Easter 2013

We are so incredibly lucky and it is weekends like the one we just had that are reminders of how blessed we truly are for the sacrifice our Saviour, Jesus made for us by washing us of our sins when He died on the cross.

He is Risen! 

Our long Easter weekend started on Good Friday.  Daycare was closed for the day and Matt was stuck in a work meeting so I decided to take a vacation day so Grant and I could have our mommy and Grant day at The Place for Kids in Appleton.

 

On Saturday, we colored our Easter eggs and celebrated Matt's sister's birthday.

First thing Easter morning, Grant was able to hunt for his Easter basket.

We then went to the sunrise service at our church.

And upon arriving home, Grant was able to look for some Easter eggs stashed in the basement by the Easter bunny.

After a nap, we were off to Matt's grandma's house to celebrate with his mom's side of the family where Grant got to search for more Easter eggs!  

Cheese!

Cousins :)

 

37 Weeks

A bare belly picture... check out those veins! :)

I put a poll up for fun... Do you think she will be a little early?  Right on time?  Or a little late?  Our actual guess date is April 18th.  Get your guess in! 

How Far Along: 37 Weeks and full term!

Baby's Size:  Winter Melon Average size: 18.9-20.9 inches, 6.2-9.2 lbs (Another source says baby weighs about 6 1/2 lbs and is approximately 20 inches head to toe.)

Total Weight Gain:
Home scale:  Down 2.3 lbs this week (As you'll see below... I haven't been feeling too well this week.) bringing me to 24.4 lbs total   
Doctor’s scale:  26 lbs at our 37 week appointment today (Down 3 lbs according to doc's scale)
Weight gained with Grant at this point: 39 lbs

Maternity Clothes:  Yes, I have even expanded into Matt's t-shirt wardrobe more and more.   

Baby's Movement:  She seems to be more active at night than during the day lately.

Food Cravings:  None really.  I honestly have had a rather minimal appetite this week.  More on that below...

Food Aversions:  Ribs... specifically on the grill at home.  They are usually delicious and I love them but still don't have the stomach for most grilled food.  Doesn't help that they came back up on Sunday night either.   

Sleep:  I am still falling asleep on my left side but usually wake up on my right side or back.  I have been sleeping pretty good (with the exception of Sunday night) and woken up a couple times this week to pee at 3-4. 

Symptoms:  It turned into an eventful Sunday night/Monday.  I was feeling off all weekend and when Sunday rolled around I was really nauseous.  Well, I ended up throwing up Sunday night and then was up most of the night Sunday with stomach cramps and diarrhea.  Monday morning rolled around and right before walking out the door for work I threw up again.  I made it into work knowing I had some loose ends to tie up if this was "it" knowing that some women have diarrhea to clean out their body's before labor.  Meanwhile I started timing contractions.  They were very consistent and 4-5 mins apart.  During all of this I was in contact with our doula to fill her in and get her thoughts.  I continued my morning not very easily because I still felt sick as a dog and had diarrhea.  We decided that with contractions still regular and even closer together (5 hours later) and the way I was feeling (nauseous, abdominal cramps, regular contractions) it was time to call the doc.  I went in at about 12:30 on Monday afternoon to be monitored and see if it was time.  I was only slightly dilated (1 cm) and I made it very clear that I wanted to go back home and labor at home even if they did determine I was in labor because progress was so minimal.  My contractions were still very regular but Dr. Dennis agreed that I would be more comfortable at home since I was showing no signs of progress.  She didn't seem too confident it was time because when we were leaving she said see you at your appointment on Thursday.  Well, she was right.  All I needed was some rest, a little food (the first I had in 24 hours), and some fluids and everything calmed back down to normal as far as contractions go.  Unfortunately the nausea and diarrhea have continued (It hasn't been a fun week!) and it seems I have a bad bug, hence the weight loss.

This is the first week that I am feeling very pregnant and just blah.  I am sure it is because I have been sick but I am exhausted and utterly worn out.  I even had to sit down at work for the first time while doing an analysis this week.

A new thing this week is Braxton hicks at night (I am sure it was happening previously but they sometimes wake me now or it is inevitable that when I get up to use the bathroom I have a couple before I drift off back to sleep). 

Best Moment(s) This Week:  Our to-do list is officially done.  I am glad we kicked it in high gear this weekend because after our trial run on Monday we know we are ready whenever she is.  Matt said he even has his baby bag ready for work which entailed making it easier for him to pack up his tools and hit the road asap if need be because he has been working in Milwaukee.  He's back in Fond du Lac working hopefully until baby comes though!  Fingers crossed!   

What I Miss:  My energy (the little bit I did have) really took a nose dive this week.  Crossing my legs.  I know it isn't good for circulation and what not but I still enjoy crossing my legs occasionally and that is nearly impossible and uncomfortable now.  Down baby down!   

What I Am Looking Forward To:  Mommy and Grant day tomorrow at the Appleton Children's Museum and a lunch date and celebrating and enjoying Easter.  

What's Different This Time:  We had our ECV with Grant at 37 weeks to try to turn him... no ECV this time!  Baby is head down and ready!  

Appointment update:  Most exciting of all today we got another glimpse of our baby girl! 

Check out those lips!

They guesstimate her size at 6 lbs 13 oz and 58th percentile or right on track.  Dr. Dennis has absolutely no concerns about her being too big for me to have a successful VBAC.  Her heartbeat was 136.  There has been no additional dilation since Monday.  I am still at 1 cm and no effacement.  We discussed at length how I have been feeling and the weight loss.  She said if the diarrhea continues until Saturday we will do some stool tests to rule out something bacterial or a parasite.  We did run another urine culture because my urine has become a very dark amber color but that could be because I am dehydrated (even though I have been doing my best to stay hydrated). 

Next Appointment:
April 5th - 38 week appointment

36 Weeks



Grant wanted to be in the picture with mommy :)

Is it just me or can you see more of that baby weight in my face with Grant than with her?  It could almost 10 extra lbs I was packing with Grant at this same time!

How Far Along: 36 Weeks, 1 Day

Baby's Size:  Honeydew Average size: 17.2-18.7 inches, 4.2-5.8 lbs (Another source says baby weighs about 6 lbs and is slightly more than 20 inches head to toe.)

Total Weight Gain:
Home scale: 0.6 lbs this week bringing me to 26.7 lbs total (I am a little surprised by the small number this week!)      
Doctor’s scale:  29 lbs at our 36 week appointment yesterday
Weight gained with Grant at this point: 37 lbs

Maternity Clothes:  Yes and I have had to expand.  Some of the shirts that I viewed as "too big" or "too frumpy" fit just right now... 

Baby's Movement:  She is still very active but I can tell she is getting a little squished in there.  Her movements have become smaller, rolling type movements versus the bigger, sharper pokes and jabs.   
Food Cravings:  I still enjoy my nightly bowl of cereal, sweets (I have been working very hard to cut back), and I would love a soda every day but abstain.  Originally, we were going to host Easter this year.  I learned it could be a little dangerous having a very pregnant lady planning and hosting.  Every recipe I saw I wanted to have so it's probably a good thing Matt's grandma is going to do it instead!

Food Aversions:  Chinese... for awhile I had been craving it and had gone to a buffet that was delicious.  Well, we tried the same place again and it wasn't nearly as good as the first time.  The food was mostly cold and lacking flavor.  Needless to say... we won't be going back there for awhile. 

Sleep:  Ah... the elusive sleep.  I have still been sleeping only so so.  I have been waking on average 2-3 times per night on most nights.  Usually, I don't even need to pee but I get up anyway and go because I am awake and having a hard time getting back to sleep.  I have found the last couple nights that if I make myself stay awake until 10 then I haven't been waking but that is so late! :)   

Symptoms:  I have been having a lot of Braxton Hick's.  There are even times when I was timing and they were an average of 5 minutes apart and lasting about 45 seconds to 1 min 15 secs for over 3 hours.  I am always congested and my sense of smell is reduced when it is normally the opposite in pregnant women.  More pressure (not a lot) and more potty breaks.  My rings are getting a little snug and there have been a couple mornings I can't get them on.  Usually an hour or so later they slide on without a problem though and come off at the end of the day without a problem.   

Best Moment(s) This Week:  Marking more items off the to do list... Only a couple left that aren't really necessary just the typical nesting over the top type cleaning.  For instance, all the fans have been washed/dusted in the house, all the kitchen cabinets have been washed, our refrigerator and freezer are spotless, walls have been washed... like I said just a little over the top with some of those. 

What I Miss:  Sleep and being able to get comfortable and not being utterly exhausted by chasing Grant around.  I can hardly keep up.    

What I Am Looking Forward To:  Finishing that to do list...  I am giving us a deadline of this weekend.  An ultrasound next week and getting a last minute glimpse of baby girl before we meet her!

What's Different This Time:  I am getting so excited about the surprise of meeting her when she is ready.  It is a completely different experience than knowing exactly when we will meet her like we unfortunately did with Grant.  I think about the excitement of calling family to let them know we are on our way to the hospital and then calling again when she is actually here.    

Appointment update:  Our appointment went great yesterday.  My bump is measuring right on track.  Dr. Dennis specifically said she thinks we are dealing with a pretty average size baby.  Group B Strep came back negative, blood pressure was perfect, urine clean and Dr. Dennis was surprised by the lack of swelling in my ankles.   Her heartbeat clocked in at 135 bpm.  So far I am not dilated at all nor have I started to efface which is perfectly ok.  I am only 36 weeks and anxious to meet her but it will happen in her time.  We have an ultrasound next week before my appointment to check in on her and get a guesstimate on her weight.  With us planning a VBAC, there could be concerns if she is on the large size but I really don't think that will be the case.  

Next Appointment:
March 28th - 37 week appointment

35 Weeks

How Far Along: 35 Weeks

Baby's Size:  Coconut Average size: 17.2-18.7 inches, 4.2-5.8 lbs (Another source says baby weighs about 5 1/2 lbs and is approximately 20 inches head to toe.)
Hearing is fully developed.

Total Weight Gain:
Home scale: 1.5 lbs this week bringing me to 26.1 lbs total
Doctor’s scale: 27 lbs at our 34 week appointment on March 7th
Weight gained with Grant at this point: 33.8 lbs

Maternity Clothes:  Yes and I even had to do a little shopping for something for Easter.  I opted for a stretchy non-maternity dress that will still fit and hopefully look nice after baby so I can get some more use out of it. 

Baby's Movement:  Yes... And she is strong!  At times it surprises me how strong the pokes and jabs are.  I have also noticed that she is getting so much bigger now that when she has the hiccups it really gives a good jolt :)   

Food Cravings:  Biscuits and sausage gravy

Food Aversions:  None I can think of

Sleep:  A little more restlessly and still waking right around the 4:00 mark for no reason.  The last two nights have been miserable.  I have been tossing and turning and just can't get comfortable and then on top of it Grant has been sick with a cough/cold so that keeps me up as well.     

Symptoms:  I have been very tired this week... like I hit a wall.  I have also been very thirsty.  It's getting a little snug getting my rings on in the mornings and some cankle action going on by the afternoons because of some swelling.  Nothing serious though.  I have also noticed I am beginning to take on a very slight waddle and feel some pressure between my legs which I never had with Grant because he was never in a good position to get low enough in my pelvis.  I will gladly take all these signs!  Oh and maybe a little TMI here but leaky boobs.  When I was sick over Christmas, my right breast leaked like a faucet for 2 days then stopped and nothing since but in the last couple of days I have noticed some leakiness starting again.     

I had a stranger this week say she would have guessed I was having a boy by how low I am carrying.  I definitely don't feel like I am carrying low based on the discomfort/burning sensation coming from my protesting ribs on a daily basis. 

Best Moment(s) This Week:  I have had 2 people ask me in the last week or so if I am "about 5 months along" to which I smile and kindly reply no... I only have about 6 weeks left to go.  A nice boost for the ego with all of this weight gain!

What I Miss:  Uninterrupted, restful sleep.  I know my body is just getting ready for baby and I have been extremely lucky up until this point so I should really not complain! 

What I Am Looking Forward To:  I've said it before and I will say it again... a name for this little girl!  People ask and I literally laugh.  We aren't even close to compromising on something and it is exhausting.  I am also on the lookout for some wall hangings for her room.  Those walls are rather bare right now. 

What's Different This Time:  No pregnancy induced carpal tunnel at night when I sleep.  When I was pregnant with Grant I would wake up at this point and my hands would be asleep or tingly.    

Next Appointment:
March 21st - 36 week appointment

26 Months ~Grant~

Here we are with Grant just over 2 years old and about to be a big brother.  In spite of the toddler moments and his growing independence we are enjoying each and every day.  It is joy to watch him grow and learn and flourish.  We couldn’t be more proud. 

Growth:   Grant is now weighing in at right about 27.5 pounds on our scale at home.  As best I can estimate and measure he is about 35 1/2 inches tall.  He is wearing 24 month and 2T clothes and shoes are 6-7.  When he is in a diaper (bed time only now) he is still comfortable in size 4 diapers. 

Teeth:  Grant had two teeth pop through in the last two months about 2-3 weeks apart.  He now has both of his lower 2 year old molars. 

Language/Comprehension:  Rarely is Grant ever quiet anymore.  He is a chatter box and likes to talk and converse constantly.  Whether he is asking questions (he asks a lot of them!) or simply making observations he is a talker.  Some of my favorite moments are in the car and hearing some of the things he comes up with.

Colors, letter, and numbers (He already knew most of his shapes) have all made tons of progress in the last couple of months.  Grant has colors down pat and can count to twenty without any problems.  He recognizes most of his letters now as well.

Grant’s memory still amazes us on a daily basis.  We find him now consistently referring to events that have happened in the last several months and reliving the details for us.

 

 

Grant absolutely loves to read.  We can’t tuck him in at night without reading at least 2 books of his choice.  One of his favorites right now is Pat the Bunny and he likes to read it to us.  He will tell us what Paul and Judy are doing and give the play by play on each page based on the pictures. 

He is also very independent.  I think most children are at this age but he really likes to figure things out for himself.  And when he doesn’t want to be messed with he isn’t afraid to let you know.  One of his favorite phrases lately is “back away daddy/mommy” when he doesn’t want help or want to be messed with.

Mobility/Coordination:  Over the last couple of months, Grant’s coordination has come a long way.  When he colors he can draw lines and circles on command usually using the proper grip on the crayon.  He can unscrew caps and can use his toy screw driver to unscrew the bolts on his tool bench.  He eats cereal with milk and other food with very little to no spilling.  When going up the stairs, he likes to do so without holding on.  He very good at pulling up and down his pants and undies.  Grant will also "push the button" on his gator now but is still working on stopping and steering as you can see in the video. 

Potty Training: If you didn’t see my post about our adventures in potty training, click here.  Otherwise, he is doing awesome still and rarely has accidents unless it is just an off day.  We are still making progress on poop but I think he has a hard time differentiating between gas and poop so we usually don’t know until it is too late.  His latest trick is to just go a tiny amount when you tell him it’s time to potty just to get you off his back so he can go back to playing or whatever he was doing.  Well then it sneaks up on him when he really has to go and he will sometimes have an accident.  He rarely has an accident at nap or bed time but we still use a diaper at bedtime.  I figure once the baby is born we will nix the night diaper because if he does have an accident chances are I will be up in the middle of the night anyway and can change sheets.  We couldn’t be happier with the progress he has made! 

Grant-isms:  Yells “one big bad wolf” and tells the 3 little pigs story ~ If you ask him to do something he will often reply “I don’t want to” (This drives us nuts!) ~ If you ask what color something is or quiz him on something, he answers but them quizzes us back ~ new favorite phrase when he sees/meets someone he doesn’t know or recognize:  “Who’s this guy?” ~ takes tiny bites to savor the flavor when it is something he really likes like a cookie or cake

Things he likes:  putting his hands in his pockets ~ has always liked music but now likes to sing along with you ~ buckling buckles ~ Thomas the Train and “the mouse movie” aka The Rescuers and The Rescuers Down Under ~ zamboni at the hockey game ~ drawing on his magnidoodle and asking us to “look at his picture” ~ looking at pictures whether it is a photo album or the pictures on Matt or my phone ~ his brown shoes (it is sometimes a battle to get him to wear any others) ~ playing in the snow/building snowmen

"Look at my picture mama and daddy.  It's a tunnel."

Funniest moment(s):  We were grocery shopping this month and passed an older gentleman on a motorized scooter.  Naturally, Grant turns to me and asks “This guy doing mama?”  It took everything inside me to keep a straight face because of the way Grant posed the question.  I guess we are already approaching the stage of having no filter and blurting out what is on his mind. 

We also had to learn the hard way that Grant knows how to unscrew caps.  One afternoon as his nap was ending I heard him upstairs.  I asked Matt to go up and check on him because he hadn’t come out of his room yet.  All of the sudden Matt yells “Autumn you better get up here!”  As I am running up the stairs I am asking if it is poop or puke or what happened.  Well, come to find out Grant had gotten into a drawer in his dresser (we didn’t think he could reach yet) and pulled out a tub of prescription diaper cream and rubbed it all over his arms and legs, the glider, the carpet, his radio… basically everything.  Grant proudly stated “I made a mess!”  After the initial shock wore off, the only choice we had was to laugh and start cleaning it all up.

 

Showing off Aunt Kelli's boots and his sunglasses

Biggest change(s):  Grant is definitely becoming more and more independent (as you can tell from his “I don’t want to” answers) and we see some very dramatic toddler moments.  There are times when I dread saying no because of the fit it will lead to.  It can be exhausting, but I know if we give in then we will end up with a heathen on our hands. 

Firsts:  Not a first that anyone looks forward to but we had a trip to the ER.  You can read about it below in the illness section 

Illnesses:  On January 20^th Grant came down with the croup.  As this was not our first but our 5^th time down this path since he was born we know all the tricks to try… steam, cold air, humidifier and his nebulizer.  Well, unfortunately none of the above could even touch his cough this time around.  His breathing became very labored and it was scary.  At that point, I told Matt we needed to go in for a steroid injection.  It was about 1 am so we packed up and off to the ER we went.  Of course, you never know what to expect with an ER visit at 1 am on a Saturday night so we were prepared for a long night.  I am happy to report the opposite.  They took us straight back and we were seen by the doctor within 30 minutes.  He agreed Grant needed steroids (which we knew already because we had been down this path before) and also did a strep test on him because of the “severe swelling” in his throat.  Strep came back negative and after administering the steroids we were out of there in less than 2 hours.  We went home, tucked Grant in bed with us to keep an eye on him, slept peacefully the rest of the night.

34 Weeks

In case anyone missed it, I had a post earlier this week about our birth plan and journey thus far.  If you feel led to read it here or have already, it is my only hope that new moms or expecting moms use it as a spark to make sure they are educated about their births, babies, and bodies.  My choices aren't for everyone but they came after we did research and we are making informed decisions that best fit us. 

How Far Along: 34 Weeks, 1 Day  Is it really March already?!?

Baby's Size:  Butternut Squash Average size: 17.2-18.7 inches, 4.2-5.8 lbs (Another source says baby weighs about 5 lbs and could be approximately 20 inches head to toe.)
Baby can recognize and react to simple songs.

Total Weight Gain:
Home scale: 2.7 lbs this week (I give up! Holy cow!) bringing me to 24.6 lbs total
Doctor’s scale: 3 lbs this week and 27 lbs total at our 34 week appointment yesterday
Weight gained with Grant at this point:  33 lbs

Maternity Clothes:  Of course nearly all of the time now.  There are still a couple non-maternity shirts that fit comfortably though.   

Baby's Movement:  Most of her movements seem to be isolated to the left side now which makes sense since as of now her head is down with torso on the right side meaning I would feel arm/hand and leg/feet movements on the left side. 

Food Cravings:  Ummm apparently everything in sight! 

Food Aversions:  Again, I don't think I could turn food down if I wanted to.  Obviously by the looks of the scale!

Sleep:  A little more restlessly... waking several times a night for no reason.  Still not back to making a bathroom trip just waking for no reason then back to sleep.  I also always fall asleep on my left side but when I wake up I am almost always on my back.  Maybe that is why I am waking?   

Symptoms:  Lots of baby hiccups down low... good sign for position!  Feeling a little pressure/achiness between my legs but not all the time.  It comes and goes.  It is getting a little tighter putting my wedding ring on even in the mornings but my feet/legs aren't really too swollen by the end of the day.  And boy oh boy is this belly firming up and getting tight.  I have also noticed my urine is very cloudy usually until about noon or mid-day and then clears up.  This has been associated with some back pain in my kidney area.  I brought it up at my appointment yesterday and she suggested we take a urine sample because sometimes in pregnancy you can have a bladder infection and not know it.  I haven't heard back yet with the results.  I am sure it is nothing but wanted to be on the safe side.     

Best Moment(s) This Week:  I am running out of stuff to do around the house to "get ready."  That must mean we are pretty close to having it all done and me being satisfied. 

What I Miss:  Not being paranoid about sitting in the recliner and relaxing for the night.  I have done tons of research about baby position and recliners or any type of bucket seat which causes your pelvis to tilt backwards should really be a no-no at this point so I have been avoiding those seats as much as possible.  They can actually contribute to mal-presentation whether baby is breech or posterior.         

What I Am Looking Forward To:  Enjoying the next several weeks with Grant.  Nearly everything is done and now I just want to soak up as much time with him before we meet this lil' girl.  I also want to do a little cooking and make and freeze some meals for after baby.  It will help that my mom will be here and I can put her to work cooking for us as well :) 

What's Different This Time:  I don't feel as panicked as I did with Grant because it was at 34 weeks we found out he was breech which sent me into a baby turning frenzy.    

Appointment update:  Overall my appointment went great.  Baby is absolutely head down right now and her heartbeat was clocking in at 142.  My belly measured right at 34 weeks and everything was still closed up tight aka no signs of dilation.  She also did the Group B Strep swab so we will see how that comes back.  I was negative with Grant. 

Next Appointment:
March 21st - 36 week appointment  Boo... I don't want to wait 2 weeks for another appointment.

Our Birth Plan

I feel like I need to start with a disclaimer of sorts.  This post is not meant to seem judgmental. It is a reflection of how I feel and what I have learned throughout my two pregnancies and the birth of Grant.   A woman's birth is an extremely powerful and personal experience.   Most importantly, each woman has the power to shape and make it exactly how she wishes with the proper information and education.  Birth does not have to be what society makes it out to be or what a doctor tells you it has to be.  A natural birth may not be for everyone but an educated birth path is always the best option. 

I know no matter how prepared you are or I was for the birth of baby sometimes there are circumstances and baby and/or our bodies just have other plans and a birth plan goes flying out the window. However, if you know me, I am a planner. I always have been, always will be. With Grant we did everything by the book. We took a Hypnobirthing class (a method that introduces a natural, relaxed method of birth with the help of breathing techniques and visualization), took the hospital class (what a joke!), hired a doula, had a birth plan written and then at 34 weeks we found out Grant was frank breech (butt down, torso and legs straight up) and it seemed like all of our plans went out the window. I can't tell you how many people I called that day sobbing because a c-section seemed inevitable. I was told there was still plenty of time for baby to turn which of course there was and is at that point but if he didn't I knew what it meant.

We, well mainly I went into crisis mode doing endless research and calling in every person we knew for help (typical Autumn.. explore and research all options). Our Hypnobirthing instructor did two hypnosis sessions with me. Our doula came over a couple of times to try various inversion techniques. I visited the chiropractor several times so she could try the Webster Technique (an adjustment specifically for breech babies). And as a last resort we tried an external cephalic version (ECV). I say last resort because it literally was.

At 37 weeks we walked into the hospital, they got me set up in a labor and delivery room, hooked me up to a monitor, and put in an IV. It is a must that mom is prepped and ready for surgery in case something goes wrong and they need to get baby out immediately which is a possibility with an ECV. They gave me terbutaline which is used to relax the uterus and stop/slow any contractions (braxton hicks at that point) I was having. My doctor and a fellow physician then proceeded to lube up my belly and push and pull and crank on Grant. The force they were using was literally so great their hands were shaking. After several tries, they both agreed that "he was really in there and not going anywhere." My doctor talked about our options and said we could schedule a c-section for the 11th in which I proceeded to break down and sob yet again. We had to stay at the hospital, me hooked up to the monitor to keep an eye on Grant for over an hour after the procedure to make sure everything was ok. Side note: The next day I felt like I had literally been kicked and punched in the stomach. It hurt to laugh, cough, and even move. I can't imagine how poor little Grant felt in there.

We were told that sometimes baby's are breech for a reason. I also knew that baby's have been known to turn at the last minute during labor. However, we were not willing to take the risk of what going into labor could mean although there are many accounts of breech babies born naturally with no problems encountered by baby or mom. I was the person that cried when I had a c-section not because of the pain (which there was plenty of for weeks... anyone who thinks a c-section is the easy way out is a fool and I even have a high pain tolerance. No offense). I felt I had been robbed of a truly empowering and beautiful experience everyone woman who desires should be entitled to.

This time around I am fully prepared to make modifications to our birth plan as we see fit but I absolutely and utterly intend on having a natural (as in medication free), VBAC (vaginal birth after cesarean). I know some people reading that sentence will laugh and say "yeah right" or "why would she ever want to do that?"  Well frankly, because I can and I will. My mother did it with both of her children. I have had several friends do the same thing and I have an amazing support network. I learned in our Hypnobirthing class and had it instilled in me very early (from my mother) that a natural birth is possible for anyone and very often best for both mom and baby.  Having a natural birth is not necessarily going to be easy and just because a woman has one doesn't mean that maybe she happened to get "lucky" with an "easy delivery" as I have heard some woman say to others who have had a natural birth.   Why do we as women have such a tendency to try to break each other down and tell horror birth stories when we should be building each other up and encouraging one another?  We are also opting for some other items in our birth plan such as delayed cord clamping, kangaroo care (immediate skin to skin contact after birth), no application of erythromycin (that goo they put on baby's eyes right away), and no hepatitis vaccine.  Unfortunately, in most hospitals these options are not the norm even though they absolutely should be.  It is what is best for baby and bonding and that should be the priority. 

Unfortunately, we as women have been led to believe many myths about what childbirth has to be which is utterly false. I highly encourage anyone (even those not planning on a natural birth) who is expecting or planning on children to read Mother's Intention: How Beliefs Shape Birth 2nd Edition as well Hypnobirthing: The Mongan Method (even if you don't take the class it has some extremely valuable unbiased, educational information in it).  Look into seeking supportive caregivers and independent childbirth educators (not hospital affiliated, they regulate what can and can't be taught and often push for medical intervention or label interventions as the norm) who view birth as a natural occurrence and not a medical condition.   Bottom line... do the research and get informed.  Don't always accept what you are told as the ultimate truth or final answer. 

Only rarely does a normal, healthy pregnancy in itself merit the use of interventions but frequently unnecessary interventions lead to complications in pregnancy and birth.

Most of all I ask that you, our friends and family keep us in your prayers as we continue this journey and I can't wait to share our natural, VBAC birth story.

33 Weeks

You can definitely tell a difference in belly sizes in this picture! 

How Far Along: 33 Weeks

Baby's Size:  Durian Fruit Average size: 17.2-18.7 inches, 4.2-5.8 lbs (Another source says baby weighs more than 4 1/2 lbs and is approximately 17-19 inches head to toe.)
Bones are hardening.

Total Weight Gain:
Home scale: 2.5 lbs this week bringing me to 21.9 lbs total
Wowza!  I have had several big weight gain weeks in a row.  I guess it shows that I have been absolutely starving this week.  Maybe she has been growing significantly too... Yikes!        
Doctor’s scale:  24 lbs at our 33 week appointment yesterday
The scales are coming together!  Only different by 2 lbs now.
Weight gained with Grant at this point: 29.4 lbs

Maternity Clothes:  Yes and I am sure glad that I don't work in a job that I need to wear nice clothes to work everyday.  It is nice wearing my same maternity jeans and getting away with wearing my work polo still.  My wardrobe is sparse when it comes to maternity and I find myself struggling to find stuff to wear out and about in the afternoons and on weekends.  I can't imagine the money I would have to invest if I had to dress up for work.  

Baby's Movement:  You betcha! And if I had to guess it seems she is spending most of her time head down still.  Dr. Dennis seemed to think so yesterday as well.    

Food Cravings:  Soda (I still limit myself to 2-3 per week), fish (Blanck's here we come tonight!... Yes, again!), candy/sweets (doesn't help with the weight!), salads, basically starving this week. 

Food Aversions:  I don't think I could turn food down even if I wanted to right now.

Sleep:  Still sleeping very well and not waking for potty trips but waking around 3:00-4:00 for no reason.   

Symptoms:  Clumsiness... when I try not to be so clutzy I think it just makes it worse.  Nesting at work.  There is so much to get done before I leave to make sure my boss isn't left high and dry.  My hair has finally slowed with how much I am losing.  Hot flashes/night sweats and boy have I been very gassy :) 

Best Moment(s) This Week:  Baby clothes are washed, car seat has been pulled out, bottles back in cuboards, breast pump out... I probably forgot some things but basically we sorted through the basement and brought all that stuff back to life and found a home for it again. 

What I Miss:  I am beginning to feel very pregnant and big.  I am not necessarily miserable but there are times when I look down and it's like "ok where did that big belly come from?"  Like it has happened all at once.  It's getting harder to bend and move and slightly more uncomfortable.   

What I Am Looking Forward To:  Seeing/hearing this baby girl more often!  I feel like it had been forever since our checkup becuase 5 weeks have passed. I am looking forward to the more frequent visits to the doc to hear that little thump thump and maybe even catching a glimpse of her via a late ulstrasound or two. 

What's Different This Time:  Maybe it is the feeling of impending chaos looming with having two children but I feel the need to have more storage and have it all be organized complete with labels.  I know... what a dork!     

Appointment update:  Our appointment went great yesterday.  Dr. Dennis and I talked more about our birth plan.  It makes me feel so good to get her reassurance at each appointment.  My belly is measuring right on track and baby girl's heartbeat was 146.  Dr. Dennis suspects by palpating my belly that baby is head down.  She said next week we will check for sure even if we have to do a quick ultrasound.  It was at my 34 week appointment with Grant that we found out we was breech. 

Next Appointment:
March 7th - 34 week appointment