35w5d, ramblings

1. We finished our childbirth class, which I loved. Every approach was covered: epidural vs some pain killers vs natural birth; c-section, vaginal, and assisted deliveries, etc. I feel much more prepared just knowing the process that will happen either way I deliver.
2. Last week we also took a two-part breastfeeding class. The information was pretty general but I still learned a lot. She told us how to manually express our milk, so I tried it when I got home. Seriously! There is baby juice in my breasts! It dropped out 3-4 drops from each side! I was so amazed by this, and also a tiny bit freaked out. I certainly have more respect for my breasts now. It was nice to get to know the lactation consultant I'll be working with.
3. The LC told us that they give mom and baby a “golden hour” immediately after delivery to try to nurse, skin to skin. I had a very stressful morning last week trying to explain this to my mom, who just wants "five minutes" with the baby before I start to nurse. For now, the plan is my husband just won't announce that the baby has been born until we're ready for visitors.
4. We went on a Serious Shopping Extravaganza with all of our gift cards to get remaining things off of our registry. We are almost 100% ready to bring baby home now. The only big thing we have left is to install our car seat bases and assemble the swing when it arrives.
5. I am 99% sure baby is still breech. I feel kicks that are low and internal (like, on my organs, not my abdomen), and I think I feel his head lodged against my right side. The other night he started making really jerky movements, butting his head against the skin under my right ribcage. I was like "You can't get out that way! Point your head at my hoo-ha, there's an escape hatch down there!"
6. I have another ultrasound to check growth on Thursday, and I meet with the NP. Then I go to weekly appointments.

Hello third trimester!

Pregnancy is blowing my mind these days. I am swinging back and forth between emotions: nervous about the baby arriving and sad that I will only be pregnant for a few more months, and impatience with how slowly the pregnancy is going and a strong desire to meet and begin caring for my son.

Somewhere along the line, I accepted that this baby will be born happy and generally healthy. I think it happened gradually between 20-24 weeks. It's a huge relief to be able to say "When the baby comes..." without telling myself I don't deserve it, or wondering in the back of my head if the pregnancy is going to work out.

A combination of enemas (2x week) and Colace (2x daily) has finally got me feeling regular again. I feel the most amazing sense of relief now that I'm not so backed up. My whole belly feels more comfortable and I feel, quite literally, lighter.

I was a bit freaked out at 24 weeks when they called to tell me that I passed my glucose test - yay! only took 7 pricks for 3 blood draws! >: | - but my platelets were low (134 million). Luckily, they re-tested me at 26 weeks and platelets were back up to 159. At 26 weeks baby had also turned head down, which was very, very exciting for me considering he's always been butt down in the past.

I am also ushering in 27 weeks with the official label of "anemic", and the pleasure of waking up this morning to something crusty covering my right nipple...leakage, anyone?

I can't believe it's already March and I'm in my third trimester. Yesterday, I ordered our glider. Next week we have a shopping trip planned to get some remaining things for the nursery. I have a baby shower at the end of the month, and some people (overachievers) have already bought stuff off my registries! Our diaper bag and high chair were the first to go.

In April we have our childbirth classes and a second shower, and in May our breastfeeding classes. I went into this with the goal of having everything possible prepared for baby four weeks before my due date. That deadline is really creeping up on us, now.

Baby continues to be a flutterbug, and I feel like I can definitely discern his butt when I press on my belly. I can't wait to meet him : )

Happy Viability Day!

Today is Valentine’s Day, but most importantly it is viability day! As of today, I am 24 weeks, or 6 months, pregnant, and if my baby were born he at least has a chance of living with excellent medical care.

HOWEVER, I do NOT want him to be born anytime soon, he needs to gestate much longer. I’d prefer to have him big and healthy and full term. But it’s nice to know that, if I went into labor today, everyone would do everything possible to make sure my little one lives.

After years of us mutually deciding not to celebrate Valentine’s Day, my husband surprised me with a 30 minute pregnancy massage appointment today over my lunch break. I am beyond excited. I have only had one massage in my life and I feel so pampered that he’s doing this for me.

Pregnancy is still going fine. While others still think I look small, I am starting to feel big. It’s becoming more and more difficult to get up off the couch. I started having tailbone pain, but it’s not too bad except for at the end of the day. Yesterday I wore a cap-sleeved wrap dress with no tights to work and I was sweltering hot all day. I was fanning myself and pressing glasses of ice water against the base of my neck. I never understood why people whine about being pregnant in the summer, until now.

All of the nursery furniture we have right now has been assembled and looks darling. On Friday we’re going to register. I have a day trip planned to IKEA next month to buy lamps and maybe some other stuff for the nursery.

This Thursday is my big doctor’s appt. Cervical length ultrasound, 2 hour glucose test, and a visit with the doctor. I’m not sure why I’m doing the 2 hour test when you usually start out with the one hour?

I’m also suffering from some severe constipation. Four weeks ago I gave myself an enema and took Colace for a week. That helped things along for a while. It has gotten bad again, though, so I need to make a call and ask how frequently I can use the enemas. My whole abdomen aches at times and bowel movements are infrequent and painful.

BUT, all in all, I still say I’ve had a very easy time in my pregnancy so far. This past weekend we realized we could see the baby moving if I pulled up my shirt, and that brought tears to my eyes. His movements are getting much stronger and my husband is amazed by what he can feel with his hand at this point. It’s only going to get more exciting from here!

21 week update and prenatal yoga

Last night I went to my first prenatal yoga class.

It was great timing. I stepped on the scale yesterday for the first time in 5 weeks, and I’ve gained 15 pounds already. I’m nervous that I’ll gain the maximum 35 pounds recommended, and I’ve been doing jack shit when it comes to exercise. I’ve kind of shot myself in the foot when it comes to taking the weight off easily after delivery.

Prenatal yoga was great. There were five of us, two at 28 weeks, one at 24 or 26 (I can’t remember), me at 21, and one at 16. It was nice to be around other pregnant women and compare bumps and symptoms. I helped set up the class, and one girl is my old college roommate, while another is a girl I met through my Resolve support group.

The yoga itself was nice. Relaxing but still challenging, and I felt limber and opened up when I left, just like I used to from regular yoga classes. I have been practicing yoga for 8 years, and this is a new territory for me, but I like it.

Most of all, it was nice to be around four other pregnant women and feel included. Last year, being stuck in a room with four belly bumps would have been a unique form of torture. But I belong now. I’m not saying it’s right to feel that way, but I do feel that way, and it was comforting. Of course part of me feels hugely guilty for this.

At the end, someone floated the idea of starting a Mommy and Me class in the fall once everyone’s little ones had arrived. It’s still weird to think I’ll be a mom in August, although my husband says I’m a mom now.

--

Other updates: The crib and the changing table have been assembled. The crib took one hour and only had 7 pieces total. The changing table took three hours, had a gazillion pieces, and we almost got divorced building it. The dresser came yesterday and neither of us have touched it. It’s the same brand as the changing table and it’s just too soon, the wounds are still too fresh ; )

My mobile is done and I hung it above the crib. I have two baby showers scheduled (3/31 at 30w4d, 4/28 at 34w4d). I am over the bug I had last week and feel MUCH better.

We are registering in two and a half weeks and I have a list created. I will post it another day and ask for feedback.

Thank you all for staying with me even though my blog is so boring these days.