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Here I am at 36 weeks and five days - two days shy of being full-term!

36 Week Update

Thursday (January 8th) was my birthday, and Peanut gave me the best birthday gift ever - he or she turned back into head-down position! Looks like our week of trying to coax the baby into position worked. Several times a day, I had to lie upside down (first on an ironing board, but then the ironing board bent, so then on stacks of pillows) to allow Peanut to become dislodged from my pelvis so he/she could turn. I also played an iPod with classical music in my pants - supposedly the sound makes the baby want to turn to have its head closer to the music. I also kept a bag of frozen veggies at the top of my belly; the logic is that the baby wants to move its head away from the cold. These techniques must have worked, as silly as they seem!

At my doctor's appointment on Thursday, I also found out that I am one centimeter dilated and 50% effaced (meaning the cervix is halfway thinned out). The doctor was pleased with my progress and thinks the baby will be born right around the due date.

We now have the carseats installed, the bassinet put together, and the nursery done (with the exception of the glider that we're waiting to arrive via FedEx this week). I made a playlist on iTunes to have in the labor room with me - hopefully the music will help me relax and get into the zone to be able to manage the pain. I still have to pack my hospital bag, but for some reason I keep putting it off.

We need to post a picture but haven't taken one since Christmas. I'm much bigger than I was a couple weeks ago!

35 Week Update

We went to the doctor this morning for our 35 week appointment. (From now until delivery, I will have weekly appointments.) The baby is healthy, but we did learn some disappointing news. Although the baby has been head-down for weeks, the baby seems to have moved into a breech (head-up) position. Doctors will not allow a first birth to be delivered breech, so I will have to have a c-section if the baby does not turn. My doctor told me of an exercise I can do to help the baby turn. I also have done some research online and learned of some other exercises and techniques that hopefully will coax the baby into turning head-down.

When I go to the doctor next week for my 36 week appointment, the doctor will check to see if the baby is still breech. If so, they will schedule a version for 37 weeks. A version is a procedure where the doctor manually tries to turn the baby head-down. It works about 60% of the time. There are some risks - if my water breaks or there is damage to the placenta, they would have to do an emergency c-section. If the version is unsuccessful, they will schedule a c-section.

Please keep Peanut and me in your thoughts and prayers. I am hopeful that he/she will turn head-down so I am able to have a natural birth.

34 Week Update

Merry Christmas! It's hard to believe that I am now 34 weeks pregnant. And what's even harder to believe is that Peanut is expected to be here in about six weeks!

Peanut's nursery is just about ready. Doug and I are both off of work until January 5th, so we plan to finish the nursery during these next weeks. Other things we still have to do: install the carseats and get them inspected (research shows that 90% of carseats are installed incorrectly), sterilize all of the pacifiers and bottles, and pack the hospital bag.

We are thrilled to have found a doula who will be with us through childbirth. Danielle, who was also our childbirth instructor, will meet with us during the next couple weeks to discuss our expectations and wishes for birth. She will then be with us through labor and delivery and will assist with breastfeeding both at the hospital and once we come home. I am really excited to have this kind of support, as I hope it will help me achieve the birth experience I desire.

Here is a 34 week picture!

33 Week Update

We went to our childbirth class last weekend. We got a ton of great information and resources. The class confirmed for me that I really hope to have a natural, unmedicated birth. Doug and I agree that a woman's body is designed to give birth. When you start introducing medications and interventions, it interferes with the body's ability to do what it naturally does. We have decided to hire a doula for the birth, which I believe will help with natural means of pain management and will increase the likelihood of having the birth experience I want.

I went to my 33 week doctor's appointment yesterday. The baby is still head down and in birthing position. He/she was not too cooperative with having the doppler used to assess the heartrate. Every time the doctor would place the doppler on my belly, the baby would punch or kick it right off of my belly! By the time the doctor was able to get a reading, the heartrate was 147. Previously, the highest it has been is 134. Apparently the baby was very worked up!

I am still feeling good, although sleeping is getting more and more uncomfortable. I don't think I have any ab muscles left to speak of, so turning over is a chore.

Here is a link to a Monty Python video - this is how I don't want my labor to be!

32 Week Update

Peanut is growing quickly. He/she is about 16 inches long now and nearly four pounds. The doctor said we can expect Peanut to gain about a half pound a week throughout the rest of the pregnancy, which would result in an eight-pound baby. I was 7 pounds, 15 ounces, and Doug was 8 pounds, 1 ounce - so an eight-pound baby seems just about right based on our genes.

At my 31-week doctor's appointment, I found out that Peanut is head down and in position to come out. His/her feet are tucked up under my right rib. I'm lucky that Peanut doesn't kick too hard because bruised ribs would not feel good!

We go to our childbirth classes this weekend and hope to learn a lot of good information.

We went to get our Christmas tree last weekend. We went to a Christmas tree farm that we've been going to for several years now. We found a great tree. We can't wait until next Christmas when Peanut is here to celebrate with us!

Here is a 32 week belly pic!

28 Week Ultrasound Picture

It took us awhile to get this picture in digital format to post. We attempted to go to Target to scan it, but there was a woman in front of us in line who was taking the red-eye out of every eye in 50-some pictures. After waiting for 20 minutes, we gave up.

So, here it is - 28 week ultrasound picture!