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January 7, 2002
1-7-02
40 weeks!
Well, we’re at 40 weeks and as you can see, we are still sticking around! Ethan is still very comfortable hanging out inside me… and that is okay… I’m all too happy to provide him with a comfortable place to be right now.
Don’t get me wrong… the aches, pains, and discomforts of pregnancy are really starting to wear thin, but I know that the time is near and this really won’t last much longer. I had a doctor’s appointment on Friday. Things are slowly changing. My cervix is very thin now, though not dilated at all. Ethan is still head down and that makes me very happy. Unfortunately, my blood pressure has not improved. My systolic was okay 124 but my diastolic was up to 96. The swelling in my feet has worsened and I am now spilling protein in my urine. So, unless I am physically moving around, I am to be laying down the majority of the time. That is SO hard to do. There is so much to be done. Besides, it’s so hard to get up and down from the bed. I go back to the doctor’s office on Thursday for another check up. This may sound pessimistic, but I don’t really expect much change where my blood pressure is concerned. I have been watching and the swelling in my feet seems to be getting worse instead of better, even with careful bedrest. Like I said earlier, though, I know the time is near and this won’t last much longer. Unless it really skyrockets, I am okay with things the way they are.
My doctor has yet to mention the word “induction” and that is completely fine by me. I would much rather go on my own if at all possible. Now, if my blood pressure becomes a problem for either myself or for Ethan, then of course I’d be completely open to that option. But, as long we both can handle it, I’d rather let nature take its course. Since I really want to try a drug-free birth, I think I will handle things much better if nature gets them started.
I think my little boy is really getting big. I’m really, really curious to see how much he weighs! It will be a big highlight once he is born. Yesterday, while I was sitting up, I could feel simultaneous movements up close to the ribs on my right and way down almost to my thigh on the left. I think he was stretched out. But, Mike and my doctor and I all agree that we have a sneaking suspicion that he is definitely a good-sized boy!
On Friday night, my doula, J., and her backup doula, D. came over to our house to meet with Mike and me. They are trained to do childbirth training using many of the techniques found in Birthing From Within. If any of you are pregnant and are not familiar with this book, I HIGHLY recommend it. It is better than any other pregnancy book I’ve gotten my hands on. Well, it’s more about birthing than pregnancy. It is a very empowering book that basically teaches us something that many women have forgotten… our bodies were MADE to birth babies. I think there is something in this book for everyone… whether you are planning on a home water birth without medications, or a hospital birth with all the modern medicine.
Anyway, J and D had us do some birth art, which was extremely helpful for me. We also practiced a number of different pain management techniques. Again, this was very helpful. I learned a couple of things I wasn’t aware of… things that worked well for me and I think might be very useful once labor gets underway. I’m so blessed to be having a doula with me. I know that she is going to help make this experience a more rewarding one for Mike and me!
My mom got back yesterday after being away for a week to visit a friend. It’s nice to have her back. I know that I am going to need her help so much once Ethan gets here. Mike only has five vacation days and one comp day since he is so new with his company. Since my mom is here, he plans on just taking a couple of days off while I’m in the hospital and then saving the rest. My mom will be here to help me. This will allow him to have some days left for when she is gone. We are all pretty happy with that arrangement. It works out well.
I mentioned how much I’ll need my mom’s help once Ethan arrives… well, actually, it’s been such a blessing to have her here NOW. With me having to be off my feet a lot, she has done so much for me and it would have been so much harder had she not been here. She has really been a lifesaver.
Well, I guess that is our update! We’re still here and still happy. I never thought I would say this, but I am really no longer in hurry to get this show on the road. I am just savoring every minute I have before he gets here. I am also savoring every moment with him still in my womb. A couple of nights ago, I got extremely emotional. I was lying in bed and pulled our Bose radio down near my tummy and began playing some instrumental music for Ethan while I read a novel. Well, the novel quickly went by the wayside. It was more fun for me to lie there and watch my baby boy dance to the music. He moved and moved and was so active. Each time the music would crescendo, he would get more excited. I quickly found myself in a flood of tears. I realized that we only have a few more precious days of that left. Soon he will be here, and that is good as well, but I realized how important it is to enjoy each and every single moment with him inside me. My little miracle. My little boy.
I’ll probably update again after my appointment on Thursday, but we’ll see how things go! Thank you to all of you for leaving such encouraging messages on my board. They are so helpful. Congratulations to Wendy S. on the arrival of Samantha! Also, congratulations to Tracy and Yolande (from the Due in January board) on the arrivals of Jayda and Benjamin, respectively. I’m so happy for you all!
~~Lots of Belly rubs…
Christina & Ethan; due in just three days!
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