40 Week Checkup

I had my midwife appointment this afternoon. It didn't go quite as I had hoped, but still wasn't too bad.

I have no progression, my cervix is a bit softer than last time, but no dilation. Peanut's HB was good and strong still, BP was great(96/68)! But because of the GD she is wanting me to go no later than next Wednesday. Like she said no reason to bake the little one longer when she is getting so big otherwise (I will laugh if she comes out at 6lbs).  So I have an end date now, I will be holding my little one in my arms no later than the 19th. I have an Ultrasound scheduled for Monday morning and then an appt w/my Midwife and then a non stress test after that at the hospital - will be a busy morning..

If I don't have her by next Wednesday evening, DH and I will be at the hospital, having my cervix ripened and then Thursday morning I will have an induction. So cross your fingers and send me good positive thoughts that little peanut will come before then.

I have to talk to my midwife about the cervix ripening and see if that starts the labor if they will still let me do a water birth. If I am induced, I will be induced with Pitocin and that is by an IV which means the water birth is out of the question. It also means that my drug free birth is out of the question too, since I am assuming I won't be able to handle the Pitocin contractions and need to have an Epidural. But we will see. I am just hoping that this induction doesn't lead to a C-Section, if it does it does, but I would rather not. The good news with that is that I would get an extra 2 weeks of Short Term Disability ;) But I would rather not have it go that route...just trying to think positive.

Childbirth Preparation Class

Mike and I had our Childbirth Preparation Class today. We went through the express one. I was so thinking that we would be the couple that had the due date the farthest out, but we weren't, so it was nice. There were 11 couples. I guess that's a pretty full class, normally they don't have that many, and I guess normally they don't fill up all their classes, but since all the classes are full until June they are adding classes.

Our teacher Peggy was great, she is a mother of 5 girls and had natural childbirths for them all and they were all premature babies. We started out the class with learning about relaxation and communication between the mother and her partner. Then we got to try out some different positions to try during the contractions and also the different breathing techniques. It was really great to try the different positions, on the birthing ball, on my side etc and to try the different breathing techniques.

We watched a few videos on birthing, techniques, and some other things. They showed about epidurals, different meds that can be used during delivery. It was good to see, they did a great job of showing the benefits and the side effects or risk to the mother and the baby with all of them. Made me realize more and more that I want to have a natural childbirth. I know I know a lot of you out there that have had children will be like "just get the epidural" But I really want to try without it as much as I can before getting it. I will be talking with my midwife about when I can get one, when is the latest time I can get one, just so we have our options open.

We got to tour the birthing suite and I thought it was amazing before I saw it in person, but it can't even be described how neat it is. There are 6 birthing suites, they said they haven't yet been full, but if they were they would use the triage rooms. There are about 6 or so triage rooms that you go into to see if you are ready to be admitted or not, and then a TON of postpartum rooms. It was really nice to see all of them. The tubs in the bathrooms in the birthing suites are amazing. Big enough for Mike to get in there with me - he is planning on packing his swim suit just in case. They have ipod docking stations, TV's and surround sound. I can't wait.

6 Weeks

6 Weeks on Friday. It's hard to believe that it's already been 6 weeks, but here we are. and every week that goes by gets me closer to meeting little peanut and closer to the excitement of becoming a mother.

But I think Saturday I had my first touch of morning sickness. Even though it was really afternoon sickness. I was feeling fine in the morning, I had a good breakfast. Then a few hours later I had to eat lunch before I went to go get my H1N1 vaccine. So I went upstairs and everything sounded crappy. Our Sweet and Sour Chicken we made the other day didn't sound good, a spinach salad didn't sound good. So I opted for a Chicken/Cheese Quesdilla, which Peanut was loving last week. and I got about 1/2 way through it and couldn't finish it. It just didn't taste good. and I was sick for a few hours after that. I had a banana when I got home and that has seemed to help.

I got the H1N1 vaccine yesterday. It's the first time I have gone to a Clinic or something like that and not wanted to be there because I was afraid of all the sick people. I had to drive to Brooklyn Park to go to the Brookdale Park Nicollet. which sucked, drive an hour for a 10 minute wait and shot. But at least I got the shot and got out of there quick, so now I don't have to worry as much (I am still armed with hand sanitizer where ever I go).

I had a bit of a scare yesterday. I went to the bathroom and had some spotting in there. I tried not to freak out as it happens to a lot of women and doesn't mean anything. So I was waiting patiently for the next time I went to the bathroom and there was nothing and there hasn't been anything since. so I think we are good.

I am just waiting for the holidays to be over (first time I have ever said that) so that I can go to see my MW on the 11th. I have so many questions for her. I am excited to see the facility, so after I meet with her and when it gets closer I will tour the facility out in Waconia. It just opened in July of this past year and has state of the art birthing suites and has a birthing tub in each one. Which is super awesome since I am planning on having a water birth. If a water birth doesn't work out then at least I can labor in the tub for awhile. I am super super excited about it.