We had our appointment yesterday
morning where I had to give blood, be tested for Strep, and found out I was not
dilated. The doctor also predicted we had
about a month to go yet instead of three weeks.
We are now at the point where I will need to return for doctor visits
once a week until the baby is born. I am
off from school the whole week of March 7th since that is spring
break. It would be great if baby’s arrival coincided with break so that I
could make a clean break from work and the transition between the subs and
myself would be a smooth one. Or if baby has not arrived, I might return
to work on Monday, March 14th, and keep working until the big
day. Who knows what will happen but I am hoping that everything will be
smooth and we’ll be home from the hospital within a few days. One of my
friends who just had her 6th or 7th baby delivered Friday
evening and was back at work Monday morning !!!!!!!!!!!! I don’t anticipate
THAT happening but it would be nice to be mobile and up on my feet within a few
days but I realize that there is no way of knowing until it happens. Another first time Mom in NC had unexpected
complications and was in the hospital for five days…and didn't feel like
herself until nearly two weeks later which is something I hope doesn’t happen
with us but again there’s no predicting it I suppose.
I’m getting there with sort of
feeling prepared (or as prepared as I can feel). I alternate between
feelings of panic/anxiety and being utterly exhausted from all the
chores/trying to get everything ready….guess I can thank the pregnancy hormones
for these wild feelings as of late. Time also seems to be going super
slow as the due date approaches. This week was SO long. I’m also hoping
to also finish packing the hospital bag at some point this weekend and we have
a three hour class scheduled for Saturday evening with our doula to learn about
the Bradley Birthing Method/positions/what to expect/etc. We also need to get the birthing plan written
and printed. It just seems like a never
ending list of items on the to-do list and for every item I cross off my list,
there is yet another item to tackle. Who
know having a baby would require so much planning?! ; )
As of now after a 24 hour laundry binging spree, all the immediate
clothing, blankets, and bedding have been washed and folded. The diaper
pail was added to the nursery tonight. The baby toys are in the top rack
of the dishwasher waiting to be washed and the diaper bag is drying as we
speak. I’ve not a clue what to do with the breastfeeding stuff but I
figure there is no practicing with that and I’ll just have to learn during that
first week of the little one’s life. The car seat bases and seat covers
are in the garage awaiting my twin’s help (the state trooper who is certified
in installing car seats!) when he and his family come visit next weekend.
They were our first guests last Feb. and are coming back for the second time
the same weekend one year later…so it will be nice to show them the changes to
the house considering Adam was a “bachelor” living here alone when they were
here the last time!
Saturday, 02/13/16: 36 weeks 5 days
Tonight we had a three hour class
with our doula that wound up being closer to four hours due to the questions
and side conversations we had. She was
full of helpful information and suggestions. I
told Adam after Sara left that I knew way more than I expected to learn as a
result of the lesson. I also had no idea
how detailed and involved the actual delivery process would be! I hadn’t before considered the afterbirth,
the umbilical cord, the placenta, the technical aspects of breastfeeding in
such detail, the bleeding for upwards of six weeks (!!!), and so forth.
In my mind, I only focused on the lead up to the delivery wondering
if/when my water will break, if it would be when in the middle of teaching at
work, will the labor pains be really painful, will we opt for Epidural or wind up with an all natural birth as hoped for,
how long will the whole labor and delivery process be, are we having a boy or a
girl, what will we name him/her, how long will we be in the hospital, and a
million other questions. However, I
hadn’t thought of the fact that bleeding can last for up to six weeks, that
breastmilk doesn’t actually come in until the third day, that some babies are
born hungry and ready to nurse immediately after entering this big ol’ world,
that stitching/repairs are typically done right then and there in the labor and
delivery room as you hold your newborn, that I can decline the weekly checks of
seeing if I’m dilated right now, and so much more. To say my head was spinning at the conclusion
of tonight’s crash course is an understatement.
However, I feel even more at ease about the unknown with having Sara as
a resource and advocate in our corner for when the big day comes and I'm
so thankful a friend at work, Amy, "introduced" us to Sara so that we
would have the addition of a doula on the big day as well.…and hopefully
my Mom as well as Adam. We don’t know
yet what my parents’ plans are but I really hope they are able to be with us
from start to finish of the whole process!
I also found out tonight that I
don’t necessarily have to wear the hospital gown while there. We need to double check on the policy but I
love the idea of being able to wear something more comfortable and that is mine
instead of the generic gown provided by the hospital if possible.
We also picked up some microwaveable meals, animal crackers, and Clif
bars to snack on while at the hospital.
The bags are nearly completely packed which is such a good feeling! It was also interesting to realize
subconsciously that I was thinking of the baby’s bag with the outfits, boppy,
pacifiers, and so forth that it was “his” bag and the bag was nearly ready for
“him”. It seems that I’m thinking the
baby will be a boy….I wonder if this will reveal itself to be true early next
month?!
Update on baby's progress now that we're at 36 weeks:
At the end of week 36, it might give you comfort to know that the
arrival is approaching quickly. Your baby is considered full term, yet
he still has more growing to do. His bones are hardening, but his skull
remains soft and flexible for birth.
He’s grown almost completely into his skin, which was once oversized and loose.
He now has a fully rounded face, in part because his powerful sucking muscles are now developed and ready to get to work.
During this 36th week, your baby probably weighs about 6 pounds or slightly more.
It's natural for your body to begin to slow a little as you get closer
to your due date. You're now carrying a full-grown baby inside, and are
continuing to adjust to loosening ligaments, swelling, and other
challenges.
Continuing consistent, gentle exercise may help you fight fatigue.
Walking is a great example of exercise you can usually continue through
labor.
Balanced nutrition is not only nourishing you and your baby throughout
your pregnancy, but it is also establishing a strong foundation for
breastfeeding and your body's recovery after delivery.
Braxton Hicks contractions (the clinical term for false contractions)
were named after the British doctor John Braxton Hicks, and play an
important role in helping your body rehearse for childbirth. They might
become more frequent as you edge closer to your due date.
Braxton Hicks vs. true labor contractions
| Braxton Hicks (False Labor) Contractions |
True Labor Contractions |
| Irregular and remain irregular |
Regular intervals or regular pattern |
| Don't get closer together as time passes |
Grow closer together over time |
| Often are weak and stay that way (might have stronger contractions followed by weaker ones) |
Increase in strength/intensity over time |
| Stop when you rest, walk, or change positions |
Keep coming no matter what you do |
| Vary in length and intensity |
Usually last 30 to 90 seconds (shorter when they begin and get progressively longer and stronger) |
| Don't affect your cervix |
Cause cervix to dilate (open) |
| Pain usually felt only in the front |
Pain begins in back and moves to front. |
