38 Weeks - the Weekend update

There is really nothing new to report for 38 week development. Suffice it to say that baby is pretty much fully cooked and at this point should be just sitting back, enjoying the ride and putting on weight in preparation for his grand entrance.

We had an easy, laid back weekend which was incredible for me. I fixed pancakes and bacon for breakfast, we laid around and watched football and did homework. I got in a couple of long naps, which meant that by Sunday night I was actually feeling pretty good. Even if Darrell makes fun of me for sleeping all of the time, that extra rest helps me make it through the work-week. Since Darrell also skipped school to stay home with me on Thursday, it was nice just to hang out and spend time together for an extended period of time.

Ethan has been going crazy these last few days. Yesterday in church I thought he was going to come ripping out right there, like something out of Alien! Okay, slight exaggeration, but he was punching and kicking so hard it was actually hurting me. And he continued that a bit throughout the day. Suffice it to say I didn't follow my normal routine of stealing sips of Darrell's coke all day ... I figured the boy didn't need any caffeine to encourage his rowdy behavior! I hope all of this action is a sign that he's getting squished and will be willing to come out on or near the predicted due date. I've been trying to prepare myself for him being late but I'm getting so darned impatient now! I want to meet this little bean and I don't want to be made to wait!

It's incredible that we're getting this close. People at work keep asking me when I'm due, even though I'm sure those same people asked me last week. It feels good to tell them "less than two weeks" and watch them (especially the men) back away just a tad, as though my water might break and I might start screaming on the spot, like all the movies. I must really look like a walking house!

Visit with Ann

Friday's visit with Ann was as standard as usual.

Weight: 170 (for a total of 50 lbs gained - ick)
Fundal Height: 37 cm
Heart beat: 140s

We talked for a while, but I'm not sure about what exactly. A couple of TMI issues I've been having that are, as I suspected, completely normal just no one wants to talk about them. We also talked about when to go to the hospital, who to call and what might occur when we show up. I like the fact that I don't have to call labor and delivery, I can call directly and speak to the midwife on duty who should be able to give me more info than that L&D nurses. Ann assures me that when I go in, the nurses will understand that since I'm a midwife patient they'll know right off that I don't need the full hospital ride. I like that :) I hope that it also cues them to assign me a nurse who is a little more natural minded.

Still here...

Okay. I have posted very little lately, and there is a reason for that. I've been feeling incredibly negative and I didn't want to ralph that negativity all over blogland. It's not that I don't still enjoy being pregnant. I do. But mostly only in those isolated moments where my ribs are not throbbing unbearably and/or I'm not so tired I can barely function. I feel like all I do lately is sleep, go to work, sleep, complain, sleep, eat, complain some more, and sleep. I'm sure Darrell feels that way. Poor guy, we hardly see each other during the week anyway, and now I can barely stay awake until he gets home each night -- I'm off to bed almost as soon as he makes it in the door.

Really, it's not all that bad but I am sleeping a lot, and part of that has to do with the fact that it's generally painful to be upright because of my ribs. Lying down is much more comfortable.

On top of the general end of pregnancy stuff, I found out this week that contrary to what I was told earlier, my company has a lousy maternity leave policy. I pay for short term disability which allows me to draw a small paycheck while I'm off, but no one informed me that it only actually pays for 5 weeks for a total of 6 weeks off (one week I have to use my accrued leave for.) I could take off longer but it would be unpaid. I was never told that, even though I sat down with the HR rep and grilled her on the maternity leave policies. Blech.
So now I'm wracking my brain trying to figure out how I can eek out another week or two off. We'll see what happens, I guess.

I think it's important that I have a chance to get breastfeeding well established and settle into a routine with baby before I have to head back to work. Most experts suggest 6-8 weeks to do this, and I don't want to feel too rushed. It's going to be tough enough leaving him as it is, even though I think I really like the daycare provider that we found. Her name is Amanda and she literally lives around the corner from us. I wish it was closer to work, but honestly I don't work far from home - It's all of 8 miles or so, thus I would be able to get there quickly in case of a need, but it's still not close enough to drop in and check on him or run home at lunch and feed the baby or anything like that.

Yesterday at work Ethan got a little suprise party. A couple of the ladies in the office organized it all... they took a collection and bought a cake, a few decorations and a couple of gifts. It was very nice and made me feel special -- and incredibly embarassed when I walked into a room full of people all looking at me and grinning. I hope I was gracious... I was in a little bit of shock :)

Tomorrow I have an appointment with Ann... it's been three weeks since the last one because of some scheduling issues with her - I guess she was out of town. After this I'm sure the appointments will be weekly...

On the homestretch!

I love this little ticker that I have on my cafemom homepage. Look how close my boy is to finishing his race:



** I posted this on the 8th and am bumping it up to show off. Wheeeeee! Almost there!!

A few Pictures

Mary has given me a few of the pictures that we took on Monday.  She said there will be more later, but I can't wait to share these ones.

The Twins

In the birthing class that Sarah and I have been taking, there was a couple expecting twins. The two of them were first-time parents and I gathered that the babies were a 'suprise.' Mom was, of course, terribly uncomfortable and dad was obviously rather nervous, but determined to do everything right. Each week, Sarah and I talk about whether we think they'll be at the next class, because while she is just a week ahead of me, it seemed she was probably going to have them soon.

Well, the twins were born on Saturday and since they were still in the hospital, John and Janet called our instructor and let her know they'd love for us to come upstairs and visit since the twins were perfectly healthy and happy and everyone was doing fine. Oh the joy. As soon as we arrived, John - now radiating confidence - offered me the tiniest one, Dylan who weighed a whopping 4 lbs + at birth. It was incredible. I've never held such a tiny baby, but it wasn't really as scary as I would have thought. Erica, who is due the same day as me, helped me uncover his little hand which was so tiny -- the span was probably just a little bigger than a nickel and his fingers were no thicker than a spaghetti noodle. I'm sure my mouth was gaping open. There was something about standing in that hospital room and listening to them share their experience while overflowing with joy and knowing that in just a few short weeks I'll be in one so similar, sharing my story with friends and family.

One of the best parts was seeing the only dad present at last night's class get to hold one of the twins. He said he'd never held a baby before in his life, but you could just sense the awe and wonder as he held Collin with the utmost care. I love seeing men hold babies. There is such a sweetness there -- it's something that can't be duplicated anywhere else.

The Weekend: A baby shower and a photo shoot

What a busy weekend! Since I don't normally work on Fridays and Monday was a Holiday, I had an awesome 4 day respite from work.

Friday I drove out to have lunch with Darrell and do grocery shopping at the Commissary. Before my shopping I decided to stop in the Salon for a haircut. Wow. What a disaster. I asked the girl for a simple trim and style -- the trim was fine but her idea of style was wacked out. She used a flattening iron to flip the ends up... WAY up and then tried giving me some sort of 50's wave in the front. Wow. I was so unimpressed, both with the style and the 1.5 hours I was there. Ick.

After groceries I went to the La Leche League meeting in Yukon while Darrell drove out to pick up the girls. There doesn't seem to be a consistent group of attendees, but I really like the leader, Rebecca, and I'm hoping I can get to know her better.

Darrell and the girls got home about 30 minutes before Deborah and Kendle arrived, and we had Tacos for dinner before Darrell and Kendle went to unload the two ricks of wood Kendle had brought us. What a blessing to have firewood for this winter! I can't wait to light the fire for the first time. The past few years I've done that on Halloween, so we'll see what the weather holds for us this year.

Saturday morning was a blur of activity. I ran to the store for donuts, unfrosted cupcakes and some last minute ingredients and rushed back to find that Deborah had cleaned the bathroom mirror (something I can't really do with my big belly in the way) and was finishing up the vaccuming. Then when Emily, Jerry and Justin arrived we put together Maddy's fabulous little baby cupcakes. It was a lot of work, but worth it because they were so cute, and gave her such a sense of pride.

One of the babies:

The shower was great. Kathy and Jaime managed everything and between the two of them it worked out perfectly. I felt so blessed to have everyone come and celebrate Ethan's impending arrival, and the gifts we recieved pretty much finished off the things that we were really needing. If he came today, we'd be ready!

Of course, I'm willing to wait a few more weeks, but I'm definitely getting more and more impatient. I can't wait for my little bean to be in my arms!

Monday Mary came and took maternity pictures. I can't wait to see how they turn out. Mary had several good ideas for poses, and Darrell, who hates being photographed, was a sport and even took his shirt off for most of the shots. I was amazed at how she worked with the lighting. She mostly just used natural light, but the room seemed so dim for how bright the pictures were turning out. I think we'll have some very good photos in the end.

The 36th Week

From Childbirth Connection

By the end of the 36th week of pregnancy, the enlarged uterus almost fills the abdominal cavity, despite the fact that the cavity is greatly expanded by the stretching of its front and side walls. The well-developed, plump baby, in the membranous sac within the uterus, lies wholly within the abdominal cavity, with the abdominal muscles supporting much of its weight. During this week, the fundus is at the tip of the xiphoid cartilage of the breastbone, which is shown pushed forward. The liver, transverse colon, stomach, and spleen (which is behind the upper portion of the stomach) are crowded into the vault of the abdominal cavity. The small intestines are crowded above, behind, and to the sides of the uterus. The diaphragm is pressed upward, reducing the vertical diameter of the chest cavity sometimes as much as 4 centimeters; to compensate, the space on the side, front, and back of this cavity increases. The capacity of the chest cavity is not diminished. This displacement of the diaphragm changes the position of the heart, and the increased blood volume may cause the heart to dilate slightly.Although there is an increase in the amount of blood pumped from the heart per minute and in the amount of air respired per minute, the change in the position of the heart and the upward pressure of the diaphragm probably account for the difficult breathing and the smothered feeling you may experience during this week. The crowding of the stomach and intestines contributes to the discomfort after eating.The cervix is long, thick, and filled with the mucous plug. By the 36th week, the vagina and urethra are elongated and all the tissues in the perineal region are enlarged, so the swollen perineum projects beyond the pelvic outlet in the last weeks of pregnancy, and is readily expandable during labor.

On being pregnant

Is this really my third post today? I don't know what the deal is with that. I may make yet another one before the night is out.

As miserable as I've felt the past few days, I've still found a few isolated moments of 'Oh my gosh, I love this pregnancy thing!' I'm nearly ashamed to write this, but as soon as I get home from work I change into a sports bra and rarely put a shirt on. Once I get the chance to lie down (on my left side, preferably) for a bit I feel close to new. So as I was walking around the house earlier and caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror. I had to stop, as I almost always do, and inspect my new shape once again. It's strange -- as much as I hate the weight I've gained and dislike how it's transformed the rest of my body, I LOVE my belly. It's so perfect and round, and for some reason it makes me feel like a goddess of some kind. It's a similar feeling when I'm sitting here and a little foot starts poking at the arm resting loosely on my stomach. Or when I look down and see the normal round shape contort into an indescribable shape and then wobble around. And I think "Wow. I'm growing a human. There's a real live person in there and I'm his mommy."

I wish I could bottle up these moments of bliss for later, when I'm not feeling so hot.

something to be egg-stremely happy about!

I like eggs and have eaten quite a few this pregnancy, mostly because they're high in protien and easy to make for one. But I've felt pretty guilty about it. Now I definitely don't. I've been released from egg guilt. Share my joy. ~Cilla

Crack Wise

Think eggs are unhealthy? The yolk's on you.

By the Editors of Women's Health

More on Cholesterol in Health & Fitness

Pity the poor egg: It gets cracked, scrambled, and whipped—not to mention unfairly maligned as the villain of the breakfast world. That's because there's a misguided belief that the cholesterol in eggs (found in the yolk) raises the cholesterol levels in your body and puts your ticker at risk. But good news, frittata fans: Research supporting the health bennies of eggs is piling up. And several studies—including a recent one in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition that found no link in healthy people between eggs and either heart attack or stroke—have debunked the bad-egg myth. Four reasons eggs rock:

They may reduce your risk of cancer.

Whole eggs are one of the best sources of the nutrient choline (one large egg has about 30 percent of your RDA). A study published this year found that women with a high intake of choline were 24 percent less likely to get breast cancer. Note: Choline is found mostly in the yolk, so feel free to ditch the egg-white omelets.

Eggs keep your peepers peeping.

Yolks are also high in lutein and zeaxanthin, two antioxidants that have been shown to ward off macular degeneration — so you'll still be able to eyeball hotties from afar when you're 80.

An omelet a day can shrink your waist.

Louisiana State University system researchers found that obese people who ate a two-egg breakfast at least five times a week lost 65 percent more weight and had more energy than women who breakfasted on bagels. "Eggs are more satisfying than carbs, making you feel full longer," says Kristine Clark, Ph.D., R.D., assistant professor of nutrition at Penn State.

Your abs eat them up.

These little orbs contain a certain sequence of amino acids that makes egg protein easy for your body to absorb. Which means a hard-boiled grade-A is an ideal muscle-repair food after a butt-busting workout.

Which eggs are best?

All eggs contain the same basic good stuff, and the large ones pack only 72 calories each, so you really can't go wrong. But depending on your eating habits, special eggs may be worth the extra cash.

Labels to look for:

• Organic: These eggs were laid by chickens that aren't fed nasty slaughterhouse byproducts, antibiotics, or certain additives.
• Pasteurized: Using raw eggs? Look for this word on the label. It means the eggs have been placed in warm water to kill bacteria.
• Omega-3 Enhanced: If you rarely eat fish, buy these to snag more of the heart-healthy fatty acids.

Labels to skip: Cage Free, Free Range, and Pasture Raised don't guarantee happy chickens.

Provided by Women's Health

I am loved

There is nothing more special than walking into the house on a Tuesday night and finding my husband, who should have been in class, just finishing up dinner and the house well on its way to being sparkling clean.

I really do have the best husband in the world.

I have been feeling like crap this week so far, with the little bean still giving my ribs a severe beating. Yesterday I drove up to the chiropractor, who made things feel a little better, but the drive up there was torture because I was fighting with bean boy the whole time. He would push into my side, I'd gently massage and push him away and he'd push right back. Stubborn little guy. I felt a million times better on the way back, but sadly that doesn't mean I was pain free. I passed up the house and went around the corner to give Amanda a check as deposit to hold a spot in her home daycare for Ethan (more on that later) and ended up chatting with her and her husband for several minutes. When I got to the house, I was pleased to see the 4Runner in the garage, and even happier to find my husband inside with the aforementioned dinner (spagetti and meatballs) and clean house.

What did I do to deserve to be so well taken care of? I can't think of anything... I just know I'm blessed beyond measure.

Celebrity Homebirth

I don't know what it is about homebirth lately. I guess most of the natural birth things I read tend to lean in that direction - quite understandably of course - and it's something that will always be fascinating to me. Anyway, here is an article about homebirth as it pertains to celebrities that I found interesting. An incredible percentage of celebs have opted for homebirth. Ricki Lake, Demi Moore, Nellie Furtado, Charlotte Church, Pam Anderson, Cindy Crawford and Kelly Preston. Laila Ali recently planned a homebirth but ended up changing plans - she was induced due to suspected IUGR (Intrauterine Growth Restriction).

...Interesting. With about 1% of births in America being homebirths, it almost seems like the percentage of celebrities giving birth at home is rather high. Wonder what's motivating them?

Natural Childbirth a multi-million dollar industry?

I've seen this article once before, but Nicole's most recent blog brought it back up. She did a much better job of debunking the misconceptions that were presented than I would, so go on over and read it too.

There are so many things that get me about this doctor's comments but I would really love to interview him and find out his basis for this comment,

“Natural childbirth has become a multimillion-dollar industry. The fear of
epidurals is promoted by those who discourage their use - and who have a
vested interest in doing so."

What vested interest, exactly? Is there a monetary gain to be had from encouraging women NOT to spend thousands of dollars on analgesia during labor? Actually, come to think of it, insurance companies could certainly turn a profit from this practice but if they had realized it don't you think they'd be doing more to support out of hospital births? Homebirth midwives and birthing center fees in our area range from about $2500 to $4000 (and choices are extremely limited). I can almost guarantee you my insurance company will be paying twice, three times or more than that amount for my hospital birth plus all of the doctor's fees and whatnot (A quick google search says the average hospital cost is $5000 - $7800, not including doctor's fees). The rising cost of insurance could certainly be curbed by insisting that obstetrical costs be lowered and limited to high risk patients. But considering the current lack of coverage for home/birth center fees, somehow I seriously doubt that the insurance companies have 1) figured this out 2) any interest in taking on that battle.

Any other takers? Certainly not pharmaceutical companies. I haven't seen "midwifery" on the career builder list of 'Top Ten Best Paying Jobs' lately.

Hmm... anyone have any other ideas where there money from the Natural ChildBirth "industry" is going? Because if it's that lucrative, I'd love to get in on it.

After my son is born, I will hopefully be more qualified to address the hideous comments made in the article comparing childbirth (purposeful pain) to an appendectomy. For now I shall step down from my soapbox and stow it away until next time.

As you were.

Fetal Development - 35 Weeks

Taken from babygaga.com

Fetal development in pregnancy week 35:

Congratulations! You’re now carrying nearly 6 lbs of baby not counting their amniotic fluid, the umbilical cord, or the placenta itself. We’re impressed because that’s a LOT of work non-stop. Are you feeling proud of yourself yet? Well, get to it—you’ve done an amazing job! At this point, your little grower is almost busting out of the womb size-wise, which make their restricted attempts to move much challenging. Of course, your stubborn little sucker is still trying to move around as if they weren’t in a cramped space. And the accumulationg baby fat deposits are starting to level off so your little butter ball will be padded and warm when they head out of their super snug little home.

And how's mom doing?
We’re sure you’ve noted that the contractions are picking up and despite the obvious appeal of getting the pregnancy over with at this point, try not to jump the gun too soon by declaring actual labor. Of course, if it’s getting to the point where you’re having contractions continuously— you’re in labor and yes, it’s time for the grab your bags we’re gonna have a baby" rush. For the rest of you not yet in labor, your watermelon-betwixt-my-legs waddle is as charming as ever, not to mention the glorious ongoing back pain and fatigue. Hang in there! Once you’ve got your miracle baby on the outside, this will all be a dim memory. So, catch the cat naps whenever possible and keep yourself hydrated with water and try to imagine how all of this will (hopefully) be much funnier in hindsight.

Week 34 Midwife appointment

I saw Ann again today. Ethan seems to be coming along perfectly. He's head down, facing my right side (which is how he's supposed to be) and growing right on schedule.

Weight - 172.5
BP - 121/60 (I think...)
Fundal Height - 34 cm
Heart beat - in the 130s

Unfortunately, babies pushing ribs out of place isn't all that uncommon, and being in the perfect position only gives him easy access, but there's not much that can be done. The ice is fine, and they also said Tylenol might be good. I tried that a couple of times at work but I only took one so it may not have been enough. I'll still try to avoid that just because I don't want to take medicine.

We discussed my birth plan... Apparently I don't have anything shocking on there so it won't be any big deal. The main thing is that I don't want it to be offensive or off-putting to the hospital staff and make them feel like I'm handing them my 'order.' In a way though, I think it'll be most important as something for Darrell and Sarah -- not that they don't already know, but it's always good to be prepared.

I think when I go into labor I'll bake some brownies to take for the nurses. Should make them like me more, right?

My lower back is achy today. I hope it's just from not sleeping too well last night. My ribs were hurting and I had a really hard time turning over each time I woke up last night. At one point I woke up on my back and just stayed that way for a while because I couldn't move. Oh well, at least I was sleeping. I'm still very lucky in that regard. No insomnia (which is very common in pregnancy) or physical complaints that keep me awake for long periods.

5 weeks 1 day until the due date. Darrell keeps hoping that Ethan will come early. While I've been convinced he's going to be late, more and more I'm hoping he won't. I don't want to be one of those women whining and griping that they're tired of being pregnant. I've done a little of that and should really spend more time enjoying this.