35 Weeks

I find it difficult to believe that tomorrow I'll be nine months pregnant with our son. The little boy who I always hoped would come into our lives but I dared not pin my hopes on. The countdown to his birth is on - while I find myself complaining about Braxton Hicks contractions and added pressure on my bladder, at the same time I don't really want to wish these weeks away.

Will he be born around his due date (April 12th)? Early? Overdue? Who knows!

Perhaps the events of this past week will shed some light on the time ahead (or not!). I hadn't realised it until the doctor mentioned on Thursday that the baby has dropped - he's also "very low" apparently and is engaged in my pelvis. Though to what degree I'm not sure yet, I'll ask him at the next appointment. Either way, with this knowledge and the increasing (mild) cramping I've been having lately, they're all positive signs that my body is starting to suss out the birthing process. And for that, I'm thankful. :)

Tummy comparision to show you what I mean:



33 weeks & 3 days 



35 weeks & 6 days



Some definite changes are happening. :)

In other news, results from the most recent ultrasound show a range of measurements from 31 weeks through to 36 weeks - while this worried me a little at first, talking with other women made me realise that baby measurements can be all over the place and still be okay. Sure, currently it looks like our baby might be born on the smaller side (and I don't deny that I'm carrying him compactly), but if he is a healthy size for him... then that's what matters. Besides, ultrasound weights etc can be off by up to a pound (bigger/smaller).

It has made packing his hospital bag a little more tricky - do I put in 0000-sized clothing or 000-sized? I mainly put in 0000s, but if he is born bigger, it isn't as though hubby can't bring some bigger sizes back with him from home the next day (we live about 10-15min away from the hospital). Still, it's good to know that the bag is packed and ready to go... even if it sits there mocking me until around the 41-week mark! :P

Oh! And baby nook update:

The Mario decals are up and look fantastic!

34 Weeks

Our last (or so I hope!) growth scan happened during the week and, after letting my doctor's comments about small fundal heights and fluid levels get to me a little, everything appeared to be 'normal'. Sure, I haven't had my follow-up appointment with the doctor as yet, but the fact I didn't get a phonecall within a couple of days of the scan is a good thing *big thumbs up*.

At 34w1d, baby boy (who was again confirmed to be a boy!) weighs in at 4lb8oz (about 2.5kg) and is measuring within a week of his dates - just with very long legs as per usual. I know that ultrasound weights can vary by quite a bit and aren't completely accurate, but it's nice to have that indicator that my body is growing a healthy baby, one that is measuring along the growth curve documented at 20 and 28 weeks via ultrasound. Even if my body needed a hand to have egg and sperm meet in the first place, it's reassuring that it's been possible to have a so-called normal pregnancy (one that doesn't differ from anyone else's, besides a couple of extra scans).

Here's his latest mugshot (though difficult to make out facial details because of bone causing shadows and the fact he's squished down low in my pelvis already) -


34 weeks (click image to see bigger; tilt your head to the right to see his face)



I've now started my maternity leave, which is both exciting and odd at the same time. Only a week into leave and I can feel my responsibilities with the Kindergarten beginning to melt away (although it's been a slow separationl; I haven't been employed in a teaching capacity since January and have been in the office). Part of me worries if the place can survive without me, part of me knows that it can and will - and that before long I'll be a distant memory there too. As I said, it's a little odd. We're lucky here in Australia to have access to up to 18mths leave by being employed by the Education Department - I've applied for the full amount but it's entirely possible that I'll do a little emergency (relief) teaching come 2012 before making the decision on whether to return to my workplace in September.

Pictures from my last day at work before starting maternity leave.





It was also my birthday yesterday (I turned 29). My parents came to visit - Mum in the morning and Dad in the afternoon - and I took myself out for a solo lunch (I'd been craving a big ol' iced chocolate with plenty of cream; it was as tasty as I'd been imagining!). The most special part of the celebrations was Matt's card to me, where he signed it from him and the baby... and wrote down the baby's name.

I'm beyond thrilled that our little man now has a name (presuming we think it still 'fits' him one he's here in this world), and even happier that Matt was able to play a big part in its choosing. Last night I dreamt of our son with his chosen name... and it just felt right. I'm relieved and thankful. :)

34 week tummy, baby's weight is getting heavier in my uterus and I've had some ligament pain again as his sac continues to grow.

Thinking Outside the Square [33 weeks]

33 weeks (excuse the lack of modesty)



This picture is proof for myself that I am not in fact carrying a square baby (ie, all camped out on one side), and that my tummy actually looks round occasionally.

My fundal height is only measuring 29 weeks, the doctor reported yesterday and I'm being sent for an extra scan on Tuesday to have the baby's growth monitored (as well as fluid levels and placenta function). However, I do have a very long waist and I'm not being kicked up in the ribs much yet - mainly because baby's bottom is facing the ribs, and legs are diagonally out to the left side - rather painful at times as he stretches!

So trying to think positively and that everything will be okay come Tuesday. It's all I can do, right?

What's in a Name? [32 weeks]

Matt and I had a long overdue chat about baby names last night on the way to antenatal class, and it appears that we have reached a stalemate – he’s stuck on one particular name, and I’m stuck on another. It isn’t a matter of simply using one of the choices as a first name and one for a middle name, as we’ve been long decided on middle names (yes, two names – one honouring each side of the families; he will be… on second thoughts, perhaps I’ll just wait another 7-9 weeks on that one!)

So what does one do when you’re (politely) clashing over such a thing as naming your firstborn? One of us will have to compromise, and we each think the other’s chosen name sounds “pretentious and private school-like”. Mine is apparently effeminate (it’s a unisex name) and his sounds like a Nordic viking. Definitely doesn’t pass the yell-it-out-in-a-crowded-playground-with-a-straight-face test. On the upside, neither name is popular, and I haven’t taught a child with those names (although a past student’s little brother was called the name I’m stuck on, reading a novel earlier this year reminded me of how much I still liked it).

We both admitted to each other that we’re worried about making the wrong choice for this little one, saddling him with a name that’s a lot to live up to, or be the subject of ridicule (does every parent-to-be go through this?). We know that he’ll grow into whatever we decide on, and that within a short time it’ll be difficult to imagine him as anyone except who he is.

But….

I’m torn – do I compromise on something as special as naming rights because this is my husband’s firstborn son?

Do I pull the selfish I-went-through-infertility-and-IVF-and-carried-this-baby-for-nine-months card and refuse to waver?

Is it a matter of putting both names we love to the side and try to concentrate on finding middle ground with a new name? (for the record, this is the fourth name I’ve been stuck on in the past couple of years, and all have been crucified okay, too strong a word – shot down – for various reasons; no more selfish than my own reasoning).

This name debate is beginning to cause me quite a bit of stress, and I have assured Matt that if it isn’t resolved by the time I go into labour, then I will be naming him my choice. He admits that he “doesn’t hate the name as much” as he used to (gee… that’s positive!), but he likes his choice more. Fair and understandable.

Maybe we’ll have to do an ad-hoc Hollywood celebrity job and combine the two names in a hideous mismatch a-la “TomKat”. At least it’ll sound sci-fi then. ;)

On the plus side, he does have a near-finished baby nook now. :)

32 week tummy.

Baby Nook Update

The cot's assembled! Now to add some of the decorations. ;)



(let's just ignore the other end of said room!)



31 Weeks

Baby's got the beginnings of a room!



Matt working on the changetable last night.



Operation Baby Nook is continuing to progress, with the walls completed and furniture in the process of being put together. By this time next week, the cot will be in and possibly even the Mario-themed decals will be adorning the walls! Then it will be time to start putting clothing, nappies, blankets (etc) away and pack my hospital bag.

Speaking of which, we have started antenatal classes - which has led me to feel both apprehensive (pain management in labour, and when will my labour begin?) and relieved at the same time (feeling informed and having my silly questions answered). Truth be told, I wasn't sure at first if they were a really good idea, but considering this is our first baby a lot of the information has been useful - even if some of it is just to listen to, rather than take on board.

I had a doctor's appointment this morning and was thrilled to discover that the little man has decided to turn head-down again (in fact, he's quite low - though I was reassured that this has no bearing on preterm labour etc (phew). For the first time, I hadn't gained any scale weight (hurrah! :D), and would like to attribute that to being back at work and eating a bit healthier - but who knows really, it might have been a fluke too.

My back has been acting up something terrible during the past two weeks, and I'm beginning to realise that I have limitations now (who'd have thought I'd be frustrated because I couldn't cope with things like vacuuming??), and that I don't have to be superwoman and can lean on others a little for support - possibly literally at times too! Just taking each day at a time and knowing there will be good days and not-so-good days, and making the most of the good ones.

And in the meantime, working on my pregnancy scrapbook, enjoying the fact that I've only got 2.5 weeks left until maternity leave begins (good timing!) and feeling a squirmy baby poking his feet out at odd angles from my body!

30 Weeks

30 week belly picture.

Saying "I'm 30 weeks pregnant" makes it all seem so close now, as if I'll magically open my eyes at some point soon and discover that I have a newborn son. The reality is that yes, that will happen, but not before living the next two months of my/our lives.

It'd be an understatement if I said the last week has been easy. I'm back at work and with that means job-sharing with my replacement for maternity leave (she's lovely, but I think I'm going to have to bite my tongue because of our differences in philosophies and/or workloads). However, this will only be for the month of February and I know I can do this - I've always been a 'I like to be in control' type of personality.

Physically, the hot weather has taken a lot out of me (it's the middle of the Australian Summer) and I'm finding myself tired, nursing cankles (!!), finding new stretchmarks and hobbling about with a sore back due to over-extending myself recently. But it's not all doom and gloom, I'm incredibly thankful to actually be pregnant and on the home stretch... I'm also looking forward to some of the things I've missed since July of 2010:

* Eating ice-cream sundaes from McDonalds

* Enjoying sushi

* Climbing stairs without puffing

* Bending down without looking like a frog

* Sleeping comfortably

* Laying on my stomach

* Fitting into some of my old clothing

Having said that, there is lots that I'll miss about pregnancy too once it is over:

* Breasts (enough said!)

* Feeling baby movement in my tummy

* Observing the physical changes that seem to occur almost weekly

* Getting to put my feet up

* Being able to forget about infertility somewhat