36 weeks and counting down

Cant believe the end of my pregnancy is in sight. The beginning went by slowly but these last 10 or so weeks have FLOWN by! I am getting tired very easily. Even trekking up to our condo on the 4th floor (no elevator) has gotten tough. The hot days are the worst - the swollen feet and hands get so painful. But, I am still doing everything I have been doing and the nursery is just about ready. I keep looking in there for something more to do to get ready, but there really isn't much left. Our glider will be here late next week and once that is in, a few adjustments will be made and that's it... DONE!

I started non stress tests 2x/week - first one was this past Wednesday. Baby J passed with flying colors. The nurse called him an over-achiever. Second one is tomorrow. My appt with the doctor went well on Wednesday too. He did say he is amazed that I haven't had another bleeding incident by now and that he expected me to already be on bed rest. But I have followed his instructions to a T. I guess I had sort of forgotten those things were likely to happen. It is possible that the baby's head is resting right on my placenta and even if it does bleed some, the blood might be trapped by his head. We don't know for sure - that is just a theory.

Anyway, my doctor isn't comfortable waiting until July 9 for my c-section. We are hoping something opens up the week of July 2 but if it isn't looking that way, he may move me up to June 28...June 28, as in less than 2 weeks from today. He will be 38 weeks exactly. Earlier than I would like, but my doctor doesn't want to risk me having a bad bleed and getting freaked out. He said he'd be comfortable with a delivery at 38 weeks.

So now we wait and see. I continue the NSTs and I have a BPP (Bio physical Profile) ultrasound next Wednesday. If those continue to go well, maybe we will hold off. If they don't, the 28th is probably likely. It may be more likely anyway. I really don't know. Either way, our son will be here before we know it! Amazing....

Birth Day

C-Section is currently scheduled for Monday July 9. We will see if the little guy is willing to wait that long. Exact time not yet determined.

4 weeks from today!

Some photos from my shower

My shower was Saturday June 2. It was such an amazing time. The weather didn't cooperate but it was ok. Everyone seemed to have a great time. My son has so many people who love him already. I guess I never really thought other people already loved him like IJ and I do. But after the comments and chats I had with friends and family that day, it hit me that he is so loved. It truly is a blessing.

Anyway, here are a few photos.

The centerpieces

Favors by Little Bits Toffee

Cupcakes made by my sister JC

My mom, my sisters and me

Getting ready to open the gifts

35 week update

My baby this week: size of a coconut

Weight Gain: 22.6

Baby bump: 

Sleep: Sleep has been better. Still waking up a couple times each night but falling right back to sleep. I had 2 nights with insomnia but hopefully that is behind me now.

Best moment of the week: My shower was last Saturday. I will try to grab some pictures off of Facebook to post here. Baby J has so many people who love him already - he is a blessed boy. We got many of our registry items and I made good progress in the nursery. He received TONS of clothes! I think he has more outfits than I do now. On Saturday I ordered the rest of the items from one of my registries so I can finish decorating and organizing the nursery. 

Symptoms: Hungry. Tired. Easily winded. Terrible heartburn - I have never known heartburn like this before.

Food cravings: Lemonade and anything salty.

What I miss: Nothing really. I just want to meet my boy.

What I am looking forward to: Getting my c-section scheduled. It is set for July 9 as of today, but I am not sure I will make it that long. Who knows if he will want to come early.

Milestones: 1 month left!

Emotions: Easily irritated - mainly at work. Feeling overwhelmed by things I have left to do before my maternity leave starts and my delivery day.

C-section it will be

So my appointment last Thursday didn't go as well as I had hoped it would. My placenta is actually now covering my cervix more than it was 3 weeks ago. So, when I go to the doctor on tomorrow, I will likely be scheduling my son's birthday. The past few days have been filled with a variety of emotions. I wanted the opportunity to experience labor, to have that rush of getting to the hospital, using the childbirth techniques we have been learning in class and seeing how long I could go without the epidural. I even had a free doula lined up. My masseuse needs one more birth for her certification so she was going to handle my birth and not charge me anything.... but alas, not doula needed for a c-section.

I do like the idea of knowing the date of my son's impending birth. But the idea of surgery scares the crap out of me. I have never broken a bone or even had a stitch. Never mind having my abdomen cut open and my organs moved around in order to pull a baby out. I can hardly even think about it without wanting to cry. And I keep having this panic that they are going to nick the baby with the scalpel - I saw it on Grey's Anatomy once and I can't put it out of my head but rationally, I know it is HIGHLY unlikely. Or the vision of myself falling asleep during a midnight feeding and rolling on top of him. These are the things that keep me up at night (thank you pregnancy insomnia!). I know they say that this insomnia is supposed to be preparing me for being up most of the night with a newborn, but I would very much appreciate all of the sleep I can get for now.

So I am nearing the end, and then nearing the beginning. Time moves slowly, time moves too quickly... sometimes it doesn't seem to move at all. All I know is, I am ready to meet my son, no matter what the method of delivery is, getting him here safely is all that really matters. And hopefully, that day is coming in a little over 5 weeks.

32 week update

My baby this week: size of a squash. He still seems to have room to move and loves to punch and kick his mom.

Weight Gain: 21 lbs. total. um WHAT?!?! 7lb gain in 4 weeks.

Baby bump: 

Sleep: Not sleeping as deeply and definitely not as comfortable.

Best moment of the week: Making progress in the nursery this past weekend - shelves and hat rack hung up, name decal on the wall and frames bought.

Symptoms: Hungry. So very hungry but trying to eat as well as I can. 

Food cravings: Lemonade and rice crispy treats.

What I miss: I missed wine on our anniversary when we went out to dinner, but that faded fast. I do miss deep sleep though.

What I am looking forward to: My ultrasound next Thursday. So hoping the previa is better.

Milestones: Third trimester!!

Emotions: Fairly stable but very easily irritated - mainly at work.

29 week update

My baby this week: size of a head of an acorn squash

Weight Gain: 16.4 lbs. total. Not too bad.

Baby bump: 

Sleep: Trouble getting comfortable. Putting a pillow between my knees and wrapping my arms around a round pillow is helping me stay on my side.

Best moment of the week: Tuesday's ultrasound - I love seeing my son.

Symptoms: Hungry. Little guy is kicking and rolling around a lot! The sciatica has subsided. Still rears it's head once in a while but not nearly as bad as it was.

Food cravings: Triscuits and ice cream... not at the same time!

What I miss: Not being winded when I go up the stairs.

What I am looking forward to: Getting more done in the nursery.

Milestones: Third trimester!!

Emotions: Cry at the drop of a hat when watching emotional tv stuff - like Guiliana and Bill Rancic's baby announcement.