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| Cloth Diaper Wipe |
First off, I have to say that this pregnancy has gone by very quickly, in retrospect. When I was sick, early in the pregnancy, the days did seem to drag. However, since Spring hit, we've been so busy, and the weeks have flown by. I'm feeling well, haven't gained more than 20-lbs, the acid reflux has been mild compared to my pregnancy with the girls (so far) and I am still am able to sleep comfortably. I am now in my third trimester, running quickly into week 29!
This past weekend, I took a sewing class on the military facility. I had such fun and look forward to taking more classes. Sewing doesn't come to me like recipes do. I'm the idiot in the class who needs someone to sit with her. I'm very visual and hands on. Give me a website or pattern, no matter how easy, and I just can't figure it out. I know that will all come to me as I learn technique and vocabulary - but, until then, I will get frustrated. I did, however, learn to make perfect squares. The instructor kindly showed me how to make cloth napkins (we don't use paper napkins in our home and I had previously bought cloth napkins at Etsy. However, they were pricey and look easy - so I inquired about making my own. In a 15-minute lesson, I caught on). I promptly went to the fabric store and bought some flannel boyish fabric and am going to make all of our cloth diaper wipes. The one you see above is the one Matt made with Olivia (Yes, my husband can sew and quite well). I'm going to make them double-sided,with the red you see above on one side, and the striped white and blue on the other.
In other news:
Now that I'm in my third trimester, my midwife recommends I eat 100-grams of protein a day. Or, close to it. How is that possible, especially in this heat and humidity? Anyone tried it and succeeded? I have some whey protein (grass fed, organic, no artificial anything, etc.) powder that offers up 19 grams each serving. But, whew. I just can't eat that much every day. It's supposed to help the brain development of the baby and fluid retention in the mother, among other things. I think I'll aim for 75 and be happy with anything over that.
I had an ultrasound yesterday to see if the placenta had moved up as the uterus grew. It did. Not a lot, but out of the "danger zone." I knew it would move. Matt was upset that I even got it checked because in something like 99.3% of the time, it's not a problem by the end of the pregnancy. All it did was give the doctor another chance to find something else potentially wrong (because he's a genetic specialist and one of only two in the area - he's always looking for something, as per his job). Which he did. He told me that my amniotic fluid was low and asked me to come back in three weeks. I promptly called my midwife. She called him. Unfortunately, he does not speak English very well. He should not have told me that my fluid levels were low (though, he did tell me that I had nothing to worry about as he walked out of the office - but, by not giving specifics and being vague, I still freaked the heck out). They are not low. They are in the normal range - but on the lower end of normal. Now, I don't know what the actual number is, but, it is possible that because I was so busy all weekend and probably only drank 8-10 glasses of fluids between Saturday and Monday morning, my fluid levels looked a bit lower than usual. The more I drink, the more the baby pees, the more fluid is in there. Being more hydrated would have probably brought my fluid level measurements up only a nominal amount. But, even 2-3 points can put you in a higher category and ease the mind of an OB. Nonetheless, the doctor redid my 20-week check-up and everything looks fine. The biggest thing to watch out for, when fluid levels are lower than they'd like, is growth retardation. This was not the case with the baby. He's growing fine. His head is a bit narrow - but over-all head growth checks out fine. His dad has quite a narrow head - so, it's probably just genetics. And, if I remember correctly, Lila's head was a bit small at some point on ultrasound. Don't be like me and Google, "Fetus+narrow head."
So, what does this mean? Well, first off, fluid levels are something a midwife (or OB) can monitor without the use of an ultrasound. Here's an example: You go in for a check up and the midwife pulls out her measuring tape and measures your belly. You measure a little small. So, she then palpates around, seeing if she can feel baby parts - which are very very easily felt when the fluid levels are low. If this is the case, she'll send you in for an ultrasound to see what's going on. This is how, in fact, low fluid levels are usually found (on top of fewer kick counts the mother may notice). Most OB's in the States do not do an ultrasound at every appointment during pregnancy. So, it's found by the tape and hands-on method. In Germany, or at least the clinic I went to before I started seeing my midwife, they do an ultrasound at every single appointment and find it that way instead. Just different methods-but both just as good.
I don't know that I'll go in for another ultrasound. I asked my midwife instead to start seeing me every two weeks (which wasn't supposed to start for six more weeks) so she can monitor his growth very carefully. She is not concerned at all - but, agreed to do it. If she starts to see growth retardation, she will send me in and we'll go from there. Worst case scenario is that my fluid levels will drop dangerously low, retard his growth and he'll come early. But, that's worst case and very very unlikely. None the less, I now know how it feels to be scared into following every instruction your OB tells you. Until this pregnancy, I had only seen an OB once or twice, with both girls combined. I've only ever known midwifery care - which is calm, cool and collected. They trust pregnancy and the birth process. It's very refreshing and calming. I've stayed away from OB's because I knew that they are very very conservative and control for every little thing they find. This has been (one reason) what has led to our high rates of c-sections in the States and even here in Germany (just 1 or 2% lower than the US rates). While I'm not against c-sections or interventions at all, I am against unnecessary ones. I think there is a fine line that OB's cross all too often out of fear. And, I question any doctor, OB or not, who practices out of fear. So, I am taking extra precautions - just in case - but, I'm not going to go in every two weeks for an ultrasound to check fluids when I know it can be checked easily another way, in the comfort of my own home.
On a side note, this is the second ultrasound in a row where he did not cooperate and we could not see boy parts. This time, I freaked out and asked the doctor to go over the first ultrasound picture with me and point out the penis. Which he did. I then asked him, even though it looks like a penis to me, why he thought it was a penis and he explained, as best he could in his broken English. But, still, I'm a little nervous now! I shouldn't be because two doctors in a row told us it was a boy - but, oh, you know how it is. I'll be happy with a girl - I'm mostly concerned about all the boy stuff I now have. I think I'll save receipts - just in case!
