Only 10 weeks until my due date!
Tonight in Childbirth class we did a lot of the same stuff (talking about breathing and relaxation techniques and reviewing the signs and stages of labor and what not). But most of class was focused on pain management. We learned about a few different techniques, "drugs" and epidurals.
I was really looking forward to hearing more about epidurals because I was kind of on the fence about them. I was hoping that after tonight I would have a clear idea about what I wanted to do. Unfortunately that is not really the case. It's hard because on the one hand, I like the idea of not feeling the pain and being able to rest more during the beginning stages of labor so that I am rested enough to push and get through the last stages of labor. On the other hand, I don't like the idea of having the huge needle in my back, or having a catheter, or being tied down to the bed (unable to get up and walk around or change positions) or some of the potential side effects (both the common and rare side effects). Hence, why I was on the fence (and leaning towards trying to do it naturally).
I did however make a decision that I am confident about. I decided that I will let the doctor and nursing staff know that I am going to try to do the birth naturally but that there is a good chance that I will decide that I want an epidural and that I would like to be fully informed on my progress each time they check on me. I want to know how much more dialated and effaced I would have to be from where I am at that point to not be able to have an epidural. That way I can make an educated decision on whether or not I feel like the pain is bad enough to get one or not. I know that towards the end of labor you can progress rapidly and that by doing it this way, I might miss my opportunity to have an epidural and then have to do the whole thing naturally whether I like it or not. But I have a feeling that if I need one, I will be asking for it way before the time comes that I can't have one (and if the pain is that bad, I won't be worried about my previous concerns). And if I don't feel like I need one that early, and then by the time I do want one it's too late, at least then I know that I will be in the last stages of labor and will not have hours upon hours of the pain ahead of me. I have to keep the same mind set I have when I go to the dentist or have a blood test or do other things I don't want to do: "what doesn't kill me, only makes me stronger" and "I only have to endure this for a short time longer and then I will be done". And somehow that is comforting and helps me get through.
Anyway, that is the decision I made. So, though I'm not going into it with a clear cut yes or no, as I had hoped. I am going into it with some idea of how I would like things handled. And that makes me feel more prepared for the big day! :)
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
November 13, 2010 - 1 hour Glucose Test - 29 1/2 weeks
So, I wasn't able to go to the lab and have my one hour glucose blood test done before my last doctor appointment (like I was suppose to). I finally had it done on November 13 and found out on November 15 that (like back in August) I didn't pass the test and so I have to take the 3-hour test too. I am not looking forward to it! :( But you gotta do what you gotta do, right?
November 10, 2010 - Dr. Appt - 29 Weeks
We had another standard prenatal doctor appointment today. I'm now seeing the doctor once every 2 weeks until the end of December at which point I will start going once a week. The big day is getting closer and closer!
So, during this appointment the doctor measured my stomach and said I'm measuring at about 32 weeks but that it makes sense that I would measure a little bit ahead of where I'm actually at in the pregnancy because I had "a little extra there before I got pregnant". That was her nice way of saying I was overweight before hand. Anyway, then we listened to the heart beat and she said, "I don't know, sounds like a boy heart beat." I said, "It better not be, we're all set up for a girl." She laughed and said though sonograms aren't 100% accurate, they are more accurate then the old wives tales like a lower heart rate being a boy and a higher heart rate being a girl or girls laying higher in the stomach and boys lower, etc... But she got me thinking, oh my god, what if it is a boy. I guess he's gonna have to wear a lot of pink around the house and the other colors will have to be reserved for going out in public. lol. Either way, we'll be happy, but it will be weird if it turned out to be a boy, after expecting a girl for so long. Someone said, oh well, you could just change the name to Alex. I don't know. We'll see. Hopefully we won't have to worry about that.
Other than that, the appointment went fine.
So, during this appointment the doctor measured my stomach and said I'm measuring at about 32 weeks but that it makes sense that I would measure a little bit ahead of where I'm actually at in the pregnancy because I had "a little extra there before I got pregnant". That was her nice way of saying I was overweight before hand. Anyway, then we listened to the heart beat and she said, "I don't know, sounds like a boy heart beat." I said, "It better not be, we're all set up for a girl." She laughed and said though sonograms aren't 100% accurate, they are more accurate then the old wives tales like a lower heart rate being a boy and a higher heart rate being a girl or girls laying higher in the stomach and boys lower, etc... But she got me thinking, oh my god, what if it is a boy. I guess he's gonna have to wear a lot of pink around the house and the other colors will have to be reserved for going out in public. lol. Either way, we'll be happy, but it will be weird if it turned out to be a boy, after expecting a girl for so long. Someone said, oh well, you could just change the name to Alex. I don't know. We'll see. Hopefully we won't have to worry about that.
Other than that, the appointment went fine.
Friday, November 12, 2010
November 10, 2010 - 29 Weeks
Mike felt her move for the first time - finally!
I wasn't feeling well today and so stayed home sick. I was on the couch about 15 min before Mike got home from work and she started moving around a lot (which is kind of weird because it's not usually an active time for her). Unfortunately, it only went on for about 5 minutes or so and then she calmed down. I was like, "Darn it, why couldn't she have waited 15-20 minutes?"
Then as I heard Mike unlocking the door, she kicked again - just once and was calm again. I thought, "are you kidding? She must be playing games with us." I told Mike about it when he came inside and he just laughed and said, "She's stubborn and doesn't want me to feel her yet." And he went into the kitchen to get lunch.
About 5 minutes later, she started kicking a lot again, so I told Mike to come in and look (like I have done so many times before in the last month and a half). He reluctantly came in (expecting to be dissappointed as usual) and then she did a quick soft kick. I said, "did you see that?" and he said no.
So, I made him put his face right next to mine so that he could get the same view as me. We waited a second and she kicked again. He saw it that time and had a big grin on his face and quickly moved his hand to my belly. A few seconds later she kicked again - finally he felt it for himself. We both laughed and you could tell he was happy that she finally let him in on what had previously been just a "girl thing". (I say just a girl thing, because both my mom and my sister felt and saw her move when I was in Fort Bragg this weekend.)
I think I was actually a little more excited then Mike because I had been looking forward so much to sharing the experience with him. Although, now that I think about it, it may just be that I showed my excitement more than he did (as is the case with most emotions). lol. Anyway, a very exciting day for us!
I wasn't feeling well today and so stayed home sick. I was on the couch about 15 min before Mike got home from work and she started moving around a lot (which is kind of weird because it's not usually an active time for her). Unfortunately, it only went on for about 5 minutes or so and then she calmed down. I was like, "Darn it, why couldn't she have waited 15-20 minutes?"
Then as I heard Mike unlocking the door, she kicked again - just once and was calm again. I thought, "are you kidding? She must be playing games with us." I told Mike about it when he came inside and he just laughed and said, "She's stubborn and doesn't want me to feel her yet." And he went into the kitchen to get lunch.
About 5 minutes later, she started kicking a lot again, so I told Mike to come in and look (like I have done so many times before in the last month and a half). He reluctantly came in (expecting to be dissappointed as usual) and then she did a quick soft kick. I said, "did you see that?" and he said no.
So, I made him put his face right next to mine so that he could get the same view as me. We waited a second and she kicked again. He saw it that time and had a big grin on his face and quickly moved his hand to my belly. A few seconds later she kicked again - finally he felt it for himself. We both laughed and you could tell he was happy that she finally let him in on what had previously been just a "girl thing". (I say just a girl thing, because both my mom and my sister felt and saw her move when I was in Fort Bragg this weekend.)
I think I was actually a little more excited then Mike because I had been looking forward so much to sharing the experience with him. Although, now that I think about it, it may just be that I showed my excitement more than he did (as is the case with most emotions). lol. Anyway, a very exciting day for us!
Thursday, November 11, 2010
November 9, 2010 - 2nd Child Birth Class - 29 Weeks
We went to our 2nd Child Birth Class today. At the beginning of class, the teacher talked about the two things that can signal the start of labor: contractions or your water breaking, and how each of those experiences can go. Next she told us about the different stages of labor and how that can go.
And then we (mom's and dad's) got on the floor and did some yoga exercises and practiced breathing techniques, as well as practicing things the dad's can do to help the mom's feel more comfortable during labor. She talks a lot about how the dad needs to be there for the mom and try to anticipate her needs so that she doesn't have to ask for anything. That sounded pretty good to me :)
At one point the teacher had us mom's lay on the floor on our side with a pillow and practice some guided relaxation while the dad's sat next to us. She told the dad's to do things that made the mom's know that they were there for us and she made some suggestions of what they might do. Mike was gently rubbing my stomach and back and doing great until she suggested that the guy's may want to caress their partners face and neck. Unfortunately, when Mike tried this it tickled and I busted up laughing - kind of the opposite of relaxation. lol. Then she made that suggestion again and unfortunately Mike listened and it happened again - I started laughing. I had to whisper to him, "do not do that again". He started to do it at her suggestion a third time and I had to give him a look. Thankfully he understood my facial expression and didn't do it again. :) Anyway, after that, Mike and I realized that what is good for one person may not be good for all and we have a bit to talk about to make sure we're on the same page about what things are comforting and relaxing to me and what things aren't.
Anyway, the class was really informative and made me feel a bit more prepared for what's going to happen in just 11 short weeks!
And then we (mom's and dad's) got on the floor and did some yoga exercises and practiced breathing techniques, as well as practicing things the dad's can do to help the mom's feel more comfortable during labor. She talks a lot about how the dad needs to be there for the mom and try to anticipate her needs so that she doesn't have to ask for anything. That sounded pretty good to me :)
At one point the teacher had us mom's lay on the floor on our side with a pillow and practice some guided relaxation while the dad's sat next to us. She told the dad's to do things that made the mom's know that they were there for us and she made some suggestions of what they might do. Mike was gently rubbing my stomach and back and doing great until she suggested that the guy's may want to caress their partners face and neck. Unfortunately, when Mike tried this it tickled and I busted up laughing - kind of the opposite of relaxation. lol. Then she made that suggestion again and unfortunately Mike listened and it happened again - I started laughing. I had to whisper to him, "do not do that again". He started to do it at her suggestion a third time and I had to give him a look. Thankfully he understood my facial expression and didn't do it again. :) Anyway, after that, Mike and I realized that what is good for one person may not be good for all and we have a bit to talk about to make sure we're on the same page about what things are comforting and relaxing to me and what things aren't.
Anyway, the class was really informative and made me feel a bit more prepared for what's going to happen in just 11 short weeks!
November 6, 2010 - First Baby Shower - 28 1/2 weeks
I had my first baby shower today at Coni's house in Fort Bragg and had a great time! Thank you to everyone who could attend - it was great seeing you. To those of you who couldn't make it, you were missed and I know you were there in spirit. There was yummy snacks and cake, good conversation and some fun baby games. The games got a little competitive - I didn't realize how many songs had the word "Baby" in the title, or how many baby related words you could come up with using the letters from her name (Alexia Joy Dell Stuckey). I could only come up with a few (and it was kind of a stretch to call them baby related). It was no surprise to me that Aunt Beth won that game though - she's the Boggle Queen!
The gifts were wonderful - everyone was too generous and we really appreciate it. We now need to find room for the bouncer/vibrating seat, the high chair, the swing (that will be coming soon) and all the clothes, bedding and other items. We have some major organizing to do in the nursery! But I'm looking forward to getting it all set up.
Again, thank you all for making the shower such a great experience and for helping us prepare for Alexia's arrival!
The gifts were wonderful - everyone was too generous and we really appreciate it. We now need to find room for the bouncer/vibrating seat, the high chair, the swing (that will be coming soon) and all the clothes, bedding and other items. We have some major organizing to do in the nursery! But I'm looking forward to getting it all set up.
Again, thank you all for making the shower such a great experience and for helping us prepare for Alexia's arrival!
November 2, 2010 - First Child Birth Class - 28 Weeks
We went to the first in a series of 6 Child Birth Classes tonight. It's through the hospital on Tuesday nights from 6:30 - 8:30pm. There were about 10 other couples and we all introduced ourselves and spoke a little bit about our pregnancy experiences so far. Then the rest was pretty much just an overview of what we would be doing in the remaining 5 classes, as well as a brief overview of what happens during labor and delivery.
We watched a video about labor and delivery too. Parts of it were pretty cool - there was a simulation of what it looks like inside as the baby moves from the uterus, through the birth canal and out into the world. Of course, then they showed an actual view of a mom in delivery and the baby coming out - that was not quite as "cool". I really had to resist the urge to look away, but I hung in there and watched the whole thing. OMG - I do not want to go through that. Can't I just skip ahead to February and have her be here already :)
Anyway, I'm glad we're taking these classes so that I can learn about all of my options and figure out how I would want to handle various situations should they arise. As some of you know, I like to be in control and plan ahead and can have a difficult time being flexible and going with the flow at first. It usually takes me a little bit of time to get used to a new idea and be ok with it - obviously time is not a luxury I will have while giving birth, so... I figure the best thing I can do is prepare for as many different situations as possible and make sure my doctor, the staff, and Mike know how I would want to handle the different possibilities and then try to let go - I mean that is as "in control" as I'm going to get to have, so I might as well start coming to terms with it now :)
We watched a video about labor and delivery too. Parts of it were pretty cool - there was a simulation of what it looks like inside as the baby moves from the uterus, through the birth canal and out into the world. Of course, then they showed an actual view of a mom in delivery and the baby coming out - that was not quite as "cool". I really had to resist the urge to look away, but I hung in there and watched the whole thing. OMG - I do not want to go through that. Can't I just skip ahead to February and have her be here already :)
Anyway, I'm glad we're taking these classes so that I can learn about all of my options and figure out how I would want to handle various situations should they arise. As some of you know, I like to be in control and plan ahead and can have a difficult time being flexible and going with the flow at first. It usually takes me a little bit of time to get used to a new idea and be ok with it - obviously time is not a luxury I will have while giving birth, so... I figure the best thing I can do is prepare for as many different situations as possible and make sure my doctor, the staff, and Mike know how I would want to handle the different possibilities and then try to let go - I mean that is as "in control" as I'm going to get to have, so I might as well start coming to terms with it now :)
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