I'm having one of those days where I just can't seem to get motivated to do anything. I'm sitting at work with no meetings and nothing really going on. I have an hour and a half left before I feel I can leave and have my 40 hrs in this week.
That numb spot I had earlier is not feeling well right now. The skin is still numb, but underneath is a horrible stretching feeling. The baby is pushing on my ribs and it is very uncomfortable. My ribs are so tender, they feel like they are bruised. I still have two more months left.
When I have to pee, the pee just seems to trickle out so slowly. I don't know if it is because the baby is putting pressure on my pee tube (what is that called)? Maybe it's because of the Kegal exercises I'm doing twice daily now? Sometimes the pee comes out so slowly that I can't hear it in the toilet and don't even know if it is still coming out or if I'm finished peeing. I still have two more months left.
I've gained back my exhaustion that I felt during the first trimester. I feel like I could just close my eyes and fall asleep at any time. This is especially alerting when I'm driving. I stop at a red light and close my eyes and just want to fall asleep. I think this comes partially from waking up so much during the night to pee, or having some nights were I just can't fall asleep. I still have two more months left.
I am hearing more and more about friends who have already had their babies. I know the exhaustion probably only gets worse after you have the baby, but at least you don't have some creature kicking or head-butting you in the ribs.
I remember the time where I was excited to feel the baby kick. Now I just wish he would stop. Not for real, because I don't want him dead. I put seven months into this already. But just stop hurting me and bothering me so much! Is that too much to ask? I still have two more months left.
Why can't pregnancy be seven months? Why can't babies be fully developed at 4 lbs? If this were the case, I bet we would be overpopulated by now, because it would be so much easier.
I still have two more months left. :(
Friday, June 18, 2010
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
Midwife Appointment
We had our second homebirth midwife appointment yesterday. It was much shorter than the last one, but she still spent a good amount of time with us answering questions and getting to know each other.
I am measuring 30 inches, which coincides with the number of weeks I am, so that's good. The baby's heartbeat was around 150. My blood pressure was up a little compared to last time, but still in the normal range. I gained two pounds since last week.
She said that she was not concerned about me having Gestational Diabetes. I will officially decline the test from Kaiser at my next appointment.
Unfortunately the baby has turned and is currently in an anterior breech position. She didn't seem concerned about that, since we still have 10 weeks to go and there's "still plenty of room in there." She said she would start getting concerned if he was still breech at 39 weeks. She told us of some things we could try to get the baby to turn - putting a bag of frozen peas right below my ribs (the baby will try to get away from the cold), putting headphones down near my pelvis (the baby will go toward the music), etc.
Last week the Kaiser midwife said that the baby would probably turn one or two times between last week and labor, so I'm not really worried at this point either. There is still a lot of time left.
In other news, I am about to grow out of my first maternity shirt. I'm feeling very cramped in there and my ribs are being pushed on. I still have that numb spot right below my ribs that no one can tell me the reason for.
It is getting harder and harder to bend over. I can't see my feet when I look straight down. I am going to attempt to paint my toenails tonight, but I don't know if I'll be able to reach them anymore :(
I am measuring 30 inches, which coincides with the number of weeks I am, so that's good. The baby's heartbeat was around 150. My blood pressure was up a little compared to last time, but still in the normal range. I gained two pounds since last week.
She said that she was not concerned about me having Gestational Diabetes. I will officially decline the test from Kaiser at my next appointment.
Unfortunately the baby has turned and is currently in an anterior breech position. She didn't seem concerned about that, since we still have 10 weeks to go and there's "still plenty of room in there." She said she would start getting concerned if he was still breech at 39 weeks. She told us of some things we could try to get the baby to turn - putting a bag of frozen peas right below my ribs (the baby will try to get away from the cold), putting headphones down near my pelvis (the baby will go toward the music), etc.
Last week the Kaiser midwife said that the baby would probably turn one or two times between last week and labor, so I'm not really worried at this point either. There is still a lot of time left.
In other news, I am about to grow out of my first maternity shirt. I'm feeling very cramped in there and my ribs are being pushed on. I still have that numb spot right below my ribs that no one can tell me the reason for.
It is getting harder and harder to bend over. I can't see my feet when I look straight down. I am going to attempt to paint my toenails tonight, but I don't know if I'll be able to reach them anymore :(
Monday, June 14, 2010
Chain of Irony
I had the best commute this morning. It was a cruise control ride (9 miles over the speed limit) all the way down Holcomb Bridge (which is 2/3 of my commute). Traffic was light. I hit almost all green lights. And I got the very first parking space when I got to work.
Then I opened my hatch to get my computer out...and it wasn't there. I hadn't put it back in my car after using it to work from home on Friday.
So, I got back in my car and drove all the way back home to get it. On the way back, as I was stopped at a yield sign waiting for a Yukon to pass by before proceeding, a kid hits me from behind.
If I hadn't forgotten my computer and had to go home, I never would have gotten rear-ended. If I had left a few minutes later or earlier, I never would have gotten hit.
No one was hurt. It was just a little fender bender. The damage is minimal, because, let's face it...I was stopped, and he couldn't have been going more than maybe 5 miles an hour or so. But it's enough that I'll probably have to get a new bumper. That means dealing with insurance agents and time without my car.
Luckily, he didn't hit me hard enough to knock me out into the road where the Yukon would have hit me. That would have been disaster!
Apparently, this is the second time this kid has hit someone at a yield sign. Hmm...maybe he needs to look forward to make sure the person in front of him goes before looking to the left to see if there is anyone coming so he can go. And how he thought he could beat that Yukon is beyond me...so maybe I actually stopped him from having a much worse accident. Who knows.
He was pretty young, probably a high schooler. And this was his first day at his job, probably a summer job.
Hopefully his insurance company will pay for the damages, and it will all be a quick, easy experience.
It truly is a Monday.
Then I opened my hatch to get my computer out...and it wasn't there. I hadn't put it back in my car after using it to work from home on Friday.
So, I got back in my car and drove all the way back home to get it. On the way back, as I was stopped at a yield sign waiting for a Yukon to pass by before proceeding, a kid hits me from behind.
If I hadn't forgotten my computer and had to go home, I never would have gotten rear-ended. If I had left a few minutes later or earlier, I never would have gotten hit.
No one was hurt. It was just a little fender bender. The damage is minimal, because, let's face it...I was stopped, and he couldn't have been going more than maybe 5 miles an hour or so. But it's enough that I'll probably have to get a new bumper. That means dealing with insurance agents and time without my car.
Luckily, he didn't hit me hard enough to knock me out into the road where the Yukon would have hit me. That would have been disaster!
Apparently, this is the second time this kid has hit someone at a yield sign. Hmm...maybe he needs to look forward to make sure the person in front of him goes before looking to the left to see if there is anyone coming so he can go. And how he thought he could beat that Yukon is beyond me...so maybe I actually stopped him from having a much worse accident. Who knows.
He was pretty young, probably a high schooler. And this was his first day at his job, probably a summer job.
Hopefully his insurance company will pay for the damages, and it will all be a quick, easy experience.
It truly is a Monday.
Thursday, June 10, 2010
The great GD debate
I had my appointment with Kaiser on Tuesday. According to the midwife at my last appointment, I was supposed to have glucose tolerance test for gestational diabetes (GD) during this appointment.
The appointment was scheduled for 3:30, and the waiting room was busier than I've ever seen it before. We didn't get in until after 4. When the midwife came in and looked at my record, she asked if I already drank the stuff for the test. I told her no and she said that they should have done that, but they were so backed up today that they must have forgot.
I started asking questions about risks and change in care if I tested positive. She said that the main risk of having GD was the potential for having a big baby (over 10lbs is considered big). If I have a big baby, it would reduce the chance of a successful vaginal birth.
She said the change in care would consist of watching my diet (cutting out bad carbs), and testing myself with a glucometer four times a day (i.e. pricking my finger). I am more than willing to change my diet, but I am not going to prick my finger four times a day to check my glucose, even if I did test positive.
She said the test was highly recommended and that she has seen people with GD who had no symptoms. She said I could think about it and research it more and then make a decision in two weeks when I come back.
I don't mind drinking the stuff (although I've heard it tastes gross), but I am not so keen on getting more blood drawn.
I was debating even taking this test because of the needle. I am not high risk for GD. There's no family history that I know of (which is the highest risk factor), I eat fairly healthy (although I do enjoy my share of sweets every now and then - particularly ice cream), exercise on a regular basis, and have a BMI lower than 25 even with all the weight I've gained during this pregnancy. I don't really see a reason to have the test.
I have an appointment with the homebirth midwife next Tuesday. I'm going to ask her if she thinks it is necessary. If she is comfortable with a homebirth not knowing if I have GD and the baby might be big, then I'm comfortable not getting stuck with needles. If she thinks it is in my best interest (and her best interest) to get the test, I'll do the finger prick test with her after fasting for 12 hours instead of the full-blown needle test with Kaiser.
The appointment was scheduled for 3:30, and the waiting room was busier than I've ever seen it before. We didn't get in until after 4. When the midwife came in and looked at my record, she asked if I already drank the stuff for the test. I told her no and she said that they should have done that, but they were so backed up today that they must have forgot.
I started asking questions about risks and change in care if I tested positive. She said that the main risk of having GD was the potential for having a big baby (over 10lbs is considered big). If I have a big baby, it would reduce the chance of a successful vaginal birth.
She said the change in care would consist of watching my diet (cutting out bad carbs), and testing myself with a glucometer four times a day (i.e. pricking my finger). I am more than willing to change my diet, but I am not going to prick my finger four times a day to check my glucose, even if I did test positive.
She said the test was highly recommended and that she has seen people with GD who had no symptoms. She said I could think about it and research it more and then make a decision in two weeks when I come back.
I don't mind drinking the stuff (although I've heard it tastes gross), but I am not so keen on getting more blood drawn.
I was debating even taking this test because of the needle. I am not high risk for GD. There's no family history that I know of (which is the highest risk factor), I eat fairly healthy (although I do enjoy my share of sweets every now and then - particularly ice cream), exercise on a regular basis, and have a BMI lower than 25 even with all the weight I've gained during this pregnancy. I don't really see a reason to have the test.
I have an appointment with the homebirth midwife next Tuesday. I'm going to ask her if she thinks it is necessary. If she is comfortable with a homebirth not knowing if I have GD and the baby might be big, then I'm comfortable not getting stuck with needles. If she thinks it is in my best interest (and her best interest) to get the test, I'll do the finger prick test with her after fasting for 12 hours instead of the full-blown needle test with Kaiser.
Friday, May 28, 2010
Emory Eastside
We toured Emory Eastside yesterday. This is the hospital that we would have delivered in if we were going with the Gwinnett Kaiser practice.
The people there were very nice and informative. The tour covered more than the Northside tour covered. They showed us the nursing stations and where the circumcisions take place, which we weren't pointed out at Northside. The rooms are about the same size, although I think Northside's L&D room may be slightly bigger. Northside has a tub/shower combo, whereas Emory Eastside just has a shower (with a "shower chair").
They allow you to bring food in, but prefer a "clear liquid diet" for moms in labor. This is pretty much the same thing that Northside said. I think it's ridiculous. They do this in case you have to have a c-section. People who come into the emergency room after a car accident and have to get surgery weren't on a clear liquid diet before they got into their cars and had an accident. They can do the stinkin surgery just fine if you have been eating.
The thing that disturbed me the most is that if I have to have an emergency c-section and go under general anesthesia, Rob cannot be present for the birth. If I have the epidural, he can be present, but if it's an emergency and there's not time for an epidural, he cannot. I asked the nurse if this is the same at all hospitals, and she said that she thinks it is. It never came up twice during the tour, but never came up during the tour at Northside. I will have to ask someone from Northside if their policy is the same. This disturbs me because if we are at the hospital, it will be for a c-section, since we have decided on the homebirth. Also, if we're at the hospital, we will probably not have a lot of time to get an epidural, since we already will have lost time during transport after the medical issue was identified.
I think overall, I like Emory Eastside better. It's easier to get to, the staff was more friendly, it's less crowded, and parking is free. But that c-section thing could be the deal breaker, if Northside still allows the husband in.
The people there were very nice and informative. The tour covered more than the Northside tour covered. They showed us the nursing stations and where the circumcisions take place, which we weren't pointed out at Northside. The rooms are about the same size, although I think Northside's L&D room may be slightly bigger. Northside has a tub/shower combo, whereas Emory Eastside just has a shower (with a "shower chair").
They allow you to bring food in, but prefer a "clear liquid diet" for moms in labor. This is pretty much the same thing that Northside said. I think it's ridiculous. They do this in case you have to have a c-section. People who come into the emergency room after a car accident and have to get surgery weren't on a clear liquid diet before they got into their cars and had an accident. They can do the stinkin surgery just fine if you have been eating.
The thing that disturbed me the most is that if I have to have an emergency c-section and go under general anesthesia, Rob cannot be present for the birth. If I have the epidural, he can be present, but if it's an emergency and there's not time for an epidural, he cannot. I asked the nurse if this is the same at all hospitals, and she said that she thinks it is. It never came up twice during the tour, but never came up during the tour at Northside. I will have to ask someone from Northside if their policy is the same. This disturbs me because if we are at the hospital, it will be for a c-section, since we have decided on the homebirth. Also, if we're at the hospital, we will probably not have a lot of time to get an epidural, since we already will have lost time during transport after the medical issue was identified.
I think overall, I like Emory Eastside better. It's easier to get to, the staff was more friendly, it's less crowded, and parking is free. But that c-section thing could be the deal breaker, if Northside still allows the husband in.
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Perfect Fetal Positioning
We had our first appointment with Debi, our homebirth midwife, yesterday. It went very well. We spent two hours at her house, filling out our chart, chatting, and doing the prenatal exam. She has some sort of stick that you put in the urine to detect hydration, sugars, etc like they do at the lab of the doctor's office. She felt my belly to find out the fetal positioning and measured my belly. She used a fetoscope to check the baby's heartbeat.
According to Debi, the baby was head down in an anterior position - exactly what you want during labor. Granted, we still have a long way to go, and there's a lot of room to move in there still, so he will probably be moving around between now and then.
My belly is measuring 26" right now. She said generally speaking, from this point on, I should be measuring within one or two inches of the number of weeks along I am. Yesterday I was 27 weeks, so she said the measurement was very good.
The fetoscope was pretty interesting. She let both me and Rob listen. It sounded like a very faint (and fast) clock ticking. She said the heartbeat was at 130.
My blood pressure is good. My pulse is very low (60), which is typical for runners. I was well hydrated, and she didn't find any problems with my urine strip.
The kind of time she spends with us is completely different than the kind of time you get at a doctor's office. At Kaiser, I was seeing midwives too. They would spend a little more time than the doctors and answer questions if I had them, but still, I probably saw them at most 20 minutes. She spent a full two hours with us, explaining things, answering questions. It really is a total change.
At 37 weeks she will be visiting our house to make sure we have everything ready for the birth. She wants everyone who will be at the house during the birth to be there, if possible, so she can meet them and answer any questions they may have to ensure they are comfortable with the process. That will be sometime around August 3rd.
She also invited anyone who may have questions or concerns about the homebirth idea to join us at any of our prenatal appointments. We will be seeing her every other week, on Tuesdays (usually the appointment will be at 3:30 on Tuesdays) starting June 15th.
According to Debi, the baby was head down in an anterior position - exactly what you want during labor. Granted, we still have a long way to go, and there's a lot of room to move in there still, so he will probably be moving around between now and then.
My belly is measuring 26" right now. She said generally speaking, from this point on, I should be measuring within one or two inches of the number of weeks along I am. Yesterday I was 27 weeks, so she said the measurement was very good.
The fetoscope was pretty interesting. She let both me and Rob listen. It sounded like a very faint (and fast) clock ticking. She said the heartbeat was at 130.
My blood pressure is good. My pulse is very low (60), which is typical for runners. I was well hydrated, and she didn't find any problems with my urine strip.
The kind of time she spends with us is completely different than the kind of time you get at a doctor's office. At Kaiser, I was seeing midwives too. They would spend a little more time than the doctors and answer questions if I had them, but still, I probably saw them at most 20 minutes. She spent a full two hours with us, explaining things, answering questions. It really is a total change.
At 37 weeks she will be visiting our house to make sure we have everything ready for the birth. She wants everyone who will be at the house during the birth to be there, if possible, so she can meet them and answer any questions they may have to ensure they are comfortable with the process. That will be sometime around August 3rd.
She also invited anyone who may have questions or concerns about the homebirth idea to join us at any of our prenatal appointments. We will be seeing her every other week, on Tuesdays (usually the appointment will be at 3:30 on Tuesdays) starting June 15th.
Monday, May 24, 2010
Painting the nursery
This weekend we began the process of painting the nursery. The nursery was an ugly brownish orange color to begin with. It was a dark shade, so we had to prime the walls before painting the pale blue color.
Saturday while Rob was at a meeting, I started taping around the baseboards, doors, and windows. I used tape that Mom gave me along with her painting supplies. Well, apparently, if tape isn't used for awhile, it loses its stickiness. It kept pulling away from the wall.
When Rob got home, he started helping me prime. He apparently has this huge fear of failing for some reason. I have never seen this with him before in anything he's tried, and he's tried a lot of things that he's never done before. But he constantly was saying how much he hates painting and didn't want to do it in the first place. I told him that he didn't have to help (and honestly, his "helping" was probably more harmful anyway because he seemed to rush everything, causing paint to drip everywhere). If he just calmed down, had a good attitude about it, and took it slow and steady, everything would be fine.
Ultimately, we got primer on all of the walls, despite the drip marks and dripping paint all over the drop clothes (thank goodness for drop cloths!). It's not very even, by any means, but I think it's enough to keep the brown from showing through the blue. I am going to have to get some sandpaper to sand down some of the areas so that the final painting isn't bumpy. I think I will also get some new drop cloths and retape everything so that there isn't paint all over where we are trying to walk. What a mess!
I was hoping that I wouldn't have to re-paint the trim, but it looks like I will have to do that. Since someone was rushing, and the tape wasn't sticking, there are way too many spots where the primer dripped down onto the trim.
On another note, the baby is kicking me in the bladder now, and it is making me have to visit the bathroom just about every hour.
Also, we have our first appointment with our homebirth midwife tomorrow, so I'll post on that either tomorrow or Wednesday.
Saturday while Rob was at a meeting, I started taping around the baseboards, doors, and windows. I used tape that Mom gave me along with her painting supplies. Well, apparently, if tape isn't used for awhile, it loses its stickiness. It kept pulling away from the wall.
When Rob got home, he started helping me prime. He apparently has this huge fear of failing for some reason. I have never seen this with him before in anything he's tried, and he's tried a lot of things that he's never done before. But he constantly was saying how much he hates painting and didn't want to do it in the first place. I told him that he didn't have to help (and honestly, his "helping" was probably more harmful anyway because he seemed to rush everything, causing paint to drip everywhere). If he just calmed down, had a good attitude about it, and took it slow and steady, everything would be fine.
Ultimately, we got primer on all of the walls, despite the drip marks and dripping paint all over the drop clothes (thank goodness for drop cloths!). It's not very even, by any means, but I think it's enough to keep the brown from showing through the blue. I am going to have to get some sandpaper to sand down some of the areas so that the final painting isn't bumpy. I think I will also get some new drop cloths and retape everything so that there isn't paint all over where we are trying to walk. What a mess!
I was hoping that I wouldn't have to re-paint the trim, but it looks like I will have to do that. Since someone was rushing, and the tape wasn't sticking, there are way too many spots where the primer dripped down onto the trim.
On another note, the baby is kicking me in the bladder now, and it is making me have to visit the bathroom just about every hour.
Also, we have our first appointment with our homebirth midwife tomorrow, so I'll post on that either tomorrow or Wednesday.
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