27 Weeks!

This week we are finishing off the second trimester and preparing to jump into the third . . . can you believe it??

Our baby can now open and close his eyes, weighs about two pounds and is around 14 and a half inches long.  Goodness!  He is my little buddy, moving and stirring many times now during the day, keeping me company at work.  Sometimes when he's really active and doing what I call his "wave" motion where he makes my stomach undulate with his movements, I just stop what I am doing and watch my belly.  I don't want to miss any of this . . . it's already dawning on me that I don't have all that much longer to be pregnant and to share this special time where it's just me and him.  And I'm not quite ready to leave this part behind yet.

At work I've noticed I get a lot more looks than I used to--perfect strangers smile at me when they see me and my belly coming.  A couple people have said, "I bet you're having a boy!" and then they've been so happy when I've confirmed their hunch.  One man said, "I knew it!  You carry just like my wife did--all up front!"  I wanted to ask him how else you carry than up front, but didn't.  Maybe he meant that the baby is centered in my body instead of being stretched across it?  Not sure.  It was funny though, and I love that people can tell now without a doubt that I am pregnant.  Although Michael told me yesterday that one of the guys we work with told him he just realized I am pregnant about two weeks ago.  Funny.  But it's an engineering company, so I guess you can't really blame him.  His mind is filled with calculations and formulas and designs for upcoming projects.  And suddenly, one day there I am with a big pregnant belly.  Must have been something of a shock for him.  :)

What else?  I talk to the baby a lot, and sing to him as we drive home from work.  I sing little made-up songs about how we're going home to see Papa and have dinner, about how much we love him and what a good job he's doing growing strong and healthy.  Some days he stirs more than kicks and I pat or rub my belly if I haven't heard from him in an hour or two, just to get some movement back.  Other days he "talks" all day, wiggling and kicking.  I love those days.

So far we have the baby's crib and today the mattress we ordered was waiting on the front porch when we got home from work.  This weekend we plan to buy his carseat and I am such a lucky girl that I already have two baby showers lined up for us: one on February 18th, thrown by my high school friends, and the other on March 4th, given by the baby's two eager grandmas.  I'm sure this little guy will have plenty of wonderful things waiting for him when he arrives in April.  But at least he will have a place to sleep and a way to get home after his birth.  :)

How I love him.

Childbirth Class at Andaluz

Last Saturday, Michael and I attended a four-hour childbirth class at the Portland Andaluz location.  I feel very lucky that we were able to make the class, because if we had missed it, I don't think we would have been able to attend another one there before our baby makes his arrival in April.

I think it was last Tuesday or Wednesday I had the thought that I should check their class calendar and get us signed up (SO many things I feel like I need to do now with only about three months left before Baby), and when I looked I was excited to see that they had a six-week class beginning on January 19th from 7-9 in the evening.  The cost was only about $65 for both mom and partner.  It sounded very reasonable.  The only problem was that Michael has been really busy at work lately with a very big project and he said he didn't think he could guarantee that he would be able to attend the class with me each Thursday evening--most of the time he never knows just when he will be able to leave work.  It's not the first time that our particular line of work has interfered with things we would like to do, but that's the way it is for now.  There was always the option of the Saturday class, and luckily, there was still space for us.  Phew. 

We were one of five other couples in attendance when the class began, but were later joined by two more couples, so it was a good turnout, really.  The class was held in an upstairs room at Andaluz decorated with plush couches and beautiful paintings of women with babies and children. 

The instructor, Dana, is one of the midwives there.  She began by lighting a candle for the unborn babies in attendance, saying that it is something she always does, as they are able to hear her voice and may very well be able to sense what is going on.  I thought it was a very sweet and respectful thing to do. 

We talked about the anatomy of birth (just what has to happen where for the baby to make his / her appearance vaginally), and I learned a few interesting facts.  One is that the space the baby's head goes through in the pelvis is pretty much the same no matter how big one's hips might be.  Two is that every minute, one gallon of blood is pumped by my body to the baby's placenta.  Dang!  No wonder I am so tired all the time.  :) 

Much time was spent on trying out labor positions.  I tried draping myself over a birth ball (not my favorite although I did like sitting on it), sitting on a type of metal stool that was half-moon shaped (really comfortable even though it didn't look like it would be), and climbing into one of the lovely, huge tubs with the tallest and widest sides I have ever seen.  Michael climbed in behind me as instructed (both of us fully clothed), and there was still plenty of room between us and the sides of the tub.  I knew I would love, love, love to relax in that tub while in labor. 

We learned a Lamaze breathing exercise (which I didn't really take to, but at least have tried), and did a guided relaxation / visualization exercise that was very soothing.  Moms and birth partners both participated in a labor exercise involving holding bags of ice for one minute "contractions."  I think it was designed to show you if you would rather have someone talking to you to distract you while experiencing something uncomfortable or painful, if you would rather be left alone and to your own devices, or whether you would rather be moving around.  Michael and I both chose the latter as our favorite, although the being left alone option was also appealing.  Dana said we will likely shift through all three when dealing with the sensations of labor.  I was glad to know there are so many things I can try . . . I'm sure I'll find something that will feel just right when I am in labor.

We ended the class by watching a Russian waterbirth video which was both beautiful and interesting.  There is a place in Russia where people go to give birth to their children in the ocean.  I'm not sure it would be what I would choose, but it was neat to see families welcoming their babies smack dab in the middle of Mother Nature.  I joked with Michael that even if we wanted to, that would not work here as the Pacific is much too freezing cold to allow for anything like that.  :)

All in all, it was a lovely class and I am very glad we were able to attend.  Being at Andaluz reminded me again of just how much I like it there--how safe and supported I feel, how much it resonates with me and with how I feel about birth as it pertains to me.

24 Week Appointment

Two Fridays ago now, I met with Dr. Stempel for another prenatal appointment.  The usual things were checked: my blood pressure (normal), my weight (144--normal), my pee (normal).  I was given the results of my most recent TSH and T4 bloodtest and told that the numbers were good--not too high, not too low.  He measured the height of my uterus and then searched for the baby's heartbeat.  It took a little looking, as the doctor started in the middle of my belly, which is where the baby usually hangs out at my visits.  We heard nothing.  Then the doctor moved the Doppler to the left side of my belly.  Again, nothing.  I told the doctor, half-laughing, that I had just felt him moving quite a bit before coming to the appointment.  "Oh, he's there," Dr. Stempel replied, moving the Doppler to the right side of my belly, and sure enough, there were the sounds of the steadily beating little heart.  The baby was hunkered down to one side, close to where his placenta attaches to the wall of my womb.  His heartbeat was 150 beats per minute--perfect.

After the brief exam was over, I talked with the doctor for several minutes as I had come prepared with some questions for him.  My main concern was getting a referral to the group of nurse-midwives who routinely help women with waterbirth at Emanuel.  Dr. Stempel confirmed that yes, I was still a candidate for waterbirth, (although he expressed again his wonder at why I would ever want such a thing).  I told him that I was trying to decide between a waterbirth at Emanuel and one at Andaluz (the very beautiful birthing center that Michael and I toured when I was around 16 weeks pregnant). 

We then had quite a discussion about why Dr. Stempel thinks giving birth to my baby anyplace other than the hospital is unsafe, and, as he hinted rather obviously, would be taking chances with the health of my baby.  He referred a couple of times to how "you wouldn't ride in a car without your seatbelt, would you?"  I agreed that I would not, but didn't remind him there are still risks to riding in a car, even when wearing your seatbelt. 

He told me some other things, which I'm not going to mention here, about Andaluz.  For one thing, I only know his side of the story and for another, I know that as a medical doctor, he is perhaps a bit predisposed to thinking birth anywhere outside the walls of a hospital is unsafe.

What it comes down to is that it is my decision, ultimately, and I need to be where I feel the most comfortable.  What is tough is not letting the opinions of others (especially medical personnel, whom I tend to let intimidate me), influence me too much.  Sadly, I have been more of a "pleaser" in my life than a girl who stands up for what she believes in no matter what.  Having this baby may just be that most important thing in my life that pushes me to grow and change . . . and really, if not now, then when?

Eileen's Baby is Here!

I've been thinking a lot about Eileen the past couple days.  Yesterday I emailed her and was going to call to see how she's been feeling, but I didn't get around to it.  Then, when I got home from work today, I had a text message from her . . . her baby was born this morning at 10:55am!!

His name is Samuel Wesley and he was 6lbs, 13oz and 21 inches long.  He is tall for being 3 weeks early!  :) 

I haven't spoken with Eileen yet (giving her some time to rest and bond with her new little one), but I am so looking forward to seeing her and sweet Samuel. 

While I was having dinner earlier, I was thinking about the day I posted that her eggs had been fertilized and were at the lab at OHSU growing . . . what a miracle the journey from that day to this has been.

My heart is truly overflowing for her tonight.  Thank you all for your prayers and thoughts for Eileen and her family.  I know (and she has said she is sure too) that your good energy and wishes helped her as she made her way through IVF and all that uncertainty to where she is tonight with her baby in her arms.

Warmest welcome, little Samuel Wesley.  We are so glad you are here.  <3

24 Weeks!!! (The Age of Viability)

We made it to the 24-week milestone this past Monday and I feel like I have been able to breathe a bit easier since then.  Don't get me wrong--I still worry plenty, but if the baby were born now, he would at least have a chance of surviving outside my womb, although he would need a lot of care in a NICU and would potentially have some long-term health problems.  But that's not going to happen.  :) 

Last week (23 weeks), I wasn't feeling too well for a few days.  I had some light cramping and low back pain, which worried me, but which I tried to chalk up to my womb stretching and growing.  I've also started having Braxton-Hicks contractions, and I have to say that I don't care much for them.  Last week when I was having them, I would get them just in the upper left part of my abdomen, an inch or so above my bellybutton.  They felt so weird because I'd feel a tightening that would last for several seconds, a release, and then an almost immediate tightening again.  They kept coming like that and made it tough for me to relax and go to sleep. 

I think it was one or two days last week, and a couple of days this week that I have felt the Braxton-Hicks contractions over my entire abdomen--uterus too, and that's what I really don't like.  My stomach feels stretched so incredibly tight that I can't take as deep of a breath as I am used to taking.  And the baby wiggles a lot when I have the contractions . . . reminds me of a little fish wriggling around.  He doesn't kick so much as wriggle, so my guess is he feels some tightening going on around him.  Eileen says that she had lots of Braxton-Hicks contractions when she was at about this stage of the game, but now that she is 36 weeks (I think), she doesn't get them much at all.  I guess her body feels like it's had enough practice and is warmed up and ready to go.  :)

This next part might be a little too much info for some folks, so feel free to skip to the next paragraph if you'd like.  Also last week I ended up calling the doctor's office because on Thursday I had 6-7 drops of milky fluid slowly running down my legs and dripping to the floor when I was getting ready to take my shower that morning.  I've had a couple drops before, but this seemed like quite a bit more than usual, so I figured I should call and see what the advice nurse said.  She thought it was probably nothing, but that I should get checked out just in case.  Dr. Stempel was out that day, so I saw one of his colleagues in the office and was pleased to be told that I am just one of those lucky gals who produce a lot of vaginal fluid when pregnant.  Lovely.  But I was glad that was all it was.

I feel our little man moving around so much more now--just within this past week it seems I feel him more and more often.  I'd say I feel movement at least every couple hours if not more often.  I love it.  It's the absolute best feeling in the world.  I feel like he's checking in with me, saying "Hey Mama, I'm here and I'm growing and doing great."  I smile when I feel him and put my hand over my belly to feel the movement from the outside too.  I was trying to explain to Michael tonight what an incredible feeling it is, and that even now, at nearly 25 weeks of pregnancy, I still barely comprehend that I really am pregnant.  I check out my belly all the time when I'm in front of a mirror, or I just sit in bed with my shirt pulled up staring at it as the baby moves.  It's as if my brain can't quite wrap itself around the fact that what I have wanted for such a terribly long time has finally become a reality for me. 

I thank my lucky stars every single day.