Weekly checkup update: are we there yet?

I'll try to be pretty good about updating every few days or so now that any day could be the day. 

I had my checkup this morning and all was well.  Cecily is out of town this week so I met with one of the doctors on staff instead.  Different person, same script.  My and baby's weight gain both look great, heartbeat sounds good, protein and blood pressure levels etc all good.  In the internal exam department, the door is still fully shut, so to speak, but 50% effaced and little guy's head is at -2 station, meaning he has definitely started to drop but still has to move down some more.  As the doctor said, you could still quite literally go into labor today, but you probably won't do it while you're sitting on this table.  I got off the table to see if it would help but alas, still didn't go into labor today.

So this dropping thing has turned out to be a decidedly mixed bag.  The good news is that I can breathe much easier now that my lungs aren't so compressed and the acid reflux is better, though not gone.  The bad news is that it doesn't seem to be providing the relief my poor right ribcage needs AND now with the pressure in the lower area I am sore there and the pressure on the bladder is intensified.  The latter point is particularly troublesome at night as it seems pretty difficult to find a side-lying position that is comfortable for my back and hips but doesn't put pressure on my bladder (To try this at home, get in bed with a full bladder and find a position that isn't uncomfortable without lying on your back.  Get back to me if you find one!).  Maybe it's difficult because such a position doesn't exist.  Lately I seem to get one good night of sleep for every one or two restless ones.  Last night was a restless one.  Took me awhile to fall asleep, then woke up seemingly hourly and had a hard time getting back to sleep each time because after getting up to use the bathroom I'd have to go again after getting back into bed.  It's a vicious cycle!  Thinking that the tall height of our bed might be part of the problem I switched to the guest room last night around 330AM.  It seemed to help a little.  Let's see what tonight brings.

These days, odds are at any given moment one or more of the following statements is true:
- Ellen is tired
- Ellen is uncomfortable
- Ellen has to go to the bathroom
- Ellen is hot

The last one is the most unusual for me because in my normal non-pregnant state I'm the one in the room who's cold when everyone else is comfortable.  Now everyone else is cold, I'm still hot.  The other day Nicole came over to watch a movie and I was in shorts and tee shirt, she was in jeans.  I was hot and she was cold enough to need to borrow a pair of socks!  Note to self: next time go for a winter baby so I can just step outside for relief!

Group B step test=negative

I had my weekly checkup today and while it was otherwise just a routine visit I did learn that I tested negative for Group B strep.  No GBS=no need for an IV at any point in labor=happy me.  I was hoping to go IV-free even before my hospital experience a few months ago but a day and night of having to wheel an IV cart behind me every time I wanted to get up got old very fast and strengthened my desire to skip the needle.  So it was a relief today to learn that I will get my wish, at least so long as no complications arise.

I asked Cecily, our midwife, how big she thought Daniel is right now and she estimated probably 6 1/2 pounds, with another 1-2 pounds to gain before he's born.  So, anyone doing our baby pool, take that for what you will in making your guess.  As for me, I'm about 33 pounds over my pre-baby weight and it would seem that the weight gain is still pretty much all belly.  Shoes still fit and rings still fit, although I have found them to get a bit snug in the heat recently.

We've made some good strides in the preparations department this week:

- Kevin assembled the crib so now the crib and dresser (with attached changing pad) are ready.  All that's left to do in the room is put up decorations, so if need be I can do that after he's born.  Photos to come!
- The car seat base has been installed in my car.  The Irving Police Department will send an officer out to your home or office and install it for you free of charge, how nice is that?  The one who did my car came out to my office Tuesday morning and installed it in all of about 10 minutes.  A few neat little coincidences: his birthday is July 17, Daniel's due date, and he has a son starting college at A&M in the fall (class of 2014, when did I get old, have I been out of school for 9 years already?).  I accidentally got him in a bit of trouble by failing to give our security guards a heads-up that he was coming, they were a bit concerned by him carrying a firearm onto federal property.  In the end of course he was fine but it gave them a bit of excitement in their day.  An officer is coming out to Kevin's office to put a base in his car soon so we'll be set in both.
- I've got the diaper bag and our hospital bags packed other than our last-minute things.
- I drafted wills, advance directives to physicians, and medical and durable powers of attorney for us.  I had been meaning to get around to that for awhile but it seemed more important now with a little one to consider.  Hopefully of course we won't need any of those documents for years and years but better safe than sorry, right?
- I researched some pediatrician options in the area and we've decided on one we feel pretty good about.  She also comes highly recommended by 2 couples we're friends with who have young kids and seems to share our philosophy on some matters important to us.  I've got a consultation set up with her so we can meet and get a feel for her in person but I think we'll be good to go after that.
- I froze my gym membership for a few months so I'm not paying for the months I can't use it.  Looking forward to getting back in a few months though.
- Contacted someone at the hospital to work out logistics regarding parking, wi-fi access, and confirmed that I'll be able to play my iPod in the labor room...the better to enjoy the Labor, Transition, and Push! playlists I've so thoughtfully put together with music appropriate to each stage of the process.
- Started training another attorney at work who'll serve as my back-up while I'm out, and put together a list of "out of office" housekeeping details I'll need our IT department to do on my inbox so 1) messages that need to be seen get to my backup, and 2) stuff I won't need to worry about gets deleted so that 3) my inbox doesn't fill up and explode/stop taking messages.
- Hired a birth photographer.  What's that, you ask?  She'll be there to capture some of the moments from the labor and our first hours with baby, not in a National Geographic/instructional video type of way but like a wedding photographer capturing the emotions and details that will be a blur to us in the moment but special to be able to look back at later.  You can see some of her work on her site here.  I would never have thought to do this but when I saw the pictures from Richard and Lisa's birth of William I wanted to have similar mementos from ours.
- Packed a backpack in my car with a towel and change of pants just in case my water breaks at work or when I'm somewhere else away from home.  I know, odds are it won't break till labor is well underway, but at least I'll be prepared if it happens.

So, all in all, I think we're pretty well prepared.  I'd have made a good Boy Scout, right? ;) 

I know having things planned to the last detail doesn't ensure that things will go that way but at least we'll have done everything we can to have the experience we want.  And I guess it's a little ironic to try to plan all the details so carefully, all to leave it to chance when he'll come and how long labor will take.  But the way I look at it, all the planning means we'll have created the best, most comfortable circumstances possible, enabling me to relax and achieve the natural birth we want.  There are probably women who could just show up and have a natural birth with no preparation and do fine, just like there are people who can just wake up and decide to run a marathon with no training.  But I know I'm not the latter and am preparing as if I'm not the former either.  Now that everything's ready, I can just sit back, relax, and wait for the fun to start instead of being anxious.

So, I guess in a few ____ (hours? days? weeks?) we'll find out if that preparation will pay off.  If nothing else I don't seem to be having any anxious "we're not prepared" dreams anymore so at least my subconscious seems satisfied!

Now that we're ready, the million-dollar question is, is Daniel ready?

Make your predictions!

Want to take a guess on Daniel's birth date/time, measurements, hair and eye color?  Click here to go to our free baby pool.  No money on it, no prize for the winner, this is just for fun.  We're looking forward to seeing the guesses we get.

A few pieces of information that might inform your guesses (or not):

- My official due date is July 17.
- At my prenatal checkups the midwife measures how high the fundus (top of the uterus) is and I've been consistently pretty much right on target, not measuring bigger or smaller than expected.
- As of my last appointment, June 24, no dilation yet.
- I was born 6 days late (sorry Mom!), weighed 7 lb 12 oz. and was 21 inches long.- Boys on average tend to be bigger at birth than girls, and 3 sonograms said we're definitely having a boy.

- Kevin was born 4 days late, weighed 7lb 4oz and was 20 inches long.

- We do not plan to induce labor if we go past the due date unless there is a medical reason to do so.
- I have blonde hair and blue eyes.
- Kevin has dark blond/light brown hair and green eyes.

So far, with 12 votes in, the consensus seems to be that he will make Hotel Utero and extended stay hotel, staying an extra 2-6 days.  Average length prediction is about 20.5 inches, average weight is a healthy 8.21 lbs, though that average is skewed by one guess of 11.5 lbs!  Either Cynthia comes from a family of VERY big babies, made a typo, or has it in for me! ;)  Needless to say I'm hoping that estimate is very high.  I can't even roll a bowling ball that weighs that much!

Majority opinion is Daniel will take after Mommy with blond hair and blue eyes, with a few votes for bald head (if the old wives' tales about how lots of acid reflux=full head of hair hold true, this kid will look like Cousin It though!) and a few for brown hair.  Hazel eyes also picked up a few votes.  I'd bet that his eyes may turn green/hazel by his first birthday but I'm pretty sure they'll be blue at birth.  We'll see though...hopefully soon!

Tomorrow, we are officially full term!

Welcome to the land of the full-term
In just a few hours we will hit a significant landmark.  I will be 37 weeks along, which means from this point forward even if Daniel comes early he will be considered full-term.  He'll probably grow a little more in the next few weeks but he should be all ready for life on the outside now.  All those organs and bodily systems should be online and ready to report for duty.

I certainly wouldn't say the pregnancy has flown by, but July seemed so far off back in November and now it's just around the corner.  I've bought milk with an expiration date after Daniel's due date (organic milk in a carton, it lasts for weeks!) and as I look around the house doing everyday things I wonder "will we finish this [can of coffee grounds, box of oatmeal, tube of toothpaste, etc] before Daniel is born?"  For the record, my guess is that by D-day, we'll barely start on the next can of coffee, go through at least one more box of oatmeal, and still be on the same tube of toothpaste.  It's funny to look at things like that and think how radically life will change by the time we next buy toothpaste!

"Lighten" the load
I've heard that it's common for babies around this stage to drop or "lighten" further down into the pelvis in anticipation of impending labor.  Apparently Daniel has not gotten the memo about that next step on the to-do list. 

I'm reminded of something I read about the Aggie Band when I started at A&M.  They have march routines so complicated that a computer says they can't be done because there would have to be 2 people in the same space at the same time (I'm assuming in the past 13 years the computing world has caught up in that department). 

Photo courtesy of aggieband.com

What does that have to do with anything?  Well first it's a shameless plug for my good old alma mater and the impressive halftime show that is the Fightin' Texas Aggie Band.  But I digress. 

I bring up the band maneuver analogy because it seems to describe the situation in my lower torso these days.  Basic anatomy says that baby, lungs, stomach, and other internal organs all have to coexist in that area but it seems to involve trying to force 2 or more things to occupy the same space at the same time in violation of the laws of physics.

I have no firsthand basis for comparison but my theory is that late-stage pregnancy is particularly uncomfortable for a short-waisted woman like myself because there is so little space for everything to squeeze into.  I've often wished I could have a few more inches of height in my torso but in the past it was about wanting to have flatter abs and look better in a bikini, now that wish is purely for comfort.  Or more specifically, for less pain.  Between baby, lungs, and everything else it's a fight for space in there, one that my body is losing to baby.

The Gaza strip of this battleground, where fighting is most intense, is the lower front of my right ribcage.  For a few months now Daniel has been fond of nestling up under my ribs.  I can feel the pressure not only on the ribs in front but also on my back.  It has always been uncomfortable but in the last week it has graduated from dull ache to acute pain.  My ribs feel simultaneously numb and tingly and tender and bruised all at the same time.  And that's when he's not moving and just curled up there sleeping.  When he is moving it's like he's trying to snap my rib in two or use it for a punching bag.

So, I'm hoping that he might be inclined to follow the script and drop down a bit soon to give my ribs a break.  And maybe if that happens, I won't get winded going up the stairs or get acid reflux on a daily basis.  I'm sure it'll be more painful in other respects and probably make me have to use the bathroom even more but that's a tradeoff I'm willing to make.  Alas, I've resigned myself that I may just have to ride it out like this for the duration if he doesn't have any room to drop.  At least it's nothing that won't get better within a few weeks.

Who needs sleep?
On a related note, I think I'm getting some good practice for those first weeks of motherhood.  I hear that babies like to eat every few hours in those early weeks so you can't sleep more than about 2 hours at a time without having to get up. 

It seems that Mother Nature in her wisdom has determined that the last month of pregnancy should be spent practicing the frequent wake-up drill.  I go to bed about 10:30 or so and it seems like I get up every night around 12, 1:30, 2:30, and 4 before getting up for good around 5:30.  I guess I'm at least a few weeks away from an uninterrupted night's sleep, if not months. 

I'm usually waking up because I have to go to the bathroom but sometimes it's because of neck, shoulder or leg pain.  I got the Boppy maternity pillow (below, from their website) this week which seems to help, but a truly comfortable night's sleep just doesn't seem to be in the cards for me these days.

So all in all, I am learning firsthand why you never seem to hear women talk about how much they enjoyed the last month of pregnancy.  I do consider myself lucky though that I made it most of the way through the pregnancy without being too uncomfortable, and even now, I've still got it better than many women.  I haven't had to go on bedrest and there are quite a few unpleasant pregnancy symptoms that I have been fortunate to skip altogether. 

And even at this point, I can still not only see my toes but reach them well enough to trim the toenails.  I can still get up from a sitting or kneeling position using just my legs without having to prop myself up first on my arms.  And I can still perform the "power squat" maneuver of hovering over the potty to go, which as every lady knows beats sitting on a dirty public restroom seat.  I can still fit comfortably behind the steering wheel of the car and I don't have any trouble getting into or out of the car.  So while these weeks probably won't be remembered as being among my favorites in the pregnancy, it could surely be worse.  And of course at the end of this race, just around the corner, is a wonderful prize that will be worth all the discomfort and sleeplessness along the way.

So now that you're officially full-term little fella, feel free to come on out anytime you're ready.  I promise to let you kick me in the ribs all you want once you're out if you'll leave them alone for the duration of your time inside.

What a difference a few months makes!

Last night Kevin and I went to dinner at the Capital Grille to celebrate his birthday, his first Father's Day, and one last fancy dinner out before the baby comes.  I wore my polka-dotted maternity dress and when we got home I looked at a picture from when I first wore it, for Brian and Marinda's wedding reception in early March.  Look at the difference from then to now!

I was showing at that point, but not too much.  I had only just switched over to maternity clothes a week or two earlier.  Now I'm 13-14 weeks and probably another 20 pounds further along.

I have to say, I've been pretty impressed with my maternity wardrobe.  The clothes had a good, flattering fit when I first bought them in the 5th month and now in the 9th, they are still fitting well.  I had been told I'd probably have to go through a few sizes, but I bought my prepregnancy size and everything still fits fine.  And the elastic waist is quite comfy.  I see why people are reluctant to give them up, but I am looking forward to gettng back into my normal clothes again.

"You look so cute!"
Last night at dinner on the way back to our table from one of my (several) trips to the bathroom a lady at another table stopped me to tell me that I looked cute.  It's always nice to hear that kind of thing when you're sporting an extra 30 pounds of belly. 

On a related note, wherever I go, people tend to be pretty thoughtful, opening doors for me and offering to carry bags for me.  And a few weeks ago at Lowe's a salesman chased me down while we were walking along to offer me a motorized scooter!  My first thought was "do I look like I need a scooter?" but then thought, "yes, perhaps I do."  I passed on the offer though.  While I appreciate all the concern, it's a very weird feeling to be lumped in with the little old ladies in the "needs assistance" category.  But as a friend with a baby pointed out, I might as well enjoy being the cute pregnant lady who needs a hand now.  In a few months, everyone might be glaring at me when I've got the crying baby in the restaurant or store!

Just a few quick pictures

It's been awhile since I've posted some pictures, so here's my party of 1 1/2 is looking these days.

From the front and back, you can't really see the belly:

From the side however, you can't help but notice it.  I am rather happy to report though that nearly 36 weeks and 30 pounds in, I still have no stretch marks

 



I'd also like to point out that I have apparently thus far overcome the family curse of varicose veins, and my ankles and feet haven't swollen too much:

By the way, these pictures were taken in Daniel's room which was just painted this week.  The color looks great on the walls and now that that's done, we can put together the crib and dresser and decorate the room.  Yay!

Two last pictures before I call it a night.  First, all of his clothes (except the ones I got today at a work shower), washed and hanging up by size in his closet.  As cute as they look hanging up, I'm sure they'll look ever cuter on him!  The outfit on the far right is a pair of lederhosen and coordinating shirt we got in Munich when we went to Europe in September 2008.  We bought it hoping a little Williamson would come along to wear it...I can't wait to get pictures of him in it, though I can already imagine the embarrassment they might cause him in 20 years or so when he has a girlfriend over and she sees the picture.  Too bad, buddy...one of the perks of parenthood is getting to dress your kid up in cute but potentially embarassing outfits! ;)

Second, a sample of some of the cloth diapers I got for Daniel. How cute are these? These aren't the ones that were available when we were babies, with the safety pins and plastic pants!  

Baby dreams

I've been having baby-related dreams with increasing frequency, and in all of them, my subconscious seems to be expressing some worries that we aren't prepared for his arrival. 

Last night I dreamed that we had brought Daniel home but we didn't have his room set up yet so all his stuff was thrown in boxes rather than folded and organized neatly in the dresser.  I was going to put him to bed in our pack n play but couldn't find the bassinet pad for it.  I searched all over the house and finally found it in the tub.  Apparently it was in the tub because Marko and Nicole's son Alejandro had peed on it-that detail was probably in the dream because Alejandro slept in the pack n play this weekend and wet it on a prior occasion-someone had to be the first!  Anywho, in the dream I finally found it and got the bassinet set up but then Daniel woke up again and was crying.  I thought his swaddling outfit would make him feel better but couldn't find that either.  (Today I added the swaddler to our diaper bag for the hospital as a result of the dream!)

Last night's dream was an improvement on one I had months ago, where Kevin was driving us to some wilderness lodge for a weekend away and on the way there I realized we had had the baby and left it at the hospital (I say "it" because this was before we knew the baby would be a he).  I remember being frustrated because I didn't even remember the birth at all and I was asking him if it was a boy or a girl, how it went, and oh yeah, where's the baby now.  He said he thought that after going through pregnancy and labor I needed a weekend away.  I said we better turn right around and head home and see if we could still get the baby or if CPS had already taken him/her away!

So I have to think that last night's version is much better.  Sure his room wasn't ready yet, but at least we remembered to bring him home.  That's a good start to the whole parenting thing, right? ;)

After our Bradley class a few weeks ago I dreamed that I was in labor.  I was concerned about 2 things: 1) we were only ~30 weeks along so I worried that it was too early, and 2) I told Kevin he had to find our workbook because I couldn't remember if I was supposed to be walking around or lying down relaxing at that stage of the game.  Somehow I just didn't know what to do without that Bradley workbook to guide us!

That's actually the only labor dream I've had, or at least the only one I can remember.  With 6 weeks left to go I'm sure there are more baby dreams on tap, and what with the waking up to go to the bathroom several times a night I remember my dreams more vividly than usual.  Hopefully as we get closer to time and finish our preparations my dreams will involve less chaos and confusion!