38 Weeks and Counting ...

So, we're about 10 days away from the due date and all I can say is poor John. I think I may put him over the edge before this little fella comes along.

On Saturday it seems I had a bit of a stomach ache all day. Accompanied by occassional cramps and many trips to the bathroom. Which if you read enough material on-line can be a sign of early labour. Turns out I must of picked up a stomach bug or have eaten something that did not agree with me. In any case, John had a very long evening while I read everything I could find on the subject. I then called Lori, my resident baby expert, for her assurance that I wasn't in labour. Although, she had the same advice as I read everywhere else "You'll know!!!"

I had my weekly midwife appt. yesterday and all is well. The baby's head is fixed, but not yet dropped. She said to be prepared for up to three more weeks. All I can say is - poor John if he has three more weeks of this. My blood pressure was a bit higher than usual, but I believe this was more related to an aggravating afternoon at Canadian Tire than anything else. I took the car to get the winter tires changed and the guy absolutely promised me the car for 4:00 at the latest, since I had my midwife appt. at 4:30 in Carleton Place. Needless to say, at 3:45 when the work had not even been started, I got a bit cranky and just asked for the car back. The "guy" insisted he would get it done for me by 4:10. Which he did, but not without me spending 25 minutes with my blood boiling that I wasn't going to make it to my appt on time.

Then, I got to learn of the joys of prenatal perineal massage from the midwife. If you have no clue what this is - count yourself lucky. I will not go into the graphic details - suffice to say it's a technique to help reduce the risk of tearing during birth. They advise you to have your partner assist you - if you can't reach. I can't help but thinking perhaps this is one of those areas in which you should just let nature take it's course and hope for the best.

My belly was measuring the same as last week (37 cm), but the midwife said this was no cause for concern. She said if the measurement didn't change again next week, they might send me for another ultrasound. I, of course am now obsessing. I figure it can't hurt to eat a little extra just to make sure John Jr. is getting all the nutrients he needs. The irony of it all is that I'm fat and don't really care what I eat - but my stomach must be squat to the size of a chickpea cause I eat a few bites and I'm full.

Our crib has arrived from Sears. One less thing for me to obsess about. At least now I won't have to stick the poor child on the mattress in the corner of the room. Now if only our stroller/car seat combo and chest of drawers would arrive - I would be a happy woman. Of course John would then have to put on with me nagging him to put it all together ...

Weekly Appt Update

Just got back from my appt. with the midwife and all is well. Not much is new. Baby seems to be doing great. His heart rate is strong. My blood pressure is good and I'm measuring right on for 37 weeks. The baby is a little lower - the midwife couldn't move his head much when she tried. However, he still hasn't dropped. Although Kristin did tell us to be prepared from any point onward now. She also said that while swelling was once thought to be a bad thing, now "they" say that it can actually be a good thing since the additional fluid helps if you experience blood loss during labour. This information doesn't make it any less uncomfortable - but at least gives it a purpose. My next appointment is Tuesday the 25th.

I just found out that a lady in my prenatal yoga class, who incidentally had both the same due date and same midwife as myself, had her baby on Easter Sunday. Which gives me one less thing to obsess about - since I was convinced we were both going to go into labour at the exact same moment and I would end up with a midwife I didn't know as well. Although this information also makes me a little more anxious because I am ready for the baby to come. I figure every day he waits - he is just getting bigger and bigger ...

2:30 a.m.

It is currently 2:30 a.m. and I have finally been forced out of bed by a variety of symptoms. First, it was the heartburn that awoke me. To think that not so long ago, I did not know what heartburn was. For anyone who says they are not sure what heartburn is I can assure you you've never had it!!! It burns and burns. Next, my hands and feet have pains just shooting through them. The only upside I can see to all this is that I don't have to work tomorrow. Cause quite frankly I don't know how I'd manage to drag my ass out of bed at 6:00 a.m. The Dr. put me off work as of Thursday, due to the swelling in my hands which is creating pregnancy induced carpel tunnel and the fact I only get about two hours of sleep at a time these days. John wondered if she could also give him a note for exhaustion since between my snoring, getting up to get a drink, getting up for milk to try and ease the heartburn, then to use the bathroom, and general tossing and turning from all my aches and pains - he hasn't been sleeping a whole lot these days either.

My fingers have gotten so fat that it takes quite awhile to type anything. I usually hit the key I want to hit and the key next to it. I'm going into work on Wednesday morning to clue up a few things and then I'm finished. I don't think it has quite sunk in yet. I'm hoping that the baby comes soon, although I think we could still have quite a wait. I'm figuring the next few weeks are going to drag by. Especially considering I can't do a whole lot with my hands these days.

There are some theories that the broken sleep that occurs during the last trimester is nature's way of preparing you for 3:00 a.m. feedings. To this I say, I'm not sure how lack of sleep prepares you for more lack of sleep. Probably just something someone made up to make themselves feel better about the fact they couldn't sleep.

Anyway - enough complaining, even for this hour of the morning. The Trask's welcomed their third little one, on Friday the 14th. A little girl that they named Nya Ann. She's so cute. John and I were able to test our route to the Queensway Carelton Hospital on Friday. Funny cause we had a brief discussion/argument as to the best route. In the end, John's route won and he got us there in about 10 minutes. It was all a little too real though. I don't think we said two words to each other during the ride.

In any case, I can only hope I do the job of having a baby, a fraction as well as Lori.

Other than that there's not much new. The baby is still quite active. He might be a boy, but he seems to take after his mother for being squirmy. Yesterday, he ended up having the hiccups a couple of times. They were entertaining for a few minutes, but then I just started to feel bad for him.

So, that's about all the news and as creative as I can be for 3:00 in the morning. My next midwife appointment is on Wednesday afternoon so I'll post an update then ...

Time Flies When You're Having Fun

Just under a month left ... I can't believe where the time has gone.

I'm feeling pretty good other than the fact my fingers have swollen to the size of large sausages and feel as if they have been frozen by the dentist. But, I guess that just comes with the territory at this point.

Just came from my midwife appointment and everything is great. The baby's heartrate was strong (140's to 150). My blood pressure was good and I'm measuring right on for 36 weeks (36 cm). Kristin (my midwife) said the baby is in the perfect position, though his head hasn't dropped yet.

Here's a few pictures:


(Sunday, April 9, 2006 - 36 Weeks)
I thought I hadn't grown much lately until I put on my bathing suit to go to prenatal aquafit last night. My tanktini is quickly becoming a string bikini - but I'll spare you those pictures


Dancer's Pose


Warrier 1

John took these just before I left for prenatal yoga on Sunday. I can't believe I can still do this ...

Here's one corner of the baby's room. Just wanted to let Nanny Vern see her curtain is hung.