Through the Seasons

At the doctor’s office I go to, there are 2 paths to choose from: seeing doctors or midwives.  I have chosen the midwives.  There are 3 that I rotate between.  Now that it is close to my due date they have each felt the baby in my tummy and offered up a guess as to how much the baby will weigh at birth.  The first said 7 pounds, 3 ounces.  The second said 7 pounds, 4 ounces.  A nurse gave a more wide ranged guess of 7 to 7 1/2 pounds (then added “not more than you can deliver”).  I see the third midwife Tuesday.  We’ll see what she says.  Then we’ll see how close they end up being.  If they’re not far off (which they’re probably not going to be WAY far off), that’s a good size: healthy but not huge.  Like the nurse said, “not more than you can deliver”.  I sure hope so!  I’ve heard of babies well over 10 pounds.  Apparently I don’t have a baby that size in me (and if I did, wouldn’t I be able to tell?).

read comments (0)

I have never had to pack to go to the hospital.  I’ve never gone to the hospital in a planned way and I’ve definitely never stayed overnight in one.  Eeks.  But in all my preparation, the hospital bag is now packed.  I think I overpacked for Asher but I just couldn’t resist all the cute baby clothes and, as always, I like having a variety to choose from.  You’d think I live more than 5 minutes away from the hospital with no family close by.  If I did forget something or need something I didn’t think of I really do have easy access to it.  Oh well.  I guess I’m a little proud of myself that I didn’t pack everything the lists on the internet suggested.  Look at me thinking for myself.    And now I keep thinking, this could happen any day.  My due date is a week from Friday so there’s a good chance I become a mother next week!  AAAHHH!!!  Heehee…  Am I more scared or excited?  I’m not sure…

read comments (3)

And I’m not ready.  I think I’m ready.  Or maybe a better way to say it…  I’m as ready as I’ll ever be.

There have been various times during the pregnancy that I’ve thought, okay, I’m not so comfortable anymore.  But then I kind of get used to the feeling and move on. 

My due date is a week from Friday and I’ll go ahead and say it.  I’m downright uncomfortable.  There have actually been moments that I’ve felt miserable.  But only a few moments.  It’s not all the time.

The only ways I’m uncomfortable really is getting in and out of the car, walking sometimes (but not always), and sleeping (again, not always).  It seems to happen when he’s laying a certain way in there – right on a nerve or something.  I guess he’s just getting heavy and I’m getting a little bit tired of carrying him around.  It’s Jonathan’s turn I think.

So that makes me ready and the fact that I’ve been pregnant almost 9 months now.  I’ve read and researched.  We’ve gotten gifts and washed baby clothes.  We’ve done about everything we know to do.  Now we wait.  Patience is not something I’ve been blessed with an abundance of…so…I’m ready.  But I wouldn’t rush it.  When the time is right it will happen.  These feelings of anticipation, I’m sure, are just part of the experience of pregnancy.  I know I’ve said it before but I’ll say it again.  I’m excited to meet Asher.

read comments (0)

I don’t know what’s going on!  I’ve been monitoring my swelling (well, my lack of swelling) by how my wedding ring still fits.  Occasionally, I’ll slip it on and off a few times to make sure it feels normal. 

Today (Sunday), Jonathan and I had our last baby shower.  They served snacks and sweets.  I ate a little of each thing.  Then I went to a friend’s wedding shower.  They served snacks and sweets.  I ate a little of each thing.  I didn’t eat enough to be stuffed so it wasn’t the quantity but quality of my eating that made me feel icky.  I just felt like I had eaten junk.  So I got home to watch the end of the Daytona 500.  My parents served snacks and sweets.  I was hungry by then so I ate things like raw veggies, cocktail weanies, and french fries.  I was tired of sweets so stuck to more snacky food.  Ugh.  Maybe I should have just had a salad…

So as the night has gone on, my fingers have begun swelling.  My ring is now snug.  YIKES.  I don’t want to outgrow my ring!  I don’t want to be swollen!  I don’t want to gain anymore weight!  I’m also really hot so that could make me swell a bit as well.  Between the salty food and the heat, I may have to drink a gallon of water to get over this.  Hopefully watching what I eat this week will keep me from swelling up here at the end of pregnancy.

As fun as eating this American food again has been I think I’m kind of tired of it.  Splurging on fattening food does get old after a while.  I just can’t live like that.  I’m ready to start eating like a normal person again.  Back to fruits and veggies.  Goodbye McDonald’s.

read comments (2)

We’ve had to make more decisions about the birth and the events surrounding it than I ever imagined.  I’m glad we took the classes and got our minds prepared for what labor and delivery is like including the before, during, and few weeks post-partum. 

One of the things most important to us is the birth experience itself.  We’ve written a birth plan explaining our preferences regarding intervention and drugs.  We’ve also informed everyone we need to inform at this point and will take a copy of our plan to the hospital with us.  Although nothing is guaranteed, at least we have given thought to the possibilities and what we’d like to see happen.

Another big deal to us is who is in the room with us during the actual birth of Asher.  We decided that only the 2 of us and the medical staff can be in the room.  The hospital itself makes sure there’s no one in the hallways lingering around.  (Visitors have to wait in the waiting room until invited into the room, per hospital policy.)  So that will give us the privacy and time to go through this experience and prepare before having others join us.  Also, during my “nursing lessons” and “first attempt(s)” it’ll just be the 2 of us and the medical staff.  I sure don’t need an audience for that! 

We’ll also be laying low the first 2 weeks after the baby is born to transition and bond.  Apparently this is very important and we’ve been advised again and again by various sources to take this time for ourselves as a new family. 

After that, who knows what life will look like.  We’ll just be taking one day at a time…

read comments (0)

…I thought I was sooooo big here (at 14 weeks, 3 days pregnant):

…but I know I’m just ginormous here (at 37 weeks, 3 days pregnant):

read comments (3)

A few things I’m looking forward to about not being pregnant anymore:

- laying on my tummy

- rolling over in bed without waking up or being in pain

- stretching normally when I wake up in the morning

- my body being more “mobile”

- being able to lift and do things

- walking instead of waddling

- breathing

- sitting normally and comfortably

- no doctors appointments

- being able to see my feet – and reach them

- not wearing maternity clothes (I don’t like the bands on the pants)

- no more heartburn (!)

A few things I’ll miss about being pregnant:

- people saying I look pretty

- wearing my maternity clothes (I like the shirts)

- being this close to my baby

- people helping me with things because of my “condition”

Hmmm…  Looks like I’m more looking forward it being over than I realized.  I really am ready to meet him and get back to as much my “old body” as reality dictates.  I know I’ll never really be the same but I will, eventually, be able to move more freely.  I’m looking forward to that!

read comments (0)

I did something fun tonight.  I started Asher’s baby book. 

First of all, I really like being organized, on top of things, and to plan ahead so doing anything like this is great for me.  But this, of course, is special.  It’s a permanent record of the baby (and for the baby) - getting ready for him, naming him, then his story as it unfolds.  I love looking at the filled out pages, photos already there (his sonogram picture, soon there will be pictures of us and his room), and his baby shower invitation.  I had a good time and keep flipping through it.

And now I’m watching the Duke/Carolina basketball game.  Hmph.  Duke is up.  But that means nothing when it’s Carolina.  Which makes me crazy.  I hope Duke holds on and beats Carolina (in Chapel Hill too – sweet) – proving why they are ahead of Carolina in the rankings.  But it always seems to come down to the last second in games with UNC.  And that’s why we watch I guess.

read comments (5)

Okay, I can’t breathe.  I heard you’d know when the baby descends, engages, whatever you want to call it, when you are suddenly able to breathe again.  I kept thinking – I can breathe now.  But here I am a little over 36 weeks along and I feel like I’m working hard to take normal breaths.  At least I’ll probably be able to tell when the baby drops into my pelvis when it happens.

At church this morning a couple people said I finally look pregnant.  One lady even said I’m ‘fat’ which I agreed.  So glad I have a reason for it!! 

I feel like I grow bigger every single day.  I used to go 3-4 weeks between tummy pictures because there just wasn’t too much change but now I think I could take pictures once a week and show quite a difference.  Jonathan’s going to take my picture sometime this weekend or early next week then again at my due date – or when I go into labor – whichever comes first.  Then I guess if I go past my due date I’ll want another one taken on that day.  After Asher is born I figure all pictures will be of him.  I look forward to that. 

read comments (0)

All this nesting is wearing me out.  I can only keep going if I – well – keep going…  The minute I stop moving I fight falling asleep.  I saw the midwife today and she told me that in these last days I would feel this burst of energy and begin nesting.  (Ding!)  Then she told me that no matter what I felt I needed to get done I really, really need to rest.  I need to make sure I’m getting sleep at night and not pushing myself too hard.  Oops.  I do tend to keep pushing myself.  But Asher could come anytime and I need to keep myself well rested so I can endure labor better.  So as I write this (8pm) I plan to go to bed soon and sleep, sleep, sleep.  I’ll figure out where I am with everything I’d like to get done, prioritize them, and pace myself.  I don’t think I have much more to do anyway.  I don’t think…

Anyway.  The appointment went well.  Asher is head down (and wouldn’t turn back up at this point).  She could even tell which way he was laying.  But he’ll keep spinning around so that doesn’t tell me too much.  It was cool to know though.  We’re both healthy.  I’ve now gained a total of 20 pounds with 4 weeks to go so that’s all good.  She also checked my cervix.  I’m 50% effaced and a “fingertip” (which is 1cm) dilated.  Usually with first pregnancies you efface completely before you begin dilating and all this begins weeks before labor starts so although there’s progress (and I love to see progress!) it doesn’t mean I’m about to give birth or anything.  In fact, she said that most first pregnancies go 3-5 days (and I’ve read up to 8 days) past the due date so…  I still have some time.  And that’s okay.  God knows when the baby’s supposed to come out.  Asher won’t be in my tummy forever.  I still feel pretty good.  I just want to avoid being induced unless there’s a real concern!  I’m content to wait.

So with all that said I’m off to relax and head to dreamland.  Good night…

read comments (2)