Up until the past few days, I had been feeling very comfortable. No body pillow needed to sleep, no swollen feet (except during the high heat and humidity we recently had - even Matt had to take off his wedding band), decent sleep (Okay, I have insomnia once or twice a week that is quite bad - but, I've had worse issues in pregnancies past - so, I've tried not to complain too much), no horrid stretch marks, the reflux hasn't even bothered me too badly. It's been, pretty much, a breeze. A bit tiring overall, but, not too much to complain about.
Until now. I'm up at least seven times a night to use the bathroom. Walking the girls to school is okay - but, by the time I walk home, I feel the baby so low, I'm either stopped in my tracks or wishing there was a bush to jump behind to relieve myself. My back hurts, my feet hurt, my hips hurt, my outer thighs and even my pubic bones ache. It has begun. Baby is obviously heavier and, ever so slowly, baby and body are preparing for his entrance.
I'm just under two weeks away from full-term. Until then, I'm just going to relax, read, and not get too excited. Beginning next weekend, however, it'll be time to wash cloth diapers, linens, baby clothes, order final baby-things, and finalize the birth plan with my midwife (Not that there's much to it, as we're planning a home birth - but, a hospital back up plan will have to be put in place, numbers of friends handy in the event we need someone to take the girls during labor and delivery.
Oh, and then there's meal prep. I plan on making and freezing bagels, muffins, and a couple dinner dishes. I'm going to have to stock up on a few things I don't usually - like spaghetti sauce (unless I make that in advance too - but, my freezer only holds so much), and (gasp) a few boxed meals (organic, if possible). My dear husband cannot cook to save his life. He needs help - so I will have to have a few things ready for him.
I was back to my normal self, almost entirely, within a few days after Lila's birth. I don't even remember being overly tired. After a few days of breastfeeding HELL (Seeing an infant spit up blood from your bloody nipples is always a bit frightening), breastfeeding went smoothly for the next 22-months. But, that was then, this is now - and one can ever know how the labor, delivery and recovery will go....So, I best be prepared and best start soon...In the mean time, baby better stay in for a least a week - my midwife does not deliver babies at home prior to 37-weeks (and I wouldn't try it anyway)!
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
Summer in Germany Has Arrived
I'm sitting in my living room, a cold, wet wash cloth draped over my neck. It's after 8:00pm and still around 87 degrees. The girls have "stolen" our lone fan. As soon as I'm sure they are asleep, I'm taking it back. For the past several days it's been in the high 80's and 90's. With humidity. I'm 8.5 months pregnant and not taking kindly to this weather. AC is nowhere to be found. Not even in many of the local stores.
I feel like a wimp. Some people probably think my Facebook updates about the weather are rather annoying. But, seriously, I feel ill. I've taken two cold showers today. I'm drinking coconut water as it's supposed to be healthier for you than Gatorade, and replenish you with five essential electrolytes--potassium, magnesium, calcium, sodium, and phosphorous (Real Food athletes are now turning to coconut water instead of Gatorade).
It has been so humid here, my husband has had to take off his wedding ring, something he's never had to do in the past, because his fingers are swelling. I'm a little puffy. You can see it in my face and fingers. I had one day of ankle swelling last week and my midwife checked them a couple days later and said they were fine. I can still see my ankle bone. So, I guess that's a good sign. However, I know I must be retaining some water because my sandals are fitting a bit more tightly. I've been swimming, taking baths, and drinking mineral water - all recommended by my midwife to keep down the swelling.
My previous two pregnancies were in cool, dry Alaska. So, this is new for me. I had a little bit of swelling with Olivia towards the very end and I don't remember very much with Lila. In fact, I gave birth to Lila wearing my wedding band. My rings were removed a couple months ago, sadly, this time around.
Fortunately, the girls are back in school and I don't have to find ways to entertain them in this heat. Today, however, we are hitting up the town pool as soon as they have an afternoon snack! Must go get the bag for the pool packed and ready to go!! I only wish I could sit in the shade and read a book while they swim - still too young for that...
I feel like a wimp. Some people probably think my Facebook updates about the weather are rather annoying. But, seriously, I feel ill. I've taken two cold showers today. I'm drinking coconut water as it's supposed to be healthier for you than Gatorade, and replenish you with five essential electrolytes--potassium, magnesium, calcium, sodium, and phosphorous (Real Food athletes are now turning to coconut water instead of Gatorade).
It has been so humid here, my husband has had to take off his wedding ring, something he's never had to do in the past, because his fingers are swelling. I'm a little puffy. You can see it in my face and fingers. I had one day of ankle swelling last week and my midwife checked them a couple days later and said they were fine. I can still see my ankle bone. So, I guess that's a good sign. However, I know I must be retaining some water because my sandals are fitting a bit more tightly. I've been swimming, taking baths, and drinking mineral water - all recommended by my midwife to keep down the swelling.
My previous two pregnancies were in cool, dry Alaska. So, this is new for me. I had a little bit of swelling with Olivia towards the very end and I don't remember very much with Lila. In fact, I gave birth to Lila wearing my wedding band. My rings were removed a couple months ago, sadly, this time around.
Fortunately, the girls are back in school and I don't have to find ways to entertain them in this heat. Today, however, we are hitting up the town pool as soon as they have an afternoon snack! Must go get the bag for the pool packed and ready to go!! I only wish I could sit in the shade and read a book while they swim - still too young for that...
Saturday, August 20, 2011
Proverb
As I begin to contemplate natural birth, just weeks away, this quote reached out to me. I will have support to help me achieve and maintain inner strength and a calmness of mind. But, it is I, alone, who will have to draw from somewhere deep inside of me to reach the other side.
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
The Boy's Name
We've been getting asked more and more frequently about the baby's name. I've had a name picked out for years and years. Matt, however, was on the fence. It appears, however, we have finally agreed on the first name, at least. His middle name is still up for debate and while I'll post what we think it may be, please bear in mind that you all won't know for sure until we announce his birth (So don't be surprised or upset if it changes-though, I do think it's pretty unlikely or I wouldn't be posting it now). So here it is:
Colden Jack McQuilton
We've tossed around Colden Patrick (my pick). Patrick is Matt's middle name. He does not like his middle name - so that was tossed out the window. Though, I do think it flows together a bit more nicely than Jack.
So, where did these names come from? Matt is an Adirondack 46'er. In short, he's climbed all 46 high peaks of the Adirondacks in New York. I don't think I'd be far off in saying that Matt would rather be in the Adirondack Mountains more than any other place on Earth.
What does that have to do with our son's name? Well, Mount Colden was the last of the 46 high peaks he climbed. I've always thought naming his son Colden would be a nice way to commemorate this accomplishment. Though, I think Matt would say that the 46 peaks haven't really been completed until he's climbed all 46 of them in the winter. If we were ever stationed in Fort Drum, NY, surely, that would be his mission.
Jack is a name Matt has always liked. He really believes a boy should have a one-syllable, grunt-like name. It's also the name of his favorite uncle who passed away some years ago.
I've always believed a child should pick his own nickname when he so chooses. So, while it would be easy for me say that we'll call him Cole or C.J. or Jack, we'll be careful to let him to decide...
Colden Jack McQuilton
We've tossed around Colden Patrick (my pick). Patrick is Matt's middle name. He does not like his middle name - so that was tossed out the window. Though, I do think it flows together a bit more nicely than Jack.
So, where did these names come from? Matt is an Adirondack 46'er. In short, he's climbed all 46 high peaks of the Adirondacks in New York. I don't think I'd be far off in saying that Matt would rather be in the Adirondack Mountains more than any other place on Earth.
What does that have to do with our son's name? Well, Mount Colden was the last of the 46 high peaks he climbed. I've always thought naming his son Colden would be a nice way to commemorate this accomplishment. Though, I think Matt would say that the 46 peaks haven't really been completed until he's climbed all 46 of them in the winter. If we were ever stationed in Fort Drum, NY, surely, that would be his mission.
Jack is a name Matt has always liked. He really believes a boy should have a one-syllable, grunt-like name. It's also the name of his favorite uncle who passed away some years ago.
I've always believed a child should pick his own nickname when he so chooses. So, while it would be easy for me say that we'll call him Cole or C.J. or Jack, we'll be careful to let him to decide...
Sunday, August 7, 2011
Clinical Anxiety and Pregnancy
For many years, I've struggled with clinical anxiety. I have worried needlessly over my health dozens of times. Fortunately, it didn't present itself in germaphobia or take over my life in any sort of debilitating way. Nor do I have anxiety in any other areas. I sure have gotten picked on a lot about my clinical anxiety - which is frustrating because so many people suffer from depression or other forms of anxiety, that I've never been able to understand what's so humorous about clinical anxiety. At times, however, months and even years have gone by without me thinking too much about matters of my health.
Unfortunately, in 2009, I was diagnosed with meniere's disease. This diagnosis told my already anxiety-ridden brain that there is reason to worry. Something bad could happen to me. While my meniere's disease has been kept under good control and hasn't impacted my life in a debilitating way, I have been very clinically-sensitive ever since.
So, when the doctor doing my last ultrasound told me my amniotic fluid was low, I freaked out (see previous post-it actually wasn't low - which he explained to my midwife the following day). Then, a couple weeks later, I got it in my mind that my baby was breech. Even though a few days prior, my midwife had told me he was head down. I thought for sure I felt him flip. I felt a round, bony head up in my rib cage and, for sure, that had to be his head. I kept asking myself why he would flip back up after being head down for over a month!!
So, I panicked and started looking things up (Yes, I know better). Breech babies are often breech for a reason and I started to worry something was wrong with him - even knowing that he had plenty of time to flip back around as I'm only 32-weeks pregnant.
So, what did I do? I called my midwife. She agreed to come see me this past Friday, even though we have an appointment scheduled for Tuesday. She quickly put my mind at ease. He's most likely not breech, as she can hear his heartbeat down below my belly button and not up near where I thought his head was. A baby's heart beat is heard up near the head and upper back. She explained that since I still have eight weeks to go, what I'm feeling is a bony bottom. Up until about week 36-37, a bottom can feel almost exactly like a head because there isn't a lot of fat on it. Also, when I would move that "head" back and forth, his whole body would move. When you move a head back and forth, the whole body doesn't move. The head will give a little or he will kick. A bottom, on the other hand, when moved, will in turn move the whole body.
She also reminded me that while she does not deliver breech infants, she has a friend who does and who would assist her. That is, if the baby was breech at the end and I still wanted a home birth. If I did not want to attempt a breech birth at home, a local hospital allows for breech vaginal delivery as they view breech as a variation of normal. In the event of an emergency (i.e., baby got stuck), skilled OB surgeons would be on hand. So I have no need to worry about a breech presentation anyway!
I love that my midwife comes right to my home, when I need her. There's no way I would get that kind of care anywhere else. She is a little concerned about my anxiety, however, and is sending a doula who teaches relaxation techniques my way. Even though I feel calm now, you just never know when relaxation techniques could come in handy!
Unfortunately, in 2009, I was diagnosed with meniere's disease. This diagnosis told my already anxiety-ridden brain that there is reason to worry. Something bad could happen to me. While my meniere's disease has been kept under good control and hasn't impacted my life in a debilitating way, I have been very clinically-sensitive ever since.
So, when the doctor doing my last ultrasound told me my amniotic fluid was low, I freaked out (see previous post-it actually wasn't low - which he explained to my midwife the following day). Then, a couple weeks later, I got it in my mind that my baby was breech. Even though a few days prior, my midwife had told me he was head down. I thought for sure I felt him flip. I felt a round, bony head up in my rib cage and, for sure, that had to be his head. I kept asking myself why he would flip back up after being head down for over a month!!
So, I panicked and started looking things up (Yes, I know better). Breech babies are often breech for a reason and I started to worry something was wrong with him - even knowing that he had plenty of time to flip back around as I'm only 32-weeks pregnant.
So, what did I do? I called my midwife. She agreed to come see me this past Friday, even though we have an appointment scheduled for Tuesday. She quickly put my mind at ease. He's most likely not breech, as she can hear his heartbeat down below my belly button and not up near where I thought his head was. A baby's heart beat is heard up near the head and upper back. She explained that since I still have eight weeks to go, what I'm feeling is a bony bottom. Up until about week 36-37, a bottom can feel almost exactly like a head because there isn't a lot of fat on it. Also, when I would move that "head" back and forth, his whole body would move. When you move a head back and forth, the whole body doesn't move. The head will give a little or he will kick. A bottom, on the other hand, when moved, will in turn move the whole body.
She also reminded me that while she does not deliver breech infants, she has a friend who does and who would assist her. That is, if the baby was breech at the end and I still wanted a home birth. If I did not want to attempt a breech birth at home, a local hospital allows for breech vaginal delivery as they view breech as a variation of normal. In the event of an emergency (i.e., baby got stuck), skilled OB surgeons would be on hand. So I have no need to worry about a breech presentation anyway!
I love that my midwife comes right to my home, when I need her. There's no way I would get that kind of care anywhere else. She is a little concerned about my anxiety, however, and is sending a doula who teaches relaxation techniques my way. Even though I feel calm now, you just never know when relaxation techniques could come in handy!
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