38 Week Appt - BIG NEWS

Monday was our 38 week check up with Dr. Judd. It went a little like this....

Greet the nurse - "Seems like I just saw you guys! Oh wait, I did!" haha we love our nurses at Dr. Judd's office! They're so friendly and helpful. We couldn't have asked for better people to help us along this journey!
Pee in a cup.. again.
Step on the scale - didn't gain anything this time. (a sign she's 'bout ready)
Talk to the nurse - I asked how long Dr. Judd will usually let you go past your due date if you go overdue. She said usually no more than a week because your placenta just isn't that great at it's job after 40 weeks. She also said in order to be induced you have to be what they call "inducable" meaning your body has to be showing signs that it is preparing for labor and delivery (dilating, effaced, etc..)
Went in to see Dr. Judd - He did a pelvic exam and declared that I am, indeed, inducable... already! We talked about our options. He said we could wait it out and see when she wants to come, or he could induce me anytime starting Nov. 1st. He suggested being induced because 1) Why would you want to be pregnant any longer than you have to? and 2) You can schedule it, go in, get your epidural, then be induced, and avoid as much pain as possible. We also discussed which hospital would best suit our needs for delivery. My insurance will cover UVRMC, Timpanogas, or Orem Community. Of the 3, Dr. Judd suggested Orem Community because they are a maternity focused hospital so they really know what they're doing. And they're only one floor so you don't ever have to move rooms.
Tiave & I chatted -  We decided to be induced on Nov. 1st so that he could plan to have plenty of time off work and so that I could finish out the week at work and still have time for last minute prep and sleep. We also decided that Orem Community was the place to be because... well, why not?
Scheduling time - We let the scheduling lady know we wanted to be induced on the first. She called us later that evening to let us know we were all set for 5 a.m. that day. Yuck. But we'll take it :) She should be here by dinner time.

Questions I keep getting:

1: Are you ready?
-Is this a trick question? I don't think you can really be "ready" for something like this. But we are as ready as we'll ever be I suppose. So... yes?
2: Do you still want her to come earlier than that?
-I thought so at first, but I'm really liking the plan we have set up and I really hope it stays the way it is.
3: Are you getting induced and going to Orem just because your Dr. said to?
-Yes and No. Yes because that would be a perfectly good reason to do what I'm doing. I trust my Dr. 100%. If I didn't... we'd have a problem. No because I did actually do my research on inductions and Orem Community hospital and came to my own opinion as well. It just so happens to match up with Dr. Judd's. So there.

So... instead of going in for our 39 week appt on Monday, we'll just meet Dr. Judd at the hospital at 5 a.m. next Thursday. We'll get checked in and comfortable. He'll give me my epidural, then an IV of oxytocin (the hormone naturally released by your body to put you into labor) We'll labor all day and she'll probably arrive just in time for dinner.
If you feel like visiting, that's probably fine. Just text me or Tiave and see how things are before you do, please :) We'd love to see everyone, but understand that it's going to be a taxing few days and we may need some time to ourselves as well.

Pregnancy Pain: Let's Talk About It

Today I've decided to post a little about what I have learned about pregnancy.

Disclaimer: I am NOT and expert. I am simply sharing what I have learned from my Dr., other pregnant women, and the internet.

When you are pregnant, or looking to get pregnant you will have LOTS of questions. So, I'm going to address some of the questions I had and hope that I can be of help to some of you.

Let's start with my most recent discovery... Sciatic Nerve Pain.
Walking around the Zoo one day I started to have rather severe pain in my right thigh and butt cheek. For me, it felt like I had pulled a muscle... but then it went away. and came back. and went away. So at my next Dr's appt. I asked about it. Dr. Judd informed me that it was Sciatic Nerve Pain (Sciatica). He said it's very common during pregnancy and is caused by the baby's head putting pressure on your sciatic nerve.

So... how do you know if you have sciatica?
1: It can feel like a pulled muscle, your leg is falling asleep, or just plain hurt.
2: It is most likely only on one side, and is probably your right side (95% of the time anyway)
3: It comes and goes - not constant pain
4: It can range from uncomfortable to debilitating.

And.. how do you make it go away?
-You don't. But here are some tricks to find relief
1: Lie down on the opposite side of the pain to relieve pressure
2: Soak in a warm bath, then put a cold compress on the pain. The heat will relax your muscles, and the cold with draw away any inflammation.
3: Get a prenatal massage/chiropractic adjustment
4: Wear a maternity belt

When do you worry about it?
-You don't. It is not harmful to you or the baby, it just sucks.

Next on today's list... Pelvic Girdle Pain (PGP)
Lying in bed one night, I went to roll over onto my other side. After attempting to swing my legs over and experiencing bone shattering pain... I decided something was wrong. After lots of research I found that I had PGP and that I was fine... it just sucked. (seeing a theme here?)

So... how do you know you have PGP?
1: The pain will be generalized in your back and pelvis.
2: It's JOINT pain, not muscle pain
3: It will probably be accompanied by pain in your back and hips

And... how do you make it go away?
-You don't. You can try finding relief by...
1: Acupuncture
2: Place a heating pad on it
3: Wear a maternity belt when you'll be standing or walking - (this one worked GREAT for me)

When do you worry?
1: When your Dr. tells you to. If you have or think you have PGP let your Dr. know. He/She can monitor the pain and let you know if it is PGP or something else like Symphsis Pubic Disfunction. PGP is nothing to worry about, but SPD could be.



No matter the pain you're feeling, my best advice is to TALK TO YOUR DOCTOR. Every woman is different. Every pregnancy is different. It's better to call and ask about it and find out it's no big deal than to not ask about it and realize all too late that you have a real problem. Most problems - if addressed in a timely manner - can be handled and treated safely.

If you happen to be reading this blog and have questions about something going on in your pregnancy that you'd like more info on, let me know. Or if you think there's something pregnant women should be more educated on, I'd be happy to share what I know and find some more credible resources for you to check out as well!

37 weeks - Full Term Baby!

Today we had our 37 week appointment! Here's what my insides look like right about now. Gettin' kinda squishy in there!

At 37 weeks most Dr.'s consider you to be "full term" and it's safe for the baby to arrive any time now. So they tell you that and get your hopes all high in the sky that your little miracle could be here any day and then they bring you right back down with a "but 80% of first time moms go past their due date... so prepare to be pregnant a while longer. We'll check ya next week and see where we're at." Awesome.

The Dr.'s appt. today went a little like this...
I peed in a cup. Again.
I weighed in at a whopping 148 lbs - that's a gain of 32 lbs!
Blood Pressure - Still Normal
We got our results from the Group B strep culture - Negative! Woohoo! No need for antibiotics during delivery!
We listened to her heartbeat - Down to 126bpm
Dr. Judd felt around my belly and said she's still head down and in a great position!
Dr. Judd explained that what I thought was muscle pain is actually Sciatic Nerve Pain. And it'll only get worse as she gets heavier.
and
We scheduled our pelvic exam for next Monday. (at that point the Dr. will let us know if she looks like she's coming early or late or whatever. We're hoping I take after my mom and she decides to make her grand appearance at least a little early. As long as she's healthy.)

So there's the run down! Later this week: More on Sciatic Nerve Pain... and maybe we'll address other things that can scare the crap out of you but are really no big deal... and maybe some things that look like no big deal that you should really be concerned about. Oh the joys of first time moms!

I'm outta here for now! If you need me... you can probably find me on the trampoline ;)

Operation Better Wife : Wake Up Call for Wives

We hear a lot about how men should/shouldn't treat women... but too often, i fear, people are too afraid to tell women how they should/shouldn't treat men. So here I go. 

Women: Please keep in mind that I believe most of you are fantastic wives striving to provide a good home/environment for your husbands. What I share is not to criticize or point fingers, simply to help those who wish to improve.


Men: Don't think that just because I am speaking to women, you don't still have faults as well.


With that said...


"The wife, also should treat the husband with the greatest respect and courtesy. Her words to him should not be keen and cutting and sarcastic. She should not pass slurs or insinuations at him. She should not nag him. She should not try to arouse his anger or make things unpleasant about the home. The wife should be a joy to her husband, and she should live and conduct herself at home so the home will be the most joyous, the most blessed place on earth to her husband. This should be the condition of the husband, wife, the father and the mother, within the sacred precinct of that holy place, the home." - Gospel Doctrine, 283-284
There's always room for improvement, right? 

Please read this article from Meridian Magazine:

http://ldsmag.com/article/8174/1

 There is a link there to the "Wake Up Call for Husbands" as well if you're interested in reading it. 

35 weeks

Update on Baby...Baby doesn't have much room to maneuver now that she's over 18 inches long and tips the scales at about 5 1/4 pounds. Because it's so snug, she's not really doing somersaults anymore, but she's still kicking and moving quite frequently. Her kidneys are fully developed now, and her liver can process some waste products. Most of her basic physical development is now complete — she'll spend the next few weeks just putting on weight.

As for me...

My uterus - which was entirely tucked away inside my pelvis when I conceived - now reaches up under my ribcage. (ouch!) If you could peek inside, you'd see that there is now more baby than amniotic fluid in there. My ballooning uterus is crowding my other internal organs too, which means I have to pee a lot more often, have heartburn all the time, and struggle to yawn or take a deep breath.

From my Monday appt on out, I'll be seeing Dr. Judd every week. Monday he'll do a culture to check for bacteria called Group B Strep (GBS). GBS is usually harmless in adults, but if you have it and pass it on to your baby during birth, it can cause serious complications, such as pneumonia, meningitis, or a blood infection. According to babycenter, 10%-30% of pregnant women have the bacteria and don't even know it. Dr. Judd says it's no big deal. If I test positive for GBS, they'll just give me IV antibiotics during labor which will prevent passing it on to the baby. 

Stresser #1 for me... a birth plan
Originally the plan was make it to the hospital, drug me, get this kid out. Now I'm realizing that I need something a little bit... more.

babycenter offered this form to help. I think it just made things worse. Seriously... Look at it. 

It asks who you want to me there, what type of pain meds do you want, would you like birth props (huh?), is it okay if nurses, residents, and/or students enter your room, and lots of other things that I never even thought of... or thought I had a say in.

I think I know who I want there, but idk who wants to be there... and who's going to be offended when I tell them they aren't invited to the big party? Do I even bother caring?  'eh.

Things I still need to do before baby gets here... in no particular order:

• buy bottles, a breast pump, and warm clothes in itty bitty sizes
• figure out and install the car seat properly
• set up a nursery
• pack mine/tiave's hospital bags
• train someone at work to take over for a while
• chill. 

I promise I'll figure this all out one day and I'll be a helpful, comedic inspiration to other pregnant woman all over... just like the lovelies over at http://www.pregnantchicken.com and http://lifecraftsandwhatever.blogspot.com

Until then, we'll just have to stick with learning together... one week at a time! 

34 Weeks

Every week I get an email from  http://www.babycenter.com/  updating me on what my baby is doing, how she's developing, what to expect, and lots of other fun facts and thoughts/advice from other woman expecting around the same time as me. I love it. 

Here's what they had to say at 34 weeks...


How your baby's growing:

Your baby now weighs about 4 3/4 pounds (like your average cantaloupe) and is almost 18 inches long. Her fat layers — which will help regulate her body temperature once she's born — are filling her out, making her rounder. Her skin is also smoother than ever. Her central nervous system is maturing and her lungs are continuing to mature as well. If you've been nervous about preterm labor, you'll be happy to know that babies born between 34 and 37 weeks who have no other health problems generally do fine. They may need a short stay in the neonatal nursery and may have a few short-term health issues, but in the long run, they usually do as well as full-term babies.

How your life's changing:

By this week, fatigue has probably set in again, though maybe not with the same coma-like intensity of your first trimester. Your tiredness is perfectly understandable, given the physical strain you're under and the restless nights of frequent pee breaks and tossing and turning, while trying to get comfortable.
Now's the time to slow down and save up your energy for labor day (and beyond). If you've been sitting or lying down for a long time, don't jump up too quickly. Blood can pool in your feet and legs, causing a temporary drop in your blood pressure when you get up that can make you feel dizzy.
If you notice itchy red bumps or welts on your belly and possibly your thighs and buttocks as well, you may have a condition called pruritic urticarial papules and plaques of pregnancy (PUPPP for short).

Up to one percent of pregnant women develop PUPPP, which is harmless but can be quite uncomfortable. See your practitioner so she can make sure it's not a more serious problem, provide treatment to make you more comfortable, and refer you to a dermatologist if necessary. Also be sure to call her if you feel intense itchiness all over your body, even if you don't have a rash. It could signal a liver problem.

Slide your way to slumber "In the third trimester, turning over in bed is a nightmare. The solution? Big satin pajamas and even satin sheets — the slipperiness of satin helps tremendously!" — Carrie

Pretty spot on for the most part. Dr. Judd says she is more like 4lbs right now, but it's hard to tell for sure. She is head down and ready to go, but no sign of her arriving early... yet. 

As far as me... they always get it perfect. 

Next Dr. appointment is October 8th. They'll test me for group B strep at that vist, then we're on to weekly appointments to make sure we're on top of things and are ready for her when she's ready to come.

A word of advice to my pregnant friends... sign up for emails from babycenter. Go here to register. It's free. You'll get a weekly email like the one above, links to learn more about things like PUPPP and preeclampsia, assurance that you aren't crazy and that what's happening to you is normal, and the option to send the email to your significant other so that he can better understand what you're going through. Truly a brilliant set up. 

Argh Mateys!

That's right. We did it. We went to Krispy Kreme on National Talk Like a Pirate Day. We waited in line for just over 2 hours and we came home with 4doz. free donuts. Worth it? absolutely! And, I promised Gina pictures because she wasn't able to make it. So... here ya go!

Next year Gina... you cannot miss this again!

Look at us with our Donuts! I sooo happyyyyy!!!

Little Brother - He makes a GREAT pirate!

Ms. Kaycy - "Arghh"

Jason - I feel like he's up to something...
(this poor guy has celiac's disease and can't even EAT krispy kreme donuts! But he was a good sport and came with us anyway just to get that extra dozen. Awesome!)

I think Krispy Kreme is CRAZY for offering a promotion like this. I'm sure they lost TONS of money. But, I would like to thank them for the Wednesday night adventure, and the free donuts. Krispy Kreme, you have a customer for life. And my kids will probably be addicted too, so... count on a couple lifetimes of loyalty from our family!

Anyone else participate in the madness? If so, I wanna hear about it! Or see pictures! Much love to you all!