Baby goes to birth class

We're back from our Outer Banks extravaganza (read: Duck Doughnuts, all the seafood you can stuff in your face, ice cream, mini golf, long walks on the beach which by no means burn the vast calories consumed but hey, who's counting?) and real life resumes.  Vacationing with three small children was certainly a change of pace but it managed to be fun and mostly relaxing.  That drive is terrible, though.  It's like driving to Ohio but with worse scenery! 

Sunday was our first hospital-sponsored childbirth class up at Morristown Medical Center. 

There are 9 other couples in our two part class, ranging from our age (mid-late 20's) into their 40's.  The common thread is that it's a first baby for all of us.  Because honestly, why would you subject yourself to a 2 day, 5 hour course if you've been through this before? 

I've had the time to read extensively so I can't say I was surprised by any of the biological aspects of the class.  I treated it like a test review.  It was clear that many of the men in that room were riveted by the things happening to our bodies that they hadn't really thought about before.  Their reactions kept me amused.  The nurse running it was quite good in a grandmotherly, no-nonsense way.  Basically, her main takeaway was "labor is intense" and "every woman is different."  I felt for some of those moms in the room who looked as though she'd punted a baby goat off a cliff.  I guess it's just not that scary to me because hospitals and I are now intimately acquainted. 

Nurse Diane took us on a tour of the maternity ward.  That was my main motivation for signing up for this class: the extended look at the facilities offered to all new parents.  I wanted to be able to visualize a delivery room, the nursery, the postpartum accommodations, and most importantly, the jacuzzi, just in case.  We did not get to see an OR but then again, I've been in my share so I'm sure it's pretty much the same.  I'm holding out hope for a tub room but there are only 3 on the entire ward so it's first come, first serve.  I will be calling them from 287 telling them to boot whoever is in there because I'm on my way! 

I was surprised that the delivery rooms were tiny and dark with no windows.  I hadn't really visualized giving birth in a cave.  Personally, I'd love to be distracted by looking out a window but no such luck.  Maybe they want you to focus and get it over with as quickly as possible so they minimize distractions.  If you are lucky enough to score a tub room, they are about three times the size of the regular rooms (of which there are 18 total.)  The postpartum rooms are all very clean with lots of light and a pullout couch for the partner.  Morristown keeps you 2 nights minimum for vaginal birth and 3 for a c-section.  That seems excessive but I'm sure they have it down to a system.  There were only 2 new babies on the whole ward while we were touring.  Memorial Day must not be a popular weekend to give birth.  One mother had what seemed like her entire family there (no, thank you) and they brought her Dunkin' Doughnuts and crowded her room.  Me?  If PB falls asleep, I'd be sleeping, too.

The tour was helpful.  Class could have used more mediation time (aka Nap Time!) because those chairs were damn uncomfortable.  Once we got on the floor with our blankets for the last hour, I was happy.  The early 90's birth clips they kept showing were pretty hilarious in that they'd freeze-frame on the most unflattering facial expressions imaginable.  Those poor women!  Shockingly, there was no nudity.  I guess you have to watch "The Business of Being Born" for that.  (You'll see lots of engorged breasts if you do, trust me.) 

We learned the four acceptable positions of active labor and now I can't wait to cat/cow the heck out of Transition.  Bring it on, I say.  Next week we'll learn about C-sections and postpartum stuff so that should probably be a bit more helpful.  All in all, I'm glad we're doing this now as a frame of reference.  It reiterates how helpful yoga is for preparing the mind and body and that Jillian Michaels will continue to be my friend for my isometric strengthening.  Who says you have to wet yourself each time you sneeze?






 

And though she be but little...

She is fierce.

We are officially having a daughter!

PB had her first photo shoot yesterday during the anatomy scan and you can clearly see her lady bits and that sweet profile as she's reposed over my placenta.  (Yes, it's still totally covering the cervix but not much we can do about that.) 

It took long enough for PB to warm up to us and move her hands off of her genitals.  We had to wait 15 minutes to finally sneak a peek at her pelvis.  She's certainly a modest one and oh, so flexible.  She spent most of the scan with her legs up over her head and her hands shot through the opening between them.  All that yoga is really rubbing off on her.  She's still in transverse breech position which probably has a lot to do with the placenta placement but it isn't affecting her nutrition or growth.

The tech looked at literally every minutia possible: we saw the kidneys, the four chambers of the heart, the cerebellum, the umbilical cord, the abdomen, the fingers and toes, and briefly, her lips.  She was "hiding under my scar" for a good portion of the scan.  Turns out my hunch about the lack of a true bump absolutely has to do with the position of my scars but in another few weeks, that should change.  Ultrasounds can't accurately read through scar tissue - my uterus happens to be right under my laparotomy scar at the moment -so whenever PB would scoot down to the scar line, we lost clarity in the image of her head and face.  As baby and uterus grow and begin to expand out of the pelvis, we'll have an easier time seeing facial details and by then I should be ready for fundal measurements.

The important thing is that PB is measuring on target and we are halfway through this pregnancy!  We met with the third and final doctor - a very motherly Indian woman - who did warn me that unless my placenta moves by our 30 week scan in July, the official call of placenta previa will be made and we'll begin to talk C-section dates.  Ah, the best laid plans...but really, that's the least of my worries.  I am in great health and so is the baby.  Do I look forward to yet another major abdominal surgery?  Not so much but hey, C-section babies don't get cone-heads at birth!

I love that our baby girl is so active and has so much personality already.  Watching her for an extended period of time was such a gift.  She was throwing punches around each time the tech would try to turn her for a new angle.  She looked like a little Jedi street fighter, grooving to a disco beat.  Her femurs are apparently measuring quite large but the tech looked at us and said, "well, neither of you are short people."  She's going to be a giantess - not a shocker.  I was a hearty newborn and we all know Rhett's story so at least we don't have to be afraid of handling some delicate little flower.  I'm telling you, it's all that calcium being put to good use!  

 

Wham!

Well, PB's a little late for the Mother's Day celebration but I felt my first actual kick today.  Future Rockette or Black Belt?  I wouldn't be surprised by either.  I'm not even 20 weeks and "wham!" - oh, hey in there.  Yes, I feel you. 

Some background:
I had been up since 2:45, unable to truly fall back asleep, then I was off to the dentist at 8:00 AM.  After a three-hour car appointment before our upcoming vacation to replace the brakes and rotors (talk about timing!), I finally got home at 1:00 PM.  I was exhausted.  Why?  No idea.  Sitting on my butt in Starbucks, drinking Oprah chai's really took it out of me, I guess.  I told Oscar I was just going to lie down for 20 minutes and that I'd take him to the park after.  Just kidding.  I woke up to the little kick at 3:15 PM.  Whoops.  Sorry, kid.  I slept through your lunch.  PB was not a happy camper.  Immediate bagel action required. 

Really, this relationship is a lot like Seymour and Audrey II (the plant from "Little Shop of Horrors.")  FEEEEED ME, SEYMOUR!  Constantly.

After semi-listening to a positively charming childbirth class sent to me via email by my hospital group ["these are forceps which may be used to guide the baby's head out of the birth canal"], I feel the need to stuff my face again.   Excuse me.  "Twoey" is calling. 

Check that off the list

Moving was a breeze.  The crew was in and out in 2.5 hours and the 10x10 storage unit was exactly the right size.

We managed to empty out the entire guestroom as well as 35 plastic bins and assorted boxes, including half of the contents of our garage into this space.  I am pleased.  The new project has two stages.  First phase: organize the remaining items in the garage and create a space for large baby items that may stay in boxes for a while. 

Phase two is the fun part: begin planning the nursery.  Essentials such as the crib and dresser have been ordered but we're limited in terms of piecing it together until after the hardwood floors are installed, which of course backs up on the bathroom renovation.  I cannot wait to see this bathroom.  I'm way too excited for this facelift but I think that's because it's my first HGTV-worthy project and wouldn't it be nice if the Property Bros. showed up and offered to do our master, too?  ha!

The next stages are going to happen in quick succession so planning is key.  I feel like I have a handle on everything now that I can visualize room to breathe! Here's a sneak peek at PB's nursery, sans assembled furniture, as well as a paint test. 

No one could accuse us of being afraid of color, that's for sure!  It's called "orange slice" and it's just this side of Nickelodeon but I love it.  Supposedly orange increases appetite but with an infant, that's a plus.  The more milk, the merrier. 

May Day and we're on our way

Yesterday, we made an unplanned visit to the OB.  I had been having some intense cramping and fresh spotting which are all red flags, given the placenta placement, so to be safe I called in my symptoms.  I have learned that it's better to have peace of mind than worry for days not knowing if everything is going to be okay.  That doesn't make me paranoid or nervous but my reality of IVF and ensuing complications has taught me to advocate for when I just know something feels "off." 

The receptionist got me in right away with Dr. Convery (who is quickly becoming our favored delivery choice) and I had a full exam and quick ultrasound.  Sure enough, there was a ton of old blood inside that was visible to the naked eye.  This could be the same SCH irritation from January that keeps reopening as the uterus stretches.  The next two weeks are a particularly big growth spurt for the baby and for my uterus so that could explain why I had such menstrual-like cramps as the placenta, which is still covering the cervix, has to stretch and grow. 

There was a very pale spot on the u/ss - which indicates a fresh bleed - but it was small and Dr. Convery said all of the uterine stretching could have irritated it but that it should resolve on its own.  The baby is doing just fine, the fluid looks good and my cervix is closed, so all is well.  PB was sitting in breech lotus position, directly over my cervix.  We got a little wave but that was it.  No showoff somersaults this time.  PB wanted to meditate undisturbed.  I'm still on pelvic rest (and realistically, probably will be for the remainder of this pregnancy.)  Yoga is fine - the baby is already learning Savasana! - but no high-impact sports or classes.  I have figured out that when I start to feel cramps, I lie on the bed and put my feet up and in a few hours, I feel completely better.  It's the learning to listen to my body and slow down that has actually gotten easier with my guided meditations from class.  I also bought some hippy birthing book about being mindful but whenever I read it in the tub, I start to nod off.  Maybe that's the point? 

We scheduled our anatomy scan and have to call for the Fetal EKG for late June.  This next scan is the halfway point for this pregnancy!   Babies born after 36 weeks are considered full-term.  It's a little strange to think that after this appointment, we probably won't have another ultrasound till 28 weeks.  That's the longest stretch yet without visuals but at least in the later second and third trimesters, you have a rapidly expanding belly and can feel some forceful fetal movements.  

Speaking of bellies and movements, although I've been feeling PB flutter about since around 12 weeks, it's gotten stronger and more frequent.  I even felt a distinct tapping today when I was working on some assignments for school.  It feels like a little pulse right above my scar.  There is certainly a small but more permanent protrusion at my bikini line (finally) so that's something.  17 weeks, kid.  It's about time!  I can proudly say that in the shower, I finally look pregnant.

It's going to be a busy May but Foetus is brewing strong and we can't wait to clear out the nursery and celebrate with a little Outer Banks beach break.