
Your mother
Thanks, Jen, for posting this originally - too cute!
Pregnancy Eviction Notice
Dear Baby B,
Pursuant to the provisions of this pregnancy, you are hereby given an eviction notice and notice to vacate, on or before December 28, 2009, the premises and appurtenances owned by B, Mother of the City of Bellyville, which premises are now occupied by you. The current tenant has 45 days to gather her belongings and vacate the premises or she will be physically removed from the property. She is being evicted due to breech of contract and destruction of property. Expansions only to the front of the house, within reasonable limits, were discussed. Not only have these limits been exceeded, but additions to the back of the house were also made. Remodeling and gutting of the home was never approved, nor was changing the initial layout and base structure. Due to property damage caused by these unapproved renovations, there are now leaks in both the upper and lower levels of the home. Any further problems will result in immediate and forceful removal.
Sincerely,
Your mother
Thanks, Jen, for posting this originally - too cute!
Thursday, November 12, 2009
FYI: Maclaren Stroller Recall.
From the Maclaren stroller website:
IMPORTANT NOTICE
Consistent with our unwavering commitment to child safety we are providing U.S. consumers notice of a voluntary recall of all Maclaren umbrella strollers sold in the U.S. In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, we are providing free of charge to all affected consumers and retailers a kit to cover the stroller's hinge mechanism, which poses a fingertip amputation and laceration hazard to the child when the consumer is unfolding/opening the stroller. The affected models include Volo, Triumph, Quest Sport, Quest Mod, Techno XT, Techno XLR, Twin Triumph, Twin Techno and Easy Traveller.
Maclaren USA's Umbrella Strollers meet all U.S. ASTM & JPMA compliance standards. These certifications guarantee our umbrella strollers meet the maximum safety standards available. The voluntary recall is to alert the operator when opening or closing the stroller of the possible risk of injury.
Safety is our first priority and through this voluntary effort we urge consumers to contact us immediately to obtain the kit which consists of hinge covers designed specifically to fit all Maclaren strollers.
Maclaren stresses all operators read the instruction manual prior to use which contains valuable safety tips and service recommendations.
Slacking...
I've been slacking lately with regards to this blog for many reasons. Mainly, nothing new is really going on. It seems we've reached that latent period where all you do now is get fatter and wait - both things I'm not terribly happy about or comfortable with, but I digress. Also, I've been ridiculously tired. I attribute a great deal of this fatigue to the 3 & 4 mile walks I've been going on daily, but also to the fact that I'm pretty dang pregnant now. Just 6.5 weeks and I'll be...unpregnant? Normal? What's the acceptable term for a non-pregnant woman? Jovial and beside herself with relief?
Anyhow, I did want to pose a question out there to some of my readers who either have had babies, or are getting ready to (quite like myself). What did you do with regards to family visiting around the time of baby's birth? It seems like everyone and their cousin's puppy think they should be able to attend the actual birth (over my dead body), and bring people along with them. While I've been quite good at heading off this conflict by saying flat out that no one other than D will be allowed within fifty yards of me from the second phase of active labor until after I've finished nursing Baby B for the first time, I'm wondering how others are handling visitors after the baby arrives and when they're first home from the hospital. I've gotten mixed input in other venues about how this has been. On the one hand, some couples prefer to be alone with the baby to have some new family bonding time, while others prefer to have their family with them for a variety of reasons. This would be a pretty simple decision IF I were able to call up my family and have them just drive up, or have them drive home if we found we preferred the former, but since advance plane tickets and all the jazz are required, it's time to make the who comes when for how long decisions, and I'm feeling like I could use a little guidance. One of my major concerns is if I end up with an emergency cesarean, or have a traumatic birth or difficult labor, and I need help for longer than I think or at different times. I also want to make sure that since I will only have two to three short weeks off, that I get alone time with the baby before going back to work. I also mainly need household help, since babies are second nature to me (though I do know it'll be different when I'm dealing with a newborn AND recovering from labor and pregnancy). Input?
Thank you as always :)
Anyhow, I did want to pose a question out there to some of my readers who either have had babies, or are getting ready to (quite like myself). What did you do with regards to family visiting around the time of baby's birth? It seems like everyone and their cousin's puppy think they should be able to attend the actual birth (over my dead body), and bring people along with them. While I've been quite good at heading off this conflict by saying flat out that no one other than D will be allowed within fifty yards of me from the second phase of active labor until after I've finished nursing Baby B for the first time, I'm wondering how others are handling visitors after the baby arrives and when they're first home from the hospital. I've gotten mixed input in other venues about how this has been. On the one hand, some couples prefer to be alone with the baby to have some new family bonding time, while others prefer to have their family with them for a variety of reasons. This would be a pretty simple decision IF I were able to call up my family and have them just drive up, or have them drive home if we found we preferred the former, but since advance plane tickets and all the jazz are required, it's time to make the who comes when for how long decisions, and I'm feeling like I could use a little guidance. One of my major concerns is if I end up with an emergency cesarean, or have a traumatic birth or difficult labor, and I need help for longer than I think or at different times. I also want to make sure that since I will only have two to three short weeks off, that I get alone time with the baby before going back to work. I also mainly need household help, since babies are second nature to me (though I do know it'll be different when I'm dealing with a newborn AND recovering from labor and pregnancy). Input?
Thank you as always :)
Monday, November 9, 2009
Diaper Shower/Happy Hour
A couple weeks back, I received an email from one of D's coworkers asking if I'd be okay with them throwing us a diaper shower & happy hour at Trudy's, one of my absolute favorite restaurants! Would I be okay with it? HECK YEAH!
It was set up to be a surprise for D, since she knew that being the type of person he is that he wouldn't want anyone to go out of their way or do anything special for him, but she figured if she got me in on it that he'd be happy with it in the end. Boy was she right! There were so many times that the surprise could've been ruined, but in the end, even having ran into a coworker while parking the car, we managed to pull it off and he was completely and totally in the dark :) I'm pretty proud of myself for not having spilled the beans...there were a few times where I almost told him out of either sheer excitement, or fear that he might be mad...the only surprise I've ever had a hand in since we've been together was the baby (which, for the record, was a huge surprise to both of us!) :)
Anyhow, the shower was amazing! Having heard in passing about our previous shower and knowing that we were pretty stocked full of baby gear, everyone brought packs of diapers - almost 900 total in sizes ranging from NB-4. We now have over 1300 diapers waiting for Baby B's arrival...while I'm sure we'll have to buy some packs here and there, I think it's a safe bet we're pretty set for the time being! We have the most size 1 & 2, which is great, and I cannot even imagine the Pampers Gifts to Grow points we've accumulated now!
Also, D's coworkers are fantastic! I've met them a handful of times, and know some better than others, but they were so wonderful and generous and interested, and I think that their support is really important to D. I know that having the D's on my side has been extremely helpful, so I'm so very grateful to them for having done this for us and being so supportive - they're truly amazing and I am so very, very blessed and thankful!
Here are some pics, including the most badass Longhorn diaper wreath EVER (made by some of his office-mates), and evidence suggesting Baby B is the most spoiled child ever...oops.
This is what nearly 900 diapers looks like:
And an up-close shot of the magnificent diaper wreath:
Stacks of diapers/clothes/baby gear:
Holy moly! That's just the size 1/2 diapers, and the NB & some 0-3 mos. clothes. I think it's safe for me to stop shopping now...
It was set up to be a surprise for D, since she knew that being the type of person he is that he wouldn't want anyone to go out of their way or do anything special for him, but she figured if she got me in on it that he'd be happy with it in the end. Boy was she right! There were so many times that the surprise could've been ruined, but in the end, even having ran into a coworker while parking the car, we managed to pull it off and he was completely and totally in the dark :) I'm pretty proud of myself for not having spilled the beans...there were a few times where I almost told him out of either sheer excitement, or fear that he might be mad...the only surprise I've ever had a hand in since we've been together was the baby (which, for the record, was a huge surprise to both of us!) :)
Anyhow, the shower was amazing! Having heard in passing about our previous shower and knowing that we were pretty stocked full of baby gear, everyone brought packs of diapers - almost 900 total in sizes ranging from NB-4. We now have over 1300 diapers waiting for Baby B's arrival...while I'm sure we'll have to buy some packs here and there, I think it's a safe bet we're pretty set for the time being! We have the most size 1 & 2, which is great, and I cannot even imagine the Pampers Gifts to Grow points we've accumulated now!
Also, D's coworkers are fantastic! I've met them a handful of times, and know some better than others, but they were so wonderful and generous and interested, and I think that their support is really important to D. I know that having the D's on my side has been extremely helpful, so I'm so very grateful to them for having done this for us and being so supportive - they're truly amazing and I am so very, very blessed and thankful!
Here are some pics, including the most badass Longhorn diaper wreath EVER (made by some of his office-mates), and evidence suggesting Baby B is the most spoiled child ever...oops.
This is what nearly 900 diapers looks like:
And an up-close shot of the magnificent diaper wreath:
Stacks of diapers/clothes/baby gear:
Holy moly! That's just the size 1/2 diapers, and the NB & some 0-3 mos. clothes. I think it's safe for me to stop shopping now...
My Near Trip to L&D.
*I should preface this by saying that all is well, and I didn't end up having to go in, but I really kicked the idea around for a couple hours this past Saturday.*
Saturday started off eventful enough, with the Texas vs. UCF game (We won 35-3, in case you're wondering! Hook 'em!). It was an early game with kickoff at 11:00am, so I didn't get a chance to eat or drink much prior to game time, which may very well have been to blame for what happened later, but I'm getting ahead of myself, aren't I? Anyhow, we stayed until the fourth quarter before hunger overcame us both, and so off to Pluckers we went, armed with the five free wing coupons they give out whenever Texas wins at home (Basically, all the freakin' time. We have stores of these things!). During the walk back to the car I started to feel some Braxton-Hicks, coupled with some pretty uncomfortable back pain, but I ignored it initially since a.) I was walking a mile uphill to our car from the football stadium, and b.) I had been sitting on stadium bleachers for three hours. Of course my back hurt, right?
The B/H continued during our drive over to Pluckers and throughout the entire meal, almost to the point where I was too uncomfortable to eat since the squeezing feeling was making my stomach a bit nauseous. At this point I was starting to wonder if I needed to be timing them to see if they might be indicative of something more serious than B/H, but either way I wanted to finish eating (A girl has her priorities, ok?! Plus, if I was in labor, I was going to need my strength!) before making any decisions, and so we finished up and then headed home, glancing at the clock along the way. When I got home it seemed as though they were between 15-25 minutes apart, with no more discernable pattern than that, so I decided to take a warm bath and drink a couple bottles of water, to ease my discomfort while I waited to see if the contractions would subside once I was better hydrated. No such luck. I didn't want to call or go in for no reason, though, and I felt certain I was not in actual labor, so I decided that I would give it a couple more hours and lay around on the couch with my feet up while I drank yet more water. If that didn't help, I was going to go in, but I definitely wanted to avoid being the woman who cried labor if I could help it!
Long story short, the contractions got closer together until they were about 12 minutes apart and lasting 60 seconds, but the pain in my back and pressure I was feeling went away completely, and once I was rested, the contractions followed suit and went away completely, so we ended up just having a restful evening at home instead of a stressful evening at L&D, which I'm glad for. Plus, for any of you ladies that have gone into L&D to be checked at any point, is it billed like a normal ER visit? Because I'm pretty much at my quota for what I'm willing to shell out at the ER :/ Anyhow, all is well, and I haven't had anymore issues with contractions. She's moving about like usual, kicking me in places I can't imagine babies are supposed to be able to have access to, and just generally squirming about! I was definitely starting to get a bit more nervous though on Saturday night about what's in store for me in seven short weeks (or less, by the looks of things!).
Saturday started off eventful enough, with the Texas vs. UCF game (We won 35-3, in case you're wondering! Hook 'em!). It was an early game with kickoff at 11:00am, so I didn't get a chance to eat or drink much prior to game time, which may very well have been to blame for what happened later, but I'm getting ahead of myself, aren't I? Anyhow, we stayed until the fourth quarter before hunger overcame us both, and so off to Pluckers we went, armed with the five free wing coupons they give out whenever Texas wins at home (Basically, all the freakin' time. We have stores of these things!). During the walk back to the car I started to feel some Braxton-Hicks, coupled with some pretty uncomfortable back pain, but I ignored it initially since a.) I was walking a mile uphill to our car from the football stadium, and b.) I had been sitting on stadium bleachers for three hours. Of course my back hurt, right?
The B/H continued during our drive over to Pluckers and throughout the entire meal, almost to the point where I was too uncomfortable to eat since the squeezing feeling was making my stomach a bit nauseous. At this point I was starting to wonder if I needed to be timing them to see if they might be indicative of something more serious than B/H, but either way I wanted to finish eating (A girl has her priorities, ok?! Plus, if I was in labor, I was going to need my strength!) before making any decisions, and so we finished up and then headed home, glancing at the clock along the way. When I got home it seemed as though they were between 15-25 minutes apart, with no more discernable pattern than that, so I decided to take a warm bath and drink a couple bottles of water, to ease my discomfort while I waited to see if the contractions would subside once I was better hydrated. No such luck. I didn't want to call or go in for no reason, though, and I felt certain I was not in actual labor, so I decided that I would give it a couple more hours and lay around on the couch with my feet up while I drank yet more water. If that didn't help, I was going to go in, but I definitely wanted to avoid being the woman who cried labor if I could help it!
Long story short, the contractions got closer together until they were about 12 minutes apart and lasting 60 seconds, but the pain in my back and pressure I was feeling went away completely, and once I was rested, the contractions followed suit and went away completely, so we ended up just having a restful evening at home instead of a stressful evening at L&D, which I'm glad for. Plus, for any of you ladies that have gone into L&D to be checked at any point, is it billed like a normal ER visit? Because I'm pretty much at my quota for what I'm willing to shell out at the ER :/ Anyhow, all is well, and I haven't had anymore issues with contractions. She's moving about like usual, kicking me in places I can't imagine babies are supposed to be able to have access to, and just generally squirming about! I was definitely starting to get a bit more nervous though on Saturday night about what's in store for me in seven short weeks (or less, by the looks of things!).
Belly Shots: 32w2d!!
Wow, I am a hippo :/ With what is officially an outie :(
I hope the next seven weeks fly by!!!!!!!!!
Saturday, November 7, 2009
The Godfather.
Before I forget, I did something monumental yesterday. I had lunch with my dear friend B, and popped the question. That's right - I asked him if he would be Baby B's godfather :)
While I was nervous going into the lunch, wondering what I should say and how I should ask, it all went very smoothly, and luckily for me, D and Baby B, he said that he would be honored :)
I am very blessed in that I have a lot of really amazing people in my life, so this decision wasn't one that was taken lightly. I chose the person I chose because of his character, his significance in my life now and in other monumental times, and because of something he said when I was struggling with the news of my pregnancy in the beginning (this was definitely one of the bigger items), not to mention he met all of my previously laid out criteria (local, etc). While my goal here is not to embarrass him, it could also be noted that last week he single-handedly rescued a neighbor's drowning child and revived him. While the child is still in the hospital and unconscious, CAT scans look good, and the doctor's are hopeful that he'll make a "miraculous recovery". While I know that it seems silly to put so much weight on something that didn't affect my own child, as a mother, that story affects me. I can only hope and pray that nothing like that ever happens to Baby B, and that if, God forbid, we find ourselves in a situation like that, someone like my friend B is around to help. And since he'll be her godfather, chances are that he will be :)
While I was nervous going into the lunch, wondering what I should say and how I should ask, it all went very smoothly, and luckily for me, D and Baby B, he said that he would be honored :)
I am very blessed in that I have a lot of really amazing people in my life, so this decision wasn't one that was taken lightly. I chose the person I chose because of his character, his significance in my life now and in other monumental times, and because of something he said when I was struggling with the news of my pregnancy in the beginning (this was definitely one of the bigger items), not to mention he met all of my previously laid out criteria (local, etc). While my goal here is not to embarrass him, it could also be noted that last week he single-handedly rescued a neighbor's drowning child and revived him. While the child is still in the hospital and unconscious, CAT scans look good, and the doctor's are hopeful that he'll make a "miraculous recovery". While I know that it seems silly to put so much weight on something that didn't affect my own child, as a mother, that story affects me. I can only hope and pray that nothing like that ever happens to Baby B, and that if, God forbid, we find ourselves in a situation like that, someone like my friend B is around to help. And since he'll be her godfather, chances are that he will be :)
32 Weeks!
How your baby's growing:
By now, your baby weighs 3.75 pounds (pick up a large jicama) and is about 16.7 inches long, taking up a lot of space in your uterus. You're gaining about a pound a week and roughly half of that goes right to your baby. In fact, she'll gain a third to half of her birth weight during the next 7 weeks as she fattens up for survival outside the womb. She now has toenails, fingernails, and real hair (or at least respectable peach fuzz). Her skin is becoming soft and smooth as she plumps up in preparation for birth.
How your life's changing:
To accommodate you and your baby's growing needs, your blood volume has increased 40 to 50 percent since you got pregnant. With your uterus pushing up near your diaphragm and crowding your stomach, the consequences may be shortness of breath and heartburn. To help relieve your discomfort, try sleeping propped up with pillows and eating smaller meals more often.
You may have lower-back pain as your pregnancy advances. If you do, let your caregiver know right away, particularly if you haven't had back pain before, since it can be a sign of preterm labor.
Assuming it's not preterm labor that's ailing you, you can probably blame your growing uterus and hormonal changes for your aching back. Your expanding uterus shifts your center of gravity and stretches out and weakens your abdominal muscles, changing your posture and putting a strain on your back. Hormonal changes in pregnancy loosen your joints and the ligaments that attach your pelvic bones to your spine. This can make you feel less stable and cause pain when you walk, stand, sit for long periods, roll over in bed, get out of a low chair or the tub, bend, or lift things.
Friday, November 6, 2009
Childbirth Education Class, Part I.
Last night's childbirth education class proved...useless. Ok, so not useless per se, but as a woman who's seen more than her share of pregnancy and childbirth, it doesn't take rocket science to figure out what's happening and when. Maybe I'm just being elitist, but who at 32 weeks still doesn't know about dilation and effacement and the stages of labor? Besides everyone's partners, of course.
I wasn't gung-ho about taking this class, but went ahead with registration if for no other reason than I wanted D to be prepared. Labor is not the time to be looking to me for reassurance, ya dig? Anyhow, I think that last night's class could be summed up in one word for us: bonding. Whereas all the other ladies in the class seemed to be taking it sooooooo seriously, it was all we could do not to laugh our way through the two hour (and fifteen minutes extra!) class.
Our instructor for last night was a nice nurse named Amy, standing in for our original instructor, Lori, since she was sick and didn't want to expose all us pregos. Thank you, Lori! Amy was a nice enough woman, but when she announced in the first five minutes of class that, "I just loved being pregnant," mine was not the only skeptical eyebrow being raised. I tried to stay tuned in even after that proclamation, and did pretty good, until she went on to plug breastfeeding over, and over, and over. I'm not anti-breastfeeding (obviously, since I plan to do so myself for a bit), but nothing gets on my nerves more than a nurse with an agenda, especially when said agenda involves telling YOU what to do with YOUR baby and YOUR body. Oh, and I almost forgot to mention - Amy had to come and sit next to us, so that we had to crane our necks to see all the visual aids (which, frankly, I could've done without anyhow!), and had to try desperately against hope not to laugh and joke throughout the entire class, lest everyone else know what immature adults we actually are.
Anyhow, like I said before - she was nice enough. Our intro class went over the stages of labor, the meaning of dilation (she kept calling it dilatation - is this right?) and effacement, pelvic sizes, breaking of the waters (whether natural or artificial), etc. We also watched a birth video, though apparently the guy shooting the video was as squeamish as we all felt last night, since there was no actual pushing involved, except maybe a .5 second shot. Otherwise it was just retro, Charlie's Angels meets The Beverly Hillbillies looking women in labor, breathing their way through the pain. Oh yeah - did I mention they were all having a natural childbirth? Yep. The way I see it is that drastic advances in medical technology have been made for a reason, and it's just plain silly not to use them (I'm just kidding - birth however you want, just don't think you have a right to judge me for requesting my anesthesiologist be on standby starting immediately!).
The absolute highlight of the class, I must say, was when our instructor was going on about how important labor coaches are. While I wholeheartedly agree, since I think it's going to require weeks of special planning and pep talks for D to get through what is inevitably going to be the WORST MOOD I'M EVER IN, I couldn't help but laugh when she told us this: "They do really important things, like hauling your suitcase out to the car." THAT is the best example she could think of? I'm squeezing a watermelon out of my hoo-ha, but we're on par because he picked up the suitcase that I inevitably packed (and repacked and repacked again) and hit the pop button on the back of my SUV to load it in? I couldn't even stifle my giggles. I just looked over at D and said, "How about this? I'll go throw my suitcase and the baby's in when we get home, and you take over the labor, ok?" He laughed appropriately, which is why we're so good together :)
Actually, I take that back. The best part was that there were 11 other couples in the class, and yet I was tied for second furthest along, and yet I was the only one not in sweatpants. Score! Not only that, but being competitive by nature, I decided if I excelled nowhere else in pregnancy, I would be the cutest pregnant woman in the room during our childbirth classes, and so rushed home frantically from work to shower, blow out my hair, paint my toenails and delicately apply makeup. I'm slightly off balance, I know...
I wasn't gung-ho about taking this class, but went ahead with registration if for no other reason than I wanted D to be prepared. Labor is not the time to be looking to me for reassurance, ya dig? Anyhow, I think that last night's class could be summed up in one word for us: bonding. Whereas all the other ladies in the class seemed to be taking it sooooooo seriously, it was all we could do not to laugh our way through the two hour (and fifteen minutes extra!) class.
Our instructor for last night was a nice nurse named Amy, standing in for our original instructor, Lori, since she was sick and didn't want to expose all us pregos. Thank you, Lori! Amy was a nice enough woman, but when she announced in the first five minutes of class that, "I just loved being pregnant," mine was not the only skeptical eyebrow being raised. I tried to stay tuned in even after that proclamation, and did pretty good, until she went on to plug breastfeeding over, and over, and over. I'm not anti-breastfeeding (obviously, since I plan to do so myself for a bit), but nothing gets on my nerves more than a nurse with an agenda, especially when said agenda involves telling YOU what to do with YOUR baby and YOUR body. Oh, and I almost forgot to mention - Amy had to come and sit next to us, so that we had to crane our necks to see all the visual aids (which, frankly, I could've done without anyhow!), and had to try desperately against hope not to laugh and joke throughout the entire class, lest everyone else know what immature adults we actually are.
Anyhow, like I said before - she was nice enough. Our intro class went over the stages of labor, the meaning of dilation (she kept calling it dilatation - is this right?) and effacement, pelvic sizes, breaking of the waters (whether natural or artificial), etc. We also watched a birth video, though apparently the guy shooting the video was as squeamish as we all felt last night, since there was no actual pushing involved, except maybe a .5 second shot. Otherwise it was just retro, Charlie's Angels meets The Beverly Hillbillies looking women in labor, breathing their way through the pain. Oh yeah - did I mention they were all having a natural childbirth? Yep. The way I see it is that drastic advances in medical technology have been made for a reason, and it's just plain silly not to use them (I'm just kidding - birth however you want, just don't think you have a right to judge me for requesting my anesthesiologist be on standby starting immediately!).
The absolute highlight of the class, I must say, was when our instructor was going on about how important labor coaches are. While I wholeheartedly agree, since I think it's going to require weeks of special planning and pep talks for D to get through what is inevitably going to be the WORST MOOD I'M EVER IN, I couldn't help but laugh when she told us this: "They do really important things, like hauling your suitcase out to the car." THAT is the best example she could think of? I'm squeezing a watermelon out of my hoo-ha, but we're on par because he picked up the suitcase that I inevitably packed (and repacked and repacked again) and hit the pop button on the back of my SUV to load it in? I couldn't even stifle my giggles. I just looked over at D and said, "How about this? I'll go throw my suitcase and the baby's in when we get home, and you take over the labor, ok?" He laughed appropriately, which is why we're so good together :)
Actually, I take that back. The best part was that there were 11 other couples in the class, and yet I was tied for second furthest along, and yet I was the only one not in sweatpants. Score! Not only that, but being competitive by nature, I decided if I excelled nowhere else in pregnancy, I would be the cutest pregnant woman in the room during our childbirth classes, and so rushed home frantically from work to shower, blow out my hair, paint my toenails and delicately apply makeup. I'm slightly off balance, I know...
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Freaky...Thursday?
Excuse me, but what? It's only Thursday? Geeeeeeeeeeeeez. Today has felt like a Friday for many reasons, not the least of which being the strange happenings that have surrounded me since the wee hours of the morning. Like what, you ask? Let me fill you in.
First and foremost, something odd is going on with my arm. And I don't mean odd in an okay type of way, but in a, "Seriously? WTF!" kind of way. This morning, around 6:15AM, I woke absolutely certain that something was wrong. Noting first that I was not in labor, nor did it feel like my water had broken or anything baby-related, I started to investigate. It took me only a matter of seconds to figure out the problem: My left wrist/arm was covered in bright red blood, and I mean it was everywhere. The amount of blood you would expect to accompany, oh say a severed appendage, which I gratefully noted that I didn't have. In fact, it seemed as though I didn't have any wound, or pain, whatsoever. I quickly glanced over at D and our cat, both sleeping peacefully without having the decency to be as horrified as I was, just to make sure that one of them wasn't silently bleeding to death in our bed and it had somehow ended up on me. Thankfully, they were both fine. When I turned my attention back on my arm, I noticed that it definitely seemed to be coming from my left wrist, since it was visually multiplying in quantity as I sat there. Not knowing what else to do, and being jolted awake by unexplained bleeding, I ran for the shower, hoping to rinse it off and figure out what the hell was going on. Not even waiting for the water to warm up, I hopped in and shoved my arm under the shower head, expecting an immediate answer. That is not, however, what I got. I ended up instead with a wound that wasn't too fond of water pressure, and though I would've have thought it humanly possible, my cut/scratch/invisible gunshot wound???? started gushing even MORE blood. To add insult to injury (pun intended), I currently have a sense of smell even a drug dog would be envious of, and between that and the increasingly large amount of blood near me, the combination instantly made me sick. Great. Two bodily fluids I could've done without, all before 6:30AM. At this point I wasn't getting any cleaner, so I rinsed off as quickly as possible, shut the shower off, and did what any reasonable woman in my situation would've done. I started screaming at the top of my lungs for D. Duh. (I should add that I at least had the decency to preface my screaming by, "I'm not in labor, but.." I think he appreciated it, really.) Many, many washrags and bandages later, my bathroom looking like a bad CSI episode, my arm was finally bandaged with enough specialized gauze to get the bleeding under control. While I still am puzzled about the culprit, it seems as though the bleeding may have been coming from a teeny tiny red dot on my arm. I've been getting a few here and there during the course of my pregnancy (I read in some obscure chapter of some obscure book that they're normal and due to an increase in blood volume), but have always assumed they were just lying latently under the surface of my skin. Apparently, not the case. So that was how my day started.
Now, of course, after typing all of that and reliving this morning, I can't remember what else was freaky about today. Oh well - isn't that enough, anyhow?
In other news, tonight is our first of three Childbirth Education classes. I'm dreading them (though not as much as D), but I firmly believe knowledge is power, so I'll go anyhow. If nothing else, should make for some interesting blog material :P
First and foremost, something odd is going on with my arm. And I don't mean odd in an okay type of way, but in a, "Seriously? WTF!" kind of way. This morning, around 6:15AM, I woke absolutely certain that something was wrong. Noting first that I was not in labor, nor did it feel like my water had broken or anything baby-related, I started to investigate. It took me only a matter of seconds to figure out the problem: My left wrist/arm was covered in bright red blood, and I mean it was everywhere. The amount of blood you would expect to accompany, oh say a severed appendage, which I gratefully noted that I didn't have. In fact, it seemed as though I didn't have any wound, or pain, whatsoever. I quickly glanced over at D and our cat, both sleeping peacefully without having the decency to be as horrified as I was, just to make sure that one of them wasn't silently bleeding to death in our bed and it had somehow ended up on me. Thankfully, they were both fine. When I turned my attention back on my arm, I noticed that it definitely seemed to be coming from my left wrist, since it was visually multiplying in quantity as I sat there. Not knowing what else to do, and being jolted awake by unexplained bleeding, I ran for the shower, hoping to rinse it off and figure out what the hell was going on. Not even waiting for the water to warm up, I hopped in and shoved my arm under the shower head, expecting an immediate answer. That is not, however, what I got. I ended up instead with a wound that wasn't too fond of water pressure, and though I would've have thought it humanly possible, my cut/scratch/invisible gunshot wound???? started gushing even MORE blood. To add insult to injury (pun intended), I currently have a sense of smell even a drug dog would be envious of, and between that and the increasingly large amount of blood near me, the combination instantly made me sick. Great. Two bodily fluids I could've done without, all before 6:30AM. At this point I wasn't getting any cleaner, so I rinsed off as quickly as possible, shut the shower off, and did what any reasonable woman in my situation would've done. I started screaming at the top of my lungs for D. Duh. (I should add that I at least had the decency to preface my screaming by, "I'm not in labor, but.." I think he appreciated it, really.) Many, many washrags and bandages later, my bathroom looking like a bad CSI episode, my arm was finally bandaged with enough specialized gauze to get the bleeding under control. While I still am puzzled about the culprit, it seems as though the bleeding may have been coming from a teeny tiny red dot on my arm. I've been getting a few here and there during the course of my pregnancy (I read in some obscure chapter of some obscure book that they're normal and due to an increase in blood volume), but have always assumed they were just lying latently under the surface of my skin. Apparently, not the case. So that was how my day started.
Now, of course, after typing all of that and reliving this morning, I can't remember what else was freaky about today. Oh well - isn't that enough, anyhow?
In other news, tonight is our first of three Childbirth Education classes. I'm dreading them (though not as much as D), but I firmly believe knowledge is power, so I'll go anyhow. If nothing else, should make for some interesting blog material :P
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Nursing Bras, Baby Jackets & Other Such Musings...
First things first. As of today, I am now the proud owner of my very first nursing bra. It's a sleep nursing bra, since I have no idea how big these bad boys are gonna get, but I do know that my rib cage and diameter haven't changed since getting pregnant, so I got the go-ahead from the nice associate at the store to buy a sleep nursing bra in my number size that should at least hold me over until I have a better idea what cup size I'll need post-baby. (IMPORTANT NOTE: I bought mine at Babies 'R Us, with the help of a Motherhood Maternity stock girl. She informed me that at Babies 'R Us or Macy's, where they sell Motherhood bras, you CAN exchange/return them if you find you have the wrong size. At the Motherhood store, however, bras are final sale. I thought this was well worth noting! I knew that place was the devil.) I also picked up some nursing pads today, since...ahem...it seems I may need them prior to her being born. Which I suppose is a good sign, but way to catch me off guard!
Second, and I'm going to be one of those people that feel the need to preface what I'm about to ask by saying, "This may be a stupid question", but how warm of a jacket does a newborn need? It seems to go with my own personal knowledge of the world that she'll need a jacket in the winter, but keep in mind a few things. First and foremost, it's November 4th, and nearly 80 degrees here, so our version of winter doesn't involve temperatures that spend much time below freezing, and it surely doesn't involve this pesky little thing I've heard so much about called...snow? That sounds about right. Anyhow, that's the first thing to consider. Also, Baby B will be dressed in layers, sometimes bundled in a blankie, sometimes swaddled, and has hats, mittens, boots (accessories are my thing!) galore, and we'll spend most of our time outside of the house in either a.) the car, or b.) Nordstrom, so I worry about overheating. That being said, I found an adorable jacket online (see here) that I'd love to buy, but I just don't know if it'll be used. The complete lack of newborn and <12 mos. jackets out there makes me wonder if this isn't something they need? Maybe I'm just oblivious...wouldn't be the first time :)Happy Hump Day everyone!!!!
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
32-Week Appointment!
My 32-week appointment was today, moved up from tomorrow due to some chest pains I started having Sunday night that have continued a few times a day. My doc isn't too worried, since I have had intermittent chest pain since I was little, but told me to call ASAP if they're accompanied by any shortness of breath, pressure or a squeezing sensation in my chest, or pain in my left side, between my shoulder blades or in my face.
The other news? I'm starting to dilate! Apparently the pain I've been having that they thought was Round Ligament Pain (but I figured wasn't, since I've been having it when lying down, waking me up at night, etc.) has been the start of real contractions, though they're not very intense just yet (*Note: If this is what he considers "not very intense", I'm going to need to be hooked up to a constant epidural starting in about three weeks!). He said that this is normal, and that they're probably going to start to occur more frequently and with more intensity in the coming weeks. AWESOME! I know I shouldn't be nearly this excited, but he gave me a definite green light on the induction since my body is starting to 'ready itself' already, and said we have a good shot at a pre-Christmas baby! These are all things I love to hear, despite how unpredictable labor is and how frequently doctors can be wrong about these things. I know all that - but this gives me hope!
Apparently my excessive thirst is normal as well - he actually recommends drinking a gallon of water a day. For those of you who aren't too keen on conversions, that's SIXTEEN glasses of water a DAY. No joke. I am topping out between 12-14, so though I won't be hustling to fit those other 2-4 in, it's good to know that my thirst isn't a symptom of a larger problem!
Next appointment - 11/18 at 34 weeks! Two weeks after that start the weekly appointments. Despite my impatience, time is starting to fly by :)
The other news? I'm starting to dilate! Apparently the pain I've been having that they thought was Round Ligament Pain (but I figured wasn't, since I've been having it when lying down, waking me up at night, etc.) has been the start of real contractions, though they're not very intense just yet (*Note: If this is what he considers "not very intense", I'm going to need to be hooked up to a constant epidural starting in about three weeks!). He said that this is normal, and that they're probably going to start to occur more frequently and with more intensity in the coming weeks. AWESOME! I know I shouldn't be nearly this excited, but he gave me a definite green light on the induction since my body is starting to 'ready itself' already, and said we have a good shot at a pre-Christmas baby! These are all things I love to hear, despite how unpredictable labor is and how frequently doctors can be wrong about these things. I know all that - but this gives me hope!
Apparently my excessive thirst is normal as well - he actually recommends drinking a gallon of water a day. For those of you who aren't too keen on conversions, that's SIXTEEN glasses of water a DAY. No joke. I am topping out between 12-14, so though I won't be hustling to fit those other 2-4 in, it's good to know that my thirst isn't a symptom of a larger problem!
Next appointment - 11/18 at 34 weeks! Two weeks after that start the weekly appointments. Despite my impatience, time is starting to fly by :)
Monday, November 2, 2009
A Few Of My Favorite Things...
On a less sappy note, here are a few of the things I currently cannot live without:
Special K Chocolaty Delight. I seriously go through at least two boxes of this stuff a week. The best part? I can continue to do so after Baby B arrives - it's a shockingly healthful way to curb your chocolate cravings.
Nestle Pure Life water. I have been drinking upwards of twelve glasses of water a day lately! I know there is no way on Earth I am dehydrated, but I am SO thirsty! I intend to speak to my doctor at my 32-week appointment tomorrow about it.
Lean Cuisine Chicken, Spinach & Mushroom Paninis. Can't get enough of these. I typically eat this for lunch three to five times a week. I'm a creature of habit, for sure.
Strawberries. My obsession with strawberries continues. I eat over two pints a week. At least it's better than craving strawberry ice cream?
Which brings us to: Yogurt Planet. They're featuring a Nonfat Pumpkin FroYo these days that is to die for, especially when covered in little cheesecake pieces. All the flavor of a piece of pumpkin cheesecake, half the calories. So you can have two helpings :)
Special K Chocolaty Delight. I seriously go through at least two boxes of this stuff a week. The best part? I can continue to do so after Baby B arrives - it's a shockingly healthful way to curb your chocolate cravings.
Nestle Pure Life water. I have been drinking upwards of twelve glasses of water a day lately! I know there is no way on Earth I am dehydrated, but I am SO thirsty! I intend to speak to my doctor at my 32-week appointment tomorrow about it.
Lean Cuisine Chicken, Spinach & Mushroom Paninis. Can't get enough of these. I typically eat this for lunch three to five times a week. I'm a creature of habit, for sure.
Strawberries. My obsession with strawberries continues. I eat over two pints a week. At least it's better than craving strawberry ice cream?
Which brings us to: Yogurt Planet. They're featuring a Nonfat Pumpkin FroYo these days that is to die for, especially when covered in little cheesecake pieces. All the flavor of a piece of pumpkin cheesecake, half the calories. So you can have two helpings :)
8 Weeks Left!
Good morning, and happy Monday everyone! Yes, I am in a good mood. Why, you ask? I will get to hold my baby in just eight short weeks!
I have spent the majority of my pregnancy imagining certain outcomes. The entire first trimester, I could only see my pregnancy ending in loss and grief. I was convinced each day that I didn't hear her heartbeat that something was wrong. Even early on in my second trimester, I could only imagine my pregnancy ending in heartbreak.
As I got further along, it seemed to me that the new concern at hand was going into premature labor before Baby B was viable. When I used to work with CPS several years back, I was called in on a case involving a coked-out mother who gave birth to a 14oz. baby at 22 weeks. I had to interview the mother, and then observe the baby and speak with his doctors. I was fresh out of training at the time, and though I know it's unprofessional to behave this way, I could barely contain my tears until I got to the bathroom outside of the NICU, and I cried from there all the way back to my office. The image of that little boy, not even a pound in weight, has come to me over and over during my pregnancy, and despite my healthy prenatal habits, I have lived in fear of having a baby in the NICU after what I witnessed that day.
This morning, however, while I walked a couple miles around my neighborhood, listening to my favorite uplifting tunes, it occurred to me that the chances are overwhelmingly positive that in approximately eight weeks, I'll be handed my newborn daughter - the fulfillment of my life's dream. As far back as I can remember, I have dreamt of having a daughter. As a small child, surrounded by American Girl dolls and a grandmother and mother who ran home day cares and having a close relationship with my own mother, it seemed logical to me that the best thing you could ever get out of life was a little baby girl (No offense to the boys and mothers of boys out there, I just don't really have much experience with them!). When I went off to college as a Nutrition major, something I still feel passionately about and a course schedule that I loved, it was only after taking my first Child Development class that I felt certain a change of major was in place. Would Nutrition have been a more lucrative degree? For sure. But I loved every second I spent in my Early Childhood Education and Development courses, and knew that if nothing else, they would come in handy when I took on the biggest job of my life: motherhood. While I have accomplished many things in my life (Have I ever mentioned I've written a novel? It still needs some publishing work, but I did!), everything pales in comparison to the fact that I will now be a mother and have my very own baby daughter to love and teach and pass things that are important to me on to. I actually ended up tearing up while walking around my neighborhood, the embodiment of pregnant stereotypes. I can't wait to meet you and hold you, Baby B!!! Just 56 days!
I have spent the majority of my pregnancy imagining certain outcomes. The entire first trimester, I could only see my pregnancy ending in loss and grief. I was convinced each day that I didn't hear her heartbeat that something was wrong. Even early on in my second trimester, I could only imagine my pregnancy ending in heartbreak.
As I got further along, it seemed to me that the new concern at hand was going into premature labor before Baby B was viable. When I used to work with CPS several years back, I was called in on a case involving a coked-out mother who gave birth to a 14oz. baby at 22 weeks. I had to interview the mother, and then observe the baby and speak with his doctors. I was fresh out of training at the time, and though I know it's unprofessional to behave this way, I could barely contain my tears until I got to the bathroom outside of the NICU, and I cried from there all the way back to my office. The image of that little boy, not even a pound in weight, has come to me over and over during my pregnancy, and despite my healthy prenatal habits, I have lived in fear of having a baby in the NICU after what I witnessed that day.
This morning, however, while I walked a couple miles around my neighborhood, listening to my favorite uplifting tunes, it occurred to me that the chances are overwhelmingly positive that in approximately eight weeks, I'll be handed my newborn daughter - the fulfillment of my life's dream. As far back as I can remember, I have dreamt of having a daughter. As a small child, surrounded by American Girl dolls and a grandmother and mother who ran home day cares and having a close relationship with my own mother, it seemed logical to me that the best thing you could ever get out of life was a little baby girl (No offense to the boys and mothers of boys out there, I just don't really have much experience with them!). When I went off to college as a Nutrition major, something I still feel passionately about and a course schedule that I loved, it was only after taking my first Child Development class that I felt certain a change of major was in place. Would Nutrition have been a more lucrative degree? For sure. But I loved every second I spent in my Early Childhood Education and Development courses, and knew that if nothing else, they would come in handy when I took on the biggest job of my life: motherhood. While I have accomplished many things in my life (Have I ever mentioned I've written a novel? It still needs some publishing work, but I did!), everything pales in comparison to the fact that I will now be a mother and have my very own baby daughter to love and teach and pass things that are important to me on to. I actually ended up tearing up while walking around my neighborhood, the embodiment of pregnant stereotypes. I can't wait to meet you and hold you, Baby B!!! Just 56 days!
Sunday, November 1, 2009
November = Productivity
It has come to my attention recently that there are still a few things left for me to do before Baby B arrives 8 weeks from tomorrow (or even sooner)!! That being said, I'm devoting November to getting them done, since December will clearly be reserved for resting, eating and, in case I didn't get my point across yet, just generally sitting on my tush. So far, it's going well.
Last night we got Baby B's first shipment of diapers from Diapers.com (over 400 in sizes 1 & 2, since I think we're pretty set on the newborn size given the massive birthweight of babies in m family), and so this morning I hopped out of bed and logged in to our Pampers Gifts to Grow account (if you don't have one, click here to sign up and start accumulating points for each diaper purchase!). We're now sitting at 96 points - just four away from a $10 off diaper coupon - and Baby B isn't even born yet! Score!
After that, I decided it was time to tackle the foreboding amount of baby laundry Baby B has racked up - homegirl has quite the wardrobe! I have been dreading this task ever since I picked up her very first outfit over three months ago, but all in all it went pretty quickly and smoothly, and now everything has been washed and put away/hung up to greet Baby B when she gets here! I can't wait to see her in some of those outfits :)
While I was tackling her bathroom laundry - towels, washcloths, robe, etc - I was met with a not-so-subtle reminder: I still need to paint her bathroom. Don't get me wrong - painting Baby B's room a couple months back with my mom wasn't a bad experience by any means, and it was great for me to have someone experienced to guide me through my first time painting. I'm just starting to get tired, and off-kilter and just generally overwhelmed by the amount of tasks on my daily/weekly/monthly to-do lists, and it feels like such a monumental task. At the same time, though, her bedroom looks great, and I've been itching to paint the entire house ever since, so her bathroom is a good-sized jumping off point to see how I'll hold up on my own. I think I shall pick up the paint this week, and we'll go from there. I'm waiting to do it until I have the house to myself, since D isn't that keen on the color paint and because I work better solo. I'm not a fan of listening to, "Why are you doing it that way?" or "You really shouldn't be standing on that desk chair, B!" I was never one for group work, even in Kindergarten.
While we're on the topic of upcoming trips to Home Depot, we also need to install a ceiling fan in Baby B's room, and a medicine cabinet in Baby B's bathroom (once painted). One would think that if you bought a house with marble bathrooms, it might come equipped with something as elementary as a ceiling fan or medicine cabinet, right? Aren't those practically the equivalent of A/C and Cruise Control coming standard in cars? Wrong. My house did not come with ceiling fans OR medicine cabinets, a sad fact my detail-unoriented self didn't notice until after I moved in. Say what you will, but I was far more fixated on securing a fixed interest rate and things that were majorly important, so I still consider it a minor oversight. Considering I was twenty-two when I purchased my house, it's still a smashing victory in my eyes :)
Yep - looks like November will be loaded with home projects! Hopefully I'll get a thumbs up at my 32-week visit Wednesday, and she'll stay in there at least until December. I've been having terrible pain again, and I'm not sure I think it's what I thought it was before. I'll keep everyone posted, but I'm not too worried about it for now. Baby B is kicking away while I whistle and work around the house, so all is well in my world!
Last night we got Baby B's first shipment of diapers from Diapers.com (over 400 in sizes 1 & 2, since I think we're pretty set on the newborn size given the massive birthweight of babies in m family), and so this morning I hopped out of bed and logged in to our Pampers Gifts to Grow account (if you don't have one, click here to sign up and start accumulating points for each diaper purchase!). We're now sitting at 96 points - just four away from a $10 off diaper coupon - and Baby B isn't even born yet! Score!
After that, I decided it was time to tackle the foreboding amount of baby laundry Baby B has racked up - homegirl has quite the wardrobe! I have been dreading this task ever since I picked up her very first outfit over three months ago, but all in all it went pretty quickly and smoothly, and now everything has been washed and put away/hung up to greet Baby B when she gets here! I can't wait to see her in some of those outfits :)
While I was tackling her bathroom laundry - towels, washcloths, robe, etc - I was met with a not-so-subtle reminder: I still need to paint her bathroom. Don't get me wrong - painting Baby B's room a couple months back with my mom wasn't a bad experience by any means, and it was great for me to have someone experienced to guide me through my first time painting. I'm just starting to get tired, and off-kilter and just generally overwhelmed by the amount of tasks on my daily/weekly/monthly to-do lists, and it feels like such a monumental task. At the same time, though, her bedroom looks great, and I've been itching to paint the entire house ever since, so her bathroom is a good-sized jumping off point to see how I'll hold up on my own. I think I shall pick up the paint this week, and we'll go from there. I'm waiting to do it until I have the house to myself, since D isn't that keen on the color paint and because I work better solo. I'm not a fan of listening to, "Why are you doing it that way?" or "You really shouldn't be standing on that desk chair, B!" I was never one for group work, even in Kindergarten.
While we're on the topic of upcoming trips to Home Depot, we also need to install a ceiling fan in Baby B's room, and a medicine cabinet in Baby B's bathroom (once painted). One would think that if you bought a house with marble bathrooms, it might come equipped with something as elementary as a ceiling fan or medicine cabinet, right? Aren't those practically the equivalent of A/C and Cruise Control coming standard in cars? Wrong. My house did not come with ceiling fans OR medicine cabinets, a sad fact my detail-unoriented self didn't notice until after I moved in. Say what you will, but I was far more fixated on securing a fixed interest rate and things that were majorly important, so I still consider it a minor oversight. Considering I was twenty-two when I purchased my house, it's still a smashing victory in my eyes :)
Yep - looks like November will be loaded with home projects! Hopefully I'll get a thumbs up at my 32-week visit Wednesday, and she'll stay in there at least until December. I've been having terrible pain again, and I'm not sure I think it's what I thought it was before. I'll keep everyone posted, but I'm not too worried about it for now. Baby B is kicking away while I whistle and work around the house, so all is well in my world!
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