-Baby was found head down at week 32, so luckily we have not
had to worry about a breech baby.
-GD is under control with the use of insulin at night. Baby
was measured last Friday at 7lbs 8oz, which means we did not have to be induced!
(The doctor does not want the baby to go over 8.5lbs…so it was a great sign
that baby was not in that range) Because baby did not grow as much as we thought
it would, we might make it to 40 weeks! I know that sounds strange. Most pregnant
women want the baby to come before their due date, but I truly believe it takes
40 weeks. Did you know that your baby’s brain is 2/3rds more developed at 40
weeks than at 37 weeks? While it is absolutely wonderful that we have the technology
to take care of a 30 week baby, and a baby born at 37 is safe, developed, and
beautiful, I wanted desperately, if medically possible, to carry my baby as
long as he/she decided to be carried. So, I was happy when the doctor said that
we could take it to 40….
-But not beyond. At 40 weeks if Cheeto has not decided to
come, doctor will get the process started. While I am so nervous for an
induction, I understand the difficulties and ultimately trust him. At this
point I still trust my body more, and am praying that my body will start before
our deadline.
-Speaking of this crazy body of mine, did you know that
women have contractions weeks before they give birth?! Haha Ok, I know I had
heard of Braxton Hicks, false labor, contractions happening before actual
labor, but the media in our culture does not portray this aspect of pregnancy.
At 36 weeks we had a Non-stress Test, which revealed I was having contractions!
I could not even feel them, but Tyler told me when I was having one, so I was
able to see what my body was doing if I was not feeling it. Well, those
contractions, some mildly uncomfortable and some completely painless, have been
around for nearly two weeks now. Sometimes they come every 5 minutes, sometimes
they come once an hour, but they are always there. In the movies the woman
feels a sharp, crazy intense pain, and she is off to the hospital. That is
nothing like real labor (not saying I actually believed the media’s portrayal
of labor).While I have made no progress according to the check up on Friday, I’m
hoping these contractions are actually being productive! I guess as long as my
body is doing something I should be grateful.
-We are officially cloth diaper parents! I’m pretty excited
to get that cute bottom into cloth diapers. I hope it goes smoothly. I know some people might think I’m nuts for wanting a natural childbirth and cloth
diapering…but I’m not sure that I care. Lol
-Speaking of natural childbirth…I think we are prepared as
we are ever going to be for the experience. We’ve read books. We know the
medical reasons we have chosen this path. We have taken natural birth classes.
We have decided on and met with our amazing doula. Through all the learning I
have developed a profound respect for my body. Women (all humans, but especially
women) are wonderfully made. God made our bodies to give birth. There are so
many things from hormone levels to the desire to push, that God designed. Did
you know that God designed my baby’s body to participate in the process? I had
no idea. I guess I figured that baby was just along for the ride, but no. God
designed that baby would have a spot on his/her head that when pushed on causes
he/her to push back. This means that once the baby enters the birth canal,
he/she will feel pressure and start pushing in the same direction I’m pushing!
We will be working together during birth. How crazy is that?! I love it. I have
become a birth geek. I love to read birth stories and watch birth videos. It
sounds crazy but I love what God made us to do. We are truly fearfully and wonderfully
made. That being said, getting back to the point of the rant, I completely
understand that this process is not cookie cutter. We are wonderfully and
individually made, meaning my labor will not be like my mothers, it will not be
like my friends, it will be unique to me. Every single body is different which
means that every labor is different, and not always within our control. In the
end my, Tyler and my Doula’s number one goal is a healthy baby. Do we believe
that a completely natural delivery is the very best way for the baby to enter
the world? Yes, but we want a healthy baby above all. Beyond the healthy baby,
if something happens I want to have a say in my medical care and by me I mean
Tyler. Poor man has a big job, I glad I’m the one in labor. He has to watch me
(which I’m sure will not be easy, I know I hate watching him be in pain) and be
my advocate. I will be in no state to make choices, so he has to make the
choices he thinks I would make. He will be my voice, and we want to be informed
before any medical procedure takes place.
-I guess that leads me to why it is so important to me to
have this informed consent. I believe that childbirth is a transformative
event. I know there will be pain, and I know it will probably be the most pain
I have ever endured, but I think that the pain will be a part of that
transformative process. I will begin labor as a pregnant woman and end the
process a mother. Labor pains will not be the only pains this child causes me.
I know that my heart will break when my baby’s heart is broken someday; I know
I’ll cry the day he/she goes to school. Labor is the start of a long, painful,
wonderful, inspiring, life changing journey, so I think it is fitting that
labor is all those things.
So here we are, waiting. Waiting and praying baby decides to
come without intervention. I think I am feeling so many mixed feeling because I
still feel good. I have some pains and aches etc, but nowhere near miserable. I’m
happy where we are, I’m happy feeling this miracle kick my ribs. I love that my baby responds to cold
water, and is always more active when we are in church. I love that we have
pictures of our baby smiling in the womb, and that smile came right after I
said, “I love that baby so much already.” I love that my baby kicks the
monitors during the non-stress tests and attempts to get as far away as
possible. I love that little person within me so much already. I love it when
Tyler talks to the baby. It has to be quite the sight to see, a grown man
getting as close to my belly as possible and saying “Baby this is daddy, kick
mom if you can hear me” or “Baby...Daddy…Baby…Daddy” (like he is introducing
himself) or “There are several fish….” I
will miss all of these things. I’m sure that once my baby is in my arms I won’t
even think of this part of the journey, but for right now I love it all.
Here are a few pictures! Warning--All of these photos have been pulled off my phone so they are not the best quality...but you get the idea.
Tyler doing "daddy" things...putting together swings :)
My wonderful friend Emma mailed us this onesie! I love it!
We were scheduled for a biophysical profile, and had an amazing ultrasound tech. She took a few 3D pictures for us. This was Cheeto at 34 weeks. I think the baby might have my nose (because as Tyler so kindly pointed out, my nose is "wider" than his), but I really can't decide on those beautiful lips!
This photo was taken right after I said "I love that baby so much already" The sweet tech said "O and baby loves you too Mama! Look at that smile!"
