37 Weeks - Almost there!

I have been terrible at keeping up with my blogging.  I know I promised every day, but it's been really tough to make time to sit down and record my thoughts.

I wanted to blog tonight because today (or, the 20th of June) is the day that I am officially 37 weeks.  This is an important milestone because if I'd gone into labor before this day, I would have been considered premature and Baby Finn would most likely have needed some additional care in the hospital.  I am so grateful I made it to this day.

Overall, I'm feeling good.  I am really trying to stay positive and focus on the fact that I'm almost 100% ready for him to arrive and that I have done a lot of good preparing for labor and delivery.

Here is a picture of me earlier in the week, I think I'm finally starting to look pregnant!  :)

I finally packed my bag (thanks for the prompting, Brookie...)  :)  and I even packed up my desk at work in case I go into labor and I'm not at work so someone else doesn't have to do it for me.  My bag is full of all of the things I will personally need at the hospital and for labor.  I've packed my birthing gown, bathroom supplies, a robe, and a few other things that are essential.

I also helped Arthur pack his "Daddy Doula" bag, which includes my essential oils, the head massager (the one that makes your whole body tingle), my rice heat pack that Arthur's mom made for me, and my scarves for labor support.  There are a few other things I'm not mentioning, but overall, we're mostly ready.

We've put away all of our stuff from the baby shower, which was a total success.  I'll try to blog about that tomorrow since it was so much fun.  There are a few last-minute things we need to get for his arrival, such as a wipes warmer. 

Work is wrapping up well, I have 3 days left in my current position, and then I start my new job next Wednesday.  I think I'll make it, I have good days and I have bad days with how I feel pregnancy-wise. 

How far along:  37 Weeks TODAY!
How much time left:  3 Weeks! (Or less... :) )

Top two symptoms:  My only symptom at this point is a backache that is pretty much going on all of the time.  It's pretty annoying, and I'm trying hard to ignore it and take Tylenol.  I'm looking forward to when this pain goes away, because it's pretty bad. 

Favorite thing I ate today:  Is it bad to say cupcakes?  I had some of those Hostess-like chocolate cupcakes from the machine at work.  The frosting is so good...

Mood:  I stayed really busy at work today so I was in a pretty good mood.  My back prevents me from being super happy at home, since I'm generally relaxing when I finally get there.  I hope to go to bed soon, it's 2:00 in the morning.  :(

Worried about:  As I get things done on my to-do list, I'm feeling much more prepared.  My worry is mostly that I'll go into labor and I won't know that it's happening.  I'm sure I'm being crazy, but it's a legitimate worry.  I also worry that my water will break and I will have to hope my labor begins within that golden window of opportunity.  I don't want to labor in the hospital, I want to do it at home.  I have my Midwife appointment tomorrow morning, so I will be asking her about my Group B Strep results.  I'm hoping and crossing my fingers that it will have come back negative so I don't have to have an IV in the hospital and so I can wait to come in after my water breaks.  I think my main concern is my water breaking at this point.  :)

Excited for:  I really am excited for it all to get started.  I'm not anxious, I'm mostly just looking forward to knowing that labor has begun and I don't have to stress about me just assuming it might be coming soon and I'm just psyching myself out.  I can't wait to jump into my Hypnobirth techniques and feel like I'm progressing in my labor. 

My Favorite Hypnobirth Video

I've done great with updating my blog every day this month!  I don't always post that I've updated on Facebook, so I suggest that you bookmark my blog and check back if you're interested in reading it without notification.  :)  My URL is http://theminersonline.blogspot.com/

Anyway, on to the topic for the day!  :)  Every night before bed, Arthur and I are practicing our Hypnobirth exercises.  It's crucial that I am able to move into a state of complete relaxation when I start having my early labor contractions.

I find that breathing and relaxing is really easy for me, and so I feel like my Hypnobirth will be successful.  One of the first examples I saw of Hypnobirthing was on YouTube.  I found a really great example of a hospital Hypnobirth when I was first researching it. 

Some of the things that really stood out to me was the fact that she was so far dilated, and she wasn't screaming in pain or on her back.  I also was surprised that she wasn't holding her breath during pushing.  This was really different from all of the stories I had heard of birthing.  How would the baby even move if she wasn't bearing down?  I didn't understand.

Now that I've been through the class, and I understand how breathing can deliver the baby for you, it is something I am really excited for.

The other thing I loved about this example was how alert the baby was after, and how agile the mom is, walking around so freely and not hurting or exhausted.  I will have this!

I decided to share this cool video of my favorite hospital Hypnobirth example.  Let me know what you think!
   

70th Post and Pregnancy Update

Can you believe there are only 38 days left until my "guess date" of July 11?!  I am so surprised that the time has really flown by since my 20 week ultrasound.  I think the first half of pregnancy is definitely the most  challenging. 

Last time I updated about my pregnancy, I was just over 30 weeks along.  I am now 34 weeks, and will be 35 this upcoming Thursday.  The physical changes have definitely been more drastic over the past few weeks, and I've really started noticing how different my body is getting as I get further along.

The biggest changes are how I'm moving around, and how I balance my body.  I am carrying Finn really far back, and so I often get comments about how much I'm not showing, or that people are really amazed that I have just over a month left.  I know that when you have your first baby, you may not show as much as a second time mom does who has already been stretched and her body is able to accommodate a growing baby.

I had a tummy tuck back in 2005 and so my lower stomach is very tight where the plastic surgeon tightened my stomach muscles and removed skin from the weight I lost from gastric bypass.  Finn has been hanging out mostly sideways, and I can usually feel his feet and legs towards the top-right side of my body.  I think he is positioned upside down with his head at my pelvis.  This is a good thing, and I think my positioning techniques are working. 

In our Hypnobirth class, Arthur and I learned about positioning techniques that will help Finn be in the best position for birthing quickly and easily.  This position is him facing backwards (towards my bottom), with his head down and his feet straight up in the air.  If he faces forward, looking the same direction I look, it can be a really painful back labor.  I am trying really hard to keep my body in positions that encourage Finn to be turned the right direction.  One of these techniques are to "make a hammock", which means lean forward as often as possible and make my stomach like a hammock that encourages him to relax into my stomach with his back facing the front.  I think I've done a pretty good job so far, but I know he can turn as time comes closer to when he arrives.

My only complaints these days are a sore back and the occasional headache.  I really do feel good most days, and I surprise myself when I remind myself that I am almost done.  I think I assumed that pregnancy would be so much more miserable at this time.  Part of it might be the stories I've heard and part of it could be from what I've seen on TV/movies.  I think my attitude has a lot to do with it, and the fact that Arthur doesn't have much tolerance for negativity...  He is really great at reminding me of the positive things like "At least you're pregnant!"  Anytime that Baby Finn is rolling around on my bladder, or hiccupping for the millionth time in a day, I verbally say how grateful I am that he is moving.  I really appreciate how active he is.  :)

I haven't felt any "practice surges" or Braxton Hicks contractions.  I sometimes feel my stomach get hard, but then I wonder if it's just my imagination.  I occasionally get minor cramping in my lower abdomen and so that could be it.  I really am looking forward to the real feeling of a legit contraction, because to me it will mean progress.  I hope I maintain this positive outlook and excited mentality.  I do see many people in my life who get to the end (39, 40, 41 weeks) and start to say that they want the baby out now.  I think since I still have 5 weeks left until this point, I am not yet feeling that stir crazy emotion.  I am not sure it will happen for me, but I know that I am prepared for when I start to stress out about his arrival.

I have our next doctor's appointment this coming Friday with our new Certified Nurse Midwife.  She met with us 2 weeks ago, and I loved everything about her.  She works with a group of Nurse Midwives who back each other up and deliver babies at American Fork Hospital.  I was so grateful to have her say some of the things I have been hoping for in the person who would deliver my baby.  I made the right choice to "fire" my OBGYN.  I will tell more about this in a future post.

I didn't want to publicize it, but I have decided to post every day this month in anticipation of Finn's arrival.  This will give me something to focus on every day, and it will help me to document the progress I make as I get closer.  If I miss a day, I won't beat myself up, but I am definitely going to make a very conscious effort to try.  :)

How far along:  34 Weeks, 4 Days
How much time left:  5 Weeks, 3 Days

Top two symptoms:  Backache and headache.  I've got Tylenol and a blanket I use at work to keep my back supported.  I am now sleeping with 5 (yes 5) pillows at night to help myself feel supported.  I sleep really well most nights, which I appreciate.

Favorite thing I ate today:  Fresh green beans from Costco.  SO GOOD!

Mood:  Excited now that time is getting closer to his arrival.  I am more excited for the birth process than anything.... is that weird?!

Worried about:  I'm not worried about too many things at this point.  I think my main concerns is that he will decide to come early and he will mess up my last few weeks of plans before he gets here... but if he gets here early, then it must mean he's ready.  I know he's pretty much done cooking, he just needs to fill out a little before he comes out.  I want a healthy fat baby boy!  :)

Excited for:  Time off of work!  I will be taking 4 months off starting when Finn arrives.  I get 6 weeks maternity leave, 6 weeks bonding time and 4 weeks paid with my eBay 5 year sabbatical.  That equals out to be 16 whole weeks!  I won't have to go back to work until November.  How nice is that!?  I am excited to have a brief taste of being a stay-at-home mom.  Arthur likes to bet that I will go stir crazy, but I think I will do just great.  I am looking forward to a break and to focusing on something that isn't an email or a PowerPoint.  ;)

Feeling Better!

Morning everyone!  I had a rough day yesterday.  The highlight of my day was getting so many wonderful comments and messages from my friends and family about my pain management concerns.  You all shared ideas with me that I had never even thought about yet.  The internets are so amazing, aren't they!?  I don't trust most online forums, but when I have people I know, love and trust sharing their experiences with me, it makes is so much easier to know what I want and need.

This is tough to go through for your first time, without a lot of unbiased help.  Thankfully, I have an amazing husband who is patient and supportive of my decisions.  He guides me with advice that reminds me that I should always think about the healthy options first, before I think about anything else.  That is why I am so lucky.

When it comes to the path I will take for pain management and childbirth, I've decided to look at as many options that I can outside of the traditional OB delivery experience.  I know I love baths, and I know that I have a strong mind.  I will probably call the American Fork hospital later today and set up a tour to see what options they have for undecided mothers like me.  I know that knowledge is power, and so I need to more completely educate myself to help eliminate some of this anxiety.  Once I've done that, I feel like I can set up my birth plan.  Halfway through pregnancy is a good time to do it, right?  I also want to register for some birthing classes, so Arthur and I can be as prepared as possible. 

I am feeling so much better today.  Last night on my way home I stopped and got some Vick's Vaporub and some earplugs.  Part of my problem is congestion waking me up and then little sounds keeping me awake, such as my cats, or even the sound of Arthur breathing next to me.  It's awful.  I think I was blessed with my mom's light sleeping ability, which will work wonders when I have my Finn here.  :)  I know, I know... "it only gets worse, Genevieve!"

I just have to get him here safely, without a cold.  :)

Last night I came home from work and put my head down at the kitchen table and just cried, because I was so tired of feeling sick and wanting so much to just feel like I am normal again.  Arthur was very patient with me, and he took my coat off and helped me stand up.  I got some dinner and went downstairs to watch TV with him.  Obviously, I fell asleep pretty quick after some Vick's.  My sinus cleared up and I slept until it was bedtime.  I only woke up once in the night, at 4:30 to go to the bathroom.  This is an every night thing.  So to my friends who love to get uninterrupted sleep, pregnancy will always wake you up at least once or twice a night to pee.  Awesome.

Because I had my earplugs, I was able to go back to sleep and even slept through Arthur's alarm.  This was planned, of course because I knew I needed to sleep at least until 7 to get caught up.  It was so nice.

How far along:  17 Weeks, 6 Days
How much time left:  22 Weeks, 1 Day

Top two symptoms:  Some congestion and I'm sure I'll have a headache later today.  Yesterday I was super, super emotional.  I have been pretty good at not crying at the drop of a hat with these hormones, but yesterday I had no control.  I think I cried 4 times. 

Favorite thing I ate today:  Because it's early in the morning, I haven't eaten much.  I've got my Green Tea with Jasmine here and some cereal.  I'm looking forward to some delicious food later today, not quite sure what it is yet.  I have been really enjoying Raspberry chocolate shakes from Arctic Circle.  The raspberries they put in are fresh, and it is just delicious.

Mood:  I'm a lot happier this morning because I got enough rest and I am not as congested.  I also appreciate that my throat is feeling better.  I hope the happy mood lasts.  :)  I felt so bad for Arthur last night because I was so sad, and so grumpy.  He is so good, he did all of the dishes and even scratched my back.  Ladies, you need to make sure your husband treats you like a queen when you're pregnant (or even when you're not.)  I am so lucky.  :)

Worried about:  I'm not as worried today as I was yesterday.  I am maybe a little anxious about getting the research on alternative birthing methods going.  I am lucky to have a great friend who is willing to go with me when I tour the hospital.  She also is trying, and so it will be interesting to her as well in case she gets pregnant soon.  (Fingers crossed!!!)  :)

Excited for:  My doctor's appointment on Friday.  I had a funny dream that I had twins, and one of them was a girl.  I know this isn't the case, because I'd be so much bigger this far along, but it was still funny to feel those weird emotions in my dream.  I hope the doctor decides to do an ultrasound!  :)