37 week update

[Em]

I had my 37 week appointment yesterday at 37w2d. This appointment was
slightly "off" of my normal appointment schedule because it was with the
nurse-midwife at the birth center instead of with the doctor. The doctor
wanted me to make sure to have an appointment with the midwife, just in case
she helps with the birth. My next appointment with the doctor is
Monday--these appts are really close together!

Anyway, I saw the nurse-midwife once before for a pelvic exam before I was
pregnant. I felt a distinct lack of connection with her then and
unfortunately I felt it at this prenatal appointment as well. It is
complicated to explain, but I just do not a get a comfortable vibe from her
and do not feel a "click" at all. Hopefully, it will be a non-issue and I
won't see her again. It isn't that she isn't nice or anything, but just that
she seems spacey and doesn't come across as very competent or smart.

The details of the visit were good bp (120/64), gained one pound (in 1.5
weeks), trace of leukocytes like usual, fundal height 35 cm. I didn't get to
try to my tricky double weighing plan because I was in the same birth room
as at my last appt (the one I think that has a "heavy" scale). She didn't
tell me the baby's heartrate and I forgot to ask--she poked on him a bit as
well to make him move and was pleased with his "reactivity." I reported in
about losing bits of my mucous plug and she said that it was a good sign.
She also said that she would predict that I will have the baby a few days
before the edd, but not to hold her to it!

I got loads of ego boosts yesterday as well--when I came out of the restroom
and sat down in the waiting area, the receptionist said, "you are just so
*cute*!" Another pregnant woman came in as well and we chatted a bit about
our due dates and so forth and when she found out that I am due shortly, she
said "you look so good!" Then, after the nurse took my bp and left to go get
the midwife, she shut the door, then opened it again and peeked her head
back in and said, "you just look really good." The nurse-midwife also said
it when she came in. Later, I trained a new person at work and she told me
that I looked great, as did two of my other co-workers. I must have been
having a really good day or something--I have never had so many compliments
in one day in my life! It was nice :-)

In other news, we decided to return our majorly humongous convertible
carseat and get an infant sized one instead. It was somewhat of a hassle to
return (involving two trips to Target--one 30 miles away from my house--and
roping in the person that bought the seat originally, who bought it on
behalf of my mom and was reimbursed by her). Anyway, it ended up taking 3
hours and trips to *6* stores before we managed to find & buy an infant car
seat. Who knew it would be so difficult? It wasn't because we couldn't
decide, it was because the stores were either out of seats, or didn't carry
infant seats at all (but did have boosters). We became convinced that we
weren't going to find one and would likely have the baby that night (labor
being brought on from the miles of walking and looking for seats!). We ended
up buying one at 8:15 at night, at K-Mart--the last place we went (we tend
to boycott K-Mart). It was handily on sale for $41.99, instead of $50, so it
was meant to be :-) Going to put it in the car tonight!

My mom is coming to visit this weekend and we are going to have a
"cook-a-thon" for meals and baked goods to freeze for use in the week or so
after the baby is born.

I'm so looking forward to more birth announcements--they should come piling
in soon!

--
Em
edd 9/23/03
(37w3d)

[Laurie]

Em wrote in message ...
>>
>>My mom is coming to visit this weekend and we are going to have a
>"cook-a-thon" for meals and baked goods to freeze for use in the week or so
>after the baby is born.
>
>I'm so looking forward to more birth announcements--they should come piling
>in soon!
>
>--
>Em
>edd 9/23/03
>(37w3d)

How exciting that you're getting so close! Do you have names picked out
yet? Too bad about the spacey midwife, but lucky you for getting so many
compliments! I guess you just have to face that fact that you're cute and
that you look good! :)

Have fun with your cookathon!!!

laurie
mommy to Jessica, 29 months
and Christopher, 4 months

*This email address is now valid*
>
>
>

[Elly]

"Em" > ha scritto nel messaggio
news:nz66b.367272$o%2.165409@sccrnsc02...
> I had my 37 week appointment yesterday at 37w2d. This appointment was
> slightly "off" of my normal appointment schedule because it was with the
> nurse-midwife at the birth center instead of with the doctor. The doctor
> wanted me to make sure to have an appointment with the midwife, just in
case
> she helps with the birth. My next appointment with the doctor is
> Monday--these appts are really close together!
>
> Anyway, I saw the nurse-midwife once before for a pelvic exam before I was
> pregnant. I felt a distinct lack of connection with her then and
> unfortunately I felt it at this prenatal appointment as well. It is
> complicated to explain, but I just do not a get a comfortable vibe from
her
> and do not feel a "click" at all. Hopefully, it will be a non-issue and I
> won't see her again. It isn't that she isn't nice or anything, but just
that
> she seems spacey and doesn't come across as very competent or smart.

I'm sorry you didn't click with your midwife, but at least you found out
what she's like before you actually *needed* her!

> The details of the visit were good bp (120/64), gained one pound (in 1.5
> weeks), trace of leukocytes like usual, fundal height 35 cm. I didn't get
to
> try to my tricky double weighing plan because I was in the same birth room
> as at my last appt (the one I think that has a "heavy" scale). She didn't
> tell me the baby's heartrate and I forgot to ask--she poked on him a bit
as
> well to make him move and was pleased with his "reactivity." I reported in
> about losing bits of my mucous plug and she said that it was a good sign.
> She also said that she would predict that I will have the baby a few days
> before the edd, but not to hold her to it!

Good - keep up the good work :-) The "heavy" scale probably showed a little
more than you actually gained, so don't worry about that.
And the fundal height is good - my ob/gyn marked mine with an "X" (she
explained that means under the rib cage) at 35+ weeks already! I tell you
having the uterus up to your ribs is not the most comfy thing in the world,
I find myself unconsciouscensly stretching and stretching to make myself
more comfortable! Fortunately, she said the baby should drop soon (it is
head-down) which will make me more comfy - I hope ;-)


> I got loads of ego boosts yesterday as well--when I came out of the
restroom
> and sat down in the waiting area, the receptionist said, "you are just so
> *cute*!" Another pregnant woman came in as well and we chatted a bit about
> our due dates and so forth and when she found out that I am due shortly,
she
> said "you look so good!" Then, after the nurse took my bp and left to go
get
> the midwife, she shut the door, then opened it again and peeked her head
> back in and said, "you just look really good." The nurse-midwife also said
> it when she came in. Later, I trained a new person at work and she told me
> that I looked great, as did two of my other co-workers. I must have been
> having a really good day or something--I have never had so many
compliments
> in one day in my life! It was nice :-)

It's so good to hear people are being so nice! People are already starting
to look at me like I should be on bed-rest or deliver any minute now!
Yesterday I had a really lovely day with my DH - we went on a nice whole-day
trip (a lot of walking, sitting at the cafe watching the world go by, taking
photos, having a fantastic
lunch and ending the day with a sunset swim - I loved it!) and he kept being
amazed on how good I looked and how light on my feet I was (and I was having
a good day - no backache/pain under the ribs) and how I managed to be around
for 10 hours without being even slightly tired/wanting to lie down/take a
nap, whatever. Days like these really feel good - so enjoy your ego boost
:-)

> In other news, we decided to return our majorly humongous convertible
> carseat and get an infant sized one instead. It was somewhat of a hassle
to
> return (involving two trips to Target--one 30 miles away from my
house--and
> roping in the person that bought the seat originally, who bought it on
> behalf of my mom and was reimbursed by her). Anyway, it ended up taking 3
> hours and trips to *6* stores before we managed to find & buy an infant
car
> seat. Who knew it would be so difficult? It wasn't because we couldn't
> decide, it was because the stores were either out of seats, or didn't
carry
> infant seats at all (but did have boosters). We became convinced that we
> weren't going to find one and would likely have the baby that night (labor
> being brought on from the miles of walking and looking for seats!). We
ended
> up buying one at 8:15 at night, at K-Mart--the last place we went (we tend
> to boycott K-Mart). It was handily on sale for $41.99, instead of $50, so
it
> was meant to be :-) Going to put it in the car tonight!

Wow, just reading about your search for the infant car seat made me tired
;-) Glad you find one at the end, and at a such a good price - ours was
around 66 US$ (compatible with the stroller).

> My mom is coming to visit this weekend and we are going to have a
> "cook-a-thon" for meals and baked goods to freeze for use in the week or
so
> after the baby is born.

I bet that was a lot of fun! What did you prepare?
My mother will be staying with me after DH starts working again so she
offered to cook/clean/do laundry/iron, etc. for 3 weeks or so (she will take
a paid leave after DH goes back to work).
I know it's embarrassing to admit, but I don't really feel much like cooking
now (with the heat and all), so DH is the designated cook during the
weekends, and I usually make something really quick for myself during the
week (like pasta & already prepared pesto sauce, fresh veggies and
mozzarella, omelettes, etc.).

> I'm so looking forward to more birth announcements--they should come
piling
> in soon!

Yes - I can't wait to hear from Linda, Shannon and Lissie - they should be
having their babies any time now!

Be well,
Elly
36 weeks today!
(27 days to go!)
EDD October 6th

[Em]

"Tiina Kartovaara" > wrote in message
> Em wrote:
>
> >
> > I got loads of ego boosts yesterday as well--when I came out of the
restroom
> > and sat down in the waiting area, the receptionist said, "you are just
so
> > *cute*!" Another pregnant woman came in as well and we chatted a bit
about
> > our due dates and so forth and when she found out that I am due shortly,
she
> > said "you look so good!" Then, after the nurse took my bp and left to go
get
> > the midwife, she shut the door, then opened it again and peeked her head
> > back in and said, "you just look really good." The nurse-midwife also
said
> > it when she came in. Later, I trained a new person at work and she told
me
> > that I looked great, as did two of my other co-workers. I must have been
> > having a really good day or something--I have never had so many
compliments
> > in one day in my life! It was nice :-)
>
> Glad to hear all is well, and I just had to comment on this! I too loved
> hearing "you look great" during my pg, and if I say so myself, I did
> hear it a lot! Maybe people were expecting me to look ill and miserable,
> with my advanced age and all. ;-) And now I guess I look okay,
> considering I gave birth three days ago, since I keep hearing the same
> thing! My stomach is actually much less floppy than I expected it to be
> after a second birth - in loose clothing, I almost look the way I used
> to, except for the boobs, that is. So, enjoy those compliments - after
> the postpartum period, they will probably stop!

Oh, I'm definitely enjoying them while they last! You might be able to
identify with this also though--I can't help but wonder if they are only
saying nice things, because they secretly think I look awful! (the
greasy-hair-covered-by-the-bandana-syndrome, you know, when you get tons of
compliments about what a cute way to wear your hair!). Most of the time, I
just decide to accept the compliments and enjoy them though, not think up
ulterior meanings (I look fine to myself :-).

Sounds like you are really bouncing back after Joel's birth! I hope I do the
same after my baby!

--
Em
edd 9/23/03
(38 weeks today!)

[Em]

"Elly" > wrote in message
> "Em" > ha scritto nel messaggio

> I'm sorry you didn't click with your midwife, but at least you found out
> what she's like before you actually *needed* her!

I double checked with my doctor at my 38 week visit yesterdat to make sure
that the doctor will be the one present for the birth and not this midwife
and she assured me that it will be her (the doctor). She also said they've
only had to do three births (out of 100 since they opened two years ago) in
the birth room with fewer amenities, so I don't need to worry about having
to be in there either.

> Good - keep up the good work :-) The "heavy" scale probably showed a
little
> more than you actually gained, so don't worry about that.

Well, I was weighed on the non-heavy scale yesterday and it was consistent,
so I guess I really did have a growth spurt a few weeks ago! I really feel
like I'm packing it on in this last trimester--2 more pounds in a week this
time. Total gain is 27 pounds. I guess that is only 11 pounds in the last 11
weeks, but it still feeling like it is really picking up the pace lately! I
still would like to have the baby without hitting the 150 mark though (3
pounds away).

> And the fundal height is good - my ob/gyn marked mine with an "X" (she
> explained that means under the rib cage) at 35+ weeks already! I tell you
> having the uterus up to your ribs is not the most comfy thing in the
world,
> I find myself unconsciouscensly stretching and stretching to make myself
> more comfortable! Fortunately, she said the baby should drop soon (it is
> head-down) which will make me more comfy - I hope ;-)

My baby has never felt very high. I do get the uterus-under-the-ribs feeling
sometimes when I lean too far forward, but usually I'm fairly comfortable. I
haven't ever had a foot in the ribs either, which I think also points to my
not carrying him very high. Your baby will likely drop soon I would imagine!

> Wow, just reading about your search for the infant car seat made me tired
> ;-) Glad you find one at the end, and at a such a good price - ours was
> around 66 US$ (compatible with the stroller).

It was a horrible search! I'm so glad it is over and the seat is installed!

> > My mom is coming to visit this weekend and we are going to have a
> > "cook-a-thon" for meals and baked goods to freeze for use in the week or
> so
> > after the baby is born.
>
> I bet that was a lot of fun! What did you prepare?

We made quite a lot of things: lasanga, ziti, hamburgers (cooked and frozen
in two packs to be re-heated later); 4 pounds of seasoned ground beef to
make into spaghetti and such, pumpkin bread, and applesause muffins. We also
made cookie dough using pastuerized liquid egg stuff so that I could eat a
healthy helpign raw! (hmm. No wonder the two pound gain by this last
appointment ;-)

> My mother will be staying with me after DH starts working again so she
> offered to cook/clean/do laundry/iron, etc. for 3 weeks or so (she will
take
> a paid leave after DH goes back to work).
> I know it's embarrassing to admit, but I don't really feel much like
cooking
> now (with the heat and all), so DH is the designated cook during the
> weekends, and I usually make something really quick for myself during the
> week (like pasta & already prepared pesto sauce, fresh veggies and
> mozzarella, omelettes, etc.).

It is great that your mom is going to take leave like that to help you! One
of my pregnancy books (the Sears one) says that new mothers should be
treated like "queens for a month" after delivery and not have to do any
household chores. I like that idea just fine. We are going to play it by ear
and if I feel like I need it, my mom will come to stay with us after DH goes
back to work (he will have one week off and one week of half-time).

--
Em
edd 9/23/03
(38 weeks today!)

[Elly]

"Em" > ha scritto nel messaggio
news:BWr7b.406035$Ho3.61595@sccrnsc03...
>Total gain is 27 pounds. I guess that is only 11 pounds in the last 11
> weeks, but it still feeling like it is really picking up the pace lately!

That's really not bad! My total gain is 30 lbs and I'm a 1,5 weeks or so
less pregnant than you are! I was glad not to hear any comments from my
ob/gyn at the 35+ weeks appt, though ;-)

> > And the fundal height is good - my ob/gyn marked mine with an "X" (she
> > explained that means under the rib cage) at 35+ weeks already! I tell
you
> > having the uterus up to your ribs is not the most comfy thing in the
> world,
> > I find myself unconsciouscensly stretching and stretching to make myself
> > more comfortable! Fortunately, she said the baby should drop soon (it is
> > head-down) which will make me more comfy - I hope ;-)
>
> My baby has never felt very high. I do get the uterus-under-the-ribs
feeling
> sometimes when I lean too far forward, but usually I'm fairly comfortable.
I
> haven't ever had a foot in the ribs either, which I think also points to
my
> not carrying him very high. Your baby will likely drop soon I would
imagine!

Someone told me carrying the baby high means it's a girl, which would be
consistent with you feeling the baby not that high and knowing you're
expecting a boy ;-)
I do wish your words about my baby dropping soon are coming true :-) I have
this *odd* feeling around the cervix, and when I feel the breathing and
hiccups, it's rather low on my left-to-centre side, so I think the baby is
on it's way to engage (I still have this paranoid fear every once in a while
that the baby would turn head-up, although my ob/gyn said at the last U/S
when I was 31+ weeks that that's very unlikely - I do believe her, though, I
don't think there is enough room left in there for it to do a major turn
like that!).

> > My mother will be staying with me after DH starts working again so she
> > offered to cook/clean/do laundry/iron, etc. for 3 weeks or so (she will
> take
> > a paid leave after DH goes back to work).

> It is great that your mom is going to take leave like that to help you!
One
> of my pregnancy books (the Sears one) says that new mothers should be
> treated like "queens for a month" after delivery and not have to do any
> household chores. I like that idea just fine. We are going to play it by
ear
> and if I feel like I need it, my mom will come to stay with us after DH
goes
> back to work (he will have one week off and one week of half-time).

To be quite honest, although I'm quite grateful for my mother for saving her
paid leave like that (I think she took only 2 days off work paid leave since
she found out about the pregnancy, and that was a looong time ago and she
could have used some time off!), I decided I'd prefer her to still be
working while DH is at home with the baby and me. My mother isn't very
interfering person, but I think it would be better if DH &I had some privacy
with the baby, at least for a week or so. DH is excellent in all household
chores, so while he's at home he can do whatever she can do. Then, when he
goes back to work, she can step in.
By then will have more practice with my baby and, although, as I said, I
don't think my mother will be one of those new grandmothers who constantly
look behind your back and tell you you should/shouldn't do this and that, I
will be more independent about handling the baby.
The only thing is, she will probably be at home anyway - she has to do a
minor surgery on her left hand (to cut out some *wild* tissue growing there)
and the surgeon told her the best time frame for it would be end of
September/beginning of October since after it she won't be allowed to wet
her hands for a while, and we're still going swimming ATM. So if she does
the a week before my due date (assuming I don't have the baby in the next 24
days!), she will have at least 2 weeks to heal (counting the week before EDD
and the week after EDD, when DH is at home). She even wanted to postpone the
surgery because she is worried she won't be able to help me bath the baby
:-))

Anyway, I think a couple of the weeks after the baby is born is the best
time for both of the parents to bond with the baby; then the relatives and
step in and do some bonding of their own :-)

Elly
36 weeks + 3 days
(24 days to go!)
EDD October 6th