How far along: 36 weeks and 6 days.

Gender: Pink!!!!

Maternity Clothes: I’m loving maternity dresses! On the bright side they are easy to put on and are loose. On the not so bright side, my belly has been sticking to my thighs when I sit down because it’s so hot!

Stretch Marks: Yes and I am over them. I don’t care…stretch marks happen and I can live with them. In fact, I am so comfortable with them I am contemplating wearing belly shirts for the remainder of my pregnancy if it continues to be as hot as it has been this past week.

Belly button in our out: In, but we can see the bottom when I am standing up now.

Sleep: I have my good nights and bad nights. There have been a few times where I have had to wake up Dave so he could help me out of bed to go to the bathroom.

Best moment of the week: Getting presents in the mail! I ordered some super cute baby headbands on Etsy…so cute they make me want to cry (see “Symptoms” below…)

Miss Anything: I miss my energy and being able to do things for myself. I have really had to rely on David to help me with everything from cleaning the house to changing me into my pajamas at the end of a long day. I am so blessed to have an amazing husband who doesn’t see these things as a burden. It also reassures me that he is going to be the best daddy in the world!

Movement: I waddle and baby has some spastic kicks. At first I was concerned about her kicking me so many times in a row but the midwife said that is normal. Any movement is good movement. She is also still getting the hiccups daily.

Cravings: Finally getting the ice cream craving. I was surprised that I lost my appetite for ice cream for the first 8 months, but now I want need ice cream nightly.

Symptoms: Excessive crying. I saw a cute baby girl the other day and started crying because her chubby little feet were soooo adorable.

Oh, and I can’t forget the heartburn. I had it so bad last Thursday night that I started throwing up…and throwing up with a baby on your bladder is no good my friends. Let’s just say I may or may not have peed a little on the floor…

Looking forward to: D-Day! I am so excited to hold baby girl in my arms!

I am so happy with how our maternity photos turned out!  One of David's best friends from high school took them (she did our wedding photos too) and she is so talented - I just love her work!  Thank you Lilja Photography for capturing this time in our lives! 








 

My husband told me a few months ago that he used to think bridal and baby showers were a mysterious thing since only women went to them. He told me he used to think that the person they were for would actually get showered in a very ritualistic way…well I am glad that is not the case, but isn’t he so cute for thinking that.

Having a baby a little over nine months after getting married, I must say I am a little showered out. I feel so blessed to have so many people in my life that love me enough to want to celebrate these huge milestones. I feel like I have had more bridal/baby showers in the past year than actual showers since I have been pregnant though…just kidding…kind of… Well, I can’t wait to return the favor for my family and friends when they get married or have babies and make them feel as special as I have this past year.

David’s mom and sister threw my first shower. Hot flashes aside, they did a wonderful job and I had so much fun!

Getting practice for the next baby while holding my niece and being pregnant!

I love baby shower games!  Here are some babies fashioned out of Play-Doh (the Top 3).  I know some seriously talented people.

Obsessed with these tiny sunglasses!

My mom and sister-in-law threw another shower for me. Like I said, I love shower games and my mom really nailed it!

One of my favorite/least favorite games was where everyone took a photo of me and a photo of Dave and put them together to see what our baby would look like.

The results...frightening.

We also had to guess which chocolate bars were melted in diapers.  My Aunt Kim looks like a real pro doesn't she?

A beautiful blanket made by my Grandma.

How far along: 35 Weeks and 4 days. Getting close!

Gender: Girl. Weight Gain: 29 pounds. Getting excited to start a diet soon.

Maternity Clothes: Exclusively…unless I am lounging at home, which in that case I wear David’s clothes.

Stretch Marks: Yes, but no new ones.

Belly button in our out: Inny for life! I am glad that I have gotten the opportunity to see the bottom though.

Sleep: I had the worst night of sleep ever on Friday night but the best night of sleep ever last night. So I would say overall my sleep is okay except I hate waking up and having to struggle to get out of bed to go to the bathroom.

Best moment of the week: Going on a date with Dave to the Bistro (my favorite restaurant). Also, being reassured – for the millionth time – that I have the best husband in the world.


Need I say more?

I should also follow this up with the worst moment of the week which was realizing that David does a better job painting my toenails than I do. The whole time he was painting them he kept saying “Someone call Jimmy at Pretty Nails – looks like Davey P. found a new profession”…I love him so much.

Miss Anything: My energy. I get so tired after short/non strenuous activities. I have made new best friends with Sofie our couch.

Movement: Lots and lots of stretching. She loves doing her yoga while I am in the bathtub and I love watching and feeling every time she moves. Now I can see her legs poke out on one side of my belly and her arms on the other. She also still gets the hiccups daily.

Cravings: Chicken pot pie. Queasy or sick: Not really, but yesterday I learned that I still cannot brush my teeth right after I eat because it makes me gag and throw up…

Looking forward to: The nursery being finished!  And I also plan on organizing the rest of the house this week. I can’t wait until I get everything done and then I can relax until baby gets here.

The amazing weather we have been experiencing this week has gotten me so excited for summer! Seriously though, when has it ever gotten above 70 degrees in Washington in April/ May? Before it starts raining again tomorrow While this is excitement is still upon me, I have decided to document my 5 must do’s for this summer – besides the obvious of successfully birthing a baby and eating 50 watermelons!

1. Go To The Market
…And buy fresh fruit, veggies, fish, and definitely some flowers. This one also includes taking a walk on the pier, eating amazing food, and getting a new family photo on Rachel!


2. Take A Mini Road Trip
One of my most favorite memories was driving from North Carolina to Washington with one of my boyfriends – and now that boyfriend is my husband! I’m not going to be too ambitious with where we go, but a weekend getaway would be nice. Preferably somewhere we have friends - camping with a baby scares me a little.


3. Go To A Mariner’s Game
I’m not the biggest baseball fan, but I love the atmosphere at sporting events! Do I even need to mention the food at sporting events…kettle corn anyone?


4. Weekly Wiener Roasting Nights
If you have talked to me in the last 3 weeks, you know that I have been craving hot dogs like crazy! Especially hot dogs cooked over a fire because they could make a hound dog climb a plate-glass window! Last summer, we had weekly camp fires and wiener roasting nights with my in-laws and it was so much fun! Definitely a tradition I want to continue.

*Enjoy this embarassing photo of me stuffing my face with a hot dog.

5. Have A Housewarming Party
Mainly this is on my list because it will require us to finish unpacking and make our house a little bit homier. It will also be a good chance for everyone to meet our sweet baby girl! This will probably happen towards the end of summer though.

After my blog post on Wednesday regarding my birth plan, I had a dentist appointment and the hygienist was telling me about her natural birth at the Cascade Birth Center in Everett.  She gave me their contact information and recommended that I contact them. I decided to call first to see if transferring at 35 weeks is even an option and next to schedule a consultation appointment. I am not going to lie, my consultation appointment was kind of scary considering that in one of the birthing suites (the one next to where my appointment was) a woman was giving birth (she was litterally pushing the baby out) and it sounded like she was being tortured. All of that aside, the midwife made me feel super comfortable and confident. I asked all kinds of questions and she was able to alleviate my fears.

After my consultation I officially decided to transfer and here is why:

1. I love my OB at the Woman and Children’s Pavilion which is where I was going, but the doctor who delivers is whoever is on call. Since there are many OB’s there, the chance I would actually get my doctor is slim.
2. I thought to myself: why do I need my birth wishes written on paper? I have little confidence that whoever reads it at the hospital will remember what I want. If I go to a birthing center, I don’t even need a plan because what I am looking for is their philosophy.
3. I felt like I was treated like an actual person/future mom at my consultation today. The whole appointment lasted over a half hour and it was less medical and more conversation. They said most of the appointments would be that way. My OB checkups lasted less than 10 minutes and I only saw the doctor for approximately 3 minutes…sometimes I felt like I was being herded.
4. From what I hear, labor and birth is painful. I think that I will have a greater chance at achieving a natural birth if I don’t even have the option of pain killers and everyone in the room is supporting and helping me.
5. I don’t have to (or get to) stay the night at the birthing center. 3 hours after birth max and you get to go home!
6. The midwife is with you throughout the entire labor and birth process.
7. A plus, but not my sole reason for going this route: an entire pregnancy (all prenatal, birth, and 6 weeks post-partum) costs $6,000 and is covered by insurance. I won’t have to pay all of that obviously since I am already 35 weeks…but this is NOTHING compared the hospital. I called last week to get a quote of how much we would have to pay for a hospital birth…well bare bones, no interventions, one night stay…$14,000. And that is just for the birth. Granted that is billed to insurance and we wouldn't have to pay the entire thing, but it is still is outrageous. Oh, and add another $6,000 for an epidural at the hospital.
8. If anything goes wrong – the birthing center is less than a mile from the hospital.

My overall experience with hospital care during my pregnancy has been very stressful. As a healthy 25 year old having a baby there was absolutely no reason to go through all of the scares I did with the ultrasound abnormalities and glucose test results, etc. I feel like for the past 8 month, God has been trying to get me to go this route and I have been ignoring all of the promptings. I really felt good when I was at the birthing center today and I am so excited (and a little nervous) to go this route.  Mainly I can’t wait to meet my baby girl!

Pretty much everything I have read says that once you get to the hospital your birth plan goes out the window because nothing goes as expected.  Well, as an honorary boyscout, I am always prepared, so in the rare chance that things go as planned I have created one.  However, given all of the birth visualization I have been doing, things should go smoothly. :)
 
Being a newb to giving birth, this took some time and a lot of searching the internet for example plans so I knew what I should be requesting.  As you may know, I am going to try to have a natural birth because I believe that is what is best for my baby girl.  I have a ton of support from my husband and we have been practicing some coping techniques (although as D-Day approaches, I am nervous that my practicing isn't enough or will not help).

So here it is...
We would like to have a "natural birth" - avoiding all medication if possible (including, but not limited to, Pitocin, IV, epidural, etc.). If an event should arise where medication would be needed, we would like discussion of alternatives and consequences, and some private time for discussion.

Except in the case of an emergency, we ask that we be given the opportunity to accept or refuse any procedure or medication.

Labor

• My husband David and mother Kelly are to be present at all times during labor and birth.
• Other family member and friends may be present during labor.
• I would like the absolute minimum time necessary attached to monitoring.
• I would prefer not to have an IV. If an IV is deemed necessary, please use a heparin lockso that I can move around and walk as needed.
• Please no Pitocin or breaking of water unless deemed medically necessary.
• If labor slows down, or is proving to be very long, I would prefer to wait and see what happens naturally. I would like to try natural methods to speed up labor and avoid any intervention.
• I would like no pain relief during labor or delivery. Please do not offer it to me unless I ask about it.
• I would like freedom to move and walk during labor.
• I ask that lights be kept dim, noise be kept to a minimum, and the door be kept closed for privacy - no excess staff please.

Delivery

• I would like to be in whatever position feels comfortable to me for birth including kneeling, standing, or squatting.
• I would rather risk a tear than have an episiotomy. I would like to try perineal massage, support and warm compresses if needed.
• I would like to avoid the use of forceps or any other tools to assist delivery at all costs. If delivery assistance is needed, please use suction instead of forceps.
• I would like to receive my baby upon birth and place her directly on my chest unless medical intervention on baby is necessary. If I am unable to receive the baby, I would like to give my husband the opportunity.
• I would like to wait for the cord to stop pulsating before clamped and cut.
• I would like my husband to cut the cord.
• I would like no Pitocin, uterine massage, or pulling of cord to help deliver the placenta.

Post-Partum

• I would like the baby to stay with me at all times.
• Upon delivery, I would like my mother to leave the room allowing my husband and me to have time alone with our new baby.
• I would like all visitors and unnecessary staff be turned away until my husband and I have had time alone with our new baby (at least 1 hour).
• Please delay all routine exams for 1-2 hours to allow for bonding time. • I would like any tests done to the baby while placed on my chest
• I would like to breastfeed my baby: no formula, bottles, pacifiers, or water please.

If Cesarean Is Required

• In the event of a c-section, I would like my husband to be present at all times.
• Please use double-layer sutures when repairing my uterus. If I have a second child, I hope to attempt a VBAC and understand this is a requirement for many doctors.
• I would like to have immediate contact with the baby after delivery.
• Please let the baby remain with mother until stitched up and ready to be moved to recovery.
• If my baby needs to go to the special care unit, I wish to stay with her.
• Upon delivery, if baby needs special care, I would like my husband and myself to remain with her at all times.