Growing a Family

Appointment update

Baby boy's new anthem:

I'm Going Down - Bruce Springsteen

Head down!  Woohoo!  I'd been feeling pretty sure he'd "seen the light," so to speak, because I feel hiccups consistently nice and low and to the left.  Sure enough, his head is low and centered (looking to my right side), his back comes up along my left, and his "small parts" (arms and legs) are hanging out mostly in the space to the right.  Rock on, kiddo!  That's a great way to be.

My fundal height is 34 cm.  Blood pressure was something low like 102/64.  My pulse was crazy-fast at 90(!), but Rick and I both think that she (Monika, the student midwife) only took it for 6 seconds, which allows a lot of room for error.  When Rick took it later on at bedtime for 30 seconds, he came up with 70, which sounds more realistic.  Baby's heartrate was where it likes to be-- high 130s to low 140s.

This was the first appointment Rick had been able to go to-- for whatever reason, he'd always been on shift or shuttling kids for the other ones.  So it was nice for him to see Mary again and to meet Monika.  Deborah was there too, but I'm not sure they got the chance to meet because she was busy when we arrived.  Mary gave Rick homework to make me do kick counts every night.  I've been doing them, but she wants them done at a set time and thinks partners are good for enforcing that.  Yes ma'am!  On that note, last night, it took the baby about 7 minutes to have 10 movements at 8:100ish and 3 minutes at 10:00ish.

I got lectured about taking enough time off for recovery after the birth.  I had been thinking a week; they say two is minimal.  Fine, fine.  Maybe I'll work from home the second week.  I also asked for a refresher on when I can resume exercise after the birth.  They gave a green light to walking at 2 weeks and regular activity at 6 weeks.  That works for me-- I just wanted to have a timeframe in mind.  I was very, very excited to be asked to be in a wedding for one of my best friends next summer, so I'll be motivated to shed this baby weight ASAP!

Oh, speaking of, Mary told me I looked like I was "in the zone" and then proceeded to indicate how fat my cheeks have gotten.  Ha!  So much for the euphemisms of appointments past.  Simi, you look like a chubby chipmunk.  It would be nice to send a memo to my body that the maternal fat stores really aren't so necessary this time.  Alas.  At least they seem to please Mary.

I've noticed in the past couple of days that I'm feeling more late-pregnancy-ish.  When I walk, my whole pelvis feels heavier or something, like the bones are starting to loosen up and shift around.  I don't think I'm waddling (thank you), but there's a different feel to my walk for sure.  There's a name for that, but I can't remember it.  I've been losing words more lately-- another late pregnancy symptom, I'm sure.

Last thing: I seem to have developed a yucky cold.  I was just starting to maybe have a sore throat yesterday afternoon and last night it "blossomed" into a much more sore throat and some congestion.  No fever, so for now I'm letting it run its course.  Consider this a bonus installation of antibodies for baby boy.  Lucky I like him so much.

 

35 weeks

Lately, baby boy has on-days and off-days.  Saturday was an off-day: little bursts of activity throughout the day, but mostly quiet.  Sunday was ON.  Baby boy did not stop moving literally from before I got up to after I went to bed!  I don't know where he found the energy, but it was there in abundance.  Today, we're back to being quiet.  Little check-ins every few hours, but no furniture rearrangement like yesterday.  Truth be told, I much prefer the active days, even as he starts to get big and really throw his weight around, which is not always completely comfortable.  When I don't feel him for a while, I have to poke at him and annoy him until he kicks me.  I like knowing he's there.  Sorry to be a pest, baby.

I'm still feeling great.  We spent most of the afternoon on Friday walking around out in the heat when we went to pick up Andie at camp, and, for the first time that I've noticed, I did see a little swelling in my ankles that night.  But I think just about anyone would have reacted to that and, even so, the swelling was very minor and went away by the time I woke up on Saturday.  Since resuming my regular air-conditioned, slothful ways, no swelling at all.  The only other symptom I notice is an increased susceptibility to sappiness-- I'll cry at the drop of a hat!  But, ignore the belly and the tears and you wouldn't even know I was pregnant.

I had another uneventful chiropractor appointment this morning and have what I expect will be an uneventful midwife appointment on Wednesday.  The birth supplies have arrived at our house and Rick will be using his days off this week to do some final deep-cleaning before our home visit next Tuesday, when everything should be ready to go for the birth.  I truly doubt we're a week away from delivery (I almost laugh just typing that, it seems so outrageous!), but in a week we'll be cleared for a homebirth, so everything needs to be in place.  Craziness.

A month away, probably?  Even that seems so soon.  How is it that everything felt like it was taking forever and then suddenly a year has passed and we're this close to meeting this much-loved baby boy?  What a ride it's been.  I'm sure I'll miss him, but I really can't wait to return him to his family and see the joy he brings.  Ack, the tears!  Told you I cry easily!

 

34 weeks

And all is well.  Chiropractor visit today was predictably boring.  She alleges that my left ankle was just slightly swollen, but I can't tell, so who knows.  Otherwise, it was just another "see you next week" appointment.  She did say "baby's getting big!" when she saw me, which is another veiled "you're kind-of huge!" remark (I got one from Mary last week).  I'm onto you, people.  :)

I do think baby boy is head down.  He had hiccups again last night and they were low and on my right side-- I could barely feel them if I put my hand on top of my belly, but they were strong on the bottom.  Plus I feel most of the big kicks on top.  So I'm going with vertex.  Good boy.

I finally ordered the birth kit today, after saying I was going to do it for the past week.  So that should show up sometime in the next several days.  I guess once the birth supplies get here, we'll gather up the other supplies (sheets and towels and whatnot).  It's nearly impossible for me to believe that we only have two weeks to get all of that done!

And that's really it.  Still no complaints.  Still nothing that makes me think labor is anything closer than a month away.  I'm goign to work every day and watching old episodes of "Mad Men" and reading a lot.  Andie is off at sleepaway camp for the week, so I'm pining for her and hoping she's not missing me nearly as much.  Rick's happy at work and Mariela is spending some QT with her Grandma.  Just a lot of regular ol' life stuff, with some sweet baby kicks thrown in for good measure.  It's a good summer!

Yesterday's appointment

I met with Mary and Monica yesterday for a nice, long appointment.  I think what took so much time was all of the chatting we did about births we'd seen in the past week (because, really-- how often can I contribute to that conversation?).

After palpating my uterus and listening with the fetoscope, Mary said she would put money on baby boy being vertex.  She did a vaginal exam to check too, just because he fooled her last time (maybe-- I'm not convinced he didn't flip after the appointment) and she wanted to see if she could feel a head internally as well as externally.  She thinks she did, but she's going to check again in two weeks and make the "final" call then (35 weeks) and then I can go to the ultrasound place to confirm.  In the meantime, no inversions for me-- if there is a head down there, we don't want to dislodge it!

Turns out I'm also about 1 centimeter dilated, which of course is meaningless, but might help temper our excitement if she checks later on and I'm still 1 cm then.

Blood pressure was 112/72 or something like that-- still where it should be.  No swelling.  My resting pulse is still crazy high for me, but I guess normal considering I have 50% extra blood volume.

Mary suggested two topics to talk to the kids about prior to the birth.  First, noises, which I've already pretty well covered with my girls.  In that topic too is the whole idea that there will be pain and the pain is normal and temporary.  Second, blood.  Normal blood loss in a birth is 2 cups of blood, which could be scary if you weren't expecting it.  She suggested showing what 2 cups of ketchup looks like.  I hadn't really thought to mention that, so I'll be sure we talk about it soon.

Mary also said she expects to cry at this birth, because she already feels emotional about it.  She's never delivered a surrogate baby before, but the closest experience she's had are adoptions and she's always cried at those.  I think there's much more loss for the delivering mom (Mary's client) in an adoption scenario, so I absolutely see why they would be emotional.  I know Mary still feels emotional about our losing Iris too.  Anyway, I know that if Mary cries, we'll all cry.  It's going to be like a Lifetime movie or something in there!

When I say "we'll all cry," I really am talking about a crowd.  Here's who I expect to be in the house:

- Me, Rick, Andie, Mariela, my mom Lyndy (my family)

- Cara, Rob, Rafa (baby's family)

- Mary, Monica, Debra (midwives)

- Julia (photographer)

- baby boy (guest of honor)

So a grand total of 13?  Assuming nobody crashes the party?  It's like hosting Thanksgiving, minus having to cook a turkey (plus getting to deliver a baby).  We have a big room way off on the side of the house where the computer and tv are, so I think we can coral at least the kids and my mom (to supervise) in there until the very end.  And there's enough room in the rest of the house to spread out and get whatever privacy we need.  We'll embrace all 2200+ square feet!  Actually, thinking about it that way, there's 170 sq. ft. oer person-- that's a lot!  It'll work out just fine.  :)

I think I'll order the birth supplies today.  We have to have everything ready by our home visit, which is July 27.  That's getting close!  That means I also need to enlist some deep cleaning help from Rick-- things like changing air filters and cleaning ceiling fan blades.

Meanwhile, I know Cara and Rob are busy getting everything ready at home for the baby so it's all set before they leave to come out here to our lovely, muggy city.  A couple of months from now, they'll all be settled in as a family of four and won't even remember what it was like to not have a sweet baby boy in the house.  Ahhh...

33 weeks

Less than a month now until Cara, Rob, and Rafa become temporary Austin residents.  :)  It's hard to believe it's July already.  The months have definitely slipped by faster than I imagined they would.  I guess that's usually the case.  We're within a stone's throw of 36 weeks (last week of July), which is arguably "term."  Crazy.

I spent a magical morning at the hospital yesterday with my cousin and his wife, who was delivering their second baby boy.  She was such a rockstar.  They called me right before 6 in the morning (such a considerate baby, giving me a full night's sleep) and when I met them in triage, she was already 7 cm and just as happy as a clam.  By the time we settled into the labor and delivery room, she was 8 cm and still doing well.  She got stuck there for a while, which shook her resolve, but she never raised her voice or anything (and this was all-natural/drug-free, in case that wasn't clear).  I think she moaned a little twice, crazy-strong woman.  Eventually, the doctor talked her into letting the doc break her water.  From there to delivery, it was 30 minutes!  10 minutes of pushing.  Baby Elijah was born at 9:44 a.m. on July 4th and weighed 8 lbs., 2 oz.  I was there as her support person and took some pictures too.  It was such a great experience.  Ah, birth.

It was nice to see such a positive birth as we're getting so close to this baby boy's arrival.  I've been very disinterested in reading much about birth this time-- as compared to when I was pregnant with my own girls and devoured everything I could on the subject.  I suppose that's part of it-- I've read a lot of what's out there already.  The other big difference is that, in addition to my own girls, I've now witnessed quite a few births since I had a little stint as a birth photographer for a couple of years.  I have a lot of confidence in the process (even having seen some not-ideal situations) and also a pretty deep realization that birth is not something you can really control-- you're just there for the ride.  Surrender is key.  Sounds so simple.  Ha.  Oh, and for the record-- I make no claims of being a strong, silent type like my cousin-in-law.  :)

I do think baby boy is vertex again, since I'm feeling kicks up high these days, instead of the weird scrambling-on-the-pelvic-floor feeling I had before.  Let's hope so.  I'll see what the chiropractor says today and the midwife says on Wednesday.  If we all agree, I'll call the 3D ultrasounds place again, even though I'm sure by now they're pretty sure I'm a little crazy.

Oh!  At the hospital yesterday, two of the nurses and the doctor all did double-takes (separate times) before realizing I was pregnant.  In my eighth month of pregnancy, I'll take that as a compliment!  They were all very excited about the surrogacy when we talked about it.

I do have a new symptom to report, which is that I can't eat as much these days.  Rick made pesto shrimp and spaghetti on Saturday night and I could hardly touch it.  Last night, we had a hamburger and it made me uncomfortably full.  Blech.  Rich foods are the worst, but in general, I can definitely tell this baby has claimed part of my stomach volume.  More frequent, much smaller meals for me!  Not a problem.

32 weeks

Time for the every-4-weeks stats:

Weight: 195.4 (that 2-0-0 is lurking right around the corner!)
Girth (ha! around the belly button): 41.5"

I think neither one of those are big (if any) changes from 4 weeks ago.

Belly pic:

32weeks

I was tired today (from staying up late talking to Rick last night-- can't blame it on the pregnancy!) and it shows a bit.  And apparently all the "girth" I've gained in the past few weeks is being stored in my cheeks for the winter.  Ah well.

I went to the chiropractor this morning and stinker baby is still breech.  Turn, baby, turn!  This is despite 2 15-minute sessions spent laying inverted on an ironing board yesterday.  I'll be going every week now, so hopefully little one is convinced that breech is not cool.

Otherwise, just more of the same.  Feeling great when I'm smart enough to go to bed before 1 a.m.  :)    Baby had a slower day today compared to last week, so maybe he was tired too.  Or maybe he was thinking really hard about how great it is to be vertex and was saving his energy for a tumbling show later on.  Right now, he's rolling around moving furniture or something, but no flips that I can feel.  Yesterday, he spent a good amount of time pretending my bladder was a trampoline-- that was fun!

Uncooperative baby AGAIN

Would you believe baby boy was breech AGAIN at the 3D ultrasound today?  Believe it!

This time, he didn't have his face smooshed against the placenta, so it was a tiny bit clearer.  Still no really great views, though.  We're invited back to try again, if he ever STAYS vertex.  Stinker.

We did get to see his perfect little lips yawn, though-- that was very cute.  And he had a little double chin.  :)

Ultrasound 026

Great appointment

It's confirmed-- baby boy is vertex again!  At my appointment this afternoon, the student midwife, Monica, felt first and thought he was head down, but then the supervising midwife, Debra, said she thought he might be breech when she felt around.  So they brought out the fetoscope and checked fetal heart tones with that, to see where they were loudest.  They both agreed they were loudest in the lower part of my belly, which supported a vertex presentation.  Debra felt again and decided Monica had been right.  BUT, since she was in the building, they had my regular midwife Mary come in and triple check.  Mary declared him vertex right away and showed me how to feel his head too.  And Mary has a 99.7% accuracy rate.  :)  YAY!  Good going, baby boy.  Just where you're supposed to be.

And I got my gestational diabetes test results today and they were fantastic-- my 1-hour fasting glucose level was 96 and anything under 140 is passing.  YEEHA!  They tested my iron levels too, which were also just fine and dandy.

I was surprised that they said it's time to start preparing supplies for the birth.  What?  Really?  But since they'll deliver at 36 weeks and that's only 4.5 weeks away, well... I guess it's time.  Eek!  I need to pull out the instruction sheet and see what all that entails.

My fundal height was 31 cm (right on track).  Baby's heartrate was in the 140s (typical for him).  My blood pressure was something boring like 112/70.  Couldn't ask for a better appointment-- everything looks great!

On my way out, I called the 3D ultrasound place and they've scheduled me for a quick sneak-peek tomorrow at 10:30.  *Hopefully* baby boy cooperates this time and I'll get some pictures of his sweet face.  It won't be transmitted live so Cara and Rob can see, but I hope, hope, hope the pictures mean it's worth it anyway!

31 weeks

I never heard back about my gestational diabetes test, but I'm hesitant to jump to the conclusion that I passed, mostly because I keep hearing about other people failing!  But surely they would have called me, right?  I probably passed.

At the chiropractor, she agreed that baby boy had gone back to being head down.  She said the way she can tell what she's feeling is a head or a butt is that a head moves independently (she can gently move it and the rest of the baby/my belly stays still), while the butt is attached the the whole body, so when she tries to move it, everything moves.  That's hard to explain in words, but it made sense to me at the time.  :)

She also said that I was her most boring patient.  Again, that's quite ok with me!  I'm now n an every-two-weeks schedule with her as well, unless baby boy keeps trying to flip breech-- then we'll go to every week.

I have a midwife appointment this Wednesday and will have her check baby boy's position too.  If she agrees that he's vertex, I'll call the 3D ultrasound place and see if we can come in to get some face pictures.

Other than that, not much to report.  Baby boy has been very active and is obviously getting much bigger.  Yesterday, Mariela was sitting with me on the couch and we were both giggling at how much he was moving my belly/dress every time he kicked.  He's shy, though-- anytime she tried to rest her hand on my belly to feel him, he'd get quiet until she gave him some space again.

I still have no complaints whatsoever.  I feel like I get bigger every day and it's hard to imagine that I still have 8 (optimism there) weeks to go.  Just six weeks until Cara, Rob, and Rafa get to Austin!

30 weeks

Wow!  This definitely feels like a milestone.  30 weeks.  One of the pregnancy websites compares his size this week to a small yorkshire terrier (about 3 pounds).  Ha!

I took my gestational diabetes test this morning.  I drank the drink completely fasted-- first thing this morning, before breakfast.  I hope that doesn't come back to bite me.  The lab took two tubes of blood, which is more than I remember in the past, but no big deal.  I guess I'll have results later this week?

I suspect that baby boy has already flipped back to vertex position.  I spent some time upside down (laying on an ironing board) after the ultrasound on Saturday morning and then felt lots of stretching and pulling at the top of my uterus after I got up, which I hope was a somersault.  He has plenty of time to settle in, but I need him to know that breech is unacceptable.  :)  I have a chiropractor appointment at 11:30.  I don't know how good she is at palpating to determine fetal position, but maybe she can give me a clue about whether he's vertex again.

I was up late last night watching the Tony Awards, so I skipped the morning workout today.  I think I'll try to swing by the gym after I pick up Mariela this afternoon-- can't break my awesome third trimester fitness streak!

Overall, still feeling fantastic.  No complaints, other than passing annoyance at the breech issue (which will be a non-issue).  School's out and summer is here.  We're in the homestretch!