Friday, August 31, 2007

2 days til due date

Friday August 31 2007
9:42pm EDT

Holy crap. How in the world did I get to be this pregnant?

I'm feeling slightly anxious now. Wednesday the only walking I got in was to and from Pizzeria Uno for lunch with a co-worker. Was mildly crampy the rest of the evening and even had some shooting crampy pains down my left leg while I was reading in bed. Then that went away and I started feeling kinda sick. Like, shakey, hot and then cold, tingly, just not nauseous. I got up and got Jon around 11pm and he came upstairs with me and rubbed me a while. Around midnight the feelings went away and I slept a little, but not much because I was anxious.

Got up Thursday morning, was "working" from home. I had some icky feelings. Then I went to my midwife appt at 10am. As I was getting out of the car I spilled juice all over my seat which soaked the side of my shorts. I was so pissed. Then I had to wait 45 minutes to be seen. I saw Sue. My BP was slightly elevated but they didn't make a big deal out of it. My weight is 163, up 27lbs now. She said I was measuring 35 or 36 -- I don't really know what that means, unless it means I'm measuring small or something. She said the baby's heartbeat was fast. She was like "what'd you have for breakfast this morning???" She sniffed the belly again.

She said that my cervix is still fairly firm and high up, but that I'm dilated around 1cm. She did say that the numbers mean nothing, but still.. how likely is labor to start with an unripe cervix? She had me schedule an ultrasound for Tuesday and a Non-stess test for Thursday. I don't even know what they want the u/s for, I didn't ask. Hopefully I won't need those appts.

I tried to nap a couple times during the day but couldn't relax enough to sleep. Margaret called to check up on me, which was nice. She warned me about the diagnosis of "low amniotic fluid" regarding the u/s. She said that she's heard a lot of women are getting this diagnosis, which can lead to all kinds of interventions. I'm going to drink water like a fish this weekend to make sure I don't have that problem.

Still feeling relatively ok today. My right hip hurts again, but I'm not crampy or anything. I started taking Evening Primrose Oil, 2400mg a day, a few days ago. Let's hope that and the walking get this cervix ripe!

Wednesday, August 29, 2007

39-ish weeks

Tuesday August 28 2007
4:57pm EDT

Over the weekend Jon and I took a bunch of photos. We also had Ron the painter/handyman/photographer come over on Sunday to do some more indoors. These are just a few of the photos that Jon took.

Worked from home today. It's so lovely that I can do that. Seriously. Because maybe 20% of my time is spent checking email and voicemail and the rest is spent goofing off. So, around 11:30 I headed out to the mall to do some walking. I noticed that I started feeling crampy right after I left the mall. Woohoo! I've felt on and off crampy since I left the mall today. We'll see how it goes. I'm starting to feel really ready to get this party started and meet little miss Maya Rose. I emailed Margaret over the weekend and still haven't heardback! Hrm. Anyhoo, I'm definitely visualizing the kind of birth I want... and I really do think I can do it. I know my body is capable of doing this and I know that I can get through it.

39 weeks photos

































38 weeks


Tuesday August 21 2007
7:00pm EDT

So, I was 38 weeks on Sunday. Insane. Moving day was Friday. Jon killed himself getting everything done. I left as soon as the movers arrived. Went out to CT-- went to BB&B and got bathroom stuff, went to BRU and returned the sling that got terrible reviews as well as the mini co-sleeper sheets and got a bouncer and some other stuff. Went to Barnes & Noble and grabbed some magazines, then went to the mall for lunch at Subway. Stopped at Hannaford and went to the townhouse. Organizedthe baby stuff in the basement. Went and picked up Stanley at the in-laws' house because he'd puked in his carrier (they were grabbing our dining room table, etc).

The movers showed up andthey got stuff loaded in in just a few hours. We were totally exhausted after they left. Saturday we busted a move and unpacked a ton. Sunday we unpacked some more. Jon also put together the glider and the co-sleeper and dresser/changing table. Had Monday off, but I didn't sleep well the night before so I was pretty tired all day. Jon worked and I took it easy. I brought most of the baby stuff upstairs, sorted and put away the clothes and bath/medical stuff. Jon still has to put together the large dresser and the pack n play.

My new boss got fired. They're making it sound like he left, but I'm pretty sure he was canned. His boss might cover the position til I come back from maternity leave and then try to get me to take the job. She's been talking to me about it. I just don't know if it's worth the money... I'll be adjusting to so much after Maya comes, especially after I go back to work, and I want my 2 days from home, I want my flexibility, I want my comfy, easy job.

Still feeling relatively ok. Had a good appt Thursday, refused an internal. Had some crampiness Saturday night, but nothing since. Still only getting up once or twice a night to pee, my feet swell a little bit sometimes, I think my hands might be swelling a little only because my rings are getting tight, but they don't look swollen. Getting tired easier, but besides that, I'm still doing pretty good. Had a little heartburn during the night last night, but that only happens once in a while.

Baby moves a lot still! We're set on her name -- Maya Rose. I'm started to get less freaked out at the idea of her coming and more excited at the idea of meeting her. I'm getting a little freaked out about labor... about the pain and when it will happen, but I'm doing my best to remain calm.

37 weeks

Sunday August 12 2007
2:29pm EDT

Wow. Full Term!

Yesterday we brought some stuff to the condo, I counted the outlets/light switches so we could get new covers while Jon schmoozed with the painter, and then brought stuff in. We went to Home Depot, ordered a dishwasher, picked up the covers, etc. I got tired! Then we stopped at the mall for lunch at Subway, went to the UHaul store to get more boxes, Jon dropped off the Home Depot supplies at the condo, we stopped at Hannaford back in Carmel to get sponges , and a hot fudge sundae for me at the Carvel store before heading back home. Yum.

We videotaped Maya kicking at the remote control last night. So funny. I woke up this morning with a slight headache, and I've been feeling mildly crampy all day. We went to the police dept to get our car seats installed around 10am, and then did some grocery shopping and came home. We then did my belly cast. It wasn't so bad!

36 weeks

Sunday August 5 2007
8:51am EDT

I can't believe I'm 36 weeks. Like, I really can'tbelieveit. I can't believe this baby girl is coming soon!!

Baby Maya is moving much more these days than she ever did. Went to an appointment on Wednesday, saw Sue, the midwife. I've been holding steady at a solid 24lbs total so far. It was 26lbs a few weeks ago, then I lost a pound and this week was the same as last week. I have not restricted my diet whatsoever (in fact, I'm eating much more ice cream than Iusually do) and I'm not exercising. Go me!

The nurse/girl in scrubs who takes my weight (don't think she's really a nurse) told me that internals start at 37 weeks. I ask her what if I want to decline? She said that's fine, not everyone wants to know what's going on in there. I told her I might be declining them, we'll see how curious I get. I get nekkid from the waist down in preparation for the GBS swab and put the nice little paper thingy over my lap. Then the midwife comes in -- the one I LOVE. She tells me how perfect my belly is, she even tells me how good my belly SMELLS. BP is perfect, weight gain is fine, no swelling, etc. We chat for a minute -- I told her about the mild cramping I've had this week, she said it was a good thing, and totally normal, and if I were to go into labor now they wouldn't stop me because everything's fine. Then I get in the position for the GBS swab. Before I know it, she's coming at me with a KYed and gloved 2 fingers and checking out my cervix! What the hell?? I was so surprised I didn't have any time to say "um, we're not doing that today!" She got my swab, told me my cervix is closed but thinning and that the baby's head is "right there." She also confirmed that babe is anterior, her back on my left side still.

YAAAAAAAAAY!!! So, everything except the surprise internal was great. At least next time I won't be getting nekkid for anything so there won't be any surprises. Blech. I still love this midwife, I'm just really surprised she did that!

Yesterday Jon cleared out the basement of the condo along with one of the Guatemalan guys, Ernesto. It took longerthan I expected and I was getting antsy. I cleaned the bathroom at the apt and the kitchen, and packed 2 boxes before heading to Jon's parents to pick up all our babystuff (they were both out of town). We then headed to the condo. I wasn't feeling so hot -- tired, a little crampy. The crampiness went away after getting to the condo, though.

We sorted all the clothes -- I can't believe how many newborn/0-3 months stuff we have!!! She'll probably grow outof it all before she has a chance to wear it. We put one load in, then put it in the dryer and put in another load and then went to Friendly's for dinner. Got back and folded the first load and put the second load in the dryer, then folded that. Then we came home, it was 9pm already! We both conked out around 10.

I got up at 8am. Margaret, my doula, is coming around 3-ish today. I'm going to try to get some of my hospital bag packed up today too, probably after Margaret leaves if we can get the laundry done before she comes over.

I can't believe my baby girl will be here soon! It's so surreal. I'm feeling fairly good about the impending labor and birth. I think having Margaret there, and knowing that Maya is in good position, is making me feel better. I was worried about having back labor. I'm still planning to try to go med-free... I think I can do it. Margaret is going to help a lot! :)

35 weeks


Sunday July 29 2007
9:00am EDT

Baby is moving more often now during the day. She never wakes me up at night if she moves. She doesn't interact with us -- she doesn't react to noises or if we poke her when she's poking me. I have to assume this is just how she is, and that it doesn't mean there's anything wrong. We went to see Sonic Youth last night (they were playing the wholeDaydream Nation Album -- it was really good but we missed the first song... Teenage Riot. Bummer!!) and she wasn't active at all while they were playing, but I was also standing up and swaying a bit, so it didn't really surprise me. As soon as I sat down in the car again she was poking me.

Today we're planning to go to Babies R Us to try to get the carseat and some assorted extras.

So, yesterday Jon got most of the condo totally cleared out. Just the basement is left. Our tentative move date will be August 17th. I'll be a few days shy of 38 weeks.

34 weeks

Tuesday July 24 2007
2:32pm EDT

We closed on our condo one week ago, July 17. It was uneventful.

Appt this week was fine. Saw Dr. K. Heartbeat was strong, my weight is actually down about a pound from last week. The nurse said it's possible I was a little swollen last time. Either way, I'm happy because I was up 5lbs last appt. So now I'm at 160, started at 136... total gain of 24lbs. The doctor told me I can go to weekly appts now, and I'll have the GBS swab at the next appointment. Fun. Baby gets the hiccups between 2-4 times a day now!

We headed up to Albany on Saturday for my shower. It was great to see everyone who came and the food was yummy. We got a bunch of good stuff off our registry, and some stuff not on it. Not a ton of baby clothes, which was good.

Thursday we go see the pediatrician I think we want to work with.

32 weeks

Wednesday July 11 2007
5:10pm EDT

Maya's been moving a bit more. The past couple days she's been on the quiet side, but I had another appt last night. Met Dr. K for the first time, he's nice. I gained 5lbs in 2weeks!! No wonder I feel huge all of a sudden! She was head down yesterday, hopefully she'll stay that way until she's born! I can't believe it's almost over and she'll be here with us soon!

31 weeks


Sunday July 1 2007
9:29am EDT


Baby was moving/kicking a bunch yesterday on our drive down to Long Island. In fact, I could feel something hard at the top right of my belly. It was so neat.

Baby's been quiet this morning. She was moving a bit as I was laying in bed on my right side, but now she's quiet. I hope today's an active day. I love when she moves. I love this baby so much!!

Almost 31 weeks

Saturday June 30 3007
8:06am EDT

I was bumming out last week because this little papaya child was very quiet. I know it's because my placenta is cushioning everything, but it bums me out when she's like that. She perked up after my last appointment, which was Wednesday. She usually does. Dr. Rinato got her heartbeat at the middle of my tummy, below the belly button. I think she might be transverse, head on my left. C'mon baby! Flip!

Met with Margaret the doula yesterday for lunch. She was late, but it was fine. She brought me a crapload of books to read and a couple videos. She makes me feel confident! :)

The past few days baby's been fairly active... not all day or anything, but at least one nice burst of activity. Last night we got ice cream again (yum!) and afterward, I was laying in bed reading and she was kicking my right side like crazy. Jon came in and felt it and she had this really strong kick and we both laughed it was so crazy.

Still feeling good physically... some heartburn here and there, my butt hurts if I sit too long, my back hurts if I stand too long, my lower back hurts if I don't sit properly. It's great.

29 weeks

Sunday June 17 2007
10:02am EDT

So last week we went to our infant care/breastfeeding class at the hospital. It was taught by Linda LeMon, lactation consultant. It was great! I wish we could've videotaped it or something. There was so much good info I didn't want to leave to go to the bathroom!! (But I did).

I'm feeling fairly good still. This little one still has days where she's relatively quiet, or at least I'm not feeling too much if she is moving around. I feel kicks usually on my right side, and some flutters on my lower left/pelvis, so I'm wondering if she's head down. My next appointment is with the other midwife, Sue. I want to ask her if she can tell the baby's position... although the baby could still flip around after that point.

27 week appt

Tuesday June 5 2007
8:41pm EDT

So, I passed my 3-hour test!! Woohoo!! I asked the nurse what the cutoff for the 1 hour was and she said 130 and my number was like, 160. Now, it seems that the cutoff number is different for like, every doctor's office. It's so ridiculous. Anyway, at least I passed, woohoo! The midwife also pulled out the tape measure for the first time to measure my belly! Neato! She said I'm measuring perfectly, and everything else is perfect too. I'd been a little anxious because the last few days the baby hasn't been all that active that I could tell. She said that because of the placement of my placenta (right up top, anterior), that this cushioned things quite a bit and I'd only feel the big ones, but they'd feel like thumps. She said it's normal for movement to still be erratic, which made me feel better. When she whipped out the doppler, I told her that the midwife at my last appt couldn't get a good heartbeat because of the crazy ninja moves my kid has, so she felt around and determined that the baby is on my left, so she pressed down on the right side of my belly and said "I'm gonna trap her." Hahaha... and then the baby kicked the doppler, which was hysterical. I go back again in 3 weeks and then I'm down to bi-weekly appointments once I hit 30weeks. Woohoooooooooooooo!!!!!