Had some good news from the doctor today. We have 3 weeks left till our due date and things are finally starting to show some progress. Nothing that says she'll be here super soon but progress nonetheless. The doctor did show some concern about how big the baby seems to be, bigger then she would expect at 37 weeks I guess. We now will have a growth ultra sound next Monday (unless she arrives before then) to check on her weight. Otherwise all fluids, heart rate, and everything are good.
Life has been interesting for the last couple of days. My husband twisted his ankle really bad on Friday when he was playing basketball at church with a bunch of young kids. Swelling is down but he still has a lot of pain. We finally made the investment and bought him a cane. This ankle thing happens at least 2 times a year. The last time warranted a trip to the doctor. This time he was sure it was just twisted and not broken. So the 9 month pregnant lady has been taking out the garbage, doing the dishes, carrying in groceries, and trying to keep the house clean. Maybe that's whats been encouraging the labor progress, it would make sense. Its also making me pretty tired.
I myself have something resembling turf toe on my left foot. Painful but not swollen. Haven't been able to do my walking on the treadmill in a couple of days. Will probably try again Wednesday and see if I can make it through the 2 miles or not. All I can do is try. Walking is good for getting the baby to drop even lower and good overall for blood circulation and stuff. But if it causes me pain, I shouldn't do it. I continue to do other exercise as well.
The girls are taking over! Including our little girl, I know of 5 girls that have been born or are due to be born in the next couple of months. And not a single boy :) That's just kind of fun!
Eric is betting on birth date being Jan 26th... that would be 4 years to the day that we first met. Wonder if he will be right? :)
Monday, January 20, 2014
Thursday, January 16, 2014
The way my mind works
I can't help it. I'm a worst-case-scenario type of person. Not a pessimist per se but at least a realist. Is it so wrong to expect the worst and be emotionally prepared for it and then be pleasantly surprised when it doesn't go wrong? Considering more then half the women I've talked to about their birthing experiences have had unexpected complications that led to C-sections or other interventions, you can see why I have a hard time believing that my own experience will be textbook and uncomplicated. I am trying to visualize my ideal birth experience and pray about it often, but it would be foolish to think that I'll get what I want. These things can't be controlled. All I can do is prepare and wait.
My first NST went just fine. They want to see 3 heart rate increases (aka, baby movement) over 20-30 mins of monitoring. And she performed like a champ though I think she was sleeping most of the time. She usually moves around a lot more then that. Her amniotic fluid looks good as does her position. It is her foot that is constantly trying to poke out my side and is occasionally in my rib cage. I think she has shifted down a little bit so that is good, less time in my rib cage. I'm walking 2 miles on the treadmill everyday now so I'm hoping that encourages her into position and gets the ball rolling to get the labor thing started in another week or two. I've picked up a box of raspberry leaf tea which is something Native Americans have long used for women for menstrual relief and for labor/delivery as it is said to soften the uterus. I won't start drinking that till probably 38 weeks, I still feel like 3 1/2 weeks early is too early to be born.
With that said, a friend of mine that was due the day after me had an emergency C-section. It is a little weird to see pictures of her because she is at the exact stage of development as my daughter but she is on the outside and mine is still on the inside.
We don't have a growth ultrasound scheduled so there really is no way to know her length and weight. I just know she was 3.5 pounds at 30 weeks. I guess if we go over our due date, then we may get another ultrasound. We will see. So its weekly appointments and lots of waiting for the next 3 weeks. I am excited. I am enjoying this time of quiet and just spending uninterrupted time with Eric. Soon and very soon, we will hold our daughter.
My first NST went just fine. They want to see 3 heart rate increases (aka, baby movement) over 20-30 mins of monitoring. And she performed like a champ though I think she was sleeping most of the time. She usually moves around a lot more then that. Her amniotic fluid looks good as does her position. It is her foot that is constantly trying to poke out my side and is occasionally in my rib cage. I think she has shifted down a little bit so that is good, less time in my rib cage. I'm walking 2 miles on the treadmill everyday now so I'm hoping that encourages her into position and gets the ball rolling to get the labor thing started in another week or two. I've picked up a box of raspberry leaf tea which is something Native Americans have long used for women for menstrual relief and for labor/delivery as it is said to soften the uterus. I won't start drinking that till probably 38 weeks, I still feel like 3 1/2 weeks early is too early to be born.
With that said, a friend of mine that was due the day after me had an emergency C-section. It is a little weird to see pictures of her because she is at the exact stage of development as my daughter but she is on the outside and mine is still on the inside.
We don't have a growth ultrasound scheduled so there really is no way to know her length and weight. I just know she was 3.5 pounds at 30 weeks. I guess if we go over our due date, then we may get another ultrasound. We will see. So its weekly appointments and lots of waiting for the next 3 weeks. I am excited. I am enjoying this time of quiet and just spending uninterrupted time with Eric. Soon and very soon, we will hold our daughter.
Sunday, January 12, 2014
The waiting game
So now what? Four weeks till estimated due date, one week till I'm considered full term. She is head down, belly button is popping, she is kicking me in the ribs (esp at night), and my tummy often has "corners" from her pushing on me. I am eating smaller meals but eating frequently. Tomorrow is my first NST (non-stress test). They will do just a quick ultra sound to check on fluids and visually confirm that she is head down. Exercise is getting harder as I seem to get a runners cramp type pain in my side sometimes but I will continue to try to do my walking. I don't feel like I'm getting a lot out of my yoga routine at the moment. But I will continue to do my squats, keigles, and other stretches. We need to step up practicing our relaxation techniques. I still have books to read and I will go to my first La Leche League meeting this Tuesday morning.
The rest of the time is just waiting. Waiting to start effacing, waiting to start dilating, waiting for her to drop lower. If I hadn't left my job when I did I would have all sorts of stuff to keep me busy this month, but darned if I haven't done it all already! So I will rest as much as the little munchkin will let me and take care of the last things that need to be done. Eric is convinced she is going to come early, I'm just hoping not too early. As of today, weight gain is about 36 pounds, so pretty normal. Lets hope and pray things stay normal!
The rest of the time is just waiting. Waiting to start effacing, waiting to start dilating, waiting for her to drop lower. If I hadn't left my job when I did I would have all sorts of stuff to keep me busy this month, but darned if I haven't done it all already! So I will rest as much as the little munchkin will let me and take care of the last things that need to be done. Eric is convinced she is going to come early, I'm just hoping not too early. As of today, weight gain is about 36 pounds, so pretty normal. Lets hope and pray things stay normal!
Tuesday, December 31, 2013
6 weeks to go and prayer requests
I know a lot of people don't read this blog, but a few do so I wanted to take a moment and ask for your specific prayers about our upcoming birth.
This is a terribly exciting yet anxiety filled time as we wait for our daughter to make her appearance. We have prepared the best that we can. We have read the books, taken the classes, we are practicing relaxation techniques, I am doing my exercises to strength my birthing muscles.
I have a lot of anxiety about trying to give birth naturally in a hospital environment. I have heard nothing but horror stories from folks who say the L&D nurses are super pushy and want to do unnecessary interventions. I want a natural birth but not at the risk of harm to the baby or myself.
Please pray that there would be no major complications during our birth that would force us to have a C-section.
Please pray that we would enter the hospital with a peaceful and respectful attitude toward the nursing staff and doctors assigned to us. I hope that if we give respect that we would receive the same respect in return. They are the trained professionals and that should be respected. But they are not always right. I think that if we approach their suggestions in the right way, we can diffuse an otherwise stressful (bad for me and baby) situation.
Please pray that Eric and I would remain calm, remember our training, and do everything we can to relax and allow nature to take its course.
Breastfeeding is very important to me. I have a lot of anxiety about not being able to do so. I know there are lactation consultants at the hospital for this very purpose but it is also one of the reasons I am as anti-medical interventions as I am. I have lots of friends that have had Pitocin/epidural/C-sections and have gone on to breastfeed with no problems. I've had friends that have struggled A LOT with the baby not latching properly and/or not producing enough milk. Some have given up totally and went the formula route. Please pray that our baby latches on quickly and properly and that I am able to produce enough milk for her, esp in that first 24 hours in which the hospital will try to supplement with formula/bottle if they feel she isn't getting enough.
Pray for good weather on her birthday, no blizzards please!
We are as ready for this baby as we are going to be! Still need to find a better diaper pail, don't think I like the one we have. But that's pretty minor. Last Amazon order is in the cart and ready to go, everything we registered for and didn't get (well minus a few star wars onsies). Just need to pre-wash all the diapers but we have lots of time for that. January starts weekly doctor visits. I will also go to my first La Leche meeting as well as the POPS group at church which has a good guest speaker this month. I will volunteer again at Carenet this week and help them get some mailing ready. We have an appointment with the police dept to make sure the carseat is installed correctly. Tomorrow Eric and I will have our last "date" and will go to see the new hobbit movie and go to Red Lobster for dinner. The rest of the time we will just wait for her arrival :)
This is a terribly exciting yet anxiety filled time as we wait for our daughter to make her appearance. We have prepared the best that we can. We have read the books, taken the classes, we are practicing relaxation techniques, I am doing my exercises to strength my birthing muscles.
I have a lot of anxiety about trying to give birth naturally in a hospital environment. I have heard nothing but horror stories from folks who say the L&D nurses are super pushy and want to do unnecessary interventions. I want a natural birth but not at the risk of harm to the baby or myself.
Please pray that there would be no major complications during our birth that would force us to have a C-section.
Please pray that we would enter the hospital with a peaceful and respectful attitude toward the nursing staff and doctors assigned to us. I hope that if we give respect that we would receive the same respect in return. They are the trained professionals and that should be respected. But they are not always right. I think that if we approach their suggestions in the right way, we can diffuse an otherwise stressful (bad for me and baby) situation.
Please pray that Eric and I would remain calm, remember our training, and do everything we can to relax and allow nature to take its course.
Breastfeeding is very important to me. I have a lot of anxiety about not being able to do so. I know there are lactation consultants at the hospital for this very purpose but it is also one of the reasons I am as anti-medical interventions as I am. I have lots of friends that have had Pitocin/epidural/C-sections and have gone on to breastfeed with no problems. I've had friends that have struggled A LOT with the baby not latching properly and/or not producing enough milk. Some have given up totally and went the formula route. Please pray that our baby latches on quickly and properly and that I am able to produce enough milk for her, esp in that first 24 hours in which the hospital will try to supplement with formula/bottle if they feel she isn't getting enough.
Pray for good weather on her birthday, no blizzards please!
We are as ready for this baby as we are going to be! Still need to find a better diaper pail, don't think I like the one we have. But that's pretty minor. Last Amazon order is in the cart and ready to go, everything we registered for and didn't get (well minus a few star wars onsies). Just need to pre-wash all the diapers but we have lots of time for that. January starts weekly doctor visits. I will also go to my first La Leche meeting as well as the POPS group at church which has a good guest speaker this month. I will volunteer again at Carenet this week and help them get some mailing ready. We have an appointment with the police dept to make sure the carseat is installed correctly. Tomorrow Eric and I will have our last "date" and will go to see the new hobbit movie and go to Red Lobster for dinner. The rest of the time we will just wait for her arrival :)
Thursday, December 26, 2013
Some Christmas pictures
My family
Eric's work party at Gibson's Steak House in Chicago
At Trinity
Playing in the brass
Eric's Family
Friday, December 20, 2013
9 months
OK, so I'm technically at the nine month mark on Sunday. Close enough for me. I am suffering today from a very badly pulled calf muscle. Just before 7 this morning I stretched out in bed apparently incorrectly cause I immediately got the worse Charlie horse in my life in my right calf. I couldn't move, couldn't breath normally, finally got to sit up and tried to massage the rock hard muscle without much success. It finally relaxed after a few mins of not moving but the damage had been done. I swear I thought the muscle was actually going to tear. I'm walking with a horrible limp and the heating pad and continued massages is not really making a difference. Wouldn't be so bad except that Eric's Christmas party for work is tonight and we have to drive into the city. Great, 9 months pregnant and limping like I have a sprained ankle. We don't have to go but I WANT to go. Its Gibson's steakhouse after all! Yum! I've really been looking forward to it.
We took our last class at the hospital last night. This was the breastfeeding one and I did learn a lot. I borrowed a book from a friend to read through as well. In Jan I hope to attend a La Leche meeting. Still looking for a good pediatrician, hope to find one that is flexible with the vaccination schedule.
Otherwise things are looking good. Got Christmas celebrations 1, 2, 3, and 4 set up for next week. amazing how much more complicated Christmas gets when you get married! All the 3 showers are done and we will be ordering the rest of our Amazon registry items (mostly the cloth diapers) after the new year. We were blessed to receive a number of gift cards to help offset our cost for buying those.
Nursery is still in a state of disaster. Some of it needs Eric's help but a lot of it I'm just procrastinating doing. One more load of clothes to wash and then to pre-wash all the cloth diapers. Still need to get a drying rack for those too. It seems so surreal that I am going to have an infant in my arms in as little as 7 weeks. And this one will be mine! Eric and I are practicing our relaxation techniques and I've started doing exercises more earnestly (like squats and keagels). I can only hope its enough to get through labor without pain meds. Edward Hospital is very mother/baby focused, no denying that. But they don't seem to be very natural birth friendly. A friend just told me that 90% of women who birth at Edward receive an epidural. That's insane. I just hope we end up with a good experience and not a bad one. Otherwise future babies may be born elsewhere.
We took our last class at the hospital last night. This was the breastfeeding one and I did learn a lot. I borrowed a book from a friend to read through as well. In Jan I hope to attend a La Leche meeting. Still looking for a good pediatrician, hope to find one that is flexible with the vaccination schedule.
Otherwise things are looking good. Got Christmas celebrations 1, 2, 3, and 4 set up for next week. amazing how much more complicated Christmas gets when you get married! All the 3 showers are done and we will be ordering the rest of our Amazon registry items (mostly the cloth diapers) after the new year. We were blessed to receive a number of gift cards to help offset our cost for buying those.
Nursery is still in a state of disaster. Some of it needs Eric's help but a lot of it I'm just procrastinating doing. One more load of clothes to wash and then to pre-wash all the cloth diapers. Still need to get a drying rack for those too. It seems so surreal that I am going to have an infant in my arms in as little as 7 weeks. And this one will be mine! Eric and I are practicing our relaxation techniques and I've started doing exercises more earnestly (like squats and keagels). I can only hope its enough to get through labor without pain meds. Edward Hospital is very mother/baby focused, no denying that. But they don't seem to be very natural birth friendly. A friend just told me that 90% of women who birth at Edward receive an epidural. That's insane. I just hope we end up with a good experience and not a bad one. Otherwise future babies may be born elsewhere.
Thursday, December 5, 2013
Keeping Busy
After I quit my job I was really wondering what I was going to be able to do to fill my time. Funny thing is... now I don't know how I ever managed to work 8 hours a day and still get my errands, chores, and me time in. I don't often feel bored or like I'm climbing the walls. I have settled into a pretty nice routine of walking/yoga, laundry, dishes, Christmas shopping/errand running, baking, and of course resting (sleeping/reading). I really enjoy not having to set the alarm clock. Sometimes it is hard for me to sleep at night. Either baby was moving around too much or I'm congested or sometimes Eric is just snoring too much. Its nice to know that I don't have anything pressing first thing in the morning that I have to get up to do. I can sleep as long as my body feels it needs to. The only early morning thing I have to do about once a week is drive my brother into work. Since its only one day its not a big deal, though I have to remind myself to stay available for when family or friends need me. I like routine too much I think! I explored the possibility of volunteering at Carenet but I don't want to volunteer for a regular position that they would actually be dependent on me (like receptionist) since I won't go out if the weather is bad or if I have a doc appointment scheduled already. They don't seem to have a lot of opportunities for me right now, but then again, I'm staying plenty busy.
Our last ultra sound showed everything good and normal. At the time she was weighing about 3.5 pounds and I can't remember what they said for length. We have given our birthplan to the doctor and she has no problems with it. My bigger concern is the labor and delivery nurses at the hospital... I will have to deal with them the most. Praying that we get understanding nurses who don't try to force interventions when they are not needed. I have finished reading the "natural hospital birth" book and gained a lot of good insight into natural birth and hospital "rules" that I might come up against. I will try to stay home as long as possible to limit the possibilities of them intervening. Also, you can't eat or drink once your admitted and that could complicate delivery as well if I'm dehydrated or hungry. Nothing I can do about being tired except to just try to relax and not fight the contractions. But we have plans in place for that too.
Eric has been working on a research paper for his class for the least 3 weeks. He finally has it done and I feel like I have my husband back again. It really did consume a lot of his time and thoughts. I haven't been able to get him to think about Christmas stuff or a lot of baby stuff for a while now. The paper will be submitted this weekend and we have another baby class to attend and a Christmas tree to decorated. He still needs to shop for his family, my side is already done.
In the last two weeks I've also had two baby showers. Note to self: never have a Target registry again! I could not believe how many duplicate gifts we received! Same thing happened with our wedding registry 3 years ago. Oh well, that's what gift receipts are for I guess. I had a lot of returns this week to do though. There is a nasty cold going around so a good number of friends were not able to attend the showers but still have gifts to give our little one. Eric's work friends are also planning something but we don't know when it will be. So I can't go out buying the stuff we didn't get until probably closer to Christmas if not January. Cloth diapers are not a favorite to buy apparently. I had one friend buy us a half dozen from our Amazon registry but that's it. Fingers crossed that there are still more coming!
I'm trying to get all my running around done now because it is already getting harder to be on my feet a lot (back ache, fatigue). Also, it will eventually look like winter outside and when it does, I don't want to be going out in bad weather. OK, baby girl and I are going to go read a book until its time to start dinner :)
Our last ultra sound showed everything good and normal. At the time she was weighing about 3.5 pounds and I can't remember what they said for length. We have given our birthplan to the doctor and she has no problems with it. My bigger concern is the labor and delivery nurses at the hospital... I will have to deal with them the most. Praying that we get understanding nurses who don't try to force interventions when they are not needed. I have finished reading the "natural hospital birth" book and gained a lot of good insight into natural birth and hospital "rules" that I might come up against. I will try to stay home as long as possible to limit the possibilities of them intervening. Also, you can't eat or drink once your admitted and that could complicate delivery as well if I'm dehydrated or hungry. Nothing I can do about being tired except to just try to relax and not fight the contractions. But we have plans in place for that too.
Eric has been working on a research paper for his class for the least 3 weeks. He finally has it done and I feel like I have my husband back again. It really did consume a lot of his time and thoughts. I haven't been able to get him to think about Christmas stuff or a lot of baby stuff for a while now. The paper will be submitted this weekend and we have another baby class to attend and a Christmas tree to decorated. He still needs to shop for his family, my side is already done.
In the last two weeks I've also had two baby showers. Note to self: never have a Target registry again! I could not believe how many duplicate gifts we received! Same thing happened with our wedding registry 3 years ago. Oh well, that's what gift receipts are for I guess. I had a lot of returns this week to do though. There is a nasty cold going around so a good number of friends were not able to attend the showers but still have gifts to give our little one. Eric's work friends are also planning something but we don't know when it will be. So I can't go out buying the stuff we didn't get until probably closer to Christmas if not January. Cloth diapers are not a favorite to buy apparently. I had one friend buy us a half dozen from our Amazon registry but that's it. Fingers crossed that there are still more coming!
I'm trying to get all my running around done now because it is already getting harder to be on my feet a lot (back ache, fatigue). Also, it will eventually look like winter outside and when it does, I don't want to be going out in bad weather. OK, baby girl and I are going to go read a book until its time to start dinner :)
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