blog

2 Days until D-Day

Tue, 13 Sep 2011 18:40:36 +0100

My due date is this Thursday. Yay! This is exciting, BUT I never held that date up as the pinnacle of 'baby time' or anything. All of this "due date" stuff is just supposition and guesses and estimates. It could very well be another two weeks before this little one decides it's time. What is really exciting is knowing that we don't have too much longer left. I've mentioned before that average gestation for first babies is 41 weeks and 1 day, so, really, until Septemeber 24th rolls around, I shouldn't allow myself to feel impatient.

What is funny, however, is that as we are now so close to finally meeting this little one, people start to think I'm in labor if I'm running late or take more than half a day to respond to an email for phone call, so I have to watch my lag time. ;) And Dan has to start every phone conversation with, "No, we're not in labor yet". haha

Looking forward to....

Sun, 11 Sep 2011 20:26:25 +0100

Here's a list of things I'm looking forward to after this baby is born:

1. Meeting our precious child and getting to hold and kiss it and seeing Dan hold it (okay, duh, that all goes without saying)
2. Normal sized feet and ankles
3. Being able to put on socks/pants/shoes, etc without help
4. Jogging!!
5. Sleeping on my stomach and back again
6. Not groaning like an old lady every time I sit/stand, roll over, etc.

When are you due???

Mon, 22 Aug 2011 18:49:26 +0100

So this is my new favorite question from strangers, acquaintances, etc. There's this moment when they look at my face and smile, then their eyes drift to my belly and slightly widen as their smile slackens and they say something to the fact of, "Oh, wow, when are you due?" or "Wow, you must be due soon, huh??" Good thing I'm not sensitive about my size! Haha! I find it funny every time it happens, because everyone has basically the exact same reaction. And I am so thankful and happy to have the bump that I could never be offended.

I also like referring to this time as the, "Ma'm, can I help you?" stage. Managers and employees swoop in from no where like ninja assassins to help me lift things or find things. I guess I must look pretty helpless. It's really sweet. And, as someone who was always very reluctant to accept help for most anything, ("Don't touch it; I can do it myself" - was one of my most frequent phrases as a child), I now just allow myself to be helped, because, as I've grown to accept more and more with this pregnancy, there are some things I have a really tough time doing (If my shoes have a buckle, expect me to be at least 15 minutes late to wherever I'm going). But it is still such a foreign feeling to just stand there while other people move things or carry things for me. I would feel badly if the people didn't look so gosh darn happy about helping me out.

Living with this body, I sometimes forget that to everyone else, I look like I'm smuggling a basketball under my shirt. Sometimes even I, upon catching my reflection in a mirror will think, "Oh, wow, when are you due?" ;)

Let the Countdown Begin!

Thu, 18 Aug 2011 18:18:25 +0100

Baby is now 36 weeks. According to "science", (i.e. various baby websites), the baby is now approximately 17-18 inches long and weighs about 6 pounds. As Dan said, "That's a full baby". Indeed. This little one could come at any time now. I remind myself that the longer he or she stays put and gets closer to 39/40 weeks, the healthier they'll be. I'm so anxious to meet him or her that I have to keep reminding myself that holding out for at least another 3 weeks is very important. We're so close, though!

Oh, and did you know that pregnant women aren't suppose to lean back for the last six weeks of their pregnancy? I just found out yesterday that this can cause the baby to turn 'sunnyside up'. Expectant moms are suppose to sit forward with upright posture so that the baby's back "falls" to the front and the baby faces backwards in the position that is easiest for the baby's body to navigate the birth canal. Learn something new everyday.

Nesting?

Tue, 16 Aug 2011 19:51:02 +0100

Is it nesting? Judge for yourself. These are the things that get me really excited these days:
-purging 15 items from every room
-rearranging our office/guest room
-painting the back and front doors
-adding a knocker to our front door
-replacing out front door lock and handle
-building a bookshelf/storage unit for the baby's room (out of reclaimed wood, of course)
-making homemade, non-toxic cleaning supplies
-cleaning out the garage and planning it's eventual conversion to a den

Regardless of where it's coming from, I am very thankful for the additional energy. Where as previous weeks found me exhausted after only a couple hours of errands or cleaning, I am now back to packing as much into every day as possible.

Dan has been sweetly accommodating my nesting needs. He even helped me when I decided late Saturday night that the nursery was not organized and needed attention pronto. I fully expected him to go off and do his own thing while I sorted items, but he was right there working along side me and never once even hinted about how odd it was that I just HAD to drop everything that second and organize the room at 10pm. He does complain that I keep handing him more projects before he is able to finish the ones I've already put on his list. ;) But he's a handy-man at heart and enjoys the projects (for the most part). And whether he'll admit it or not, I think the nesting bug has bit him, too.

Learning Curve

Tue, 09 Aug 2011 18:57:53 +0100

We continue to prep for baby's arrival. We have moments when we feel really prepared and moments when we feel horribly ill-equipped for the task of parenthood. Case in point: this weekend, we picked up some Yes To Carrots baby shampoo and wash as we saw it on sale. (For so long we've just been browsing at this stuff and now we have to actually start buying it; it's weird!) Anyway, in the car afterwards, Dan says to me, "So, how often are you suppose to bathe a baby?" And I responded blankly with, "I have no idea." - And we realized once again that we have NO IDEA what we're doing. haha!

We still have some research we need to do regarding several issues: group B strep, vitamin K shots, circumcision (if it happens to be a boy), vaccines (just picked up The Vaccine Book by Dr. Robert Sears from the library) and newborn eye drops. Our doula gave us some great advice regarding all of the choices parent's have to make for their children. She said, "Don't default." By that, she meant, don't just do something because it's what everyone does or it's what your family/friend/etc did or does. She said to get informed and make your decisions based on the information you gather as it's important to make informed decisions. I think this is very wise. It's easy to just assume a path because it's familiar. I'm not saying familiar or the majority is right or wrong, but I think it's important to know WHY you make the decisions that you do. So, anyway, research, research, research.... It's a lot of work, and it would be easier to just ask people to tell us what to do. And while we may still seek other's opinions and advice, I think making it a priority to take the time and effort to examine studies, read articles, etc regarding the pros/cons is a good precedent to set for all future decisions we have to make regarding our child.

"The Jerk Store Called..." / Blessing for the rude lady

Fri, 29 Jul 2011 19:21:55 +0100

Let me cover the blessings part first:

We went in for another ultrasound this morning to check the partial placenta previa that came up on our last ultrasound at 20 weeks. By the way, I have since learned that a diagnosis of partial or complete placenta previa at around 20 weeks is really not all that uncommon and in 95% of cases, will correct itself. Therefore I've decided that for the next baby, we're not going to bother with a 20 week ultrasound; we'll just go in at 32 or so weeks and make sure all is well. But I digress... Anyway, I am very happy and blessed to say that the partial placenta previa has corrected itself. Whew!! Praise God!! Weight off my shoulders. Had it not corrected, all plans for a homebirth would have been 86-ed and we would have been looking at a c-section.

Additionally, the baby, though they were not really focusing on it, appears to still be in perfect health. However, instead of hanging out in the traditional fetal position with knees bent and legs curled, our little one is head down with it's legs stretched straight out and it's feet by it's head. Does that make sense? It's basically folded in half in a pike position with it's butt in the air and it's head and feet pointing down preparing to "dive" into the world. Odd, yes. But we're just happy it's healthy.

Okay, now for the jerk part:
Our appointment was at 7:30am, the first appointment time of the day as Dan and I were both trying to make it to work on time afterwards. We were told to arrive at 7:15am, and we did so. There was a form to fill out and photocopies of license and insurance (even though they did this the last time), and this was all completed before 7:30am. 7:30am came and went. We waited for 20 minutes before they FINALLY called us back. I was so angry!! No apology, no explanation. They completely disrespected my time and the time of the other lady who had a 7:30am appointment and was there with her 3 year old son trying to keep him occupied and entertained while she, too, waited. What were we waiting on?!? They couldn't have been running behind from other appointments as we were the first of the day. And the office only does ultrasounds. It's not like you're seeing a doctor or surgeon who may be called away unexpectedly to handle some emergency case. I was FUMING at their lack of consideration and respect for their patients. Not to mention that they charged over $1000 for the last ultrasound. Ahhh!

And I didn't think I should have to just sit there and take it, so I let them know that I was very irritated with having had to wait 20 minutes and made a bit of a scene about it. The ultrasound technician received the bulk of my anger, which wasn't right, as it wasn't her fault (or at least that's what she implied). Dan informed me that I was being a jerk, and to not take it all out on this poor lady. When she came back into our exam room, I did apologize to her for my attitude and told her I was just angry that I had been waiting for 20 minutes with no explanation. Afterwards, I still felt really badly as I know I could have handled the situation better. I'm not sure how exactly, as I still feel that not saying anything was not right as it would have been allowing myself to be treated unfairly and because I really feel that the people in that office need to know that not sticking to people's appointments is not okay. There's a reason why people schedule appointments! But, I know there was a better, maybe more diplomatic way I could have addressed everyone, voicing my complaints and airing my grievances while still being respectful and mature. I've even considered sending the Tech some flowers, but Dan told me to let it go.

My only consolation is in telling myself that I will try and do better the next time.

"I KNOW what it is."

Tue, 26 Jul 2011 18:53:44 +0100

So, honestly, not finding out the gender of our baby has been SO MUCH FUN!! I highly recommend it. Dan and I have the best time going back and forth on what we think it is (though Dan has never really been able to guess either way). I was talking to my Mom the other day (who is convinced it's a girl), and she refers to the baby as "she". Before you know it, she had me calling it "she", too. I went home and was talking to Dan and called the baby "she", and he did a mock gasp, and we both laughed. Then a couple days later, we were walking the dogs around Greenlake and I said something in the way of "...our son.." We both laughed. The gender bounces back and forth in my head.

And the BEST is strangers who are SO SURE that they know what it is. Just this last weekend we were at our neighbors' for a potluck and people we've never met were guessing and having me do silly tricks like hold Dan's ring over my belly on a string to determine what it is. One woman was like, "I know what it is. Do you want me to tell you? But I KNOW, so make sure you want to know." I was like, "Sure, Miss Cleo, tell us what it is." I just love it when people are so certain about it. Even a guy that came by my work to shred boxes was like "I'm really good at guessing; do you want me to tell you what it is?" I always say "Sure". haha. Afterall, they do have a 50/50 chance. ;)

SuperDoula!

Fri, 08 Jul 2011 21:38:30 +0100

We've chosen our doula! Her name is Linzi, and she has an accent. I assure you, that is not the reason we chose her, though it didn't hurt. It sounds British; I'll have to find out later exactly where she's from.

She has three children, two hospital births and the youngest a home birth with a midwife. It was not until she had the home birth that she was able to recognize how harmful her in-hospital births had been. She became a doula because she believes every woman should feel how empowering childbirth can be when they are allowed to birth naturally with themself and not doctors behind the wheel of a process that their body was meant to perform. What I LOVED was when she said, "I know it sounds dumb, but I feel that if more women were able to birth this way, it could change the world!" I loved this because it's how I get whenever I am passionate about something. I've probably said just about that same phrase. I know I've at least felt it before - many times in fact. It was so honest and heartfelt, and it caused me to feel a strong kinship with her.

Additionally, she is a CPT (certified personal trainer) and specialized in prenatal fitness. She looks at preparing for labor "just at you would a marathon or triathlon". Holy cow! I have said those exact words many, many times. She believes both the body and mind have to be trained for the act. Again! I'm right there with her.

People have told me that it's important that you 'click' with your doula, and boy, I felt like I was meeting myself! I even found myself thinking, 'maybe I should become a doula'. Anything's possible. Dan just shakes his head and says, "Let's just get through this birth first". ;)

Long story short, Dan and I both really liked her. Pickle and PongoMan were also fans and loved on her the whole time she was at our house. She's also worked with the Witches before, and they really liked her, so I'm happy to know our 'birthing team' already has an established relationship.

It's getting closer!! And I can't wait!

Nature & Science - and no, these aren't the names we're considering for the baby...

Thu, 30 Jun 2011 21:45:05 +0100

Today we met with a pediatrician who was referred to us by the Witches. Two things I liked right off the bat about the clinic from looking at the website was that the location of the office is super close to our house and that the lead pediatrician is both a licensed doctor with 20 years in practice as well as a certified homeopath. During our meet and greet with her this morning, we learned that she has done research studies into infectious diseases, volunteers her time and services to provide medical care to other countries, and, while she is pro-vaccinations, still respects and honors the wishes of parent's who choose not to immunize or to only immunize selectively. For the record, we do plan to immunize, and I was happy to hear her confidence and support for that viewpoint, but I also thinks it's great that she lets the parents decide. I think the best doctors are those who present the facts and statistics and then allow the patient to make their own decisions.

The office was also super cute. The waiting room looked like an African jungle with various safari animals and trees and vines painted on the walls, and the examination room we went in was painted to look like it was underwater with bubbles everywhere and goldfish on the walls. I also really like her approach to treatment of ailments. It feels right in line with mine. I believe in the power of natural remedies and the body's ability to heal itself, but I also do not negate or disregard the need for modern medical intervention, at times. (Seriously, as a cancer survivor, how could I?) But I think throwing out prescriptions and ordering labs and tests at the drop of a hat is just as irresponsible as treating severe illness solely through meditation. I think you have to find the middle-ground, and this clinic appears to hold this same perspective.

I am so happy to have this item marked off our to-do list. Pediatrician chosen: check! I also got labs draw this morning to test my glucose, vitamin D, and blood levels. Fingers are crossed that I pass with flying colors!

Now we just need to choose our Doula (we are interviewing someone next week), tour the Group Health facility that I would be taken to if I required a hospital transfer during the delivery, and take an Infant CPR class.

I also have a reflexology appointment next week and will have one every month here on out until the baby is born. I am so excited. My body has always responded very well to reflexology, and I really like my reflexologist. It is the most relaxing hour ever, and my September appointment is scheduled for the 17th in the hopes that she can help kick-start labor if need be. ;)