Reflections After a Long Day

For the past few weeks our calendars have been marked and our time had been "blocked" from 9:30 AM- 5:30 PM. Today was our "Fast Track Birthing Class". We opted for one intense day instead of 4 weeks of giving up 2 hours of evening time that would be subject to cancellation and rescheduling.


The day thankfully did seem to sail by and we both were able to stay comfortable throughout the class. Personally, I've read enough books, spoken to many women about their birthing experience, watched a few educational delivery videos and watched my fair share of "A Baby Story"- thank you TLC- to know the in's and out's of labor. Plus it helps being a biologist and finding the physiological process quite fascinating. With all this in mind I was quite shocked when the first wave of being overwhelmed hit once the breakdown of the stages of labor was set before us. Its daunting when we are speaking of labor in HOURS. I know my options and I am not ruling out being medicated, BUT we are still talking HOURS. Couple that with the unknown, which regardless of the situation when its a new experience is scary. I know this is natural. The feeling of being completely overwhelmed took to new heights when we took a tour of the hospital. Don't get me wrong it was comforting to get acquainted with the space we will find ourselves in just a few weeks, but seeing the labor and post-pardum rooms sent my mind to that day (or days). I am a very visual person and in those moments a "movie" of what was to come began playing out in my mind. I haven't been delusional up until this point. I acknowledge that women have been doing this for thousands up thousands of years and that our bodies were made to perform this incredible feat. For the past couple of weeks I had been feeling more apprehensive when thinking about the actual delivery as I feel her moving about in her larger state, but seeing the space made it so real.


I keep thinking to myself it's only one day amongst thousands of days. I keep thinking of the power of positive thinking. I keep thinking of taking moment by moment. I keep thinking I know I can do this. I know we can do this. Evan has been an incredible support in our conversations regarding my anxiety's and thoughts that cropped up today. I know to trust my body and the natural process. In the coming hours and days I am in desperate need of decompressing and get a handle on this overwhelming feeling.

And we're in the 30's...

Frontal View- 30 wks

Doesn't look like I have much of a belly.

Side View- 30 wks

Now that is a belly!

Standard Prego Pose- 30 wks

I am acquiring new curves with each passing day :)

At 7 1/2 months pregnant I am now truly feeling the change that comes with entering the 3rd trimester. The exhaustion has returned, making it difficult to avoid a mid-day siesta and some days I simply succumb to the pillow calling. The added weight is finally affecting my knees. Thank goodness for all those hours on the boat which has prepared me to bear this pain unmedicated. I know I can take something for the pain, but I know it would be needed daily and I'm not willing to have something other than supplements racing through my body daily. During the last visit to the doctors they had inquired about contractions, which I replied that I hadn't been experiencing any. It got me thinking. Braxton Hicks contractions I recall reading aren't always painful. They can just be the hardening of the stomach as the uterus contracts. So I've been paying attention and my conclusion is....maybe. That is something I will have to ask the doctor about at this Thursdays appointment. Also on the list is how much higher will my uterus grow. While volunteering at Cascadia yesterday I was sitting at the computer working away when I felt a heel (or some other appendage) intruding into the space right between my ribs! How much further up could she possibly extend? Being a little short on womb space is definitely affecting my respiratory system. I can feel the difference with my diaphragm and lungs, making me feel even more out of shape!

At 30 weeks Miss Bumpkin is a head of lettuce! She is about 18 inches from her head to her heals located in my ribs! She is also weighing roughly 3.2 lbs. It's hard to believe she will more than likely at least double her weight between now and June!

Bumpkin Turns 29 wks and Evan Turns 28 years!

Happy Birthday to you....Happy Birthday to you....Happy Birthday dear Evan....Happy Birthday to you! Saturday not only brought in Evan's 28th year, but Miss Bumpkin's 29 week! It was just the pick-me-up I needed after one emotional week. That however will come later.


Evan's Baskin Robin's birthday cake! mmmm...Baseball Nut with chocolate cake! Delicious.

My hunky hubby turns 28!

This week Miss Bumpkin is approximately the size of a Butternut Squash at roughly 17 inches in length and 3.1 lbs! It seems that the space within is getting a little tight for her movements are packing nearly the punch they were a few weeks ago. Also I awoke one night this week to the little dear playing in my ribs! Yes. In. My. Ribs. It was the strangest sensation to date. I just imagine her taking her tiny fist and moving it up and down my ribs like a musical instrument. I also got the impression that for the past couple of days she has been lying breach playing footsie with my bladder. This new "game" has only increased my trips to the loo.

29 wks- Side View

29 wks- Standard Prego Pose

29 wks- Bare Belly Frontal

(Look at that roundness! Seriously looks like I have a basketball in there instead of a baby.)

29 wks- Bare Belly Squeeze

This proved a difficult week for me. Tuesday was my dreaded test day. I was in the office for my first of four blood draws at 9 am. From 9am to 1:15 pm I had one blood draw, followed by chugging syrup, spending the next 1 1/2 hrs. focusing on not puking, then undergoing three more blood draws, a regular appointment with the Dr. Bell, and before taking my rH shot (since I am a negative blood type and Evan is a positive) I was able to finally sneak in a quick bite to eat ( after nearly 16 hours without food)! Freedom from the office shortly followed. In the medical world no news is good news so I was hoping not to receive a call from the doctors office, but unfortunately at 10am the call came with the news that I'm considered "borderline diabetic" because I failed by 4 points the second of the four tests. :( Now the news could have been far worse I realize. Gestational diabetes can be managed through carefully watching diet and exercising. However, it was extremely upsetting for me. Even now it can still bring me to tears. It is so frustrating. Having PCOS (polycystic ovarian syndrome) I knew once we found out we were pregnant there were areas of concern, one being gestational diabetes. Over the past few months we have really been on top of our diet, which has meant me seriously cutting out pasta & chocolate. Not an easy thing to do when you have PCOS that causes you to CRAVE....seriously crave....those high carb items. I like to compare it to Gollum from The Lord of the Rings. Some pasta & chocolate are my version of "precious"! The cravings can get so bad that it just takes over all thoughts.

So now I am left with restricting my diet even further. I hope Miss Bumpkin knows just how much I love her and worry every day that I am doing everything in my power to create a safe and healthy incubator for her to start her little life in. The doctors office sent a gestational diabetes diet for me to follow for the next couple of weeks until my next gluclose test- yes I have to undergo another one, but thank goodness its not the 3 hr fasting one! Interesting enough after looking over the two sheets of allotted carb intake per meal or snack and the total carb intake for the day has me eating more carbs than I currently eat. *sigh* I just ask over the course of the next couple of weeks at least to let me bring it up. I haven't been in the mood for it to be sprung on me. I appreciate the concern and I have been feeling so much love and support. I just hate crying in front of people and I've been an emotional roller coaster. To talk about it I need to be in the right mindset, to be prepared. Thanks for understanding and for keeping me in your thoughts. Again I know it could be a lot worse. I just sometimes hate how PCOS has to affect everything in my life including this pregnancy, which all I want to do is enjoy. :)

Easter Sunday Brings In the 7th Month!

28 wks- frontal view

28 wks- side view

28 wks- bare belly squeeze

Carrying our Easter Baskets.

Opening our baskets. The strawberry onesie was a little too small for Evan so it's getting passed onto Miss Bumpkin!

Ready to eat one delicious Easter dinner!

Updates:

At 28 weeks Miss Bumpkin is comparable to a small cabbage at approximately 17 inches in length and roughly 3 lbs! From her activity it seems to me at least that this little munchin likes the transverse position. Today it felt as if she was springing off the left side of my uterus which sent her supposedly head into the right uterine wall! That's what I was visualizing as I was getting pummeled from within! I am hoping when we have our next ultrasound, which is not on the books yet, I will get to see what she is doing in there in correspondence to what I am feeling.

Tuesday is the dreaded day at the doctors office. Starting at 9 pm Monday night I will be fasting until I undergo my final blood draw. I am a little nervous about not being able to eat for that length of time. Tests should be completed a little after noon. My appointment starts at 9 am with the first blood draw. Sandwiched in the 3 hours will be 3 blood draws and one 15 minute regular doctors appointment where I will be measured and get to hear Miss Bumpkin's heart beat- one of my new favorite sounds in the world (right up there with the exhalation of a whale!).

Progress on the Baby Front

Over the past week our apartment has seen an increase in all things baby!

Evan had his first lesson in cloth diaper changing! Over the past weekend my mom brought gifts my Auntie Jen & Uncle Tom sent Miss Bumpkin. Enclosed was money towards our cloth diaper registry, so on Thursday I skipped into Simple Cloth- the local cloth diaper store- and bought our first diapers!



Baby Turk, the gorilla, was our diaper non-squirming model as we both tried out our new Flip diaper system! We both absolutely love the print on the newborn diaper pictured above. It goes so well with her nursery theme.

Also this week the B.O.B. my mom ordered for us arrived! The B.O.B. for those of you that aren't familiar with are incredible jogging strollers. What makes it a class of its own is the three wheel design that allows the front wheel to either lock in position, which you want when jogging, or have free movement when out shopping. Now all we have to get is the adapter that will allow the pumpkin seat to lock in when she is tiny and some rain gear for the stroller!

This dresser may look familiar to some. My childhood dresser that was once my Auntie Jens! Well, its being passed on once again to Miss Bumpkin, but first it needed a little love and work.

Painting the dresser green! DelRae and Steve were kind enough to let us use a portion of their garage to transform the dresser over the course of the weekend.

The finished product, minus all of Miss Bumpkin's things filling its shelves & drawers. To make the full transformation we found new hardware, including hinges. Special note regarding the color of the dresser: it actually matches the green in her crib bedding! Just one more reason to love the iPhone!

Evan found the perfect hardware at Lowe's for the dresser! Again falling in line with the forest theme.