February 28, 2011
February 25, 2011
A Nice, Lengthy Pregnancy Update
Well, it's a quiet Friday night over here. Art is immersed in homework, so I decided this was a perfect time to do a pregnancy update.
What is going on at nearly 36 weeks?
1. The baby dropped. Like, two weeks ago, but it took me a while to figure it out. I finally realized that I was no longer feeling breathless (except for right now, but I just inhaled a bunch of sushi and chicken wings). I also realized that the discomfort in my lower abdomen no longer felt like stretching, but rather felt like pressure.
My hips hurt a lot more, as does my tail bone. Sitting for too long hurts, standing for too long hurts, lying down doesn't necessarily relieve the discomfort either. And (as I already mentioned), I'm waddling. I'm trying to be encouraged by all these sensations though. It means that the baby is head-down, and in excellent position for being born. If the baby wasn't head down, it wouldn't hurt so much. And since the baby is also quite engaged in my pelvis, there is even less of a chance that he/she will turn.
My midwife noted at my last appointment that Baby is "really packed in there." Being such a small woman, it makes sense. We ran out of room a little while ago already. She measured my belly, and noted the height of my fundus. She laughed and said, "yeah, it's not going to get any higher." But she didn't mention another ultrasound, so she's clearly not worried. I'm glad. It would be cool to see our little one again, but at the same time, the fewer tests, the better.
2. At one point (like six weeks ago), I thought I was feeling Braxton Hicks contractions, but now? I really don't think so. I have MAYBE felt two. Doctors these days say that every woman has them (some say they start before the halfway point!), but not every woman feels them. And if I am feeling them, then I'm completely unaware. It's not a bad thing. But it would be kind of nice to know what they feel like, to have that tangible sign that my body is truly preparing for delivery.
However, I have to keep in mind that Braxton Hicks are no indication of how labor will go. One of my coworkers who gave birth November had no Braxton Hicks, and she had a fairly quick labor. (I think it was six hours from start to finish.) Another coworker who gave birth a couple of weeks ago had lots of Braxton Hicks, and her labor was 16 hours. So we'll see.
3. I have my Group B Strep test next week, as well as my first cervical exam. I'm trying not be anxious about either of those things.
My sister had Group B Strep with her first (and possibly her second as well), and she had a difficult labor with her first. Her water broke before her contractions started, so her baby was at an increased risk for infection, and the likelihood of a C-Section also increased. It was a stressful 24 hours for everyone, but thankfully, she didn't need surgery, and her daughter was perfectly healthy.
My midwife assured me that she can administer antibiotics during labor. Having Group B Strep does not necessarily mean that I have to have a hospital birth. So that eases my mind.
I'm also hoping for good news regarding my cervix. It would be nice to hear that I'm already starting to dilate and efface. But again, it is no indication of what my labor will be like. And if my baby isn't coming for another six weeks, then it might be too early for those changes to be taking place.
4. I only have one pair of pants that fit, and until a few hours ago, I had zero bras that fit (properly). I'm starting to outgrow most of my shirts as well, but I'm so close now, that I really don't want to have to buy any more clothes! I was going to buy a nursing bra at Target, but they didn't have my size.
However, I stumbled across this wonderful website call You Lingerie. They sell nursing bras that are actually pretty! I'm so glad somebody out there thought to do that. I think it's so lame how most nursing bras are boring and bland, both in style and color. There are plenty of other things that can make nursing moms feel unattractive. Why not make her nursing bras as beautiful as her other bras?
Their prices are amazing as well. Cheaper than most of my favorite bras at Victoria Secret! And definitely cheaper than a lot of maternity stores. So I'm going to order at least one (for now). If, in the following weeks, I still have no luck at Target or Wal-Mart, I will likely order two more.
I thought the idea of nursing tank tops was brilliant, but discovered today that those won't be an option for me. Once I give birth, my body will not be proportional. I would need to wear a large tank top to accommodate the upper portion of my body, but it will be huge and baggy for the rest of me. Again, I'm sure I won't have any trouble feeling unattractive as a tired, nursing mom. I don't need the nursing tanks to make it even worse.
5. I've decided to stop going to the gym. I feel at this point that workouts are not going to do me any good. I greatly admire women who are able to CrossFit right up until their due date, but for me, it stopped being an option a while ago. My hips (and back, and abs) are already sore enough without a CrossFit workout. Just going for a long walk is enough to do me in.
But as long as I keep moving and don't stop being active entirely, I'm good. In fact, it feels good to move. As I mentioned above, sitting for too long really hurts. Getting up and walking around relieves that ache for a while. My midwife suggested going to the pool once or twice a week, and I'm seriously starting to consider that. (However, it means I have to buy a swimsuit. More clothes...) I know the water and resulting weightlessness will feel amazing, so I should probably just do it.
In the meantime, I'll be taking frequent hot baths. It isn't the same as a pool, because I can't float, but it does help some.
6. Art was in Boston last weekend for a business trip, so I had myself a very lazy, do-nothing weekend. Well, I did a TON of laundry, but they have these fancy machines that do all the washing and drying for you, so it was still a weekend of much-needed relaxation. That ton of laundry was all the baby stuff. Blankets, bedding, clothes, bibs, towels, and cloth diapers. It's still not as organized as I'd like it to be, but I feel one (big) step closer to being prepared.
It was also an opportunity for me to see what I have a lot of, and what I need more of. For instance, I have 44 baby wash cloths. Yeah. I'm pretty sure I don't need that many. However, I now feel much more comfortable with the idea of cloth wipes! I've been stocking up on disposable wipes, but I will stop buying those now. Once I run out, I'll use the majority of wash cloths for my wipes. They are large, and soft, and perfect for the job. I can even store them in an empty wipe container!
And then there are the baby clothes. As of this moment, our baby has one pair of pants. Lots of those underwear onesie things, but only one pair of pants. So I should probably start taking advantage of consignment shops. Goodness knows we have lots of them around here.
7. I just realized that I haven't said much about the baby! Other than that she/he has dropped. I still feel feet in my rib cage all day long, but for the most part, it doesn't hurt. It feels like a marble rolling across the bottom of my ribs. I have yet to be kicked in the ribs, and I doubt that will ever happen, because there is no room for Baby to extend its legs to land a solid thump.
In fact, there is very little kicking in general. Movement has been reduced to stretching, shifting, and squirming. I'm kind of thankful for that, because I'm not as distracted at work, and it doesn't keep me up at night. Okay, I'm still distracted at work, but not because of the baby. And I'm hardly sleeping these days, but not because of baby movement. This baby still makes its presence known, just by being big and heavy.
8. This has nothing to do with my pregnancy, but I wanted to congratulate my blogging friend Callie and her husband Derek on the arrival of their baby boy! She gave birth last Friday to Wyatt Daniel. (Sorry I'm so late in mentioning this, Callie!) Click here to read the story of their labor and his birth.
9. I have three baby showers coming up (one is this Sunday), but other than that, I don't see myself having much more to update on as far as pregnancy and baby are concerned. From this point on, it will just be continuous growing and discomfort, and more and more preparations for labor, postpartum care, and baby care.
On that note, I wish everyone a comfortable and restful weekend.
What is going on at nearly 36 weeks?
1. The baby dropped. Like, two weeks ago, but it took me a while to figure it out. I finally realized that I was no longer feeling breathless (except for right now, but I just inhaled a bunch of sushi and chicken wings). I also realized that the discomfort in my lower abdomen no longer felt like stretching, but rather felt like pressure.
My hips hurt a lot more, as does my tail bone. Sitting for too long hurts, standing for too long hurts, lying down doesn't necessarily relieve the discomfort either. And (as I already mentioned), I'm waddling. I'm trying to be encouraged by all these sensations though. It means that the baby is head-down, and in excellent position for being born. If the baby wasn't head down, it wouldn't hurt so much. And since the baby is also quite engaged in my pelvis, there is even less of a chance that he/she will turn.
My midwife noted at my last appointment that Baby is "really packed in there." Being such a small woman, it makes sense. We ran out of room a little while ago already. She measured my belly, and noted the height of my fundus. She laughed and said, "yeah, it's not going to get any higher." But she didn't mention another ultrasound, so she's clearly not worried. I'm glad. It would be cool to see our little one again, but at the same time, the fewer tests, the better.
2. At one point (like six weeks ago), I thought I was feeling Braxton Hicks contractions, but now? I really don't think so. I have MAYBE felt two. Doctors these days say that every woman has them (some say they start before the halfway point!), but not every woman feels them. And if I am feeling them, then I'm completely unaware. It's not a bad thing. But it would be kind of nice to know what they feel like, to have that tangible sign that my body is truly preparing for delivery.
However, I have to keep in mind that Braxton Hicks are no indication of how labor will go. One of my coworkers who gave birth November had no Braxton Hicks, and she had a fairly quick labor. (I think it was six hours from start to finish.) Another coworker who gave birth a couple of weeks ago had lots of Braxton Hicks, and her labor was 16 hours. So we'll see.
3. I have my Group B Strep test next week, as well as my first cervical exam. I'm trying not be anxious about either of those things.
My sister had Group B Strep with her first (and possibly her second as well), and she had a difficult labor with her first. Her water broke before her contractions started, so her baby was at an increased risk for infection, and the likelihood of a C-Section also increased. It was a stressful 24 hours for everyone, but thankfully, she didn't need surgery, and her daughter was perfectly healthy.
My midwife assured me that she can administer antibiotics during labor. Having Group B Strep does not necessarily mean that I have to have a hospital birth. So that eases my mind.
I'm also hoping for good news regarding my cervix. It would be nice to hear that I'm already starting to dilate and efface. But again, it is no indication of what my labor will be like. And if my baby isn't coming for another six weeks, then it might be too early for those changes to be taking place.
4. I only have one pair of pants that fit, and until a few hours ago, I had zero bras that fit (properly). I'm starting to outgrow most of my shirts as well, but I'm so close now, that I really don't want to have to buy any more clothes! I was going to buy a nursing bra at Target, but they didn't have my size.
However, I stumbled across this wonderful website call You Lingerie. They sell nursing bras that are actually pretty! I'm so glad somebody out there thought to do that. I think it's so lame how most nursing bras are boring and bland, both in style and color. There are plenty of other things that can make nursing moms feel unattractive. Why not make her nursing bras as beautiful as her other bras?
Their prices are amazing as well. Cheaper than most of my favorite bras at Victoria Secret! And definitely cheaper than a lot of maternity stores. So I'm going to order at least one (for now). If, in the following weeks, I still have no luck at Target or Wal-Mart, I will likely order two more.
I thought the idea of nursing tank tops was brilliant, but discovered today that those won't be an option for me. Once I give birth, my body will not be proportional. I would need to wear a large tank top to accommodate the upper portion of my body, but it will be huge and baggy for the rest of me. Again, I'm sure I won't have any trouble feeling unattractive as a tired, nursing mom. I don't need the nursing tanks to make it even worse.
5. I've decided to stop going to the gym. I feel at this point that workouts are not going to do me any good. I greatly admire women who are able to CrossFit right up until their due date, but for me, it stopped being an option a while ago. My hips (and back, and abs) are already sore enough without a CrossFit workout. Just going for a long walk is enough to do me in.
But as long as I keep moving and don't stop being active entirely, I'm good. In fact, it feels good to move. As I mentioned above, sitting for too long really hurts. Getting up and walking around relieves that ache for a while. My midwife suggested going to the pool once or twice a week, and I'm seriously starting to consider that. (However, it means I have to buy a swimsuit. More clothes...) I know the water and resulting weightlessness will feel amazing, so I should probably just do it.
In the meantime, I'll be taking frequent hot baths. It isn't the same as a pool, because I can't float, but it does help some.
6. Art was in Boston last weekend for a business trip, so I had myself a very lazy, do-nothing weekend. Well, I did a TON of laundry, but they have these fancy machines that do all the washing and drying for you, so it was still a weekend of much-needed relaxation. That ton of laundry was all the baby stuff. Blankets, bedding, clothes, bibs, towels, and cloth diapers. It's still not as organized as I'd like it to be, but I feel one (big) step closer to being prepared.
It was also an opportunity for me to see what I have a lot of, and what I need more of. For instance, I have 44 baby wash cloths. Yeah. I'm pretty sure I don't need that many. However, I now feel much more comfortable with the idea of cloth wipes! I've been stocking up on disposable wipes, but I will stop buying those now. Once I run out, I'll use the majority of wash cloths for my wipes. They are large, and soft, and perfect for the job. I can even store them in an empty wipe container!
And then there are the baby clothes. As of this moment, our baby has one pair of pants. Lots of those underwear onesie things, but only one pair of pants. So I should probably start taking advantage of consignment shops. Goodness knows we have lots of them around here.
7. I just realized that I haven't said much about the baby! Other than that she/he has dropped. I still feel feet in my rib cage all day long, but for the most part, it doesn't hurt. It feels like a marble rolling across the bottom of my ribs. I have yet to be kicked in the ribs, and I doubt that will ever happen, because there is no room for Baby to extend its legs to land a solid thump.
In fact, there is very little kicking in general. Movement has been reduced to stretching, shifting, and squirming. I'm kind of thankful for that, because I'm not as distracted at work, and it doesn't keep me up at night. Okay, I'm still distracted at work, but not because of the baby. And I'm hardly sleeping these days, but not because of baby movement. This baby still makes its presence known, just by being big and heavy.
8. This has nothing to do with my pregnancy, but I wanted to congratulate my blogging friend Callie and her husband Derek on the arrival of their baby boy! She gave birth last Friday to Wyatt Daniel. (Sorry I'm so late in mentioning this, Callie!) Click here to read the story of their labor and his birth.
9. I have three baby showers coming up (one is this Sunday), but other than that, I don't see myself having much more to update on as far as pregnancy and baby are concerned. From this point on, it will just be continuous growing and discomfort, and more and more preparations for labor, postpartum care, and baby care.
On that note, I wish everyone a comfortable and restful weekend.
February 23, 2011
Moving Day(s)
Okay, so I promised I would blog before the weekend, and now the weekend has passed, and it's Wednesday. Oops.
So. We moved. Here is how it all went down.
On Friday, February 11th, we got a call from our leasing manager telling us that we could pick up the keys to the new place that day. So we went down to the leasing office, signed the papers, paid the rest of the deposit, and got the keys.
Wayne and Sozan were with us on Friday night, stayed the night, and helped us move on Saturday. Well, I should say Sozan helped us move. Actually, she basically did it all. Wayne was busy all day Saturday, and Art was gone for a few hours in the middle of the day as well. We were all up and about by 8am, and by 8:30, Sozan we ready to get started.
She tackled the kitchen stuff while I did a walk-through and completed the move-in check list/inspection list. By the time I was done with the list, she was done moving the kitchen! Art helped her a little bit, but left for the gym before 10am.
I don't remember moving a whole lot of stuff. I mostly remember organizing things here and there once it was moved in. I made sure not to lift or carry anything heavy. By the time Art got back from the gym at 12:30, all we had to move was the bedroom stuff. Sozan had to leave by 1pm, and, with the exception of the big heavy furniture, we got it ALL DONE by 1pm. I could not believe it.
Art and I took a break, got some lunch, and when Wayne was done with his thing, Art called up a third friend, and the guys quickly moved the heavy furniture. I decided to start cleaning the old place, and managed to get the bathroom done. I was going to clean the kitchen next, but I realized very quickly that I was quite stiff and sore. I almost couldn't move. I really didn't think I had done a whole lot, but I had to remind myself that at this stage of pregnancy, it's really easy to overdo it.
I was so exhausted I was almost in tears. I decided to stop cleaning, and go lie down. The guys patched up some holes in the walls, then went and got dinner. I got up to eat, but made sure that I moved as little as possible. Oh, how my body hurt!
Thankfully, the next day was a rest day. We went to church, and then went to see Art's parents. The four of us went down to Seattle to The Crab Pot for dinner. That place is awesome. They have quite a menu, and you can order individual plates of food, but people go there for ultimate seafood experience and order one of the specials instead.
For the specials, the chefs steam up a variety of seafood in a large bowl (clams, mussels, shrimp, crab legs, along with some potatoes, mini corn-on-the-cobs, and andouille sausage), give you a bib and a mallet, and dump the whole bowl of food right on the table in front of you. They provide plenty of melted butter for dipping, and you just dive in! It was delicious, not to mention tons of fun.
Thankfully, I didn't have to use my mallet too much. I've had enough crab legs to to be able to crack most of them with my hands. Diners beware: if you're using your mallet, shell pieces will go flying!
It was a great day, and I'm glad we did it. We weren't home at all the entire day, so I wasn't thinking about moving or cleaning or organizing. But even though we were out of the house, I wasn't moving around too much either, so my brain and my body got rest they needed.
I took the next day off of work, Sozan came over again, and helped me clean the old apartment. We were all done before noon! We did some organizing in our new place, and had a hard time tearing ourselves away, but I also had errands to run. We got groceries, I registered our change of address at the post office, and got our internet hooked up.
Wayne and Art arrived after work, and Sozan and I cooked dinner for all of us. I was definitely tired at the end of Monday, but it wasn't as bad as Saturday. Sozan is the most amazing friend. She worked so hard. All the credit goes to her. I'm still trying to think of a way to repay her. She would tell you that she enjoyed it, because she's crazy like that. :)
By the end of Monday, we were able to hand in the keys to the old place, and we were fully settled into the new place. I still can't believe how easy and quick it was. Our landlords are pretty quick too. Our new neighbors just moved in this past Monday! We've been out for 10 days, and the new couple is already in.
10 days has gone by very quickly, but at the same time, it kind of feels like we've been here longer than that. Maybe because we had been here so many times when our friends lived here, so it we were quite familiar with it before we moved in.
So that was the crazy whirlwind moving weekend. Hopefully that's the last move for us for a few years. We've moved three times in the 2.5 years we've been married. I just want to settle for a while. We know we won't be in this place forever, but it would be nice to stay put for a little while.
So. We moved. Here is how it all went down.
On Friday, February 11th, we got a call from our leasing manager telling us that we could pick up the keys to the new place that day. So we went down to the leasing office, signed the papers, paid the rest of the deposit, and got the keys.
Wayne and Sozan were with us on Friday night, stayed the night, and helped us move on Saturday. Well, I should say Sozan helped us move. Actually, she basically did it all. Wayne was busy all day Saturday, and Art was gone for a few hours in the middle of the day as well. We were all up and about by 8am, and by 8:30, Sozan we ready to get started.
She tackled the kitchen stuff while I did a walk-through and completed the move-in check list/inspection list. By the time I was done with the list, she was done moving the kitchen! Art helped her a little bit, but left for the gym before 10am.
I don't remember moving a whole lot of stuff. I mostly remember organizing things here and there once it was moved in. I made sure not to lift or carry anything heavy. By the time Art got back from the gym at 12:30, all we had to move was the bedroom stuff. Sozan had to leave by 1pm, and, with the exception of the big heavy furniture, we got it ALL DONE by 1pm. I could not believe it.
Art and I took a break, got some lunch, and when Wayne was done with his thing, Art called up a third friend, and the guys quickly moved the heavy furniture. I decided to start cleaning the old place, and managed to get the bathroom done. I was going to clean the kitchen next, but I realized very quickly that I was quite stiff and sore. I almost couldn't move. I really didn't think I had done a whole lot, but I had to remind myself that at this stage of pregnancy, it's really easy to overdo it.
I was so exhausted I was almost in tears. I decided to stop cleaning, and go lie down. The guys patched up some holes in the walls, then went and got dinner. I got up to eat, but made sure that I moved as little as possible. Oh, how my body hurt!
Thankfully, the next day was a rest day. We went to church, and then went to see Art's parents. The four of us went down to Seattle to The Crab Pot for dinner. That place is awesome. They have quite a menu, and you can order individual plates of food, but people go there for ultimate seafood experience and order one of the specials instead.
For the specials, the chefs steam up a variety of seafood in a large bowl (clams, mussels, shrimp, crab legs, along with some potatoes, mini corn-on-the-cobs, and andouille sausage), give you a bib and a mallet, and dump the whole bowl of food right on the table in front of you. They provide plenty of melted butter for dipping, and you just dive in! It was delicious, not to mention tons of fun.
Thankfully, I didn't have to use my mallet too much. I've had enough crab legs to to be able to crack most of them with my hands. Diners beware: if you're using your mallet, shell pieces will go flying!
It was a great day, and I'm glad we did it. We weren't home at all the entire day, so I wasn't thinking about moving or cleaning or organizing. But even though we were out of the house, I wasn't moving around too much either, so my brain and my body got rest they needed.
I took the next day off of work, Sozan came over again, and helped me clean the old apartment. We were all done before noon! We did some organizing in our new place, and had a hard time tearing ourselves away, but I also had errands to run. We got groceries, I registered our change of address at the post office, and got our internet hooked up.
Wayne and Art arrived after work, and Sozan and I cooked dinner for all of us. I was definitely tired at the end of Monday, but it wasn't as bad as Saturday. Sozan is the most amazing friend. She worked so hard. All the credit goes to her. I'm still trying to think of a way to repay her. She would tell you that she enjoyed it, because she's crazy like that. :)
By the end of Monday, we were able to hand in the keys to the old place, and we were fully settled into the new place. I still can't believe how easy and quick it was. Our landlords are pretty quick too. Our new neighbors just moved in this past Monday! We've been out for 10 days, and the new couple is already in.
10 days has gone by very quickly, but at the same time, it kind of feels like we've been here longer than that. Maybe because we had been here so many times when our friends lived here, so it we were quite familiar with it before we moved in.
So that was the crazy whirlwind moving weekend. Hopefully that's the last move for us for a few years. We've moved three times in the 2.5 years we've been married. I just want to settle for a while. We know we won't be in this place forever, but it would be nice to stay put for a little while.
February 15, 2011
Quick Check In
As promised, my latest belly pic. 34 weeks along, and popping out. I'm also starting to waddle.
In other news, we're fully moved in to the two-bedroom. It was a whirlwind weekend, and I will tell you all more about it when I have some time later this week. Tonight, I relax, away from screens and chores and to-do lists.
February 12, 2011
We're Moving! We're Moving! We're Moving!
We're moving! We're moving! We're moving! We're moving! We're moving! We're moving!
So guess what we're doing this weekend? :D
A few weeks ago we put a holding deposit on the new apartment, so we had "official dibs" and no one else could claim it. Then we simply waited to hear that it was all ready.
The leasing manager called us yesterday and asked us if we were going to pick up the keys. She also let us know that our current apartment is already leased for March 1st. In other words, we need to get our butts in gear, get out of this place, get into the new place, FAST.
So we went to the office yesterday after work, signed the papers, got the keys, and today, we start moving. We're basically hoping to be out by the end of the weekend, or Monday. I know, Valentines Day. So romantic. I might take Monday off.
And yes, it's going to be a whirlwind. My mind has been busy since 5pm yesterday, trying to plan the move, what order we should move things, what can I carry.... Art assured me that friends are going to come over and help us.
We might be without internet access for a few days, because we need to get that switched over. I'm going to go to the Post Office today (among other errands I have to run before we move) and fill out a change of address card. I'm just worried that we're going to hand in our keys to this place, and we'll still be receiving mail in our old mail box.
Also, I think we might be waiting on some packages from Amazon. So that could be interesting.
Anyway, I just wanted to share the very exciting news. I'm so happy. I'm sure I'll be completely grumpy by the end of today or tomorrow, just with the physical exertion. And I still have to clean this place... Not excited about that.
Okay, I have to shower and get stuff done.
We're moving!!!!
So guess what we're doing this weekend? :D
A few weeks ago we put a holding deposit on the new apartment, so we had "official dibs" and no one else could claim it. Then we simply waited to hear that it was all ready.
The leasing manager called us yesterday and asked us if we were going to pick up the keys. She also let us know that our current apartment is already leased for March 1st. In other words, we need to get our butts in gear, get out of this place, get into the new place, FAST.
So we went to the office yesterday after work, signed the papers, got the keys, and today, we start moving. We're basically hoping to be out by the end of the weekend, or Monday. I know, Valentines Day. So romantic. I might take Monday off.
And yes, it's going to be a whirlwind. My mind has been busy since 5pm yesterday, trying to plan the move, what order we should move things, what can I carry.... Art assured me that friends are going to come over and help us.
We might be without internet access for a few days, because we need to get that switched over. I'm going to go to the Post Office today (among other errands I have to run before we move) and fill out a change of address card. I'm just worried that we're going to hand in our keys to this place, and we'll still be receiving mail in our old mail box.
Also, I think we might be waiting on some packages from Amazon. So that could be interesting.
Anyway, I just wanted to share the very exciting news. I'm so happy. I'm sure I'll be completely grumpy by the end of today or tomorrow, just with the physical exertion. And I still have to clean this place... Not excited about that.
Okay, I have to shower and get stuff done.
We're moving!!!!
February 8, 2011
Pregnancy Update!
I will start by saying that I don't have a new belly picture. Yet. I'll try to put one up this week. Sorry to dissapoint.
So what's new in Babyland?
1. Not much new with the baby. Still head down, pushing against my ribs more and more, and packing on the pounds. I feel hiccups a few times every day, and Art can feel them too. There is less kicking, and more squirming. And that's pretty much all I can say about Baby.
2. I mentioned in my last baby post that I didn't feel like I was growing at all. I should know better than to say those types of things. Because guess what happens when I start talking like that? I go through a growth spurt. This is the fourth one I've had, and oooh, I tell you, I'm about as cranky as could be right now. Thankfully I'm on the tail end of it, but still; it HURTS!!!!!! Friday was the worst day. I practically had to shuffle around, because taking normal strides was too much.
My hips are also expanding again. I haven't been sleeping well for over a week now because of all the discomfort. So the combination of a stretching belly and sore hips and lack of sleep have really been getting to me, if you couldn't tell. I guess this is what they mean when they talk about the third trimester being really uncomfortable. "Uncomfortable" is bit of an understatement though.
3. I have more stretch marks on my hips and butt. I've had stretch marks on my hips since my late teens, but now there are more of them, and they're longer. Thankfully, they're of the silver variety. Not ugly reddish-purple like my other stretch marks.
I can't see the bottom of my belly, and I'm curious if I have stretch marks there or not. Because that's where I feel the growth pains the most. My midwife commented at my appointment yesterday that the height of my uterus is measuring at 30 weeks, even though I'm at 33 weeks. But she also said that it's right up in my rib cage, and has nowhere to go but straight out, so it's understandable that I'm having more ligament pain. My ligaments have to keep stretching and thickening in order to support my protruding belly.
Art and I have started calling my tummy a torpedo, because that's what it's going to look like by the time I give birth.
But because my uterus isn't growing any higher, she might send me for another ultrasound, just as a precaution. She's not worried, and I'm not worried. I'm definitely growing, the baby is definitely growing, and moving plenty, and has a strong heartbeat. It's just one of those things that she has to do, just to be on the safe side. So there might be another ultrasound in my future! I'll know in a couple of weeks.
Speaking of appointments, they are every two weeks now, which also means that they are much shorter, because not a lot happens between appointments, and she doesn't have many new things to ask. Just the usual questions about headaches, swelling, appetite, checking my weight, blood pressure, measuring my belly, feeling the baby's position, and listening to the heartbeat.
And of course, I get to pee in a cup and dip a stick in it at every appointment. It's fun. (But not really.) The stick has two dots on it, one blue, and one yellow. One tests for glucose, and one tests for proteins. If the dots don't change color, than that means I have no sugar or protein in my urine. This is a good thing. We want negative results on this one.
If the dots change color, there is chart to compare the colors to, so that I can tell my doctor how much glucose or protein is in the urine. I've had trace amounts of protein for the last few months, but it hasn't gone up from there, so we're still okay. And yesterday I reported negative on both!
The reason we need to know these things is because it could be a sign of preeclampsia. I'm having a hard time finding out what exactly it is, but do know that it could harm and even kill the baby. So if my blood pressure spikes, and I have swelling, and there are high amounts of protein in my urine, I would very likely be induced and deliver the baby early.
My friend Callie was actually in the hospital over the weekend because she had a preeclampsia scare. They monitered her but couldn't determine if she actually had it or not, so she's resting at home, and will hopefully have more conclusive results in a day or two. Thankfully she's at 36 weeks, so if she had to deliver her baby now, he's at a healthy weight, and would be okay. But if you wouldn't mind praying for her, I know she would really appreciate that.
4. I've been eating super healthy these past couple of weeks, and I'm finally feeling better. Things are returning to normal in the digestion department. For the most part, it hasn't been difficult to stay away from sugar and grains and dairy, because I know how it will make me feel. There is no reward in it. I miss those foods sometimes (especially when I'm craving a big fat cinnamon bun for days on end), but not enough to give in.
I need to drink more water though. Of course, that means more trips to the bathroom. Which is probably not such a bad thing. It means I'll be walking more. Considering how much sitting I do, and how difficult it's been to get to the gym, I need to be doing a lot of walking. And it's not like I'm going to get in trouble for slacking off at work if I'm frequently getting out of my chair and wandering away from my desk. Because I'm pregnant. One of the few perks of being pregnant is that you can use it as an excuse/reason for just about anything, and people won't argue with you. :)
5. Believe it or not, I'm not anxious to have this baby. I'm more than ready to not be pregnant anymore, but I'm not ready to actually have a baby. I feel like there are so many things to do (and buy) before our little one comes, and suddenly, I don't have enough time. Right now, I feel perfectly fine with going overdue, because it will give me an extra week or two. But I know that I should try to have everything ready by 37 weeks, just in case. And that's only four weeks away!
We're supposed to move sometime in the next month, we still don't have a stroller or playpen or dresser (or pretty much anything for the baby room), I need to prep the diapers (which is an all-day washing and drying marathon), I need to wash the baby clothes, towels, sheets, and blankets, I need to organize the baby clothes according to size, I need to buy a breast pump and nursing bras, I still have a ton of reading to do for our childbirth class, I need to buy a birthing ball and a heating pad....
Can you tell I'm freaking out? I was going to say that I'm trying my best not to freak out, but that's not true. I'm freaking out. I keep telling myself that I'll feel more ready once my next baby shower (or two) are over with, but more baby showers mean more things to prep and organize.
Oh, and I have to apply to renew my greencard before the end of March. No big deal.
But speaking of baby showers, Art and I are registered on Amazon.com. *Wink wink* Just in case you happened to be curious about that.
6. I mentioned our childbirth class. We're taking a private class, we've had two sessions already, and I love it. It's nice having the one-on-one attention. It's just too bad that it's only three weeks long. There's a lot of information to cram into six hours. But she gave us notes to keep, DVD's to watch, and of course, two fat books to read (which I don't know if I'll complete). We also have relaxation techniques that we're supposed to practice.
You think it wouldn't be hard to do homework that involves relaxing. And I need it now more than ever. We're just so busy! I hate being busy. Art asked me this morning if we're always going to be this busy. (I didn't answer him, because the truth is that we WILL be this busy, but that's not what he needed to hear before he left for work.) We'll be busy getting ready to have a baby, and then we'll have a baby.
And he's going to be in school for the next two years. Oy. I need to stop thinking about all of this so much before my stress goes through the roof. I just decided that I'm going to take a day off at the end of February. We're going to a concert down in Seattle, and it's on a Thursday. We're going to get home really late, so it's the perfect excuse to take Friday off. Okay, I feel better just thinking about that.
So, in summary: I'm sore, uncomfortable, not well-rested, cranky, and stressed. Awesome. It's amazing that my blood pressure was still low at my appointment yesterday. I think I'll go practice some deep breathing now.
So what's new in Babyland?
1. Not much new with the baby. Still head down, pushing against my ribs more and more, and packing on the pounds. I feel hiccups a few times every day, and Art can feel them too. There is less kicking, and more squirming. And that's pretty much all I can say about Baby.
2. I mentioned in my last baby post that I didn't feel like I was growing at all. I should know better than to say those types of things. Because guess what happens when I start talking like that? I go through a growth spurt. This is the fourth one I've had, and oooh, I tell you, I'm about as cranky as could be right now. Thankfully I'm on the tail end of it, but still; it HURTS!!!!!! Friday was the worst day. I practically had to shuffle around, because taking normal strides was too much.
My hips are also expanding again. I haven't been sleeping well for over a week now because of all the discomfort. So the combination of a stretching belly and sore hips and lack of sleep have really been getting to me, if you couldn't tell. I guess this is what they mean when they talk about the third trimester being really uncomfortable. "Uncomfortable" is bit of an understatement though.
3. I have more stretch marks on my hips and butt. I've had stretch marks on my hips since my late teens, but now there are more of them, and they're longer. Thankfully, they're of the silver variety. Not ugly reddish-purple like my other stretch marks.
I can't see the bottom of my belly, and I'm curious if I have stretch marks there or not. Because that's where I feel the growth pains the most. My midwife commented at my appointment yesterday that the height of my uterus is measuring at 30 weeks, even though I'm at 33 weeks. But she also said that it's right up in my rib cage, and has nowhere to go but straight out, so it's understandable that I'm having more ligament pain. My ligaments have to keep stretching and thickening in order to support my protruding belly.
Art and I have started calling my tummy a torpedo, because that's what it's going to look like by the time I give birth.
But because my uterus isn't growing any higher, she might send me for another ultrasound, just as a precaution. She's not worried, and I'm not worried. I'm definitely growing, the baby is definitely growing, and moving plenty, and has a strong heartbeat. It's just one of those things that she has to do, just to be on the safe side. So there might be another ultrasound in my future! I'll know in a couple of weeks.
Speaking of appointments, they are every two weeks now, which also means that they are much shorter, because not a lot happens between appointments, and she doesn't have many new things to ask. Just the usual questions about headaches, swelling, appetite, checking my weight, blood pressure, measuring my belly, feeling the baby's position, and listening to the heartbeat.
And of course, I get to pee in a cup and dip a stick in it at every appointment. It's fun. (But not really.) The stick has two dots on it, one blue, and one yellow. One tests for glucose, and one tests for proteins. If the dots don't change color, than that means I have no sugar or protein in my urine. This is a good thing. We want negative results on this one.
If the dots change color, there is chart to compare the colors to, so that I can tell my doctor how much glucose or protein is in the urine. I've had trace amounts of protein for the last few months, but it hasn't gone up from there, so we're still okay. And yesterday I reported negative on both!
The reason we need to know these things is because it could be a sign of preeclampsia. I'm having a hard time finding out what exactly it is, but do know that it could harm and even kill the baby. So if my blood pressure spikes, and I have swelling, and there are high amounts of protein in my urine, I would very likely be induced and deliver the baby early.
My friend Callie was actually in the hospital over the weekend because she had a preeclampsia scare. They monitered her but couldn't determine if she actually had it or not, so she's resting at home, and will hopefully have more conclusive results in a day or two. Thankfully she's at 36 weeks, so if she had to deliver her baby now, he's at a healthy weight, and would be okay. But if you wouldn't mind praying for her, I know she would really appreciate that.
4. I've been eating super healthy these past couple of weeks, and I'm finally feeling better. Things are returning to normal in the digestion department. For the most part, it hasn't been difficult to stay away from sugar and grains and dairy, because I know how it will make me feel. There is no reward in it. I miss those foods sometimes (especially when I'm craving a big fat cinnamon bun for days on end), but not enough to give in.
I need to drink more water though. Of course, that means more trips to the bathroom. Which is probably not such a bad thing. It means I'll be walking more. Considering how much sitting I do, and how difficult it's been to get to the gym, I need to be doing a lot of walking. And it's not like I'm going to get in trouble for slacking off at work if I'm frequently getting out of my chair and wandering away from my desk. Because I'm pregnant. One of the few perks of being pregnant is that you can use it as an excuse/reason for just about anything, and people won't argue with you. :)
5. Believe it or not, I'm not anxious to have this baby. I'm more than ready to not be pregnant anymore, but I'm not ready to actually have a baby. I feel like there are so many things to do (and buy) before our little one comes, and suddenly, I don't have enough time. Right now, I feel perfectly fine with going overdue, because it will give me an extra week or two. But I know that I should try to have everything ready by 37 weeks, just in case. And that's only four weeks away!
We're supposed to move sometime in the next month, we still don't have a stroller or playpen or dresser (or pretty much anything for the baby room), I need to prep the diapers (which is an all-day washing and drying marathon), I need to wash the baby clothes, towels, sheets, and blankets, I need to organize the baby clothes according to size, I need to buy a breast pump and nursing bras, I still have a ton of reading to do for our childbirth class, I need to buy a birthing ball and a heating pad....
Can you tell I'm freaking out? I was going to say that I'm trying my best not to freak out, but that's not true. I'm freaking out. I keep telling myself that I'll feel more ready once my next baby shower (or two) are over with, but more baby showers mean more things to prep and organize.
Oh, and I have to apply to renew my greencard before the end of March. No big deal.
But speaking of baby showers, Art and I are registered on Amazon.com. *Wink wink* Just in case you happened to be curious about that.
6. I mentioned our childbirth class. We're taking a private class, we've had two sessions already, and I love it. It's nice having the one-on-one attention. It's just too bad that it's only three weeks long. There's a lot of information to cram into six hours. But she gave us notes to keep, DVD's to watch, and of course, two fat books to read (which I don't know if I'll complete). We also have relaxation techniques that we're supposed to practice.
You think it wouldn't be hard to do homework that involves relaxing. And I need it now more than ever. We're just so busy! I hate being busy. Art asked me this morning if we're always going to be this busy. (I didn't answer him, because the truth is that we WILL be this busy, but that's not what he needed to hear before he left for work.) We'll be busy getting ready to have a baby, and then we'll have a baby.
And he's going to be in school for the next two years. Oy. I need to stop thinking about all of this so much before my stress goes through the roof. I just decided that I'm going to take a day off at the end of February. We're going to a concert down in Seattle, and it's on a Thursday. We're going to get home really late, so it's the perfect excuse to take Friday off. Okay, I feel better just thinking about that.
So, in summary: I'm sore, uncomfortable, not well-rested, cranky, and stressed. Awesome. It's amazing that my blood pressure was still low at my appointment yesterday. I think I'll go practice some deep breathing now.
February 2, 2011
Secretive
There are a few things that Art and I are keeping a secret regarding my pregnancy, and I wanted to tell you all why. I feel like we're doing things so differently from everyone else who is pregnant, and I guess I feel the need to explain everything. :) So here we go!
1. The baby's gender. We did not find out, and believe it or not, I'm not dying of curiosity. Where I grew up, this is the norm (although that is starting to change). I have never felt that I wanted to find out the gender of my baby before I give birth, because that's what I'm used to, and therefore, in my mind, that's the way it should be.
I also love surprises, and I find the anticipation fun. I like guessing, I like hearing other people's guesses, and I'm looking forward to that moment when my midwife catches the baby, hands him or her to me, and I get to see for myself what I had.
Whenever I tell people that we don't know the gender, they tell me they had to/would have to find out because, "I'm too impatient!" or "I have to be able to plan."
To the first comment, I say nothing. What can I say? "Well, I guess I'm just more patient than you!" Yeah, I don't think so. I really don't know how to reply to that one.
To the second comment, well, that one I can understand. I am a planner. I'm not much for the spur-of-the-moment, the last minute. So how do I reconcile that part of my nature with not finding out the gender? My "defense" in this case is that I don't feel like I can't plan just because I don't know whether I'm having a boy or a girl Maybe it helps that I'm not much of a decorator, so even though we will now have a baby room, I still wouldn't feel the need to pick out paint colors and curtains and such.
I don't feel it's important to have all the baby stuff in gender-specific colors. The playpen is green and brown. The (free) car seat is brown and tan with some orange (and we registered for a matching stroller). The blankets and towels and bibs are any and every color. To me, it doesn't matter if those things aren't all in pink or blue. The only things that matter are the clothes, and people tend to be pretty generous about giving away their gently-used baby clothes once the baby is born.
Also, baby clothes are cheap, and you don't need a lot of them, because babies grow so quickly. So even if we have to buy all our own gender-specific clothes after the baby is born, it's certainly not going to break our budget.
In conclusion, I feel I am perfectly able to plan for this baby's arrival despite not knowing the gender. And I really do love surprises. In fact, I remember the first time someone told me not only the gender of their baby, but also his name. I was a tiny bit disappointed; I wanted to be surprised!
And I also want others to be surprised too. I want everyone else to anticipate learning the gender, which means that I also wouldn't let on if I was having any hunches. Which I'm not. I truly have no idea. Which only adds to the fun. :)
2. Baby names. We're not telling ANYONE the names we've picked. I actually don't feel out of place about this one, because this is the one thing that's pretty common among most of the pregnant women I know. However, I still have different reasons for not wanting to tell the names.
Most people don't tell the baby names they picked out because they don't want anyone to steal the names. This actually never occurred to me! My reason for not wanting to tell our baby names ties in with the first point: it's all a part of the surprise. I want to announce it all at once. "We had a girl!" "We had a boy!" "His/her name is ___!" I just feel like it all goes together.
One person I talked to made a good point about not wanting others people's input. So that would be another reason to not tell people the baby names you've picked out. It's unfortunate that so many people out there are far too vocal with their opinions, and will tell you if they don't like the name, or they'll make another suggestion. I don't understand this. Do they not know how rude they're being? Anyway, onto #3...
3. My due date. I don't know if you've noticed, but I have not once ever mentioned a specific date. The only people who know are our parents and siblings, a few very close friends, my doctor, and my boss. And they're not telling! If anyone else asks, all I say is, "End of March, beginning of April." Why so vague?
Here it goes: I don't believe in due dates.
For those who don't know, the due date that the doctor gives a pregnant woman is actually just her 40 week date. They give that date because 40 weeks is the average length of pregnancy. But that date is just a guideline.
I have been keeping in mind for months that healthy babies are born anywhere between 37 and 42 weeks. 37 weeks is actually considered full term, because anytime after that is safe for the baby to be born. So when we're talking about a baby being "early" or "late", it's really not accurate if it's within a few days of the 40 week date.
Babies are only truly early if they are born before 37 weeks. They are only truly late if born after 42 weeks. (And in North America, babies are pretty much never born after 42 weeks, because at that point the doctor will intervene.)
I can see the merit in knowing the 40 week date. It's helpful, because if a woman is going to be induced or have c-section, the doctor wants to make sure that it's not too early. And it's helpful, because it tells a doctor when a woman has gone to 42 weeks. After that, it's not safe for baby to let the pregnancy continue.
But as any mother will tell you, it certainly doesn't mean that the baby will be born on that day. Babies can't read calendars. They come out when they are good and ready. Only 4% of babies are actually born on their given "due date."
For me, I'm hoping that by keeping this in mind, I won't be disappointed when my due date comes and goes, because I'm not focusing on that date. I'm focusing on a five week period. I know that it's entirely possible for me to go "overdue" (a.k.a. be pregnant for 42 weeks) and I want to be okay with that. Because it is okay, as long as the baby is still healthy.
Also, I mentioned up there about people's rudeness regarding baby names. I feel that people can also be unintentionally rude when it comes to a due date. Once a due date comes and goes, there are many out there who start to pester the parents. "Have you had your baby yet?" "Any sign of the baby?" "Uh oh, looks your baby is late!"
I don't want people to do that to us. It's not like we're going to keep it a secret! When we have the baby, we will tell the world. So if 40 weeks comes and goes, hopefully few people will pester us, because they won't know that date has passed. All they know is that I'm due "soon."
I know of one woman (hi Brandi!) who cleverly avoided the unnecessary questions (at least online) by updating her Facebook status everyday, making it very clear that she had not had her baby yet. She beat people to the punch! I might do this as well.
As you can see, I feel very strongly about all of this. But I hope none of you feel like I'm judging you. If you have publicly announced your baby's gender, name, and your due date, it's because you're excited! I'm excited too! I just feel like all these secrets add to the excitement. I'm aiming for maximum anticipation. Hopefully it's working. ;)
With all that being said, what do YOU guys think I'm having?
1. The baby's gender. We did not find out, and believe it or not, I'm not dying of curiosity. Where I grew up, this is the norm (although that is starting to change). I have never felt that I wanted to find out the gender of my baby before I give birth, because that's what I'm used to, and therefore, in my mind, that's the way it should be.
I also love surprises, and I find the anticipation fun. I like guessing, I like hearing other people's guesses, and I'm looking forward to that moment when my midwife catches the baby, hands him or her to me, and I get to see for myself what I had.
Whenever I tell people that we don't know the gender, they tell me they had to/would have to find out because, "I'm too impatient!" or "I have to be able to plan."
To the first comment, I say nothing. What can I say? "Well, I guess I'm just more patient than you!" Yeah, I don't think so. I really don't know how to reply to that one.
To the second comment, well, that one I can understand. I am a planner. I'm not much for the spur-of-the-moment, the last minute. So how do I reconcile that part of my nature with not finding out the gender? My "defense" in this case is that I don't feel like I can't plan just because I don't know whether I'm having a boy or a girl Maybe it helps that I'm not much of a decorator, so even though we will now have a baby room, I still wouldn't feel the need to pick out paint colors and curtains and such.
I don't feel it's important to have all the baby stuff in gender-specific colors. The playpen is green and brown. The (free) car seat is brown and tan with some orange (and we registered for a matching stroller). The blankets and towels and bibs are any and every color. To me, it doesn't matter if those things aren't all in pink or blue. The only things that matter are the clothes, and people tend to be pretty generous about giving away their gently-used baby clothes once the baby is born.
Also, baby clothes are cheap, and you don't need a lot of them, because babies grow so quickly. So even if we have to buy all our own gender-specific clothes after the baby is born, it's certainly not going to break our budget.
In conclusion, I feel I am perfectly able to plan for this baby's arrival despite not knowing the gender. And I really do love surprises. In fact, I remember the first time someone told me not only the gender of their baby, but also his name. I was a tiny bit disappointed; I wanted to be surprised!
And I also want others to be surprised too. I want everyone else to anticipate learning the gender, which means that I also wouldn't let on if I was having any hunches. Which I'm not. I truly have no idea. Which only adds to the fun. :)
2. Baby names. We're not telling ANYONE the names we've picked. I actually don't feel out of place about this one, because this is the one thing that's pretty common among most of the pregnant women I know. However, I still have different reasons for not wanting to tell the names.
Most people don't tell the baby names they picked out because they don't want anyone to steal the names. This actually never occurred to me! My reason for not wanting to tell our baby names ties in with the first point: it's all a part of the surprise. I want to announce it all at once. "We had a girl!" "We had a boy!" "His/her name is ___!" I just feel like it all goes together.
One person I talked to made a good point about not wanting others people's input. So that would be another reason to not tell people the baby names you've picked out. It's unfortunate that so many people out there are far too vocal with their opinions, and will tell you if they don't like the name, or they'll make another suggestion. I don't understand this. Do they not know how rude they're being? Anyway, onto #3...
3. My due date. I don't know if you've noticed, but I have not once ever mentioned a specific date. The only people who know are our parents and siblings, a few very close friends, my doctor, and my boss. And they're not telling! If anyone else asks, all I say is, "End of March, beginning of April." Why so vague?
Here it goes: I don't believe in due dates.
For those who don't know, the due date that the doctor gives a pregnant woman is actually just her 40 week date. They give that date because 40 weeks is the average length of pregnancy. But that date is just a guideline.
I have been keeping in mind for months that healthy babies are born anywhere between 37 and 42 weeks. 37 weeks is actually considered full term, because anytime after that is safe for the baby to be born. So when we're talking about a baby being "early" or "late", it's really not accurate if it's within a few days of the 40 week date.
Babies are only truly early if they are born before 37 weeks. They are only truly late if born after 42 weeks. (And in North America, babies are pretty much never born after 42 weeks, because at that point the doctor will intervene.)
I can see the merit in knowing the 40 week date. It's helpful, because if a woman is going to be induced or have c-section, the doctor wants to make sure that it's not too early. And it's helpful, because it tells a doctor when a woman has gone to 42 weeks. After that, it's not safe for baby to let the pregnancy continue.
But as any mother will tell you, it certainly doesn't mean that the baby will be born on that day. Babies can't read calendars. They come out when they are good and ready. Only 4% of babies are actually born on their given "due date."
For me, I'm hoping that by keeping this in mind, I won't be disappointed when my due date comes and goes, because I'm not focusing on that date. I'm focusing on a five week period. I know that it's entirely possible for me to go "overdue" (a.k.a. be pregnant for 42 weeks) and I want to be okay with that. Because it is okay, as long as the baby is still healthy.
Also, I mentioned up there about people's rudeness regarding baby names. I feel that people can also be unintentionally rude when it comes to a due date. Once a due date comes and goes, there are many out there who start to pester the parents. "Have you had your baby yet?" "Any sign of the baby?" "Uh oh, looks your baby is late!"
I don't want people to do that to us. It's not like we're going to keep it a secret! When we have the baby, we will tell the world. So if 40 weeks comes and goes, hopefully few people will pester us, because they won't know that date has passed. All they know is that I'm due "soon."
I know of one woman (hi Brandi!) who cleverly avoided the unnecessary questions (at least online) by updating her Facebook status everyday, making it very clear that she had not had her baby yet. She beat people to the punch! I might do this as well.
As you can see, I feel very strongly about all of this. But I hope none of you feel like I'm judging you. If you have publicly announced your baby's gender, name, and your due date, it's because you're excited! I'm excited too! I just feel like all these secrets add to the excitement. I'm aiming for maximum anticipation. Hopefully it's working. ;)
With all that being said, what do YOU guys think I'm having?
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