I'm so excited! Today's trip to the OB revealed that I am between 1 and 2 centimeters dilated and 80% effaced. Woo hoo! I wasn't expecting that, and now I am anticipating Uno's arrival more than ever. My strep test was negative, and everything else looked good, too.
Dr. S said she does not think Uno will be as big as 8 lbs when he arrives. Glad to hear that. She did say it could be another two weeks before he gets here, even though I have started dilating. Frankly, I kind of need two more weeks to finish work and get ready, but whenever he comes after Sunday, when I will be officially 37 weeks and full term, will be fine. Dr. S added that the first 3 centimeters can take the longest, so since I am already progressing, she said I should not have one of those 20-hour labors. Well, that sounds just fine to me! Let's hope she's right.
HK and I had a class with the doula yesterday, and we found it very worthwhile. It reinforced some things we heard in the hospital class and gave us some new information, too. She tried to teach the moms the most effective way to push during delivery. Hopefully that will help me help Uno get out faster.
On another note, if you have a moment, please say a prayer for Sara, as she endures a rough pregnancy that is really taking its toll on her.
Monday, October 27, 2008
Saturday, October 25, 2008
Pictures
Here are some long-promised pictures of various events/things.
A belly shot from sometime in August that I did not want taken:
Chase Tower, the building where I work, after Hurricane Ike:
Piles of broken glass in the street, and the poor trees. Just this past week we got the windows replaced on our floor, but many offices, including mine, are still under reconstruction:
A flower that mysteriously appeared and bloomed in our garden after Ike. Anyone know what this is?
HK at our baby shower with a very soft blanket for Uno:
Me with a gift for Uno, hand made by a friend from church:
A belly shot from sometime in August that I did not want taken:
Chase Tower, the building where I work, after Hurricane Ike:
Piles of broken glass in the street, and the poor trees. Just this past week we got the windows replaced on our floor, but many offices, including mine, are still under reconstruction:
A flower that mysteriously appeared and bloomed in our garden after Ike. Anyone know what this is?
HK at our baby shower with a very soft blanket for Uno:
Me with a gift for Uno, hand made by a friend from church:
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Eight Months Pregnant
Hello! I saw the OB yesterday, which will be a weekly event now until Uno arrives. I was 35 weeks along as of Sunday, but I am calling it Eight Months Pregnant, as Oct. 23rd is just two days away, and one month sounds shorter than five weeks.
As Dr. S put it, any remnants of the "honeymoon" phase of pregnancy is over. Another month like this? And I'm still just going to get bigger and more uncomfortable? I suppose there is a grand design for it -- so that I am good and ready to get that baby out. Which I am sure I will be.
I had to wait an hour in the waiting room, and during that time I finished the latest issue of "Baby Talk" magazine, which I admit I regularly steal from the office, but they do have a ton of them. The overhead music, which I usually appreciate, seemed too loud and was just getting on my nerves. The magazine had a story about a woman who passed all the usual tests for fetal abnormalities but then delivered a baby girl with Down Syndrome. I had to quit reading twice to keep from bursting into tears. All of this to say I was quite emotional and on edge. I was sleep deprived and coming off of a big weekend -- more about that later.
The doctor said everything looks perfect - my blood pressure, baby's heart rate (147), urine sample (no protien or sugar), belly size (35 cm), position of baby (head down), weight (152) and cervix (no dilation but almost completely thinned out). I am proud to say [TMI ALERT!] that after 8 months, I finally figured out how to get a urine sample without peeing on my hand. Very satisfying achievement.
Need to get back to work now. Will post more later about the weekend, with pictures.
As Dr. S put it, any remnants of the "honeymoon" phase of pregnancy is over. Another month like this? And I'm still just going to get bigger and more uncomfortable? I suppose there is a grand design for it -- so that I am good and ready to get that baby out. Which I am sure I will be.
I had to wait an hour in the waiting room, and during that time I finished the latest issue of "Baby Talk" magazine, which I admit I regularly steal from the office, but they do have a ton of them. The overhead music, which I usually appreciate, seemed too loud and was just getting on my nerves. The magazine had a story about a woman who passed all the usual tests for fetal abnormalities but then delivered a baby girl with Down Syndrome. I had to quit reading twice to keep from bursting into tears. All of this to say I was quite emotional and on edge. I was sleep deprived and coming off of a big weekend -- more about that later.
The doctor said everything looks perfect - my blood pressure, baby's heart rate (147), urine sample (no protien or sugar), belly size (35 cm), position of baby (head down), weight (152) and cervix (no dilation but almost completely thinned out). I am proud to say [TMI ALERT!] that after 8 months, I finally figured out how to get a urine sample without peeing on my hand. Very satisfying achievement.
Need to get back to work now. Will post more later about the weekend, with pictures.
Monday, October 13, 2008
Crafty Kathy
A day with no real plans stretches blissfully in front of me this morning. Ahhh. I am leaning toward getting crafy, by working to finish my quilt or making myself some maternity jeans, a la this helpful post. I may even have what I need already in the house for the jeans project -- if not, the Sandollar Thrift shop is not far away. I got my favorite Lucky Brand pre-pregnancy jeans there for $2.50.
I'm really not that much of a sewer...seamstress...whatever the term is, but I have always loved using sewing machines. It amazes me how they work. And if I can whip up a pair of jeans to take me through the next six weeks, that would give my yoga pants a much needed break. Then again, I have a couple of those Bella Bands. Maybe I can make some old jeans work using those instead....
My other project, which has been in the works for about 4 years now, is a scarf for my sister. She picked out the yarn to match her (then) new coat, and I am almost done with it, I'm just not sure how long it really needs to be. Finishing these craft projects is a weak spot for me, but I promised she would get to use the scarf this winter. She lives in the Pacific Northwest, so winter will be there any day now.
These wishes are a day late, but happy SEVENTEENTH anniversary to my sister and bro-in-law, and happy SIXTH anniversary to Brenda and M!
If I am going to get anything done, I better get off the couch. Does Columbus Day mean there is no postal service today?
I'm really not that much of a sewer...seamstress...whatever the term is, but I have always loved using sewing machines. It amazes me how they work. And if I can whip up a pair of jeans to take me through the next six weeks, that would give my yoga pants a much needed break. Then again, I have a couple of those Bella Bands. Maybe I can make some old jeans work using those instead....
My other project, which has been in the works for about 4 years now, is a scarf for my sister. She picked out the yarn to match her (then) new coat, and I am almost done with it, I'm just not sure how long it really needs to be. Finishing these craft projects is a weak spot for me, but I promised she would get to use the scarf this winter. She lives in the Pacific Northwest, so winter will be there any day now.
These wishes are a day late, but happy SEVENTEENTH anniversary to my sister and bro-in-law, and happy SIXTH anniversary to Brenda and M!
If I am going to get anything done, I better get off the couch. Does Columbus Day mean there is no postal service today?
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
Time to get caught up - 33 1/2 weeks
This may be sporadic and choppy, but I want to get caught up on some things:
1) Ike dealt us a blow, but not nearly as hard as the blow many people received. We had many branches down, but no trees. No damage to the house. Just 12 days without electricity, which was 10 days too many. It was a humid 80 degrees in our house at night, and the noise of generators made me feel like I was in a war zone. The last three nights of it I stayed with friends, while HK held down the fort like the champ that he is. Pregnant woman's gotta get her sleep!
2) We had our u/s and everything looks good. Apparently, our little Uno is "no small fry," in the words of the u/s tech. She estimated his weight at 4.5 lbs, at 31 weeks. If he is gaining 1/2 lb. a week, he could get to 9 pounds! The OB thinks he'll be more like 8. I hope so. Uno was shy that morning and would not move his hands from his face to give us any good pictures. It was very fun to see him, though.
3) We had our first of two Birth Classes at the hospital. Lots of videos of women going through non-medicated labor and deliveries. No thank you. I am definitely getting the epidural.
4) My belly is huge. The rest of me has pretty much stayed the same size, and I have gained 25 lbs, so...you can see why my co-workers think I am going to pop any second, and we still have over six weeks to go. It doesn't help that I am short-waisted, either. My abdomen is measuring 34 centimeters from top to bottom, which is only 1 above average, but since my torso is kind of shrinky, you know the arc has to stick out pretty far. There are very few items in the maternity wardrobe I can still wear.
5) Only 4 1/2 weeks of work left!
6) Except for not sleeping much, I feel good and am very thankful for that.
7) I'm getting more excited week by week to meet our little guy!
1) Ike dealt us a blow, but not nearly as hard as the blow many people received. We had many branches down, but no trees. No damage to the house. Just 12 days without electricity, which was 10 days too many. It was a humid 80 degrees in our house at night, and the noise of generators made me feel like I was in a war zone. The last three nights of it I stayed with friends, while HK held down the fort like the champ that he is. Pregnant woman's gotta get her sleep!
2) We had our u/s and everything looks good. Apparently, our little Uno is "no small fry," in the words of the u/s tech. She estimated his weight at 4.5 lbs, at 31 weeks. If he is gaining 1/2 lb. a week, he could get to 9 pounds! The OB thinks he'll be more like 8. I hope so. Uno was shy that morning and would not move his hands from his face to give us any good pictures. It was very fun to see him, though.
3) We had our first of two Birth Classes at the hospital. Lots of videos of women going through non-medicated labor and deliveries. No thank you. I am definitely getting the epidural.
4) My belly is huge. The rest of me has pretty much stayed the same size, and I have gained 25 lbs, so...you can see why my co-workers think I am going to pop any second, and we still have over six weeks to go. It doesn't help that I am short-waisted, either. My abdomen is measuring 34 centimeters from top to bottom, which is only 1 above average, but since my torso is kind of shrinky, you know the arc has to stick out pretty far. There are very few items in the maternity wardrobe I can still wear.
5) Only 4 1/2 weeks of work left!
6) Except for not sleeping much, I feel good and am very thankful for that.
7) I'm getting more excited week by week to meet our little guy!
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