| Week 18 It's been a long week, although not necessarily pregnancy wise. The last week of June is the end of a big quarter and the end of a big month and that makes for a very busy and stressful work environment. It's over now and we're on to a short week with a nice four day weekend. During which we're going to take a trip to Chicago. This is kind of an anniversary gift for me, being we just celebrated our third anniversary as husband and wife. A friend and her eight-month-old daughter are going to be traveling with us and we will meet up with some more friends while we are down there. It should be an interesting trip to say the least. This trip has led to my needing to deal with my pregnancy body a little more than I'm used to doing. What I mean by that, is that the friend who is traveling with us, mentioned staying at a hotel with a pool. Now this had not crossed my mind until that point. First, it is very difficult to find a hotel near Chicago with a pool and still have it be in a location we like and within our budget. However, I succeded. Then there is the whole bathing suit issue. I rarely am comfortable in a bathing suit when I'm not pregnant, now throw in a mostly pooching belly and things start to get ugly. Another friend mentioned that swimming is good during pregnancy and to just get in that suit and enjoy myself. Easier said than done. So, having been mildly chastised, I have examined my bathing suit options. There is the post-pregnancy two-piece which while perfect for the after pregnancy pouch, literally does not fit the now 18 week belly. Then there is the pre-pregnancy two piece, which while hiding flaws under normal circumstances. leaves me looking like an older man with a sagging gut. Off to the store I went. Without going to the maternity store, I found only one maternity suit and it was a size too large. Being game, I tried on a few non-maternity suits and have since decided that there is a reason they design special suits for pregnant women and it has nothing to do with the spandex, which stretches around the belly just fine. I'll let you know the rest of the story next week. I have managed to have gas in the oddest places this last week and while not particularly disturbing, it sure hurt quite a bit. This was up around the sides of my stomach and even at the top. On Friday we did get to see the little Almond again, because I have one of the most wonderful nurses in the whole world. She is completely willing to let me listen to the heart beat any time and even brings out the ultra sound once in awhile. Dylan did get to go with this time, but our big ultra sound isn't until the 8th of July. At this point, I'm also no longer able to lay on my stomach or even rest too heavily on the pillow next to me as there is just too much pressure. Before, the belly was there, but it was still soft enough to accomadate these activities. Unfortunately, I think that the sciatica I experienced with my first pregnancy is going to make a repeat appearance. This is much earlier than last time and this does not bode well. I don't have pain every time I stand up and walk, but just occasionally. Hopefully it will stay this way. Baby Almond is still not kicking up a storm. It has only been in the last two days now that I have felt any pokes that I am confident enough to attribute to baby movements. I know that these will get stronger and more frequent in the next week or two, I'm just not all that patient. Sometimes if I sit very still, I will get those twinges and I believe them to be Almond saying "Hi mom, I'm here". This is my absolute favorite part of pregnancy, the movement of my baby. There is nothing quite as wonderfull as feeling the miracle that is life, moving within me. I could sit for hours and enjoy this special connection. At present, I'm still undecided about the VBAC vs repeat c-section. Although one thing that has me leaning a little more toward VBAC is the confidence that my doctor's previous nurse places in his dedication to my birth and his skill should something go wrong and a c-section be required anyway. She told me in no uncertain terms that there is no one she would rather have perform this surgery if it were on her and involving her own child. That's a lot of confidence. Also, she told me on Friday that as of last fall she is a trained doula. I had been thinking that if I were to try the VBAC, that it would be a good idea to have a doula present to help Dylan and I through the labor. The thought of having a stranger just wasn't all that appealing though. Now that I know that she is a doula and has said she would be happy to assist us with this labor, I'm feeling just a little more confident in the idea of trying for the VBAC. My journal will be a little late next week as we will just be returning from Chicago on Sunday and I don't think that I will be up to writing that night. |