Nursery

The nursery is finished!  It's been a work in progress for a while but it all finally came together last week.  I'm happy with how it turned out.  We decided not to paint and instead use other things to add color to the room.  Winnie the Pooh (and a lot of Piglet) is the theme.  I had a general idea about what I wanted the room to look like, but it changed a few times and I think in the end it's what we want.  It's a small room, so it looks pretty crowded right now, but as she gets bigger it'll be better (the crib leaving in a couple years will free up a lot of space).

View from the door into the room.  My Mom made the curtains.  A friend of a family member gave us the shelf (and two others you'll see later) and we spray painted it to fit with the room better.  The twin bed and bedding were mine growing up.  Most of the Pooh characters are represented on the shelf.


Continuing around the room to the crib. The Pooh characters are wall decals (so easy and cute!).  My Mom made the bedskirt. A dear friend made the quilt hanging at the end.

Close up of the crib (Adam put it together . . . I helped a bit).  Most of the Piglets were mine but there are a couple that are new for her (and I realize once she starts sleeping in there they will all come out).

The other two shelves that were spray painted.  The dresser we've had for a while.  It has socks, bibs, hats, blankets, towels and the Ergo carrier (so excited to use that!).

Close up of the first shelf with Piglets (and a few other characters . . . I had a favorite).

Close up of the second shelf.  Again, mostly Piglet.

The top of the dresser.  Her first bank is the bear (already starting on that college fund!).  A basket of shoes and a musical Piglet.

Continuing around to the other side of the door.  The finished dresser from my grandmother's house that Mom and I refinished.  We kept the original porcelain knobs.  The closet is to the side.  We took the doors off to have more room.

Close up of the top of the dresser.  Isn't the Piglet lamp cute?

Another shot of that side of the room.  Taking the doors off made a huge difference.

This dresser matches the other one.  It is our changing station and storage (books, toys, diapers, changing supplies, feeding supplies and some clothes).

Madeline's sampler made by Mom II and when the sampler for this little girl is finished it will be hung next to it.

So that's the nursery.  I'm happy with how it turned out.  There are still  few things that will be added later (another sampler and family handprints on a canvas) but overall it's done.  I hope she likes it too!  Thank you to all of you who have helped make the nursery as beautiful as it is (painting, putting things together, making things, carrying things, putting the fan in, gifts for the baby to fill it and so much more).  We couldn't have done it without you!

Waiting

Today I'm 39 weeks and our daughter is still comfy on the inside.  It's funny.  When I first found out I was pregnant I never honestly thought we'd make it to full term and now we're 2 weeks past that.  Who knew my body would start working properly now at the end when we're ready to meet her and it's safe for her to be on the outside?  Of course I want her to be on the inside as long as she needs, but at the same time I'm ready.

I will fully admit I've been lucky as far as pregnancy symptoms go.  I really didn't start to get uncomfortable until this month and even then it's not a constant thing.  However, it would be nice to eat a full meal again.  Or lay on my back.  Or not get up to pee several times during the night.  But again, I know I've been lucky so I really don't have room or reason to complain.

I think the reason I'm so antsy is because I never really thought I'd still be pregnant at this point.  Because of that we've had everything ready at the house since the beginning of the month right before the cerclage came out.  The nursery only got finished last week but it was mostly finished and she won't be in there at first anyway so I wasn't too concerned.  The pack and play and changing station are set up in the basement.  The small pack and play she'll sleep in while she's in our room is set up as well as a changing area.  We've got all the supplies we'll need immediately.  Car seat is installed.  Clothes, blankets, sheets, towels and any other baby things that need washing are washed and put away.  The house is clean.  Our room is probably the cleanest it's been since we moved in.  Our hospital bags are packed.  All we need is a baby on the outside to use it all.

So we'll keep waiting until she's ready.  It really should be any day now.  I was 3cm at my appointment last week and have had contractions on and off the whole month.  They just haven't lead anywhere yet. At my appointment next week if she still hasn't come we'll discuss the next steps and options.  Both my doctor and I don't want to go too far past my due date because of the gestational diabetes.  We don't want her to get too big and end up having to have a C-section.  She's been measuring normal and not overly big so hopefully it won't be an issue.  We'll see.

So here's to waiting.  At least we know there's an end in sight.  Within a week and a couple days we'll have a baby.  I still can't quite believe it!  I'm so looking forward to meeting her and holding her on the outside.  I'm also a little terrified . . . but right now the excitement is winning.

I'm not a big "bump picture" person, but here's one at 37 weeks for those of you who've been requesting one  =)

Birthing Class

On June 14th Adam and I took birthing class at our hospital.  It's usually a 3 week course but it's only offered in the evenings on week nights.  With Adam's schedule that didn't work for us.  Luckily they also offer an all day (9am-4:30pm) course on a Saturday at least every other month.  There wasn't one in July so I was glad June worked out for us.  Plus it will give us more time to practice what we learned.

I wasn't sure what to expect or how I would feel about this class.  It was called "Birthing the Natural Way."  Just to be clear: I'm not against epidurals or pain meds . . . at all.  Every woman needs to do what is best for her and I don't think it's productive to judge others for their choices in this.  My life and situation are not another's.  What works for me may not work for someone else and vice versa.  While I've been though labor and birth before, it was a different situation so I wanted to learn some techniques to help me cope.  I know my plan is probably cliche, but it's how I feel.  I'd like to try to go through the whole process naturally but also want someone to tell me when the last time I can get an epidural is.  I want to have the option if I decide I want it.  I can't tell the future.  I don't know how I'm going to feel that day.  Lots of factors are going to affect how I feel.  My emotional sate, weather I was induced or not (pitocin is no fun . . . I do know that from experience), how long it takes . . . all kinds of things.  So I want all options available to me and we'll see how it goes.  When Madeline was born it was important to me to feel the pain because I thought it might help with the emotional pain (I still don't know if that ended up being true, but it was the right decision for me at the time).  Again, I'm all about options.

Anyway!  I thought this class would be good to help us learn some techniques and at least feel more prepared and confident.  Who knows what's going to happen on that day, but after taking the class I do feel more confident and prepared.  We learned a lot.

The first part of class we learned about the first phase of labor and breathing techniques.  We practiced all of them.  At first I felt a little silly because there were at least 24 of us in the room making the sounds and breathing.  But after the initial smile I shared with Adam I felt fine.  We were all doing it after all.  It may not seem like a lot, but from what we learned in class, talking to other women and reading it's amazing how important breathing (and the various ways of breathing) really is. We also learned some stretches to do with our partner that are good for everyday to help loosen things up to make labor a little easier.  Relaxing is also important (makes sense . . . easier said than done).  We also learned some massage techniques (mostly by the partners for the woman having the baby . . . I'm not ashamed to say I was excited about that part . . . Adam did a good job).

Then we moved into the second stage of labor and learned several positions to labor in.  First we talked about them and the nurse leading the class demonstrated them.  Then she set up stations around the room that we could rotate through to try them all.  We also practiced our breathing.  I liked some more than others, but we'll see how I feel on the day.  I'm glad I learned lots of different ones so I can try something new if one position isn't working for me.

Next we talked about the final stage of labor and watched a video about several women giving birth.  We saw the various positions they labored in as well as different positions for pushing.  That was another thing I was glad to learn.  Our hospital is supportive of pushing in different positions (not just on your back) as long as you and the baby are doing well.  Then we took a break for lunch.

After lunch we had a guest speaker, a woman who had recently given birth after taking the class.  She told us about her experience and things she found useful as well as things she didn't.  Adam said he really appreciated this first hand knowledge being passed on.  It's one thing to learn and think in the hypothetical, but she was able to give us true experience (He hasn't had friends and family to talk with this stuff about like I have).  Then we did a review and talked a little about postpartum care and what to expect.

The next part was a tour of labor and delivery.  Even though Adam and I know that floor quite well (spending a little less than 2 weeks there will do that) I was looking forward to seeing what an actual birthing bed looked like.  My whole stay I was in a regular hospital bed.  I had a lot of feelings about going up there (as did Adam).  It was June 14th.  We went to the hospital around 2am on June 15th of last year.  We were at almost exactly a year.  I hadn't been there since.  On one hand I thought it would be good to get that initial walk onto the floor out of the way while I wasn't in labor, but on the other hand I knew it was gong to be emotional.  Adam held my hand as we walked through the door and we walked toward a room.  As we walked I was a bit on edge, but overall OK.  Then we walked into the random room that had been picked for us to view.  It just happened to be the room I was in for the first week I was in the hospital.  This was good and bad.  Bad because it was hard for me to focus on what our instructor was telling us because I just kept thinking about a year ago.  Good because I learned that it affected me a lot more than I had thought it would.  The leader of our support group had told us that if we knew the room we were in last time we could request not to be in the same room again if there were enough rooms available to do so.  I didn't think it would really affect me because things were going to be so different this time so I just let that float by.  But after being in that room again I can definitely say it affected me a lot more than I thought it would.  And this wasn't the room I gave birth in!  I'm glad I know this now.  Now I can talk to our support group leader at the next meeting about it.  Adam and I didn't say anything while we were in the room but as soon as we walked out (we were the last to leave) he whispered in my ear, "That was our first room wasn't it?"  Yup.  It affected him too.  Now we know and hopefully there will be enough rooms available we won't have to be in either this time.

Next we saw where the mother and baby rooms were as well as the nursery.  We didn't go in because it was quiet time.  From 2pm-4pm and 2am-4am every day there are quiet hours where you won't be disturbed in your room by personnel at the hospital and they also request no visitors just to ensure everyone is able to get some rest and alone time.  That was nice to learn too.  Luckily I'd already seen a couple of these rooms because 2 of the women from my support group that were pregnant as well have had their babies and I went to see them.

After the tour we went back to the room we had been in and wrapped up with a relaxation session (so nice . . . I almost fell asleep), final review and any final questions.  It was a long day but I think we both got a lot out of it, not just the knowledge but emotionally as well.  We've even done a little practicing with our breathing together (since it's Adam's job to coach me and redirect me if I get distracted . . . he's been a wonderful support and good coach).

The class also helped me think about some other things with the birth that I know I need to be able to accept.  Whatever is best for our baby I'm going to do.  I'd like to have intermittent monitoring (of contractions and heartbeat) so I can move around more but if they need to monitor her the whole time I'll deal.  There are still several positions I can be in even hooked up to the machines.  I'd really like to do kangaroo care right away as well as try to nurse.  However, I know that because of her heart defect they may need to take her and check her out.  We'll see what happens.  As long as I get her as soon as I can while still ensuring she's OK I'll be fine.  I hadn't really thought about writing a birth plan because if there's anything I've learned (from my own experience and others'), birth is unpredictable.  Part of me feels like writing it all down is just setting yourself up for failure.  However, after taking this class I feel a little different.  Once I'm in active labor it will be harder for me to communicate what I want.  I can write my birth plan in a flexible way and that way I know it's all somewhere and I don't have to say it over and over.

The class made it that much more real.  We're having a baby . . . soon.  I still can't believe we're here most days.  I'm so thankful.  I continue to be a jumble of emotions, but as we get closer to the cerclage coming out and her due date I feel more hints of happiness and excitement.

Doctor Appointments Early July

As of today I'm officially down to seeing one doctor until the baby is born!  Phew!  I'll be seeing her every week, but it's nice to know that's the only one I'll have to worry about.  I've received excellent care, it's just been a bit exhausting.

I saw my regular OBGYN at the beginning of last week.  The baby's heart rate was good and my weight and measurements were fine.  No worries that she was starting to get too big.  They also did the Group B Strep test.  Here they're testing for a specific bacteria that could cause complications with the baby during/after delivery (pneumonia is the big one).  If you test positive they make a note in your chart so that as soon as you come into the hospital to deliver you're started on the antibiotics to counteract it.  Everything else goes normally.  I haven't heard back that I've got it so hopefully it won't be an issue.  I go back tomorrow so I'll ask just to make sure.  She also checked me while I was there and said my cervix was starting to dilate and she could feel the stitch (which is normal at this point).  She said having it come out the following Monday was good.

Later that week we went back to the pediatric cardiologist for the last time until she's born.  She was very cooperative this time and they were able to see everything they needed to see in a lot less time.  We got really good news.  The hole between her ventricles is almost half the size it was and her aorta no longer looks like it's misaligned.  So at this point the only issue is the hole which could still close up on it's own.  She won't need surgery until she's older if she ever needs it at all.  It was such a relief to hear.  I had no idea that the aorta could still fix itself.  I thought it was a done deal, but apparently not.  She said she didn't need to see us until the baby is born.  The neonatologists will look at her after she's born and she'll come over to look herself (and do an ultrasound) within the first 24 hours to make the definitive diagnosis.  This also means that I'll most likely be able to take her right after she's born and do kangaroo care.  I had resigned myself to the fact that it may not happen and was fine with it because whatever is best for her is what we need to do.  But now it sounds like it won't be an issue.

That afternoon I saw the endocrinologist for the gestational diabetes.  They did an A1C to get an idea about my average sugars for the past few months and it came back totally normal.  That means the changes I've been making in my diet have really been working.  Another sign of relief because that means she's hopefully not going to get too big.  I have another appointment with her in about 10 weeks to make sure that after I give birth everything balances back out.  She said based on my sugars and A1C she thinks they should.  After the baby is born she said to periodically check my sugar (especially after a bigger meal) just to see how they're running so we'll know if everything is going back to the way it was before pregnancy.

Today was my final appointment with the high risk doctors to remove the cerclage.  I've been looking forward to this day and can't quite believe it's here.  I've spent so much time worrying about getting here and now that it's done I don't quite know what to think.  While we really didn't think I'd go into labor, Mom came down to go to the appointment with Adam and I anyway just in case.  We started with an ultrasound so they could check her out and make sure everything looked good so they could take out the stitch.  They took lots of measurements and determined she's about 5 pounds 7 ounces and has a gestational age close to where we are (36w2d).  The doctor said she's a little on the small side, but not enough that we need to worry.  The tech also said it looks like she's got a lot of hair.  There was fuzziness around her head (she pointed it out, I smiled and nodded . . . I had no idea) that she said was hair.  We'll see when she's born!  Neither Adam or I had a lot of hair, so I'm interested to see what our daughter has.  Her femur length was closer to 38w4d so she may be long.  Madeline was so we'll see on that front too.  The tech was also able to get a 3D image of her face (our first) that was pretty good.  She looks a lot like Adam, but has my nose (just like her sister).  Once the tech was done the doctor who put the cerclage in came in to take it out.  She looked at the baby's lungs with the ultrasound first to double check and make sure they looked good and that she was practicing breathing.  We could see them move.  It was neat.  She gets the hiccups constantly so I wasn't too worried.

Once she was satisfied I put my feet up and she got to work.  The whole process took probably 5-10 minutes.  It wasn't pleasant, but wasn't too painful.  It was more like pressure and a pulling/tugging feeling.  I did have a couple contractions, but it was due to the irritation and was expected.  After it was out she did an official check on my cervix.  I'm around 1cm dilated and mostly effaced.  We were planning to be there for a few hours so they could monitor me, but she said unless I really wanted to she didn't think it was necessary.  If I'd dilated more she would have kept me, but at this point she didn't see a need.  We know the signs to look for and come back if need be.  If I had wanted to be hooked up to be monitored she was fine with that too, just wanted me to know she didn't think I needed it.  We decided that if I didn't need to be hooked up that was just fine with us.  I would much rather go home.  She said if I started having regular contractions or more bleeding that just the spotting to come back and go to labor and delivery.  Before we left the office I had another contraction, but it was still due to the irritation.

So now we're in wait and see mode.  My due date is August 2nd but now there's nothing there to keep her in.  We'll see when she decides to make her entrance!  As of now I haven't had any other contractions (or if I have they've been too small to really notice) and that's a good thing.  I really didn't want her to be born today anyway.  She won't be considered full term (37 weeks) until Saturday and I'd like to make it there at least.  So now I'll just be going to my weekly OBGYN appointments and playing the waiting game.  Perhaps start a betting pool.  ;)

June Doctor Appointments

I figured I'd wait until I'd had all my appointments and then write one post with all the information.  So here we go!

I saw my regular OBGYN first.  It was a routine appointment.  They checked my weight, blood pressure, the baby's heartbeat and measured my stomach.  I'd lost a bit of weight since my last appointment and at first they were concerned.  Then I explained that I'm counting my carbs and it was fine.  The nurse said usually after a woman is diagnosed with gestational diabetes her weight at the next appointment is either lower or about the same.  So no reason to be concerned.  I talked with the doctor about the plan from my endocrinologist and my other upcoming appointments then I was done.

We saw the pediatric cardiologist next.  Our daughter was being difficult again, but they persisted until they were able to see everything they needed to.  According to our doctor things still look the same.  Which is good because that means they're not worse.  She feels pretty confident that her heart defect won't develop into Tetralogy of Fallot at this point, but scheduled us for one more appointment before she's born just to make sure.  Even if it does, it will be "pink tet" so I'll still be able to deliver at my hospital, not somewhere else where they have a pediatric cardiac surgeon.  That was so good to hear and feel finalized about. She also told us that she's fairly confident at this point that we'll be able to take her home in the regular amount of time.  She shouldn't have to stay at the hospital once I'm ready to go home.  That was another relief.  The doctor also told us that she'd be over to see our daughter not long after she's born to check her out and that most likely the neonatologists will be checking her instead of our pediatrician.  We'd been told to expect the second part but it was nice to hear it again and feel more prepared.  It was a good appointment and we left feeling more prepared and confident.  We'll see her again in the beginning of July to get her final sign off before the baby is born.

The next appointment was with the high risk doctors.  I had an ultrasound so they could check her development and my cervix.  Everything looked good.  They estimated her weight to be about 4 pounds which was normal for her gestational age.  It was good to know she wasn't starting to get too big.  Hopefully this trend will continue.  She was head down this time and that was another good thing.  That meant we could talk about the cerclage coming out.  As long as she's still head down and the pediatric cardiologist signs off it will come out at my next appointment, July 7th.  They do it in the office and it's a lot less invasive than getting it put in.  They'll keep me around for a couple hours just to make sure I don't go into labour.  He told us everyone always thinks that as soon as it come out labor will start, but that's not what usually happens (more like 1 in 10).  Having a few contractions is normal because of the irritation.  They keep you for those couple hours just to make sure they don't turn into regular contractions.  Any time after that we could have a baby (wow!).  I'm still kind of in shock about that.  We'll just have to wait and see what my body does.  I might have her early or I might end up having to be induced.  Time will tell.

I had my other appointment (we're at every 2 weeks now) with my regular OBGYN on my birthday.  Everything was normal.  Her heartbeat was strong and my weight was fine.  My doctor wants me to start weekly appointments next week (this only adds one more appointment that I would have normally had) just to track my weight and her growth to make sure she's not getting too big.  If they get concerned about her size it could mean a C-Section.  Hopefully that won't be an issue.

So that's all the medical stuff thus far!  Whew.  I'm looking forward to having our daughter not only to hold her and have her on the outside, but also to stop all these doctor appointments!  They take up a lot of time and energy.  I still can't quite believe we're only a week away from the cerclage coming out and about a month from her due date.  I've spent so long worrying about getting to this point now that we're close I don't quite know what to do!