Waiting is the hardest part

Week: 38. 

Baby Size: Anywhere from 6-9 pounds.  Yes, I know that's a huge range, but it's as precise as it gets at this point!  I'm still measuring small for my gestation time, but I gained another 4 pounds this week, giving me 33 lbs total gain.  Apparently I'm a closer when it comes to weight gain!  Her heart rate was 142, and sounded nice and regular.  My blood pressure is slowly creeping up, but there's no protein in my urine, so no worries for pre-eclampsia. 

Sleep: Pretty poorly still!  If I lie on one side for too long, that hip really starts aching, which wakes me up and makes me roll over.  Add to that if I wake up too much, it wakes up Jacquizza, and then I have to get up to pee.   

Diet and Exercise:  Yoga again every day.  I have been trying to get out of the house once a day, since I realized how depressing it is just sitting here and waiting for a baby to come out.  Fortunately, there's a shopping plaza roughly a mile from us, and I can walk up there to get Starbucks or go to the grocery store (if I don't need anything heavy or perishable).  This also increases my activity level some, which is an added bonus! 
 
Movement: I ate some chocolate ice cream with berries last night, and she proceeded to rock and roll (literally) for about 2 hours.  She also gets going if I drink hot chocolate.  She's having more days where there's less movement than usual (but still enough that I don't have to freak out and call L&D), so I think she's probably getting a bit cramped in there! 

What I Miss: Again, normal movement.  I've started a very attractive waddle, especially when I first stand up, and bending is now more of an issue than ever--it usually takes me several tries to put on my socks! 

What I'm Looking Forward to: Having lunch with friends this week--it'll be good to have actual face-to-face interaction for a while!  I do post to a Facebook group for mothers due around the same time I am, but nothing beats actually seeing people!     

Best Moment this Week: Hmm, I'm not sure.  I can't really say there was any moment that stuck out as best this week.

Pregnancy Body-New and Exciting!..maybe:   I think (think) I've started having some actual contractions.  My abdomen gets really tight, and I get pain in my groin and back.  They are not at all consistent (basically 5 a day), but it's odd to know I'm gearing up for the big event!   

Baby Milestones: Pretty much all weight gain until she decides she's done--apparently it's 0.5-0.75 pounds per week!  She's also in there practicing the skills she needs on the outside (breathing, swallowing, sucking)!    

Food Cravings: Sushi--which will be taken care of on Wednesday :) 

How's Dad?: He started his nesting a while ago, and really hasn't slowed down.  He ordered a vent cover (really a deflector to prevent the air from the vent from blowing directly on Jacquizza while she's in her crib) and wall socket covers recently, and then spent a couple of hours putting them all in.  He also helped to tighten up the carseat base I put in my car, and installed the base in his own, screwed the changing pad cover to the dresser, and checked out the baby monitor to make sure it worked at the distance it promised.  He's been very busy!

We have our Super Bowl party this weekend, and I already warned him that I will be no help at all.  We have about 20 people coming, but all he's really responsible for is the meat (our friends are awesome and are contributing everything else).  And I never do any cooking for this anyway, so losing my help is no big deal.  I do plan on doing some cleaning this week, but I'm not going to stress out about it.  I think our friends will understand if the house isn't as clean as usual.  We keep telling Jacquizza that she needs to stay put until after the party is over!    
 
Tid Bits:  I'm at about 50% success with my cooking.  Everything I make is at least edible, but about half the time I end up in tears during the cooking process.  A lot of that can be blamed on hormones, of course, but also that I'm a huge perfectionist and I hate when things go wrong.  Like last night, I was making chicken with a lemon-thyme sauce.  The chicken breast was pretty thick, and I didn't think to mallet it a bit to get it thinner, so it ended up taking longer to cook through than the recipe said.  This made the broccoli that I cooked very soggy.  Brian ended up having to take over, which kind of defeats the purpose of me cooking in the first place (for what it's worth, the sauce really saved the dish, and Brian said he's had worse broccoli)!  I've had successes as well--my beef stroganoff is really good, as are my pasta dishes, but if you take away all my noodles, I just fall apart.  I know I'll get better as I practice more, but cooking is just not something I'm used to doing, and I get really frustrated very easily.

That's all for this week.  I'll update more about Super Bowl (like if Jacquizza actually lets us get there or starts the not-listening-to-her-parents thing early) in my next entry!

Full Term!

Week: 37.  At this point, most experts consider the fetus to be full term.  However, there's evidence that a lot of brain and lung development continues to happen right up until 40 weeks (and maybe beyond).  Basically, if I delivered now, there would likely be no NICU time, but it's better for her to just stay put for a couple more weeks!

Baby Size: Anywhere from 5-7 pounds.  I'm still measuring small for my gestation time, and I only gained 1 pound this week, giving me 29 lbs total gain.  Her heart rate was 158, and sounded really good!  My blood pressure was elevated slightly (132/72), but I'd had a heck of a hard time finding parking right before the appointment, so I'm totally blaming that.  My BP has been right around 120/70 when I take it at home, which is just fine as far as my doctor is concerned. 

Sleep: Pretty poorly!  I was wondering what was going on when I rolled over, and I realized it's Jacquizza shifting back and forth as I change sides.  I have no idea why it took me so long to figure out--baby brain?--but it makes sense.  If I lie on my back too long, she starts to press down on my bladder, which means again being up and in the bathroom multiple times a night.  And now it takes me forever to roll over!  Poor Brian! 

Diet and Exercise:  Still keeping up with the yoga.  I'm really enjoying the DVDs, and plan on finding some "real" ones to do after the baby is born. 
 
Movement: Still with the unidentified body parts poking out on the sides, most of the time accompanied by rolls and swirls on the opposite side.  She's so big now that it gets a little uncomfortable for me when she really gets going.  She's been hitting my ribs less and less, which I really appreciate, but her head in my pelvis really jams into my bladder sometimes!  She also gets the hiccups at least twice a day.  It's actually the cutest thing--depending on where her abdomen is at the time, my belly starts jumping rhythmically for about 10 minutes.  I also feel her head hitting my rectum, which is slightly less fun! 

What I Miss: Being able to walk like a normal person!  If I sit in one position for too long and then stand up, my hips feel like they are ripping out of their sockets.  It usually goes away within a few steps (thank you, yoga!), but I have to remember that I need to change positions more frequently while watching TV.  This tends to upset whatever cat is on my lap at the time.  They'll be plenty more upset very soon, though! 

What I'm Looking Forward to: Probably being done with work, although I'm also NOT looking forward to that!     

Best Moment this Week: Ordering the rest of the things we need for Jacquizza!  It's a huge relief to have almost everything we wanted to have before she makes her appearance.  Now things just need to get assembled and installed!

Pregnancy Body-New and Exciting!..maybe:   Still hip pain, still Braxton-Hicks contractions, still peeing a lot.  Nothing else really all that new!   

Baby Milestones: Pretty much all weight gain until she decides she's done--apparently it's 0.5-0.75 pounds per week!  She's also in there practicing the skills she needs on the outside (breathing, swallowing, sucking)!    

Food Cravings: Sushi--which may be taken care of this week! 

How's Dad?: I think it really started to get real for him after the labor and delivery class this weekend.  One of the exercises had us putting a clothespin either on the webbing in between our fingers or on our ears and then practicing breathing techniques to manage the pain (obviously meant to simulate labor pains).  I'm pretty sure he didn't realize how much it was going to hurt until then!  He also learned that he really needs to be my support system in there, and help talk me through the really bad pains (before I get the epidural, obviously).  This will probably be a bit of a challenge for him.  Brian is very much a "fix-it" guy--we have a problem, he kicks into ways to fix it.  I think it's going to be hard on him to watch me be in so much pain and not be able to fix it easily.  I've also already told him that he can't just pull out the phone and check the internet in between contractions, unless I've done so too!  I'm sure it'll be fine--as I mentioned, I fully plan on going through the really rough part with an epidural--we just need to work on tapping into his nurturing side before the big day arrives!    
 
Tid Bits:  As of tomorrow (Tuesday), I am officially unemployed!  I'm still not sure how I'm going to handle that--I really hate cooking and cleaning and all the other domestic chores, so I think I'll have a rough time filling my days before Jacquizza gets here (after that I'll obviously be more worried about her and sleeping than if the house is clean).  

For all my complaining above about my hips and my lack of walking ability, I'm really going to miss being pregnant.  This has been a very special time for me, and it's been so cool seeing my belly expand, and starting to feel the kicks and rolls and hiccups of a growing baby.  As much as I really want her to come out so that I can meet this little person, I'll be sad to see her go.  I feel like this is such a special time for the 2 of us, and a time I'll never be able to get back (nor should I try!).  It may sound silly, but it's been nice having her all to myself!

The lost week

Week: 36.  The doctor made a very strong case for me being 36 weeks instead of 35.  This pushes my due date up a week to February 9.  Cue freak out.



Baby Size: Probably more than 5 pounds--it's a very inexact science from here until she makes an appearance.  This week at my appointment, her heart rate was 160, and still sounded really good!  I'm up 2 pounds over the past week, giving me a total gain of 28 pounds so far, which is still right on track. 

The doctor says that the high level ultrasound looked fantastic, and they are not worried at all about IUGR.  It looks like Jacquizza is just going to be a small baby (which makes sense, since Brian and I were both around 7 lbs).  I was very relieved to hear that, and it's made the week a much better one than last week!  I appreciate the doctor's worry, but it was hard on me not knowing what was going on!  As I said above, everything measured great at the appointment (although I'm still a little small), so we're good to go.  I'm also Group B Strep negative, which just means I don't have to have antibiotics in my IV when I deliver.  Yes!

Sleep: Getting oh so much worse!  It's like my body is prepping for having a newborn or something! 


Diet and Exercise:  I've managed to do yoga every day this week, which seems to be really helping my hips and back.  I also think it's responsible for my continued flexibility.  Treadmill is pretty much over.  I can walk for a short period of time, but then the hip and groin pain gets too bad and I have to stop.  Then, I spend the rest of the night walking like a little old lady.  Just not worth it! 
 
Movement: I've been getting unidentified limbs poking out on either the left or right side.  They're high enough up that I assume they are feet, but she could just be very bendy.  Her head is most definitely in my pelvis, though, and crossing my legs and bending forward too much has become seriously uncomfortable! 

What I Miss: I still want some sushi.  Brian's now telling me I have to wait until March.  Fortunately, I eat lunch alone! 

What I'm Looking Forward to: Brian's birthday (although I'm now late, since it was yesterday).     

Best Moment this Week: The baby shower and Brian's birthday dinners.  I had such a great time at all the events that were planned!

Pregnancy Body-New and Exciting!..maybe:  Not much to report.  I seem to have developed a linea negra, after going through most of the pregnancy without one (although it's actually more of a linea roja than negra).  My hips at times feel like they are trying to leave my body, but I assume they really can't fully break out of those ligaments.  Right?   

Baby Milestones: Pretty much all weight gain until she decides she's done--apparently it's 0.5 pounds per week!    


Food Cravings: Still love me some chocolate! 

How's Dad?: He's doing very well.  His birthday was yesterday (34!), and his family was in town for the baby shower.  We went to dinner on the 14th at a place near us called Ravenous (the one I had to book because I procrastinated too long), and it was really a very good meal!  We all enjoyed the food a lot, and ate way too much!  Last night, we went out with his parents, uncle and some of our friends to a BBQ place in town and had a more casual dinner.  I continued my tradition of messing things up by leaving his cake at home instead of taking it to the restaurant, but we invited people back to our house after dinner and had a late cake dessert anyway.  It was nice to see everyone and hang out in a more relaxed type of way.  We have our labor and delivery class tonight and tomorrow (10 hours total!), which should be interesting.  I'm not looking forward to watching birthing videos.

He did have a bit of a moment this week after the shower, when I started writing down all of the things that we still needed to buy.  He said he couldn't believe that we had this room full of stuff and still needed to spend more money.  I think he got over it, but it's really funny to see when the actual cost of having a child hits him!
   

Tid Bits:  
Our baby shower was this weekend, and Jacquizza got totally spoiled by all of our friends!  It was planned by my friends Christina and Stephanie, and they did a fantastic job with the decorations, games and food.  I loved every minute of eating and hanging out.  It was so nice of everyone to take time out of their busy lives to come and see us, and I really and truly appreciate all who were there.  I promise to post some pictures when my mother-in-law gets them to me.  I'm so blessed to have these people in my life!  


This is actually my last week of teaching at the University of Phoenix, and then I'll be off until March (I actually just accepted a class that starts March 13).  I'm excited to be able to focus more on getting things ready for Jacquizza, but terrified that I won't be contributing at all to the household income.  I'm just going to take it one day at a time, and just try to keep myself busy!

What week is this?

Week: 34, although the doctor seems to think 35.  This caused some controversy at my appointment this week, which I'll outline below.

Baby Size: According to the growth ultrasound, she's right around 5 pounds now, and the doctor thinks she's on her way to between 6 and 7 pounds at birth.  Apparently I bake 'em small.  This week at my appointment, her heart rate was 146, and still sounded really good!  I'm up 10 pounds over the past 3 weeks.  Prime rib, turkey and all the Christmas sweets really caught up with me!  This means I've gained a total of 26 pounds so far, which is still right on track.  

Sleep: I wake up pretty regularly around 2:00 am, and again around 7:00.  I'm OK if she wants to keep that schedule once she's here! 

Diet and Exercise:  I've managed to do yoga every day this week, which seems to be really helping my hips and back.  I also think it's responsible for my continued flexibility.  The treadmill I only did on Monday, since I got a pretty bad toe infection that made walking a bit painful.  It's feeling much better, and I should be back to walking this week.  Diet is getting better with the holidays being over, but I feel like I'm still eating a ton.  I'm going with my standard mantra--if I'm hungry, I'm going to eat! 
 
Movement: Every night around 9:00-10:00 she really starts rocking and rolling.  I think Brian thought I was exaggerating, until he actually felt her do it last night!  It feels like she's attempting to burrow out of my left side, while simultaneously kick my right.  Her kicks on the right are now almost halfway around towards my back, which is a very odd experience.  She also pretty consistently moves in the morning when I first wake up, around noon, and at 2:00 am (which triggers the bathroom run).  I'm actually going to miss feeling her move after she's born--it's such a cool feeling! 

What I Miss: Sushi.  We have to get some soon! 

What I'm Looking Forward to: Our baby shower is next weekend, and it's going to be really fun to see everyone and hang out for a while.  Brian's birthday dinner with his parents and sister is also next weekend, which should also be a great time.     

Best Moment this Week: Getting to see Jacquizza again.  Actually happened twice, as I'll tell you about below.

Pregnancy Body-New and Exciting!..maybe:  Really no new complaints.  Again with the hips and back, and the constipation and related hemorrhoids, but I seem to be able to handle it.  The only bad thing is when she kicks up into my ribs.  That really takes my breath away.   

Baby Milestones: Jacquizza is still gaining weight like crazy.  Pretty much all she'll be doing until she's here!    


Food Cravings: Hot chocolate.  The Starbucks stuff in a can is evil! 

How's Dad?: He and I went to a Baby Basics class yesterday, in which we got some instruction on how to care for a newborn.  I think it helped him feel a bit more comfortable about having a baby around.  We got to practice changing a diaper, bathing and dressing a babydoll.  I think he felt silly during the class, but it's definitely going to help him out.  

I am feeling kind of bad for him--since I'm now not working outside the home and don't see anyone all day, once he gets home, I talk his ear off!  He is getting a pretty good deal, as I've taken over cooking detail.  I'm not a good cook, but I'm doing my best!
   

Tid Bits:  So as I mentioned, my progress is under a bit of controversy.  The doctors have apparently been going by my last menstrual period (LMP), which makes my due date 2/7.  However, since I didn't get a positive pregnancy test until 3 weeks after my LMP instead of 2, I'm pretty sure my due date is around 2/16.  This really hasn't been a problem until my appointment this week.  As I mentioned, I had my growth scan (the last ultrasound before birth) to check Jacquizza's size and position on Thursday, and she is measuring small for the 2/7 due date.  Honestly, she's measuring a bit small for the 2/16 due date as well, but I have been maintaining a high level of activity (exercising every day will do that), which tends to keep babies small (as the OB said, "Runners don't have 11 pound babies.").  However, the OB was worried enough about the discrepancy, that she sent me for a high level ultrasound (basically another anatomy scan, like I had at 20 weeks) to make sure Jacquizza doesn't have intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR).  IUGR is a very serious condition, which results in very low birth weight babies that have trouble thriving.  I didn't realize until I got home from the appointment why the OB was so worried, since I didn't pay attention to the due dates (although having another ultrasound really worked out, since Brian wasn't there for the one in the OB's office, but was able to take off work for the high level one).  I'm going to have to talk to the doctor at my appointment on Thursday to make sure we're on the same page.  I don't want them pushing me for an induction when Jacquizza actually has a few more weeks to go!  As I told Brian, though, it's not like they can sneak attack me with pitocin--I do have to give consent in order to be induced!

I have hit the point when my doctor's appointments are weekly instead of every other week.  I feel like I'm going to spend more time at the OB than at home!

We had my favorite week of the University of Phoenix class this week--evolution!  I have a bunch of very hardcore Christians in my class this time around, and it's been very interesting trying to make my case that I don't give a crap about their personal beliefs, as long as they can acknowledge that religion is not science!  I have 2 more weeks of class left, and then I'm on full maternity leave!  

As I mentioned, we took the Baby Basics class on Saturday, and have more classes coming up.  I decided to take the breast feeding class, which is on Tuesday this week, and we have our hospital tour next weekend.  Also next weekend is dinner with Brian's family at Ravenous, a restaurant near where we live, that I'm hoping is as good as Mulvaney's--it's Dine About Town week in Sacramento, and I procrastinated too long in making the reservations and we couldn't get in.  I feel absolutely horrible!  I wish I'd called sooner!  Also this weekend is our baby shower, and then the shopping to complete the registry.  I'm very excited about this upcoming week!