37 Weeks

Friday, 15 November 2013

How far along: 37 weeks (!!!)

How big baby is: Average is 6 ⅓ pounds and 19 inches long, but baby A is probably about 7 ½ pounds. The doc didn’t give me measurements yesterday at my appointment.

Baby is the size of: a baby… but apparently, also the size of a bunch of Swiss chard. Whatever. :)

Baby’s development: God is just putting the finishing touches on this sweet girl. Just a little more brain and lung development and she will be ready to leave my womb and join us in this great big world!

Mommy’s belly:

Baby’s movements: She is still super active. Yay!

Symptoms: Nothing new. Everything hurts, I waddle instead of walk, and I am hungry a lot.

Food cravings: Nothing specific. I’m still trying not to go overboard on sweets. It’s hard! And I want sweet tea... all the time.

Emotions: I’m doing pretty well. I have let a little fear creep in again this week. After our second pregnancy loss I started going to a support group which was very instrumental in my healing. I continued going through the following two losses and have even been a few times during this healthy pregnancy. However, most of the women there lost their babies at 37 weeks or later. So although statistically it’s not accurate, in my mind, 37-40 weeks is just as dangerous as the first trimester. I can’t help but feeling that my Ariana will be safer once she is finally out of my womb and in my arms. I know that I can’t think that way - it’s not helping anything. So I’m praying that God will calm my fears and keep my baby girl safe and healthy. I have to simply trust Him!

Sleep: I’m afraid to nap because it often means I don’t sleep as well or as long at night. So most days I don’t nap anymore. I am sleeping about 7-8 hours each night, waking at least once an hour to sore or numb legs. But the sleep I get is pretty good. I can’t complain.

Anything else: I have told myself during this entire pregnancy that I do not want to be induced this time around. With my first daughter, I was induced three days before my due date and it was a terrible experience. However, now that I’m nearing my due date, I’m getting so tempted to schedule an induction. I knew that would happen. So yesterday my doctor asked me what my plan was. I confessed to him that I am torn between wanting the baby out but not wanting a terrible labor experience again. He assured me that he would never induce a mommy for any reason whose body is not ready for labor. He said that a lot of my issues last time were most likely because I wasn’t dilated or effaced enough and I was a first time mom. We ended up deciding to schedule an induction since I can always cancel that but I can’t show up at 39 weeks and request one that hasn’t been scheduled.

He did check me today and I am pretty sure that he said that I’m 70% effaced and dilated to a 2. (He goes so fast sometimes that after he leaves I am thinking, did I hear that right?) He thinks I’ll be ready for an induction at 39 weeks if that’s what I decide I want. And he also said that if he checks me at 39 weeks and doesn’t think I’m ready, he won’t go ahead with the induction. He just won’t induce a mommy who isn’t ready. And that does put me more at ease with the idea.

Of course my brain is going back and forth. I know that the worst part of being induced last time was that I tried to do it without an epidural. Pitocin with no epidural is just ridiculous. Don’t ever try it. But I’m planning to get an epidural regardless this time, so I’m thinking that having a baby on December 1st sounds pretty good! In the meantime I’ll talk to my husband and pray about it and I know God will show me what to do.

What I am looking forward to: Having the baby!!! What else?!?  :)  A couple of nights ago my husband patted my belly and said longingly, “She needs to be out.” Of course I assumed his motives for wanting her out were different than mine - maybe he is tired of me being so tired and huge or something. But he said that he just really can’t wait to see her and hold her. It was so sweet! (If you know my man, you know he’s not very mushy. This was pretty unusual.) Even Penny is ready to meet this baby. Just a few more weeks and she’ll be here!!!

36 Weeks

8 November 2013

How far along: 36 weeks

How big baby is: Average is 6 pounds and 18 ½ inches. However, I had an appointment with my doctor yesterday and based on baby A’s measurements she weighs about 7 pounds and 1 ounce. Yikes! Her head was also measuring above the 97th percentile. I sure hope she will come a little early!

Baby is the size of: romaine lettuce - but let’s face it, at this point we can just say that she’s the size of a BABY. Seriously...

Baby’s development: She's shedding most of the downy covering of hair that covered her body as well as the vernix caseosa, the waxy substance that covered and protected her skin during her nine-month amniotic bath. She swallows both of these substances, along with other secretions, resulting in a blackish mixture, called meconium, will form the contents of her first bowel movement. Doesn’t that sound lovely? Maybe not, but I love that it basically means she is getting ready for her life outside of my womb!

Mommy’s belly: These are definitely not my favorite photos anymore, but I plan to see it through until she is born. :)

Baby’s movements: She moves a lot and her movements are so strong that they make me quite uncomfortable. She have a few regular active times - specifically around 7:30 in the morning, in the afternoon after lunch, and in the evening around 8:00 or so. Although she makes me so uncomfortable, I still love feeling her move around inside me!

Symptoms: I am having a lot more Braxton-Hicks contractions, especially in the evening. It also feels like she is starting to “drop.” (Although when looking at her yesterday during the ultrasound the doctor said that she hasn’t moved down low into my pelvis yet.) My lower belly gets in the way a lot more now. When I’m sitting up straight it is resting on my legs. I still have terrible “pregnancy brain” - my short-term memory is terrible! That gets annoying when I am reading a book and having to go back a chapter or two to remember something that I just read the day before. I am also super clumsy. I probably drop something at least fifteen times a day. I am not exaggerating at all - isn’t that sad? It is frustrating that you become the clumsiest you have ever been when it is also more difficult than ever to reach down and pick something up from the floor.

I am very slow moving, which goes against my nature. Just making dinner wears me out completely. And I’m sleepy all the time. I still have a lot of pain from my SPD (symphisis pubis dysfunction). Getting in and out of the car is the worst as far as that goes. I did talk to my doctor about it and he said it isn’t that uncommon, especially in a second (or subsequent) pregnancy. He also said that it won’t affect my labor or delivery at all and should go away not long after the baby is born.

Goodness! I’m in a terrible state! I sound like a complainer which is not at all how I mean to sound! I just want to accurately record what this pregnancy has been like. But I am SO grateful to have contractions, have a giant belly that is in the way, be forgetful and clumsy, be in pain, and be tired because it means I’m going to have a baby! I have prayed for this for two and a half years now. Praise God for these wonderful pregnancy symptoms! :)

Food cravings: This week I have been in the mood for soups, chili, beans and rice - but that is all because we are finally having some beautiful, cool fall weather. I doubt they are pregnancy cravings. I’m eating plenty of gala apples too now that they are in season and are so crisp and sweet. I can’t eat very much at a time. There is just no room in my stomach for a large meal. So I typically eat three small meals a day and two snacks as well.

Emotions: I haven’t been as emotional but I think instead I’m just tired. I feel a little “blah” but at least I’m not weepy or angry. If I were able to just sleep for the rest of the pregnancy I would do it. I suppose I am feeling quite impatient. The last month is so hard! I have been waiting and waiting and now the time for baby A to arrive is so close but still not here. I feel like a kid waiting for Christmas day. I am praying that I will go into labor early - I’m praying to have her around 38 weeks. But I’m trying at the same time not to get my hopes up for that to happen. I need to be prepared to be pregnant until mid-December because it could, and probably will, happen that way.

Sleep: I am sleeping well enough. I still go to bed early, usually between 9:30 and 10:00. We had time change this last week so I am having a hard time sleeping as late as I would like to, but I think I’m starting to adjust.

Anything else: I think I finally have everything I need. My baby shower was last week and after that I was able to purchase the last few things that I still needed. This week I bought car seat protectors that go underneath both girls’ car seats and protect the fabric in the back seat of our car. I bought a pacifier clip that is also a teether. I ordered an ergonomic infant carrier, playpen sheets, a Christmas outfit, a fleece sleepbag, and a couple of footed sleepers. I also ordered a couple of shapewear/compression undergarments to wear after she is born. Hopefully that will help everything go back to where it should be a little quicker - although I don’t dare to dream that I’ll look normal before she is a year old. I learned that the hard way last time. :) The car seat arrived Wednesday - David’s co-workers bought it for us. I was so excited that instead of waiting for him to come home and install it I went out and installed it in the car immediately. Penny was pretty excited too. We bucked her baby doll named “Issa” in so that she could ride around town with us for a while. I’m glad Penny will be right next to Ariana when she is in the car so that she can help me with the baby while I drive - put her paci back in her mouth, fix her blanket, talk to her and entertain her. Hopefully Ariana won’t hate riding in the car the way her big sister did as a baby.

My hospital bags are as packed as they can get for now. I have four bags in the crib waiting for “D-day.” There is a labor bag, an overnight bag (that I won’t need until I am settled in my postpartum room, the baby’s diaper bag with her clothes, nightgowns, little caps, and a couple of pretty blankets (we all know the hospital blankets are ugly), and Penny’s bag to take with her to her grandparents’ house while David and I are at the hospital. The diaper bag is the only bag that is zipped shut and ready to go. The other three have little sticky notes on top telling me what to grab and add when I am in labor. I also made little “thank you” bags for the nurses and docs at the hospital. They each have chocolate, hand sanitizer, gum, lip balm, and tissues inside.

The baby’s room is ready to go. I will put fresh sheets in the crib and a fresh cover on the changing pad about a week before my due date. I have the diaper station ready to go with diapers, diaper cream, baby powder, diaper sacks, and the diaper pail. The only thing left to do in her room is to put up her wall shelf, which David promised me he would do very soon.

What I am looking forward to: I just really want to hold this girl! I am thinking about her constantly - seriously, all the time. I am trying to imagine what she will look like, imagine how Penny will do with a baby in the house, imagine holding her and kissing her and nursing her. I go in her bedroom and look at all her clothes, blankets, tiny headbands and hats. I just cannot wait to have her in my arms! It’s cute when my husband admits that he is excited and ready for her to be here as well. He doesn’t say “mushy” things like that very often, but I love it when he does.

Just four weeks to go! I can’t wait!

Baby Shower

Sweet girl, you are already very loved and blessed! Yesterday I had my baby shower and I was overwhelmed by the generosity of my friends and family! It’s not very typical to have a baby shower for a second child - especially when the second child is the same gender as the first. So I was surprised when my friends wanted to throw me a shower and really grateful for the sweet gesture! We had a good time and I felt very special. 

One year ago I was in the middle of losing babies and begging God to give me a healthy pregnancy. I was heartbroken and discouraged but I did not stop asking God for a baby. I am still so thankful that God chose to give me YOU. You are a miracle that should be celebrated!

Here is a quick list of who came to the shower and what they gave you (and me). :)

Aunt Jess - zebra patterned swaddle blanket, hand sanitizer for my diaper bag, coffee (definitely for me!), and a pink and gray zig zag changing pad cover that she made, which is super cute!

Katrina N. - baby wipes, rash cream, a cute flowered headband, and a soft little doll

Grams - a bookshelf organizer with pink baskets

Miss Kathy - two cute footed sleepers (one says “little sister”), a nursing tank top for me, and diapers

Elizabeth F. - diapers, wipes, bows, and hairclips

Tracy H. - nursing things for me  :)

Jade P. - hair barrettes, a soft little cuddle blanket, and a pretty gold sweater dress

Mindy L. - a gift card that I will use to buy a baby carrier

Lyndsie D. - a gift card to Gap

Nana - fancy socks, an outfit with jeggings to match Ralee’s, a princess toy rattle, and matching Christmas dresses for you and Penny

Libby W. - cute zig zag and elephant burp cloths and blankets that she made, diapers, and diaper sacks (for dirty diapers)

Sara D. & Kate C. - cute little newborn hats (one is pink polka dots with a bow!), bibs, an elephant teething toy, and a pink changing pad cover

Colleen M. - hooded towels, socks, bibs, and bodysuits

Great Grandma Dorothy - headbands with flowers and a cute ivory and gray outfit with a fuzzy hooded jacket

Aunt Kristi - a soft and adorable “rag quilt” that she made. Penny loves it and will be sad to give it to you once you arrive.

Aunt Jenn - a tiny bracelet, a fancy headband with a flower, a little hat, and a crib mobile

Laurie L. - a cute little outfit, wipes, and diapers

Sarah J. - a little denim ruffle dress with some headbands

Rebecca L. - baby body wash and lotion, nursing gel pads

Joy B. - little pants and an accessories kit (sunglasses, barrettes, headbands)

Laurie W. - bodysuit with a bunny on it and a matching snuggle blanket

Ai B. - an pink and black ruffle outfit from Japan, fancy socks, and a sleep sheep (a stuffed sheep that can play soothing noises to help you fall asleep)

Aren’t you a fortunate little girl? All of this before you are even born! I’m so thankful for sweet and generous friends and can’t wait until you are here and they can all meet and hold you!  One month to go!

35 Weeks

Friday, 1 November 2013

How far along: 35 weeks

How big baby is: The average for this week is 5 ¼ pounds and over 18 inches

Baby is the size of: honeydew melon

Baby’s development: Most of her basic physical development is complete now. She just needs to put on a little more weight! (Although maybe not as much as some babies.) And of course her lungs and brain will continue to develop until she is born.

Mommy’s weight gain: I have gained 33 pounds total this pregnancy. That’s ahead of where I wanted to be at this point, but it does actually put me on track to have gained about the same with this pregnancy as I did with my first daughter. So I guess it could be worse. Besides, Ariana weighs more than she’s supposed to also. ;-)

Mommy’s belly:

Baby’s movements: There is no more room for her to do somersaults or change positions anymore, but she certainly does wiggle a lot. I imagine she is snug and comfy but won’t mind having room to stretch out a bit more once she is born.

Symptoms: I have diagnosed myself with something called Symphysis Pubis Dysfuction (SPD). This happens when the front of the pelvis bones separate (more than usual) causing pain in the pelvic area, lower back, and inner thighs. The cause is typically too much of the hormone relaxin combined with lots of pressure from the baby on the lower or front part of the pelvis. For me the pain gets worse after walking or standing for more than a few minutes, when rolling over in bed, when climbing stairs, and especially when getting in and out of the car. I have realized that I have had some of this pain for a few weeks but it is getting increasingly worse and at times is almost excruciating. I plan to talk to my doctor about this and see what he thinks at my appointment next week. I am mostly concerned that it might affect my delivery. From what I have read it typically goes away after delivery.

Food cravings: Although they might not be true “pregnancy cravings” I have wanted Mexican food and sweet tea lately. In fact I had sweet tea instead of coffee this morning after breakfast, as weird as that is.

Emotions: Perhaps it’s just safest to say that I’m a little moody. I don’t mean to be, but it’s hard to act like I feel great when I really don’t. I’m not necessarily grouchy or unkind (I don’t think) but I just have the “pregnancy blahs.” I can’t really enjoy things the way I normally would because everything hurts or makes me uncomfortable. I am just anxious for this next month to be behind me so that I can hold this sweet little girl in my arms! I am also still weepy - I am brought to tears by something random almost every day. It’s silly. But in the end, I know all the weird emotional stuff will have been more than worth it!

Sleep: My ability to sleep well wanes each week. It’s simply a matter of discomfort. When I’m asleep the sleep is deep and great. But with my gigantic belly, my legs going numb after half an hour, and the pain the SPD causes when I try to roll over, sleeping is not as good as it once was. Perhaps that’s okay because I will already be prepared to wake in the middle of the night when the baby arrives.

What I am looking forward to: My sweet friends are throwing me a baby shower tomorrow! I almost feel silly for having a shower because I know etiquette says a shower for a second girl is unnecessary. But when I mentioned that, my friends pointed out that Ariana is a miracle that needs to be celebrated. As fun as gifts are, I really don’t care too much about that. I am thankful for a chance to get together with friends and thank God for this special gift He has given me and His answer to all of our prayers. I feel so blessed!

34 Weeks

Friday, 25 October 2013

How far along: 34 weeks

How big baby is: 4 ¾ pounds and 18 inches is average for this week

Baby is the size of: a cantaloupe

Baby’s photo this week:

Baby’s development: Her fat layers are filling her out and her skin is getting smoother.

Mommy’s belly:

Baby’s movements: Baby A is still super active. I love it! It was so neat to watch her during my ultrasound yesterday. I could see her breathing movements, which the doctor said is really good, and she was smacking her little lips and sticking out her tongue. I could see her little clenched fists moving around near her face. She just looked so sweet and perfect!

Symptoms: I’m still just having the usual aches and pains - the back pain gets worse each week but that’s to be expected as big as my belly has gotten.

Food cravings: I don’t really have cravings anymore. I am actually having a hard time eating “normally” now. I can’t eat much at a time - there’s just no room in there! But after a tiny meal, I am hungry just a couple of hours later. “Three meals a day” just doesn’t work for me right now, but that’s okay.

Emotions: This week everything seems to make me cry. It’s super embarrassing but I’m just so emotional! I can’t wait to get a little more control over my emotions. Honestly, I am continually surprised at how emotionally fragile I have been at different times during this pregnancy. I read that I should expect that, given my history, but somehow I just thought it wouldn’t affect me. I guess once I have learned how easily a baby can be lost it is hard to completely let go of the fear that it might happen again, no matter how far into the pregnancy I get. And the strangest thing is, the farther I get into the pregnancy, the more frequently I have had those worrisome days. I am just trying to give them to the Lord and trust Him to take care of everything.

Sleep: My leg issues are getting worse and worse! I think last night I woke up at least twice an hour with numb legs and had to roll over and stretch and move my legs and feet.

What I am looking forward to: What’s the point in pretending there is anything else on my mind? I am looking forward to this baby’s birthday! I’m getting very impatient to meet her. I can’t wait to meet her!

33 Weeks

Friday, 18 October 2013

How far along: 33 weeks

How big baby is: Well, babycenter.com says the average baby at this stage weighs just over four pounds and is about 17 inches long. It’s safe to say that baby A weighs a little more than that.

Baby is the size of: a pineapple

Baby’s development: She is losing that wrinkled look and her skeleton is hardening.

Mommy’s belly:

Baby’s movements: Sometimes it feels like she is trying to hatch she gets so crazy in there. A couple of times I have sworn I could feel her fingers scratching at my uterus.

Symptoms: I’m just tired and achy, but so happy to still have a healthy and growing baby!

Food cravings: I haven’t had any cravings and I’m starting to get picky about food again. The other day my father-in-law was suggesting restaurants and everything he mentioned sounded terrible! I have been wanting to get some Italian food, but my husband doesn’t really love that, so we haven’t gone to Olive Garden. I’ll have to find someone else to go with me!

Emotions: I am doing pretty well. I did let myself get worried for about an hour the other night when I woke up and didn’t feel her move for a while. I just prayed and asked God to show me that she was alright and to calm my fears. I hate that I still do that to myself sometimes!

Sleep: It’s getting harder and harder to get comfortable in bed, but I’m definitely sleepy enough to fall asleep in spite of that. I do wake up every hour or two with restless or numb legs and have to roll over and stretch. Most nights I only have to get up once to use the restroom, which is surprising.

Anything unusual: This may be a little personal, but I have had dry and itchy nipples lately. I know that my body is changing and preparing for the days when I will nurse this baby, but it certainly has been uncomfortable. I have started putting lanolin on them once a day to keep them from being so itchy as well as putting wet tea bags on them once a day. I read that the tannic acid in the tea will not only help my discomfort but can also start to toughen my nipples a bit to help me prepare for breastfeeding. I have no idea if it will really help, but I hope it does at least a little bit.

What I am looking forward to: I am just desperately looking forward to holding this sweet little girl in my arms! I can’t wait to see her, hold her close, kiss her little head, ooh and ah over every sweet little detail. I can’t wait to nurse her and nurture her. I am always thinking about her. No matter what I’m doing I am imagining what it will be like when she is here and just anxiously awaiting that day! I am also excited to see how Penny does when Ariana arrives. Penny is very excited about her baby sister. She still hugs and kisses my belly every night. Any time we find an article of clothing that she has outgrown she insists that I save it for Ariana. She practices taking care of her baby dolls and loves to see the babies in the nursery at church. I just can’t wait!