Monday, November 29, 2010

37 weeks and the Nerves are Boiling!

Today I have my 37 week doctor check up, and even though chances are it will just be another normally awkward visit, I have these fears/worries building up, that when I go in they will see something or recognize something for me to head right to the hospital. Maybe I am letting other people's baby stories get to me and cause a little anxiety for myself, but because these sort of things are SO unpredictable it is hard to not to wonder and think of all the random possibilities.

Friend worry-me-story #1: I had a friend that went in for her 37 week appointment and they found she was low on amniotic fluid and that the baby was breach and almost coming out- so they sent her right to the hospital for an emergency C-section. It took her completely off guard and she was not excepting it in any way, shape, or form that she would be having her baby that day- but it happened, and now they are doing great and everything is dandy- but the story still makes me feel a little worried, cuz if you hadn't noticed already, I am in my 37 week too!

Friend worry-me-story #2: Another friend told me of the situation with her first born. They went in for a quick check-up to see if it was okay for them to go see family for the thanksgiving break. So the Doc asked if she had been feeling anything as far as contractions, and how she was feeling overall, she reported that everything felt normal and great, nothing seemed out of the ordinary. The doc ran a few scans and tests, and came back in the room to report that she was "IN LABOR RIGHT NOW!" and that she was gonna have her baby that DAY! She didn't feel anything beyond the normal aches of being big and pregnant, but she was apparently in labor and due for having a baby. This story makes me worry/wonder cuz I too haven't really felt much different, but maybe I have had contractions and I just don't know it....

Friend/Family worry-me-story #3: Luckily I made it past thanksgiving and was able to see family one last time before the baby comes, but because I was with family I got to hear lots of different situations from my sister's birthing experiences. Some went two weeks early (which if I were to be like them- I would be delivering sometime this week!) and some went two-three weeks late (as nervous as I am about it all, I am really hope it wont go this long!). They always say you can follow similar patterns as your sisters, but because they is such a broad range of differences, it makes me a little nervous to when it will all play out for me!

Overall, I am prob making this a bigger deal than it is, or that it needs to be, cuz I am just good at being like that. But I won't deny that I sure do think about it all A LOT (how could I not, I have never been through something like this before)! But in a more positive note, because I am such a worry wart about things, it makes me do something about it all- and I have officially put together a go-to-hospital get-up. I know in all the millions of pregnancy books and websites they say to have all this ready anyways, but for my sanity's sake, I am glad I got mine together. I have the luggage, baby bag and car seat all ready and set in the car, so that if something comes up and I space out before getting to the car- hopefully I wont forget it cuz it will already be in the car!

I am excited, I really am, even though with all my worry writings I might sound a little freaked out (which I am too, remember this is something I have never experienced before, how could I not be a little ancy about it all), but I am excited. I know every person's story, every person's birthing experience is different and unique to them and their baby- but when it all comes down to it there is always a common element- their lives will never be the same again! And maybe that's the part that makes me the most nervous, this is the very much "unknown" that I am nervous/excited for that will come as a result of the anxious hospital/birthing moments. Once this baby pops out I will have officially entered into the realm of parenthood- never to turn back (not that was planning to turn back).

Being a parent is something so unique, yet so common and universal, and more or less most people will experience it- so if it is so common, why am I making such a big deal about it? I am not sure, other than even though it is so common, it is still something I personally have not ventured into and crossed the threshold into yet. I can look at all these other stories, or look at other families and "think" I know what it will be like because of what I see in others, but no matter how much I see, I really wont know until I have experienced it myself. I know that things will work out and it all will be great no matter how it turns out, but either way it still wracks my brain- and I will be done now blabbering about this, cuz I could prob go on for a long time.

I am excited and when it all happens, and I will be writing about it too!

As with a final note: here are some more picture updates: here's my lovely baby hump:




Lovely pictures taken by my amazing photographer sister: Andrea Whatcott- isn't she good!?
Anyway, that's all for today (and I will try not to worry so much)...till next time!

Friday, November 5, 2010

33 Weeks Down...and it has been a while!

It has come to my recent attention that it has been a while, maybe too long, since I've last updated here, although no one really reads this blog anyway, so I guess the "no ones" aren't missing out on much. But I guess for mental clearing and in case there is a random reader, I will still update.

http://www.askamum.co.uk/Birth/Search-Results/Preparing-for-labour/Are-natural-childbirth-classes-a-waste-of-time/
Let's see, where to begin? We have officially finished our first three week birthing class. I don't know that I would have called it a birthing class though. When I think of birthing classes I think of the parents-to-be or at least the Mommy's-to-be doing lots of breathing and relaxing stuff like they are in some kind of yoga class, but this class was non the like at all. It was offered by the clinic I am going to and although it wasn't what I expected, it was a nice treat. They were taught by the different doctors that are at the clinic which was nice to get to know them better this way than the usual quick fast check ups I get where it is usually a busy "hi" and "good-bye". It was also nice because they talked about a lot of different things to expect through it all, and even though I have heard a lot and read a lot about this kind of stuff, it was nice to hear it from a perspective of the literal people that will be helping me here, and that it came from a perspective of the town and hospital that I will be going to. And a fun note too, last night, our last night they let us play on the "birthing balls" which are basically the big exercising balls, and they taught us different techniques and positions that we can do on them that will help ease pain and distract from the pain, I had so much with them Michael ended up getting one for me after the class was over- I am pretty excited about it. And also as a fun extra bonus they did a drawing at the end and we won a free thermometer that is a special three in one- it can do oral, arm pit and butt (hopefully not all three at once though, might not be the most sanitary)!

Speaking of butt and the birthing ball and pain...I have really been wanting a bath. It will be nice to have the birthing ball, or exercise ball, to help relieve pain, but it doesn't take away from the fact and my long desires for a nice warm bath! It seems like each day my body aches and hurts a little more each day, and when I wake up my body just cries out in ouch-ness, begging me to not get out bed cuz I just hurt (OK so maybe I am exaggerating a little, but it still does hurt) and it seems like the only thing that comes to my mind that would make me feel better is a nice warm bath, and maybe the fact I can't have one has made my mind more determined that's what I need because I can't actually do it to prove/disprove my theory if that's what I need. Yes, that's right, we have a standing shower which equals no baths for me!

Oh well, I guess you don't always get what you want, at least we are moving come Christmas time, and that is certainly one of the top things to do my list when get settled in the new place- I am taking a bath!!

Speaking of moving...yes that's right, we are moving, the same week I am due. I have been told my some that it was really bad planning on my part, maybe it was, but I see it as being a nice benefit. We'll be moving into our bigger place just in time to get things settled for the new member of our family, other words it will get it's own room (although I am sure it will prob still sleep in our room for the first little while), or at least it gets its own room that I can finally start decorating and all that fun stuff. Also, Michael was able to get a week off of work during this same moving/being due week, so it will help out a ton him being around 24-7 in case we need to head to the hospital, and so he can help carry the big stuff (other words do most of the moving). On another good note, since we are moving (and it is only to the down stairs apartment) maybe all the going up and down the stairs will help me kick into labor and actually having the baby the week that I would need Michael the most to be there with me. So long story short: get a nice bath, get Michael for a week, get a second bedroom (with carpet, I might add, this current apt is all wood flooring and as pretty as it is, I really miss being able to walk on carpet!), I might kick into labor and have the baby, and it will be Christmas- does that sound like bad timing? I think ideal timing sounds like a better term for me, at least I hope it will actually work out that way!

33 weeks, almost 34....let me explain...no let me sum up....Is it really that close to 40 weeks? We could be parents come any time more or less from now till about eight weeks away (at most...hopefully). I am excited, I am nervous, I am tired, I am scared, but I am excited. I have always, or mostly always, been nervous/afraid of the unknown, which thus adds to my major worry wart-nesses and wondering/worrying what it will be like, but I am excited. Like I have said in previous posts, I excited to be a parent, I just hope I will be the parent this little person will need, cuz ready or not here she comes (soon)!

Oh yes and how could I forget, here is an update pic of the lovely plump hanging out...This was at 32 weeks.

Hope you have a wonderful day!