Saturday, 5/1, DH and I had our childbirth education class. I thought it was so awesome. I learned a lot from this class. The teacher has 9 kids of herself and is a doula as well. She gave us tips for the pushing stage that I was the most concerned about, and that made things a lot more clear to me. I am afraid of a bad tear just as much as a c-section. We'll see how things go :)
Since Sunday I started feeling different - like things were starting to happen. I am keeping this log updated everyday with progress. It could still be weeks before she is born but it will be good to have a summary.
Sunday - 5/2 - Lots of walking, feeling tired and crampy.
Monday - 5/3 - Contractions 10-11 min apart. Pittered out in the night.
Tuesday - 5/4 - Contractions 6-8 min apart. Pittered out in the evening. Swollen feet and legs.
Wednesday - 5/5 - Swelling went down. No real contractions, only BH.
Thursday - 5/6 - Lots of BH, some real contractions. Not enough to time.
Friday - 5/7 - Lots of slightly more intense contractions since 7AM.
Sunday - 5/9 - Contractions 8-10 minute apart.
Friday - 5/14 - Part of mucus plug came off. Brown streaked.
Prodromal Labor
Nursery
I've been busy planning and making the nursery for quite a few weeks now. I love the way it all came together. Still waiting on the name letters that are custom order from Etsy seller. I just could not wait for them so I'll just share the pics without them :)
The letters will go on the wall behind the crib.
I made this bedding from Michael Miller fabric.
Bumpers closeup - soft cotton chenille on the inside
Glider - I made the pillow out of super soft minky fabric and also a matching blanket. Daddy added the chair rail.
Last but not the least - Outfit for baby made by mommy
TV armoire converted to baby closet
Just over a month left ;)
I am so loving being pregnant and getting sad that it will end soon. It was the same way with DS. Loved being pregnant from day 1. I am lucky that I do not get bad nausea/MS like some people get. This time the nausea was a tad more than last time, but nothing terrible and it went away after 1st trimester. I just love being pregnant. This is quite possibly our last pregnancy and I want to savor every last moment. In the third trimester, almost in my last month now and I still love it. I have some discomfort like slight restlessness in legs at night, insomnia, hot flashes, but the good far outweighs these minor inconveniences. I love the special connection with the baby, the movements, love that she is in her little resting place all mine. I love providing her that safe environment to grow. I love that I know her routine, I feel her every hiccup. I love watching my belly move and knowing that it is her doing that is just amazing.
At the same time, I can't wait for the baby to arrive. I find myself day dreaming about my baby girl. Nursing, carrying her in a sling, going on walks, just hanging out around the house. So looking forward to all that. This time we do have a little idea of what to expect so feeling prepared helps too. It is not a big unknown like the first baby. We've been through it all, and are ready to do it again.
DH hung the paper lanterns in the nursery. He also assembled the glider and it is ready to go. Oh, so comfy! I got a good deal on a quality Shermag that is just great. Can't wait to use it for nursing and rocking my little one to sleep. Bit by bit my dream nursery is coming together. It is exactly how I imagined it to be.
Nursery in progress
My little one's retreat to be! It is a work in progress. I made the crib skirt and bumpers (still need to finish the bumpers sides). I am making the curtains now. Also, the bookcase will have a cushy seat over it to convert it into a window seat.
I've ordered wooden letters to match the bedding from Etsy.com. Can't wait for them to arrive so I can hang them. Also have some butterfly decals that I need to put up. Dang, I was thinking I am almost done with the nursery LOL
Crib
Bedding I made
Bumpers
Wardrobe (used to be our TV armoire)
Nursery Dilemma
The deep teal green that I loved is just too dark and stark against the rest of the paint in the master. I'm now panicking. I have been checking out nursery pics everywhere and nothing will work with the existing paint color. It is just not possible to change the color of entire master bedroom at this point. I will have to get a lighter shade of the existing paint and hope it looks good as a nursery paint. I don't think I'll like the lighter shade but not much can work with this color. Just great.
30wks today
Too much going on. Too many thoughts on my mind. Where to start.
First, Gestational Diabetes and VBAC. It seems I have been talking about GD since 11 wks pregnancy. I was tested for GD early on, at 11 wks and failed the 1 hour test because of the stupid gum I ate. Passed the 3 hour GTT with flying colors. After 20 weeks I switched OB practices because of previous practice's policies on GD and VBAC. They informed me if I get diabetes that has to be controlled by medication, I will not be allowed to go beyond 39 wks. If I don't have it or don't need medication, I may go up to 40 wks but no further because I'm VBAC. I switched to Dr. A. who was quite sympathetic and proclaimed a different viewpoint. He, you see, is mother friendly. He doesn't like to section and is not like other doctors. He has the lowest c-section rate in the area. He would let me go beyond 40wks and take a wait and watch approach. It was better than what I had so I switched. I wasn't entirely sure about him so I kept looking for a more supportive doctor. I found him through ICAN website, Dr. T. I met with Dr. T who agreed to be my backup doctor in case Dr. A pulls a fast one on me at the last minute. I also hired a midwife to be with me during labor.
Things were fine until last week, when I failed my 1 hour glycola again and had to take the 3 hour GTT. The numbers -
Fasting - 82 (less than 95)
1 Hour - 190 (less than 180) - Failed
2 Hour - 153 (less than 155)
3 Hour - 131 (less than 140)
I failed ONE part of the test. Dr A says my numbers are high and I have failed the test. From everything I've read and the literature I have from the lab, to fail, I have to either have the fasting bloodsugar higher than 95 (it isn't) or, 2 readings high (only one is). I feel an uphill battle coming up. He wants to meet with me this week and I said fine. I am going tomorrow with DH to hear what he wants to say. I feel he is too intent on diagnosing me with GD because it gives him more reasons to induce me early. From whatever I've read, inducing VBACs is bad. The chance of uterine rupture increases at least 2 fold. I made clear to him early on, I do not want to be induced. He promised me more than 40wks and I am keen on making him keep his promise. If I get diagnosed, that is one strike against me and one point in his favor. Ironically, I am still in the same situation as I was before switching.
The only reason why I don't want to switch too soon to Dr. T is that he is far from home (but closer from my work than current practice). The hospital he goes to is also far from home and going there during rush hour can take up to 1 hour. We have an alternate route which we can take in a emergency and that should take about 20 minutes. I really love this doctor and like this option but DH is saying it's too soon to make this decision. He is our backup plan and it is not time for that yet.
Nursery - I have been planning the nursery most of the pregnancy. At first, I was going to do a robin egg blue with a black&white theme. This was before we found the baby was a girl. I've never wanted a pink nursery. Then, I got attached to a sunshine yellow nursery. I was going to make the bedding out of Michael Miller fabric. I have the fabric but didn't start it yet. I was going to paint a song bird and a swirly tree branch on one wall.
Now, however, I have completely changed my mind and am going with a nice deep teal color. The nursery will be in the sitting room adjoining the master bedroom and it works with the color scheme. I have ordered some butterfly decals from etsy. I just can not wait for it all to be done. The bedding now will not be Michael Miller fabric as it no longer works with the new color scheme. Now I want a white, fancy, frilly bedding. Haven't started looking yet. Better do that now!
23wk2d: It's a GIRL
Long time between posts. Things have been going really well. I had the Level 2 Anatomy scan and everything came back normal. We found out the baby is a GIRL!! Super excited about that. I've started doing a bunch of sewing projects for the baby. I also have a plan for the nursery in my head but have not started looking at paint colors yet. I have a crib selected. I'm also making the crib bedding myself. I won't place the order for the crib until like 30wks.
As far as eating, things have been much better though I still have days when I don't have any appetite. Weight gain is very slow. I make sure to eat more protein on a daily basis. I am still worried about getting GD. The test will be somewhere around 27-28 wks. Keeping fingers crossed for that!
Everything has been going normally, knock on wood. I have a trip coming up and if things continue the way they have been I will actually get to go! We're going to Vegas. Tickets are already purchased. It is in 3rd week of Feb so I will be 28 wks pregnant. Very excited about the trip. This will be my first time though we have been thinking of going for a while.
I have to scan all the ultrasound pictures. I tried to do it at work but for some reason the quality was really bad and it created PDFs. I'll try it at home. I need to do the same for DS's ultrasound pics too as I never got around to do it. Now is a good time :-)
