11.29.09
Weeks Become Days!
Today’s blog is a little different. That’s because while I am technically 38 weeks pregnant today with two weeks left to go, I really have only six days until my baby boy is born. That’s if I don’t go into labor before Saturday!
I wasn’t planning to have a cesarean, but Kaden wants to do this his way. He refuses to turn into the right position and remains breech. I’ve had a few doctor appointments over the last week to check his status and my amniotic fluid level. Last Tuesday, it was still low. On Friday, it had jumped to 11-12 cm. Normal is above 8 cm. Before Friday, I was measuring between 5 & 7 cm. So, this was good news. Must have been all that iced tea and water I drank on Thanksgiving!
I go back to the doctor tomorrow (Monday) for another check on my fluid. Hopefully I have maintained Friday’s status. I don’t know what really made it increase, but it could be that I have been off my feet more and staying hydrated.
The good news is, Kaden is healthy. His heartbeat is strong, and he’s starting to breathe on his own. Kyle and I had an extensive ultrasound and saw his lungs moving. We saw his bladder working and blood pumping to his heart. It was amazing. Then we saw him wiggle his toes! It was so cool. We even saw his face, and I must say, he has chunky cheeks!
So, Kaden’s birthday is set for Saturday, December 5. Kyle and I have been told to arrive at the hospital two hours before surgery. I’m not so nervous about the c-section as I am the recovery. Everyone tells me c-sections are great, and I believe them. I just wish I didn’t have to have one. Needless to say, I am ready and thankful I will have my husband at home for a few weeks to help me recover and adjust to our new life with a baby.
For fun, here are the stats on the baby at 38 weeks. You’ll love the food comparison! Kaden could weigh about 6.8 pounds and be over 19.5 inches long. Of course, we won’t really know until Saturday. But, to put that in perspective, here is a picture of a leek. Yeah, that’s about how long he is. The size of a leek! Again, another vegetable I’m not sure I’ve had…
Baby is about the size of a leek, 19.5 inches long.
This week I’m on bed rest, and it’s hard to sit still. I have lightened my load but I’m still keeping a little active around the house. Laundry won’t kill me. I’ve taken up games on the Nintendo Wii and have spent some time reading. I intend to indulge in Cyber Monday shopping and filling out my Christmas cards too.
Overall, I feel pretty good. I have experienced some contractions, achiness and dicomfort, but I don’t think it’s anything to be worried about just yet. Right now, I’m just enjoying the quiet and relishing the fact that I will be a mom in a matter of days!
11.25.09
This Thanksgiving I’m Thankful for…
It’s Thanksgiving, and I have a lot to be thankful for.
First and foremost, I am thankful for my husband and my family. They’ve been nothing but supportive throughout my pregnancy, and they love me unconditionally.
I’m grateful for this yet to be born but already loved baby boy, Kaden. He is going to bring a lot of joy to my life.
I’m thankful for good friends. They keep my spirit lifted and they make me laugh.
I thank my lucky stars I live in the United States of America, where I’m not only privileged with rights and freedoms, but as a woman I can work, earn respect and be an active member of society.
On a lighter note, there is a list of other things that make my life fantastic. I am thankful for:
- Maternity pants. They may not look so cool, but damn they’re comfortable.
- Starbuck’s non-fat peppermint mocha (no whip cream) and non-fat chai tea latte. Yummy-licious at 6:30 in the morning.
- MAC make-up. Its eyeshadows color my world happy.
- Nordstrom, for always having something I want in my size.
- Maya. She snuggles close and is super soft.
- Bubble baths. Especially on a cold night.
- Books and the internet. I can read and learn about everything I want to know.
- My iPod Touch. It keeps my life organized.
I hope you all give pause this Thanksgiving and think about the things you’re grateful for, whether big or small. Sometimes it’s the small things that make our lives so grand.
11.24.09
Bed Rest & C-Section, Here we Come!
The surprises just keep coming…
I went back to the doctor for a follow-up this afternoon and found out I have to go on bed rest immediately. I was so not expecting that! I practically had to beg my doctor to let me go to work tomorrow for a half-day.
The reason for bed rest is because I am still low on amniotic fluid. Not dangerously low, but that’s exactly what my doctor wants to avoid from happening. There are a few reasons why my fluid could be low, but the medical jargon is difficult for me to relay. I just have to take it easy, keep hydrated and continue to be monitored every few days by my OB. The low fluid is also why we couldn’t successfully turn Kaden from the breech position.
So, we are scheduled to see my doctor again on Friday and Monday. As long as I don’t go into labor before then, I will have a cesarean next week. We’ll have an exact day and time tomorrow (Wednesday) when my doc calls me, but it will be next Wednesday or Thursday, December 2 or 3.
I’m ecstatic and cannot believe that in one week, Kyle and I will have a baby boy! I’m not very nervous about the c-section so much as the recovery. I just didn’t want the procedure in the first place. But, I have surrendered to the fact that this is something I cannot control, and I am thankful for all the love and support I have been getting from family and friends.
Everyone makes fun of me for being so prepared and planning out my life so thoughtfully, but now that I am on bed rest, I am so happy I took care of many things early. That includes Christmas shopping, installing the infant car seat and shopping in bulk! I may be crazy for making lists and checking items off as I go, but at least I can somewhat enjoy this last week stress-free!
11.22.09
37 Weeks… Breech baby
Today is bittersweet. I am 37 weeks pregnant, which means Kaden is now considered full term. If he were to arrive now, his lungs should be fully mature allowing him to adjust to life outside of the womb.
The baby weighs about 6 1/3 pounds, though we do not know his exact size. He is also likely to be a full 19 inches head to heel. You could compare his size of a stalk of Swiss Chard. I don’t believe I have ever eaten one of those, whatever it is!
Swiss Chard... the size of our baby at 37 weeks
Kyle and I received some surprising news at our last doctor visit. Baby Kaden flipped on us and is now in the breech position! At my doctor visit before that, two weeks ago, my OB felt his head and he was in the right position. I wasn’t expecting to hear this news, but I had experienced a different pressure from the baby over the past week. I guess I was feeling his head pushing up against my rib cage and chest.
So my doctor scheduled a version, which basically is a procedure to try to turn the baby. We went to the hospital this evening to see if that could be done. Before the doctor arrived, the nurse gave me an IV and some medication to relax my uternine muscles. Kaden and I had great vitals; he had a strong heartbeat and I had a relaxed uterus with no contractions.
I wasn’t very nervous about the process because I honestly thought it would go well. I was trying really hard to stay positive and hope for the best. The doctor and nurse had explained three scenarios to Kyle and me. One, we could turn the baby with ease and I would walk out of the hospital and carry on until I go into natural labor. Two, we would not be able to turn the baby and have to schedule a c-section. Three, if any complications were to arise during the version, I would have an emergency c-section at the hospital. We were prepared for all three scenarios and even packed our bags… just in case!
Once my doctor arrived, I started to get a little nervous, not to mention I was freezing and shivering in that hospital room! We took another look at the ultrasound and confirmed Kaden was still breech. Then Dr. Spoon began the version. Right away it was excruciating. I have never experienced pain like that. He pressed firmly on my stomach pushing the baby counter clockwise. He had the baby’s head in one hand while the other twisted at the feet and spine of the baby. I understand now why it’s so important to breathe through pain, but it gave me little comfort. Kyle held my hand and just told me to squeeze. I kept telling my doctor how much it hurt, but he continued. He wanted to make it happen.
We stopped and I caught my breath. He was able to move him a little, but said he started to float back into breech position. My doctor asked me if I was willing to try again and I said yes. But, this time I could barely handle it. The pressure was too much and I started to feel a pain in my lower back. I asked him to stop, and he did. I was disappointed, but the doctor had told me it would be a little difficult because I don’t have a lot of amniotic fluid. With less fluid, it’s harder to move a baby in such little space.
So, now that we had an unsuccessful version, it’s pretty much a given I will have a c-section. Babies, in general, won’t turn on their own this late in pregnancy. They just simply get too big to move. I am scheduled to see the doctor again on Tuesday. We’ll probaby schedule the procedure. I could just wait and go into labor, but if I am going to have a c-section anyway, why wait and go through more pain? I really wanted to have a vaginal birth, but the baby’s health matters more than anything else.
I will be sure to keep everyone posted, and I appreciate all the support we received tonight from friends and family.
11.15.09
Only 4 More Weeks
I cannot believe we’re down to the home stretch now. Today I am 36 weeks pregnant.
Kaden is still growing and he sure is putting more pressure on me. Babies at this stage put on about an ounce a day, so Kaden weighs almost six pounds and is more than 18.5 inches long. You could compare him to the size of a Crenshaw Melon. I have no idea what that is. Kyle and I may be able to find out more about Kaden’s development this week when we see the doctor. I asked for an ultrasound at my last appointment.
Baby is about the size of a crenshaw melon
At the end of this week the baby will be considered full term. Babies usually start to turn into birthing position around this time. My doctor did tell me Kaden is head-down, which is good for us.
Kyle and I attended our second of three birth education classes at the hospital. It was good because we got to see the maternity ward and where I will deliver and recover. We also learned a great deal about the labor process and delivery. All of it freaks me out, but at this point, I have no choice to follow through. 
With a month or less to go, I am trying to get everything ready. We sorted through all the wonderful gifts I received from two baby showers, so my goal this week is to wash all the clothes, blankets, sheets and towels and put them all away. I still have a few, important items to buy for the nursery and for Kaden and me. This weekend I had the infant car seat installed by Safe KIDS, a non-profit organization that promotes child safety here in Clark County. I had no idea where to begin, so I figured I should let the experts do it and show me at the same time. It all seemed very real to me once I left the hospital with that car seat attached to my car!
Aside from the anticipated arrival of Kaden, we are gearing up for the holidays. Thanksgiving is in less than two weeks! It looks like we’ll put up the Christmas tree a little early this year… hopefully next weekend.
Having this baby is a perfect way to end another great year!
11.08.09
35 Weeks down
Today marks 35 weeks in my pregnancy, which means baby Kaden should arrive in about 5 weeks.
Today he is about the size of a honeydew melon, tipping the scale at 5.25 pounds. He could be as long as 18 inches, leaving very little room for him to move around and for me to breathe!
At 35 weeks Kaden is about the size of a honeydew melon
At this stage, most of the baby’s physical development is complete and he’ll spend the next few weeks packing on more weight, hopefully not too much more for my sake!
I saw the doctor this past week and got the H1N1 shot at his recommendation. I hope I have made the right decision by getting the vaccine. I also was checked for Group B streptococci, which is a bacteria some women develop in pregnancy. If you have it and pass it on to your baby, it can cause serious complications. But, if you have it and catch it early, you can be treated with antibiotics during labor to reduce the baby’s risk of infection.
The doctor said my stomach has already dropped some and a little earlier than expected. That appears to be a good thing, especially since Kaden is in the right position for birth. Who knows… maybe he will come a little early!
Kyle and I also attended the first of three birth education classes at the hospital where I will deliver. It was interesting and full of young couples also expecting their first newborn. We’ll get a tour of the maternity ward at our next class.
To cap off the week I had my baby shower. My mother, sister and sister-in-law did all the planning and, of course, did a great job. We had lots of fun and now I have a lot of gifts to sort through!
The weekend is winding down and I am preparing for the next few adventures, which include a work baby shower, a lesson on how to install an infant car seat and quick weekend getaway with my husband. I’m stealing him for a night and hibernating in a cabin at Mt. Charleston. We have so many things happening over the next month that this could literally be our last weekend together as a couple. Soon, we’ll be a family!
11.04.09
iPhones iSolate people
I’m going to go there; you can flog me later. 
iPhones are awesome. I don’t have one, and I won’t pretend I don’t want one. it’s just not my time. I do have the iTouch iPod, which is much like the iPhone, only without the phone, so I know how cool it is.
But, as you all know how I feel about social media and other technologies, I think iPhones are yet another device changing the way we communicate, and in a bad way.
A lot of people who have them, have their nose in them. They forget where they are, who they’re with and how to talk. It’s rude, like someone whispering secrets in front of you. Put down your phone! Have a conversation with your friends, family and wife or husband and save your minute-by-minute life updates for another time, like when you’re home alone and have nothing else to do but stare at the dog.
iPhones provide it all at your fingertips, as we’ve been reminded over and over again by Apple’s commercials. There’s an app for everything! People are micro-sizing their lives into this teeny-tiny device, and they’re stuck. They are isolating themselves from the world.
And while the idea of this blog came to me last night, I found a study released today about Social Isolation and New Technology.
This is just my two cents, of course, but there is actual data showing the damage caused by people who are consumed by social media, including how it can destroy marriages and relationships. Here is where I’ll thank my husband, who has an iPhone, for not becoming too obsessed. At least we can still carry on a real conversation when we’re in the same room.
I just want to point out that I am not against social media. I think it’s fascinating and entertaining at the very least. I don’t blame social networking for people’s behavior. After all, we’re responsible for what we do with our time. I just can’t help but wonder what life will be like in a year from now… or five years from now. How will it change us, our social skills and personal and professional relationships?
You know this won’t be my last blog on this topic.
11.03.09
Startling Study about Flu Vaccine & Health Care Professionals
This is alarming to me and should be to the general public as well.
Why should I be told to get the flu vaccine if more than half of health care professionals don’t get it themselves? So, is it okay for me to put their life at risk if I show up to a hospital contagious with severe flu symptoms?
And, why shouldn’t vaccination be mandatory for health care workers when food handlers, massage therapists and tattoo artists are required to obtain health cards?
