I'm Scared of August

As July is winding down, it means August is right around the corner.  This scares the living daylights out of me.

With the kiddo being due October 1st, there is a good possibility he could make his appearance in September.  He's measured large all along, and has made progress already towards the "exit".

This means August may very well be out last month sans child.

I knew this summer was going to be packed full (as most summers are) with BBQ's, parties, camping, projects, etc.  And I knew that having those things constantly scheduled makes time seem to fly by faster.  But now that we're actually experiencing that phenomenon, it's scary!!

I still feel like we have so much to accomplish before this little man makes his big debut.  I know that if he did decide to come early, we do already have the necessities at home.  Crib, clothes, diapers, feeding supplies, blankets, car seat.  But it's all of the not-necessary-but-nice-to-have items that we don't have yet.  I know that this child won't mind if his closet door knobs aren't yet painted to match his room, or that there aren't cute baskets on his changing table to hold all those supplies.  But that doesn't make me want them accomplished any less.

Here is our schedule through the beginning of September:

July 23-24:  Josh works overtime, and I try to finish the quilt, cloth wipes, burp cloths, and swaddlers I'm sewing.  Plus a BBQ.

July 30-31:  Going to Belfair to watch a field trial practice (dog event), and install ceiling fan and closet doors in nursery.

August 6-7:  Childbirth class

August 13-14:  Baby Shower #1, back to Belfair for more dog training.

August 18-21:  Lake Chelan for family camping trip (still up for debate).

August 27-28:  Baby Shower #2, last minute shopping.

September 3-4:  Field Trial competition in Bremerton.

My goal has always been to have everything ready for baby by September 1st, and its going to be a real struggle to meet that goal.  Obviously, all of this scheduling could change depending on how baby's doing/progressing, but I'm hoping he decides to cook at least long enough for us to accomplish our major goals. 

Needless to say, I've been eagerly awaiting August since finding out I was pregnant, and now that its merely days away, I'm scared to death.

Its the Little Stuff

We started working on the kiddo's room a few months ago, by slowly clearing out the bedroom of the futon, desk, and other miscellaneous crap that had accumulated there in just one year.  Once the room was empty, we bought and assembled his dresser, and worked on putting shelves in the closet, as well as installing new closet doors.  (Note:  I say "we" did all of this, when mostly it was Josh doing all the work, while I researched, supervised, pointed, and watched.)

Then, we received our crib and changing table (courtesy of our moms), and got those put together.  I had already received (and bought) some clothes, so I washed all of those, and started sorting/organizing based on size.

Throughout all of this, it still didn't quite seem real.  Obviously, I KNEW a baby was coming this fall, and KNEW he would be using all of this eventually, but it still didn't sink in.

Recently, however, I've started getting things- little things- that all of a sudden make me realize, Holy cow!  I'm having a BABY!  That will grow into a TODDLER!  And then a KID!!

Like I said, it's all little stuff.  Sippy cups.  Diapers.  Pacifiers.  Diaper cream.  Baby wash and lotion.

I'm not sure why it took these little items for me finally grasp what was happening, but it has.  And I'm excited!  We have approximately 10 weeks left until our due date, and everyone seems convinced he'll be arriving sometime in September.  52 days until he's considered full-term.

And I'm counting down by the hour.

28 Week Appoinment

I went in today for my regularly-scheduled 28 week appointment, and I wanted to talk to the doctor about the major discomfort I've been having.  What I love about that office is that they never make me feel like anything I'm asking is a "dumb" question.  They are patient, take time to explain everything, and I never feel rushed.

We started with the normal weight check (0 lbs. gained since two weeks ago- think my weight gain has FINALLY slowed down!), blood pressure (116/79), listened to his heart rate (136 bpm), and measured my belly.  He was measuring a little ahead again, but is still within normal ranges.  We then discussed my discomfort in my pelvis, and how I feel like he's sitting very low already.  I also told her I'd been having some Braxton-Hicks, so she decided it was a good idea to check me out and make sure the kiddo wasn't making progress that he shouldn't be yet.

He is most definitely head-down (he was head-up two weeks ago), and has dropped significantly.  However, he still isn't "too" low, and she isn't worried about his position.  No dilation, no effacement.  The doctor just wants me to monitor my Braxton-Hicks more closely, and said we'll probably keep checking at every appointment now, just to make sure he isn't trying to make an appearance too soon.

I'll continue going every two weeks until the end of August, and then I'll switch to weekly appointments.  I'm sure once we start going every week it will really seem like his birth is getting closer!

A 28 Week Update

I am currently 28w3d pregnant, with (approximately) 81 days left to go until our due date.  I'm now being seen every two weeks by my OB, and the end is in sight.

At my last appointment two weeks ago, the kiddo was measuring 2 weeks ahead, and was still head-up.  He is kicking up a storm, and now gets both his hands AND feet (or knees and elbows) going at the same time, so I can feel movement in two different places at once.  Its so fun to watch my belly pop around like popcorn, and feel him respond when I push back.

The day after my last appointment, I woke up that morning feeling like a huge change had taken place.  I always felt like he was way up high, near my ribs.  That Friday, however, he was no longer in my ribs, and instead felt like he had moved down into my pelvis.  I could no longer cross my legs, and just walking in general became uncomfortable.  And unfortunately, that's the way things have stayed.  Everything has become significantly harder and more uncomfortable, from reaching towards the ground for things, to standing up after sitting, to moving around in bed.  I swear last night, it took me 2-3 minutes to get flipped over from my right to left side!

I have another appointment tomorrow morning, and am anxious to see if the doctor can feel that his position has changed.  I honestly can't imagine him staying this low for the next 12 weeks or so - I feel like I need to do handstands to try to move him back up north!

Predictions: An Update

I've always had certain feelings/hunches regarding this kiddo, and Josh has too.  So I've decided to document a few of them now, and then we can look back and compare after he is born.

*This is an updated version of what I posted when we had 88 days until his due date (we now have 40 days!). 

Gender:
Maranda:  Boy
Joshua:  Girl 
*Obviously, we now know he's a boy, but Josh originally thought he was a girl before our big ultrasound)

Birth Date:
Maranda:  September 12th or 16th
Joshua: October 10
*Josh used to think he'd be early, but now thinks he'll go past his due date!

Weight:
Maranda:  7-8 lbs.
Joshua:  8+ lbs.

Hair:
Maranda:  Definitely lots
Joshua: Definitely lots

Induced or Not:

Maranda:  No- will go into labor naturally
Joshua: Will have to be induced

Feeling Outside Kicks

This past Monday, at 25w2d, Josh was able to feel Baby Davis kick for the first time! I knew he would be able to soon, as I could tell the kicks were getting stronger and stronger, and I could also see my belly move when he kicked.

So, while Josh was in the shower, I relaxed in bed, watching my belly.  He was being particularly active that night, so when Josh climbed into bed, I told him to try watching my belly to see if he could see it move.  He instead placed his hand on my stomach, and relaxed with his eyes closed.  I don't think he had much hope for feeling the baby, and was more so doing it to please me.  About 15 seconds later, though, the little man gave a great big kick, right where Josh's hand was.  Josh's eyes lit up, and he asked, "Was that him?!".  I told him yes, it was him kicking, and he was amazed!  The baby continued to give him some solid kicks for 15-20 minutes, and Josh couldn't get enough.  He refused to let me go to sleep because he wanted to keep feeling him.

Other people have been asking if they can try to feel him kick, and I've held off on letting anyone until Josh had the chance to.  I really wanted him to experience it before anyone else.  Next up is trying to have my mom and dad feel him; I know my mom can't wait to!

Our First Trip to Labor and Delivery

Yesterday started off as a great day. It was sunny and warm, I had the day off, and I was looking forward to a relaxing evening with my brother and Josh.

What happened was rather different, however.

I did get to enjoy most of my day though.  I slept in.  Went into work for a few hours to catch up on some stuff.  And did a little shopping.  I was then headed home to meet Josh, when I was rear-ended.

I was sitting in a line of traffic, waiting in a construction slowdown.  Our lane was stopped, while they diverted traffic coming the other way.  All of a sudden, my car was jarred forward.  I originally thought someone at the end of the line of cars hadn't stopped and it had caused a domino effect.  Luckily, however, it was just our two cars.  The woman driving the other car stated she accidently shifted into/out of gear and her car lurched forward.

She was extremely apologetic, especially when she saw I am pregnant.  One of the construction flaggers came over and diverted traffic around us, and I called 911.  I told the dispatcher about our accident, and that I am 25 weeks pregnant.  She then said she was sending the fire department as a precaution, and dispatched Washington State Patrol to the scene.  Everyone showed up on scene with lights and sirens going (which slightly embarrassed me!).  They did a head-to-toe check, and since my blood pressure and pulse we both high, they called my OB's office to ask what they wanted me to do.  The doctor's office instructed them to transfer me to our hospital to be monitored as a precaution.  Although I felt fine and could feel the baby kicking, I was still relieved that I was going to be checked out further.

I called Josh right away to tell him what happened, as I knew he would be heading home from work soon and the accident occurred on his route home.  I didn't want him to drive by, see my wrecked car, and have me not be there!  The State Patrol officer called a tow truck to tow my car from the scene, and the ambulance arrived.  I was loaded up, given oxygen, asked a bunch more questions, and off we went to the hospital.  It was my first ambulance ride!  There were no lights and sirens, however.

I was texting Josh the entire time, telling him to meet me at the ER.  When I arrived at the ER, they told the EMT's to take me to Labor and Delivery.  I texted this to Josh, which sent him into a panic.  He thought I meant that the baby might be coming THAT NIGHT!  He arrived just after I did, and I've never seen him so pale.  He was so concerned about both of us, and I could tell he was on edge.  The nurse came in and hooked us up to a fetal heart monitor and contraction monitor, and we heard the baby's heartbeat right away.  It was chugging along just perfectly, and he was giving us some good kicks too. 

Josh started to calm down once he saw that I was calm, and we proceeded to spend the next 5 hours at the hospital.  I had blood drawn, received my RhoGAM shot (since I'm Rh-), had an ultrasound* to check the placenta and a biophysical profile of the baby, and generally just rested.  They then discharged us, saying everything checked out perfectly.  I was told warning signs to look out for, and that my doctor would followup with me at my regularly scheduled appointment next week.

It was a scary experience to say the least, but I am so very thankful that everything is fine with the baby and myself.  Although I can't wait to meet this little guy, he needs at LEAST another 13 weeks to cook!

*When doing the biophysical profile of the little man, the ultrasound tech had certain things she needed to check for.  These included gross body movements, leg kicks, and looking at/measuring his heartrate.  While trying to get him to move around, she zoomed in on his abdomen.  We were able to see his diaphragm moving in a regular, consistent pattern.  The tech said he was practicing breathing, and that they don't normally see babies doing that until much closer to delivery.  She said he was very advanced in that department!  That, of course, made me proud. :)  Plus, I felt more relieved that if this little guy did in fact need to come early, he would stand a better chance of survival with fewer problems.  Kiddo isn't even born yet and he's already making me one proud mama!