All is well so far this week. The baby is still "head up"--I know this because I can feel her head lodged in my ribs! I'm feeling slightly paranoid about making sure I feel her move during the day, but I've heard that's the normal, worrying pregnant woman thing to do.
Tomorrow P.C. and I start our three-week "baby care basics" class. Swaddling, diapers and infant CPR. Should be interesting. I predict that P.C. will be a champion swaddler! :-)
Here's this week's update from www.babycenter.com. It feels good to know that, if Spike arrives a little early, she'll almost definitely be okay.
How your baby's growing: Your baby now weighs about 4 3/4 pounds and is almost 18 inches long. Her fat layers — which will help regulate her body temperature once she's born — are filling her out, making her rounder. Her skin is also smoother than ever. Her central nervous system is maturing and her lungs are continuing to mature as well. If you've been nervous about preterm labor, you'll be happy to know that babies born between 34 and 37 weeks who have no other health problems generally do fine. They may need a short stay in the neonatal nursery and may have a few short-term health issues, but in the long run, they usually do as well as full-term babies.
Wednesday, July 11, 2007
Wednesday, July 4, 2007
Babycenter.com Update: Week 33
Well, I went to the doctor's yesterday. The baby is fine--I got to see her in an ultrasound after many weeks!-- but two things are going on:
1. I have a fibroid in my uterus that will most likely keep the baby from turning, which means I'm probably on a short track to a cesarean section. We'll know more in a few weeks, but that's the doctor's prediction.
2. The umbilical cord is currently resting around the baby's neck. This isn't an emergency, as icky as is sounds, but it does mean that I need to more closely monitor the baby's movements. Wow, there's something I won't worry about....
Tomorrow I go back to the doctor for a blood pressure check.
Here's this week's update from http://www.babycenter.com/:
How your baby's growing: This week your baby weighs a little over 4 pounds and has passed the 17-inch mark. He's rapidly losing that wrinkled, alien look and his skeleton is hardening. The bones in his skull aren't fused together, which allows them to move and slightly overlap, thus making it easier for him to fit through the birth canal. (The pressure on the head during birth is so intense that many babies are born with a conehead-like appearance.) These bones don't entirely fuse until early adulthood, so they can grow as his brain and other tissue expands during infancy and childhood.
1. I have a fibroid in my uterus that will most likely keep the baby from turning, which means I'm probably on a short track to a cesarean section. We'll know more in a few weeks, but that's the doctor's prediction.
2. The umbilical cord is currently resting around the baby's neck. This isn't an emergency, as icky as is sounds, but it does mean that I need to more closely monitor the baby's movements. Wow, there's something I won't worry about....
Tomorrow I go back to the doctor for a blood pressure check.
Here's this week's update from http://www.babycenter.com/:
How your baby's growing: This week your baby weighs a little over 4 pounds and has passed the 17-inch mark. He's rapidly losing that wrinkled, alien look and his skeleton is hardening. The bones in his skull aren't fused together, which allows them to move and slightly overlap, thus making it easier for him to fit through the birth canal. (The pressure on the head during birth is so intense that many babies are born with a conehead-like appearance.) These bones don't entirely fuse until early adulthood, so they can grow as his brain and other tissue expands during infancy and childhood.
Tuesday, July 3, 2007
I had no idea my body was public domain...
I was warned about this. Random people coming up to me and touching my belly. People offering their horrifying birth stories. People offering all kinds of perenting advice. But really--people making fat comments?
Yes, I've heard them. "Are you sure you aren't having twins?" "You're HUGE!" "You'll have a really tough time losing that after the baby is born." "Your stomach is huge--and so is your ass!" (No, really, I'm NOT KIDDING.) "Your boobs are HUGE--you're going to go into letters of the alphabet I never even knew existed for bras!"
Okay, here's the thing. However jokingly said, however harmlessly meant, these comments hurt. I have never felt so beautiful in my whole life as I do RIGHT NOW, giving life to this amazing miracle growing in my body. Have I gained weight? Yes. Perhaps a little more thn I'd hoped? Yes. (Name me five women who gained precisely the "right" amount of weight while pregnant!) Have I also enjoyed eating while I've been pregnant? Yes. (And let me tell you, while I do enjoy a sweet or two, I am not gorging on donuts and french fries. For example, for breakfast yesterday I had a bagel with a scrambled egg and a slice of cheese. For lunch, a hummus wrap and some watermelon. For dinner, some tuna salad, carrots and strawberries. So there.)
And really, the bottom line is that it is nobody's damn business if I've gained 25, 30, 35, 40, or 70 pounds. Nobody's. Okay, my doctor's, but she has been fabulous about my weight.
And the breast size thing? Really? Do you want to go there? Talk about an area I have NO CONTROL over.
So, please, don't nag me about it--now or after the baby is born. There's a miracle going on right now--does my extra chin really matter? I really do believe that our bodies hit a natural, comfortable weight when we trust it to do so. And it won't be right away, but I'll find that place again. So butt out, okay?
Yes, I've heard them. "Are you sure you aren't having twins?" "You're HUGE!" "You'll have a really tough time losing that after the baby is born." "Your stomach is huge--and so is your ass!" (No, really, I'm NOT KIDDING.) "Your boobs are HUGE--you're going to go into letters of the alphabet I never even knew existed for bras!"
Okay, here's the thing. However jokingly said, however harmlessly meant, these comments hurt. I have never felt so beautiful in my whole life as I do RIGHT NOW, giving life to this amazing miracle growing in my body. Have I gained weight? Yes. Perhaps a little more thn I'd hoped? Yes. (Name me five women who gained precisely the "right" amount of weight while pregnant!) Have I also enjoyed eating while I've been pregnant? Yes. (And let me tell you, while I do enjoy a sweet or two, I am not gorging on donuts and french fries. For example, for breakfast yesterday I had a bagel with a scrambled egg and a slice of cheese. For lunch, a hummus wrap and some watermelon. For dinner, some tuna salad, carrots and strawberries. So there.)
And really, the bottom line is that it is nobody's damn business if I've gained 25, 30, 35, 40, or 70 pounds. Nobody's. Okay, my doctor's, but she has been fabulous about my weight.
And the breast size thing? Really? Do you want to go there? Talk about an area I have NO CONTROL over.
So, please, don't nag me about it--now or after the baby is born. There's a miracle going on right now--does my extra chin really matter? I really do believe that our bodies hit a natural, comfortable weight when we trust it to do so. And it won't be right away, but I'll find that place again. So butt out, okay?
Wednesday, June 27, 2007
Babycenter.com Update: Week 32
Went to the doctor's today. All is well! My doctor gave me a small lecture about taking it easy and remembering that I'm pregnant and not Superwoman. I'm trying to take that to heart.
Here's this week's update from www.babycenter.com:
How your baby's growing: By now, your baby is just shy of 4 pounds and is nearly 17 inches long, taking up a lot of space in your uterus. You're gaining about a pound a week and roughly half of that goes right to your baby. In fact, she'll gain a third to half of her birth weight during the next 7 weeks as she fattens up for survival outside the womb. She now has toenails, fingernails, and real hair (or at least respectable peach fuzz). Her skin is becoming soft and smooth as she plumps up in preparation for birth.
How your life's changing: To accommodate you and your baby's growing needs, your blood volume has increased 40 to 50 percent since you got pregnant. With your uterus pushing up near your diaphragm and crowding your stomach, the consequences may be shortness of breath and heartburn. To help relieve your discomfort, try sleeping propped up with pillows and eating smaller meals more often. You may have lower-back pain as your pregnancy advances. If you do, let your caregiver know right away, particularly if you haven't had back pain before, since it can be a sign of preterm labor. Assuming it's not preterm labor that's ailing you, you can probably blame your growing uterus and hormonal changes for your aching back. Your expanding uterus shifts your center of gravity and stretches out and weakens your abdominal muscles, changing your posture and putting a strain on your back. Hormonal changes in pregnancy loosen your joints and the ligaments that attach your pelvic bones to your spine. This can make you feel less stable and cause pain when you walk, stand, sit for long periods, roll over in bed, get out of a low chair or the tub, bend, or lift things.
Here's this week's update from www.babycenter.com:
How your baby's growing: By now, your baby is just shy of 4 pounds and is nearly 17 inches long, taking up a lot of space in your uterus. You're gaining about a pound a week and roughly half of that goes right to your baby. In fact, she'll gain a third to half of her birth weight during the next 7 weeks as she fattens up for survival outside the womb. She now has toenails, fingernails, and real hair (or at least respectable peach fuzz). Her skin is becoming soft and smooth as she plumps up in preparation for birth.
How your life's changing: To accommodate you and your baby's growing needs, your blood volume has increased 40 to 50 percent since you got pregnant. With your uterus pushing up near your diaphragm and crowding your stomach, the consequences may be shortness of breath and heartburn. To help relieve your discomfort, try sleeping propped up with pillows and eating smaller meals more often. You may have lower-back pain as your pregnancy advances. If you do, let your caregiver know right away, particularly if you haven't had back pain before, since it can be a sign of preterm labor. Assuming it's not preterm labor that's ailing you, you can probably blame your growing uterus and hormonal changes for your aching back. Your expanding uterus shifts your center of gravity and stretches out and weakens your abdominal muscles, changing your posture and putting a strain on your back. Hormonal changes in pregnancy loosen your joints and the ligaments that attach your pelvic bones to your spine. This can make you feel less stable and cause pain when you walk, stand, sit for long periods, roll over in bed, get out of a low chair or the tub, bend, or lift things.
Sunday, June 24, 2007
Busy Week
It's been a very busy week around here. Mom and her friend Norm arrived on Tuesday, and there's been a lot of action. Norm did a bunch of things around the house. I picked out a crib. P.C. and I went to our weekend-long childbirth class. My sister threw an amazing shower for me at her house. All in all, a good week. I go to the doctor on Wednesday for a checkup. My blood pressure was a little elevated last week, but hopefully it will behave at this upcoming visit.
Here's a picture of me at just about 32 weeks. Time is flying by...
Tuesday, June 19, 2007
Babycenter.com Update: Week 31
Mom's coming to town today with her sweet friend Norm, so it's going to be a busy week of crib shopping and doing some baby-preparation things around the house. I'm looking forward to getting some stuff done!
I am feeling very uncomfortable these days--like there isn't enough room inside of me to hold all of the space the baby is taking up! She is DEFINITELY making her presence known!
Here's this week's update from www.babycenter.com:
How your baby's growing: This week, your baby measures about 16 inches long. He weighs a little over 3 pounds and is heading into a growth spurt. He can turn his head from side to side, and his arms, legs, and body are beginning to plump out as needed fat accumulates underneath his skin. He's probably moving a lot, too, so you may have trouble sleeping because your baby's kicks and somersaults keep you up. Take comfort: All this moving is a sign that your baby is active and healthy.
I am feeling very uncomfortable these days--like there isn't enough room inside of me to hold all of the space the baby is taking up! She is DEFINITELY making her presence known!
Here's this week's update from www.babycenter.com:
How your baby's growing: This week, your baby measures about 16 inches long. He weighs a little over 3 pounds and is heading into a growth spurt. He can turn his head from side to side, and his arms, legs, and body are beginning to plump out as needed fat accumulates underneath his skin. He's probably moving a lot, too, so you may have trouble sleeping because your baby's kicks and somersaults keep you up. Take comfort: All this moving is a sign that your baby is active and healthy.
Sunday, June 17, 2007
Happy Birthday, Mom!
Spike, today is your grandmother's birthday. Let me tell you some things that I love about your Poppy:
- First of all, she's called Poppy, in honor of her favorite grandfather ("Pop") and the poppy flower. You've gotta love a woman called Poppy!
- Her loyalty is VERY fierce. She is one of the most giving people on the planet. But if you cross her or her kids, watch out. She will NOT take that lightly. (I would have loved to have been a fly on the wall when she had a few minutes alone with my ex-husband after he announced he was leaving.)
- Her strength has been tested many, many times, and she goes through adversity with lots of grace. That's very hard to do. I'm not saying she doesn't feel her feelings--she definitely does--but she is able to crawl out from under the wreckage and ultimately survive.
- Throughout my life, no matter how many awful choices I've made and no matter how many "why did you do that?" lectures she's had to give me, I always, ALWAYS knew that she loved me, no matter what. And more often that not, she was right--although I didn't always admit that to her. :-)
- She is constantly evolving as a person. Over the years, her political and social views have changed, and even though we don't always agree on them, I have the highest respect for her for being willing to change.
- She finds her own happiness. After her divorce, she spent a life-changing month in Italy that inspired her to write a book. She doesn't wait around for happiness--she seeks it.
- She is an incredible daughter, looking after her 92-year-old mother and making sure that her life is beautiful and dignified even though she is housebound and physically weak.
- She is a devoted grandmother. My niece Miriam has benefited from the close relationship they share. (And Spike, you might not know it yet, but Poppy adores you too and can't wait to meet you in person!)
- She is truthful. Whether I like it or not, I can be assured that whatever she tells me is the truth.
- I can honestly say that my mother, your Poppy, is one of my very best friends. And that's a really, really big deal. We are truly blessed to have her in our lives.
Happy Birthday, Mom! (And Happy Birthday from Spike, too.)
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