Not Too Much Longer Now

I had my 38 week OB appointment today only to discover that I am in labor.  Technically, I'm in slow labor and about 25% there.  That's 25% of the way I need to be before pushing.  I will spare the general public of the exact details (dilation, effacement, etc.).  But, for those who want to know, you can message me and I'll tell you.


The doctor said I've progressed further than most women at this stage.  So, he could come tomorrow or in 2 weeks. There is just no knowing.


I did have a few contractions yesterday.  However, I had about 3 the whole day.  They were VERY spread out.  This can also go on for quite some time.  It's still promising though.  And I was definitely surprised to discover I'd come as far as I had.


Tonight, I've been having some cramping in my lower back and on and off cramping all over.  Contractions and active labor could be soon! There's no way to know until it happens!


In the event that he does come sooner rather than later, I'll provide some stats.  He is now the size of a watermelon.  Granted, watermelon sizes vary quite a lot.  But that is the last fruit.  And his heart rate is a healthy 140 bpm!

So now it's just a guessing game of whether we'll have a June bug or a July baby! ;)

Decisions Decisions

Yesterday, with nothing to watch on television, my sister-in-law and I browsed Netflix to see if there might be something we'd be interested in watching.  We browsed for quite some time before this documentary entitled "Pregnant in America" came up.  We were both intrigued, so we decided to watch it.  After seeing it, I "felt a blog coming on." 


First of all, the documentary really was informative in many ways.  And I do think it was worth watching.  The makers of it have a website called www.pregnantinamerica.com with a wealth of resources for any woman who is thinking of becoming pregnant, pregnant, or interested in learning more about the American health care system.  


I had mixed feelings, however, when watching it.  They did not necessarily come from an unbiased point-of-view.  In fact, most of what the documentary set out to do was point out all of the flaws in hospitals, doctors, nurses, etc. and highlight the positive points of home births, midwives, and more natural methods of childbirth.  They attempted to behave as though they were simply trying to find out information, but I didn't care for their angle.  With the exception of about 2, most of the doctors and nurses were portrayed in a very negative light.  While, on the other hand, all midwives or anyone not in the medical field were described as "great, wonderful, amazing, etc." 


One woman on the documentary actually said something along the lines of, "All doctors want to push medicine such as epidurals and pitocin." This actually really upset me.  My doctor is NOT pushing any of that.  In fact, she is very open to me doing what I want.  She said she had all of her children without an epidural.  So, I was very annoyed at that blanket statement.  I feel the need to stick up for doctors and nurses when I hear negative comments about them because it's as if they're being portrayed as evil.  


I know people who are hard-working nurses doing what they can for mothers and babies.  My own doctor is an example of someone who does not push views on me, but lets me make my own decisions.  Are there people in the system you can't trust? Yes.  For example, I was recently touring the labor and delivery with my sister-in-law and one of the nurses.  When the nurse asked if there were any questions, I told her that my doctor had recently told me about a birthing bar.  So, I wanted to know where it was since I couldn't see it.  She showed me where it was and said I need to make sure I request it when I get there.  However, she quickly followed that up with, "But most birthing plans go right out the window when you get here." I didn't see any need for that comment.  She only needed to answer about the birthing bar.  I'm sure she was just going from her experience, but I also do not want somebody telling me that I am not going to do what I plan.  If I change my mind at the time, okay.  But don't try to push something else on me.


And this is one of the points the documentary was making clear.  Many women are being pushed into decisions for the convenience of the doctor.  If the doctor doesn't want to stay long, a cesarian can be pushed.  Inductions are taking place for the doctor's schedule when they do not need to happen.  I do think that these are important things to be informed about.  Simultaneously, I think it's important to take a look at both sides. I recently heard of an experience where a midwife told a woman that preeclampsia was not a big deal.  The woman and her child ended up in an emergency situation in the hospital.  The man and his wife, who filmed the documentary, had their baby at home and ended up having to go to the hospital because the baby's health was quickly fading.  She survived because she was treated.


The thing is that women have the right to make their own decisions and ask questions.  If the doctor doesn't want to answer the questions or pushes ideas on the patient, switching doctors is an option.  In the documentary, the man's sister had to switch doctors because one was pushing an unnecessary c-section.  The second doctor allowed her to deliver without it.  Ironically, the first doctor was on vacation the day after she delivered her baby.  It's also okay to request another nurse if one nurse is not very supportive.  A woman has the right to do what she feels is best for her and her baby.  


So, my point is, I personally believe that there is no need to pit one side against another.  There are caring people and irresponsible people in both areas.  And, in the end, it's a matter of educating yourself and taking the initiative to go with somebody who cares be it a doctor or a midwife.

Nursery Time

In one of my previous posts, I had posted a few pictures of the nursery in the works.  Well, now that we are in a new 3 bedroom house, the baby actually has his own room as a nursery.  I like this rather than having to split it between his bedroom and the spare bedroom.


So, now that we are here, we have completed the nursery.  And I have, of course, taken pictures for everyone to see.  

 He won't be sleeping in the crib for awhile, but I set it up for now because I wanted to see how everything would go together.  One thing I found interesting was this.

On the quilt, there is a raccoon in a tree above a chipmunk holding an acorn.  Well, I had drawn two pictures in high school that my mother had framed for me quite awhile ago.  I asked for the pictures because I felt they would go with the nursery theme.

As it turns out, my pictures are of a raccoon in a tree above a chipmunk holding a nut.  I never did finish the chipmunk picture, so the nut isn't colored in.  But here is a picture of the drawings so you can see the comparison.

Then, I have a little corner for rocking and holding him.

Finally, there is a little area where we are going to keep his lamp, baby monitors, and a few other items.  Underneath the fabric is the drawer set holding a few clothes, blankets, towels, sheets, etc.

Lee posted a picture of himself above the stand. I think it looks cute!

So, there is the nursery! :) Finally complete!

Moving Right Along

I had my 36 week check up this past Wednesday, and it was a long one.  There is a lot to cover now that the due date is so close.  I think I'm still partially in denial about it, though. Because there is a part of me that isn't ready to prepare for the birth.  I have packed my hospital bag, but I still don't feel ready.

Anyway, at the visit, I found out some very good things about the baby! First of all, his heartbeat was in the 130 range.  That was very good! Secondly, I did tell my doctor that I was unsure of his position.  So, she got out the ultrasound machine in order to figure out exactly how he was lying in there.  My anterior placenta makes it hard to figure out the baby's position by just feeling my abdomen.

Well, the ultrasound revealed that he is head down! He is actually in a position called the left occiput anterior.  This means his head is down, and his body is going up along my left side with his bottom on top and his feet on my right side.  It looks like this.

This is a great position for birth.  So, I hope he stays this way or close to it.  I think he's big enough now that it would be pretty difficult for him to move in a drastically different position.  He is so big now that it is hard to tell what is what anymore on the ultrasound. But there are a few things that you can see clearly such as his feet and hands.  From what I could see on the ultrasound, his head is actually facing my back.  No features such as ears, eyes, a nose, or mouth were visible at all.  His head just looked like a melon.

Speaking of melons, he is now the size of a honeydew melon! He has been a honeydew for 3 weeks now, I think.  But I figured I'd bring it up now as there is only 1 more fruit to go after this one!

I did compare melons in the produce section.  So, technically a honeydew is about the same size as a cantaloupe or a baby watermelon.  So, take your pick between the other two in case you don't like the honeydew melon.

I've been experiencing some intense braxton hicks contractions recently.  My doctor said that this could be a sign that labor actually isn't so far away.  My braxton hicks have had me actually feeling like I can't even talk sometimes.  She said that even though these aren't real labor contractions, the uterus is still a muscle and the contractions do happen for a reason.  So, sometimes, at this stage, they can actually push the baby downwards; thus, they are preparing me for labor.  However, this could still go on until my due date or later.   There is really no way of knowing until the day arrives! 

After seeing him in there on the ultrasound, I can't imagine it is comfortable to be that cramped in there! I'm not a baby and do not remember being in the womb ;), so it could be extremely comfortable for him! 

Aside from going to the bathroom about 4 times in 1 hour, I actually feel okay.  As excited as I am that my due date is so close, it's hard to believe that I could actually have my own baby in my arms in just 1 month from now! 

More Things I Didn't Know

I wrote a post a couple of months ago about things that nobody had told me to expect in pregnancy.  However, there are a few more things that I have learned just from being pregnant.  These things refer more to the baby in particular.  So, I wanted to share them! 


1.) Due Date & Full Term
Today, I am 35 weeks (going by my original due date).  So, that means I have 5 weeks to go.
BUT! I have only 2 weeks until he is considered full term meaning that if he's born in two weeks, they won't consider him premature.  However, if my ultrasound due date is correct, I have 3 more weeks until he is full term.


2.) So why cook so long?
I think other people surely have wondered this when they learned what I did.  It seems odd that a baby is full term at 37 weeks, but due at 40 weeks.  One of my pregnancy books says, "Because pregnancy is not fair" HAHA! But not really.  It is because even though they are technically developed at 37 weeks, their immune system needs to develop further (as well as the lungs in some cases).


3.) White Baby Boy Syndrome
Speaking of lungs, one of my coworkers had told me that one reason I really want to carry the baby to 40 weeks is due to what she refers to as "White Baby Boy Syndrome." I had never heard of this. Ever. Anywhere.
I looked it up and, although it has a name, it's more of a generalized term that people have coined than a fact.
HOWEVER, there is statistical data that shows baby boys tend to take longer to develop than baby girls.  They use this based on babies they see in the NICU.  Girls are more often more developed at earlier stages.  My coworker said the "White Baby Boy Syndrome" had to do with the fact that baby boys' lungs are usually not as developed as baby girls.
I don't consider this really a syndrome or even something to go preaching, but I will use caution now.  This is why, if my baby comes early, I want them to check his lungs.


4.) Comfortable Inside
Gordon Lee is positioned inside me like this

I know this because of where I am feeling movements.  Plus, I can actually feel his head very distinctly now.  It feels like a small ball, so I know where it is.  

Well, I didn't know what to call this position.  So, when I last saw my doctor, I told her I was 99% sure he was in there "sideways." She looked at me and said, "That means he is transverse." So I learned a new term! This position is called transverse.  Some people referred to it as breech, but breech is only when the baby's head is up and feet are down vertically.  

Upon examination, my doctor agreed that he is transverse.  But she said not to worry about it as this is apparently not too difficult of a position for a baby to go from to head down.

I've also been practicing a few exercises that are recommended to help turn a transverse baby head down.  One of them is getting on all fours and stretching your arms out in front of you like a cat.  This baby is stubborn, though.  He has turned toward the head down position only to move back to transverse when I get up.

5.) Braxton Hicks Contractions aren't Necessarily Painless

On Tuesday, I woke up with my abdomen cramping on and off.  It was so uncomfortable.  I actually became kind of concerned that I was having contractions.  Not wanting to call the hospital in case they were braxton hicks, I decided to try things like drinking more water to see if that would help.  Unlike real contractions, braxton hicks contractions are supposed to go away if you change activities or do something like drinking water.  The water did make it go away, so I realized they weren't real contractions.

But I'm going to be honest.  It was not painless.  

6.) And Finally One Thing That has Been Different for me Than What People Have Told me

A lot of people have said to me that when you get into late pregnancy, you won't be as excited when the baby moves because it hurts so much.  Last night, he was positioned with some body part poking into my ribs and his head jutting out of my right side like he wanted to come out that way.  It hurt so much! I couldn't sleep on my right side.  

But, I still don't even care if it hurts, I like it when my baby moves.  It is reassurance that he is alive in there! So, even if I have to get a jab in the ribs or pee every hour because he is on my bladder, I am just happy to know he is moving and doing well.

My belly jumps around now when he moves.  And it does hurt, but it's still a miracle to me and it makes me happy. :)

A Little Birdie

Almost anybody who knows me knows that I love songbirds.  There are a few here and there that I don't enjoy.  But I absolutely love watching the friendly songbirds who make life pleasant.  I don't even care if the only other people who also enjoy this are older women.  I enjoy what I enjoy no matter what my age is.  I think what I love most about watching the birds is that you can see rare species not seen very often if you put out the right things and watch at the right times of the year.
Two vibrantly colored species I saw several times in Virginia were the Indigo Bunting and the Scarlet Tanager. It's the males that are covered in beautiful bold colors as females are brown to blend in with a nest.  However, they are still a glorious sight to see!

When I catch a glimpse of one of these birds I just sit and stare at the beauty of God's creation.  They are only these wonderful colors during the Spring and Summer time when the male must stand out to keep predators away from the nest.  They are also only in the United States for that period of time as they abide in Mexico and further south the rest of the year.

One bird that I am on the lookout for here now that I am in Georgia is the Painted Bunting.

This bird would be a fantastic one to see and its range does include Georgia.  I still have yet to see one though.

Anyway, now that I have laid the background information out as to why I am so intrigued by birds, I have to say how interesting it is to see TWO big comparisons between myself and a bird being pregnant.

1.) From a frontal view, the pregnant belly really can appear to be shaped like an egg!

        I was commenting to my husband the other day on what it might be like if I actually had to lay an egg instead of carry the baby around at all times.  

• I certainly would have had to quit working right away.  I'm sure there would be no sitting on eggs and teaching.  Plus a bird must rotate the eggs every so often and add moisture.
• BUT I wouldn't have any personal weight gain as the child would be able to grow in the egg...unless of course I put on weight by sitting too much.

Although it would be nice to have the extra weight off, I also don't know what I'd think about sitting on an egg all day.

2.) At the end of pregnancy, there is a behavior that they call "nesting." Many people know that this is when a pregnant woman has an insatiable desire to clean house and organize.  

I have found that I have had nesting spurts! One day I will wake up and need to clean everything in sight! The next day I'll feel like I don't have the energy to do a thing! Today is one of my nesting days as I just keep thinking "The house can't be like this when the baby gets here."

I think that I will probably do it increasingly as I get closer to my due date!

On that topic, my due date is now roughly 5-6 weeks away! I am going by my original due date of July 14th for now.  That's the due date that my doctor is using, so it makes it easier for me to just go by that one also.  Otherwise, I'd start getting confused about which appointments to make when.  The other due date, if I go by the ultrasound, is 8 days after the 14th. 

I'm still hanging onto that second date for a couple of reasons.  If the baby is born earlier than the due date, he still may be a week younger than they think.  So, I want his lungs to be checked to make sure they are developed enough.  Also, if I go past my due date, I am still going to hold out that extra week in the event that he really wasn't due on the 14th after all and that I do not need to be induced on July 21st as my true due date would be right around then.  

Anyway, that's all for now! There are a lot of babies being born and due right around now it's hard to believe!

Summer Pregnancy Must-Haves

Since this is my first and only pregnancy so far, I don't know what it's like to not be pregnant in the summer.  Technically, I've been pregnant through all 4 seasons.  Although the summer has not officially started, it is hot enough for me to consider it summer here.  Plus, school is out now which constitutes as summer vacation.


Anyway, many people have said that being pregnant during the summer is not desirable. And I think they meant being in your third trimester.  Because this is the time that I've found pregnancy really starts getting to you. :) But seeing as how I have no other experiences to compare this pregnancy to, I have to say it isn't intolerable.....as long as you are prepared with the right things!


What are those things? You ask.  Well, in my personal experience, these are the things that a woman who is pregnant during the summer must have for optimum comfort.


1.) Flip Flops or Sandals

For a number of reasons, regular shoes have become nothing more than an aggravation to me.  My feet really aren't even swollen.  They are slightly puffier than usual, but they aren't bad at all.  Still, a full-coverage shoe feels restricting. Plus, not to be gross, but your body heat is higher when you are pregnant.  Therefore, I've found myself sweating VERY easily in the summer including my feet.  Imagine having that stuffed into a shoe.  GROSS! So, I feel that flip flops let my feet breathe.  I haven't worn anything except flip flops since the beginning of May.

2.) Water!

Pregnant women are supposed to up their water intake as it is to 2 liters of water a day.  It's actually very hard to do when you aren't thirsty.  I have found that pregnancy often leaves you feeling thirsty, which makes the water intake easier.  Yet, I have found that with this summer heat I am craving even more water.  I never leave the house without my water bottle now.  I carry around a 1 liter bottle of water that I refill when necessary.  And I actually think I remember to grab my water before my keys or my purse now!

3.) Lightweight Maternity Dresses!

The pictured dress is actually one that I own.  I did not feel like modeling my maternity dress just for a blog (besides, in my Weeble Blog, you can see two of my dresses).  So, I went to the Motherhood website and found a dress that I own.  A lightweight summer dress is essential.  I couldn't imagine wearing anything else! I have a couple of dresses that I wear and that's pretty much it.  I do have 2 skirts with tank tops, but I actually prefer my dresses to anything else.  

4.) A Pony Tail, Bun, or ANY way to get my hair UP

Granted, most women don't like having their hair in the way when they are hot.  But, as I said before, you are even HOTTER when you are pregnant. ;) And I can hardly go a day without getting my hair up.  It's just another way to stay cool.

So, for anyone who is also pregnant during the summer, or might be, I hope these little things could be helpful.  I imagine those who are also pregnant right now have probably found their own ways of getting comfortable anyway. :)