So Nick and I have been going to some birthing classes offered by our hospital every Monday night. We have attended 3 thus far and have discussed things like pain medication options, the layout of the hospital, what to expect when you check in, breathing techniques, stages of labor, etc. They have been quite informative, sometimes too informative :)
I thought I would share some funny commentary from the class last night. We were doing some exercises, similar to role playing, though our teacher refuses to use the word role play. Each couple was given a card with a scenario on it (time of day, contraction length & strength, feelings, etc) and we had to put the cards in order of the stages of labor. When it came time for your card, you had to say what positions and breathing techniques were best used during this stage, as well as what the husband's role should be at that time. Nick and I had one of the final stages, so we got off fairly easy, but some other couples had some funny reactions.
A couple that had an early stage of labor had a funny answer. When our instructor asked the dad-to-be what he would be saying to his wife who was having mild contractions that were getting closer together, he replied, very casually, "How's it going?" The instructor shot him a look and told him that is never something you want to say/ask. She then asked him what he would be doing for her at this time and he replied "grab a rag and give it to her?" Wow! Our teacher quickly explained what some correct answers would be and quickly moved to the next couple. I think that guy is now in the doghouse, not only with his expecting wife, but with our instructor.
The next funny response came from a dad-to-be that had a card that was the transition phase of labor- the longest and most painful stage. When asked what he would be saying to his wife, he replied "Something positive, since I will be the sane one, I mean one of us has to be." Yikes! That didn't get such a good reaction from anyone... ha! This same guy later asked the instructor how clean the birthing room would be- were we not in one of the top birthing hospitals in the state? Guess he is a complete germ-a-phobe!
Anyway, thought these were funny enough to pass along b/c we got quite a kick out of them. I do have to say Nick was one of the best dad's in the class- he will be a great coach whether we are going with Plan A or B. I was proud! :)
Nov 10, 2009
Nov 5, 2009
32 Week Checkup
Sorry the picture turned out darker than I planned... the dark shirt didn't help...
I had my 32 week checkup this morning with Dr. Woodruff. My blood pressure and everything was good. I hadn't gained any weight since my last appointment, but he said that was fine as long as I hadn't changed my eating. I like that I didn't gain weight after having Halloween leftovers :) Mmmmm :)
I measured right on track and Camille's heartbeat was strong as usual. I actually got my H1N1 vaccine today too b/c they had gotten a shipment yesterday that they hadn't expected.
The focus of the appointment was on Camille's position. She is still very breech and Dr. Woodruff said that its very unlikely that she will move down on her own at this point. He said that they would be continuing to monitor the position, but that I should probably go ahead and mentally prepare for the option of a c-section. He said over the next appointment or two, they can do some of the manual versioning to get her to move, but that with my petitie figure he doubts that it will fully accomplish what we want it to. Not the news I wanted to hear, but I guess that you can never fully plan around a birth.... it goes the way God wants it to and I have no control of that. So while a c-section isn't 100% at this point, it is very likely that that is the path will be faced with.
Please keep us in your thoughts and prayers as Nick and I begin to mentally prepare for Plan B. The doctor could tell I was upset by his news, but he did say that with me being such a planner, that their was good news in that I could actually pick Camille's birthdate..... :)
My next appt is on the 19th....
Nov 4, 2009
Camille's Nursery
The nursery is painted!! Thanks to the hard work from Nick and Christy, the nursery is getting closer to being completed :) Now we just have to get the furniture in, etc.... It is looking quite precious and girly!
Oct 22, 2009
30 Week Check Up
Had my 30wk checkup this morning with Dr. Creighton. I had gained another 3lbs and had great readings for blood pressure, etc. My iron count had even gone up a fair amount, so no need for any supplements thus far! (all that peanut butter must have done the trick) I also got my 2nd Rhogam shot. Ouch! It brought back memories from the 1st one... not pleasant!
As I was waiting to see the doctor, a woman came in crying and had the most miserable look on her face. Turns out she was due any day and this was going to be the day. She could barely walk. They ended up wheeling her next door for labor admission. The woman was moaning as she walked by and of course I get put in the room next to her..... so all I hear is her painful cries! I hear the doctor say "You're 4 cm dialated- let's send you on in for delivery." She started crying more and her poor husband looked almost as miserable as she did. All my hormones then took over and I started crying. Dr. Creighton wondered if I was in pain.... nope, just scared out of my mind from being next to that poor woman!! Dr. Creighton told me that the woman was well on her way for delivery and would be receiving an epidural within minutes and that everything was fine. Easy for her to say- she isn't about to pop a child out in less than 10 weeks!! Yikes!!
Dr. Creighton said I was measuring on track for end of December. The heartbeat was great! She did notice that little Camille is very breech. That alien like lopsidedness to my belly is Camille's head showing that she isn't ready to move downward yet. I have a few exercises to do over the next few weeks to "encourage" her to make her way down. I will have an ultrasound at 34wks to see the progress she has made. Dr. Creighton did try some "aversion" which is where they manually try and move the baby downward. That felt very uncomfortable to me! Camille reacted well and moved, but then came right back within minutes! She is already a strong willed child! A combination of the exercises and "aversion" will be used over the next few weeks until the ultrasound. If Camille hasn't moved downward by that point, they will start discussing alternatives like accupuncture because breech babies are only delivered via c-section these days. I am going to try and avoid that if possible, but the plans of Camille and God may be different. More to come in the next few weeks on that front......
My next appointment is Nov 5th.
As I was waiting to see the doctor, a woman came in crying and had the most miserable look on her face. Turns out she was due any day and this was going to be the day. She could barely walk. They ended up wheeling her next door for labor admission. The woman was moaning as she walked by and of course I get put in the room next to her..... so all I hear is her painful cries! I hear the doctor say "You're 4 cm dialated- let's send you on in for delivery." She started crying more and her poor husband looked almost as miserable as she did. All my hormones then took over and I started crying. Dr. Creighton wondered if I was in pain.... nope, just scared out of my mind from being next to that poor woman!! Dr. Creighton told me that the woman was well on her way for delivery and would be receiving an epidural within minutes and that everything was fine. Easy for her to say- she isn't about to pop a child out in less than 10 weeks!! Yikes!!
Dr. Creighton said I was measuring on track for end of December. The heartbeat was great! She did notice that little Camille is very breech. That alien like lopsidedness to my belly is Camille's head showing that she isn't ready to move downward yet. I have a few exercises to do over the next few weeks to "encourage" her to make her way down. I will have an ultrasound at 34wks to see the progress she has made. Dr. Creighton did try some "aversion" which is where they manually try and move the baby downward. That felt very uncomfortable to me! Camille reacted well and moved, but then came right back within minutes! She is already a strong willed child! A combination of the exercises and "aversion" will be used over the next few weeks until the ultrasound. If Camille hasn't moved downward by that point, they will start discussing alternatives like accupuncture because breech babies are only delivered via c-section these days. I am going to try and avoid that if possible, but the plans of Camille and God may be different. More to come in the next few weeks on that front......
My next appointment is Nov 5th.
Oct 18, 2009
Oct 15, 2009
Another funny moment...(provided by the neighborhood kids!)
I know how much you all appreciate the funny belly stories... so I felt like I would post my most recent funny moment.
On Tuesday night, I was home alone and decided to use my time wisely and go for a walk in the neighborhood, especially given it was the last day of warm temperatures! I was walking at my normal "waddle" pace and got to my favorite col-de-sac on the other end of the neighborhood. I particularly like this area, b/c there is a precious little boy (prob age 7) that always rides his bike alongside me as I walk his circle. Well this night he happened to have a little girl friend with him that also lived in the neighborhood. Now keep in mind that it has been awhile since I have been seen walking :) Laziness set in early with this pregnancy! Well I came walking up and was given the stare down by both children.... The little boy started to ride beside me as he always does, but you could tell he had a question he needed to ask. He said "Do you have a baby in your belly?" I replied, "Yes, its a little girl!" His eyes got big and he said "Should you be walking?" The little girl followed with her own opinion. "You are walking to try and get it to come out, aren't you?" I laughed and told them that I was walking for exercise and have hopes that the baby stays put until late December! They both looked at me as if I was crazy! The little girl preceded to tell me which house she lived in, in case I needed her while I was walking, in case the baby came. The little boy followed up with, "My mommy has a belly like yours, but she isn't pregnant."
Wow, gotta love the honesty! They both urged me to walk home fast so the baby didn't "slip out too soon."
On Tuesday night, I was home alone and decided to use my time wisely and go for a walk in the neighborhood, especially given it was the last day of warm temperatures! I was walking at my normal "waddle" pace and got to my favorite col-de-sac on the other end of the neighborhood. I particularly like this area, b/c there is a precious little boy (prob age 7) that always rides his bike alongside me as I walk his circle. Well this night he happened to have a little girl friend with him that also lived in the neighborhood. Now keep in mind that it has been awhile since I have been seen walking :) Laziness set in early with this pregnancy! Well I came walking up and was given the stare down by both children.... The little boy started to ride beside me as he always does, but you could tell he had a question he needed to ask. He said "Do you have a baby in your belly?" I replied, "Yes, its a little girl!" His eyes got big and he said "Should you be walking?" The little girl followed with her own opinion. "You are walking to try and get it to come out, aren't you?" I laughed and told them that I was walking for exercise and have hopes that the baby stays put until late December! They both looked at me as if I was crazy! The little girl preceded to tell me which house she lived in, in case I needed her while I was walking, in case the baby came. The little boy followed up with, "My mommy has a belly like yours, but she isn't pregnant."
Wow, gotta love the honesty! They both urged me to walk home fast so the baby didn't "slip out too soon."
Oct 9, 2009
28 week checkup- I Passed!!
Nick and I appreciate all the thoughts and prayers this week as I anxiously awaited the 28 week glucose test :( This is to test for gestantial diabetes, as well as some others things like iron and syphillus (state mandatory- go figure!). The test requires you to stay away from sugars the night before and the day of- much harder than I thought! At the doctor's office, you drink a sugar solution and then wait for one hour and then they draw your blood and can tell you then & there if you are borderline diabetic. I was so nervous about this test for some reason... maybe the thought of having to alter my diet while pregnant is what did it :)
Well, I passed with flying colors! And I have to admit, the orange drink tasted like a flat Sunkist, so I didn't mind gulping it down. I did feel a little nauseous afterware because you have only a few minutes to drink it all. And have I mentioned how much I hate having my blood drawn??!! It all ended up being fine, glucose levels were great, my iron was a bit low, so I have to start being more aware of getting that into my diet- (here i come peanut butter!)
Camille's heartbeat was just as strong during this visit at 153bpm and my blood pressure was good. I had gained another 4lbs which suprised me b/c I didn't feel THAT much bigger than the last visit. Oh well.... all in all a successful appointment with Dr. Woodruff.
Now that I am in my last trimester (very hard to believe), I start going to the doctor every 2 weeks instead of every 4. So my next appointment will be at 30weeks.
Counting down for Camille's arrival :)
Well, I passed with flying colors! And I have to admit, the orange drink tasted like a flat Sunkist, so I didn't mind gulping it down. I did feel a little nauseous afterware because you have only a few minutes to drink it all. And have I mentioned how much I hate having my blood drawn??!! It all ended up being fine, glucose levels were great, my iron was a bit low, so I have to start being more aware of getting that into my diet- (here i come peanut butter!)
Camille's heartbeat was just as strong during this visit at 153bpm and my blood pressure was good. I had gained another 4lbs which suprised me b/c I didn't feel THAT much bigger than the last visit. Oh well.... all in all a successful appointment with Dr. Woodruff.
Now that I am in my last trimester (very hard to believe), I start going to the doctor every 2 weeks instead of every 4. So my next appointment will be at 30weeks.
Counting down for Camille's arrival :)
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