Last night, I started to have contractions. Now - before anyone gets really excited or concerned or calls me to find out how much the baby weighed - I have to explain. These were not THE contractions that we're all anticipating. These were sneaky, false, Braxton Hicks contractions that caught me off gaurd in the middle of the night and nearly gave my husband a heartattack when I woke him up to tell him what was happening.
Of course, I didn't actually *know* that they weren't the real thing, until about an hour and a half later when they just suddenly stopped. I have to admit, I am very glad that they weren't the real thing because I hadn't washed my hair that day, and heaven forbid I go into labor without at least starting off the whole thing looking good.
The contractions themselves weren't painful at all and did not increase in intensity(another sign that they weren't the actual ones). They were uncomfortable, and certainly not what I had expected them to feel like - almost a hard tight sensation in my abdemon and the muscles above my hip joints. It was weird. They occured every 12-14 minutes apart, and like I said - eventually, they just quit - and I fell back asleep, a little bit wary but mostly just really relieved.
I was thankful that we had our prenatal appointment today with Dr.Goldie, and was anxious to tell her about our night as well as find out if Baby had finally turned.
So far, no luck. Baby's head is still up between my rib-cage, and seems to be extremley comfortable. We talked more about the c-section or our other option of manually turning her, and I basically wanted to know "what was the rush"? I explained that we had heard that babies turn last minute all the time, so why did we have to start thinking about c-sections and hands in my uterus tugging on my baby, so soon?
Basically, she told me that although the baby *can* turn very late into the pregnancy, it is actually not common. The farther the baby goes without turning, the more difficult physically it even is for them to try. She said it's good preperation, to take the ultrasound and find out the exact position of Baby, as well as start planning and looking at our options. If Baby stays breech, it's something the hospital will want to know before we go into labor. This way, I don't have to be in labor for six hours hoping Baby will flip - and eventually having to get a c-section in the end anyway.
She also talked about the high chances of a prolapsed chord at this stage. Usually the baby's head is down right now, which keeps the umbillical chord from falling down below the baby (obviously not a good thing). So the ultrasound and the preperation of a possible c-section are basically all things that we want to do in order to keep Baby and myself, as safe as possible.
It's weird to imagine not being able to give birth naturally, but I'm at the point now where I just want to have Baby safe and sound, no matter how he/she has to get here.
Other than that, everything else at my appoinment checked out. My blood pressure, baby's heartbeat and size, all looked great. I lost a pound these past two weeks instead of gaining, but I'm thinking that just has something to do with the fact that my clothes are lighter due to the nice weather!
So tomorrow we go in for our third ultrasound, and I will write more at that time!
2008-04-28 (35 weeks)
Green Peace Might Start Looking for Me
We're in our bedroom, getting ready to go out for the night. I'm standing in front of the dresser, changing, pulling my shirt off over my head when suddenly I hear my husbands shocked and slightly amused voice.
"Holy Anna, you are HUGE!"
I stare at him as he makes his way over with a huge grin on his face and his hands outstretched towards my belly. I turn sideways, looking at myself in the mirror and finding that I barely recognize my own body.
"I can't believe how BIG you've gotten!" he's saying, wrapping his arms around me and kissing my forehead.
I smile. I never knew it felt so good, to be so large.
**New Belly Picture in the Album**
2008-04-27 (34 weeks)
A Question or Two
Tomorrow, I will officially be 35 weeks pregnant. We're so close to my last month that it's almost hard to believe. ONE MONTH LEFT. Where has time gone? It's getting really exciting, and the bigger I get, the more interest people take in asking me about the pregnancy and the baby. I've decided to compile a little list of all the popular questions that we've been asked, along with our answers. You know, just in case you were wondering.
When is your due date?
Offically, I have no idea. Our family doctor tells us that we should expect delivery on June 1st or 2nd, and our prenatal doctor tells us June 3rd or 4th. So basically, the first week in June. (Unless it's a c-section in which we will have to be booked for my 39th week of pregnancy which would be the last week in May.)
How are you feeling in your third trimester?
Pretty good, compared to how my first and second trimester have gone. I've noticed that I lose my breath very quickly now, and sleeping at night is getting more difficult as I'm constantly tossing and turning to relieve the pressure off of my sore hips. But other than that, I can't really complain!
Do you know if it's a boy or a girl?
Yes. (This is where I tell them if they want to know, but I'm all secrets online! Sorry everyone!)
What changes have you noticed in the baby?
Mostly just gradual change in size and activity. The kicks aren't really 'kicks' anymore, so much as strong pushes and exploring. Baby can reach my ribs, and is constantly moving, especially after I eat. He/She also gets hiccups a few times every day, and I can also tell when Baby is sucking his/her thumb. It's very cute!
Do you have everything ready for Baby's arrival?
We're getting there! The nursery is 95% complete, and we just need a few little things. Other than that, we're all set and can't wait.
Do you have any names picked out?
Once we found out the gender we had one name picked out that we both really loved. But over the months, we've come across more and more names so we started to make a list which we stuck on our fridge. There are now twenty-one names, and our plan is to just bring that list to the hospital and figure out which one seems to suit Baby the most.
Are you planning on a natural birth, or will you take drugs?
To be honest, I have no idea what I'm going to do when that time comes. As it stands right now, we have a slight chance that we will be scheduled for a c-section. But if all goes 'smoothly' and I'm able to have the option to give birth naturally, I'll have to see what it feels like before I decide to take something for the pain for not. I'm trying to keep an open mind, and I don't really have any set plans, especially since I have no idea how this will go.
Why would you need to have a cesarean birth?
We find out for sure on Tuesday at our next prenatal visit. Our Doctor has reason to believe that Baby may not turn, and if Baby is still in the head-up position on Tuesday we will be sent for an ultra-sound and then scheduled for a c-section at the end of May. But we're very confident that Baby will flip, and may even already be down since our last doctors appointment.
The End. :)
2008-04-25 (34 weeks)
The Color Yorkshire Pudding
I know it's been some time since I posted anything, or at least it FEELS like it's been a while. Up until yesterday, Chad and I had been looking after our nephew, and I was just starting to get used to cooking for three. (Or four, if you count my belly, which I do.) Last weekend, my parents and brother came up to put in the hardwood for the baby's floor and I must say IT LOOKS AMAZING. There are really no words to describe how GREAT it looks and how WONDERFUL of a job that my Dad and husband did putting down the floor, except to use lots of gestures while I type this and of course, caplocks.
My parents put a lot of time and hard work into helping us organize the room, build the crib, and start the decorating process; so Chad and I are still in a state of wonderment and thankfulness for all of their effort. Of course they keep reminding us that 'hello, it's for our grandchild, not you two, don't get too excited,' and so I promise that I won't, not one bit, although I might have to tell their grandchild the story about how I thought the nail gun had gone off when my Dad was holding it in the direction of my very round and pregnant belly, and I also won't explain what that did to my nerves or my vocal chords.
My Aunt and Uncle recently purchased us our dresser/change table, which matches our beautiful crib, and I love it to peices. Last night however, while we were picking it up from the store, I happened to notice another pregnant woman who looked to be about five to sixth months along. It took a few seconds before I realized that she was smoking, standing in the cold wind and breathing in those disgusting toxins. It was all I could do to picture her baby in her womb, gasping for breath and struggling to breathe which each puff she took from her cigarette, and I wanted to climb out of the car and beat her over her head with my shoe. It was such a selfish act, such a disgusting habit to have while she was breathing for someone who has no choice in the matter, that I couldn't get the image out of my mind.
So instead, I focused on my husband, my parents, my aunt and uncle and all the family members and friends that have so much love for our little bean and can't wait for the moment that they can finally say 'hello'. I thought about yellow paint, and beautiful baby furniture, and soft blankets knitted with care, and how much effort we've *all* put into taking care of this little one over the past few months.
