 | Diary Navigation:
|
November 10, 2003
24 Weeks: Prenatal Appointment, Birth Stories and Work Frustration
This entry will be even more of a mish-mash than usual. Not a ton has happened pregnancy-wise since my last entry, so I’ll be piecing together things I wrote in various places since then. In my next entry, I’ll talk about the Chicago trip. I’m currently in Indiana with my sister, who’s off at class. I meant to get this entry posted before I left, but as usual, things came up. Anyway, I hope the time-jumping isn’t too irritating.
Thursday, October 30th, 23 weeks 5 days
Prenatal Appointment
For the first time, Dan wasn’t able to go with me to a prenatal yesterday. When we signed up for Bradley classes at the last minute, it conflicted with our next prenatal, and the only time we could reschedule the appointment was during Dan’s class (it only meets once a week and he can’t really skip it). It was the first time both the midwives would be there together, so it was a bummer, but I promised to tell him everything that happened and to ask questions for him.
I had to drive alone to my midwife appointment during the peak of rush hour, and I was reminded once again of how much I hate driving in traffic. It was raining, which didn't help. Dan picked me up from work at 4:25, I dropped him off at school by 4:40, and I didn't get to my midwife's until 5:25. It seems ridiculous since we didn't even have to go into the suburbs, but it still took forever. I got all stressed driving until I got close and figured out that I'd still get there by my 5:30 appointment time.
As I said, it was the first time with both my midwives, but Jeanne, who I saw last time, was flustered because she forgot her prenatal bag at home and didn't have my records or her equipment. Kim's pee sticks have 5 indicators on them, and it said I had a trace of protein in my urine, but that was probably due to its being dinnertime and I hadn't eaten.
I weighed X+15 according to their scale. Phew. My blood pressure, even after the car ride, was 110/60. They said my eating was fine (I brought a week's worth of my diet to show them), which was a relief. We briefly talked about backup. They're going to get me the number of the general practitioner they like. I'll have one appointment with her around 35 weeks and she'll get a copy of my records. If I need to transfer care at any point, I’ll switch to her. The only case in which I wouldn’t see her would be an emergency transport during labor, in which case we’ll go to the nearest hospital and take whoever’s on call. Kim says that she likes to do one internal at the home visit ~36-37 weeks to get a baseline feel. Jeanne doesn't usually do that, so it's up to me to have it or not. I have my next appt (at 27 weeks) in 4 weeks, and then they'll be every 2! I can’t believe they’re getting closer already.
Both of them palpated my uterus. Kim talked to the baby, which was pretty neat. Nothing creepy, just "oh there you are!" and things like that. They helped me feel the baby's head--it feels like a big round super ball :) It's the only big lump in there. The head was on the right, and the rest of the baby was down and to the left, but it was so deep in my uterus that we couldn't pick out feet or anything. The movements I've felt for the past couple days have felt more like tickling way down on my left side, so it made sense that the baby isn't too close to the front. A couple days back the movements changed a lot, so I'm less nervous that the baby will stay transverse forever now. Even as they palpated me, they and I could feel the baby squirming around, so he/she's got lots of room in there. My fundus measured 22 1/2 weeks, which is pretty close to on target. I was a week and a half behind last time, and now I'm a week or less behind. Sounds okay.
Then they were able to find the heartbeat with a stethoscope! I listened and could barely hear it, but it was there :) Kim counted and said the rate was between 132 and 144. That's in the boys' range for the old wives' tale, right? That's the first time anyone's given me a rate because even with the Doppler, the CNM didn't bother counting.
Friday, October 31st: 23 weeks, 6 days
Birth Stories
Dan and I went to hear birth stories last night. The Childbirth Collective, a local group of doulas, holds weekly meetings to give information about doulas and general pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum info. Every couple months they invite new moms to tell their birth stories. I’ve gone to a couple already, but this was Dan’s first time going. I went to dinner first with women I met on Mothering’s website. Six of us (including one other pregnant woman and three with their under-six- month-old babies) ate and chatted. The two babies in slings looked so cozy and barely uttered a peep. One was such a sling advertisement—she was just sobbing in her car-seat and the instant she was put in the sling she transformed into a smiling, giggly five month old. Amazing.
At the birth stories, we heard six or seven sets of parents give their stories. The majority had doulas. One was a VBAC turned repeat-C-section, and one took a sleeping pill, but everyone else was drug-free. Despite my discomfort at seeing births at Bradley early in the week, I can’t hear enough stories. Seeing the babies on their laps adds a lot to it, too. There were at least ten babies there born since spring and it was amazing seeing all of them at once. Dan was particularly surprised to see how different their temperaments were. These two-month-old babies all looked differently and acted differently. As we left, Dan commented on how individual they were. We know we will have a baby soon, but I think we’ve been so focused on the teeny-tiny helpless stage that realizing how quickly that little bundle becomes a little person was a new concept for us.
Monday, November 3rd: 24 weeks, 2 days
Work Frustration
Friday I went to lunch and kept staring at my belly wishing I didn't have to go back to my desk. I'm sick of being here. I feel like the baby needs me more than my job needs me and I just want to stay home and make cookies and fold onesies. We've been so busy since Bradley classes started and our Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday nights are all booked--I've been going to bed late because there's too much I want to do. Dan's been bummed because he hasn't gotten many chances to feel the baby move or to read to him/her because we're always doing things. Instead of sitting around being frustrated, I'm starting to think about various ways I could reduce my hours over the coming months.
Up until now, I’ve said that I’ll be at work until the bitter end. I have to take vacation days for any days off before the birth unless I’m too sick to work, so I can’t start maternity leave early without losing money somehow. A few options I’m considering include dropping to 3 days a week once I hit February and 37 weeks. I could either use two vacation days every week, or officially drop to 32 hours/week (and only get paid 80% of my full-time salary). I think that by working 32 hours, I’d still qualify for full benefits, which is a necessity since my health coverage is through my job. We’re working on transferring coverage to Dan’s work, but that wouldn’t cover my pregnancy regardless.
Another option that I’m toying with is dropping to 3 or 4 days a week for my whole third trimester—starting right after Thanksgiving. I have enough vacation days and holidays to work only 4 days a week until the baby’s born, but that would mean cutting two weeks of paid leave off the post-partum time. I’m starting to think that retaining my sanity might be worth it.
Whether I really go through with cutting my hours will depend on how work goes for the next couple weeks. If things pick up and I have some interesting projects, then it won’t be so bad. But if my workday keeps dragging like it has been, I don’t know if keeping at it for the next four months is really the best thing to do.
Thursday, November 6th: 24 weeks, 5 days
Kitchen Project
Dan and I went to the cabinet store and got closer to figuring out some of our choices. We have nine-foot ceilings on our first floor and we aren’t sure whether to put cabinets all the way to the ceiling. The current cabinets go up eight feet and we need a chair to reach the top shelf. Even though we’re desperate for every square foot of storage space, I don’t know if it’s worth paying for cabinets high enough to require a small ladder. We’d leave a shelf on top to put things if we go with the eight-foot cabinets, so technically, we could still store things there.
We’ve pretty much decided on naturally maple Shaker style cabinets. There’s a five week wait while they’re built, so if we finalize that choice, we can hold off on countertop and sink decisions for a bit. That’s good, since we have completely different preferences on those. I want Corian with a built-in Corian sink. Dan wants laminate and stainless steel. Choices, choices. As long as they’re in with time to spare before the baby comes, I’ll be happy.
TTM: How did you decide on a work schedule for the end of your pregnancy? Was time off more important than money as you neared the end?
Sometime this week, I’ll write up the Chicago trip. Dan wasn’t sure nine women could all get along, but I couldn’t have gathered a finer group of ladies. I spent more money than I’d hoped, and we didn’t get to see the fun chick flick, but I had a fabulous time. Now, if I can just catch up on sleep, life will be great.
 |  |
|
want to keep a diary on iParenting?
Authoring a diary on the iParenting network allows you to chronicle your family's story, preserving it for years to come. It's also a great way to get the most out of the iParenting community. Click here to start...
|
The iParenting Media Awards program helps parents find the best products for their families. 
