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January 14, 2002
January 14, 2002
29 Weeks
I cannot believe I have only 11 weeks left, this is so strange. Two months ago was more or less Thanksgiving and that seemed like yesterday. Two months from now the baby could actually be here and two months is not a long time at all. I guess it is true what they say that the last trimester goes the fastest, at least for me it does.
The YMCA
I really am enjoying my prenatal swimming class. I realize I say this every entry so bear with me, I guess I never thought I would get that much pleasure out of it. I thought I would hate exposing my body to the masses but actually, no one can really see me when submerged in the water. The only thing that is annoying about swim class is that I am the only one in the entire class who has to constantly get out of the pool to pee. I don’t actually think there are many worse sensations out there than getting out of an 84 degree pool in a 92 degree room to enter a 72 degree locker room in a wet, dripping bathing suit and having to peel the top part off that same wet, dripping bathing suit off you as you squat above the toilet seat to pee. Even worse is putting back on the now freezing, dripping wet bathing suit. I must get out of the pool at least 2-3 times in the hour long class. Oddly enough I am the only one. The irritating part is that I don’t drink anything for at least 3 hours before class and I always make sure to go to the bathroom right before entering the pool, but still, I can never make it a whole session. Today was a regular circus act in my bathroom stall - since my girth is now so wide and cumbersome, I actually lost my balance trying to peel off my suit and squat above the seat. I caught my arm in the strap and ended up slamming my body into the wall of the stall, scaring half the people in the bathroom area. Someone even asked me if I was OK. Talk about humiliating.
Aside from loving the pool, another thing that is really great about the class is that the pool water is making my skin so incredibly clear. My face is now completely blemish free and my pores are really small. Definitely a nice bonus though I am sure in the long run the effects are damaging.
One of the women who teaches my class informed us that starting in May, she is starting a “Walk and Stroll” class on the bike path behind the Y. It is for new and not so new mothers who are interested in taking their babies for a stroll together for an hour a day. On top of everything, it’s free - it should be, it’s not really like a class after all. Normally, I am not a joiner but I think it might be fun to meet other new mothers and their babies and just get out of the house into the sunshine. It is a very scenic and relaxing path to walk on and I really look forward to it.
How I Feel
I don’t mean to complain here, but how in the hell did I end up with m/s at this late stage? I have it about every 4 days or so and it is really horrible. At least this time it actually takes place only in the mornings, but still, I thought I was done with all that. Guess not.
Lately, I have been having a lot of strange cravings. For example, since Thursday I have not been able to get enough clam dip and chips. So, for two nights in a row, I have made dip (cream cheese, sour cream, chopped canned clams, salt, pepper, lemon juice and just a dash of Worcestershire sauce) and eaten the whole thing with a bag of kettle chips. Not very healthy of me, I know, but I just had to have this or I would not have made it through the night.
I also have been craving bologna and hot dogs like nothing else. I haven’t given in to these cravings (much) because of the nitrates/nitrites but God, it is so hard. I’m at the point where I’d be willing to sell my soul just for one bite of a crunchy Nathan’s hot dog, covered in mustard, onions and sauerkraut. And I don’t even like hot dogs.
My Stomach
My stomach, as much as I love it, is really becoming a problem. (I say that with the utmost love and caring). First of all, it no longer allows me to shave. Not to be graphic but my bikini line is a thing of the past - who knows what it looks like right now. Certainly not pretty, I can imagine. The thing is, I wouldn’t know because my belly completely covers that area. I am not a hairy person at all, so it’s probably not that bad but the exactness with which I always took pride in my shaving regimen is now gone. My legs also don’t grow hair that quickly and even though I have always shaved my legs every day pre-pg, I never really had to. Now, I only shave my legs if I am going to a doctor’s appointment. Otherwise, I risk life and literal limb if I shave any more frequently. Remember that loss of balance story I mentioned earlier? Well, the same thing almost always happens when I try to shave my legs in the shower. Charles so gallantly offered to shave them for me but if I wanted to look like I should be hanging in a butcher shop, I would mutilate myself and save him the trouble. I suppose I could use Nair but I don’t know if I feel comfortable with the chemicals. Waxing is out of the question, I barely have enough hair to wax at this point. So, I guess for now I just do the best I can and hope that is sufficient. When I really need to do a good job, I sit on the floor with some shaving gel but for the most part I am trying not to agonize over it.
Another issue with my stomach is my belly ring or lack thereof. When I had my lap back in February, I took my belly ring out for the surgery and forgot where I put it. I let the holes close up assuming I would be pg sooner than later. (BTW, you can wear a belly ring when pg, I just didn’t want to be bothered). Anyhow, if any of you are not familiar with what a belly ring hole looks like, I’ll enlighten you. For me, both holes were located more or less inside my belly button hole. You could hardly see them at all, especially after the ring was removed. However, now that I am nearly 7 months pg, the skin on my stomach has stretched and pulled and repositioned itself. As a result, my ring holes have shifted upward and are now about an inch above where my belly button (or what’s left of it) is. So, I now have these two tiny pinprick holes just sitting there pointlessly looking stupid and I am praying that they eventually go back in their normal spot. I suppose it could all be worse, I still have no stretch marks though I have heard they can come later in the pg or even AFTER delivery.
OB Appointment
I had my latest OB appointment on January 9 and I am very proud to say that I actually lost a half a pound. Don’t ask me how I did it, fate must have been on my side. I was especially shocked because I have been eating a lot lately, or so I thought, so I was sort of shocked. My doctor praised me like a puppy who just learned to piss on the newspaper instead of the new sofa, it was so pathetic. I tried to tell him I had nothing to do with it but he acted as if I had specifically mapped out some diet plan. Whatever.
At the appointment, my doctor drew my blood to test for the RH factor. Since I am O negative and Charles is B+, we had a 50/50 chance that the baby would be +, requiring me to have a series of Rhogam shots during and after the pg. As it turns out, the test came back negative indicating that my blood has no antibodies and that I don’t need the shot for the time being. We won’t know the baby’s actual blood type until after the birth but for now we know my blood is not reacting to any potential differences between my baby’s blood and my own. I was quite happy not to have the shot, I have to admit. I don’t get scared over stuff like that, but who needs the hassle?
I also drank the glucola for the GTT and still have not gotten back the results for that, which I am assuming are OK seeing as I have heard nothing from the doctor. The glucola tasted exactly like Sunkist orange soda to me, nothing I’d want to drink again, but definitely not horrible.
The Baby
The baby moves around constantly which I find surprising. It just seems like this child never sleeps at all. Even if the kicks are not severe, s/he is always twitching or jerking or rolling around. I love it of course, but the poor thing must be exhausted in there. One thing I notice is that the movement is definitely getting higher up in my abdomen. For example, when I sit at the computer the baby’s kicks now jut out right at the level of the desk. Before the movement and kicks used to occur much, much lower than that. It has become obvious to me that any pressure at all that I place on my abdomen is unwelcome because that is always where the baby chooses to kick. When I lie on my side at night it is almost as if I can feel a little foot or hand reaching around to the side and toward my back. I know that is probably impossible but that is what it feels like to me. Whatever it all is, it is very sweet and I love it. I always make it a point to talk to the baby at night when s/he moves and just sit and watch it poke me. I only have 2 or so more months to savor this and I intend to make the most of it.
Getting Prepared
Little by little, we are starting to buy stuff for the baby. I am beginning to enter that panicky stage where I feel I have nothing and I am plagued with these visions of going into labor early without having bought any of the necessities. (The baby furniture should arrive any day now). I feel very fortunate to be having three showers where I suppose I will get a lot of the stuff we need, however, all three showers are scheduled close to my due date so it doesn’t give me a lot of time to evaluate what we still will need or time to buy it, especially if I go early. This weekend the Baby Gap and the Carter’s outlet was having a sale so Charles and I went out and bought a bunch of onesies, blankets, hooded towels, bibs and some other basics. A couple of people have mentioned to me that I need to stop buying (not that I have really bought a lot), because you get so much at your shower(s) that you always end up with more than enough. I realize that this is true but I guess I just want to make sure I have SOME stuff. Plus, I don’t want to rely on anyone to buy the stuff we need. Though we are very appreciative of anything we get from people, we certainly don’t expect them to just go hog wild and take care of everything.
And speaking of showers, I am so, so happy to say that Megan M., formerly a pg diary writer, is attending my shower in VA and I couldn’t be happier!!!! My shower is on a Saturday so she will be flying up on Friday morning and leaving Sunday. I don’t care about the shower part of it really, (though I am thrilled that she is coming for it), but I am simply ecstatic to finally meet her! I am sure it will be a very entertaining weekend. :) Additionally, Tammy W. of the precon diaries will try to attend, she is not sure of her schedule as of yet. So, if she comes I will be doubly ecstatic. I think it is just so sweet and so cool to finally get to meet two of my closest internet pals this way. In fact, now that I think about it, there will be quite a few of my internet buddies at this shower - Megan, possibly Tammy, Kamina (formerly precon), Mary (a lurker on my board), and Kami T. who also lives near me. That is really quite amazing when you think about it - all these women I didn’t know even a year ago, some of whom I never even met, all of whom I now feel very close to. Just goes to show the internet can be used for good and not just evil - haha.
Ruining Your Mattress
It just occurred to me the other night that it is very possible that when the time comes, my water could break in the middle of the night, while I am asleep - in my nice CLEAN bed. So, my question to you all with experience in the matter is this: is there anything at all you can or should do to prevent this potential problem? I REALLY do not want to have to go buy a new mattress upon returning from the hospital because it is sopping with now congealed amniotic fluid. (Sorry to be graphic but we’ve seen worse on this sight, I’m sure). Charles suggested we go buy a PLASTIC MATTRESS COVER - how sick. But seriously, is that what you do, or do you just take a chance that it won’t happen in bed? Is there something that you can use to get that stuff out should you lose it in the bed? I know these should be the least of my worries but I figured it can’t hurt to get some advice.
Pukey Pink and Blue vs. Gross Green and Yellow
Getting back to the shower topic, a friend of mine mentioned that it may have been a mistake not to find out the sex of the baby because now all people will get me as gifts is gross mint green and pale yellow clothing for the baby. While this may be true, I have heard enough people say that when they knew the sex of the baby, let’s say it was a boy, then all they got at their shower was a ton of pale blue clothing. Vice versa for girls. In fact, one girlfriend said that all she got were pale pink items, not one other color at all, because she had told everyone she was having a girl. Well, I can say one thing and that is if I were having a girl, pale pink would almost never be seen on her, I really am not a fan of pale pink clothing. No offense to those who like it, it’s just not me. Same goes for all that pale blue nonsense - yech. No, I am definitely more a primary colors type person. My favorite color is red and my child (especially if a girl) will most often be seen in this color. I guess I should revise my harsh words, it is not that I really dislike pink or blue, it’s just that why is it that clothing designers usually choose to make anything that is pink, frilly and anything that is blue completely uninteresting or worse, something you’d see on Little Lord Fauntleroy? I actually do have a little pink dress I once bought for a friend’s baby girl but ended up keeping for myself since it was the wrong size. BUT, the dress is not frilly or frou-frou or vomiting lace. I also bought a pale blue pajama for the baby this past summer before I even knew I was pg because it was unique and very, very cute - not your typical baby blue article of clothing. So, I guess the bottom line is that people will fall into stereotypes no matter what you are having (or aren’t having), you just take what you get and be happy with it. Again, I hope no one is offended with my feelings on pink or blue, I do actually think they can be nice colors for a baby, just not every day perhaps.
Last Week on Baby Story
I know this entry has been ridiculously long but I simply had to add one more thing. I was watching Baby Story last week and they featured this one couple who was really into motorcycles. The couple already had two boys around ages 3 and 5, or maybe it was 2 and 4 - same difference. Anyway, with the third baby on the way (who happened to be a girl), the parents were trying to come up with a way to fit all three of their children into the new side car they had just purchased for the side of their motorcycle. They were shown opening the side car and letting the boys sit in it but what was even more horrifying to me was that they were attempting to find a way to put an infant seat in front of the boys on the floor of the side car. There were no attachments, restraints, nothing. As it turned out, they were unable to fit all three kids (including infant seat), in the side car but I still thought the whole idea was just irresponsible. And I won’t even mention the fact that putting your child in a side car period is very dangerous. All it takes is a wrong turn, a bad driver, anything to just run right into that side car and kill those kids. It amazes me and pisses me off royally that two people could be so stupid. How is that even legal, putting an infant in a side car? I mean, while they are at it, why don’t they just strap the kid to the fender with a bungee cord? So annoying...
I seem to be getting that good old m/s feeling again and this entry is way too long anyway so I will say good-bye for now. I wish everyone a happy, healthy week and if I haven’t already mentioned it, I want to say congratulations to Laura K. on her recent pg announcement.
Take care and love always,
Corinne and her baby
EDD 4-1-02
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