I met with my OB on Tuesday and from now on I will be seeing him weekly until the baby comes. The visit was fairly routine. Blood pressure, urine analysis, and weight check. I have gained another 2 lbs, making my total 12 lbs for the entire pregnancy.
He examined the baby and I'm measuring 36 weeks and her heartbeat was 137 bpm, strong and steady. She is still head down and has dropped into the pubic bones making her "engaged", meaning she's getting ready to pop out.
Since we are so close to delivery, he did a swap test for Group B Streptococcus, which is a bacteria that is very common in women. 15-40% of women carry the bacteria, but when you are pregnant that bacteria can be passed onto the baby during birth. Doctor's test for it around the 36 week mark and if your results are positive then you are hooked up to antibiotics when your labour starts or your water breaks so that the baby won't get it. It is pointless to give antibiotics before labour begins since even with treatment the bacteria often has time to re-grow before labour starts.
The test was just a simple and pain-free swap and my OB so kindly said that unfortunately that is the least painful thing that will occur from here to the end of the birth.
I asked when he would be checking for dilation and effacement and he said because it is such a painful experience and there is really no benefit to checking early, he won't check that until the last week before my due date. Fine by me. Lets keep the pain to a minimum!
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Reflexology Relief
Having been suffering from some pretty bad headaches and horrible hip pain for the last few days, a friend of mine saw my posts on Facebook and offered to help. She is a licensed Reflexologist and informed me that an hour long session could help relieve some of the pain I'm experiencing. Given that I have barely slept lately because of the pain I didn't have anything to lose, so I booked an appointment.
I did some research before the appointment and actually found out that sometimes reflexology can help naturally induce labour. I'm not trying to rush the baby out but definitely wouldn't mind meeting her sooner rather than later. I was excited.
The session was fantastic. An hour of someone rubbing and pressing on my sore feet felt amazing. It was very interesting when she explained which areas of the foot corresponded to the different parts of the body. Anywhere that was sore when she pressed on it, was because there is a blockage of energy or just general stress. I was pretty relaxed overall but the painful spots according to my feet were my hips, my shoulders and my uterus. How accurate! Results (pain relief) generally happen fairly quickly but can take up to 24-48 hrs.
I felt better almost instantly and had the best night of sleep that I have had in awhile. My hips are a lot less painful, and although I still have headaches (hormone related) they are to a lesser degree than before.
As for inducing labour, nothing. Or at least nothing yet. It was of interest to me that while she was pressing on areas like tummy, ribs, uterus, etc, (through my feet), the baby's movement did increase. She was kicking up a storm.
Even though it didn't induce labour it was nice to get out of the house and pamper myself. I know my days of "taking alone time" are numbered, at least for awhile, so I'm taking advantage. Only 3 more weeks to go!
I did some research before the appointment and actually found out that sometimes reflexology can help naturally induce labour. I'm not trying to rush the baby out but definitely wouldn't mind meeting her sooner rather than later. I was excited.
The session was fantastic. An hour of someone rubbing and pressing on my sore feet felt amazing. It was very interesting when she explained which areas of the foot corresponded to the different parts of the body. Anywhere that was sore when she pressed on it, was because there is a blockage of energy or just general stress. I was pretty relaxed overall but the painful spots according to my feet were my hips, my shoulders and my uterus. How accurate! Results (pain relief) generally happen fairly quickly but can take up to 24-48 hrs.
I felt better almost instantly and had the best night of sleep that I have had in awhile. My hips are a lot less painful, and although I still have headaches (hormone related) they are to a lesser degree than before.
As for inducing labour, nothing. Or at least nothing yet. It was of interest to me that while she was pressing on areas like tummy, ribs, uterus, etc, (through my feet), the baby's movement did increase. She was kicking up a storm.
Even though it didn't induce labour it was nice to get out of the house and pamper myself. I know my days of "taking alone time" are numbered, at least for awhile, so I'm taking advantage. Only 3 more weeks to go!
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
Let the countdown begin.....
Ok, so technically I've been counting down for the last, oooo 35 weeks, but now we are only a month away from the due date! It seems like it has taken forever to get here, yet flown by so quickly at the same time. I find it hard to wrap my head around the fact that in a month or less I will be holding a life that we created. We'll be completely responsible for raising this mini-me and starting them off on the right track in life. I've thought about this moment for years and even at this point the magnitude of whats about to happen boggles my mind.
Being this close makes me wonder if every odd twinge or movement is going to lead into labour. Will my water break when I'm at the grocery store or having dinner with friends? Will I end up having contractions the day we head out of town for something? The month of January has us sticking very close to home, or at least not traveling more than an hour from the hospital. The OB has told me that it could happen at "anytime" which is exciting but also very vague. As a person who likes to plan things, the sitting around and waiting is excruciating. Its also become a lot more difficult to shut my brain off at night and actually sleep. A lot of unknowns lay ahead of me.
First of all there is the pain factor... I mean, its pretty obvious that labour and delivery itself are gonna hurt. How could it not? But to what degree? I was reading an article sent to me from babycentre.ca about what women didn't expect during labour and there were some who wrote "it hurt far less than I expected" and others who wrote "hitting yourself with a hammer for an hour is uncomfortable, but hitting yourself with a hammer for 15 hours makes you delirious"... (Note to future pregnant women, don't read these articles!)So I guess it ultimately depends on the baby's size/position as well as the mother's pain tolerance. Unfortunately for me, the baby has stolen any pain tolerance I once had. I know this because during my second trimester I cried while having my eyebrows waxed because it hurt so badly. For a normally tough chick, that was a point of humiliation.
I know there are ways of dealing with the pain, and by that we get into the great epidural debate. For the last month or so everyone has had an opinion on epidurals. Its tough to escape that conversation. There are those who had it and loved it, those who had it and hated it, those who wished they had had it and those who have had children with and without pain medication and say its a personal matter. Over the last nine months I've gone back and forth, almost daily, as to whether I'll join the bands of women who go for the pain free delivery.
The prenatal classes we attended were pretty big on anti-drug delivery and provided a long list of reasons why its better for baby. They almost guilt you into it. "You want the best possible start to life for your baby, don't you?" Research and videos they showed us back their arguments, but when it comes down to it, they aren't the one who is pushing out the baby. On the other side of the scale there is the thought that if you go for the epidural, the birth process will be less traumatic/stressful on the mother and a much more enjoyable experience overall.
Really, its going to be a decision that is made in the heat of the moment. Heck, for all I know my labour might progress so quickly that I won't even have the option of having an epidural. I guess we'll just wait and see.
Being this close makes me wonder if every odd twinge or movement is going to lead into labour. Will my water break when I'm at the grocery store or having dinner with friends? Will I end up having contractions the day we head out of town for something? The month of January has us sticking very close to home, or at least not traveling more than an hour from the hospital. The OB has told me that it could happen at "anytime" which is exciting but also very vague. As a person who likes to plan things, the sitting around and waiting is excruciating. Its also become a lot more difficult to shut my brain off at night and actually sleep. A lot of unknowns lay ahead of me.
First of all there is the pain factor... I mean, its pretty obvious that labour and delivery itself are gonna hurt. How could it not? But to what degree? I was reading an article sent to me from babycentre.ca about what women didn't expect during labour and there were some who wrote "it hurt far less than I expected" and others who wrote "hitting yourself with a hammer for an hour is uncomfortable, but hitting yourself with a hammer for 15 hours makes you delirious"... (Note to future pregnant women, don't read these articles!)So I guess it ultimately depends on the baby's size/position as well as the mother's pain tolerance. Unfortunately for me, the baby has stolen any pain tolerance I once had. I know this because during my second trimester I cried while having my eyebrows waxed because it hurt so badly. For a normally tough chick, that was a point of humiliation.
I know there are ways of dealing with the pain, and by that we get into the great epidural debate. For the last month or so everyone has had an opinion on epidurals. Its tough to escape that conversation. There are those who had it and loved it, those who had it and hated it, those who wished they had had it and those who have had children with and without pain medication and say its a personal matter. Over the last nine months I've gone back and forth, almost daily, as to whether I'll join the bands of women who go for the pain free delivery.
The prenatal classes we attended were pretty big on anti-drug delivery and provided a long list of reasons why its better for baby. They almost guilt you into it. "You want the best possible start to life for your baby, don't you?" Research and videos they showed us back their arguments, but when it comes down to it, they aren't the one who is pushing out the baby. On the other side of the scale there is the thought that if you go for the epidural, the birth process will be less traumatic/stressful on the mother and a much more enjoyable experience overall.
Really, its going to be a decision that is made in the heat of the moment. Heck, for all I know my labour might progress so quickly that I won't even have the option of having an epidural. I guess we'll just wait and see.
Friday, December 31, 2010
34 Weeks!
Getting much closer to her arrival now. I measured my baby belly last night to see just how much I've grown and the baby has added 10 inches to my waist line, and she isn't done yet!
Friday, December 17, 2010
32 Weeks!
Not only have I lost sight of my feet, my belly button as also disappeared from view. 8 more weeks!
Thursday, December 16, 2010
Who ordered all this sand?
I really shouldn't complain. I mean, I have managed to escape some of the lesser loved pregnancy related symptoms such as morning sickness, horrible cravings, excessive weight gain, but little did I know, the third trimester would bring on a whole new world of agony.
Everyone warns you about that first trimester. ("Oh you wont be able to keep anything down", "your boobs will become so painful", "you'll have to pee every 20 minutes") but nobody warns you about the perils of the third trimester. Maybe its due to the fact that by the time most women get around to discussing the third trimester pains they already have had their babies and have forgotten about all the hurdles they had to cross to get to that point. I'm not really sure, but nevertheless, I was unprepared.
First of all, I have no idea I would become such good friends with the sandman. I have never been so exhausted in my life. I know I had to catch a few naps during my first trimester, and maybe getting all my energy back during the second trimester has made me jaded, but I literally have great difficulty making it through an entire day now. The sandman has arrived and he brought a sh*t load of sand with him!
Now if that weren't trouble enough, the part that tops it all is, that despite complete and utter exhaustion, its pretty much near impossible to stay asleep! I'm up every 2 to 3 hours because my hips ache. Not a slight ache where you can take a tylenol and head back to bed, but ACHE as though I've broken something. They say its from the hormones which cause your ligaments to loosen up and stretch, allowing your pelvic bones to widen in preparation for childbirth. Being that I lost the ability to sleep on my stomach months ago, I have no choice but to sleep on my side. So every few hours I have to wake up and rotate sides in order to relieve some of the pain and pressure. Lying on my back doesn't help because now I can no longer breathe since the weight and position of the baby restricts my lung capacity.
I don't know if this symptom is related to the hormones or the sleep deprivation (most likely both), but I have turned into a cry baby. I've always been a pretty emotional person (something I've always disliked!), but now the littlest things can set me off, and I honestly have no control over it. Cute commercials, a sad song, pictures of babies, a disagreement with a friend, good or bad news.... i'm a wreck! With Christmas steadily approaching my mind often wanders to next year where we'll have a little baby to buy presents for and show her Christmas lights and Santa and I get all teary from joy and excitement. Heck even today I was watching a tv show about kites and I got teary eyed thinking about how eventually I get to teach her how to fly one! I'm very glad that the majority of the time I'm at home when the tears hit, because that could get very embarrassing if it happens in public to often.
There is a bright side to all these little annoyances.... the thought that its almost over. At this point I have 7 weeks to go (hopefully less) and I know all these little quirks are natures way of preparing me for whats to come, be it physically or emotionally. I know the lack of sleep wont improve for some time as the baby is bound to have a similar 2-3 hour schedule, but hopefully a few weeks after she arrives I'll finally be able to sleep on my stomach or at least lay on my side without being in constant pain. Fingers crossed!
Everyone warns you about that first trimester. ("Oh you wont be able to keep anything down", "your boobs will become so painful", "you'll have to pee every 20 minutes") but nobody warns you about the perils of the third trimester. Maybe its due to the fact that by the time most women get around to discussing the third trimester pains they already have had their babies and have forgotten about all the hurdles they had to cross to get to that point. I'm not really sure, but nevertheless, I was unprepared.
First of all, I have no idea I would become such good friends with the sandman. I have never been so exhausted in my life. I know I had to catch a few naps during my first trimester, and maybe getting all my energy back during the second trimester has made me jaded, but I literally have great difficulty making it through an entire day now. The sandman has arrived and he brought a sh*t load of sand with him!
Now if that weren't trouble enough, the part that tops it all is, that despite complete and utter exhaustion, its pretty much near impossible to stay asleep! I'm up every 2 to 3 hours because my hips ache. Not a slight ache where you can take a tylenol and head back to bed, but ACHE as though I've broken something. They say its from the hormones which cause your ligaments to loosen up and stretch, allowing your pelvic bones to widen in preparation for childbirth. Being that I lost the ability to sleep on my stomach months ago, I have no choice but to sleep on my side. So every few hours I have to wake up and rotate sides in order to relieve some of the pain and pressure. Lying on my back doesn't help because now I can no longer breathe since the weight and position of the baby restricts my lung capacity.
I don't know if this symptom is related to the hormones or the sleep deprivation (most likely both), but I have turned into a cry baby. I've always been a pretty emotional person (something I've always disliked!), but now the littlest things can set me off, and I honestly have no control over it. Cute commercials, a sad song, pictures of babies, a disagreement with a friend, good or bad news.... i'm a wreck! With Christmas steadily approaching my mind often wanders to next year where we'll have a little baby to buy presents for and show her Christmas lights and Santa and I get all teary from joy and excitement. Heck even today I was watching a tv show about kites and I got teary eyed thinking about how eventually I get to teach her how to fly one! I'm very glad that the majority of the time I'm at home when the tears hit, because that could get very embarrassing if it happens in public to often.
There is a bright side to all these little annoyances.... the thought that its almost over. At this point I have 7 weeks to go (hopefully less) and I know all these little quirks are natures way of preparing me for whats to come, be it physically or emotionally. I know the lack of sleep wont improve for some time as the baby is bound to have a similar 2-3 hour schedule, but hopefully a few weeks after she arrives I'll finally be able to sleep on my stomach or at least lay on my side without being in constant pain. Fingers crossed!
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
32 Week Check In
I had my regular visit with my OB today. Everything is progressing nicely. I can't believe there is only 8 weeks left until my due date. Its going by really fast now.
He did his usual measurements and the baby is measuring out to exactly 32 weeks, so she is right on track. She has officially flipped and is head down in my tummy (which would explain why my ribs are aching). Her head is still "floating" which means she hasn't dropped down into between my pelvic bones yet, but that should happen in the next few weeks. I am looking forward to being able to breathe again once that happens. It feels like I haven't taken a deep breath in weeks.
At this point in the pregnancy I should be gaining a pound a week, 1/2 of which is the actual baby growing and fattening up and the other 1/2 is fluid retention. To date I have gained a total of 10 lbs, which really is pretty good for being this far along. Hopefully only another 6-8 will pack on and I'll lose it all when she's born. That would be ideal in a perfect world anyways.
I go back in 2 weeks for another check-up and then we start the countdown to "any day now!" Its getting very exciting for us.
He did his usual measurements and the baby is measuring out to exactly 32 weeks, so she is right on track. She has officially flipped and is head down in my tummy (which would explain why my ribs are aching). Her head is still "floating" which means she hasn't dropped down into between my pelvic bones yet, but that should happen in the next few weeks. I am looking forward to being able to breathe again once that happens. It feels like I haven't taken a deep breath in weeks.
At this point in the pregnancy I should be gaining a pound a week, 1/2 of which is the actual baby growing and fattening up and the other 1/2 is fluid retention. To date I have gained a total of 10 lbs, which really is pretty good for being this far along. Hopefully only another 6-8 will pack on and I'll lose it all when she's born. That would be ideal in a perfect world anyways.
I go back in 2 weeks for another check-up and then we start the countdown to "any day now!" Its getting very exciting for us.
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
Hospital Tour
This past Monday Rob and I had an appointment at the hospital for the pre-labour tour. Given that the Maternity ward is a place we've never really visited, we thought it would be best to hear from the hospital what we could expect and where exactly to go once we are in labour.
We arrived at the main doors and met with our tour guide. There were 11 other couples on this tour as well. We were delighted to see that 2 of the other couples were actually from our pre-natal group, so we got a chance to catch up and chat with them. It was particularly exciting as one of the couples was one day away from their due date. I asked is she was nervous, but she said that the nervousness has passed and she's at the point where she just wants it over with. Given that I have 8 weeks to go, I'm not exactly that the "just get her out" point, although if she was to show up early I certainly wouldn't be complaining either.
The tour started by taking us down to the emerg dept. We all had forms to fill out that allowed us to pre-register so that when we are in labour we don't have to wait in the line up of people before being seen. We just come in and immediately go to the registration desk where they will print off our bracelets and labels and escort us up to labour and delivery.
We then all squeezed into the elevator and headed up to the 6th floor. Everything on the floor is only accessible by key card pass, so that there are no security issues and no one can randomly wander into your room as your giving birth. As a non-hospital staff member once we get to this point there is a buzzer to push, then the nurses station will ask us to identify ourselves and then allow the doors to open.
The first stage of check-in once in the maternity ward is the assessment room. The pregnant women will be given a bed in a room of about 8 beds, where the nurses will strap monitors on the belly and do a physical exam to make sure you are actually in real labour. We are told that we can expect to spend the first 2 hours in this room.
Once it has been determined that you are indeed in real labour, you are moved to your delivery suite where you will spent the rest of your time until after the baby arrives. The rooms were pretty nice. All equipped with a personal bathroom/tub/shower, tv monitor with internet and phone, a few chairs for your labour team and obviously the bed for delivering as well as the warmer for the baby.
At this point we are told "the rules". You are allowed 3 people in the delivery suite with you, but they have to remain the same 3 people throughout the entire time. You can't have 6 people rotating through in groups of 3. Everyone else must wait in the waiting room until after the baby is born. Now we had some thinking to do. Given that Rob will obviously be there, we only have room for 2 other support people. (For the record, Rob will be the only person, other than medical staff, in the actual room when it comes time for pushing, but the other 2 people will be there to serve as a comfort or distraction during the contractions)We had planned on having 4 people taking turns. All picked for very different reasons. Obviously the 2 mothers are on the list, and we had 2 very close friends. (one because she has been there herself and we have a very open relationship, not to mention that she is hilarious and would be fantastic company, and the other friend has been my friend all my life and has been with me through thick and thin) We pretty much have it narrowed down, but it may change on the day of given things like whose able to actually make it between work, weather, traffic etc, and how the labour is going. There is a chance I may not want anyone seeing me in that condition, so we'll decide on our people when the time comes.
They also pointed out that if it is decided that you need to have a c-section, they have their own operating room in the same ward,(literally next door to the birthing suite) so that you don't need to be transported to any special area. All your things are safe where they are and you support team can go with you.
Next they showed us the nursery where the babies are kept if there are any medical concerns. Access is strictly for parents only and again, only accessed through a buzzer system. There are no windows for public viewing, its very much a lock-down situation. With any luck, we won't need this area of the hospital.
Finally they showed us to the post-delivery rooms, where the mother and baby will stay for the duration of their hospital stay until discharged. They have ward rooms, semi-private and private available. (depending on insurance coverage or if you're willing to pay for the privacy). In here they also have tvs, internet and phones, as well as chairs for visiting company. They told us the visiting hours (11-2 and 5-8) and that anyone can come visit during these hours. They have made the washrooms large enough so that you can roll the baby (in bassinet) into the washroom with you so you can take a shower. They also equip each room with a hat and booties for the baby along with items that you will need for the first night (diaper, cream, towel, washcloth etc).
It seems like a pretty decent set-up and honestly I feel a lot more comfortable now knowing where to go and what to expect once the labour starts. Now all we have to do is wait for those contractions to start!
We arrived at the main doors and met with our tour guide. There were 11 other couples on this tour as well. We were delighted to see that 2 of the other couples were actually from our pre-natal group, so we got a chance to catch up and chat with them. It was particularly exciting as one of the couples was one day away from their due date. I asked is she was nervous, but she said that the nervousness has passed and she's at the point where she just wants it over with. Given that I have 8 weeks to go, I'm not exactly that the "just get her out" point, although if she was to show up early I certainly wouldn't be complaining either.
The tour started by taking us down to the emerg dept. We all had forms to fill out that allowed us to pre-register so that when we are in labour we don't have to wait in the line up of people before being seen. We just come in and immediately go to the registration desk where they will print off our bracelets and labels and escort us up to labour and delivery.
We then all squeezed into the elevator and headed up to the 6th floor. Everything on the floor is only accessible by key card pass, so that there are no security issues and no one can randomly wander into your room as your giving birth. As a non-hospital staff member once we get to this point there is a buzzer to push, then the nurses station will ask us to identify ourselves and then allow the doors to open.
The first stage of check-in once in the maternity ward is the assessment room. The pregnant women will be given a bed in a room of about 8 beds, where the nurses will strap monitors on the belly and do a physical exam to make sure you are actually in real labour. We are told that we can expect to spend the first 2 hours in this room.
Once it has been determined that you are indeed in real labour, you are moved to your delivery suite where you will spent the rest of your time until after the baby arrives. The rooms were pretty nice. All equipped with a personal bathroom/tub/shower, tv monitor with internet and phone, a few chairs for your labour team and obviously the bed for delivering as well as the warmer for the baby.
At this point we are told "the rules". You are allowed 3 people in the delivery suite with you, but they have to remain the same 3 people throughout the entire time. You can't have 6 people rotating through in groups of 3. Everyone else must wait in the waiting room until after the baby is born. Now we had some thinking to do. Given that Rob will obviously be there, we only have room for 2 other support people. (For the record, Rob will be the only person, other than medical staff, in the actual room when it comes time for pushing, but the other 2 people will be there to serve as a comfort or distraction during the contractions)We had planned on having 4 people taking turns. All picked for very different reasons. Obviously the 2 mothers are on the list, and we had 2 very close friends. (one because she has been there herself and we have a very open relationship, not to mention that she is hilarious and would be fantastic company, and the other friend has been my friend all my life and has been with me through thick and thin) We pretty much have it narrowed down, but it may change on the day of given things like whose able to actually make it between work, weather, traffic etc, and how the labour is going. There is a chance I may not want anyone seeing me in that condition, so we'll decide on our people when the time comes.
They also pointed out that if it is decided that you need to have a c-section, they have their own operating room in the same ward,(literally next door to the birthing suite) so that you don't need to be transported to any special area. All your things are safe where they are and you support team can go with you.
Next they showed us the nursery where the babies are kept if there are any medical concerns. Access is strictly for parents only and again, only accessed through a buzzer system. There are no windows for public viewing, its very much a lock-down situation. With any luck, we won't need this area of the hospital.
Finally they showed us to the post-delivery rooms, where the mother and baby will stay for the duration of their hospital stay until discharged. They have ward rooms, semi-private and private available. (depending on insurance coverage or if you're willing to pay for the privacy). In here they also have tvs, internet and phones, as well as chairs for visiting company. They told us the visiting hours (11-2 and 5-8) and that anyone can come visit during these hours. They have made the washrooms large enough so that you can roll the baby (in bassinet) into the washroom with you so you can take a shower. They also equip each room with a hat and booties for the baby along with items that you will need for the first night (diaper, cream, towel, washcloth etc).
It seems like a pretty decent set-up and honestly I feel a lot more comfortable now knowing where to go and what to expect once the labour starts. Now all we have to do is wait for those contractions to start!
Thursday, December 2, 2010
Jake comes home!
After a solid 10 days in the vet hospital, Jake is finally on the path to recovery. He was able to come home today and are we ever glad to have him back. It really wasn't "home" without him. Something was definitely missing.
He is now eating and drinking on a regular basis and his energy/personality is starting to come back. His blood levels have returned to normal on all levels. It will still take a few more weeks of at-home care for him to return completely to his old self, but he is well on his way.
We couldn't be happier to have our baby boy back home!
He is now eating and drinking on a regular basis and his energy/personality is starting to come back. His blood levels have returned to normal on all levels. It will still take a few more weeks of at-home care for him to return completely to his old self, but he is well on his way.
We couldn't be happier to have our baby boy back home!
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