it's 12:27am on wednesday morning. tonight we check into the hospital to begin the induction process. i tried to sleep but couldn't, so i'm back downstairs, watching a documentary about the great barrier reef and drinking warm milk. i am at once excited and absolutely.fucking.terrified.
matt and i laid down in bed tonight and held each other, trying to relish our last few minutes of just us, the 2 of us, where it all started. and i had to go and ruin the moment by starting to cry. matt just held my hand and wiped my tears until i could finally verbalize..."all of a sudden, i'm really scared." and that's when the real waterworks started. he tried to reassure me, "you'll do great tomorrow." but it's not just labor and delivery that i'm afraid of. what if the nurses hand me the baby and i don't feel anything? what if i just sit there and look at him and my only thought is, "i have no idea what the hell i'm doing here?" what if i mess it all up? what if i'm a terrible mother? suddenly i feel completely inadequate and unprepared.
sure, i've readied the nursery. we have all the necessary stuff for bringing a baby home. but do i have what it takes to raise a child? do i have the perseverance to deal with breastfeeding issues? will i be able to breastfeed at all? will i ever truly understand what his cries mean and how to meet his needs? will i be loving and responsive enough that he feels secure, but not overly smothering so that he never gains independence or learns to self-soothe? will i be able to nurture his development? will i be fun? will i be able to help him with his homework?
being a mom is a serious undertaking, and so many times i've questioned whether or not i'm ready. i guess i don't have a choice, at this point. he'll be here sometime within the next 48 hours (god willing!), and he'll be mine. mine and matt's. he'll be ours. we'll be a family. our own tiny little family.
wow. it's all so overwhelming....
Showing posts with label baby ike. Show all posts
Showing posts with label baby ike. Show all posts
Wednesday, January 16, 2013
40 weeks
due date: jan 10
how many weeks down/days left/days of work left: 40 weeks/0 days/done
baby is the size of: a small pumpkin
sleep: sleep is elusive. i wake up several times per night, either to pee or to just roll over or just because i'm uncomfortable.
best moment this week: last day of work!
what are you looking forward to: meeting our little boy! definitely happening this week (see below)
what do you miss: sleep. pain-free movement.
symptoms: pain in my pelvis (baby's dropping). painful and swollen hands. big old belly.
weight gain: 33 pounds.
movement: he's still moving, but not as much.
gender: baby boy!
belly button: it sticks out a little bit, but i definitely wouldn't call it a "popped" belly button.
rings: all off.
how many weeks down/days left/days of work left: 40 weeks/0 days/done
baby is the size of: a small pumpkin
sleep: sleep is elusive. i wake up several times per night, either to pee or to just roll over or just because i'm uncomfortable.
best moment this week: last day of work!
what are you looking forward to: meeting our little boy! definitely happening this week (see below)
what do you miss: sleep. pain-free movement.
symptoms: pain in my pelvis (baby's dropping). painful and swollen hands. big old belly.
weight gain: 33 pounds.
movement: he's still moving, but not as much.
gender: baby boy!
belly button: it sticks out a little bit, but i definitely wouldn't call it a "popped" belly button.
rings: all off.
we had an appointment on tuesday night with the ob. still only 1cm dilated, which i've been now since 36 weeks, and about 50% effaced. my practice does not let you go more than a week late, so we talked about induction. if baby doesn't come on his own before then, we'll be induced on thursday morning. we'll go into the hospital wednesday night for cytotec, which is a cervical ripening agent. the goal there is to help my cervix dilate and shorten, and then help to kickstart labor without having to actually induce with pitocin.
still really hoping to avoid having to do any kind of medical induction, but i feel better with starting with cytotec than going straight to pitocin. in the meantime, i'm trying all kinds of diy-induction techniques. now that i am officially out on maternity leave, i'm taking walks (thank you, weirdly warm january weather). bouncing on my birthing ball. eating pineapple and dates and spicy foods. picked up some raspberry leaf tea. and then there's the old stand-by - sex. sex has been terribly uncomfortable for me for most of this pregnancy, but i may just suck it up and give it a shot. dr. tara also reminded me about castor oil, but....that's a last resort, i think. it just sounds too risky to me!
Sunday, January 6, 2013
39 weeks
due date: jan 10
how many weeks down/days left/days of work left: 39 weeks/5 days/3 days
baby is the size of: a mini watermelon
sleep: rough. waking up at least once to pee. sweating like crazy. and rolling over is excruciatingly painful.
best moment this week: new year's day - another lazy day in our pjs at home. perfection.
what are you looking forward to: fingers crossed, baby boy will make his appearance this week!
what do you miss: sleep. pain-free movement.
symptoms: big belly. swollen and painful hands and feet. back and pelvic pain. contractions on and off since new year's eve.
weight gain: 31 pounds.
movement: still moving quite a bit. but it's definitely different.
gender: baby boy!
belly button: i definitely dropped this week, which I think puts less stress on my belly, so my belly button is actually back to flat rather than kind of popping out.
rings: all off.
how many weeks down/days left/days of work left: 39 weeks/5 days/3 days
baby is the size of: a mini watermelon
sleep: rough. waking up at least once to pee. sweating like crazy. and rolling over is excruciatingly painful.
best moment this week: new year's day - another lazy day in our pjs at home. perfection.
what are you looking forward to: fingers crossed, baby boy will make his appearance this week!
what do you miss: sleep. pain-free movement.
symptoms: big belly. swollen and painful hands and feet. back and pelvic pain. contractions on and off since new year's eve.
weight gain: 31 pounds.
movement: still moving quite a bit. but it's definitely different.
gender: baby boy!
belly button: i definitely dropped this week, which I think puts less stress on my belly, so my belly button is actually back to flat rather than kind of popping out.
rings: all off.
Friday, January 4, 2013
the nursery...details
so i posted the pictures of the nursery the other day, but as i thought about it this morning, i realized i probably should have posted some details and information about where i got things.
the crib and dresser are from babies r us. we wanted something versatile that would grow with baby. we initially liked white wood, but decided that for a boy, and since the crib will convert all the way up to a full-size bed, the dark wood would probably be better. they are both from the baby cache essentials collection - we ended up with the curved lifetime crib and the double dresser.
the glider is also from babies r us. we really struggled with which glider to get. we actually attempted to purchase 2 other ones that had been discontinued before settling on this one - the newco rosie glider. i'm a little disappointed in the color (we chose seal - we thought it would a nice dark grey, but it's more green than we thought), but i love the fabric and it is insanely comfortable.
the bench is actually the expedit bookshelf from ikea. i saw the idea on pinterest, and thought it would work out great. storage is limited in our house, and we didn't want a big bulky toy chest taking up room. this will work as storage and a place for him to sit and read or whatever. my mom is making the cushion for the bench using this fabric. she's also making a matching blanket. oh, and we got the baskets in the bench from ikea, too (the lekman box).
the music and movie quotes i designed myself (using picmonkey) and printed through snapfish. they're not the best quality, but they work. the only one i got elsewhere was the coldplay quote, which i downloaded from the sprik space blog.
on the gallery wall (left to right):
i made the paper lantern mobile using paper lanterns i purchased from the paper lantern store. it was an enormous pain in the ass, but totally worth it, because i love the way it turned out.
the rockstar print on the door is from it's personal prints on etsy.
the paint colors are both valspar, purchased at lowe's (valspar ultra - zero voc, low odor) - the blue is called ghost ship, and the orange is tangerine.
the shelves on the wall next to the crib are from target. all the frames are from michaels, a.c. moore, or home goods.
the r2d2 toy chest and star wars trash can were both matt's when he was a kid.
so that's it! that's where we got everything and how we decorated our nursery. i mostly have pinterest to thank/blame for these ideas.
the crib and dresser are from babies r us. we wanted something versatile that would grow with baby. we initially liked white wood, but decided that for a boy, and since the crib will convert all the way up to a full-size bed, the dark wood would probably be better. they are both from the baby cache essentials collection - we ended up with the curved lifetime crib and the double dresser.
the glider is also from babies r us. we really struggled with which glider to get. we actually attempted to purchase 2 other ones that had been discontinued before settling on this one - the newco rosie glider. i'm a little disappointed in the color (we chose seal - we thought it would a nice dark grey, but it's more green than we thought), but i love the fabric and it is insanely comfortable.
the bench is actually the expedit bookshelf from ikea. i saw the idea on pinterest, and thought it would work out great. storage is limited in our house, and we didn't want a big bulky toy chest taking up room. this will work as storage and a place for him to sit and read or whatever. my mom is making the cushion for the bench using this fabric. she's also making a matching blanket. oh, and we got the baskets in the bench from ikea, too (the lekman box).
the music and movie quotes i designed myself (using picmonkey) and printed through snapfish. they're not the best quality, but they work. the only one i got elsewhere was the coldplay quote, which i downloaded from the sprik space blog.
on the gallery wall (left to right):
- i designed the "where there is great love..." quote on picmonkey and printed through snapfish.
- the little hulk and little superman are from mint parcel on etsy. we had a hard time choosing which superheroes to use - they are all so adorable!
- the he-man print was something i downloaded from deviant art and printed using snapfish.
- the wookie the chew print is from james hance, and might be my favorite piece in the room.
- my sister ordered the up thumbprint guest book from bleu de toi on etsy. ok, no, this is my favorite piece in the room.
i made the paper lantern mobile using paper lanterns i purchased from the paper lantern store. it was an enormous pain in the ass, but totally worth it, because i love the way it turned out.
the rockstar print on the door is from it's personal prints on etsy.
the paint colors are both valspar, purchased at lowe's (valspar ultra - zero voc, low odor) - the blue is called ghost ship, and the orange is tangerine.
the shelves on the wall next to the crib are from target. all the frames are from michaels, a.c. moore, or home goods.
the r2d2 toy chest and star wars trash can were both matt's when he was a kid.
so that's it! that's where we got everything and how we decorated our nursery. i mostly have pinterest to thank/blame for these ideas.
Sunday, December 30, 2012
38 weeks
due date: jan 10
how many weeks down/days left/days of work left: 38 weeks/13 days/7 days
baby is the size of: a leek
sleep: rough. it is really difficult and even painful to roll from side to side at this point. i need to fully wake up in order to do so, then i end up need a drink or having to pee or just laying there awake for a bit.
best moment this week: christmas day. matt and i slept in till 9 and just lounged all day long...i didn't even get out of my pj's. and matt got me the camera i've been wanting for like a year - the olympus pen!
what are you looking forward to: last visits with my family before baby arrives! dad is coming down on saturday and i think we're meeting my mom and jeff at a restaurant in between us to watch football on sunday.
what do you miss: not waddling. and being able to open things up by myself - my hands are now very swollen all the time, and i feel like i have arthritis. i have a new level of respect and sympathy for people who live with actual arthritis day in and day out. it is the pits.
symptoms: big belly. back, hip, and pelvic pain. lots of peeing. puffy feet and hands/hand pain. congested.
weight gain: 29 pounds.
movement: still moving a lot.
gender: baby boy!!
belly button: still not what i would call an outtie, but it's more out than in.
rings: all off. i'm not even comfortable wearing the opal ring anymore.
Saturday, December 29, 2012
and finally, the nursery
finally getting around to revealing the nursery, even thought it isn't quite done. still need the bench cushion and blanket that my mom is making, and the cross-stitch that matt's aunt donna is making to hang over the crib. otherwise, we are all set and ready for baby boy to make his appearance and move into his new room! so without further ado....
here's what you'll see as you walk into baby's room.
the corner with the crib, and my paper lantern mobile, which i love. my step-sister had my nephew in the room at our christmas party, and she said he was totally enthralled with the lantern. here's hoping baby boy will be, too.
here's what's behind the glider. matt and i love music and movies, so we thought it was only appropriate to include some of our favorite quotes or lyrics.
here is the dresser and the gallery wall.
a few more detailed pictures of the gallery wall.
and this is the print my sister had made and had everyone sign at the shower. i am completely in love with it - it is such a special piece, and i love that it has all of our closest friends and family on it!
so there it is! that's where baby boy will be living for the next however many years! thanks for taking the tour!
here's what you'll see as you walk into baby's room.
 |
| l-r: grateful dead, "eyes of the world." coldplay, "yellow." willy wonka and the chocolate factory. |
 |
| l-r: john lennon, "imagine." rent. queen, "a kind of magic." |
a few more detailed pictures of the gallery wall.
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| the special edition poster from the ben gibbard show |
 |
| yup, that's matt and i, each at about 2 years old. aren't we cute? |
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| mama and daddy, right up top (c: |
Thursday, December 27, 2012
end of pregnancy
to my dear baby boy,
you are 38 weeks old today. i can't believe we've come this far and are so close to meeting you. i sat in your nursery last night and looked around at all the pictures and stuff we have for you. it is all set up and just waiting for you to come home. i am so proud of all the work your daddy did and how hard we both worked to make it a special place for you. i just know that you're going to love it. i sat on the glider and thought about having you in my arms in that room, and i just wept. i cannot wait to meet you.
gosh, i can't believe how much you've grown - from a little sesame seed to a watermelon! and i know you will just continue to grow and grow. and we will want to freeze time, i'm sure. because it will all go so fast, just like this time did for us. in some ways it feels like just yesterday that the word "positive" showed up on that tiny screen. in other ways, it feels like ages ago. either way, it's been 34 weeks since we found out and i can't believe it.
i was going through your clothing last night and just can't wrap my head around the fact that you are going to be so little when we bring you home. those tiny little shirts and pants and hats! they're smaller than the clothing i used to dress my dolls in!
up until the past week or so, i have been perfectly content keeping you on the inside, safe and warm and snuggly. but it's eviction time, little dude. mama's belly is full. her hips and her back hurt. and she can't do anything without requiring major effort - you would laugh if you saw her trying to roll over in bed! mama keeps telling you to wait until january, but you don't have to listen to her - this is one time in your life you're allowed to disobey me, so you should take advantage while you can! anytime you're ready, we're ready for you. we'll be here, with open arms, open hearts, sappy smiles, lots of tears, and most likely some annoying camera flashes. daddy will play guitar for you, mama will sing to you, and padfoot...well, she'll probably just sit and stare at you.
hurry up, little one...i'm not sure my heart can take much more waiting!
love,
mama
you are 38 weeks old today. i can't believe we've come this far and are so close to meeting you. i sat in your nursery last night and looked around at all the pictures and stuff we have for you. it is all set up and just waiting for you to come home. i am so proud of all the work your daddy did and how hard we both worked to make it a special place for you. i just know that you're going to love it. i sat on the glider and thought about having you in my arms in that room, and i just wept. i cannot wait to meet you.
gosh, i can't believe how much you've grown - from a little sesame seed to a watermelon! and i know you will just continue to grow and grow. and we will want to freeze time, i'm sure. because it will all go so fast, just like this time did for us. in some ways it feels like just yesterday that the word "positive" showed up on that tiny screen. in other ways, it feels like ages ago. either way, it's been 34 weeks since we found out and i can't believe it.
i was going through your clothing last night and just can't wrap my head around the fact that you are going to be so little when we bring you home. those tiny little shirts and pants and hats! they're smaller than the clothing i used to dress my dolls in!
up until the past week or so, i have been perfectly content keeping you on the inside, safe and warm and snuggly. but it's eviction time, little dude. mama's belly is full. her hips and her back hurt. and she can't do anything without requiring major effort - you would laugh if you saw her trying to roll over in bed! mama keeps telling you to wait until january, but you don't have to listen to her - this is one time in your life you're allowed to disobey me, so you should take advantage while you can! anytime you're ready, we're ready for you. we'll be here, with open arms, open hearts, sappy smiles, lots of tears, and most likely some annoying camera flashes. daddy will play guitar for you, mama will sing to you, and padfoot...well, she'll probably just sit and stare at you.
hurry up, little one...i'm not sure my heart can take much more waiting!
love,
mama
Sunday, December 23, 2012
37 weeks
 |
| yikes! excuse my terrible hair! but go steelers!! |
due date: jan 10
how many weeks down/days left/days of work left: 37 weeks/21 days/11 days
baby is the size of: a stalk of swiss chard
sleep: not too bad. slept through the night a couple of times, up to pee once a couple of other nights.
best moment this week: ob appointment wednesday - baby's head is "very low," and i'm 1cm dilated.
what are you looking forward to: remember last week when i said we were shopping, installing car seats, and packing hospital bags? well, we shopped. but we didn't get the car seats installed or the hospital bags packed (though i did at least start a list). so we're doing that this weekend. for sure.
what do you miss: not waddling, ha ha!
symptoms: big belly. back, hip, and pelvic pain. lots of peeing. puffy hands and feet. congested.
weight gain: 29 pounds.
movement: i seriously think he's trying to swim out. i just feel this constant movement at the top of my belly - it feels like he's doing bicycle kicks in there!
gender: baby boy!!
belly button: still not what i would call an outtie, but it's more out than in.
rings: all off. i'm not even comfortable wearing the opal ring anymore.
Monday, December 17, 2012
36 weeks
*once again, written on thurs, posted on monday. it's a bit hectic around here!*
due date: jan 10
how many weeks down/days left/days of work left: 36 weeks/27 days/16 days
baby is the size of: a crenshaw melon
sleep: a bit better. i count myself lucky, as most books i've read make it sound like by now i should be getting up 3-4 times a night. i get up once, usually sometime between 2-5 to pee, and then usually fall back asleep pretty quickly. i'm still congested, but not sick-sick like i had been. and not snoring, according to matt.
best moment this week: our family christmas party on saturday! we had about 21 people at our house, so it was crowded but it was wonderful.
what are you looking forward to: this weekend we're planning to finish our shopping at babies r us, install the car seats, put together the pack and play, and start packing the hospital bags. in other words, we're finalizing preparations for baby boy's debut!
what do you miss: being able to do much of anything without getting short of breath.
symptoms: big belly. back and hip pain. lots of peeing. my hands are still pretty swollen most of the time, so i'm going to address that with my ob today. and like i said, i'm still congested, but i think that is mostly pregnancy congestion at this point - i think my cold is gone.
weight gain: 27 pounds.
movement: he's definitely still moving around in there, but i have noticed a difference in the movements this week. as he runs out of room, i think i'm feeling fewer little kicks and stuff, and more bigger movements.
gender: baby boy!!
belly button: still not what i would call an outtie, but it's more out than in.
rings: all off. i'm not even comfortable wearing the opal ring anymore.
due date: jan 10
how many weeks down/days left/days of work left: 36 weeks/27 days/16 days
baby is the size of: a crenshaw melon
sleep: a bit better. i count myself lucky, as most books i've read make it sound like by now i should be getting up 3-4 times a night. i get up once, usually sometime between 2-5 to pee, and then usually fall back asleep pretty quickly. i'm still congested, but not sick-sick like i had been. and not snoring, according to matt.
best moment this week: our family christmas party on saturday! we had about 21 people at our house, so it was crowded but it was wonderful.
what are you looking forward to: this weekend we're planning to finish our shopping at babies r us, install the car seats, put together the pack and play, and start packing the hospital bags. in other words, we're finalizing preparations for baby boy's debut!
what do you miss: being able to do much of anything without getting short of breath.
symptoms: big belly. back and hip pain. lots of peeing. my hands are still pretty swollen most of the time, so i'm going to address that with my ob today. and like i said, i'm still congested, but i think that is mostly pregnancy congestion at this point - i think my cold is gone.
weight gain: 27 pounds.
movement: he's definitely still moving around in there, but i have noticed a difference in the movements this week. as he runs out of room, i think i'm feeling fewer little kicks and stuff, and more bigger movements.
gender: baby boy!!
belly button: still not what i would call an outtie, but it's more out than in.
rings: all off. i'm not even comfortable wearing the opal ring anymore.
Monday, December 10, 2012
35 weeks
*having serious timing issues. written on thurs 12/6.*
due date: jan 10
how many weeks down/days left/days of work left: 35 weeks/35 days/21 days
baby is the size of: a honeydew melon
sleep: not good. i still have that cold, so i'm up to blow my nose and/or sneeze and/or cough several times a night. still also snoring, so poor matt.
best moment this week: we successfully pulled off a surprise party for my mom on sunday. it was her 60th birthday on 11/24, plus she and my step-dad retired on 11/30. she was completely surprised!
what are you looking forward to: saturday we're hosting our entire families at our house for a christmas party. we can't go home for the holidays this year, so we decided to celebrate with everyone all at once.
what do you miss: sleep.
symptoms: big belly. back and hip pain. crappy sleep. lots of peeing. the braxton hicks contractions have slowed, though, so that's good. my hands are also swollen to the point that they hurt, and my grip is seriously affected - it's like having arthritis.
weight gain: 26 pounds. i lost a couple of pounds, which is unbelievable considering the amount of water i'm retaining.
movement: he is so active. i will miss it.
gender: baby boy!!
belly button: it's not an actual outtie, but it definitely sticks out.
rings: off. i'm wearing my opal in place of my wedding/engagement rings, so at least i still have something there.
due date: jan 10
how many weeks down/days left/days of work left: 35 weeks/35 days/21 days
baby is the size of: a honeydew melon
sleep: not good. i still have that cold, so i'm up to blow my nose and/or sneeze and/or cough several times a night. still also snoring, so poor matt.
best moment this week: we successfully pulled off a surprise party for my mom on sunday. it was her 60th birthday on 11/24, plus she and my step-dad retired on 11/30. she was completely surprised!
what are you looking forward to: saturday we're hosting our entire families at our house for a christmas party. we can't go home for the holidays this year, so we decided to celebrate with everyone all at once.
what do you miss: sleep.
symptoms: big belly. back and hip pain. crappy sleep. lots of peeing. the braxton hicks contractions have slowed, though, so that's good. my hands are also swollen to the point that they hurt, and my grip is seriously affected - it's like having arthritis.
weight gain: 26 pounds. i lost a couple of pounds, which is unbelievable considering the amount of water i'm retaining.
movement: he is so active. i will miss it.
gender: baby boy!!
belly button: it's not an actual outtie, but it definitely sticks out.
rings: off. i'm wearing my opal in place of my wedding/engagement rings, so at least i still have something there.
Wednesday, December 5, 2012
34 weeks
*didn't take a bump picture this week, either, but got some pictures at my mom's party...more to come on that*
*written on friday 11/30*
how far along are you: 34 weeks
due date/days left: jan 10/41 days
baby is the size of: a canteloupe
sleep: pretty terrible this week. i got a cold (stuffy nose, sore throat, coughing). not only does it make my sleep terrible, but apparently i'm snoring quite a bit, so poor matt is suffering, too.
best moment this week: not 1 but 2 showers this week! i had my big friends/family shower on sunday, and then my department at work threw me a shower on tuesday! hoping my mom emails me the pictures soon.
what are you looking forward to: planning to put some stuff away in the nursery and starting the baby's laundry this weekend.
what do you miss: sleep.
symptoms: big belly. back and hip pain. crappy sleep. lots of peeing. the braxton hicks contractions have slowed, though, so that's good.
weight gain: 28 pounds. yeah, i put on a few extra over thanksgiving weekend...
movement: he is so active. i will miss it.
gender: baby boy!!
belly button: it's pretty close to popping!
rings: off. i'm wearing my opal in place of my wedding/engagement rings, so at least i still have something there.
*written on friday 11/30*
how far along are you: 34 weeks
due date/days left: jan 10/41 days
baby is the size of: a canteloupe
sleep: pretty terrible this week. i got a cold (stuffy nose, sore throat, coughing). not only does it make my sleep terrible, but apparently i'm snoring quite a bit, so poor matt is suffering, too.
best moment this week: not 1 but 2 showers this week! i had my big friends/family shower on sunday, and then my department at work threw me a shower on tuesday! hoping my mom emails me the pictures soon.
what are you looking forward to: planning to put some stuff away in the nursery and starting the baby's laundry this weekend.
what do you miss: sleep.
symptoms: big belly. back and hip pain. crappy sleep. lots of peeing. the braxton hicks contractions have slowed, though, so that's good.
weight gain: 28 pounds. yeah, i put on a few extra over thanksgiving weekend...
movement: he is so active. i will miss it.
gender: baby boy!!
belly button: it's pretty close to popping!
rings: off. i'm wearing my opal in place of my wedding/engagement rings, so at least i still have something there.
Tuesday, December 4, 2012
just like his daddy
after a long night of cooking, shopping, and working on the nursery, i'm sitting in bed with my feet propped on 2 pillows, waiting for the swelling to go down. matt is asleep next to me. as is his signature move, his lips are pursed, like he's ready to plant a kiss on whoever wakes him up. i once told him that pursed lips are his tell: i know when he's tired (or drunk) just by looking at his mouth. i wonder if our baby will do the same thing. in one of our ultrasound pictures, we could swear it looks like baby boy has his lips pursed, just like his daddy.
i just can't wait to meet him and see if he has the same adorable little quirk...
Sunday, November 25, 2012
33 weeks
*we didn't get an actual bump photo this week, but we have lots of pictures from the baby shower, so i'll be sure to post those as soon as my mom emails them to me!*
*also, i wrote this thinking i'd schedule it to post on thursday. i forgot. so it's a few days late.*
baby is the size of: a durian fruit (a what?!)
how far along are you: 33weeks
due date/days left: jan 10/49 days
sleep: i had a few nights where i actually slept through the night. but then i woke up at 3am tuesday and couldn't go back to sleep.
best moment this week: our childbirth class. initially, the videos made me want to keep this kid in me forever, but then the actual education made it seem a little less scary.
what are you looking forward to: it's a big week! thanksgiving on thursday, 15th class reunion on saturday, and my shower on sunday! we're gonna see so many people, i cannot wait!
what do you miss: sleep.
symptoms: i felt enormous this week. i swear i could actually feel myself getting bigger at some points. and my back and hips hurt constantly. i have an appointment with a prenatal chiropractor on monday. i hope it helps. and swelling.
weight gain: about 23 pounds.
movement: like crazy!
gender: baby boy!!
belly button: shockingly, still in!
rings: off. )c: when i wake up in the morning, my hands and feet are pretty puffy. my feet go down eventually, but my hands stay at least a little puffy all day. i am no longer comfortable with my rings on because i worry about being able to get them off. a few times it was pretty difficult, and i'm just not willing to take the risk anymore. one of my high school friends just reminded me that they had to cut her toe ring off when she went into labor with her daughter!
*also, i wrote this thinking i'd schedule it to post on thursday. i forgot. so it's a few days late.*
baby is the size of: a durian fruit (a what?!)
how far along are you: 33weeks
due date/days left: jan 10/49 days
sleep: i had a few nights where i actually slept through the night. but then i woke up at 3am tuesday and couldn't go back to sleep.
best moment this week: our childbirth class. initially, the videos made me want to keep this kid in me forever, but then the actual education made it seem a little less scary.
what are you looking forward to: it's a big week! thanksgiving on thursday, 15th class reunion on saturday, and my shower on sunday! we're gonna see so many people, i cannot wait!
what do you miss: sleep.
symptoms: i felt enormous this week. i swear i could actually feel myself getting bigger at some points. and my back and hips hurt constantly. i have an appointment with a prenatal chiropractor on monday. i hope it helps. and swelling.
weight gain: about 23 pounds.
movement: like crazy!
gender: baby boy!!
belly button: shockingly, still in!
rings: off. )c: when i wake up in the morning, my hands and feet are pretty puffy. my feet go down eventually, but my hands stay at least a little puffy all day. i am no longer comfortable with my rings on because i worry about being able to get them off. a few times it was pretty difficult, and i'm just not willing to take the risk anymore. one of my high school friends just reminded me that they had to cut her toe ring off when she went into labor with her daughter!
Wednesday, November 21, 2012
my boy
it's 4:27am. i've been awake for an hour and 27 minutes. i woke up at 3am for my nightly pee, and was wide awake from that point forward (don't get me started on my nightly panics about waking up in the 3 o'clock hour, thanks to the exorcism of emily rose). after tossing and turning for an hour, i finally gave up and got up. i'm sitting downstairs now, sportscenter on tv for noise, cheating on my registries, and thinking about our son.
our son.
dear baby boy,
i'm sorry that i don't talk to you as much as i probably should, but i hope that you "hear" the running conversation that i have with you in my head. pregnancy has been such an incredible journey for me, and i cannot wait to meet you, the little man who has taken up residence and claimed his space in my belly and in my heart. already you fill such a huge space in my heart, and i haven't even laid eyes on you yet. i cannot even comprehend the level of love that i feel for you.
i constantly wonder who you'll be. will you be funny, like your dad? will you be stubborn, like your mom? what is it that will make you just distinctly you? i lay in bed, feeling you move, and think about the little personality you're already forming. i think about what you look like, and can't wait to finally see you - study your face, count your tiny toes, kiss your little fingers, nuzzle your fuzzy head. it's hard to believe that we are only 7 weeks away from meeting you, and yet it feels like it's eons away.
you aren't even here yet but you are so lucky already. you have so many family members who are excited to meet you. not just me, your daddy, and your fursister, padfoot. but gigi and fritz, and grandpa, and aunt callie, uncle anthony, and your baby cousin. i cannot wait to have cousin playdates with aunt callie and uncle anthony. i am so excited that you will have a cousin to grow up with. you have other cousins, too - gabe and avery. they are much older than you but i know you will love them and look up to them. so many others - pop and nunu, uncle mike, uncle dan... plus all your extended family members. and our friends, who are the family we've chosen. you will grow up surrounded by love, i can assure you.
i just can't wait to share our lives with you. to dance in the living room. read books in your nursery. bake cookies in the kitchen. create memories and start traditions and have our family quirks. take you on vacations and show you the world. watch you play with your cousins and chase padfoot around the house (she'll be terrified).
oh, my little boy, i just cannot wait to meet you and see what a special little person you'll be. i promise to let you be the person you're meant to be, to celebrate everything you are, and to help you become whatever you want to be.
love you,
mama
our son.
dear baby boy,
i'm sorry that i don't talk to you as much as i probably should, but i hope that you "hear" the running conversation that i have with you in my head. pregnancy has been such an incredible journey for me, and i cannot wait to meet you, the little man who has taken up residence and claimed his space in my belly and in my heart. already you fill such a huge space in my heart, and i haven't even laid eyes on you yet. i cannot even comprehend the level of love that i feel for you.
i constantly wonder who you'll be. will you be funny, like your dad? will you be stubborn, like your mom? what is it that will make you just distinctly you? i lay in bed, feeling you move, and think about the little personality you're already forming. i think about what you look like, and can't wait to finally see you - study your face, count your tiny toes, kiss your little fingers, nuzzle your fuzzy head. it's hard to believe that we are only 7 weeks away from meeting you, and yet it feels like it's eons away.
you aren't even here yet but you are so lucky already. you have so many family members who are excited to meet you. not just me, your daddy, and your fursister, padfoot. but gigi and fritz, and grandpa, and aunt callie, uncle anthony, and your baby cousin. i cannot wait to have cousin playdates with aunt callie and uncle anthony. i am so excited that you will have a cousin to grow up with. you have other cousins, too - gabe and avery. they are much older than you but i know you will love them and look up to them. so many others - pop and nunu, uncle mike, uncle dan... plus all your extended family members. and our friends, who are the family we've chosen. you will grow up surrounded by love, i can assure you.
i just can't wait to share our lives with you. to dance in the living room. read books in your nursery. bake cookies in the kitchen. create memories and start traditions and have our family quirks. take you on vacations and show you the world. watch you play with your cousins and chase padfoot around the house (she'll be terrified).
oh, my little boy, i just cannot wait to meet you and see what a special little person you'll be. i promise to let you be the person you're meant to be, to celebrate everything you are, and to help you become whatever you want to be.
love you,
mama
Sunday, November 18, 2012
32 weeks
baby is the size of: a jicama!
how far along are you: 32 weeks, 3 days
due date/days left: jan 10/53 days
sleep: still not great - up anytime between 3-5 to pee, chug water, eat tums, and take off my pants.
best moment this week: the weekend. we took it pretty easy. it was nice, for a change
what are you looking forward to: our childbirth class on saturday (technically yesterday)
what do you miss: sleep.
symptoms: when people ask me how i'm feeling, my standard answer now is, "pregnant." nobody wants to hear that my back and hips hurt constantly, that my knees hurt, that i feel like my stomach is going to split open, that i can't breathe, that i am gtting heartburn, and that i generally just feel huge and sluggish. they don't care. so i just say i feel pregnant. cuz i do.
weight gain: about 23 pounds.
movement: he's gonna be a dancer, i'm sure of it.
gender: baby boy!!
belly button: shockingly, still in!
rings: on, but i find myself removing them pretty frequently.
on another note, in an email chain with my sister and mom, i thought it would have been cool if i'd cooked a meal each week using the fruit/veggie that is the size of the baby. way too late this time around, but maybe with the next baby i'll do it. i'll write a blog about it. and then it'll get popular and someone can write a movie about me. i wonder who would play me in a movie.....?
and just for fun, here's another picture. padfoot wanted in on the action...
Sunday, November 11, 2012
31 weeks
baby is the size of: baby center says 4 navel oranges, which is the weirdest comparison yet, i think. so i'm going with the bump's fruit of pineapple.
how far along are you: 31 weeks, 3 days
due date/days left: jan 10/60 days
sleep: pretty awful. by about 4 or 5am, my i can no longer find a comfortable position for my hips. i am also getting up at least once to pee, at which point i also find i need to take tums, chug 1/2 glass of water, and take off my pants because i'm sweating through my shirt. overshare? sorry.
best moment this week: my friend's wedding. i saw so many people i haven't seen in ages. and everyone kept telling me how beautiful i look, which sounds really conceited, but it was really wonderful, considering my coworkers just like to tell me how huge i am (one in particular has taken to calling me "big mama," which makes me want to smack the shit out of her).
what are you looking forward to: having a weekend off. we have some things to do around the house, but for the most part we will be laying low.
what do you miss: sleep.
symptoms: big belly. definitely feeling some braxton hicks. my hands and feet are swelling a bit. and i definitely am experiencing pregnancy congestion, which is fun. my back, hips, and now my knees hurt pretty much round-the-clock. i'm going to talk to my ob on tuesday about seeing a prenatal chiropractor.
weight gain: about 23 pounds.
movement: baby boy is really grooving in there. the other night we were watching tv and he was moving like crazy. i sat there, with my hand on my bare belly, feeling him dance around, and just cried. it was so incredible, it just overwhelmed me. matt has gotten to feel him really moving around a lot, too. he says it's weird. and it is. but it's awesome.
gender: baby boy!!
belly button: shockingly, still in!
rings: on, but i find myself removing them pretty frequently.
Sunday, November 4, 2012
30 weeks
baby is the size of: a head of cabbage
how far along are you: 30 weeks, 3 days
due date/days left: jan 10/68 days
sleep: sleep has been awful this week. we lost power monday night with the storm, and as of right now (thursday morning) it has not been restored. i slept terribly on sunday due to anxiety, and then monday night once we lost power, i barely slept at all. tuesday night and last night we slept on our pullout in the family room so that we could be near the wood-burning stove and have some warmth, but pullouts are - as i'm sure you all know - not very comfortable period, let alone for a 7+ month pregnant lady! today my hips are killing me - i am waddling, and it's not from the pregnancy! needless to say, i am exhausted.
best moment this week: at my 30-week appointment, we found out that i am still measuring right on track, so i'm not have a monstrous baby like some of my coworkers want to believe. we also found out that baby boy is head down. hopefully he stays that way!
what are you looking forward to: one of my dear friends from high school is getting married on saturday, and i'm so excited to go to the wedding and catch up with people i haven't seen in far too long!
what do you miss: sleep. and electricity (not that that has anything to do with the baby)
symptoms: big belly. definitely feeling some braxton hicks. my hands and feet are swelling a bit.
weight gain: about 20 pounds, give or take.
movement: he's a mover and a shaker. as much as it hurts sometimes, i love feeling him move around. it is the most amazing feeling.
gender: baby boy!!
belly button: still in!
rings: on, but i find myself removing them pretty frequently.
Monday, October 29, 2012
29 weeks
we didn't actually take a picture this week. too busy running around, getting ready for "frankenstorm." to those of you in its path, i wish you the best of luck! be safe!
baby is the size of: a butternut squash
how far along are you: 29 weeks, 2 days
what's happening with baby: muscles and lungs are continuing to mature, and his head is getting bigger to make room for his growing brain. *i'm going to stop this question, because it's pretty much the same from here on out*
due date: jan 10
sleep: i'm finding that i'm really tired. i either fall asleep on the train ride home or need a nap as soon as we get home. i am often falling asleep on the couch before we go to bed. i sleep for about 6 hours straight before i need to get up to pee, strip off my pants (because i'm sweating), and chug water. i fall back asleep pretty easily.
best moment this week: my sister's great news is finally out of the bag - she's 12 weeks pregnant!!! i am beyond excited that we are having babies 4 months apart!
what are you looking forward to: making some progress on the nursery - hanging the paper lanterns and some of the prints!
what do you miss: not being punched in the ribs. sleeping through the night. pain-free days.
symptoms: big belly. pain - from under my right boob, around the side, and across my back. and i'm definitely waddling every now and then. my belly gets very heavy, especially towards the end of the day.
movement: he moves a lot! i can now definitely feel him punching/standing on my bladder, which is weird. the ob had me start kick counts this week. i'm supposed to mark how long it takes me to get 10 movements. i do if after dinner, and it usually takes less than a hour, and often less than 30 minutes.
gender: baby boy!!
belly button: in, but not for long, i think.
rings: on, but i find myself removing them pretty frequently.
baby is the size of: a butternut squash
how far along are you: 29 weeks, 2 days
what's happening with baby: muscles and lungs are continuing to mature, and his head is getting bigger to make room for his growing brain. *i'm going to stop this question, because it's pretty much the same from here on out*
due date: jan 10
sleep: i'm finding that i'm really tired. i either fall asleep on the train ride home or need a nap as soon as we get home. i am often falling asleep on the couch before we go to bed. i sleep for about 6 hours straight before i need to get up to pee, strip off my pants (because i'm sweating), and chug water. i fall back asleep pretty easily.
best moment this week: my sister's great news is finally out of the bag - she's 12 weeks pregnant!!! i am beyond excited that we are having babies 4 months apart!
what are you looking forward to: making some progress on the nursery - hanging the paper lanterns and some of the prints!
what do you miss: not being punched in the ribs. sleeping through the night. pain-free days.
symptoms: big belly. pain - from under my right boob, around the side, and across my back. and i'm definitely waddling every now and then. my belly gets very heavy, especially towards the end of the day.
movement: he moves a lot! i can now definitely feel him punching/standing on my bladder, which is weird. the ob had me start kick counts this week. i'm supposed to mark how long it takes me to get 10 movements. i do if after dinner, and it usually takes less than a hour, and often less than 30 minutes.
gender: baby boy!!
belly button: in, but not for long, i think.
rings: on, but i find myself removing them pretty frequently.
Saturday, October 20, 2012
28 weeks
baby is the size of: an eggplant
how far along are you: 28 weeks, 2 days
what's happening with baby: baby's eyelids are able to open and close, and he now may be able to sense light filtering in through the womb.
due date: jan 10
sleep: i usually wake up once between 3-4 to pee. if i sleep too long, my hips really start to ache. there have been times when i've tried to sleep in a bit but i can't because my hips hurt.
best moment this week: the negative ffn test on wednesday night. knowing that baby boy will keep cooking for at least another 2 weeks.
what are you looking forward to: nothing big this week, actually!
what do you miss: not being punched in the ribs. sleeping through the night. pain-free days.
symptoms: big belly. pain - from under my right boob, around the side, and across my back. and i'm definitely waddling every now and then. my belly gets very heavy, especially towards the end of the day.
movement: he has been a very active little boy this week! i feel like he moves more than he's still.
gender: baby boy!!
belly button: in, but not for long, i think.
rings: on, but i think my time is limited on that.
Friday, October 19, 2012
a scary day
we had a little adventure of sorts on wednesday. i guess it started over the weekend, cuz i think that's when i first noticed i was having cramps. they were usually only in the morning, right when i first woke up. it felt like how it used to feel when i woke up the morning i got my period - they felt exactly like menstrual cramps. i did a bit of consulting with dr. google and found that they are pretty common and nothing to be concerned about, so i let it go. monday and tuesday, i was just not really feeling myself, but i chalked it up to the fact that this kid seems to think that my ribcage is the most comfortable spot, and it really hurts, so i thought i was just uncomfortable. i did call my ob on tuesday and spoke to the nurse about the cramps, but she reassured me that unless they're accompanied by bleeding or they're not getting better with rest, they aren't anything to be concerned about.
wednesday, i really felt like i was having an off day. i didn't feel like myself at all. i was sluggish and uncomfortable, and the cramps just weren't going away. after lunch, i felt really uncomfortable, but it mostly felt like i ate too much. and i felt like i had really bad gas. so around 3pm, i went for a walk around the block outside the hospital to try to get things moving and hopefully feel better. as i was walking, though, i realized that something just wasn't right. something just felt wrong. i couldn't put my finger on it, but it just...it was just wrong. i fought back tears the rest of the walk there, and then when i got back to my office i sat down at my desk and started to cry, then i asked my coworkers to get a nurse to come and take my blood pressure. they grabbed a nurse from the floor and he came in and took my vitals. everything was normal, but i still just didn't feel right. i wanted to just go home and rest until my scheduled ob appointment that night, but my coworkers convinced me to go down to the petu (perinatal exam and treatment unit). i let them escort me downstairs and they stayed with me until i got checked in.
i was taken back to my room and given a gown to change into. the nurse hooked me up to 2 monitors - one to monitor the baby's heart rate, and the other to monitor movements/contractions in my uterus. once she walked out of the room, i burst into tears (again). i was just so scared. i called matt and told him where i was. he was in the middle of something at work, and since i hadn't even seen the doctor yet, i had no idea how long i'd be there, so i told him to finish up and then call me when he was done. 35 minutes later, i still hadn't seen the doctor, so when matt called back, i told him to come down. in the meantime, the nurse came in to draw blood and hang some iv fluids. she told me that since i was having some contractions, they were concerned that i was dehydrated. i was surprised to hear that i was having contractions, since i wasn't really feeling anything, so i asked her how much. she said i was having about one per minute! wwhhhhaaaaaa?! i couldn't believe it. when she tried the vein on my left arm, it went in fine, but within 10 seconds a huge bubble formed behind it and she had to pull it. she placed the iv on my right hand and that went fine. while all of this was going on, the doctor and matt arrived, pretty much at the same time, around 5:15. i went through a brief medical history and pregnancy history with the doctor, and then she did a speculum exam. since they didn't think i'd need an internal exam, they'd put me in a room with a regular bed, which meant that for the speculum exam, i had to balance my butt on an overturned bedpan and lay with legs bent, feet touching. that was, far and away, the most uncomfortable speculum exam i've ever had. she took 3 swabs and then removed the speculum and helped me off the bedpan. after that, she did a cervix check to make sure i wasn't dilated - i was still totally closed. so they left us there, waiting for the blood work results.
the first bag of fluids finished in about 45 minutes, and then i had to pee. so we had to unhook the monitors and i had to carry the plugs and the empty bag and all the lines with me into the bathroom. that should be an olympic event - peeing while holding onto all that stuff and making sure the monitors/belts don't fall into the toilet. matt and i got me back into bed and all hooked up again, and the nurse came in to hang another bag of fluids. at this point, i was actually starting to feel some of the contractions. but baby's heart rate was looking good and he was definitely moving around a lot, so they took his monitor off. weirdly enough, even though i was now feeling the contractions, they were slowing down a bit. the nurse came back in to say that all the blood work and urine screens were negative, and we were just waiting to see if the contractions slowed down a bit more and then the doctor would do another cervix check.
finally, around 8pm (about 4 hours after i got there), the doctor came in to confirm that the contractions had slowed and they were no longer concerned about preterm labor. one of the swabs she did during the speculum exam was the fetal fibronectin test (ffn). this test detects the presence of fetal fibronectin protein on the cervix. a positive result is an indicator that preterm labor may be occuring, but it's not very accurate. but a negative result will definitively rule out the likelihood that preterm labor will start within 2 weeks. my result was negative, so i know that baby boy should stay cooking for another 2 weeks, at least. hallelujah! the doctor did another cervix check, and i was still closed, so they felt comfortable discharging me. they did tell me to take thursday off from work to rest, and told me i really need to monitor my fluid intake.
so i stayed home from work yesterday and rested. i rescheduled my ob appointment and they were able to fit me in yesterday, so i spoke to my regular doctor and they confirmed that with the negative blood work they are not too concerned. she just told me to take it easy and not push myself (which i definitely feel like i've been doing), and stay on top of my fluids. she said that the cramps i'm having are normal braxton hicks contractions, but if i start to feel like my uterus is "balling" up and my stomach is getting hard, that is a real contraction, and if i have more than 3-4 in an hour, i need to call them right away.
i downloaded an app on my phone that sends me reminders when i haven't logged a glass of water in a while. i have it set for 12 8oz glasses per day. i start my day off with a bottle of water, which i try to finish before i even get to work. then while i'm at work, i have a 16oz tumbler on my desk. my goal has always been to drink 3 per day, but i'm usually lucky if i get 2 down. i am really going to work harder on getting all 3 down every day. it's hard, though! but if i can do that, that is already 8 8oz glasses!
i'm back at work today and i'm feeling a bit better. still a little...wiped out, but i think that is to be expected. i am still having that crampy feeling, and i did feel one real contraction this afternooon. i am still very nervous, and trying to limit the walking i'm doing at work. tonight i'm going to get a maternity support belt to help hold up my stomach, because it feels very low and heavy sometimes. my mom was supposed to come down this weekend to help me with some stuff for the nursery, but an emergency came up and she probably won't be able to make it. it's probably for the best - it'll force me to rest a bit more.
wednesday, i really felt like i was having an off day. i didn't feel like myself at all. i was sluggish and uncomfortable, and the cramps just weren't going away. after lunch, i felt really uncomfortable, but it mostly felt like i ate too much. and i felt like i had really bad gas. so around 3pm, i went for a walk around the block outside the hospital to try to get things moving and hopefully feel better. as i was walking, though, i realized that something just wasn't right. something just felt wrong. i couldn't put my finger on it, but it just...it was just wrong. i fought back tears the rest of the walk there, and then when i got back to my office i sat down at my desk and started to cry, then i asked my coworkers to get a nurse to come and take my blood pressure. they grabbed a nurse from the floor and he came in and took my vitals. everything was normal, but i still just didn't feel right. i wanted to just go home and rest until my scheduled ob appointment that night, but my coworkers convinced me to go down to the petu (perinatal exam and treatment unit). i let them escort me downstairs and they stayed with me until i got checked in.
i was taken back to my room and given a gown to change into. the nurse hooked me up to 2 monitors - one to monitor the baby's heart rate, and the other to monitor movements/contractions in my uterus. once she walked out of the room, i burst into tears (again). i was just so scared. i called matt and told him where i was. he was in the middle of something at work, and since i hadn't even seen the doctor yet, i had no idea how long i'd be there, so i told him to finish up and then call me when he was done. 35 minutes later, i still hadn't seen the doctor, so when matt called back, i told him to come down. in the meantime, the nurse came in to draw blood and hang some iv fluids. she told me that since i was having some contractions, they were concerned that i was dehydrated. i was surprised to hear that i was having contractions, since i wasn't really feeling anything, so i asked her how much. she said i was having about one per minute! wwhhhhaaaaaa?! i couldn't believe it. when she tried the vein on my left arm, it went in fine, but within 10 seconds a huge bubble formed behind it and she had to pull it. she placed the iv on my right hand and that went fine. while all of this was going on, the doctor and matt arrived, pretty much at the same time, around 5:15. i went through a brief medical history and pregnancy history with the doctor, and then she did a speculum exam. since they didn't think i'd need an internal exam, they'd put me in a room with a regular bed, which meant that for the speculum exam, i had to balance my butt on an overturned bedpan and lay with legs bent, feet touching. that was, far and away, the most uncomfortable speculum exam i've ever had. she took 3 swabs and then removed the speculum and helped me off the bedpan. after that, she did a cervix check to make sure i wasn't dilated - i was still totally closed. so they left us there, waiting for the blood work results.
the first bag of fluids finished in about 45 minutes, and then i had to pee. so we had to unhook the monitors and i had to carry the plugs and the empty bag and all the lines with me into the bathroom. that should be an olympic event - peeing while holding onto all that stuff and making sure the monitors/belts don't fall into the toilet. matt and i got me back into bed and all hooked up again, and the nurse came in to hang another bag of fluids. at this point, i was actually starting to feel some of the contractions. but baby's heart rate was looking good and he was definitely moving around a lot, so they took his monitor off. weirdly enough, even though i was now feeling the contractions, they were slowing down a bit. the nurse came back in to say that all the blood work and urine screens were negative, and we were just waiting to see if the contractions slowed down a bit more and then the doctor would do another cervix check.
finally, around 8pm (about 4 hours after i got there), the doctor came in to confirm that the contractions had slowed and they were no longer concerned about preterm labor. one of the swabs she did during the speculum exam was the fetal fibronectin test (ffn). this test detects the presence of fetal fibronectin protein on the cervix. a positive result is an indicator that preterm labor may be occuring, but it's not very accurate. but a negative result will definitively rule out the likelihood that preterm labor will start within 2 weeks. my result was negative, so i know that baby boy should stay cooking for another 2 weeks, at least. hallelujah! the doctor did another cervix check, and i was still closed, so they felt comfortable discharging me. they did tell me to take thursday off from work to rest, and told me i really need to monitor my fluid intake.
so i stayed home from work yesterday and rested. i rescheduled my ob appointment and they were able to fit me in yesterday, so i spoke to my regular doctor and they confirmed that with the negative blood work they are not too concerned. she just told me to take it easy and not push myself (which i definitely feel like i've been doing), and stay on top of my fluids. she said that the cramps i'm having are normal braxton hicks contractions, but if i start to feel like my uterus is "balling" up and my stomach is getting hard, that is a real contraction, and if i have more than 3-4 in an hour, i need to call them right away.
i downloaded an app on my phone that sends me reminders when i haven't logged a glass of water in a while. i have it set for 12 8oz glasses per day. i start my day off with a bottle of water, which i try to finish before i even get to work. then while i'm at work, i have a 16oz tumbler on my desk. my goal has always been to drink 3 per day, but i'm usually lucky if i get 2 down. i am really going to work harder on getting all 3 down every day. it's hard, though! but if i can do that, that is already 8 8oz glasses!
i'm back at work today and i'm feeling a bit better. still a little...wiped out, but i think that is to be expected. i am still having that crampy feeling, and i did feel one real contraction this afternooon. i am still very nervous, and trying to limit the walking i'm doing at work. tonight i'm going to get a maternity support belt to help hold up my stomach, because it feels very low and heavy sometimes. my mom was supposed to come down this weekend to help me with some stuff for the nursery, but an emergency came up and she probably won't be able to make it. it's probably for the best - it'll force me to rest a bit more.
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