We had our 32 week check up yesterday. (I have previously told Butterfly that the baby will grow bigger and then mommy will go to the hospital and the doctor will help the baby come out. I ended up needing to take her with me to my check up yesterday and when I told her we were going to see the baby’s doctor she got so excited that the baby was going to come out. She was rather disappointed when I told her otherwise.) Doctor measured the baby, we got to listen to her heartbeat and baby is doing great. I’ve had to stay on the anti-contractions meds but they are definitely helping. He’s recommended I stay on them until 37 weeks. (He will do another ultrasound at 36 weeks to check her size and development.)
It’s a funny and curious game (alright, actually it’s downright frustrating despite being exciting) to know when baby will be ready. Butterfly tried to come early at 34 weeks and we ended up at the hospital for injections to stop labor (had effaced 80% and dilated 3 cm). Then she tried again two weeks later but gave up before I made any more progress. I had hoped for a natural childbirth experience (with no drugs or medical interventions) but since I already dilating (risking infection) and she was measuring very large, the doctor recommended inducing me once I passed my due date. So with pitocin (but no epidural) she was born two days after her due date at 9 lbs 1 oz and because of her size, I had third degree tearing and subsequently went into shock from blood loss. With Ladybug, I had a lot of false labor contractions again but never needed a fire drill to the hospital. After our experience with our first very large baby, doc recommended an early induction. She was induced five days before her due date at 7 lbs 14 oz and was a significantly easier delivery and recovery.
(Today’s medical lesson: “Braxton Hicks” contractions are supposedly painless, irregular, last less than 45 seconds and do not centralize on the uterus. This is different from “false labor” contractions which can be painful, regular, grow closer together, centralized and last a minute or more. But they do not necessarily cause progress (effacing or dilating) or result in a baby which is the requirement for “true labor”. End lesson.)
Pregnancy and childbirth is such an amazing thing. It truly is miraculous at what the body is capable of (and was designed to do). I marvel thinking about the tiny person growing inside me and how intricate her development is. She has every little organ and system that an adult has in miniature version but no less perfect. My body changes to accommodate and help her, serving the baby even before it serves my needs. And then childbirth itself is such an amazing experience. It’s easily the hardest thing I’ve ever done but was such an incredible experience.
I think (other than the false labor) I’ve lucked out with having generally good pregnancies. Pregnancy is hard but I’ve had some friends with much harder experiences than me (carpel tunnel, being hospitalized for weight loss, nine months of strict bed rest, etc.) Plus I’ve never had some of the more common pains such as hemorrhoids or heartburn (thankfully). But to document my own experiences (especially if I ever get crazy enough to consider doing this again):
Things I dislike about pregnancy:
--Being an emotional train wreck (especially first trimester, I’m pretty sure a monster comes to impersonate me and make my husband question his sanity)
--Morning sickness that lasts all day and not able to eat certain favorite foods (like chocolate)
--Migraines (caused by pregnancy induced anemia)
--Pregnancy induced allergies
--Lack of energy/Fatigue (I’m generally useless even when awake)
--Feeling like I can’t accomplish the things I should (clean the toilet? I can’t even reach it anymore)
--Back pain/sciatic nerve (fortunately a chiropractor friend showed husband how to help with that)
--Ligament pain (i actually have to wear a support belt for a few weeks before my ligaments just give up and release the way they should)
--That the stuff holding my joints together has taken a leave of absence
--When baby moves hard or abruptly enough to cause pain and make me nauseous (worse with this baby, it's like she's trying to turn but can't make it all the way. so I feel her turn and then shudder back to her original position.)
--Swollen feet and ankles (usually not too noticeable to others but I can feel it when I try to walk or wear shoes)
--Feeling like my ribs might explode
--That even 85 degrees feels so oppressive when I’m carrying an internal heater
--When baby pushes her head into my hip and shoves her feet against my belly
--Not being able to sleep comfortably (husband has to nudge or remind me frequently to sleep on my side since I naturally turn to my back in my sleep, plus I have to switch sides frequently to relieve discomfort)
--Leg cramps (like a charlie horse in the middle of the night that is bad enough to make me cry and wake my husband up so he can massage my calf)
--Vericose veins. I wish I was kidding.
--Stretch marks
--False labor contractions (yeah, this is the worst part--not so much because I panic she might be coming early but simply that is so uncomfortable)
--Feeling like an unattractive whale
--Being paranoid that something I’ve done/eaten/etc. has hurt the baby
Things I like about being pregnant:
--Getting a baby at the end (on the worst days I have to just keep telling myself this)
--Announcing baby’s presence (especially to daddy and the grandparents)
--Baby’s gentle, fluttery movements
--Putting my belly against husband in the middle of the night to see if baby can wake him up too
--Playing tag with baby (especially when daddy does it)
--When the girls interact with the baby (wanting to feel her kick, singing to her, picking out toys for her. etc)
--Listening to her heartbeat
--Recognizing the outline of tiny little feet pushing against my belly
--The anticipation (talking about names, washing little clothes, making plans, etc)
--Laying in bed and cherishing the intimacy of feeling like I’m curled up with this tiny little person that I get to have all to myself for a few months.
I spent yesterday washing/folding baby clothes and cleaning/reassembling baby's bouncy seat, swing and carseat. I can't believe how tiny and cute these little things are. Getting so excited...
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