Pregnancy
Diary
JULY
2001 - TWO MONTHS TO PARENTHOOD
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July 1st (29 Weeks - 6
Days)
Yet another dreaded pregnancy moment has arrived - I now have stretch marks.
At first I tried to convince myself
that maybe the cats had scratched me and I just didn't notice (a woman faced
with permanent skin markings is a desperate woman indeed) but alas, it seems
I have turned that corner and there is no going back. I just hope
(and I am sure that Sam will second this wish) that this does not end my bikini days forever.
July 3rd (30 Weeks - 1
Day)
Things went really well at my midwife appointment tonight - only 10 weeks to go!
The baby's heart rate was 160 and went up to 168 after stimulation. My blood pressure is still fine (98/58) and my pulse rate was 96. My fundal height is measuring 31 - just a little ahead of schedule but nothing to worry about - just means baby probably had a little growth spurt.
Pam determined that the baby was head down at this point. Although he or she still has lots of room to somersault around, it is great news that the head is down right now. We will take good news like that whenever we can get it (and just hope that Baby LeBlanc likes his or her new position enough to stay there for 10 more weeks). Get comfortable and settle in little one, you are right where you need to be.
We discussed labor a little bit. I mentioned how I hate on TV shows like 'The Baby Story' when the doctors or nurses are yelling at the woman "PUSH - PUSH - PUSH" and counting in her face "1-2-3-4-5......", expecting her to hold her breath and push as long as they count. I can't imagine a less enjoyable way to give birth. Pam assured me that the only way a situation like that would occur is if the baby or I were in trouble and it was imperative for me to push the baby out as quickly as possible. That's a relief, anyone who knows me well knows how much I hate being told what to do - being in that situation would make me real tired and cranky, VERY fast (and I am likely to be a quite tired and perhaps a tad cranky by that point anyway)!
We also discussed leaving the umbilical cord attached to the baby until it stops pulsing (in other words until blood has stopped flowing from my body through the placenta and into the baby). Unless there is a problem that necessitates cutting the cord immediately this is what Pam usually does, in a hospital the cord would likely be cut right away. Pam feels that as long as the baby is receiving blood and nutrients from the placenta it should be left alone. I must say I agree.
I got to hear the baby's heartbeat with the stethoscope. I have heard it at each appointment with the Doppler but it was much different to hear the sound without the artificial amplification. It was so much softer and fainter but was a much more intimate and real sound. I loved it and just like always I wish that part of the appointment could last forever.
Our next visit (at 32 weeks) will be a home visit; Pam, Robin and Karen will come to us. How is that for service? Technically, they have to be sure that I do indeed have electricity, running water and a telephone line (and I assume they also have to make sure I don't live in a complete pig sty). I don't care why they have to do it, I am just excited about not even having to leave my house!
July 5th (30 Weeks - 3
Days)
We bought and set up crib yesterday. It is a beautiful cherry wood, sleigh
style crib that converts into a toddler bed. We found for a great
price at Walmart (of course I always love a bargain).
Somehow walking by and seeing the crib all set up and waiting for our baby makes the whole event seem so much more imminent. Last night Sam and I both kept returning to sit in the nursery and imagine how it will be once the baby arrives. It is amazing to stand there, looking at the crib and to realize that in just 10 short weeks our tiny, precious little baby will be sleeping there. After all these months it is so exciting to be so close to meeting this little one who has occupied our thoughts and dreams since the day we found out we were expecting.
I think back now on all the problems we had in the beginning, the times when we didn't even know if our baby would survive, and the many prayers we prayed. The worries about leaving my job, the stress about money, the discomforts of early pregnancy; it all seems so far away now. I am just so thankful for the miracle and blessing of this experience. I have learned so much and grown in so many ways since the day we learned we had created this child, and I know that the learning and personal growth has only just begun. My life has so much more meaning now than it ever did before, and I know the arrival of my little one will only add to my happiness.
Grow strong little
one,
Be at peace sweet child,
Keep safe and secure my precious baby,
And always know you are loved.
July 11th (31 Weeks - 2
Days)
Today, after many months of looking, we bought our stroller/travel system,
I swear we spent more time on this decision than we did when shopping for a
car! I feel like we are (finally)
getting
ready for the arrival of this baby. Sam put it together tonight (he is
getting awfully good at this stuff) and the
puppies are terrified of it - every time he would wheel it around they would
jump out of the way and hide. Our cat Murphy, on the other hand, thinks it makes
the most ideal cat bed. I can see already that this might be a hard habit to
break!
I called several pediatricians today that Pam recommended. I have set up appointments for Sam and I to meet with them in order to select one (Pam recommended we interview at least three or four different doctors in order to best select one for us). As a Canadian, still a little unused to the American health care system, this all seems a little strange to me. I don't know that I have ever seen a pediatrician in my life (just family doctors), but I guess that is the way things are done here. Also, because our insurance company is an HMO we can only see the one doctor that we select, so it is important to choose someone who has similar beliefs in regards to our baby's care.
July 14th (31 Weeks - 5
Days)
We recently completed our baby registry at Babies R Us for our upcoming baby
shower. It is so fun to walk around with that little scanner, like window
shopping but better, because we might actually be given some of
these things! It took a long time, as we are basically baby item
illiterates (and the sheer volume of baby paraphernalia out there is simply
mind-boggling), but we managed to get through and identify the things we really
needed (as well as the fun stuff we really wanted - you should have seen me
trying to pry Sam away from the toy department). It should actually
make it easier and quicker to pick up the things we really need when the time
comes, because we have
already selected most of the necessary items.
My baby shower is being thrown by our good friend Chrissy at the end of this month. She is such a wonderful person and an amazing friend. I am very excited and so touched that she is doing this for us and our baby. She won't really let me in on many details though - just wants me to show up and have fun. Having never been to a baby shower before I really don't know what to expect, but I can't wait!
The newest addition to my pregnancy complaints is near constant heartburn, especially if I am in anything approaching a horizontal position. I think I may have to start sleeping sitting up! The most consistent part of my diet now seems to be Tums - I never leave home without them. I did see a diagram of what my internal organs look like now that my uterus has taken over my abdominal cavity and I cannot say it is a surprise that digestive upsets are among most women's pregnancy woes - there is not much room left in there at all!
July 18th (32 Weeks - 2
Days)
I had a great appointment today. My midwife is required to do one home visit during the pregnancy (to make sure we have plumbing, electricity, etc....) so I didn't even have to leave my home.
Of course did spend the day madly cleaning, but the house needed it anyway.
Pam came with both students this time, Karen arrived first and we talked about doing pregnancy photos (she is a photographer as well).
She had emailed me some of her pictures last week and they were so wonderful - one of the
momma's belly in close up with all her
children's hands placed around was simply beautiful. We would like to do it if we can come up with the money next month,
I have enjoyed pregnancy and my new womanly shape so much that I would love to
preserve the memory in a beautiful, tasteful photo.
Pam and Robin arrived shortly while later. Robin brought her baby girl Kamryn (her seventh), she is 11 weeks old and weighed 17 pounds at her last checkup!
I couldn't believe how big she was - of course she weighed 11 lbs at birth so she kind of had a head start!
What a sweet little girl, so alert and focused on everything going on around
her, she made me very anxious to meet my baby. The animals were very
curious about this new houseguest - but did pretty well considering they had
never seen a baby before. Lets hope things go as smoothly when our baby
arrives.
Pam brought my birth kit and we went through that - let me tell you, the mesh panties are even more attractive than I pictured - but I guess it is better than ruining
my own
underwear! The kit had a bulb syringe, chux pads, plastic backed sheets, etc - general
supplies for the birth. Just having the supplies in my house makes it all feel so close at hand.
We still have a huge list of birth supplies to buy ourselves, when that is done
we will really be ready for our little arrival.
My blood pressure was still good (98/68) and my pulse was 96. They checked for swelling and aside from my fingers I have not had any,
which is a good sign (especially with this Arizona heat). My fundal height was 32.5,
putting me right on schedule for uterine growth. The baby's
heart rate varying between 148 and 152 beats per minute - he or she was moving
around quite a bit. They took a long time feeling baby's position (first Pam, then Robin took a turn), I guess this little one was not being very cooperative - but they did feel he or she was head down with the back turned toward my left side. Pam forgot her scale, so I didn't get weighed, but I don't think I gained much this time (as opposed to all the other
times when the scale was creeping up faster than I would have liked). It
would have been nice to see if I was right.
We also talked about childbirth classes. Both Karen and Robin are certified childbirth educators so they will both teach our class. Karen will be the main teacher as she is almost finished her midwifery training
and has taught for home births in the past (whereas Robin has only taught childbirth classes for hospital
births). The class will only have one other couple and it will actually be at our house (more incentive to keep clean!).
At our last appointment Pam offered Sam the option of being the one to catch the baby. He was a little freaked out by the idea at first
(he is terrified of hurting or dropping the baby) but is starting realize how
fantastic it would be if he were the first one to touch our child. Pam and
her students will help him guide the baby's head out and will check for the
umbilical cord
and help the shoulders rotate. If he wants to he can be the one to lift the baby onto my belly.
I think would be just the most wonderful thing for him to be able to say he did this. He is still a little
uncertain and nervous about it - but Pam said we can just see how he feels at the time.
We have started to accumulate things for baby. We found a beautiful changing table
that matches our crib that we are planning to buy this weekend. We were given a Graco high chair and we have had a Graco swing for some time (somehow we are ending up with all one brand name!) We have also been lent a bouncy chair,
baby monitor, nursing pillow, breast pump, microwave bottle
sterilizer, bassinet, and have been given a bunch of baby toys, clothes, diapers
and what seems like a million other things. The generosity of my new
friends in the Mom's club has been just astounding, and has helped us save so
much money. I don't even know how to begin to thank these ladies, and let them
know how grateful we are. Although I don't think I can fully convey our
gratitude I will say thank you to Nina, Kari, Cassie and Joni from the bottom of
our hearts. I am beginning to feel as if we might actually be ready in time
- of course then I
still have those moments where I am sure I won't be at all ready, no matter how
many supplies we have on hand!
Aside from that things are pretty much normal here - we finally finished seeding our lawn and are waiting patiently for the grass to come in. It will be so nice to look outside and see green grass instead of just dirt. It has been such a long process getting this landscaping done, it is certainly enough to deter me from ever wanting to build a new house again. Sam does not know what to do with himself now that the yard is finished, he has spent every night and weekend working on it for so many months, he is not quite sure what to do with all this free time! I have assured him that once the baby comes that free time will vanish pretty quick, so I am encouraging him to enjoy it while he still can.
July 26th (33 Weeks - 3
days)
Despite all the discomforts and complaints of late pregnancy there is such
an undeniable beauty encompassing this experience that is so difficult to
define. I don't think would be possible for me to explain to anyone who
has not been pregnant how it feels to go through the day with the knowledge that
you are carrying another life inside you, that you are capable of
producing and sustaining a perfect little human being. I am the same
person that I was before my pregnancy, but yet I am not. The physical
changes are minimal compared to the changes that have occurred inside me.
Everything just seems to make sense now in a way it never did before, I see the
world through different eyes.
I feel so many conflicting emotions at this point. Sometimes I feel so in touch with all the women of the world who have carried children, at other times I feel as if I am the only one who could possibly know the true joy of this experience. I want everyone to know and feel what I am feeling, and at the same time I feel like I have this delicious secret and I want to be selfish and not share it with anyone. I am so eager to meet my baby, yet at the same time I feel a twinge of sadness when I think of the magic of this time being over.
We had an appointment with a possible pediatrician, Dr Pamela Bingham. She was recommended by my friend Nina from the Mom's Club and was wonderful. Her office is not really close to us, but we were impressed enough with her warmth and manner that we think it may be worth the drive. She was very understanding and supportive of our home birth plans - this was one of my biggest concerns. I did not want to choose a pediatrician who was against home birth, it did not seem like a good way to begin the relationship. She will see us the first time two days after the baby is born and just from one meeting I get the feeling that she will be wonderful help as we adjust to life as new parents.
July 30th (34 Weeks)
I had my baby shower yesterday and it was wonderful. I had never even attended a baby shower before - so it was quite a special event.
The entire shower was incredibly fun, the food was fantastic and I had a great
time. The shower was hosted by my good friend Chrissy, she really outdid
herself. I think if she ever decides to leave the corporate world she really
could reinvent herself as the next Martha Stewart. I do believe she just
may have missed her true calling!
There were about 12 people there, mostly my old co-workers and my new friends
from the Mom's Club as well as a few of the other close friends I have made
since arriving in Phoenix. Since we are so far from our home Chrissy actually sent invites to family
and friends back in Canada. In between opening gifts Chrissy read
wonderful letters and poems sent by my Aunt Lois, my Great Aunt Frances, Sam's
Mother, Grandmother and Aunt Rachel. They were so beautiful and it
was such an unexpected surprise that I had to fight hard to keep from crying.
Chrissy also had everyone say how they had met me, people said such nice things I
was fighting back the tears again just shortly after congratulating myself for
not turning into a blubbering idiot during the letters.
We got some wonderful gifts....I think we probably have just about everything we need now to get started, plus a few really cute extras and
toys (Sam especially likes the electronic ones with lights and music - what a
surprise). I can't believe how kind and generous all my friends were - I was quite
overwhelmed by everything. It is amazing that in the two short years we have been here in Phoenix we have
been able to meet such fantastic people and make so many incredible and lasting friendships. Throughout this pregnancy so many things have happened to
make me realize how blessed my life truly is - this was another one of those
times. When we first got pregnant I was saddened not to be near my family
and friends back home, little did I realize what a lucky lady I am to have come
to know such a truly wonderful group of people here in Phoenix.
We played two shower games. One where Chrissy passed a role toilet
paper around the room and had everyone roll off the number of squares they think it will take to go around
my ever expanding waistline. It turns out that at 34 weeks of pregnancy I
am a 10 square girl - although some of my friends guessed considerably
more! For the second game Chrissy handed out crayons and had the guests
place a piece of paper on top of their head and draw a picture of what Baby LeBlanc
will look like. We got some pretty hilarious works of art out of
this one and I kept them all to scrapbook. I had to pick which one I thought was the best,
which was difficult, they were all so funny.
Chrissy had also set up a craft project - she had little onsies and socks laid out along with puff paint in various baby colours and had everyone help to decorate them. She had a little pink and blue ribbon clothesline strung across the living room and pinned the finished products up with little baby clothespins. It was absolutely adorable and they will make great mementos for the baby.
What a great day, now I just have get busy and put all our new goodies away in the nursery!