Two Week Check-In

It's hard to believe that it was two weeks ago today that we brought our son home! In that time I have found myself so overwhelmed by him (in the best possible way) that blogging has been the last thing on my mind. But there is so much to fill you all in on that over the next few days I'll be on blogging overload while he sleeps! 

For now though I will start by saying that nothing about my labor and delivery process was what I had pictured. It was nothing like the books said it would be nor did I line up with any of the statistics I'd been reading about. 

I have read many "birth stories" over the last year and have always thought I too would have a moving story to share. But for me I can honestly say I don't feel like there is much of a tale to tell but I will tell it anyway. Stay tunes tomorrow for our "birth story". 

In the meantime I will leave you with this - having a child is truly the most miraculous and wonderful thing a woman can do. As cliche as it sounds it's true - my son is without a doubt the BEST thing that's ever happened to me. I feel blessed in ways I never have before and my heart is so full it could burst. With every passing minute I wish time would slow down so I could have just "one more" minute with my newborn! It's hard to believe he's already 17 days old! I stare into his little face for hours on end memorizing every inch hoping to never forget these moments... 

Distraction!

It has been one week since I gave birth to my perfect little man and we are still basking in that "new family" glow! I haven't had a minute to even think about blogging more because I can barely stand to put him down for more an a few minutes at a time than anything but once we get settled into a more solid routine I will write his birth story and share my experience with you all! Until then ... 

Hello Due Date #1

So today is officially the first of my four - yes FOUR estimated due dates. It has been a long third trimester and now that we are in the nugget's birth month and have reached a due date I'm more ready than ever!! 

Doctors determine your due date off two separate criteria. Typically your first due date is based off your last period and the date you got your positive test. At your first ultrasound (usually around 8 weeks) they use the size of the fetus to determine what then becomes your true due date. 

My last menstrual cycle ended on November 27th and I had a positive test result on New Year's Day! Because of my miscarriage/surgery my doctor did an ultrasound three days after I got my positive test at six weeks. Based on the home test and my ultrasound she set our original due date at September 1.

With each passing week it becomes more difficult to determine the due date as all babies grow at different rates. Regardless, with each of my next three ultrasounds (8, 10 & 12 weeks) the techs changed my date. Date #2 - September 13; date #3 - September 8th; date #4 - September 11th. My OB never fully agreed with anything past the 8th as she felt that scientifically it wasn't possible for me to have gotten a positive test when I did if my due date wasn't until the 11th or after! 

That all being said at this point it is literally a waiting game to see when he will actually make his arrival. I have a final (hopefully) doctor's appointment on Wednesday and she assured me that if I'm progressing how she wants me to be that we will go ahead and induce! I am anxious to see what happens over the next few days. I am still hoping to go into labor on my own but if not at least we have a plan on place.

It's crazy to think that by next weekend I could be home with my son!!! 

Happy Labor Day Weekend!

Growing up in my house Labor Day weekend was always a "new start" - it was for us the New Year's Eve of the fall. My mother has been a teacher for as long as I can remember so it always signified the start of a new school year, a new season and a chance to reinvent who you wanted to be both academically and socially. 

Sadly, like most people as I've gotten older Labor Day has taken on a different meaning. Now it means impending winter, shorter days and being cooped up inside. It has lost some of its magic. I stopped viewing it as an opportunity and more like a disappointment. I don't love the winter and in fact have grown to despise it, so the thought of the first snow potentially arriving in 90 days (give or take) sends me reeling. 

But, this year I am determined to revisit my love for fall. I will embrace the crisp morning walks I'll be able to take with the nugget and Berklee, the crockpot meals I'll make for my husband and the gorgeous colors of the leaves as they change. And when winter comes - which the Farmer's Almanac says it will with a vengeance this year - I will try not to hate it so much. As a mom it's my job to teach my child to enjoy his life the best he possibly can and what better way to do so than by example. I've heard that seeing the world and life through the eyes of a child is like magic - I can not wait to experience that feeling with my son.

This Labor Day is definitely a "new start" for us and I have every intention of making the very most of each and every moment! 

Here's to a new "year"!!

38 & 39 Weeks!

This past week has been a very interesting one for me. As we sneak closer and closer to the end things are getting quite a bit more difficult. I am officially on bed rest until this little guy arrives (blog post coming) and am feeling more ready for the end by the day. 

At the same time I'm struggling with some pre-birth sadness. While I'm definitely ready to finally meet my son I'm also feeling an early sense of loss at not being pregnant anymore. While it hasn't been the smoothest road for me this last trimester that doesn't mean I haven't really enjoyed the whole process. Knowing that I am carrying a child is a miracle. Brian and I created this little one and thinking about all the things my body has done to grow him healthy is amazing. The human body really can do incredible things. It might sound super corny but being pregnant means I am able to keep my son safe at all times. I can protect him and hold him and make sure nothing happens to him. Once he's born I can continue to do all of these things however, it's different. He'll be his own person and I can't be with him all the time. Feeling him move and kick inside me is a constant comfort that everything is alright, when we are separated I won't have that feeling anymore and I'm not sure how that's going to be for me. So while I'm on bed rest I am spending more time talking to him and enjoying having him with me. 

Mommy at 38 Weeks

Mommy at 39 Weeks

As for symptoms/stats there really hasn't been much change since 37 weeks. I've been experiencing some minor heartburn but as long as I don't lie down right after I eat I can usually avoid it. Other than that it's a day at a time inching ever so close to the nugget's arrival!! 

The real countdown is ON!!!!

Childbirth Classes - NOT Required

I have been receiving a lot of flak lately from people regarding my decision to not take a childbirth class. I’ve been told it’s “naïve” or “immature” to not attend. Yesterday when I was experiencing my first real round of contractions (time able but not “true” labor) I picked up the phone to call a certain someone to ask if that’s really what I was feeling. Her immediate response was “well you’d know if you took the classes” … I tried once again to explain my reasoning behind not taking them to which she said “well that’s just immature. Now you have no idea what to expect” … what she doesn’t get is that I don’t WANT to know! I am much more comfortable with being blindly ignorant of what exactly is going to happen once I do go into labor.

I am not opposed to learning about the labor process itself or what a contraction feels like or the breathing techniques etc. that may help with the pain, what I AM opposed to is sitting through multiple birthing videos and scenarios. I do not want or need to see another woman giving birth either vaginally or via c-section to understand what’s coming. I have done my own research so am fully aware that the latter is not all the class is comprised of, however for me it would be horribly embarrassing to attend a course and have to leave during one section because I can’t stomach it physically or emotionally. There are definitely aspects of childbirth that I do feel I could benefit from knowing more about and perhaps that’s where I am naïve but this is MY baby, MY body and MY choice. So I will learn about it in my own way, I will read articles and books, I will ask questions of my friends and my doctor and I will experience it myself. Childbirth classes haven’t always been around, women have been having babies for thousands of years without “knowing” anything so I refuse to let anyone make me feel less than for opting out of the course.

That being said, it was definitely a bit frustrating for me last night to not be able to say “yup these are definitely contractions” … I literally spoke with two of my closest friends, my sister and sister-in-law to get their take on what contractions felt like so I could gauge if that’s what was happening. In the end I determined that yup, whether they were consistent Braxton Hicks or not, they were definitely contractions. And now that I’ve been able to identify it once, I will be able to again in the future. I’ll also be able to answer my doctor honestly when she asks “have you been having contractions?” at my next appointment! Knowing that I was experiencing them every 10-15 minutes for about two hours last night is frightening yet exciting all at the same time. It means that we are definitely getting ready for the big day! It means that there is no more time to get things done.

 I’ve continuously put off packing my hospital bag but now it’s definitely time. It’s vital that I have everything I need (or close to it) in case he does decide to come early – otherwise I’ll be panicking the entire way to the hospital. So #1 to-do item for the weekend – PACK HOSPITAL BAG! #2 item REST … the latter is definitely not something I’m very good at, I have continued to push myself to do things that aren’t entirely necessary but that’s because I don’t like to sit still. I like feeling productive, both at work and at home, and since the gym has been out of the question for the last couple months I have all sorts of pent up energy that needs an outlet. But I guess I need to (in the words of Jami) ‘suck it up cupcake’ and accept that now isn’t the time to be Superwoman!

All kidding aside, I have every intention of putting my feet up this weekend and taking it easy. I am pretty sure letting Brian take care of me won’t be too hard! J

The End is Near!

Just a weekly statics update today:

Mommy at 37 Weeks:

Baby at 37 Weeks:
Size: 19 inches and 7 pounds. Okay baby – we’ve got three weeks (maybe) … let’s not put on another 3 pounds! Mommy can’t handle it!  
Development: Perfecting his breathing, thumb sucking, blinking and turning from side to side.
Fun Fact: Baby’s head at birth will be the same size circumference as his hips, abdomen and shoulders!  

Symptoms at 37 Weeks:
How’s the Belly Looking: Larger and rounder by the day!  
Swelling: I have still been able to avoid what Sarah called her “tempurpedic” feet – meaning I have some swelling but they still look like feet! J  
Pelvic Pressure / Discomfort: Yup. Just the little guy settling into his new position for the next couple weeks (hopefully he stays head down!)
Sleep: Doing alright in this department, although bedtime comes earlier and earlier every day it seems.  
Stretch Marks: The ones on my legs haven’t gotten any worse (thankfully) and still none on the belly. We’ll see what happens!
Baby-Related Purposes: A pair of shoes for our maternity photo shoot.
Days Left:
  21 – at the most! My doctor promised me at my appointment that she will not let me go past 40 weeks! Phew!