Birth Class #3 Our third birthing class went very well. We covered medication options (even though I am going to have a natural birth if at all possible), more breathing and relaxation techniques. Joe is fantastic as always as a partner with all the exercises. We did one exercise with bags of ice. We had to hold a bag of ice in each hand for one and a half minutes while practicing the breathing techniques. It was interesting how different people reacted to the pain of the ice and how people got through it. I didn't think it was too difficult at all, but it did prove the point about good breathing.
We went for our evening walk yesterday and Joe and I passed a little girl and her grandmother (I think) and Joe said, "Oh, I want a little girl!" He thought she was so cute. I said, "Oh, man!" We laughed. It is all I can think of to get through this pregnancy and imagining our life with our son without thinking about having a daughter or another child. Joe always jokes about having nine children just to see my reaction. Papa is the only one who tops that with saying, "Yes, by the time you have your twelfth child it will be easy!" Oh my goodness! What is the world coming to? Haha.
Oh, another funny thing that happened was when Joe's sister and her children were here. The little guys were trying to figure out where the baby was and how he was positioned. Little Justin asked if my boob was the head. I said, "No, that's me! The baby is from here (indicating the top of my tummy) to down here (bottom of the uterus)." Later Justin was saying how he thought my "booby was the baby's head" and laughing. It was pretty cute and funny. He also wanted me to jiggle the baby by dancing to get him to wake up so that he could feel him. Christopher got to feel him hiccup which was cool. They are both really looking forward to meeting their cousin.
2008-07-23 (33 weeks)
7/23/08 checkup! Quick update on our checkup and TB screening:
Weight gain: Good (almost 30lbs up from pre-pregnancy) Blood Pressure: Good 119/78 Urine test: Good Uterus: Measuring 33 cm (perfect for 33wks) Baby's Heart Rate: 140 (healthy range)
The TB screening we got done on Monday was negative. Yay!
We've met three of the five midwives now. Shadmon, Ann and Stacie. It'll be one of these five who will be on call at UCLA when we go into labor. They are very nice and encouraging.
Joe's sister, Mimi, and her family came to visit for a couple days. It was so good to see them. The little guys, Justin and Christopher, have grown so much! We took them to Manhattan Beach and they had a good time playing and relaxing in the sun.
Mama and Papa will be coming to the baby shower! It'll be very good to see them and to spend some time with them at the beginning of August!
I'm feeling more like a whale these days, even though most people say that I don't look that big for how far I am. Heehee. The midwife said today that the little one is right up under my ribs! She said that my uterus is stretched out because I am taller. She said that is why people say that I don't look as big as shorter women, but that I and the baby are growing perfectly.
Our next birth class is tomorrow. We have to get work done on our car and might need to leave it in the shop for three days so we might need to take the bus or something. Not sure yet. Maybe we can take it in on Friday instead.
K, more later!
Love, Anya
P.S. Check out the couple new belly pics! The tummy is growing!
2008-07-18 (32 weeks)
Second Birth Class! Yesterday evening we had our second birthing preparation class. It was very good and informative. It was also super relaxing...we practiced massage, counter-pressure techniques and breathing exercises to relaxing music with guided visualization on super comfy mats with pillows. Joe was amazing at the counter-pressure and massage. He's going to be the perfect support person for the birth. Its nice going through this class together because we can learn how to work together on specifics. This way both of us will be better able to navigate the labor process and both of us will have things to work on to help make things go as smoothly as possible. Julie, the instructor, is great and is very much in favor of the most natural birthing process. She incorporates yoga and meditation ideas and principles and is also very honest about the use of medication. She's giving us a pretty comprehensive overview of what to expect and she's being honest about her experiences and what has worked for her and a lot of her students. There are a lot of couples in the class...its the biggest class Julie has taught, she said. Its nice to be learning about the birth process along with these other couples. Most of them are right around the same due date as we are. There is a good energy to the class. I'm glad we're going.
In other news, I scheduled a tour of the Labor and Delivery unit at UCLA which is where we'll deliver little JJ. The tour will be on August 9th (Lara's birthday!). They don't have many tours and Joe and I were lucky to get in on this date...the next one was September 6th! Yikes. It'll be good to see the facility, which is apparently a totally new, renovated, state-of-the-art unit that opened early this year. It sounds nice and I'm looking forward to seeing it and finding out more about it. It'll be nice to know exactly where to go and what to do once I go into active labor instead of trying to figure it all out while we're in the midst.
Ok, its actually really early in the morning (4:30am) and I'm up because I was having some real discomfort and indigestion while I was sleeping, so I had to get up and sit upright for a while. This hasn't ever happened before. I think it also has to do with the fact that little JJ is much bigger now and can kick and move my upper tummy. The digestion process is not so happy with that development, I think.
Anyway, what's next? Mimi and the gang will be visiting in a couple of days! Very excited to see them all. I bet Justin and Christopher have grown like crazy! Mama is probably going to be coming out in just under two weeks...possibly to stay for the birth of JJ...but that still depends on grandma and a few other practicalities. We'll see. The evite for the Baby Shower has gone out! Very excited about that. Viviane is doing some amazing work organizing this so far. I know most people on the invite list won't be able to make it, but there will be a good group who will here in LA, so it'll be fun. Its going to be a gathering in a park close to the beach in Pacific Palisades! Very scenic place!
Alright, more updates to come. Next week we do a routine TB screening skin test on Monday, we have our next prenatal checkup on Wednesday, and have the third birthing prep class on Thursday!
Later, Anya
2008-07-14 (31 weeks)
New Pics! Check out the new pics from today. Viviane, Joe and I had a picnic and went hiking at the Will Rogers State Historical Park in Pacific Palisades after scouting locations for our baby shower. We had a super day!
