Antsy

Antsy


I should not be getting antsy. After all, I still do not have a living room. Actually, I don’t have a kitchen sink, yet. My bag is not packed (list is made though, and I’ve gotten it started). The baby blankets are not washed. And, technically, she’s not full-term until Saturday. But, I am. I’m getting really antsy. In all reality, though, things are done enough that we could get by if she were to come early. We have diapers and wipes, some clothes, and her sheet is washed and on the bed. My day typically looks like this:

6:15am- get up, aching & groaning, and complain about the fact that I’m awake
7:15am- drive to work in a daze
8:00am- clock in and cry because I'm not at home
8:00am-5:00pm- try to get some work done while yawning, and thinking about all the things I need to get     done at home. Wish my water would break, because having a newborn is bound to be more restful than this. Realize how tired I must be to think that.
5:00pm- clock out, and drive home in a daze
5:45pm-9:45pm- cook supper, clean & organize or pack a few things, then crash out of exhaustion
10:00-10:30pm- finally fall into bed
11:00pm-6:00am- toss & turn…and ache and groan, make about 327 trips to the bathroom
6:00am- alarm goes off. Roll back over, and pray that I don’t have to get up. Wish I could stay home and take a couple naps, organizing & cleaning & packing in between.

36 Week Check-up

Technically, I won’t be 36 weeks until Saturday, but I figure its close enough to count it. I had my doctor’s appointment today. Things are looking good. Here’s a quick run-down:


*weight gain is still right on track (yeah, go me!)
*baby is head-down, just like she's supposed to be (good girl)
*did the group B strep thing, so that’s out of the way
*dilated to 1cm
*next appointment in two weeks

We’re on the down-hill slide. She could make it the next four weeks to her due date or it could be a week. It’s just a waiting game…again. In the meantime, we have lots to accomplish. How about another list?

*meet with pediatrician (tomorrow)
*finish construction (progress is being made, Dean is off work the rest of the week)
*church baby shower on Sunday (hopefully we’ll get the rest of what we need)
*fix back passenger door on car (it’s stuck shut- might need it to function with baby here)
*clean car (it’s been a construction vehicle for awhile, need to transform it to babymobile)
*pack bag for the hospital (No, I haven’t done it yet. I have a list made though)
*wash baby clothes
*install car seat
*get a haircut (maybe not a necessity, but I need to look cute before I deliver, right?)
*pedicure (What? This is my list. I can put on it what I wish.)

The 3 Stages of Maternity Wear

I’ve learned something about maternity clothes. They go in stages. When my regular clothes began to get uncomfortable, I bought a couple pair of maternity pants I could wear to work and a few shirts. I remember putting them on and thinking “Ahh…that feels MUCH better.” The pants had a thick elastic band at the top. I’d heard the “secret fit” was best, but these were cheaper and felt way better than regular clothes. How much better could the others be, anyway? I call that, Stage 1.


Then, as I got bigger, the band started to cut into my growing belly and get uncomfortable. The shirts I had gotten still fit well. I KNEW I’d made a good choice on those shirts. I had figured they could grow with me. At that point, my sweet Mama bought me a couple pairs of slacks with that special “secret fit” panel. It was just a wide stretchy band that could be folded over or worn up over the belly. “Ahh, I thought. THAT feels much better.” Also around that time, some friends of mine gave me some hand-me-down maternity clothes, mostly shirts, but also a few shorts. Now, I was SET. I call that, Stage 2.

And now, the pants with the band cut into me and are quite uncomfortable. The wide elastic panel either slips down if it’s folded over, or gets itchy if it’s stretched up. Also at this point, the majority of my shirts are not long enough anymore. I have a couple that have actually grown with me quite well. For the most part, they’ve all become too short. I even wear a skirt to work every so often. That is also unusual for me. I’m not a skirt/dress kind of girl. Usually, I reserve skirts and dresses for weddings, funerals and church. After almost 2 years at my job, this is the first time I’ve worn a skirt to work. I’m beginning to think if I had a long, sleeveless dress, I would wear it every day. But, now that I’m less than 6 weeks out, I don’t want to buy anything new. My second choice would be a tank top and comfy shorts, but I can’t wear that to work. I call this, Stage 3.

Tidbits

Have I mentioned that I have very swollen feet? Because, I do, I have very swollen feet. Strangely enough, my left foot is always a little more swollen than my right. The other night, it was a lot more swollen than the right, as in, twice as big. Last week, my doctor explained the reason for that. I’m always so fascinated by things like that. Apparently, it is quite common for one foot to be more swollen than the other. The uterus generally tilts to the right, and as it grows, it pushes on the organs and blood vessels, and therefore inhibits blood flow to the right foot. It seems I’m backwards. So, there’s an interesting tidbit for the day.


As I mentioned last week, my induction date has been scheduled. We pray she comes on her own, and I don’t have to be induced. That date is just over 5 weeks away. She will be 37 weeks, or full term, in less than 3 weeks. There’s another tidbit. Excuse me while I hyperventilate.

Doctor, Doctor, Give me the News...

I like doctor’s appointments. No, really, I do. Okay, I take that back. I like OB appointments. I get off work, go visit my great doctor, hear about how awesome I’ve done this pregnancy, and hear baby girl’s heartbeat. In fact, I only gained ONE pound in the last two weeks, and at this point, the baby should be gaining half a pound a week. That’s all about to change though. I’m in the home stretch. She will be here in no more than 6 weeks. So, if you’ve ever had kids, you know what those last few appointments entail. I don’t think I’m going to like them anymore. Except… I will still like getting a couple hours off work. I guess that means I will still like them. I also like going to the OB, because we have the same last name. The receptionist always looks at me funny when she asks my name and my doctor’s name and I just repeat the same thing. I did not do that on purpose. But, let’s be honest, if I’d thought of it when I chose my doctor, I totally would have chosen her for that reason. That’s how I roll. Hey, it’s as good a reason as any. I didn’t know anything about any of the other doctors either. I had just been referred to the practice as a whole.


Oh. I should probably give more of an update than “I like getting off work to go to the doctor. I like my doctor. I only gained a pound.” Let’s see… Dean was a little disappointed that the baby didn’t kick the Doppler thing again this time. He thought it was funny the first time, and that two visits in a row would be extra funny. He’s a weird guy, what can I say? That’s why I married him. That and he is really hot. Oh, and, I loved him to death. Heartbeat is good. Did I mention I only gained a pound? I’m feeling much less elephant-like. Then, they told me that next week starts the “fun” appointments and they will be checking for Group B Strep. Why do they insist on doing this to me? I say nice things about them, I give them all my money, and this is the thanks I get. And finally, they scheduled an induction for 6 weeks from yesterday. YIKES! I’m not big on induction, but it is just 3 days before my due date, and I understand my doctor’s concerns for letting me go over. Besides, I probably won’t make it that long anyway. At least, that’s the general consensus, trained professionals and the general population alike.

You Mean I'm not an Elephant?

That’s what the doctor’s office tells me. I don’t know if I believe them entirely, though. My doctor tells me reassuring things all the time, like not to listen to the horror stories about labor and delivery because, “It will be the most incredible day of your life.” What does she know? She’s only been delivering babies for 15 years, and given birth to two of her own. And, I’ve never done this before.


Last week’s appointment was good for my self-esteem though. They called me back, and we stopped off at the scales, like we always do. I dread that part. I hand my purse to Dean, and start fantasizing about taking off my shoes, and jewelry, and anything else I can get by with in hopes of getting a digit or two lower. The scale balanced on a number, and I shot Dean a look of despair and horror. I stepped off, and trampled down the hall. Boy, those halls were narrow. They obviously weren’t made for elephants. The nurse came in, checked my blood pressure, started taking my measurements and said, “Man, you’re all baby, aren’t you?” I smiled, and sighed a little. “That’s what I like to hear!” I said. Then, the doctor came in, looked at my chart and smiling brightly said, “You’ve only gained __ pounds!” I’d been thinking about how much I weighed, and how that’s by far the biggest I’ve ever been. It never occurred to me how much I’d put on. My weight gain has been perfectly normal. I walked out of there, feeling like a pregnant woman, but no longer an elephant.