Christmas 2007 and baby updates

As Christmas Day 2007 becomes another day in the record books, I wanted to take a minute to pause, thank everyone for my great gifts, share with everyone the cool stuff I got, and to reflect on the past year.

So first, thank you to everyone who gave me something. :-) Plainly said, but it gets the point across. I got some really great gifts this year, and I would like to thank everyone for them.

Which brings me to the sharing part: Thank you to Mom and Dad C. for the clementines, the coffee, the Starbucks gift card, and Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix DVD.

Thank you to Jen for the Olive Garden gift card! I know you gave us some other things, but I can't remember them now... sorry!

Thank you to Mike and Kim for the Ugly Betty Season 1 DVD set and the Kohl's gift card! I used the gift card to get some new sneakers!

Thank you to Aunt Donna for the coupon book and the statue of the snowman and the puppy!

Thank you to Mom and Dad S. for the clothes, the socks, the slippers, the necklace, and the earrings. Especially - thank you for the AAA membership! That's awesome! I'm so excited about that!

Thank you to Katie and Bobby for the bath gift set and anything else that I can't think of right now!

Thank you Grammy for the gift card that we don't know where it's to yet :-)

Thank you Bonnie and Mark for the Smitty's gift card - we haven't been to the movies in ages!

Thank you Aunt Pat for the gift card we can use anywhere!

Thank you Henry for the Best Buy gift card!

Thank you Jason for the baby monitor and the noise projector thing! That's really cool!

And especially thank you to my awesome husband, for all of the really cool gift cards - La Festa, Flatbreads, Olive Garden and Starbucks! I can't wait to be able to continue our date nights after the baby comes!

I'm going to feel horrible if I've forgotten anyone. I feel pretty terrible that I can't even remember everything that I got, but I'm going to blame that on "pregnancy brain."

This past year has been a very interesting one. I know some of you have been following my year since I found out I am pregnant in May. I've had, as in any year, some ups and downs, but fortunately, this year has been mostly full of ups. I had some great experiences substitute teaching, teaching summer school and learning the ins and outs of working at a non-profit. Finding out that my body was housing a new little human was an amazing discovery, since we didn't really think that it would happen without a lot more effort. In fact, I think even my doctor was surprised! I had an appointment set up for the very next week to start trying the next course of action after what we had done... turns out we didn't need it! And not to mention just getting another year with my wonderful husband has been very special. We have a fantastic relationship, and I am really looking forward to being able to learn to be a parents with him. His word to describe the impending birth of our baby is that he is "emotionless" about it. I don't think it's a bad thing - at least not right now. It means that he's not nervous, he's not worked up about it, or anything, and I think that's a good thing. He is excited about being a dad, don't get me wrong, I think he's just nervous about the energy it's going to require to be a parent. I think he'll be fine :-)

Now, speaking of the baby - Let look at this weeks baby info!

My Baby
Your baby's hanging out, enjoying his last few weeks of snuggly comfort in your womb. His brain -- in charge of complicated jobs like regulating breathing, digestion, and circulation -- is functioning better every day. But as your baby relaxes in there, you're probably doing anything but! Many moms-to-be may find themselves in full-on nesting mode right now. Cleaning and straightening is a great way to stay busy during the end-of-pregnancy waiting game, but make sure you don't overdo it -- hello, you're nine months pregnant! (More on that in My Life.)

My Body
C-sections account for nearly 30 percent of all births these days, but most of these are not preplanned. Your doctor may schedule one in advance if you're expecting multiples, if your baby is positioned poorly (breech) for vaginal delivery, if you have placenta previa (where your placenta is lying low in your uterus and may block the baby's way out), or if you have a medical condition, such as high blood pressure, that increases the risk of complications during labor. But many women who don't think they'll need a c-section end up requiring one because their labor stalls (this accounts for a third of all c-sections, according to the Mayo Clinic) or the baby shows signs of distress.
When you think about what labor and delivery might be like, odds are you're not exactly fantasizing about having a c-section. (It is major surgery, after all.) So you may feel upset or disappointed if your doctor recommends one -- or seriously freaked if you're suddenly whisked into the operating room after hours of labor. While it's completely normal and valid to have these feelings, remember that what matters most isn't how you deliver your baby, but that he arrives healthy. But it might help to discuss all those burning what-ifs with your doctor now, so you're at least a little prepared and know at what point or under what circumstances she'd consider performing one. The more informed you are, the easier your mind will rest.

My Life
Are you a cleaning machine these days? Nesting instinct is a real, scientifically proven drive that many other animals (like dogs) engage in too. Go with those feelings, but be smart about 'em. Avoid carrying really heavy things and, naturally, steer clear of harsh cleansers and paint. And don't stay up until all hours (pregnant women have been known to get up to tackle the garage at 3 a.m.) or exhaust yourself making sure the house is neat, cozy, spotless, and top-to-bottom disinfected. Your baby won't be able to see more than about 6 inches in front of him for several weeks after he's born -- he's not going to know or care if there are a couple of dirty dishes in the sink or whether you've taken a toothbrush to the grout in the bathroom. Save up some of that energy -- you're gonna need it for labor!

Ravelry, Work and other misc. things.

Wahoo! I'm finally on Ravelry, which is a website for knitters and crocheters! It's a really cool website that will let me track all of my projects, my yarns, etc., as well as find new patterns and whatnot. I'm so excited! I've started posting projects on there, but it's going to take me a while to sort it all out. I'm having some issues with the photos thing, so hopefully I can get someone to help me with that soon.

I am working today because of the snow day yesterday. My office at the shelter was closed due to the weather, which is a good thing because I heard the roads were kind of bad. I'm looking forward to being off of work completely until next Thursday. I am officially done subbing now, except for maybe occationally going in for the librarian at Johns school. But I'm looking forward to the down time until the baby comes.

I'm really excited about Christmas this year - I think it will be fun, and I'm excited to have everyone over for the day that day. It will be a good time!

"Congratulations! You're at the point where we just sit around and wait for you to go into labor!"

My Baby
Woohoo! It's time to break out the bubbly! (The sparkling cider variety, of course.) By the end of this week, your baby will be considered full-term -- which means she could really arrive any day now. Exciting, sure. Terrifying? Yeah, that too. But no matter how freaked you might be, you're way better off knowing as much as you can about D-day. So here's the deal. No one knows exactly what sets off the big event, but somehow your body knows when your baby's fully cooked and starts releasing chemicals (called prostaglandins) that thin, soften, and dilate your cervix. When produced in large amounts, these prostaglandins will trigger your uterus to start contracting, or making involuntary muscle movements to push your baby down and out. (At some point, your water will break, too, but this is more like a side effect of labor than an actual trigger.)
But contractions alone don't necessarily mean your baby's on the move just yet. They'll get stronger, longer, and more regular before you're actually ready to start delivering. And this early-stage labor can last hours or even days. So sit tight, be patient, and keep a watch handy. Once contractions start occurring about five minutes apart for at least an hour, it's probably time to grab your hospital bag and head out -- you're officially in active labor! (More on that in My Body.)

My Body
Labor has three stages -- when you get to the hospital you'll likely be in active labor, the second phase of the first stage, where your cervix dilates from 3 or 4 centimeters to 7. Now, contractions will come fast and furious -- lasting up to a minute each or even a bit longer -- and yes, they huuuurt. You'll feel this intense pain radiating through your stomach, lower back, and upper thighs. This is like nothing you've ever felt before -- and each woman copes with it differently. Now's the time when pain-relieving epidurals are usually administered, so don't be afraid to ask for one. Many women who hope or plan to go the drug-free route change their mind midstream, so if you have a change of heart, go for it! It's totally normal to experience a huge range of emotions (intense focus, restlessness, irritability, to name a few) and physical symptoms (like nausea or exhaustion) during this labor stage, but it won't last forever -- most likely a few hours.
Eventually you'll progress to the transition phase, the end of the first stage. Here, your cervix finishes dilating to 10 centimeters, and contractions will strike much, much more frequently -- they'll probably feel nonstop. This is the toughest phase, especially without meds. (They're not usually given this late in the game, but some types may still be available.) Soon you'll be ready for those big final pushes -- the official start of stage two. Your baby's head will appear (crown) near the opening of your vagina, though it might still take as long as a half-hour to 40 minutes to finish delivering her. Once the head's out, your doctor will tell you to take a pause from pushing so she can make sure your baby's breathing okay and check the position of the umbilical cord. Before long, your baby will be out of your womb and ready to say hello!
You may think you're completely done at this point, but a few more things need to happen first. As soon as your baby comes out, the umbilical cord will be cut -- severing your baby from the placenta. You may ask to cradle her right away, then she'll be weighed and examined by a doctor or nurse. While all this is going on, you'll be wrapping up that third and final labor stage -- delivering the placenta. And once it's out, you're all done. Congrats, and welcome to mommyhood! Talk about a day you'll never, ever, ever forget.

My Life
If you've haven't already packed your bag for the hospital, now's the time. Just don't be tempted to bring the entire nest with you. After all, you're going to a hospital, not a hotel! Unless you'll be delivering an hour away, your partner or a family member can always swing by and grab anything you've forgotten. You might want to do an initial pack, then sift through your stuff a few hours later to edit out any nonessentials. Another option: Pack one bag with everything you'll need during and just after labor, and another with less-pressing items, like the baby's going-home outfit, diapers, and your check-out wardrobe (plan on the maternity clothes you were wearing at five or six months along). Leave it by the front door and have it picked up later.

Oh boy... We've hit the "Any Day Now" stage! I'm SOOOOOO excited, and I cannot wait to have this baby! Although, I think partly it's that I can't wait to not be pregnant anymore :-) Hey, it's true! Any of you who have been pregnant know that feeling, I'm sure. And look - I DON'T want to hear any more negative stories of labor, or going two weeks past due date, etc. I just don't want to! Everyone's pregnancies are different, and mine is just going to happen the way it happens. So please, please, PLEASE don't think I want to hear about your daughter who was in labor for 45 hours (seriously, someone told me their daughter was in labor for 45 hours). It's not that I don't care, it's just that I don't want to be stressed out about it. I am really not very nervous about giving birth, because I know that I have no control over how it goes, and there's not much I can do about it anyway.

Okay, on a lighter note, last night was the Memorial Middle School concert (where John teaches). John and his co-teacher, Amanda, got RAVE reviews from the parents and the principal was incredibly impressed. I have to say, it was probably one of their best concerts in a long time, which made me very proud of John. I'm proud of him a lot, but it's especially on nights like that. I'm hoping to get a little video up online of it, but I think the video is too long, so I may not be able to.

I may not be able to post again until sometime after Christmas, so I hope everyone has a great one! I had a snow day from work today, so I'll be going in tomorrow instead. Saturday will be spent getting ready for the day, Saturday night we're going to a family event, Sunday we're having the RK people over for a party, and then BOOM! Christmas Eve! Wishing everyone all the best!

Miscellaneous Update

Yes, it's not time for my weekly update on where I'm at in my pregnancy, though I can tell you I had a doctors appointment this morning, and his words of wisdom were: "Well, you're pretty much at the point where we see you every week, and we sit around and wait for you to go into labor." The only thing that would change that is if there was a sudden spike in my blood pressure or something else that was concerning. So I guess that's a good thing. I am hoping labor comes sooner rather than later, for lots of reasons:

1. I'm totally ready to meet this little baby!
2. I am really looking forward to sharing this major life event with my amazing husband.
3. I'm equally as ready to not be pregnant!
4. I'm anxious to be able to work out again.

I took Kane to get his picture taken with Santa on Saturday, which was cool. He was really nervous about it though! Here's the photo of him:

I wish his eyes didn't come out so yellow. I tried to fix them in my photo editing software, but it didn't work. Oh well. He was a good boy :-)

We're really looking forward to Christmas this year! We're hosting both sides of the family on Christmas Day for dinner. It worked out wonderfully last year, despite the crowded house. It was great not having to travel, and I really enjoy entertaining, so it will be fun. I have a few last gifts to wrap, and John still has a few to pick up, but he'll be doing that tomorrow, since he is taking the day off. I will be finishing up cleaing today, and I have some last little things to bake for other people, but over all, we're pretty much ready! Now I just have to make sure the house doesn't become messy between now and then, since we both have a tendency to leave stuff laying around everywhere.

Into week 36 we go...

My Baby
The layer of fat your baby has rapidly been putting on has now rounded out his face. His sucking muscles, which are quite powerful, have also finished developing now, and are ready for their first real feeding -- your baby's going to be hungry soon after he arrives. Speaking of eating, nearly all experts agree that breast milk is the best possible food for babies -- even the companies that make infant formula don't argue this fact. Easily digestible, breast milk provides the perfect balance of protein, sugar, fat, and vitamins that babies need to grow healthy and strong. And plenty of research points to its immune-system -- and even IQ-boosting -- benefits. But having said all that, it's equally important to remember that plenty of healthy, brilliant people (presidents, Nobel Prize winners, Fortune 500 CEOs) have been raised on formula by plenty of loving, caring moms. Don't beat yourself up if you aren't able to breastfeed -- or if you simply choose not to. If you plan to try breastfeeding, it's a good idea to get the number of a recommended lactation consultant now, in case you have problems getting the hang of it initially.

My Body
Here, yet another reason to be in awe of that extremely hardworking bod of yours: You've actually been capable of producing milk since about your sixth month of pregnancy. You may have even noticed droplets of a cloudy fluid, called colostrum, on your nipples. Also known as early milk, this fluid contains antibodies that help fight infection and build resistance to many common illness during your baby's first days on the outside. So even if you don't plan on breastfeeding for the long haul, you might want to consider nursing just for a couple of days so your baby can take advantage of this nutritional head start.
The production of true breast milk is triggered by the release of the hormone prolactin right after birth -- and it usually takes three to five days to arrive. When it does, many women will find that their breasts suddenly become huge (and we mean huge!), rock-hard, and really sore -- a condition called engorgement. It might last for several days, but nursing or pumping, massaging the girls in a hot shower, or applying ice packs can help. And as your baby continues to nurse, your body will adjust milk production according to how much he's actually eating, which should also provide some relief.

My Life
You might be wondering...if breastfeeding is sooooo beneficial, why doesn't every mom do it? Well, for starters, it's harder than it looks -- and it can be pretty awkward, too. Breastfeeding is unlike anything you've ever done before, and there's no way of knowing how easily you and your baby will get the hang of it. It can feel weird to have milk coming out of your breasts, and especially in the beginning, nursing is a true balancing act (figuring out how to hold baby, use the Boppy, unhook your nursing bra, etc.) Some women have a hard time producing enough milk, and some infants (especially preemies) have trouble latching on properly, for example. And it's also a big time commitment: Newborns generally need to eat every two to three hours 'round the clock, and it can be extremely exhausting to have your boobs at the ready on that kind of schedule. Then there's the whole breastfeeding in public issue -- if you're nursing exclusively, you've gotta be comfortable with it. (No wonder more than 70 percent of new moms start out breastfeeding their newborns, but only about half nurse their 3-month-old babies, according to recent research from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.) So if you're able to breastfeed, that's great! Health benefits aside, it's a very sweet way to relate to your new baby, and it's different from any kind of relationship you've ever had. But if you can't or choose not to, remember that love -- not free-flowing breast milk -- is what makes you your baby's best possible mom.

And here we go, into month number 9! We're in the homestretch, and I can hardly wait to see our new little family member! It's so exciting!

There really isn't much else to report from here... John is wrapping up his holiday concert season this coming week, which is good. The last thing he's got is his school's concert on the 19th, and that will be a good show anyway. I'm looking forward to getting up there to see it!

We will be hosting Christmas at our house this year, which is also exciting, and I am looking forward to that as well. It's nice to not have to travel, and to have people come to us. John will be singing at the Christmas Eve mass the night before, but that is at 4 in the afternoon, so we'll still be home nice and early. The 23rd we're hosting a Christmas party for some friends, which will also be fun, but it will make for a busy weekend, with the 22nd being a party for one of my uncles in Hanover. So, party the 22nd, party the 23rd, Christmas Eve the 24th, Christmas the 25th. And people wonder why I'm taking the week before my due date off? I just need to recover from the holidays!!!

Week 35!!!

My Baby
Your baby's nearly here! Now that she's basically done with her development, your baby's main job right now is simply to continue plumping up. (Most weigh at least 5 pounds by now!) She's gaining weight all over now, especially in her shoulders and adorable little face. (Those cheeks!) As a result, you may feel a tingling or numbness near your hips, triggered by her extra poundage pressing on your nerves down there. She's generally kicking less often now (there's only so much room for her to maneuver), but if you feel more of those wiggles in the upper part of your ribcage, that's a good thing: It means she's turned the right way (head-down) for delivery. Nearly 97 percent of babies have adopted this position by 35 weeks; the rest remain in what's known as breech position -- when their butt or feet are in place to come out first. If your baby's among this minority, it does increase your odds of needing a c-section, but there's a good chance your healthcare provider can correct the problem by turning her around manually by applying pressure to your belly. Called an external version, this process has about a 65 percent success rate.

My Body
During one of your upcoming doctor visits, you'll get tested for Group B strep (GBS), a type of bacteria that's normally found in the digestive tracks of more than 30 percent of women. Having it doesn't affect your health at all -- and there's nothing you can do to prevent it -- but it can harm your baby if it's spread to her during delivery. If you do test positive for the bug, there's no need to worry, because there's a very easy and effective treatment. During labor you'll receive antibiotics, which significantly slash your baby's risk of getting sick (to less than one in 4,000, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention).

My Life
You've probably been wondering how will you know when it's actually, really, truly time? Braxton Hicks contractions can so mimic the real thing that they might make you want to bolt for the maternity ward. But unlike regular contractions, Braxton Hicks occur at sporadic intervals and don't become more painful over time. So sit tight for a while and see how you feel. One tip-off that it's time to call your doctor and grab your hospital bag: When you feel light twinges or cramps every 20 minutes or so that, after a few hours, start to strike about 10 minutes apart and are growing much more intense. Another signal is a painless gush or trickle of fluid -- it means your water broke (actually your amniotic sac rupturing). Even if you don't start having contractions immediately, your baby will need to be delivered in the next 24 hours to reduce the chance of infection. So check in with your doctor -- and congrats, Mom!

We finished our child birthing classes last night, which is good! It was a great class, actually. John couldn't be there because of a rehearsal, and only one other couple came, so we got to sit around and chat a lot more than we had before. It was good! I feel like I got the most out of that one class, more than any other!

I'm so excited about having the baby, I just can hardly wait! I can't believe how fast it's going to come up! I have only 8 days left at work before being out on maternity leave (remember, that's only 4 week, since I work 2 days a week). The baby is in a head down position, which I can't remember if I mentioned yesterday. That's a good thing, because that means the baby really won't be flipping around, and is in the right position for a normal vaginal birth. So far, things are looking good!

Week 34 Ultrasound

Today I had my 34 week ultrasound! John wasn't able to come because he had a snow day on Wednesday, and couldn't afford to miss any more rehearsal time with the kids. My mom came over last night and came to the ultrasound with me, which was good.

Over all, the ultrasound went well - the baby is weighing in at about 5 pounds, 9 ounces. The doctor didn't change my due date at all, but when the sonographer took the measurements, the baby was measuring a week or two later than what I'm told I am. I kind of feel like the doctor should have changed the due date, but oh well - it's not my call. The baby was very uncooperative with the pictures, so all we were able to get was a very bad one of the face, and some of the hands and one of a foot. But the heartbeat was 139, which is good, and everything else looked fine too. The thing that was the most amusing about the whole thing was when we discovered we could see the baby's hair on the ultrasound!!! That was wild! It will be interesting to see what color it is!

Anyway, I will update with the week 35 info tomorrow. Without further ado, I give you ultrasound photos!