I mentioned Birth Roots many times during pregnancy - this is the Perinatal Resource Center here in Portland which offered the childbirth education, breastfeeding, parenting, and newborn classes in which Dan and I participated. This is the place co-founded by our awesome doula, Leah and her amazing business partner, Emily.
Birth Roots recently re-located, due in part to the closure of Portland's only free-standing birthing center, the Ballard House, which had leased space to perinatal resource groups through the years. Their new location is larger and more functional for the types of classes and services offered. On Sunday, I attended the grand opening of the new location. Here's a clip from the local news:
http://www.wcsh6.com/video/default.aspx?mid=895208689
I strongly encourage any family preparing for birth in the Portland area to see what Birth Roots is all about. I really liked the independent nature of the courses, which allowed for more open discussion on the shared experience. Rather than taking a course hosted by the hospital where we gave birth-which, I'm sure, is a fine course- we were able talk about how I wanted give birth, not just what it would be like at that particular facility. In our Birthing from Within class there was couple who started out planning to birth at Mercy Hospital, decided do home birth instead, and, in the end, finished up delivering at Maine Medical Center. In my Blossoming Newborns class, there babies born at home, at Ballard House, at Maine Med, at Mercy...in tubs, squatting, in beds, by cesaerean birth... A wide variety of experiences, and we were brought together to help each other through the strange, tumultuous, scary, frustrating, joyous, wonderful and humbling experience of being a new mother.
Thank you, Birth Roots, for all you have done for my family and friends! Congratulations on your new space - it's beautiful, open, welcoming, functional, and perfectly YOU!
Showing posts with label pregnancy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label pregnancy. Show all posts
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Saturday, July 28, 2007
Maybe my last post while pregnant...
Well, I'm still not in labor! I haven't even begun what they call "Early Labor," which is the not-too-bad stage of contractions that start the cervix dilating. This is WAY before the "WHY DID YOU DO THIS TO ME?!?!" stage many people describe jokingly to Dan. Although some of them, I suspect, are not actually joking.
I am scheduled to check into Mercy Hospital Monday morning at 7:30 am. They'll start with a mild "intervention" (any time labor is helped along medically, it's called an intervention), namely a prostaglandin insert. I won't go into detail here...I think it's pretty self-explanatory. I will say that the purpose is to start early labor and get my cervix a bit dilated!
The next step will be (if the prostaglandin does its job, and Baby & I are doing well) to strip my membranes. Again, not going into detail; it sort of sicks some of you out to hear these medical procedures explained. One could always Google it, if curious.
Final step to "get things moving" is Pitocin. That's a synthetic version of oxytocin, the labor-inducing hormone the body naturally produces around 40 weeks. Who knows? My body might need a little jump-start, then will take over with no problem. Or, I might need the Pitocin to keep labor progressing. It's like a choose-your-own adventure book, but many of the pages will be turned on my behalf by my body.
(Okay, that was a bit hokey.)
So, I had really thought that I would have gone into labor last week, or that I would be induced last week. Changing gears has been a bit emotional!
Because I didn't understand the "schedule" correctly, Dan and I engaged a wonderful Doula, Kate, who was only available until July 27th. We were thinking, "Oh, that's fine, they're inducing me the week of the 23rd, it will work out perfectly!" So, here we are on the 28th, and our Doula is off on a family vacation, available by phone, but...well, I'm not exactly going to rub my cell phone on my sacrum to ease the pain of contractions, now, am I?
Being the sweet, genuine, accomodating person she is (truly - she has been the perfect person to help Dan & me prepare for birth, and we are so sad she won't be there with us), Kate worked her butt off to find us a substitue doula to attend our birth. She presented us with two options - a doula in training (translation - still being certified, but will not require any payment. This can be a great option if it's the right person), or Leah.
Leah? Really? Leah's available?!
Leah was the instructor of our childbirth preparation class, Birthing from Within. Not only do we already know her, and she knows us, but she is THE doula here in Portland. She runs the non-profit childbirth education and resource center. She trains new doulas--in fact, she trained Kate, and recommended her to us based on our personalities and budget. She is making a documentary on childbirth. Her mom wrote the book on Connection Parenting - literally, look it up, Pam Leo's "Connection Parenting." She attended our good, good friends' birth just last week. In short, she's fabulous, knowledgable, experienced, and would have been our first choice in the first place, if her fees were in our little budget. Since she's filling in, and we have a prior engagement with Kate, we would be paying only the balance we owe Kate to engage Leah.
Who doesn't believe in fate, blessings, luck?!?
(We did meet with the doula-in-training, because, of course, free is better than on sale, SOMETIMES. Not so much in this case. The second she stepped into our house, Dan and I knew she was the wrong person for us. I'm sure she'll be a great doula for other women, and I'll just leave it at that.)
So, we have Leah engaged to attend our birth. While we will miss Kate, we are thrilled that our first choice has become available. Seriously - there's a greater hand at work here. Not that I claim to understand that, or have figured out what my belief is about it, but, really? A blessing. This is probably how it was meant to be.
The other stress that has come up this week is a call from my Short-term Disability insurer, just to let me know that since I signed onto the policy after receiving care for my pregnancy, I am not eligible to receive any of my benefits. My claim is being denied. My maternity leave will not be paid, even partially. I will have no income for the next six weeks. Stress anyone?!
I had a conversation with our account manager at the insurance company several months before signing onto the policy, specifically asking if I could enroll while pregnant and still receive the benefits. She said yes. I'm hoping the conversation was recorded, although, since it's in MY favor, not theirs, I somehow suspect it wasn't! I have hope that I will win this little battle. Still, it's a stressful battle at a time when I should not be worried about such things.
So, Mama is a bit stressed out. I'm trying to stay calm, stare at candles, listen to relaxing music, be massaged as frequently as possible, and not worry so much.
Some reasons why Baby should be born on Monday:
#1 It's my due date. They say that a woman's cycle has something to do with when she delivers in relation to her due date, and I am the most punctual woman in this area, EVER.
#2 It's full moon. Some of you may not believe this, but maternity wards are actually flooded with women in labor on full moon.
#3 Two of my family members that I want to be in the wings (in the waiting room in case I want them) are able to be in town that day.
#4 My doctors say so. And, thank God I live in a time when we have access to these "interventions" (yes, the ones that I don't actually want), so that Baby and I can both be healthy and safe and alive. And that is the most important thing to remember here. Whether or not I WANT pitocin, it's a good thing it exists, so that in the end? In the end we get a baby.
A baby. *sigh*
Next post will be picture, date, weight, length...all sorts of stuff about Baby, and not Me.
-Lindsay
P.S. Who knows about Blogger? I need help archiving/saving/printing this blog for a keepsake.
I am scheduled to check into Mercy Hospital Monday morning at 7:30 am. They'll start with a mild "intervention" (any time labor is helped along medically, it's called an intervention), namely a prostaglandin insert. I won't go into detail here...I think it's pretty self-explanatory. I will say that the purpose is to start early labor and get my cervix a bit dilated!
The next step will be (if the prostaglandin does its job, and Baby & I are doing well) to strip my membranes. Again, not going into detail; it sort of sicks some of you out to hear these medical procedures explained. One could always Google it, if curious.
Final step to "get things moving" is Pitocin. That's a synthetic version of oxytocin, the labor-inducing hormone the body naturally produces around 40 weeks. Who knows? My body might need a little jump-start, then will take over with no problem. Or, I might need the Pitocin to keep labor progressing. It's like a choose-your-own adventure book, but many of the pages will be turned on my behalf by my body.
(Okay, that was a bit hokey.)
So, I had really thought that I would have gone into labor last week, or that I would be induced last week. Changing gears has been a bit emotional!
Because I didn't understand the "schedule" correctly, Dan and I engaged a wonderful Doula, Kate, who was only available until July 27th. We were thinking, "Oh, that's fine, they're inducing me the week of the 23rd, it will work out perfectly!" So, here we are on the 28th, and our Doula is off on a family vacation, available by phone, but...well, I'm not exactly going to rub my cell phone on my sacrum to ease the pain of contractions, now, am I?
Being the sweet, genuine, accomodating person she is (truly - she has been the perfect person to help Dan & me prepare for birth, and we are so sad she won't be there with us), Kate worked her butt off to find us a substitue doula to attend our birth. She presented us with two options - a doula in training (translation - still being certified, but will not require any payment. This can be a great option if it's the right person), or Leah.
Leah? Really? Leah's available?!
Leah was the instructor of our childbirth preparation class, Birthing from Within. Not only do we already know her, and she knows us, but she is THE doula here in Portland. She runs the non-profit childbirth education and resource center. She trains new doulas--in fact, she trained Kate, and recommended her to us based on our personalities and budget. She is making a documentary on childbirth. Her mom wrote the book on Connection Parenting - literally, look it up, Pam Leo's "Connection Parenting." She attended our good, good friends' birth just last week. In short, she's fabulous, knowledgable, experienced, and would have been our first choice in the first place, if her fees were in our little budget. Since she's filling in, and we have a prior engagement with Kate, we would be paying only the balance we owe Kate to engage Leah.
Who doesn't believe in fate, blessings, luck?!?
(We did meet with the doula-in-training, because, of course, free is better than on sale, SOMETIMES. Not so much in this case. The second she stepped into our house, Dan and I knew she was the wrong person for us. I'm sure she'll be a great doula for other women, and I'll just leave it at that.)
So, we have Leah engaged to attend our birth. While we will miss Kate, we are thrilled that our first choice has become available. Seriously - there's a greater hand at work here. Not that I claim to understand that, or have figured out what my belief is about it, but, really? A blessing. This is probably how it was meant to be.
The other stress that has come up this week is a call from my Short-term Disability insurer, just to let me know that since I signed onto the policy after receiving care for my pregnancy, I am not eligible to receive any of my benefits. My claim is being denied. My maternity leave will not be paid, even partially. I will have no income for the next six weeks. Stress anyone?!
I had a conversation with our account manager at the insurance company several months before signing onto the policy, specifically asking if I could enroll while pregnant and still receive the benefits. She said yes. I'm hoping the conversation was recorded, although, since it's in MY favor, not theirs, I somehow suspect it wasn't! I have hope that I will win this little battle. Still, it's a stressful battle at a time when I should not be worried about such things.
So, Mama is a bit stressed out. I'm trying to stay calm, stare at candles, listen to relaxing music, be massaged as frequently as possible, and not worry so much.
Some reasons why Baby should be born on Monday:
#1 It's my due date. They say that a woman's cycle has something to do with when she delivers in relation to her due date, and I am the most punctual woman in this area, EVER.
#2 It's full moon. Some of you may not believe this, but maternity wards are actually flooded with women in labor on full moon.
#3 Two of my family members that I want to be in the wings (in the waiting room in case I want them) are able to be in town that day.
#4 My doctors say so. And, thank God I live in a time when we have access to these "interventions" (yes, the ones that I don't actually want), so that Baby and I can both be healthy and safe and alive. And that is the most important thing to remember here. Whether or not I WANT pitocin, it's a good thing it exists, so that in the end? In the end we get a baby.
A baby. *sigh*
Next post will be picture, date, weight, length...all sorts of stuff about Baby, and not Me.
-Lindsay
P.S. Who knows about Blogger? I need help archiving/saving/printing this blog for a keepsake.
Tuesday, July 24, 2007
39 Week update
I'm through with work, and there's not much to do at home, so I'm in a hurry-up and wait mode. Here's the update email:
Your baby's waiting to greet the world! She continues to build a layer of fat to help control her body temperature after birth, but it's likely she already measures about 20 inches and weighs a bit over 7 pounds. The outer layers of her skin are sloughing off as new skin forms underneath.
Your baby's waiting to greet the world! She continues to build a layer of fat to help control her body temperature after birth, but it's likely she already measures about 20 inches and weighs a bit over 7 pounds. The outer layers of her skin are sloughing off as new skin forms underneath.
Monday, July 23, 2007
Any day now...
No news yet! Please feel free to call to check in. If/when I get sick of answering questions, I'll change the message on the answering machine!
I'm still feeling really good - loads of energy! Hopefully things will start moving in the next day or two...
I'm still feeling really good - loads of energy! Hopefully things will start moving in the next day or two...
Thursday, July 19, 2007
38 Weeks update!
No real changes to report...baby hasn't dropped yet, no dilation. I'm feeling ready, though. Tomorrow's my last day of work, thank goodness! My next checkup is this coming Wednesday the 25th, so hopefully I'll have made some progress by then!
I had an ultrasound on Monday, and they estimated her weight at 7 1/2 pounds, give or take a pound. (Give or take A POUND?!? That's a pretty big difference.) I figure she'll be about 8 1/2 pounds at the most, but I'm still betting on 7 pounds, 13 ounces. Any other guesses?
Here is the update from BabyCenter:
Your baby has really plumped up. She weighs between 6 and 7 1/2 pounds (boys tend to be slightly heavier than girls), and she's nearly 20 inches long. She has a firm grasp, which you'll soon be able to test when you hold her hand for the first time! Her organs have matured and are ready for life outside the womb. Wondering what color your baby's eyes will be? If she's born with brown eyes, they'll likely stay brown. If she's born with steel gray or dark blue eyes, they may stay gray or blue or turn green, hazel, or brown by the time she's 9 months old.
I had an ultrasound on Monday, and they estimated her weight at 7 1/2 pounds, give or take a pound. (Give or take A POUND?!? That's a pretty big difference.) I figure she'll be about 8 1/2 pounds at the most, but I'm still betting on 7 pounds, 13 ounces. Any other guesses?
Here is the update from BabyCenter:
Your baby has really plumped up. She weighs between 6 and 7 1/2 pounds (boys tend to be slightly heavier than girls), and she's nearly 20 inches long. She has a firm grasp, which you'll soon be able to test when you hold her hand for the first time! Her organs have matured and are ready for life outside the womb. Wondering what color your baby's eyes will be? If she's born with brown eyes, they'll likely stay brown. If she's born with steel gray or dark blue eyes, they may stay gray or blue or turn green, hazel, or brown by the time she's 9 months old.
Tuesday, July 10, 2007
Here's what BabyCenter.com has to say this week:
Congratulations! Your baby is full-term! This means that if your baby arrives now, her lungs should be fully mature and ready to adjust to life outside the womb, even though your due date is still three weeks away. She weighs a little over 6 pounds and measures between 19 and 20 inches. Many babies have a full head of hair at birth, with locks from 1/2 inch to 1 1/2 inches long.
Congratulations! Your baby is full-term! This means that if your baby arrives now, her lungs should be fully mature and ready to adjust to life outside the womb, even though your due date is still three weeks away. She weighs a little over 6 pounds and measures between 19 and 20 inches. Many babies have a full head of hair at birth, with locks from 1/2 inch to 1 1/2 inches long.
Monday, July 9, 2007
Positive? Really?!?
I received the results from the Group B Strep test, and much to my surprise, it was positive!
Here's a little bit about the ick:
Group B streptococcus (group B strep) is a type of bacteria that causes illness in newborn babies, pregnant women, the elderly, and adults with other illnesses, such as diabetes or liver disease. Group B strep is the most common cause of life-threatening infections in newborns.
Group B strep is the most common cause of sepsis (blood infection) and meningitis (infection of the fluid and lining around the brain) in newborns. Group B strep is a frequent cause of newborn pneumonia and is more common than other, more well-known, newborn problems such as rubella, congenital syphilis, and spina bifida. In the year 2001, there were about 1,700 babies in the U.S. less than one week old who got early-onset group B strep disease.
So, I'll have to take some antibiotics when my water breaks, or when labor begins, so I don't pass the bacteria on to Baby. If you're dying of curiosity, if you have questions - frequently asked questions - you can go to the CDC site at: http://www.cdc.gov/groupBstrep/general/gen_public_faq.htm
It's no big deal - about 25% of women carry the bacteria, but that doesn't mean that they have the "disease."
So, yeah.
Ick.
Here's a little bit about the ick:
Group B streptococcus (group B strep) is a type of bacteria that causes illness in newborn babies, pregnant women, the elderly, and adults with other illnesses, such as diabetes or liver disease. Group B strep is the most common cause of life-threatening infections in newborns.
Group B strep is the most common cause of sepsis (blood infection) and meningitis (infection of the fluid and lining around the brain) in newborns. Group B strep is a frequent cause of newborn pneumonia and is more common than other, more well-known, newborn problems such as rubella, congenital syphilis, and spina bifida. In the year 2001, there were about 1,700 babies in the U.S. less than one week old who got early-onset group B strep disease.
So, I'll have to take some antibiotics when my water breaks, or when labor begins, so I don't pass the bacteria on to Baby. If you're dying of curiosity, if you have questions - frequently asked questions - you can go to the CDC site at: http://www.cdc.gov/groupBstrep/general/gen_public_faq.htm
It's no big deal - about 25% of women carry the bacteria, but that doesn't mean that they have the "disease."
So, yeah.
Ick.
Tuesday, July 3, 2007
36 Weeks - Less than a month to go!
I started seeing my acupuncturist last week, to get "things" moving. I saw her again today, and next week we'll intensify the treatment. She does some points along my sacrum, mostly, and stimulates the needles just by twirling them. "Intensifying the treatment" means adding the electricity...ZAP! I'll have some buzz-buzzing feelings where the needles are inserted, but it won't hurt (me or the baby).
I have a 36-week check-up on Thursday, and the doctor will do my first cervical exam. This will most likely not be very pleasant, as a woman's cervix is very sensitive. They'll also do a Group B Strep test, to see if I'm a carrier of that bacterial strain. (I'm probably not). If I am, I'll have to take anti-biotics right before labor to make sure I don't pass it on to the little baby.
We had an ultrasound on Monday. Once again, Baby was movin' and shakin' up until they started looking at her! I think she's getting camera shy. They were able to get all of her measurements, listen to the cord and the heart, witness some "practice breathing," and check the placenta with no problem. Before they will let me go, Baby has to show her stuff - she has to demonstrate that she is able to move around (and kick her Mama). She was sound asleep for most of the exam, so I switched positions, we jiggled the belly, Dan talked to Baby...and they had to bust out the noise-maker in the end. This is a little hand-held device that makes a buzzing noise like an alarm clock. The technician holds it up against the belly to wake up Baby. Within a half-second of doing this yesterday, Baby woke up and tried to leap out of me through my belly button. That was definitely a big enough movement to pass the test!
Her size is normal - about 6 pounds, 10 ounces. She's in the 60th percentile. (The 50th percentile is the weight of most babies.) They say you can give or take a pound off that estimate, at this stage. Dan and I agree that there is NO way Baby is 7 pounds 10 ounces right now - I'm simply not THAT big!
So - how much do YOU think Baby will weigh at birth? I'm putting my official guess out there at 7 pounds, 13 ounces. Go ahead - guess. Put it in the "comments" section below. If you're right, you get the satisfacation of knowing you once guessed the weight of a person before you ever laid eyes on her.
By the way - Baby Walsh IS in the head-down position!
Here is the email update for the week:
Your baby is gaining about an ounce a day. She now weighs almost 6 pounds and is a little under 19 inches long. She's shedding most of the downy hair that covered her body, as well as the vernix caseosa, the waxy substance that protected her skin during her nine-month amniotic bath. Next week, your baby will be considered full-term. Most likely she's in a head-down position, but if she isn't, your practitioner may suggest scheduling an external cephalic version, where she'll try to turn your baby by manipulating her from the outside of your belly.
By the way - Baby Walsh IS in the head-down position!
I have a 36-week check-up on Thursday, and the doctor will do my first cervical exam. This will most likely not be very pleasant, as a woman's cervix is very sensitive. They'll also do a Group B Strep test, to see if I'm a carrier of that bacterial strain. (I'm probably not). If I am, I'll have to take anti-biotics right before labor to make sure I don't pass it on to the little baby.
We had an ultrasound on Monday. Once again, Baby was movin' and shakin' up until they started looking at her! I think she's getting camera shy. They were able to get all of her measurements, listen to the cord and the heart, witness some "practice breathing," and check the placenta with no problem. Before they will let me go, Baby has to show her stuff - she has to demonstrate that she is able to move around (and kick her Mama). She was sound asleep for most of the exam, so I switched positions, we jiggled the belly, Dan talked to Baby...and they had to bust out the noise-maker in the end. This is a little hand-held device that makes a buzzing noise like an alarm clock. The technician holds it up against the belly to wake up Baby. Within a half-second of doing this yesterday, Baby woke up and tried to leap out of me through my belly button. That was definitely a big enough movement to pass the test!
Her size is normal - about 6 pounds, 10 ounces. She's in the 60th percentile. (The 50th percentile is the weight of most babies.) They say you can give or take a pound off that estimate, at this stage. Dan and I agree that there is NO way Baby is 7 pounds 10 ounces right now - I'm simply not THAT big!
So - how much do YOU think Baby will weigh at birth? I'm putting my official guess out there at 7 pounds, 13 ounces. Go ahead - guess. Put it in the "comments" section below. If you're right, you get the satisfacation of knowing you once guessed the weight of a person before you ever laid eyes on her.
By the way - Baby Walsh IS in the head-down position!
Here is the email update for the week:
Your baby is gaining about an ounce a day. She now weighs almost 6 pounds and is a little under 19 inches long. She's shedding most of the downy hair that covered her body, as well as the vernix caseosa, the waxy substance that protected her skin during her nine-month amniotic bath. Next week, your baby will be considered full-term. Most likely she's in a head-down position, but if she isn't, your practitioner may suggest scheduling an external cephalic version, where she'll try to turn your baby by manipulating her from the outside of your belly.
By the way - Baby Walsh IS in the head-down position!
Thursday, June 28, 2007
Tuesday, June 26, 2007
Showered by the people I love, with love
I am feeling so pleasantly overwhelmed by the love, kindness, thoughtfulness and generosity that has recently been bestowed upon me by my friends, family, and co-workers. My sister coordinated a Baby Shower for me, and my co-workers surprised me this week with another shower. A little bit about each:
And, my friends from All Over showed up for this event. From Virginia and Vermont, DC, Cape Cod, Rhode Island...truly, from All Over. I realized how many truly wonderful, amazing, funny, smart and caring women I have in my life, and I feel so blessed! I know the baby shower tradition in the US puts a lot of focus on gifts and games, but I really think the most important aspect for me was creating a true feeling of connectedness with other women. That feeling has struck me since the beginning of this pregnancy - that I'm sharing in something women have been "doing" for years, decades, centuries...since the beginning of humanity. And, what a powerful feeling that is. To have the opportunity to bring that down to a personal level, and know how connected I am to the women in my life, in my world, in my experience is something that will (I imagine) help me through the rest of this pregnancy and through labor.
My co-workers lured me to a "company fun day" last week, which turned out to be a surprise Baby Shower. I usually schedule and organize such events, so it's pretty amazing that I didn't suspect anything! We had some delicious food, including bruschetta, black bean quesadillas, chicken with a thai peanut sauce, cajun shrimp, and an amazing cake. This cake was three thin layers of chocolate cake, with raspberry preserves in between, frosted with a buttercream/raspberry puree frosting. It was a beautful, rich, and delicious cake! I donned a pre-pregnancy 2-piece tankini-style suit and stayed cool & weightless in the water.
We all sat outside by the pool in the sun, enjoying strawberry daiquiries (mine was virgin), food, and each other's company. How lucky am I that the entire company is so excited for me and Dan, so anxious to meet our baby, and so supportive?
And, my friends from All Over showed up for this event. From Virginia and Vermont, DC, Cape Cod, Rhode Island...truly, from All Over. I realized how many truly wonderful, amazing, funny, smart and caring women I have in my life, and I feel so blessed! I know the baby shower tradition in the US puts a lot of focus on gifts and games, but I really think the most important aspect for me was creating a true feeling of connectedness with other women. That feeling has struck me since the beginning of this pregnancy - that I'm sharing in something women have been "doing" for years, decades, centuries...since the beginning of humanity. And, what a powerful feeling that is. To have the opportunity to bring that down to a personal level, and know how connected I am to the women in my life, in my world, in my experience is something that will (I imagine) help me through the rest of this pregnancy and through labor.
35 Weeks!
We had another ultrasound yesterday, and all looks well with Baby. She's hiding her face in my pelvis, so it's pretty hard to get a good picture of her these days! We did get a nice shot of her foot, though. I'll try to remember to post that soon, for those of you who love baby feet.
This week was just a bio-wellness scan, to be sure her heart is pumping, the placenta is healthy, etc. No measurements this week!
Here is the update from Babycenter.com:
Your baby doesn't have much room to maneuver now that she's over 18 inches long and tips the scales at 5 pounds plus. Because it's so snug in your womb, she isn't likely to be doing somersaults anymore, but the number of times she kicks should remain about the same. Her kidneys are fully developed now, and her liver can process some waste products. Most of her basic physical development is now complete — she'll spend the next few weeks putting on weight.
This week was just a bio-wellness scan, to be sure her heart is pumping, the placenta is healthy, etc. No measurements this week!
Here is the update from Babycenter.com:
Your baby doesn't have much room to maneuver now that she's over 18 inches long and tips the scales at 5 pounds plus. Because it's so snug in your womb, she isn't likely to be doing somersaults anymore, but the number of times she kicks should remain about the same. Her kidneys are fully developed now, and her liver can process some waste products. Most of her basic physical development is now complete — she'll spend the next few weeks putting on weight.
Wednesday, June 20, 2007
34 Weeks update
We had our weekly ultrasound on Monday. As usual, it was really cool to see the baby moving and having baby body parts and all that.
The technician switched transducers at one point, and suddenly we saw this:
A 3D image of Baby!
Dan said to the technician, "This will all be on our DVD, right?" She didn't really reply, as we all realized that I had not even given her the DVD to place in the recorder. (Amazingly, that was not my biggest DUH! moment of the day.) We quickly corrected the situation, and she spent a few extra minutes with us so we could have a decent amount of "footage."
It looks really, really, really cool on the DVD. Really.
Dan said he felt like we were cheating a little bit.
I felt complete awe. I've gotten used to looking at the ultrasound images and having to make out each 2D Skeletor part. Looking at these images...was like looking at a photo of our daughter. Surreal doesn't begin to describe it.
Baby weighs about 5 pounds, 10 ounces, according to their estimates. Do you know how they estimate that? A grandparent was inquiring the other day. They measure Baby's head, belly, and a leg. They measure the amniotic fluid. They estimate the size of the uterus based on the number of weeks of gestation - remember? I'm 34 weeks, so from pubic bone to the top of my uterus measures 34 centimeters. Then the computer puts it all together and calculates the approximate weight. She's in the 56th percentile this week. I think that means that about 56% of babies are smaller at this stage, and 44% are larger, but my understanding of percentiles began fading quickly after completing my obligatory Stats & Probability courses for my B.S.
In other news...the small amount of time remaining before the birth of our daughter is starting to dawn on us. We're starting to put together a schedule to finish the nursery and everything else on our To Do list. We're trying to go on more dates - last night we walked across the street to the auditorium to see Patty Griffin perform, and she was amazing as always. We hired a doula this week to attend the birth, and tonight we have a "postpartum" class at the birthing center. Lots to do, enough time to do it, but...the count-down has begun!
Here is the update from BabyCenter.com:
How your baby's growing: Your baby now weighs about 4 3/4 pounds and is almost 18 inches long. Her fat layers — which will help regulate her body temperature once she's born — are filling her out, making her rounder. Her skin is also smoother than ever. Her central nervous system is maturing and her lungs are continuing to mature as well. If you've been nervous about preterm labor, you'll be happy to know that babies born between 34 and 37 weeks who have no other health problems generally do fine. They may need a short stay in the neonatal nursery and may have a few short-term health issues, but in the long run, they usually do as well as full-term babies.
The technician switched transducers at one point, and suddenly we saw this:
A 3D image of Baby!
Dan said to the technician, "This will all be on our DVD, right?" She didn't really reply, as we all realized that I had not even given her the DVD to place in the recorder. (Amazingly, that was not my biggest DUH! moment of the day.) We quickly corrected the situation, and she spent a few extra minutes with us so we could have a decent amount of "footage."
It looks really, really, really cool on the DVD. Really.
Dan said he felt like we were cheating a little bit.
I felt complete awe. I've gotten used to looking at the ultrasound images and having to make out each 2D Skeletor part. Looking at these images...was like looking at a photo of our daughter. Surreal doesn't begin to describe it.
Baby weighs about 5 pounds, 10 ounces, according to their estimates. Do you know how they estimate that? A grandparent was inquiring the other day. They measure Baby's head, belly, and a leg. They measure the amniotic fluid. They estimate the size of the uterus based on the number of weeks of gestation - remember? I'm 34 weeks, so from pubic bone to the top of my uterus measures 34 centimeters. Then the computer puts it all together and calculates the approximate weight. She's in the 56th percentile this week. I think that means that about 56% of babies are smaller at this stage, and 44% are larger, but my understanding of percentiles began fading quickly after completing my obligatory Stats & Probability courses for my B.S.
In other news...the small amount of time remaining before the birth of our daughter is starting to dawn on us. We're starting to put together a schedule to finish the nursery and everything else on our To Do list. We're trying to go on more dates - last night we walked across the street to the auditorium to see Patty Griffin perform, and she was amazing as always. We hired a doula this week to attend the birth, and tonight we have a "postpartum" class at the birthing center. Lots to do, enough time to do it, but...the count-down has begun!
Here is the update from BabyCenter.com:
How your baby's growing: Your baby now weighs about 4 3/4 pounds and is almost 18 inches long. Her fat layers — which will help regulate her body temperature once she's born — are filling her out, making her rounder. Her skin is also smoother than ever. Her central nervous system is maturing and her lungs are continuing to mature as well. If you've been nervous about preterm labor, you'll be happy to know that babies born between 34 and 37 weeks who have no other health problems generally do fine. They may need a short stay in the neonatal nursery and may have a few short-term health issues, but in the long run, they usually do as well as full-term babies.
Tuesday, June 12, 2007
33 Weeks...starting to feel big, hot, and not so comfy...
Hi! Weekly ultrasounds began yesterday. Every 2 weeks they will look at growth, and every week will be a non-stress test of sorts, where they check the amount of amniotic fluid, the position of the baby and placenta, the functionality of the umbilical cord, and look to see the heart beat. Baby also has to move a little each week, so they know she's okay. She was sound asleep in there yesterday, so I switched positions and jiggled and poked and talked to her...but to no avail. The technician busted out a little 'noise-maker,' which makes a horrible (but not too loud) alarm-clock buzzing sound. She pressed it up against my abdomen, where Baby's head is, and woke her right up! She kept covering her face with her hand (probably saying, "STOP LOOKING AT ME, ALREADY!!"), so I don't have a beautiful picture to share this week. Maybe next week she'll be feeling more like a starlet and pose for us.
Here's the update:
This week your baby weighs a little over 4 pounds and measures 17.2 inches. Thanks to her recent weight gain, she's losing that wrinkled alien look. Most of your baby's bones are hardening now, but her skull is still quite pliable. It's actually in separate pieces with spaces in between. This flexible structure allows your baby's head to compress so it can fit through your relatively narrow birth canal. The pressure on the head during birth is so intense that many babies are born with a conehead-like appearance. This is totally harmless, normal, and temporary. Her skull plates won't completely fuse until early adulthood.
Here's the update:
This week your baby weighs a little over 4 pounds and measures 17.2 inches. Thanks to her recent weight gain, she's losing that wrinkled alien look. Most of your baby's bones are hardening now, but her skull is still quite pliable. It's actually in separate pieces with spaces in between. This flexible structure allows your baby's head to compress so it can fit through your relatively narrow birth canal. The pressure on the head during birth is so intense that many babies are born with a conehead-like appearance. This is totally harmless, normal, and temporary. Her skull plates won't completely fuse until early adulthood.
Tuesday, June 5, 2007
Head is down!
We had an ultrasound yesterday, and it was very cool as usual. They did not give us any still photos, so I have nothing visual for you today! I'll be sure to get one next week, as the weekly checkups have begun!
Baby weighs about 4 pounds, 1 ounce (which is the 45th percentile). She's still practice breathing, and doing all of the right stuff. Her head is down, which is a good thing...she's planning her exit strategy like a good girl. Of course, that means her most solid part is pressing on my bladder. We saw her yawn and stretch, we saw her little feet (which are, as we suspected, under my ribs) and her little hands. She has ribs and femurs and vertebrae, and she has fuzzy hair on her head. We think she's awfully cute.
Here's the technical update:
By now, your baby probably weighs almost 4 pounds and is almost 17 inches long. Her fingernails have grown in completely. Some babies have a head of hair already, while others have only peach fuzz. Your baby is taking up a lot of space in your uterus, but those tight quarters shouldn't reduce her activity level.
Baby weighs about 4 pounds, 1 ounce (which is the 45th percentile). She's still practice breathing, and doing all of the right stuff. Her head is down, which is a good thing...she's planning her exit strategy like a good girl. Of course, that means her most solid part is pressing on my bladder. We saw her yawn and stretch, we saw her little feet (which are, as we suspected, under my ribs) and her little hands. She has ribs and femurs and vertebrae, and she has fuzzy hair on her head. We think she's awfully cute.
Here's the technical update:
By now, your baby probably weighs almost 4 pounds and is almost 17 inches long. Her fingernails have grown in completely. Some babies have a head of hair already, while others have only peach fuzz. Your baby is taking up a lot of space in your uterus, but those tight quarters shouldn't reduce her activity level.
Thursday, May 31, 2007
Tuesday, May 29, 2007
31 Weeks (2 months left)
We had the Most Delightful Holiday Weekend Ever. You know how all long weekends end with the sentiment "I don't want to go back to work tomorrow," no matter how much you love your job? It usually feels like "I need a vacation from this vacation, I'm so tired, I just can't bear the thought of working tomorrow!" Well, this time, as we fell asleep on Monday night, we both felt the "I don't want to go back" part, but it was more of a "I just want more of this" feeling instead.
We ate a lot of ice cream.
We played with our dog.
We boated and fished.
We played with our family.
Best of all, we lay in the grass on our front lawn, under the maple tree, just taking in the most perfect weather of all time, with Riley at our feet grinning and wagging and resting along with us. It was, to be entirely accurate, delightful.
One of my other favorite activities this weekend was our brunch at Joe's Boathouse in South Portland. (If you've never been, you MUST try them for brunch. Not dinner - dinner's fine, but their brunch is wonderful. If you're a benedict person - definitely ask for a crabmeat benedict, and tell them exactly how you want your egg poached.) My brother and his girlfriend were visiting from Boston, so most of the local family members met there on Sunday morning. I accidentally told one of my brothers the wrong time, so he got there early and got us the best table out on the deck. Not only was the food delicious, the conversation hilarious, and the setting gorgeous, but I was on a "I'm so proud of me" sort of high....
Dan and I rode our bikes there.
That's right. I rode my $5 Goodwill-purchased classic beach cruiser (that means it's old, heavy, and has only one gear) the entire 3.1 miles. I'm going to go ahead and toot my own horn, because I just think it's so cool that I (a non-athletic person) rode the aforementioned bicycle (pretty, but rickety) 6.2 miles round-trip.
Now, I would be proud of this feat normally. I would be bragging about it to people who are more fit than I. I would be grinning ear to ear.
Add to the equation that I'm 7 months pregnant, and my thighs bumped into my belly with every pump on the pedals, that I'm about 25 pounds heavier than usual, that I've got twice as much blood pumping through my body...et cetera, et cetera, et cetera. How proud am I of myself?!? (So proud. My ears hurt from my big grin.)
Mom and George spent the day on Saturday helping me paint the nursery. They did most of the work. (Wow - can my mother ever cut in! Like a pro.) The room is now the perfect lilacy-colored purple, and is almost ready for furniture. The changing table is on order, and we've picked out a crib. I will probably need a chest of drawers, too...we'll see! I'll put pictures up when it's furnished.
Here's the news on baby Vi:
Your baby measures about 16 inches long. She weighs a little over 3 pounds and is headed for another growth spurt. She can turn his head from side to side. Of course, she doesn't yet understand that this movement means "no," but you'll be surprised how quickly she picks up on that and other gestures after she's born. The fat layer she's been accumulating for the last few weeks has caused her arms and legs to fill out nicely.
We have an ultrasound scheduled for June 4th - I'll get those pictures up ASAP.
We ate a lot of ice cream.
We played with our dog.
We boated and fished.
We played with our family.
Best of all, we lay in the grass on our front lawn, under the maple tree, just taking in the most perfect weather of all time, with Riley at our feet grinning and wagging and resting along with us. It was, to be entirely accurate, delightful.
One of my other favorite activities this weekend was our brunch at Joe's Boathouse in South Portland. (If you've never been, you MUST try them for brunch. Not dinner - dinner's fine, but their brunch is wonderful. If you're a benedict person - definitely ask for a crabmeat benedict, and tell them exactly how you want your egg poached.) My brother and his girlfriend were visiting from Boston, so most of the local family members met there on Sunday morning. I accidentally told one of my brothers the wrong time, so he got there early and got us the best table out on the deck. Not only was the food delicious, the conversation hilarious, and the setting gorgeous, but I was on a "I'm so proud of me" sort of high....
Dan and I rode our bikes there.
That's right. I rode my $5 Goodwill-purchased classic beach cruiser (that means it's old, heavy, and has only one gear) the entire 3.1 miles. I'm going to go ahead and toot my own horn, because I just think it's so cool that I (a non-athletic person) rode the aforementioned bicycle (pretty, but rickety) 6.2 miles round-trip.
Now, I would be proud of this feat normally. I would be bragging about it to people who are more fit than I. I would be grinning ear to ear.
Add to the equation that I'm 7 months pregnant, and my thighs bumped into my belly with every pump on the pedals, that I'm about 25 pounds heavier than usual, that I've got twice as much blood pumping through my body...et cetera, et cetera, et cetera. How proud am I of myself?!? (So proud. My ears hurt from my big grin.)
Mom and George spent the day on Saturday helping me paint the nursery. They did most of the work. (Wow - can my mother ever cut in! Like a pro.) The room is now the perfect lilacy-colored purple, and is almost ready for furniture. The changing table is on order, and we've picked out a crib. I will probably need a chest of drawers, too...we'll see! I'll put pictures up when it's furnished.
Here's the news on baby Vi:
Your baby measures about 16 inches long. She weighs a little over 3 pounds and is headed for another growth spurt. She can turn his head from side to side. Of course, she doesn't yet understand that this movement means "no," but you'll be surprised how quickly she picks up on that and other gestures after she's born. The fat layer she's been accumulating for the last few weeks has caused her arms and legs to fill out nicely.
We have an ultrasound scheduled for June 4th - I'll get those pictures up ASAP.
Friday, May 25, 2007
30 week update
Here we are, in the single-digit countdown of weeks remaining...wow! I had a 30-week checkup yesterday, and all is fine! Baby's heart rate was about 155, Mom's blood pressure was normal, and my uterus measures 30 centimeters (I'm still astounded by that coincidence). I gained 4 pounds in the past 4 weeks - still well within the "suggested" weight gain.
Your baby's a bit more than 15 1/2 inches long now, and she weighs almost 3 pounds. A pint and a half of amniotic fluid surrounds her, but that volume will decrease as she gets bigger and fills out your uterus. Your baby is now able to distinguish between light and dark, and she can even follow a light source back and forth. Once she's born, she'll keep her eyes closed for a good part of the day. When she does open them, she'll respond to changes in light but won't be able to see more than a few inches in front of her face. You'll want to hold her close as much as possible so she can get a good look at you.
In other news:
Dan's been riding his bike to work! Not only do I feel better about our carbon footprint :-) but he's really reaping the benefits. He hopped on the scale today and decided it must be broken, because the number was too LOW. How often does that happen to any of us? Good for him.
The nursery is getting the base coat of paint tomorrow! Mom & George will help me turn our pistachio-ice-cream guest room into a magical-lavendar nursery. Then, Mom and I will do some stenciling around the molding for a cute border - butterfiles and dragonflies. Once I have all of the furniture in place I'll post pictures!
Your baby's a bit more than 15 1/2 inches long now, and she weighs almost 3 pounds. A pint and a half of amniotic fluid surrounds her, but that volume will decrease as she gets bigger and fills out your uterus. Your baby is now able to distinguish between light and dark, and she can even follow a light source back and forth. Once she's born, she'll keep her eyes closed for a good part of the day. When she does open them, she'll respond to changes in light but won't be able to see more than a few inches in front of her face. You'll want to hold her close as much as possible so she can get a good look at you.
In other news:
Dan's been riding his bike to work! Not only do I feel better about our carbon footprint :-) but he's really reaping the benefits. He hopped on the scale today and decided it must be broken, because the number was too LOW. How often does that happen to any of us? Good for him.
The nursery is getting the base coat of paint tomorrow! Mom & George will help me turn our pistachio-ice-cream guest room into a magical-lavendar nursery. Then, Mom and I will do some stenciling around the molding for a cute border - butterfiles and dragonflies. Once I have all of the furniture in place I'll post pictures!
Friday, May 18, 2007
Baby Vi's first pony
Last Thursday was my Last Thursday at Huston & Company. I worked there as the bookkeeper for three years - three great years. I became very, very close (and silly) with my office mate, and enjoyed the laid-back, positive-attitude, fun work environment thoroughly. This is one of those places - when you walk in, you know there's something joyful happening. I decided a few months ago, when offered a broader position with my other employer (one that would allow me to work from home some, qualify for Short-term Disability aka Paid Maternity Leave, and make it possible for us to avoid the expense of day care for several months), that the right decision for me and my family (my family!) was to leave my position with Huston, however tearful the departure would be.
So, Last Thursday I made my final 35-minute commute to beautiful Kennebunkport for my Last Thursday at Huston.
It was a beautiful, sunny, good-smelling Spring day in Maine. At lunchtime, we found ourselves - the entire company - sitting around the picnic table, some of us on benches, some leaning happily against the tree. I was presented with a pretty gift - smaller than a bread box, wrapped in white paper with a pretty orange ribbon - and a sweet "baby girl" card. I opened the gift, to discover it was a box of tissues.
This was very well-timed.
Suddenly, Bill has shown up next to me, carrying this:
This is a solid cherry, norwegian designed rocking horse, with wood inlays for the eyes and hand-sewn fuzzy ears.
Hand-made by every single person at Huston & Company.
For my baby.
Now, tell me you didn't just well up with tears!
So, Last Thursday I made my final 35-minute commute to beautiful Kennebunkport for my Last Thursday at Huston.
It was a beautiful, sunny, good-smelling Spring day in Maine. At lunchtime, we found ourselves - the entire company - sitting around the picnic table, some of us on benches, some leaning happily against the tree. I was presented with a pretty gift - smaller than a bread box, wrapped in white paper with a pretty orange ribbon - and a sweet "baby girl" card. I opened the gift, to discover it was a box of tissues.
This was very well-timed.
Suddenly, Bill has shown up next to me, carrying this:
This is a solid cherry, norwegian designed rocking horse, with wood inlays for the eyes and hand-sewn fuzzy ears.
Hand-made by every single person at Huston & Company.
For my baby.
Now, tell me you didn't just well up with tears!
How do you cope with pain?
In my last post, I mentioned the childbirth prep class Dan & I are taking. One focus is on understanding our own instincts towards coping with pain. There are many ways of coping with pain, but two basic instincts: internalization and externalization. Some people like to focus on something outside of themselves to ignore the pain, and some like to focus on something inside themselves to address the pain. The main thing we're encouraged to remember is that neither way is "right" or "wrong." That's why Lamaze - a very specific pain-coping technique - worked wonders for some women, and not so well for others; it involved very externalizing methods which just don't click for those who tend to internalize pain.
One very intersting point is that labor pain is expected, whereas most all other pain in life is not - so we react to it differently.
One exercise we did was holding an ice cube for 60 seconds - the length of the average contraction. Some people in the class didn't find that painful, so they would hold it on their wrist or to their temple.
The first round was done with no instruction, just to see what we instinctively did. I kept my eyes closed and relaxed, focusing my attention on my breathing and directing my breath and attention to the pain in my hand. This is pretty much what I do when i have a migraine - I try to "be with the pain" and relax the rest of my body. That worked pretty well for me in the ice cube trial. It occured to me that I am one who uses the internalization methods more often than not.
The second round we were told to use focused, patterned breathing, whether that meant counting breaths, timing breaths, hee-hee-hoo-ing...whatever was focused and patterned for each person. That worked okay for me, but wasn't enough. I felt like I was trying to ignore the pain, and of course, the pain wasn't actually going away.
The third time we talked about the "Theory of Equanimity," a buddhist theory that basically says no one thing is more interesting than any other thing. So, we were instructed to widen our field of vision - try to look at the ceiling and the floor and all of the walls, all of everything in the area, without focusing on one particular spot - and to do the same with our other senses. It was really interesting! There were candles burning in the room, art on the walls, patterned slipcovers on the sofas, other couples sitting together, the instructor's soft voice, music in the background, traffic on the street, the feeling of the ice in my hand, the feeling of the breeze from the window, the cushioned sofa, the air flowing in and out of my nostrils... I was so surprised by how well this worked for me! I was so completely relaxed by the end of this 60 seconds, and the pain had just been a part of all of the sensations I was taking in. I had doubts about this technique, since in trial #1 I had realized, acknowledged, and grasped onto the idea that I Cope With Pain Using Internalization...like, it was a new law in my life or something. I remembered learning that "be with the pain" technique about 10 years ago, and that it's something I have practiced since then...always a conscious choice to cope that way, rather than what I could call an instinct.
I'm finding this stuff FASCINATING.
Again, I'm hoping for that 2 1/2 hour labor during which I won't need to know much of this stuff, anyway! (But, it's always a good idea to be prepared.)
One very intersting point is that labor pain is expected, whereas most all other pain in life is not - so we react to it differently.
One exercise we did was holding an ice cube for 60 seconds - the length of the average contraction. Some people in the class didn't find that painful, so they would hold it on their wrist or to their temple.
The first round was done with no instruction, just to see what we instinctively did. I kept my eyes closed and relaxed, focusing my attention on my breathing and directing my breath and attention to the pain in my hand. This is pretty much what I do when i have a migraine - I try to "be with the pain" and relax the rest of my body. That worked pretty well for me in the ice cube trial. It occured to me that I am one who uses the internalization methods more often than not.
The second round we were told to use focused, patterned breathing, whether that meant counting breaths, timing breaths, hee-hee-hoo-ing...whatever was focused and patterned for each person. That worked okay for me, but wasn't enough. I felt like I was trying to ignore the pain, and of course, the pain wasn't actually going away.
The third time we talked about the "Theory of Equanimity," a buddhist theory that basically says no one thing is more interesting than any other thing. So, we were instructed to widen our field of vision - try to look at the ceiling and the floor and all of the walls, all of everything in the area, without focusing on one particular spot - and to do the same with our other senses. It was really interesting! There were candles burning in the room, art on the walls, patterned slipcovers on the sofas, other couples sitting together, the instructor's soft voice, music in the background, traffic on the street, the feeling of the ice in my hand, the feeling of the breeze from the window, the cushioned sofa, the air flowing in and out of my nostrils... I was so surprised by how well this worked for me! I was so completely relaxed by the end of this 60 seconds, and the pain had just been a part of all of the sensations I was taking in. I had doubts about this technique, since in trial #1 I had realized, acknowledged, and grasped onto the idea that I Cope With Pain Using Internalization...like, it was a new law in my life or something. I remembered learning that "be with the pain" technique about 10 years ago, and that it's something I have practiced since then...always a conscious choice to cope that way, rather than what I could call an instinct.
I'm finding this stuff FASCINATING.
Again, I'm hoping for that 2 1/2 hour labor during which I won't need to know much of this stuff, anyway! (But, it's always a good idea to be prepared.)
Thursday, May 17, 2007
29 Week Update (late again)
Here's the technical update on the baby's development:
Your baby is growing rapidly now. This week she weighs about half a pound more than she did last week (about 2 1/2 pounds total) and is a tad over 15 inches long from head to heel. Her muscles and lungs are continuing to mature, and her head is getting bigger to accommodate her growing brain — which is busy developing billions of neurons. Every day, about 200 milligrams of calcium is deposited in your baby's skeleton, which is now hardening. With this rapid growth, it's no surprise that your baby's nutritional needs reach their peak during this trimester.
My glucose tolerance test came back completely normal, but my iron was a bit low. After a little light-headed scare on Tuesday, I have learned the importance of staying VERY hydrated and constantly-fed. (Don't freak out, but my blood pressure dropped to 100/50 while I was at the doctor's office that day. I was kept under a watchful eye and not allowed to drive, and given very good instructions on how to prevent such "spells.") I've been packin' PB Crackers and Cliff Bars and other snackable items. And, I've been told by my doctors to move more slowly. So now I'm waddling in slo-mo...very attractive! I do find that I feel really good if I eat every hour and a half, or so. And the slight increase in my iron (just through my diet) has helped, too.
I think Dan has finally hired enough staff, his sales are picking up, his store looks GREAT, and, how many times can I say how much he likes his boss? This guy is really doing his job well - helping his managers meet their goals by advocating for them, getting them to think outside the box, and motivating them with positive reinforcement and optimism. Who ever heard of such a thing?! We like this guy. A lot.
We started our Childbirth Preparation courses a few weeks ago, based on the "Birthing from Within" model. (Where else would one birth from? everyone asks me.) It's a very informative class, that helps expecting couples prepare for their own way of giving birth, rather than a step-by-step instructional on one method of coping with pain. Part of the course focuses on the technical stuff - vocabulary, biological/anatomical/physiological functions. The other part is - this might sound hokey - more of a self-exploration, especially for the mom-to-be. How do I instinctively react to and cope with pain? What are my pre-conceptions of labor? What is important for me to consider? It's been an educational experience for both of us, and very reassuring that Dan and I know and support each other well. We've been through a lot in the past few years, and I think our pain-coping skills (while mostly emotionally based) will come in handy.
Dan's going to be so great as a birthing partner. Not only does he have the strong back and quadriceps that I will most likely require as I squat, stand, hang and dangle myself around the delivery room while dilating, but he also has that gentle spirit that some of you have had the pleasure of witnessing. Plus, he makes me laugh like nobody else. That MIGHT come in handy, but I might not be in the mood for jokes.
Part of the course is bio-research: what is the story of my birth and Dan's birth? This has been interesting...I will try to spend some time this weekend creating a post for each story, for those of you who are interested. I'm hoping that labor patterns are genetic, though..so far my preganancy has been very similar to my mother's pregnancy with me, and she had only 2 1/2 hours of hard labor with me. I'm not getting my hopes up, but wouldn't that be nice?
Your baby is growing rapidly now. This week she weighs about half a pound more than she did last week (about 2 1/2 pounds total) and is a tad over 15 inches long from head to heel. Her muscles and lungs are continuing to mature, and her head is getting bigger to accommodate her growing brain — which is busy developing billions of neurons. Every day, about 200 milligrams of calcium is deposited in your baby's skeleton, which is now hardening. With this rapid growth, it's no surprise that your baby's nutritional needs reach their peak during this trimester.
My glucose tolerance test came back completely normal, but my iron was a bit low. After a little light-headed scare on Tuesday, I have learned the importance of staying VERY hydrated and constantly-fed. (Don't freak out, but my blood pressure dropped to 100/50 while I was at the doctor's office that day. I was kept under a watchful eye and not allowed to drive, and given very good instructions on how to prevent such "spells.") I've been packin' PB Crackers and Cliff Bars and other snackable items. And, I've been told by my doctors to move more slowly. So now I'm waddling in slo-mo...very attractive! I do find that I feel really good if I eat every hour and a half, or so. And the slight increase in my iron (just through my diet) has helped, too.
I think Dan has finally hired enough staff, his sales are picking up, his store looks GREAT, and, how many times can I say how much he likes his boss? This guy is really doing his job well - helping his managers meet their goals by advocating for them, getting them to think outside the box, and motivating them with positive reinforcement and optimism. Who ever heard of such a thing?! We like this guy. A lot.
We started our Childbirth Preparation courses a few weeks ago, based on the "Birthing from Within" model. (Where else would one birth from? everyone asks me.) It's a very informative class, that helps expecting couples prepare for their own way of giving birth, rather than a step-by-step instructional on one method of coping with pain. Part of the course focuses on the technical stuff - vocabulary, biological/anatomical/physiological functions. The other part is - this might sound hokey - more of a self-exploration, especially for the mom-to-be. How do I instinctively react to and cope with pain? What are my pre-conceptions of labor? What is important for me to consider? It's been an educational experience for both of us, and very reassuring that Dan and I know and support each other well. We've been through a lot in the past few years, and I think our pain-coping skills (while mostly emotionally based) will come in handy.
Dan's going to be so great as a birthing partner. Not only does he have the strong back and quadriceps that I will most likely require as I squat, stand, hang and dangle myself around the delivery room while dilating, but he also has that gentle spirit that some of you have had the pleasure of witnessing. Plus, he makes me laugh like nobody else. That MIGHT come in handy, but I might not be in the mood for jokes.
Part of the course is bio-research: what is the story of my birth and Dan's birth? This has been interesting...I will try to spend some time this weekend creating a post for each story, for those of you who are interested. I'm hoping that labor patterns are genetic, though..so far my preganancy has been very similar to my mother's pregnancy with me, and she had only 2 1/2 hours of hard labor with me. I'm not getting my hopes up, but wouldn't that be nice?
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