We had another ob appointment scheduled for Friday, June 13th, with Dr. Heath again.  Guess what!!!! I only gained 1 pound since the last time I was there - 2 weeks ago.  I was so excited.  Everything looked and sounded good - blood pressure, WEIGHT, Peanut's heartbeat, my belly size, did I mention WEIGHT, and the results from my glucose screening.  Found out that my anemia level is at a higher level than most pregnant women.  It was actually close to the level of a man.  I didn't know how to take that.  Insulting or a hint as to what sex Peanut is?  Hmm, I know your inquiring minds want to know.

The 10th of June was our 2nd and last Lamaze class.  Again it was just us and the other couple in this class.  In our haste to make sure we had brought the exercise ball and the notebook, we forgot to bring our 2 pillows and a blanket.  Thank goodness we were at a doctor's office and Carolyn (the instructor) kept a spare.  She loaned those items to us and started class.  She wanted to know if we (the mommies) wanted all pain medicines available, wanted some pain meds, or wanted nothing and if the daddies were knowledgeable of our decision.  I went 1st and explained that I didn't want any pain meds because I don't do well with many drugs and didn't want to have an allergic reaction to anything while in labor.  I told her about some of the complications I faced after my liver lobectomy to help her understand why my choice is no drugs.  Bran indicated that he knew that I didn't want any drugs and reassured Carolyn that he would be supportive of my decision. Also, after seeing pictures of the epidural, I dropped that all the way to the bottom of my list.  There is no way I want someone to thread a catheter along my spine, especially when my spine isn't straight.  Talking about some complications...whoa, I don't even want to see where that would take me.

Anyway, after some discussion about what to expect during labor and when to head to the hospital, we talked about induction.  Carolyn told us that being induced is painful and if we wanted to have a natural induction of labor then we should have a lot of sex and do nipple stimulation.  I fell out laughing at the nipple stimulation suggestion, cause if you have been pregnant before, you know how sensitive those nipples are.  She continued with her explanation and warned us that we should not result to nipple stimulation until we got to the hospital because of how fast it speeds up labor.  For some reason, stimulating the nipples increases the levels of oxytocin, a hormone.  When you get a chance, look up the specifics of oxytocin.  Finishing up the discussion session, we spent the remaining hour or so of class practicing different labor positions with our breathing techniques.  Carolyn wanted us to find one that worked for us.  While we were in these different positions, the daddies had to find ways to keep us relaxed.  Bran massaged my back or rubbed my arms and legs and allowed me to hear him breathing so I could remain focused on my breathing.  We had to create the perfect relaxing scene in our labor room.  For me, I have the lights dimmed slightly with soft music playing, either some soft jazz or one of those CDs they play when you are getting a massage, and Bran and my mom are in the room.  Each time we changed positions, we had to try to relax a little more.  We had to send ourselves to a relaxing paradise.  For that, I am sitting on the beach in Hawaii thinking about snorkeling and taking in some sun...all while listening to the waves and wind around me...no one is talking and there is nothing noisy about my position on the beach.

Class was great and I hope it has prepared us for what is yet to come.  We are supposed to practice every night so we won't be lost the day those contractions hit me.  Before I forget, anyone talking to me about Peanut's delivery, do not say LABOR PAINS.  Please say LABOR CONTRACTIONS.  This is a suggestion from Carolyn.

Today after 6 pm service, I was approached by one Chara Williams, a 4 year old.  She was just staring at my belly.  Then she asked me “What’s this big thing?”  I started laughing, and she told me that she knew it was a baby in there.  After hopping around for a while with excitement, she finally settled down and came back staring at my belly again.  Bran mentioned her having X-ray vision since her eyes were peering right on my stomach.  I asked her what she saw.  She told me that she saw the BABY’S NOSE.  It was actually my navel sticking out.  I was laughing so hard and am still laughing while I am entering this journal entry.

This visit (May 29th) was with Dr. Heath again.  I was expecting him to come in joking.  The good news about this appointment is that I only gained 1 pound since the last time I was there, 2 weeks ago.  I am so excited about that.  I had been walking about 40 minutes each day when I could and trying to watch what I was eating.  My major concern for this visit was to make sure that Peanut wasn’t tangled in the umbilical cord.  The weekend that Billy was visiting, Peanut was in a very active mood.  I declare there were flips and other acrobatics going on inside my belly, so I told Peanut on several occasions to stop before the cord got around his/her neck or arm and cut off the circulation.  Peanut wasn’t listening to me.  It was also during this time that I was able to determine that Peanut was waking me every 3 -4 hours to pee.  I guess this is preparing me for waking up to feed during the middle of the night.  Anyway, back to my appointment.  Dr. Heath says that he won’t do another ultrasound to check the umbilical cord because Peanut might turn another flip an hour later and untangle him/herself, so I shouldn’t be concerned about it.  I found out that Peanut’s head is actually pointed down and the butt is on my right side.  I guess that’s what I rub on the most because I actually feel it sticking out.  All in all, things went well with this appointment, and I’ll see another doctor in 2 weeks. 

On a side note, I think we start Lamaze classes on Tuesday, June 3.  I will keep you posted.