All moved in...

We moved into the new place this weekend! It has so much space and I finally got to do the nursery. I'll have to post more at a later date, as I don't currently have a computer and I'm typing this on my phone. :)

Goodwill, anyone?

I have so much crap! I'm packing EVERYTHING today in anticipation of moving into our new apartment! Yay! It's cutting it close, I must say. We get the keys on Friday morning, and I know I've wanted the baby out like crazy, but if she could at least wait until Saturday or Sunday to make her appearance, I'll feel a lot better about things. I know she has to come out eventually, but it feels like it's taking forever! (13 days to go until the guess date!)
Anyway, I'm moving a bunch of smaller stuff in my car tomorrow night, and my Mama is coming with a truck of all of my big stuff on Saturday. BD Is going to move most of our furniture on Saturday and Sunday as well. The thing is, he tends to do things on "Lee time". As in when it's convenient for him. Last night, I tried to explain to him that I've been needing to nest... badly... for about 2 months now. He doesn't get it. He says "we'll put the crib up when we get around to it". Which, to him, means when the baby comes home from the hospital and needs a place to sleep. I'm NOT waiting for that to happen. So, I think when my Mom brings stuff up on Saturday, we're going to put the crib together, as well as much of the nursery.
Now that I'm packing everything, I realize how much crap I have. I have soo many clothes that I'm sure I'll never be able to wear again. :( Once we move in, I'm going to have to go through everything (if I'm still killing time before the baby comes) and do it then. Can anyone say tax deduction?
I have a few projects to work on as well. I need to do paddles for my sorority. Mine broke (I don't want to talk about it... I'm still bitter), so I want to re-make it. Not to mention I want to make my pledge class paddle, and my sister, Melissa's paddle. Also, I want to make a crib skirt and bumper for the nursery, and I came across a pattern for a little stuffed elephant which would be soo cute for the baby. So, some last minute things to make my pre-baby resolutions would be nice. Ohhh! And my mom found a pretty white canopy for over the crib in the nursery at Goodwill for $2.99! So I need to do some work on that as well. I'm going to be busy!

38 weeks (14 days to go until the guess date!)

How your baby's growing:
Your baby has really plumped up. She weighs about 6.8 pounds and she's over 19 1/2 inches long (like a leek). She has a firm grasp, which you'll soon be able to test when you hold her hand for the first time! Her organs have matured and are ready for life outside the womb.
Wondering what color your baby's eyes will be? You may not be able to tell right away. If she's born with brown eyes, they'll likely stay brown. If she's born with steel gray or dark blue eyes, they may stay gray or blue or turn green, hazel, or brown by the time she's 9 months old. That's because a child's irises (the colored part of the eye) may gain more pigment in the months after she's born, but they usually won't get "lighter" or more blue. (Green, hazel, and brown eyes have more pigment than gray or blue eyes.)

How your life's changing:
For many women, the next couple of weeks are a waiting game. Use this time to prepare your baby's nursery or to take care of necessary tasks you may not get around to for a while after your baby's born. Take naps, catch up on your reading, and spend uninterrupted time with your partner while you can.
Some swelling in your feet and ankles is normal during these last weeks, but call your practitioner without delay if you notice excessive or sudden swelling of your feet or ankles, more than slight swelling of your hands, any swelling in your face or puffiness around your eyes, or have a sudden weight gain. Also let her know immediately if have severe or persistent headaches; visual changes (such as double or blurred vision, seeing spots or flashing lights, light sensitivity, or a temporary loss of vision), intense upper abdominal pain or tenderness, or nausea and vomiting. These are symptoms of a serious condition called preeclampsia.

At Home Induction

I have never been so uncomfortable in my entire life. BD is really sick of my bitching and moaning. But I'm going to vent to you. Because I know you care. I dread sleep every night. Sleeping seems like it would be a nice release, but it makes the pain worse. I toss and turn between my left and right side and sleep with a pillow between my knees to try to be comfy, but it just makes my hips, pelvis, and back ache. But I can't lay on my back or tummy.
She keeps being a tease. I'll get really bad menstrual-like cramps, sharp pains in my pelvic/cervical area, and spasms that feel like contractions (but are not regular and I assume it's her moving around), but nothing sticks. They say that if you walk, and the pain goes away, it's just false labor. Well, I'm having plenty of that. I'm ready for the real thing!
So, even though we're moving into our apartment this weekend (we'd better, or I swear someone's gonna get punched in the face), and it would be much better to wait, I'm sick of being pregnant. So, I've been researching old wives' tales to see if any of the techniques will work for me.

Things I've tried:
Pineapple- I'm so sick of it! I eat it every day!
Walking- I'm on my feet as much as my back will allow.
Squatting- I'm starting to be able to do it for longer, but it's still no longer than 7-10 minutes at a time.
Going up stairs- I've tried this. Even two at a time.
Sitting on a birthing/exercise ball- yep. Much comfier than other options, but doesn't feel like it would do anything.
Lunges- My thighs are starting to get into shape, but no baby.
Spicy food- delicious, but ineffective.
Acupressure- apparently, there are spots that induce labor in the webbing between your thumb and index finger, and 4 finger-widths above your ankle. They didn't work.

So, basically, I'm desperate. Any other ideas? I've mostly been trying to use gravity to my advantage to get the baby's head to open my cervix up. I'm already 80% effaced, so softening isn't necessary.

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Pregnant in America

So, I just finished watching the documentary film Pregnant in America. It was fabulous. I thought I was pretty informed about my options for childbirth, seeing as I've had 9 months to research. I had no idea what I was missing. I recommend this film to anyone and everyone who is pregnant, thinking about having a baby, or knows someone who is pregnant. I know my lovely friend, Rachel, will be very excited about this film, and will probably tell everyone she knows everything about it for weeks. :)
I am finalizing my birth plan this week. Cutting it a bit close, I know. But I wasn't exactly sure what I wanted out of my birthing experience. Now I do. I have no idea if it is covered by my insurance, but if I could back up a couple of months, I would have worked with a midwife instead of an OB, and I would be delivering at home or in a birth center.
"Birth plan outline": (Basically, as little medical intervention as possible)
-No IV
-No pain medication, epidural or otherwise
-Limited number of internal exams
-Limited fetal monitoring (I believe the minimum is 20 minutes every hour)
-No contraction monitor

-Use of hydrotherapy, birthing ball, and masseuse.
-Dimmed lighting
-Silence
-As little people in the room as possible (BD and my mommy will be there for the delivery)
-No use of episiotomy, forceps, or a vacuum.

-No coached pushing (No holding my breath and bearing down. I want my body to tell me what to do, not the doctor.)
-Waiting to cut the umbilical cord until it stops pulsating. (I've heard of people leaving the placenta attached until the umbilical cord falls off... but that weirds me out.)
-BD cuts the cord... (I wanted him to "catch" the baby... but I don't even think he's gonna look down there. Which is probably best.. He'll pass out.)

Basically, I believe that my body knows how to give birth. I want as little medical intervention as possible, and I DO NOT want to be asked repeatedly if I want an epidural. I want to be able to labor in any position I feel comfortable. This includes being able to move around, which is why I don't want any monitors or IV.
I would not do well with having to lay on my back in bed the whole time, just having to deal with the pain. No wonder so many women get epidurals!

I've been told a bajillion times that I'm absolutely crazy for wanting a natural birth. That I'll "end up getting an epidural" because I "won't be able to deal with the pain". Maybe not. But maybe I can. I believe that giving birth naturally is what my body is meant to do. It's just temporary pain, and I can do that for my daughter. I know that I'm strong enough to do this. BD says I want it just for the bragging rights, and yeah, sure, that's a part of it. I think there will be no better high. That I will be so proud of myself and my body and my daughter. I could definitely use the confidence boost.
If anyone wants to further understand why on earth I would want to do this, PLEASE watch Pregnant in America. It will open your eyes to a whole new world of childbirth.

And please, vote for my blog. :) Thanks.

37 weeks. (FULL TERM!)

My high school bestie and college roommate, Kallie, took some belly/maternity pictures of the BD and I on Sunday. We had fun, and I can't wait to see the rest. Here's a sneak peek:



How far along? 37 weeks, 3 days.

Total Weight Gain: No idea. Somewhere around 25 lbs. I refused to look when I was weighed this morning.

Belly button: Innie. It's not gonna pop.

Stretch marks: They feel pretty gross. And look pretty gross. They had better go away after the baby, or I will constantly remind her of the beating my skin took for her everyday for the rest of her life.

Maternity clothes: Nothing is comfortable. I like loose clothing. I want to wear my normal clothes, and feel comfortable. I don't remember what that feels like.

Gender: GIRL.

Movement: She has pretty much stopped moving. I don't think she has any room left to do anything. When she moves now, it takes me by surprise. It's pretty much just after I eat, and before I go to bed.

Symptoms: My hips, lower back, and pelvis hurt constantly. It feels like everything is being ripped apart. Climbing stairs, putting on shoes and socks, and stepping into a pair of pants are all painful.

Food aversions: Nothing that I'm strongly against. I prefer to go with lighter foods rather than the heavier meat and potatoes way.

Food cravings: Yummy things. :) Lots of yogurt, fruit, cereal, orange juice. Seems like breakfast foods. Speaking of which, I want pancakes. I decided it would be a good idea to give up pop, junk food, and candy for lent. It's going well so far, and hopefully I can keep it up.

What I miss: Drinking. St. Patrick's Day is coming up on Thursday, and I REALLY wish I could have some green beer.

What I am looking forward to: We FINALLY got a date for move-in. NEXT Thursday or Friday... as they always seem to tell us. But this time we got it in writing! yay! I'm excited to move in.

Milestones: At my doctor's appointment on Friday, March 4th, I was 2 cm dilated and 50% effaced. I spent the week mostly on my feet... cleaning, walking, cooking, squatting... trying to move things along. Today at my appointment, I was still 2 cm dilated, but 80% effaced!!! My guess is that she'll be here before next weekend. I HOPE. Even though we don't move into our apartment until the end of the week, but I wouldn't mind if she decided to come before then... like TODAY :) BD would rather she wait.


Names we're thinking recently: Probably Rowan, Clara, or Zoey. I've recently liked Vera or Veda.

Oh! And if you enjoyed my belly pic, this post, or my blog in general, PLEASE vote for me! kthanks! :)

37 weeks.

How your baby's growing:
Your baby is now considered "full term," even though your due date is three weeks away. If you go into labor now, his lungs will likely be mature enough to fully adjust to life outside the womb. (Some babies need a bit more time, though. So if you're planning to have a repeat c-section, for example, your practitioner will schedule it for no earlier than 39 weeks unless there's a medical reason to intervene earlier.)
Your baby weighs 6 1/3 pounds and measures a bit over 19 inches, head to heel (like a stalk of Swiss chard). Many babies have a full head of hair at birth, with locks from 1/2 inch to 1 1/2 inches long. But don't be surprised if your baby's hair isn't the same color as yours. Dark-haired couples are sometimes thrown for a loop when their children come out as blonds or redheads, and fair-haired couples have been surprised by Elvis look-alikes. And then, of course, some babies sport only peach fuzz.

How your life's changing:
Braxton Hicks contractions may be coming more frequently now and may last longer and be more uncomfortable. You might also notice an increase in vaginal discharge. If you see some "bloody show" (mucus tinged with a tiny amount of blood) in the toilet or in your undies, labor is probably a few days away — or less. (If you have heavier spotting or bleeding, call your caregiver immediately.) Also be sure to ask your caregiver about the results of your Group B strep culture. That way, if the result isn't yet on your chart when you get to the hospital or birth center, you'll be able to give the staff there a timely heads-up if you need antibiotics.

It may be harder than ever to get comfortable enough to sleep well at night. If you can, take it easy through the day — this may be your last chance to do so for quite a while. Keep monitoring your baby's movements, too, and let your caregiver know immediately if you notice a decrease. Though her quarters are getting cozy, she should still be as active as before.

While you're sleeping, you're likely to have some intense dreams. Anxiety both about labor and about becoming a parent can fuel a lot of strange flights of unconscious fancy.

Oh. Hello.

It has been over a week since my last post. Ridiculous, but being in Holland makes it difficult to blog.
I ha a doctor's appointment last Friday (the 4th) and she informed me that I was 2 cm dialated and 50% effaced. Pretty nifty, eh? All of that standing/walking/squatting is paying off. On another fabulous note, I hit 37 weeks! The bean is now FULL TERM!!!! and I cannot wait to meet her.
On Sunday, my old roommate from college/bestie from high school, Kallie, took maternity pictures of BD and I. I can't wait to see how they turn out! She has also spent some time in India, and gave me 2 sari-like wraps and an instruction manual on baby-wearing. Hopefully, it's not too difficult for me to figure out.
We made some headway on the apartment, and we got (in-writing) confirmation that we will be moving in next Thursday or Friday. (Over 5 weeks from when they told us we could move in originally). Ridiculous. And it's cutting it too close for comfort to my due date. I don't like it. At all. However, we will be getting the remainder of March free because of our patience, but I would rather just have a place to live.
Lee and I were out and about the other night, and I went to the bathroom. This would be an otherwise uneventful bathroom trip, but my water broke! Or at least I thought it did. Big difference. The next section is a bit TMI, so feel free to stop reading here, if you want...
But I know you're curious. :) After peeing for over a minute, I remember thinking to myself "Wow, that's a lot of pee." Now, I've heard and been told that your water breaking can feel like a big gush, but also that it can feel like you're peeing... but you can't stop the flow of urine with your pelvic floor muscles. So... I tried to stop "peeing" and it didn't work. At this point, I started to panic a bit. Fluid kept coming out for another 4 minutes or so... and after it seemed finished, I went back to the table and told BD, "I think my water broke... but I'm gonna call the Dr.". BIG look of shock on his face. So I went in the other room and called the on-call doctor, explaining to her what had happened. I told her I was at least expecting some sort of "gush" and contraction... or at least some kind of pain... but NOTHING!
The doctor says it can happen the way I experienced it, and that it was important for me to get to the hospital quickly in case my contractions did not start on their own. I went and told BD. He became very pale and I thought he was gonna have a panic attack, or pass out or something. I was very calm throughout this whole process, and we decided it would be better if I drove. I guess I wasn't convinced that I was in labor. So to the hospital we went. I truely thought BD was gonna pass out.
I changed into a gown once we got there, and after a series of questions, they hooked me up to some monitors. They did a test which involved sticking a swab up near my cervix (TMI, I know) and testing the fluid to see if it was amniotic fluid. Which, of course, would tell us if my water had truely broken. Some contractions were showing up on the monitor, but nothing major. I was still not convinced. BD paced a bit, and we watched some TV while waiting for the results. They came in after about 30 minutes and my water had NOT broken! Yay! (*As much as I want her out... it was not a good situation. I didn't feel right about anything that was happening, so I'm happy she wasn't coming for real.) But WHAT had happened? I was stumped. I asked the nurse and she said that if the baby is pushing down hard on my bladder, there's nothing I can do to stop it from coming out once I initially relax my pelvic floor. Weird, right? So at that point, I felt real stupid for making my extra-long peeing session into such a big deal. BD teased me about it, and then sternly told the bean not to make her mama pee like that ever again because it was scary for the both of us.
The end. :)

I have another doctor's appointment tomorrow, so hopefully I'll be even more dialated, and I can get this baby out sometime this week. YAY! :)

Oh yeah, and PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE vote for my blog! It's only 2 clicks!!!! Thanks. :)

Why I won't be feeding my daughter Rice Cereal.

First foods are an evergreen topic, and for good reason. Those early tastes help set the stage for good habits later on down the road. Recently, Dr. Alan Greene, a renowned pediatrician who has also written many childhood nutrition articles, made a heady claim on ABC’s Good Morning America show. Dr. Greene believes feeding white rice cereal is not only bad for baby, but thinks it’s the root cause of childhood obesity.

Not all professionals in the pediatric and health field agree with Dr. Greene, and believe claims of this kind shouldn’t be made without conclusive research and proof to substantiate them. What ABC’s chief health and medical editor Richard Besser, and Keith Ayoob, associate professor of pediatrics at Albert Einstein College of Medicine do agree on is that whole grains are a much healthier option. We think so too, as we recently talked about making a healthy, homemade oatmeal.

As many pediatricians point out, rice cereal is gluten-free making it a sensible choice for allergy and food sensitivity reasons if there are existing issues in your family’s medical history. But that doesn’t mean white rice cereal is your only option. If you prefer to stick with your doctor’s recommendation look for an iron-fortified brown rice cereal, another gluten-free alternative, that happens to be richer in nutrients.

Source: [ABC News]

Postpartum belly wraps.

I've been considering belly wrapping after the little bean comes. Many cultures wrap their mid-sections postpartum to help support the lower back and internal organs, as well as to keep the uterus from swelling.

Product description of the Belly Bandit:
"The Belly Bandit wrap is an abdominal compression binder designed to help you get your body back to its former fabulousness post childbirth. Not only does the Belly Bandit help reduce uncomfortable uterine swelling, it aids in decreasing bloating caused by water retention, and gives additional support for Mommy's weary legs & back. For you breastfeeding moms, there's a bonus... the Belly Bandit will help you with your posture during feedings, and may help to reduce the all too common back & shoulder pain associated with breastfeeding. Ultimately, the Belly Bandit wrap will aid in getting you back to your pre-pregnancy hotness faster than ever! Not intended for use during pregnancy."

It retails for $36-45. I'm considering just going ace bandage style and creating my own belly band. I know I should find something, the results are remarkable for women who do wrap their bellies vs. those who don't. But I just don't think I can fork over the $40 for a glorified tube sock.

Did you band your belly postpartum? Or know anyone who did? Your comments would be appreciated. Oh, and your votes of course. :)

36 weeks. (That's 9 months!)

I took another legit belly pic today. :D PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE vote for my blog!

How far along? 36 weeks, 2 days.

Total Weight Gain: No idea. Somewhere around 25 lbs.

Belly button: Innie.

Stretch marks: Some days they look better, some days they look worse. When BD sees my belly, he says "my poor baby". I'm not sure if he's talking about me or the baby, but regardless, it's pretty gross. I feel like a tiger. eww.

Maternity clothes: Everything is tight now and leaves marks on my skin (mostly pants right under my belly, even sweatpants) :(

Gender: GIRL. She had better be a girl. Unless it's a boy, and he wants to wear pink. (I've already taken tags off and washed everything.) I wouldn't mind, but I know BD would. That's why everything I bought is gender-neutral.

Movement: Lots of hiccups as usual. I think she flipped because I'm feeling hiccups by my ribs, instead of down low near the underside of my belly. LAME. That means she's head-up. No good. You had better turn, little one!

Symptoms: The pain is better! Something I would never thought would happen when I hit 9 months. Which is another reason why I think she's flipped. The back pain only comes if I'm on my feet a lot, walking around and such. My inner thighs/groin area hurt a lot last week, which is why I thought she dropped into my pelvis, but it doesn't hurt as much anymore. I would rather have her head-down and deal with the pain, though. I really don't want to have a c-section. :/

Food aversions: Ehh. Not much.

Food cravings: Sugar. Mostly. This morning I made DELICIOUS pancakes. I often crave ice cream and candy. It's like being back in the second trimester. But I'm not craving it too much. I often have to remind myself to put food in my system.

What I miss: Drinking. :/ Sad, I know. I watched BD have a lot of good beer this past weekend, and I was severely jealous.

What I am looking forward to: Moving in with BD. Which will be happening THIS FRIDAY!!!! Get excited! I'm so ready to nest and make up this nursery! I think that after I spend a few days unpacking and decorating, she'll make her appearance. She's just waiting for us to feel ready. :)
I start my new job next week! I'm working with my sorority sister (she's my manager) so it will be nice to be under someone who knows my situation. I'm starting training next week, and will work until the bean comes. After she's born, I'll have my maternity leave and work as an assistant manager. :) I'm not sure what we'll do for childcare (I really don't like it at all) but we'll figure something out.

Milestones: Kind of TMI, but I lost my mucus plug. Which could mean that labor is on it's way, or that I have another month to wait. It's like a fake labor-sign. Like the groundhog seeing his shadow.

Names we're thinking recently: Unsure. I like Rowan and Elsie most. BD likes Clara and Zoey. I'm kind of hoping that when she's born, he'll get all emotional, and proud of me, and just let me pick her name. :)

Oh! And if you enjoyed my belly pic, this post, or my blog in general, PLEASE vote for me! kthanks! :)

36 weeks.

How your baby's growing:
Your baby is still packing on the pounds — at the rate of about an ounce a day. She now weighs almost 6 pounds (like a crenshaw melon) and is more than 18 1/2 inches long. She's shedding most of the downy covering of hair that covered her body as well as the vernix caseosa, the waxy substance that covered and protected her skin during her nine-month amniotic bath. Your baby swallows both of these substances, along with other secretions, resulting in a blackish mixture, called meconium, will form the contents of her first bowel movement.
At the end of this week, your baby will be considered full-term. (Full-term is 37 to 42 weeks; babies born before 37 weeks are pre-term and those born after 42 are post-term.) Most likely she's in a head-down position. But if she isn't, your practitioner may suggest scheduling an "external cephalic version," which is a fancy way of saying she'll try to coax your baby into a head-down position by manipulating her from the outside of your belly.

How your life's changing:
Now that your baby is taking up so much room, you may have trouble eating a normal-size meal. Smaller, more frequent meals are often easier to handle at this point. On the other hand, you may have less heartburn and have an easier time breathing when your baby starts to "drop" down into your pelvis. This process — called lightening — often happens a few weeks before labor if this is your first baby. (If you've given birth before, it probably won't happen before labor starts.) If your baby drops, you may also feel increased pressure in your lower abdomen, which may make walking increasingly uncomfortable, and you'll probably find that you have to pee even more frequently. If your baby is very low, you may feel lots of vaginal pressure and discomfort as well. Some women say it feels as though they're carrying a bowling ball between their legs!

You might also notice that your Braxton Hicks contractions are more frequent now. Be sure to review the signs of labor with your practitioner and find out when she wants to hear from you. As a general rule, if you're full-term, your pregnancy is uncomplicated, and your water hasn't broken, she'll probably have you wait to come in until you've been having contractions that last for about a minute each, coming every five minutes for an hour. Of course, you'll want to call right away if you notice a decrease in your baby's activity or think you're leaking amniotic fluid, or if you have any vaginal bleeding, fever, a severe or persistent headache, constant abdominal pain, or vision changes.

Even if you're enjoying an uncomplicated pregnancy, it's best to avoid flying (or any travel far from home) during your final month because you can go into labor at any time. In fact, some airlines won't let women on board who are due to deliver within 30 days of the flight.

The cutest shoes you've ever seen.

I received little bean's first pair of shoes this morning. The Fed-Ex guy knocked on my door and Lola ran to it, barking like crazy, and it scared me so badly I almost fell out of bed. I realized after I answered the door and signed for my package, that I fell asleep last night with my hair in a braid, and half of it was sticking straight up. Sorry, Fed-Ex guy. Anyway, here are some awesome shoes:





Adorable, no? They even come with their own carrying case/lunch box. :) I love.