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January 9, 2004
January 9, 2004
32 weeks pregnant with #1
Where did the time go???
I can't believe I haven't written a new entry in almost a month - terrible! But I guess with the holidays and everything, it is somewhat understandable. I just read through my last entry so I could remember what all I'd said then, and so much has happened since. Let's see if I can remember it all....
Rhogam injection and one-hour GTT
Well, I took a day off work to do these two things, since the waiting times basically dictated that if I went to work in between, I'd be there for only 2 hours. So in the morning I headed to the hospital's maternity ward for the Rhogam. A nurse took one look at my arms to take blood, and couldn't *see* any obvious blue veins in the usual spot in the crook of my elbow. I've never had blood-giving problems before, so I tried to tell her that she should just try that spot. I don't think she was very experienced or confident, so at first she stuck me in a vein in the top of my elbow. No blood. Then she stuck the top of my right hand, which was extremely painful. No blood. Next she tried the top of my left hand, again very painful, again no blood. Finally she called for another nurse, who smacked my inner elbow with her palm, said, "There's a big fat vein right there!" and jammed in the needle. I bleed beautifully and the other nurse probably felt like an arse. They stuck band-aids all over me and sent me on my way, with instructions to return in two hours. When I went back, the original nurse gave me the injection, and I left to go home for lunch and lick my wounds.
That afternoon was my appointment for the one-hour GTT with the midwive clinic. I arrived and they sat me down with the fizzy orange drink. It wasn't too bad, just like really sweet orange pop. However, I don't usually drink much pop and the carbonation gave me heartburn. I burped my way through the whole bottle and then sat there for the hour. When the midwife called me into the room to take my blood, I rolled up my sleeves and explained to her about the blood-taking fiasco of that morning. She looked at my arms and hands in shock (I looked like a heroin addict, I swear) and said she'd try some different places. So off I went again, trying my best to bleed! She tried the crook of my left elbow. No blood. She tried another spot higher up on my elbow. No blood. All the other usual places were already poked and covered with band-aids, so there was nothing she could do. She set me up with a requisition form and said I should go to the blood lab and they could do it there. So fast forward to the following week, after my puncture wounds had healed, and I went into the lab and they went about the test with no problem whatsoever. Phew! I had never had needle "issues" before, but I was starting to!
The Holidays
Christmas was pretty uneventful for us. My ILs were in Manitoba visiting Chris's brother and his family, so we went to my parents' house and enjoyed not having to split our time two ways. We got a digital camera from my parents, which we'd asked for but forgotten about, so we were still surprised and excited to open it on Christmas morning. Of course, our old computer wasn't really compatible with the new camera, so we've since bought a new computer. We have officially entered the new millenium now, and I won't be internet-deprived during my one-year maternity leave. Anyway, back to Christmas. Except there's really nothing exciting to report - it was pretty quiet! So I'll leave it at that. New Year's Eve we spent at home, just the two of us. We made a nice dinner and actually ate at the dining room table with candles and everything. Then we had a chocolate fondue, something that I think should become a monthly ritual. I mean, what could be better than fruit (one of my favourite things) dipped in chocolate (my favourite thing)?? Nothing, that's what. And it's so easy. After that we pulled out the sofabed to watch the LOTR DVD, in anticipation of going to see the final one in the theatre the following weekend. It was a lovely, quiet evening of good food, good company (!), and we just enjoyed the quiet time together.
Let the panic begin....
For several months now, we've been putting a ton of essential baby stuff off until "after the holidays." Well, guess what? Now it's January and we're in full panic mode! At least, I am. It suddenly struck us that there are only two months left until D-day, and we are far from ready. I've made a Master List of things we have to do/get/start doing, and we have made some effort to get things ready. One of the most important things was finding a pediatrician. Here in Toronto (and likely all of Canada?), finding a good doctor that is taking on new patients is no small feat. I was interested in this one practice right near my house that everyone in my neighbourhood seemed to go to. I called, and sure enough, he is not taking new patients. However, there is another doctor at his practice who is, but I was told I would need a referral from my OB. I asked if a referral from my midwife would be fine, and apparently it would. So at my next appointment with the midwife, I have to get them to fax over a letter asking the pediatrician to please take on care of our child when he arrives. So silly. I sure hope I like this doc. But that's one thing I can stop worrying about, hopefully.
There are a million other things we need. We took stock and we seem to be short on basic baby clothing, despite the shower my MIL had for me over a month ago. We have a billion blankets and lots of toys and stuffed animals, but very little in the way of footed sleepers for newborns to 6 mos. I guess they're just not as fun for people to buy! So I've got to stock up on some things for this babe to wear when he arrives, or he'll be pretty chilly! We also need to buy some things like a breast pump, more diapers, a sling, some sort of diaper bag, a thermometer, syringe and a few other essentials. So we will start shopping very, very soon. There have been a few hints around the office that someone is throwing a shower for me, or at least everyone is getting together and buying a gift. So I hope I get some useful stuff.
Doula
I have been wavering back and forth on this for weeks now. I had essentially decided to find a doula, or at least start talking to a few and see if I really clicked with anyone. Jeanette sent me a bunch of responses after she sent out an e-mail to her doula list (thank you J!), and I started compiling a list from that, and from my own research, of doulas to call. I was literally on the verge of starting a big round of calls, but something was holding me back. I won't lie and say that finances didn't play a role in this hesitation, but it wasn't a major issue.
But then yesterday at my midwife appointment (more on this later), I asked them what they thought. We talked about my mysterious reluctance in hiring a doula, and was it overkill with two midwives plus Chris in the room? They said that with hospital births, especially with an OB, they say doulas are the best thing ever. And with a midwife, great. But with the likelihood of there being not two, but three midwives at my birth (with the addition of an extra student-midwife), plus Chris and maybe even my mother, it sounded like yet another person would just be too much. So without actually coming right out and saying it, they said to just save myself the money. So that sealed the deal for me. I was relieved to finally have made a decision, and that's that.
Yesterday's midwife appointment
I arrived early for my appointment yesterday, and they took me right in. I peed on the test strip and everything was fine in that department - normal protein and glucose. She showed me the results of the one-hour GTT, and it was fine - YAY! So that ordeal is over. I think I scored 6.3 and anything lower than 7.8 is normal. My blood pressure was fine (126/75 maybe?) and for the first time I was measuring on target instead of two weeks ahead. Although the student midwife measured me this time, so who knows? But either way, all is well. She felt around and said that the baby is still head down, with his back running up my right side and his rump at the top of my uterus. She helped me feel the head (feels like a softball), which is apparently already quite low down into my pelvis. She was surprised and impressed by this, and told me that I had a "good pelvis!" I'm not even sure what she meant by that, but I'm still all excited by it! :) They gave me the birth supply list and instructions (more stuff to get!) and I was on my way. The supply list is pretty comprehensive, but not nearly as much as some I've seen. They also separate out essential items from the nice-to-have-but-not-essential stuff. Also, maybe because homebirth is covered by our provincial health plan, they bring along much of the more medical stuff I've seen on other lists themselves - gauze, blue pads, peri bottle, etc.
Next week we're going on a hospital tour as part of the "just in case" plan. Apparently the hospital has quite a nice L&D ward. I'm curious to see if every room has a jacuzzi, or only some. Either way, I'd like to be somewhat familiar with the place on the chance I could end up there for whatever reason. I've decided I won't go so far as to pack a hospital bag though. We live close enough to it that Chris could run home and get anything I needed (after the birth, of course!). For anyone from Toronto, our hospital is Toronto East General. Anyone have experience with the L&D ward there?? My midwives rave about it, anyway.
Symptoms
Let's see...what's the latest? Well, I'm developing quite a lovely road map of stretch marks on my belly. This isn't unexpected after somehow getting them all over my legs earlier on. Yuck. One of several reasons why it'll be a miracle to find me in a bathing suit at all this summer! Chris now rubs cream onto my belly every night at bedtime. I'm sure it doesn't really help, but it's a nice ritual nonetheless. I haven't had much in the way of heartburn (yet, knock on wood) but there have been some acid reflux moments. No hemorrhoids (yet, knock HARD on wood!), no Braxton Hicks that I can tell. I guess I'm having a pretty boring pregnancy so far, for which I'm eternally grateful. However, it is hard to imagine my belly getting much bigger. But I guess it will, since there are still two months to go! Oh, nighttime is an adventure. My hips get so sore, so I spend a lot of time flipping from one side to the other. And when I say flipping, what I really mean is a three-stage rolling ordeal that usually wakes up Chris. It's now uncomfortable to lie on my back for longer than about 10 seconds, so even if I was supposed to, it's not an option. Also, I have been sleeping with a plump throw cushion between my legs or propped under my upper knee, so when I'm facing Chris, he tends to get goosed by a corner of the pillow - much to his shock in the middle of the night. Heh. I had a spell of back soreness a few days ago, but nothing that a hot water bottle didn't cure. I think that's it for bodily news.
Maternity leave etc.
I officially submitted my maternity leave letter to work today. I am starting my leave on March 8 (my due date) but taking a week's vacation before that. So my last day of work is February 27! That's only about a month and a half away, and I can't believe it. My (new) boss, who is a total sweetheart, is scared I won't come back after the year off. I assured her that unless I win the lottery during that time, I won't have a choice! The only thing that would allow me to not come back to work would be if Chris suddenly got a much higher-paying job (or the lottery scenario), or if we moved cities (not totally improbable). But depending on where we moved to, I might still have to work SOMEWHERE. Anyway, it all seems to far in the future now, but I'm sure time will fly by as it always does. Chris is taking two weeks off as soon as the baby is born, then will have to go back to work full-time. He is taking three weeks off this summer, and we'll go to PEI and Nova Scotia for those weeks. We have a wedding in Nova Scotia on July 31st, so the tentative plan is to drive down the weekend of July 9th and then stay until just after the wedding. So we're already looking forward to that. I'm still in awe of the fact that I will have a whole year off. Now, I know it won't be one big relaxing vacation, but I won't miss the 9 to 5 rat race!
Perineal massage, Kegels, etc.
I guess about now is when you should start doing perineal massage. It doesn't sound fun at all, but if it's supposed to help, I'm willing. Anyone else done this regularly? Tell all, don't be shy. I am also making a concerted effort to do about 50+ Kegels every day now too. I often forget, but I hope the amount I'm doing is helpful. I also intend to start drinking my raspberry leaf tea every day soon. It's just a matter of remembering.
Well, I think I've peppered this entry with several questions already, so I won't go back and find them to retype here. So please, talk to me on my TTM board and answer some of them. Feel free to give me any and all advice as I enter the home stretch here!
Thanks for reading!
Jen H.
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