33 1/2 weeks :)

So I have been going every week for a non stress test and an ultrasound to monitor baby due to my pregnancy induced hypertension (which I hope will go away after I have baby) but now they want me in for 2 ultrasounds/week and no non stress test anymore. I spoke to the midwife for a while, who awesomely listened to everything I had to say and answered all my questions, and she basically said that its something you monitor. I am high risk b/c of the hypertension and it needs to be monitored.. Its a delicate balance in the 3rd trimester btwn what mama and baby needs. I like the fact that I get to see baby that much more each week- but its a royal pain in the tush to go to so many appts. But it won't last forever and one needs to do what one needs to do. This practice is so much better than my old one in terms of location, size and parking!

So the baby is doing well, they just want to make sure that he does everything he should while I have this hypertension. Woohoo. I can't believe that I am going to be 34 weeks pregnant on Friday. I only have 6 weeks left! And it's May on Thursday marking my last official full month of being pregnant. I am ready to be not pregnant- I just want my baby to fully "cook" before he joins the world! :)

I think that labor and delivery seems more realistic and less scary as time goes on b/c the baby has to come out and you really want to meet baby.. Also I want to start using his name in public- I say it to him privately but I am starting to want to use it in sentences and stuff but I find that I have to stop myself. Hopefully I will be able to put it off for another 6 1/2 weeks- we shall see! ;)

32 1/2 weeks!

So now that I am high-risk and have pregnancy induced hypertension (that seems to have gotten under control with the meds I am taking)- I get to see the OB twice a week. On Monday's I get to go for something call a NST- a non stress test, they strap these 2 monitors to my big belly, one monitors contractions, the other monitors baby's heartrate. They are looking for kicks and movement that raises then lowers the heartrate by a certain amount. It doesn't hurt at all and you get to see your baby's heartbeart (well hear) for 30 mins while it records all the goings on.

So my child never kicks when they want him too- it doesn't mean there is something wrong, they just want to make sure he can do everything and kicks appropriately and the baby responds correctly. So he doesn't kick like they want him too, he's just not a big kicker- I don't know what to do abt that- he just doesn't. So then they make me come back for a biophysical which is also called an ultrasound. SO they did one this morning and I am measuring at 35 weeks, 1 day and they think the baby weighs 5lbs, 5oz!!! I have a little man in my belly!!!!

I was happy to hear that, I rather be larger than smaller- he's following after mama's footsteps. But he always passes the biophysical and he is faced down (meaning not breeched) and who knows- he could be getting ready to be born! The thing is even though he might be a bit larger (94 percentile for his age group), he still needs to grow internally at the right pace- nervous system, lung functioning, brain, etc... So we want him to stay still for a bit longer- another month or so, and then I would be more comfy if he wanted to come out.

My mid-wife said that if the baby grows to like 9 1/2 lbs they would offer me a c-section (also the ultrasound tech was like "your baby has a big head!")... and really, I don't know how I feel about it. I mean I would miss most of labor (presuming I don't labor naturally before due date) and it would be so much quicker, but I don't want to have surgery if I don't need to.. And it would be scheduled, so things could be much more planned for.

But as of this moment, no changes have been made, just a big baby- which makes me very happy- good, hearty stock!! After all both the donor father and I are of russian heritage- which makes for good strong people! Hehe!

&&&& I bought my bassinet yesterday and we are gonna make great progress on nursery this weekend! Woohooooooo :) :) :) :)

Childbirth class, nursery

So I didn't update as quickly as I wanted abt the childbirth class - but here I am! It was about 5 hrs, we heard a talk by a peditrican, a cord blood bank rep and saw a couple of videos abt the stages of labor, and some breathing techniques. One of the midwifes in my practice led it, and mom and I sat in the front row so we got to ask any question that came to our mind easily! I would say there was abt 50 people there, so it was good that we sat in the front row! I really want to learn more/focus on breathing and focal points, and just get some more of that down. I have been reading some literature on the breathing stuff- deep breaths, hee- hees (where you kind of put your teeth together and breathe through them) during labor and whatnot. I plan to bring a small photo album with strong pictures in them that will take my mind off of labor and onto other things. We shall see if that works!

I got a happy belated hanukkah present from Ames yesterday for me and bebe! It was 2 Thanksgiving bibs (tres cute!!) and a gift card from Babies R'Us!!! I loved it- thanks!!! I can't remember if I thanked the jeanie/adamz on here abt their gift- but they got me a Rainforest bouncer and that rocks too! Thanks :)

We are starting to set up the nursery and I have to tell you its weird feeling!!!! I mean I have been buying things here and there for a while now, but now its like I am creating a space for another human being to live in- talk abt expectations- I am going to be a mother, a parent, someone who for the rest of their life is going to be looking to me for support, knowledge, guidance, etc.. Very overwhelming but good.

So, its quite a trip this pregnancy thing. And its a long one, but I think it's important to have. Also I think there seems to be several myths surrounding pregnancy. I have had a number of friends mentioning sickness during pregnancy "Oh I hope you aren't to sick" "or I hope baby isnt making you sick." One doesn't really get sick during pregnancy. I mean sickness means an illness and generally your body doesn't have that- generally your body just preps itself for baby. So some womyn experience nausea first trimester- but not all. I didn't.. It's really if your mother did, and mine didn't. I had a couple of moments for sure that I thought I was gonna puke, but I didn't.. I mostly had tiredness this pregnancy. I mean every body, and every baby is completely different. So there is no one way during pregnancy...

Just thought I would leave you with that!!

~31 weeks, 3 days!

Childbirth class

So I attend my first childbirth class tomorrow and hit 31 weeks! Woohoo :) It will be with a midwife from my practice and it should be interesting- I will update tomorrow and tell you all abt it! :)

Pic #1

Enjoy!!!

~30 weeks, 5 days!

TV, Hendrix & nursery

So I have been thinking more about the having TV, not having the TV thing and I had been waivering but I am back to the minimal TV thing.. I rather enjoy and find exciting the possibility of having to think outside the TV box! There is so much to do in this short life of ours and I am eager to start experiencing it... So partly being realistic and realizing that my child will see TV at grandma/grandpas, aunt/uncles- I get that, but when at home we will majorly just live life doing other things. TV/videos are a rainy day type of activity. But I am def. up for the challenge of doing and living life.

Now Hendrix- I am starting to think about labor and delivery and what I am going to focus on while I am there to get me through contractions, etc. I am going to bring a series of pictures and music that hopefully will distract me during contractions and provide some fun brain candy during my stay at the hospital. I am really going into this prepared. I hope to in the next 2 weeks or so start making up my hospital bag and find some really awesome stuff to bring w/me. A womyn told me a story about how she brought a ship with many sails and she said by the time she counted all the sails on the ship her contraction was over. And I thought that was brilliant so I plan to do the same. More on that later..

So I/we are starting to clear this room to prepare for an eventual nursery! How exciting!! yayyyyy :) We are moving out the old and putting in the new (or rather changing furniture around the house that can be utilized in different ways).. which I love reusing things b/c its so great and just makes the world a more functional place- less material footprint type of thing. I will take pics as the room unfolds. We started moving a bookcase today and hopefully this weekend will do some serious moving of stuff around.

I have pics! That I will post tomorrow :) Be on the look out!

They moved my due date by 2 days.. So I am now due June 14th.. So my new week starts every Saturday.

SO I am technically 30 weeks and 3 days today!! ta-ta!

30 weeks tomorrow- eeek!

So my aunt/cousin soooo lovingly decided to give me their bassinet (w/mattress- which you are always supposed to check expiration dates), another infant car seat, and some blankets w/toys for future baby! That makes me happy- papa and I go on Friday to pick it up from their house.

Now I know I have alot of pics to show and I promised a belly shot.. But since I only have a cell phone camera to use the pictures are somewhat smaller and hard to tell.. but I will try!

Here is the baby book I had as a child and I found an extra copy of:


Here is a belly pic- enjoy!


~29 weeks, 6 days!