Dwindling Away

I just got back from yet another doctor's appointment. I am still 1 cm dilated/50% effaced. All that contracting and nothing to show for it... except that I have lost 3 pounds in the last 5 days, for a total of 3.5 for the last two weeks. I assure you I have been eating. In fact, I feel like I'm hungry all the time - even though I'm constantly snacking and drinking lots of water. The problem is that it all goes straight through me. You get the picture.

Little Ella, on the other hand, is getting fat. There's just no more room for her in there. The dr. estimated that she'll be about 7 1/2 - 8 pounds when she comes out. YIKES! I was getting used to the idea of her being small. But... I'll just have to look at the bright side - the heavier she is, the more weight I'll lose right away :-)

I'm supposed to go back in next week, but there isn't a single appointment available - even for women who are close to popping!!! So, I have to call back in a few days and try again. I'm really hoping that Ella will decide to grace us with her presence before then.

No Ella Yet

Nope, she's still not here. But what IS still here: constant crampiness, sporadic contractions (5-15 minutes apart), nausea, back/sciatic pain, gastrointestinal woes, and the fear that I may have to continue to go through this for another week! So basically, nothing has changed. When I went in last week, the dr/nurse didn't think I would make it to this week's appointment (tomorrow) because I have been feeling so crappy. Perhaps I will prove them wrong! Or maybe she will come in the next 24 hours... Brady is at a golf tournament for work today and I have been telling him for the last few months that, chances are, she'll decide to come on the 28th and disrupt his plans. I guess only time will tell.

Happy Monday!

The REAL Verdict

I just spent the last four hours on the metro/waiting at the prenatal assessment center/being examined by strange men/riding the metro home. It was interesting and I'll tell you why. Today was my first appointment with a MALE ob/gyn. Thus far, I have been refusing to see anyone who isn't actually capable of bearing children, as I find it difficult to trust a man who looks up women's skirts all day. But at this point, my modesty is gone. I simply don't care. Not only was the ob a man, but he was accompanied by two other male doctors - one a med student, the other a neonatologist.

First I had a regular ultrasound, where they took some measurements and checked the amniotic fluid level. All is well and she's weighing in at approximately 6 lb, 10 oz. A good size, I think... as long as she stays small :-)

Then, we went on to the transvaginal ultrasound. Luckily, they kept it quick and dimmed the lights to add to the ambience. GOOD NEWS: NO C-SECTION! The placenta has moved up a bit, as far as they can tell and there's enough room for me to deliver vaginally. He checked my cervix, too and said I'm still 1 cm dilated. All in all, it wasn't too horrible and I seem to have survived.

I told him that my contractions are getting closer and I'm feeling a bit cruddy. He said it could be that I come in tonight, or I could last until next week. I'm hoping sooner rather than later.

On a side note: It's quite strange tossing around words like "vaginal" in every other sentence. Sorry if anyone is offended. Just be thankful I'm not using slang :-)

What's the verdict?

I went in again for another appointment yesterday and it was so much more productive! My appointment was with the nurse I was seeing for the first 26 weeks of pregnancy - before all of the preterm labor/placenta nonsense. The determination? I am 1 cm dilated and Ella's head is fully engaged - which is probably why I haven't been feeling so great. Nothing unbearable, I'm just not comfortable most of the time. Anyway, the nurse was going to talk to some drs this morning and get back to me with an actual decision on how we should proceed. I finally have some kind of answer - I'm going in for yet another ultrasound... in about an hour. This time, it will be transvaginal (look it up, I'm not going to elaborate) and should give them a better idea of how close the placenta really is. They're stepping things up a bit, because it seems I may be in the early stages of labor and I most likely won't make it until my next appointment (Tuesday).

Hopefully I'll be able to let you know it goes.

Big Ol' Belly

I haven't been feeling so great lately. I'm a bit crampy/nauseous and have lots of pressure on my pubic bone, not to mention a few other not-so-desirable symptoms. So I thought I'd take the opportunity to put up a belly shot, just in case I don't get the chance before I pop out this baby.

Ode to Good Stuff

Almost there, but these last few weeks have gone sooooo slow. Before I pop this baby out, I wanted to mention some of the things I found comforting and/or useful throughout my pregnancy. Not sure if they'll help any of you out (especially if you're not pregnant), but here they are...

FOOD
Tofurky Jurky - Peppered
This is fake meat at its best. Salty and chewy with lots of protein.

Fresh fruit
I haven't been able to get enough pineapple, peaches, berries, and red grapefruit.

Wallaby Yogurt
Creamy yogurt with no gelatin - that comes in lots of good flavors.

Java Green
The BEST vegan restaurant in DC.

Zaytinya
Really good food, but the Turkish Coffee Chocolate dessert is the best.

CLOTHES
American Apparel
Most of my maternity wardrobe has come from American Apparel. Though they don't have a maternity line, I have found that just ordering one size up has been great. Everything is really comfortable and comes in lotsa colors. I highly recommend the U-Neck tanks (xtra long), the California hoodies, and the Fine Jersey Drape skirt.

Liz Lange for Target
Cheap maternity clothes. I bought three pairs of the gauchos and have almost worn them out!

OTHER STUFF
Bare Minerals Foundation
I'm not much of a foundation kind of gal, but since I got pregnant I have noticed I have lots more freckles and my skin is a bit blotchy. This stuff is light, easy to use, and doesn't make you look like Tammy Faye Bakker.

Lush Massage Bars
I have been rubbing these on my belly every morning and night for months now. They're solid and melt on your skin, leaving you a bit greasy, but smelling good. I recommend the Mange Too and Each Peach.

Tutti Dolci Sugar Scrub
I bought three jars of this on super sale (75% off) at Bath & Body Works. Unfortunately, they don't sell it any more :-(

Tired

The big day is approaching and I'm just tired... tired of being pregnant, sleepy tired, mentally tired. I'm still working full-time, but am doing so from home (though I have been known to go into the office from time to time). Brady and I have been trying to keep ourselves busy. We visited Wessley in Patuxent River (Southern Maryland) last Friday, went to a picnic on Saturday, and met a friend for lunch on Sunday. We even made it to happy hour this Thursday. Friday, we stayed with friends in Virginia and Brady went golfing. It was great - a wonderful dinner (and breakfast the next morning) that I didn't have to make! Then we made the trip down to Lake Anna for a picnic for Brady's section at work. It was great to go swimming, but I'm feeling way too large to be out in public in a bathing suit :-( I can't wait to go back to (semi) normal. It's been hot and humid here, but I'm trying to keep as mobile as possible. It's just hard to go outside when it's miserably hot.

I'm getting a bit overwhelmed with the thought that I could go into labor at any time. It's really a strange feeling because this is going to be the real thing. No turning back now. I'm going to have to go through the pain and uncertainty of labor and in the end, I'll be bringing home a baby. Sometimes I'm scared, or at least a little nervous, but I think I'm taking it rather well. I know it's inevitable, so I may as well go into labor with the thought that I am perfectly capable and everything's going to be just fine. We'll see if the story changes once I'm actually in labor...

I feel a bit better knowing that we're ready to bring home a baby. The crib is next to the bed, Ella's clothes are all washed, and the carseat has been installed. Now if we only knew when she was going to show up...

Like a Bag of Potatoes

I was walking yesterday and started feeling significant pressure in my lower back/pubic bone/cervix area. It was pretty uncomfortable to walk, but I made it back home ok. The pressure is still there today, so I'm thinking that little Ella may have dropped. Just when I was getting used to having her jammed up into my ribs... I hope this means she's coming in the next few weeks. I'm anxious to see her!

tiny.

I got the cutest thing in the mail yesterday - a surprise package from my dad with these little shoes. They're called My First Merrell. They are just too funny... and so small. We'll just have to take little Ella hiking this fall :-)

Thanks Dad. I love them!

Ugh!

I just got back from yet another disappointing doctor's visit. I saw Dr. #4, who specializes in women with gestational diabetes. I am NOT diabetic... she was the only doctor I could see on short notice.* I was asked on three separate occasions if I had brought the results of my glucose test. No, no, and... no. This only added to the frustration of seeing a new person that had no knowledge of my history, or even that I was there to go over my ultrasound results and determine what steps to take. Here's what we figured out: my placenta is somewhere between 1 and 1 1/2 cm from the opening of my cervix. What does this mean? To some doctors, it means c-section. To others, it means "let's wait to see if you bleed". Neither is a great option. Today's doctor was of the opinion that my ultrasound results may be flawed because the one in April shows the placenta at approximately 2 cm away. My response was to place my hand over the earlier ultrasound and ask her to forget she even saw those and tell me what she'd do with TODAY's information. She's going to have me wait until I bleed. Sadistic? I'd say so. I go back in again next week. And yes, I'm seeing a different doctor...

Moral of the story: If you're going to get pregnant, don't have complications. It only makes for frustrating doctor's visits. And note to doctors: If you are seeing a patient for the first time, look at her flipping chart!!!!!


*NOTE: If hospitals require a woman to come in weekly in the last part of pregnancy, shouldn't they make appointments available? Is that too much to ask?

The Waiting Game

Only a few weeks left and I am getting anxious. What this really means is that I'm sick of being pregnant. I'm still quite active, but am incredibly exhausted. I really just want to sleep. Instead, I'm still working full-time... but I think today may be my last day in the office. Then I'll be working from home because the idea of having contractions/going into labor on the metro is not very appealing. I'm also back to my daily puking habit. For a while, it was just a few times a week. But for the last three weeks, it's been every day. I know the end is in sight so it's not so bad. Also, I've been puking on most days since January, so I'm used to it by now. This morning, Brady asked me if I think I'll be able to stop once the baby is born. I didn't find that so funny.

I go back in to the dr. tomorrow. Hopefully they'll tell me something useful for a change. I feel like the only thing I've been getting out my appointments is the same old news and a written record that I am continuing to gain weight. These are not really incentives to keep returning... I'll let you know how it goes.

35/36 Week Update

I just got back from several hours at the hospital... first was my ultrasound appointment, which determined that my placenta hasn't budged. It's still very close to the opening of my cervix and that could cause complications when I go into labor. The doctors are looking over the measurements to determine how close it actually is... I'm borderline for either having a scheduled c-section, or being set up to go into actual labor with the good chance of having a c-section. I will know a bit more when I go in again next week. If the placenta is close enough, I may just schedule the c-section because I'm not really keen on the idea of going through labor, hemmorhaging and then getting cut open anyway. It just doesn't sound too fun. But then again, neither does a scheduled c-section.

The good news is that Ella is healthy, weighing in at around 5 pounds, 11 oz. She still moves around well for being so big, but it causes me pain from time to time. I have gained another three pounds, for a total of 27 for this pregnancy. Not so bad. I'm going in every week at this point - the bad thing is that with appointments so close, it's difficult to see the same doctor twice. I will be seeing Dr. #4 next week. I have been happy with everyone so far, but it would be nice to not have to repeat my information to a new person every time. Oh well. I'm just thankful I've made it this far and am still in good spirits. I'll keep you updated.

A Wonderful Surprise

Yesterday, my office surprised me with chocolate mousse cake, presents and a hearty rendition of "Happy Baby to You" (slightly less well known than her cousin, Happy Birthday). What fun! The cake was soooo good. And the gifts were great - flushable G Diapers (see earlier post), a baby FR tee (in green!), burp cloths (I have been expressing my concern for pukey clothes as of late), and cute little rattles in the shape of fruit. Thank you!

Sin City

I'm all alone for the weekend :-(

Brady flew out last night to Las Vegas to join his family for the 90th Birthday celebration for his great aunt and uncle. I'm not sure how the city will be able to handle the entire Haynes family... Though I wish I could join them, I'm not too keen on Las Vegas. I've only been to the airport, but it was definitely the most sorry display of humanity I have ever witnessed. The terminal was dirty, full of smoke and I couldn't help but be annoyed by the incessant dinging of the thousands of gambling devices so conveniently placed for a weary traveler's amusement. It was just sad and I couldn't wait to get out of there.

I'm not much for gambling, prostitution, or perpetual drunkeness. And I can't stand Wayne Newton. Nope, nothing for me in Las Vegas. It's just a tidy package of debauchery and a waste of electricity. But if I were to ever go, this would be the weekend... at least I'd be with family.

Hope they're having fun!

Photos!!!!

Courtesy of Ji Sun. Thank you! Three are from my shower last month. The other is Brady trying to introduce bad habits to the belly. Enjoy.

Womblike Conditions

Check out the temperatures I have to look forward to this week. I absolutely abhor this hot and humid weather! There is definitely a difference between the East and West coast when it comes to summer. 100 degrees is much more bearable back home... it would also help to not be 8 months pregnant. I have been trying to work from home off and on to avoid the outdoor nastiness, but unfortunately our internet went down today so I had to come in. And it was not the best metro ride of my life... The trains were crowded and hot and seemed to stall for several minutes at each station along the way. By the time I got to work, I was feeling like complete ass and spent the first 45 minutes trying not to puke...

Yes, I am still getting sick nearly every day. I'm nauseous more often now, as this little one is no longer so little. It's getting a bit uncomfortable. I'm sure it's to be expected. Everyone (meaning only those who have actually given birth to children) said the last month is rough. As always, they were right.