Thirty Five Weeks
Thirty Nine Weeks
January 29, 2010
Thirty Five Weeks
I'
m trying to do everything in preparation the same for Sisbro that I did for Drew. Things like designing the birth announcements, this web site, keeping another pregnancy journal called a Belly Book, and also making some things for Sisbro. It's a lot harder for Sisbro since I don't have all the time I had when I was pregnant with Drew. But, it just has to happen. Sisbro is just as important as his big bro.
So, it took a while, but I finished Sisbro's crocheted blanket. I took some liberties with the design by making the border a little different than it called for in the pattern...but I think it turned out OK. Once we know what the baby is, I will add either flowers or some crocheted circle designs to the blanket.
We had the pre-reg appointment at the hospital today. It hasn't been very long since we were there last, so we didn't take another tour. Being there was all very fresh and familiar. The pre-reg nurse said that many of the same nurses are still there, too. They have very little turnover. That was nice to hear, because the nurses were fabulous my first time around.
Back to sleeping with about a zillion pillows but it's not helping at all. The pain in my lower half (leg cramps, groin pain, the pressure of a 5 pound baby laying on all my internal organs all night) is very uncomfortable. Sisbro, if you can hear me and decide to come out early - we are ready for you! Don't hesitate!
February 5, 2010
Thirty Six Weeks
Rouggggh week. I so want to enjoy the last few weeks with Drew, crawling around and playing with him. But, I hurt. And I can't. He doesn't know any different, I know. But I do. And I feel guilty that I have to sit on the couch and have him bring me stuff, rather than crawl around down with him.
So I know I need to focus on some positive things, because I have spent a few moments crying over my discomfort and my inability to get beyond this pregnancy brain (showed up at Drew's 15 month appointment tonight a week early) and I need to get passed them.
February 12, 2010
Thirty Seven Weeks
Labor...how do you know when it's starting? Sounds like a silly question, I mean duh, its LABOR. Meaning: painful, gooey and gross. However, before it gets to that stage it can go on for days without any dramatic symptoms, so how do you know when 'this is it?'
Last night, and the night before, I woke with pretty awful cramping. Enough to keep me awake and make me uncomfortable. Enough to make me question if this was it. But the cramps were irregular without any real rhythm to them. So, according to a couple different sources online (I know, not the best resource), it's possibly the beginning stages. I have another midwife appointment on Monday, so the question is do I wait until then to address this or do I call? Last time I wasn't sure if my water had actually broken yet, and ended up being admitted to the hospital at my next appointment a couple days later because the fluid was low (so yes, it had broken, but instead of being a huge gush of water it was just a heavy trickle...) So, see what I mean? It'd be nice if there was a little popup button like with the turkey at Thanksgiving. That would be perfect.
All this woldn't really be an issue - it would happen as it's supposed to - except that my husband leaves town tomorrow for two days. Yahoo.
And the dreams. They say women have weird dreams while pregnant. Last night I dreamt about bears attacking us in our old loft in Denver, moving to cape cod and some other wild stuff that doesn't make any sense. This was the mildest of my dreams lately. Not loving them.
And finally, just when I could use a great boost to my confidence I find out that pregnancy brain is a myth. I'm glad to know that I am still the "intellectual equivalent of my contemporaries" as a mother. But, seriously, it was such a relief to be able to blame the fact that I took Drew to his 15-month doctor appointment a week early and that I over/under pay my sitter regularly or forget items I specifically go to the grocery for on something other than simply being forgetful and well, dumb.
PS the back pain has subsided, thank you God! Maybe Sisbro has turned over?
February 14, 2010
Hubby has stayed home with me. It's an immense relief to know he's nearby just in case. We still have to work out logistics of who will take care of Drew while we are at the hospital, but at least I won't have to do it alone. Thank you Honey, for staying home with me! It means the world to me.
Happy Valentine's Day!
February 15, 2010
Midwife says the baby has turned! Thank you little one! I can't express how much of a relief that is. I am actually, probably naively, excited to experience regular labor. The way I visualize it: it will be about 6 hours long, painful, yet manageable, and then after a few pushes our little Sisbro will be born. It's all about the visualization.
Midwife says the cramping was due to the new moon this past Friday. So, if my body is reacting to the lunar cycles, then the March 1 due date will make sense because it is a full moon on the 28th. That is literally two weeks from today.
I really need to relax and enjoy these last few days! I took a nice, hot, quiet bath tonight...something I don't anticipate being able to do much in the future. But honestly, as I've said before, I am so ready to have this baby and just get being a parent of two little ones under way. No more waiting. No more anticipation. The anticipation is so exhausting. What will you be? How will you be? Will you be an easy baby like your big brother? Will you be a mover and shaker as your movements in utero indicate? Will you sleep well? Will you be colicky? Oy, I just need to relax....
February 19, 2010
Thirty Eight Weeks
As the Birthday approaches, I pulled out the old birth class information, including the birthright curriculum that I went through on my own last time. It is such a help to read through the information and be reminded that my body is made for this and it won't give me anything I can't handle. Because I admit, labor has definitely been a hurdle hard to see past when I consider Sisbro's birth.
But I am reminded, each contraction (or for a more positive approach: birthing embrace or rush) brings me closer to my baby. I need to work with my body not against it, by staying relaxed and open. I need to remember that it is pain with a purpose. And the more I learn about the birthing process, the less I have to be afraid of, because it is fear of the unknown that can cause the anxiety.
I suppose that is where the second time around is a better experience. I do know what to expect to a certain extent, from birth to child-rearing. Of course, I only have one and am no expert, but I know at the very least I can handle the job!
I read an article recently about several things you should do before the baby comes. Here's my five:
1. Time for you. Most popular suggestion, I believe, on the 'what to do before baby comes list'...Just take time to indulge yourself however that is defined for you. Stay in bed, watch TV and eat ice cream all day or whatever. Just do it.
2. Really take time to appreciate these last moments as your life is now. It will never ever be that way again. Appreciate the moments spent with your husband that are quiet or romantic, or the moments with your current children. Things will change dramatically and it may be a long time before you can enjoy life as it currently is.
3. Have the house cleaned professionally. I haven't cleaned the house thoroughly in, well a LONG time. Do I feel like it when the baby is asleep and I am zonked as well? Nope. So it needs it and having someone else do it makes it all that much better because they won't get tired or bored halfway through. (Maybe that should go under the time for you suggestion). And the new baby will be able to come home to a clean house. And I won't stress in the middle of the night when I am struggling with a crying baby because I just tripped over another dust monster.
4. Think ahead/buy ahead. Where are you going to be the most with the new baby? Put diapers and wipes, along with other essentials in a basket to have stored in that spot so you don't have to run all over the house. Paper goods, stocked pantry, even recipes planned in advance. Anything you can do to take the thought out of something in the future will be much appreciated. Ie. I planned reciped 3 months in advance, typed out the ingredients for them which turned into an automatic grocery list and wallah - no more thinking about what to make for dinner this week. Even filling out the baby book as much as possible will be a help before baby comes because time becomes so limited on the other side.
5. Relax. This is perhaps the most stressful time of a family's life. What will happen after the baby comes? How will I react? How will our marriage be? How will it impact the siblings? Having a baby is such a wonderful, sweet, short-lived experience. Try to roll with it. Things happen slowly anyway, so be educated but not rigid. Be aware, but not anxious. The baby comes out a sleepy little lump of sugar....not a whirling dervish. It allows you time to ease into the parenthood role. And let the baby dictate it all. Don't force a sleep schedule, it will happen naturally. Don't force the binky issue, or sleeping in a big kid bed. It will happen gradually and as it is meant to, if you let it.
These are suggestions based on my experience. Hope you find them useful.
And finally, another amazingly useful tool that I found this week: an app called Contraction Master for the iPhone to keep track of contractions. How did people ever manage without this stuff?
February 26, 2010
Thirty Nine Weeks
Baby. Out. Now.
So tired of being pregnant. I want to know what the baby is, I want to meet her, I want to hold him, I want to see his/her face. (I want my body back.)
I've looked up the liklihood of birth rates being tied to the lunar cycles, because deep in my heart I want to believe that this next full moon (Feb. 28) will be the catalyst to drawing baby out of his cocoon. To my great disappointment, I've found that there is no scientific evidence to support a higher birth rate at the full moon (or new moon). However, my midwife who has birthed 1600 babies, swears by it. I feel like she would know, right? She's been around 1600 women who've given birth and has seen some sort of evidence to convince her that there is a correlation. And also, I had major cramping on the night of the new moon two weeks ago. Is it just a coincidence?
So, I take hope. The full moon is Sunday. Baby will arrive on Monday, March 1.
Please, God, don't let me be updating this web site two weeks from now.
March 5, 2010
Forty Weeks
Sooooo that didn't happen. Baby is still snug as a bug in a rug to my great disappointment. So many suggestions have been offered on how to get baby out: spicy food, plan something to do, drive over potholes, jump down some stairs, etc. I wish these things worked.
However! I really need to just enjoy these last nights of sleeping soundly and without much interruption (except for using the bathroom 5-6 times).
It really is a very exciting time waiting for Baby. Wondering, waiting without too much to do except speculate. Waiting and wondering, that's where we're at.
March 11, 2010
Forty One Weeks
Could it possibly be tonight? Tomorrow? We are so ready!
I have a non-stress test tomorrow at 1PM to determine that the baby is doing well and still in good health. Prior to that however, the midwives have recommended that I take caullophyllum. It is also known as blue cohosh and has been used to induce labor. I am to start the herb 2 hours prior to the appointment, taking 6 tablets every minutes for the two hours.
Then I will have the stress test to determine that the baby is handling the herb well. If alls well, and no labor starts, I am to take the herb again Saturday night and Sunday night. I will have another appointment on Monday just to keep tabs, I guess. Then we have a pencilled in induction scheduled for Tuesday.
It is possible we'll have a St. Patty's Day Baby. But, I suppose it's also possible that we'll also have a baby born tomorrow! So who knows.
All I know is that this has been the longest two weeks ever.
March 15, 2010
Baby Girl McDowell's Birthday!
