Week 39

BIG NEWS BABY!

At our apt on Wednesday Dr. J made the call to induce labor this Sunday night!!! Due to my blood pressure staying elevated + a few other things + you are 39 weeks along now = time to push the eject button! I am really excited and nervous and freaked out and happy and scared and filled with love ~ its pretty overwhelming - and I haven't even met you yet!

I have been obsessively cleaning the house this last week. Taking care of all the dirty corners and chores that I think will be difficult to get done for a while. But also, being stuck at home has been driving me a little crazy. I have sat in your room looking at your things and thinking about you a lot. Your Dad and I talk about you all the time and I know he is getting excited too. He was pretty happy to hear that we have a timeline to follow for your arrival. Teachers lives are run by a schedule - and this one is pretty special to us. We are glad to be able to be as prepared as possible.

We took a few pictures the other day to remember these final days. I think they turned out pretty cute:

We had two nice dinners over our last few days of pre-parenthood. The first was at PF Changs - YUMMMM. And here is the fortune from my cookie:

OH REALLY?!?!

The second was basically a Thanksgiving dinner cooked by your Grammy Mary which we shared with Micah and Kara. It was a really nice evening.

A little more about you:

(They say you are like a small watermelon at 39 weeks......but I think a small pumpkin at 40 weeks is probably more likely and appropriate)

Your baby is about the size of a small pumpkin. Your little pumpkin could arrive any day now if he or she isn't here already. The average newborn weighs about 7 1/2 pounds and is about 20 inches long.

 

 pregnancy symptoms at 39 weeks

• False labor. Usually these pains start in the front of your body and ease up when you switch positions. You'll know it's real labor when they start at the top of your uterus and become more frequent.
• Water breaking. Call your doctor if you suspect yours has broken, or if you think you could be leaking amniotic fluid.
• More heartburn, hemorrhoids, pelvic pressure and trouble catching your breath.
• The urge to nest. Don't stress though -- you'll never get everything done.

How your baby's growing:

It's hard to say for sure how big your baby will be, but the average newborn weighs about 7 1/2 pounds and is about 20 inches long. His skull bones are not yet fused, which allows them to overlap a bit if it's a snug fit through the birth canal during labor. This so-called "molding" is the reason your baby's noggin may look a little conehead-ish after birth. Rest assured — it's normal and temporary.

How your life's changing:

After months of anticipation, your due date rolls around, and... you're still pregnant. It's a frustrating, but common, situation in which to find yourself. You may not be as late as you think, especially if you're relying solely on a due date calculated from the day of your last period because sometimes women ovulate later than expected. Even with reliable dating, some women have prolonged pregnancies for no apparent reason.
You still have a couple of weeks before you'll be considered "post-term." But to be sure your baby is still thriving, your practitioner will schedule you for testing to keep an eye on her if your pregnancy continues.

Video

Live birth: Induction

You may have a biophysical profile (BPP), which consists of an ultrasound to look at your baby's overall movements, breathing movements (movement of her chest muscles and diaphragm), and muscle tone (whether she opens and closes her hand or extends and then flexes her limbs), as well as the amount of amniotic fluid that surrounds her (important because it's a reflection of how well the placenta is supporting your baby).

Fetal heart rate monitoring (called a nonstress test or NST) will generally be done as well — by itself or as part of the BPP. Or, you may have what's known as a modified BPP, which consists of an NST and an ultrasound to assess the amount of amniotic fluid.
If the fetal testing isn't reassuring — the amniotic fluid level is too low, for example — you'll be induced. If there's a serious, urgent problem, you may have an immediate c-section.
Your practitioner will also check your cervix to see if it's "ripening." Its position, how soft it is, how effaced (thinned out) it is, and how dilated (open) it is can all affect when and how your labor is induced. If you don't go into labor on your own, you'll be induced, usually sometime between 41 and 42 weeks.

3 Questions About...Inducing labor

Q1.

What does it mean to induce labor?
If your labor doesn't start on its own, your practitioner can use certain medications and techniques to help bring on or "induce" contractions. She'll do this when the risks of prolonging your pregnancy are higher than the risks of induction. Most practitioners will induce labor if you're still pregnant between one and two weeks after your due date. This is because the placenta may become less effective at delivering nutrients at around 42 weeks, and other serious complications become more likely as you pass your due date.

Q2.

How is labor induced?
There are a variety of methods, and the one your practitioner uses will depend on your individual situation — in part, on the condition of your cervix (whether it's ripe or not) and the urgency of the induction.
Typically, if you need to be induced but your cervix is not yet dilated or thinned out, you'll be admitted to the hospital and your caregiver will likely start off the induction by inserting medication that contains prostaglandins into your vagina. This medication helps to ripen the cervix and may also stimulate enough contractions to start your labor.
If the prostaglandins don't put you into labor, your caregiver will then administer a drug called Pitocin (also known as oxytocin). It's given through an IV and used to start labor or augment contractions you've been having on your own. (If your cervix is ripe to begin with, she'll start with the Pitocin straightaway.)

Q3.

Are there any techniques for kickstarting labor that I can try myself?
There are no do-it-yourself techniques consistently proven to be both safe and effective so don't try anything without guidance from your caregiver. Here's the scoop on some of the methods you may have heard about:

• Sexual intercourse: Semen contains prostaglandins and having an orgasm may stimulate some contractions. A few studies have shown that having sex at term may decrease the need for labor induction, but others have shown it has no effect on promoting labor.
• Nipple stimulation: Stimulating your nipples releases oxytocin, and it may help start labor, but more research is needed to determine the safety and effectiveness of this method. Because it may overstimulate your uterus, your contractions and your baby's response to them would need to be monitored so don't try this at home.
• Castor oil is a strong laxative, and stimulating your bowels may cause some contractions. There's no definitive proof that it helps induce labor though plenty of women can attest to its unpleasant effects!
• Herbal remedies: A variety of herbs are touted as useful for labor induction. Some are risky because they can cause contractions that are too long or too strong and may be unsafe for your baby for other reasons as well. For others, the safety and effectiveness remain unknown.

Well Baby ~ The next time I write on here will be after you are born. My heart and mind are overflowing with love and joy imagining our life together. Be nice to me through labor and I'll let you stay out an extra hour on Prom night.  :)

I love you - to the Moon and back, Mom

Week 37 / 38

Hi Babycakes ~

Our creatures Ruby, Pearl and Booger. They never leave my side these days.

Well, this turned out to be a pretty eventful week. Monday we visited Dr. Bob to have one last good imaging check-up - BTW you weigh ~6lbs 6oz !! Based on the symptoms I shared with her, combined with my high blood pressure, high protein levels in my pee and swollen legs and hands, she sent us off to Labor and Delivery to get monitored for a while. She stayed pretty calm and kept me calm too - but of course once I called your Dad (who was at football practice) I kind of freaked out. But he came and met me pretty quickly and we hung out there for about 4 hours. They showed me that I am having lots of Braxton-Hicks contractions - I thought it was just you getting feisty - and we watched your heartbeat for a long time. Eventually we were sent home with directions to see Dr. J right away.

I did the next day after school (Tuesday) and things were still high and I was still swollen. She wanted me to have my bp checked by our school nurse the next day at school (Wednesday) and if it was still high then I had directions to go home and stay home. Well, it was still high all day. So I made plans to stay home Thursday, Friday, and Monday. Then at our next apt that afternoon she gave the final cut off to make me stay at home for the remainder of this journey. Honestly, I had mixed feelings. I was disappointed because I didn't have a very have a smooth transition with my students and on the other hand I was so uncomfortable at school that I was very relived to have permission to chill out a little.

flowers from kara

I have since realized that I now that I have really been able to re-focus on you and me and our experience together - I am much happier and joyful about your impending arrival. Not that I wasn't before - it was just hard to focus on doing a good job at work and at the same time focus on all the critical components of these last few weeks.....but now here we are, chillin out at home together, waiting to meet each other.

You and me watching football. :)

We have had several nice visitors this week: Kara and Micah, Mary and Joe, Pat and Shara, Amanda, Cindy, Lindsey, Sara, Meg, Ang. I am certainly feeling the love. I am having a tough time just lounging around, there always seems like there is a chore to get done.....but I'm trying to relax and enjoy the quiet time.

OH - AND Your room is ready!! Check it out:

Here's a little more about YOU:

By the way - our bag is packed and the car seat is installed!

Get excited. At 37 weeks, your baby has reached full term. That means he’s developed his most crucial functions. Of course, he’ll get even healthier and stronger over the next few weeks, so don’t get too impatient. Around week 37, many moms-to-be find themselves organizing cupboards and scrubbing their floors. That’s the nesting instinct kicking in as your body senses baby will be here shortly. It also might be your brain’s way of making sure you’re prepared for just about anything, so you can feel like you have an extra edge on this whole new parent thing. He likely measures around 18.9 to 20.9 inches and weighs about 6.2 to 9.2 pounds. He's gaining about 1/2 ounce each day. 

38 weeks:

Yow! If you feel a sort of lightening bolt running up and down your legs (and in your crotch), don’t freak out. At 38 weeks, baby’s probably sitting pretty low in your pelvis, which means he’s bumping into all kinds of nerves down there -- including some pretty sensitive ones you might not know you had. Be on the lookout for signs of labor, including contractions that come on stronger, at more regular intervals. It could happen any day now -- or it might not be for a few weeks. Until then, try to relax.

Update: Based your measurements two weeks ago - you probably weigh 7+ lbs by now (9/29/13). A whopper!


Love you oodles baby, Momma

Week 36

Hi Baby!

Well, its seems like everything kicked up a notch this week as far being PrEgGo. I have very swollen fingers and ankles and toes, my arms fall asleep at nighttime, there is a strong pressing feeling down low, my belly is getting super tight, and you seem to be growing so much that you are running out of room! You are giving me LOTS of strong kicking and rolling. It is increasingly difficult to move around and teaching all day is getting pretty tough. 

Your Grandma Mary came to this weeks doc visit. It was nice to have someone there with me and I think she was glad to be invited along. She was able to see you on the sonogram and you had your eyes open!! You blinked at us - it was really cool. It seems Dr. J thinks all of the above mentioned symptoms are completely normal and that everything is progressing along fine.

Wednesday was your Dad's 33rd birthday. The Gordon's came over with a whole bunch of Chinese food and we had a feast. It was nice to visit with everyone. I gave your Dad a book of the pictures that he took on his Alaska trip this summer. I think he really liked it ;)

Sunrise at Hillside Friday morning.

On Friday was the Hillside Baby Shower for us. Honestly, I was so tired and grumpy by Friday afternoon  that all I wanted to do was go to bed - but once I walked into the library and saw pretty decorations and yummy snacks and nice people and TONS of presents......I had an attitude change. It was a really nice time, we were totally spoiled and I feel so fortunate to work at such an awesome place. I left with a heart full of love.

On Saturday we spent some time with Micah downtown at the 10 Barrel IPA Brew Fest. Your Dad and Micah had a very good time blind taste testing all sorts of different brews from around the Northwest and making observations about them. Eventually voting for their favorite.....

On another note, I just thought this was cute
and I thought of you when I saw it:

 

Here is a little more about you:

Your due date is just four weeks away. Hasn’t time flown? Your once-poppy seed would probably be able to breathe on his own if he was born right now. (If not, he’d probably need some TLC, but he’d likely be okay.) Most of his systems are in working order at 36 weeks. Since baby really could decide to make his arrival any day now, try to put in a little prep work. For example, if you took a child birth class a few months ago, you might want to reread any materials you were given and practice some of the breathing techniques you learned with your partner. Go over your plan for getting to the hospital, and all the what-ifs (like, if you go into labor while you’re at work, will you go home first or straight there?). You might also want to remind your boss and colleagues of the status of all your work projects, so they know exactly where to take over if you’re suddenly out of the office. Week 36 is also a good time to enjoy a date with your partner. We’re guessing you won’t be up for dancing, but a nice dinner might be just what you two could use. Your baby's the size of a honeydew! She's still in the 17.2- to 18.7-inch and 4.2- to 5.8-pound range and continues to beef up.

Love you Baby, Momz

Week 35

Hey Baby~

The best thing about week 2 of back to school?? It was only four days long because of Labor Day! we spent last weekend up at the cabin with Josh and Sam and Cole and Jackson. We all had a nice time. Your Dad and Josh even got a little golfing in.......check out how handsome they are:

This is us watching the first BSU football game of the season.......they lost miserably, but hey, can't win 'em all!

Here's a little more about me and you...yes I have been getting a little panicky about packing our bags and getting the car seat ready....

Growing, growing, growing. Yup, baby and you. You’ve reached 35 weeks, and your uterus has grown about 1,000 times its original size, a number that might sound exaggerated to everyone else -- but to you it probably feels more like a million. You can expect to gain about a half-pound a week before birth, and baby’s beefing up, too. At 35 weeks, some moms-to-be feel like they have a ton of stuff left to do before baby’s arrival. Others can barely wait for baby to make his debut. Either way, try not to stress. Baby will show up when he’s ready, and he won’t care if you haven’t checked every little detail off your list.

This is from our friend over at the pregnant chicken.....probably wise advice given the experience we had last weekend.......

Okay, throughout this whole pregnancy you’ve probably been thinking about how you’re going to raise your child (at least I hope you have). Well, here’s my advice: if you can, try to keep it to yourself.

The reason I say that is two fold:

One, people will disagree with you and the dumber they are, the more you’ll hear from them. The same people that tell you that they don’t like the baby name you’ve chosen are the same people that will tell you that breastfeeding is ridiculous and that “crying it out”  or co-sleeping is child abuse.

Two, and more importantly, you will change your mind. I remember before I had kids I swore that I would and wouldn’t do certain things – some vocally some not – and not only did I not do what I said I would, I did the exact opposite.

What I failed to account for was the constant grey areas that come with parenthood – rarely are things black and white. Sure I said I would never let my baby sleep with us because it’s a bad habit and I love my sleep. What I didn’t account for was how tired I would be, or how much my baby’s crying would break my heart (like really break my heart), or how good it make me feel to know he was right there, or how much easier it would be to breastfeed.

I told everyone that would listen before I had my baby that “the one thing he’s going to do is sleep in his crib, dammit” and he slept in it once. Once. I had to back pedal and I’m sure people thought, “Oh ho, how did that sleeping in your crib work out for you, dummy?” but were too kind to say anything or I was too tired to hear.

Absolutely, try to figure out how you’re going to do things, but be totally prepared to toss them out the window and go with flow and just say, “We’re going to try X but we’ll play it by ear.”

Love you to pieces baby ~ MOM
 

Week 34

Hey Baby ~

This first week back at school was much harder than I imagined.......overall it was nice to back at school, the kids were great, teaching went fine, people were happy to see each other, but holy cow was I tired. The way I teach does NOT work well with being 8 1/2 months preggo. I will have to slow things waaayyy down next week and really start to learn how to teach from a chair. It will be tough for me mentally, but I want to take good care of you and not wear myself out too much......I get a little cranky when I am too tired.......I guess there will be a lot more of that once you arrive anyway. I had better just start working on it now :)

At least your Dad and I looked goooooood on our first day back  ~ check us out!

 Our doc apt this week was cancelled last minute, but I know you are growing like crazy inside ma belleh! (your should be about 5 lbs now - like a bag of sugar!) And all in all things seem to be fine.......We watch you move around and talk to you all the time. Being pregnant really isn't very fun at this point ~ but I am happy to be the container for keeping you safe and happy. We love you baby.

~ MOMMA

Week 33

Hi Baby ~ Well.......this week was the last week of summer vacation :((((( Your pops and I always have lots and lots and lots of meetings this week to get ready for the new year. Some are informative, some are horribly boring. But - all in all - I do enjoy the fresh start to our jobs every year. And believe me, YOU are getting a lot of attention this week. Everybody at school is pretty excited for us and about meeting you. Teaching is like having whole other family in our lives. They are people that we actually spend more time around than our own families. We are both lucky to be working at schools that are filled with a lot of generous and caring people.

Here is one 'fun' thing that happened this week - You Auntie Allison and Dad build your dresser /  changing table. Your room is finally coming together...there is still a lot to be done, but I am feeling slightly more organized by the week.

We also went swimming over at Steve and Cindy's. It felt AMAZING to float around. I thought it would just be a quick little dip, but of course it turned into a full evening of eating and laughing and hearing all about Your Grandpa Joe's rafting adventure on the Middle Fork of the Salmon River. Your Dad even got in a few daddy 'reps' holding Jackson, Josh and Sam's new baby boy. He's going to be such a great Dad!





Here's a little more about our GROWTH this week -

Your baby is pretty close to being finished growing lengthwise, but it will do some serious beefing up over the next seven weeks. Many sites compare your baby to a pineapple now, which sounds like the most uncomfortable thing to be carrying in your body aside from maybe a ball of barbed wire and broken glass. Your soft, beautiful baby is around 17 inches long and about 4.5 lbs.

I also wanted to talk a bit about feeding your baby. Many people feel very strongly about bottle feeding and breastfeeding, but I wanted to write a quick top 5 list about the benefits of both options. Here goes:

Formula Feeding:
Anybody can feed your baby and at 3am that's really awesome
You always know how much your baby is eating
You can drink tequila to your heart's content
Formula is harder to digest than breastmilk so your baby stays fuller (aka asleep) longer
You can wear anything because you don't have to worry about boob access

Breast Feeding
Technically speaking, it's the way we're designed to feed babies
Nothing gets much cheaper than free
Convenient and fast – you can never forget it at home and nothing silences a crying baby like an instant boob
It's easier to digest (aka less crying) than formula
Your antibodies pass to the baby so it boosts their immune system

(We'll be giving breast feeding a try baby) 

• You are one hot mama -- literally. A 20 percent metabolic rate increase throughout pregnancy can leave you begging for a cool breeze no matter what the weather is like. 

• The heartburn is still ripping pretty good these days too.... 

BUT ~ we are getting more and more excited to meet you baby!!!

Love ya, Mom

Week 32

Good morning Baby!

This past week was a bit unusual....My Mom - Your Grandma Martha - came to Idaho for a quick visit. She needed to spend some last minute time with her friend Carol.....The really great part of her visit is that she was able to make it to a doctor apt with me! She was able to meet Dr. J, see you wiggle all around, see your HAIR and brain and special parts! It was pretty neat to get to be able to share that with her. I know she was super excited. She also helped me with running a bunch of errands, picking out some nice clothes for work/school, and even helped wash and fold EVERYTHING that we have been given (blankies, clothes, etc.) for you. That was a big job.

Grandma Martha, MOM and Grandma Mary. You lucky kid!

This week was also your parents 5th Wedding Anniversary! We have done quite a lot in the last five years and I am really proud of our accomplishments, but the best of all is creating YOU of course. We both told each other that we love each other more than ever - sweet :)

On our Honeymoon in Stanley - 2008.

Yesterday was our Idaho Family Baby Shower. Hosted by your Auntie Allison, Grandma Mary and Cindy Tyree. It was a lovely party - they did such a nice job - everything was so pretty and purple and perfect! I felt very loved.

Look at that spread!

A diaper cake?!?

mmmm - all homemade.

Star of Mommy's BLOG!! Hahahaha - I can't beleive she found this!

So soft blankie.

BACK: Allison, Sam, Carolyn    FRONT: Grandma, Pam, MOM, Janel, Cindy

The Gordon women!

Here are some updates about your growth this week:

BTW - I am getting SO BIG, you are kicking super hard these days, I still have raging heartburn almost daily and I can't sleep well at all, I think I have restless leg syndrome, my belly button is sticking OUT and my feet are so swollen that most of my shoes don't fit  - but I suppose you're worth it.

Baby's now the size of a squash!
Ready or not, baby's getting ready to emerge. She's probably in the head-down position by now, with her bottom facing up. This is the comfiest way for her body to fit in your increasingly cramped womb and will make her eventual exit (only a few months away now!) much easier.


Love you baby - mOmZ