May is for Moms - An interview with my mom!

Happy Mother's Day! 

So this post is a little bit late, but better late than never! 

It has been fun for me, doing these 'May is for Moms' posts and being able to reflect on becoming a mom and hear from my mom too! Since Christian isn't born yet (and couldn't talk even if he was) I won't be doing the 3rd week of these posts. 

I have been blessed with an amazing mom who has always supported me and pushed me to be the best that I can be. We've had our ups and downs, but she is definitely one of my best friends and I'm lucky to have her! Hopefully some day I can have this kind of relationship with a daughter of my own! And maybe I can even apply it to my relationship with my soon to be little boy! 

Thanks mom for being the best mom I could ask for! 

And for answering my interview questions :) 

1. How did you feel the moment you found out you were pregnant with me? 

Dad and I always knew that we wanted to start a family as soon as we were married.  However, I guess that wasn’t in the plans for us because it took us three years to finally get pregnant.  After several years of doctor tests and disappointments, we were finally able to get pregnant and were THRILLED when we received the good news from the doctor!

2. Was I a wonderful surprise or carefully planned? 

You were definitely a wonderful surprise and a blessing!

3. What was the most challenging time in my childhood? Why?

There were two times in your childhood that were definite challenges for me as a parent. The first time was when you were about 8-10 years old.  You had problems with controlling your anger.  In fact, one time you went to your bedroom and totally destroyed it.  However, after your grandma and I started you on an “anger journal”, your attitude improved quickly and I no longer saw that side of you.  The second time that you were a challenge to me as a parent was during your teenage years when you began dating and hanging out with your friends.  I had a whole new set of things to worry about like would you be able to make good choices and say no to drugs and alcohol and would you be able to say no when it came to sex before marriage.  At this point in your life, you made a promise to me to make good choices.  As a symbol of this promise, I got you a gold ring with two hearts linked together to always remind you of the promise that you and I shared.  

4. Did you worry about me more when I was a child or now that I'm an adult? 

When I was a young parent, I always told myself that I couldn’t wait until you were an adult so that I didn’t have to worry about you any more.  However, I now realize that as long as I am living, I will always worry about you.  I will never stop being your mom/parent and that is one thing that goes along with being a mom/parent. 

5. What is one thing you thought was deeply important when I was a baby that you now realize was not important at all? 

From the time you were born, I wanted you to have the best of everything and I wanted you to be the best that you could be.  Since I have always been a teacher at heart, even before I went back to school to get my teaching degree, I have always valued education and always pushed you to do your best in school.  However, during your senior year, as you gave your valedictorian speech, I realized that maybe I pushed you too hard.  I guess I always wanted you to be as independent as possible and with that comes a good education.  Maybe I set your expectations too high?  However, you did meet them with flying colors and you are still meeting them today as you become a new mommy.  

Love you!

39 Week Bumpdate!

39 Weeks, 2 Days

Don't mind my droopy eyes...allergies are getting the best of me this week...Boo. 

Need to get this baby out so I can take some allergy meds! 

Size of Baby::: Still about 19 to 22 inches and between 6 and 9 pounds. He has probably reached his birth weight by now. At our ultrasound last week, he was 7 pounds 3 oz and his femur bones were measuring about 2 weeks behind....he is going to have short legs like his daddy :) If he isn't out by next week, he is going to turn into a pumpkin! 

Symptoms::: 

• Still swelling, although I think it has gone down a little
• Lots of trips to the potty
• Back ache
• Constant cramping and some mild contractions

Signs of Labor::: Was still only 1 cm dilated at my appointment on Monday, but a lot more effaced! The doctor didn't give me a number, though. Also, starting to have some contractions! 

Cravings::: Pecan Sandies cookies! And ice cream! Not good...

Something I Miss::: Wearing my wedding ring and sleeping on my belly

Stretch Marks::: Unfortunately, I think some have appeared...Lots of little light purple marks around my belly button :( Thought I was going to be one of the lucky ones! Come to think of it, I think I stopped lotioning my belly...shoot! That's probably why! BOO! 

Wedding Ring::: Off

Belly Button::: Poking out 

Milestones:::

• Baby continues to build layers of fat  
• The outer layers of skin that have been protecting him in the amniotic fluid are starting to come off
• Not much else is happening...baby has also started to move less as he settles in getting ready to enter the world!
• Still 1 cm dilated but more effaced! 

39 Week Surprise::: My hubby!! He took the day off work to spend with me in case it was our last day to just hang out together! And we also spent the day trying to make me go into labor! ha ha Lots of spicy food, long walks, bouncing on the yoga ball, working out at the gymdoing squats and swimming, foot rubs in the inducing spots, sex...nothing worked. It was a fun day, though! 

Looking Forward To::: Seeing Christian's face!  

Dr. Update::: On Wednesday night, I realized that I hadn't really been feeling Christian move much that day...and hadn't really felt him much the day before either! We have a fetal doppler that we are renting and can listen to his heart beat at home, so whenever this has happened before, we just listen in to the little guy and make sure his heart beat is around where it normally is...130s-140s. Well, on Wednesday night it was 160s-170s and I wasn't feeling him move so we thought that was strange and got a little worried. Finally we decided to call the hospital and get some advice. The on call doctor advised us to come in and get monitored....soooo at midnight we made our way to labor and delivery. Everyone at the hospital was telling us "Congratulations", etc thinking that we were in labor! It was slightly embarrassing! After we got checked in, we got a room and I was hooked up to the monitor. It took a bit, but eventually baby boy started to move and his heart rate fluctuated which was a good sign! They also checked my urine for protein, which there was none, so that was good! And they monitored my uterine activity! The cramping I have been having has actually been contractions! Who knew! ha ha After a few hours at the hospital, we were sent home and told everything was fine but that we should see the doctor on Friday for a follow up. We also learned that apparently our doctor is on vacation!!!! He is gone until the 20th! The day before my due date! He never mentioned this to us so it was news! So we are meeting with his back up doctor today at 3:15pm...at least we can meet the guy who might deliver Christian if he comes early! The doctor really only comes in to catch the baby, so it's not a huge deal...just more of a surprise! So now we know that and I'm feeling more comfortable with heading to the hospital when I do go in to labor now that I know the process and all. Plus the nurses were super nice! 

 

 

Happy Birthday Baxter!!!

Today our sweet puppy boy is 2 years old!! Or 14 years in dog years.... 

Call me crazy, but he is just the cutest puppy I have ever seen! 

Always soooo snuggly! 

Here he is chillin' in the window in Christian's room...just waiting for him to get here!

You'll never believe this, but before hubby and I got married, I actually wanted to get rid of this little guy!!! He was so annoying and messy! 

But now I'm home with him all day every day and he is potty trained and the sweetest little puppy! 

I know it's weird, but he has been my little puppy baby for the last 2 years and now, thinking about having to share my time between snuggling him and Christian makes me kinda sad! I think I will have to snuggle them both at the same time :) 

I don't think Baxter will mind...he loves to snuggle his brother already! 

Such a cutie! 

Maternity Photos!

I really debated getting maternity photos taken, but I think that I will be glad that we did. 

I had them done when I was 36 weeks, 4 days, so my belly was nice and round! But the rest of me was just starting to get pretty round too! The major swelling in my feet started the afternoon these pictures were taken! Luckily, it wasn't too bad in the morning when we had the pictures done. 

Unfortunately, I can't get the pictures to upload to my blog because of the format they are in and I don't know how to change it....

Soooo...if you want to see my pics, check out my facebook page: 

Mommy in the Making MN 

Maternity Photos 

No Baby Yet!

If you don't follow me on facebook or on twitter, you have probably started to wonder by now if baby is here!! I have been a little MIA in blog world this past week. 

Well, no baby yet... 

Like I reported last week, my doctor was thinking I might end up getting induced THIS week. He was thinking I may be developing pre-eclampsia. 

We had a biophysical ultrasound last Wednesday and everything came back normal so I wasn't induced Wednesday. We also had some blood work done at that appointment which came back normal. 

At my appointment on Monday, my blood pressure was still high (especially for me) but not high enough to be considered pre-eclampsia. No protein in my urine either. So since all was looking good, there was no need to induce this week. 

I was a little bummed because I had mentally prepared myself for the possibility after being freaked out by it last week! I'm glad, though, that baby is staying in to cook a little longer until he is ready. Just hoping I don't go late and STILL end up getting induced! 

Life this week has looked a little different than normal. I'm starting to get more uncomfortable and can see the end in site. Soooo....I have been trying to relax and enjoy these last days before I start losing sleep and have a baby filled schedule. 

My days have been filled with lots of walking trying to get labor started. Unfortunately, if I start having contractions, they always stop when I stop walking...so I guess that's false labor or maybe just Braxton Hicks Contractions...Not really sure how all that works. 

I've also been doing a lot of reading and enjoying the weather. 

I planted my garden/plants on Monday after the doctor!

Flower bed

Veggies...Green Pepper and Tomato plants with pea pod seeds planted in back and lettuce in front

More flowers...

Plus more flower pots in the front of the house but I didn't get pictures...

Tuesday hubby took off work to spend the day with me! We did a lot of walking, worked out at the gym and did some swimming and tried everything we could think of to induce labor...still no baby..

On Sunday it was Mother's Day and since I'm technically not a mom yet, as in baby isn't born yet, I didn't really expect to really celebrate Mother's Day. I should have known different with my extra sweet and thoughtful hubby :) 

We were exhausted on Saturday and in bed sleeping before 9pm!!! Needless to say, hubby was up by about 5am tidying up the house and making me breakfast which he brought to me in bed at 6am! Very sweet, but I was also super grateful that we had went to bed early the night before or I may have been slightly less grateful :) ha ha 

Oh! And I got a card from Hubby and Baxter and a cute picture frame that says "Mom" with a picture of Baxter! LOVE IT! 

PLUS another card from Christian. Too cute! 

We then served in children's ministry at church all morning. After church hubby took me shopping and we bought a ton of beautiful flowers and plants for my patio garden along with some new matching pots! I was sooo excited! If I remember right, we ended the day with a long walk. Hubby is so good to me :) I'm a lucky lady and Christian is going to be one lucky boy to call him daddy!

Everything loaded in the car after our shopping spree!

Hope you are all having a great week! 

39 Week Bumpdate coming soon!!! 

As of Sunday we have been in the single digits until Christian's due date! 

As of today, only 6 days to go! Hopefully :) 

 

 

38 Week Bumpdate!

38 Weeks, 1 Day 

Size of Baby::: Still about 19-22 inches long and about 7 pounds...Might get a closer idea of his weight at the ultrasound we are having this afternoon...Keep reading to learn more about that!
He is a watermelon still! Hoping not to make it to pumpkin!

Symptoms::: 

• Potty breaks like crazy 
• SWELLING! Feet, hands, legs, face...I feel like I'm starting to look like a little chipmunk! 
• No contractions yet :( 

Signs of Labor::: Besides starting to dilate and efface, not much! Some hip pain which my nurse told me is my hips spreading out to get the baby through, so I guess that's a good sign! No contractions yet. Not even much for Braxton Hicks any more. Baby is head down and starting to engage, though. 

Cravings::: I haven't had any major cravings this pregnancy really. Lately I have been loving watermelon....and anything sweet! I feel like I have a 24/7 PMS sweet tooth! Except when I have PMS I can give in to the craving and not gain weight...not the case during pregnancy...  

Something I Miss::: Laying on my stomach. As the weather here has gotten nicer, I have been spending a lot of time outside. On Monday my legs got quite a bit of sun....only on the fronts. Can't exactly lay on my stomach and tan the back side next! Soon enough :) Oh and painting my toenails and not having to pay someone to do it...I will not get a pedicure...I will wait! 

Stretch Marks::: Hanging in there and still NONE! Hoping I can make it these last 2-3 weeks that way! 

Wedding Ring::: Definitely off. My hands are sooo swollen too. It will actually be weird to have non-swollen feet again... 

Belly Button::: It pokes out a little bit and you can see it through my shirt, but nothing major. 

Milestones:::

• My uterus weighed roughly 2 ounces before pregnancy...it now weighs around 2 and a half pounds! 
• Baby has a firm grasp and will be able to hold our fingers when he is born! 
• If baby has brown eyes when he is born, they will likely stay brown. If they are steel gray or dark blue, they may stay gray or blue or turn hazel, green or brown
• Baby just continues to grown and fatten up...all of his organs are ready to go!
• Still 1 cm dilated

38 Week Surprise::: A single red rose and card...and a bag full of things to "induce" labor or help strengthen my uterus...pineapple, bananas, dates, twizzlers, red raspberry leaf tea, etc....so far, nothing ha ha 

Looking Forward to::: Bringing Christian home. Labor being done and just starting our life as a family of "4" including the Bax man of course! Oh and going on a diet! Can't wait!!! I've never been more excited in my life to diet! ha ha OH! And hopefully getting to wear my wedding ring again soon! Basically getting back/getting to do all the things I have missed this whole pregnancy :) Ooooo but before all that...I'm excited for my massage I'm getting on Friday! Maybe I can get them to rub my ankles at the spot that is supposed to put you in labor :) ha ha But first....

Dr. Update::: So if you have been following my updates, you have seen the picture of my ugly, swollen feet.... Well, they are still pretty swollen, as are my hands and legs and now my face. I look like a little chipmunk! At my appointment this morning I had also gained a crazy 6 pounds in 1 week!!! EEEK!!! My blood pressure is also up...its higher than normal in general but I usually have slightly lower blood pressure so its extra high for me. My doctor did some blood tests which he is checking on, but no protein in my urine. However, with all the other symptoms, its pointing to pre pre-eclampsia. I'm going for a biophysical ultrasound today at 12:15pm and they are going to check baby's breathing and blood flow and things like that. If anything looks questionable, I could be induced today! I also have another doctor appointment on Monday just in case. Normally I wouldn't go back until Wednesday. Doctor said I could end up induced next week even...Nothing to really worry about, but all new things! 

2 Weeks to go!!! 

OR...

13 days!!! 

Almost in the single digits! 

Come on, Christian!
OR....
TODAY!!!! 
or even next week... 

 

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Effacement vs. Dilation

Now that I'm 38 weeks and having weekly doctor appointments, I'm also getting checked weekly for dilation and effacement. 

At 36 weeks I wasn't even a centimeter dilated.

At 37 weeks I was 1 cm dilated and 50% effaced. Making progress! 

We will have to wait and see what I am at my doctor's appointment tomorrow.

While I'm not a doctor or nurse, I have done some research and reading into what exactly "dilation" and "effacement" are. 

My main conclusion is this: 

Dilation means nothing without effacement and effacement means nothing without dilation. 

You need BOTH before you can push and delivery that baby. 

WebMD does a great job of explaining effacement and dilation. Dilation is how much the cervix is open and effacement is how thin or thick the cervix is. 

Here is a great visual from Mayo Clinic: 

In figures A and B, the cervix is tightly closed and still thick. 

In figure C, the cervix is 60% effaced and 1-2 cm dilated. 

In figure D, the cervix is 90% effaced and 4-5 cm dilated. 

The cervix must be 100% effaced and 10 cm dilated before you can push and delivery the baby. 

It is also important to note, that how dilated and effaced you are, can be somewhat varied. It is all really just a matter of opinion and not very scientific. One doctor or nurse may check you and say you are 2 cm dilated and 70% effaced. Another doctor or nurse may say you are only 1 cm or even 3 cm and 60 or 80%. 

The nurse who taught my childbirth class said that new nurses will check you and then go out of the room and put their hands in a 3D chart and guess which feels closest to what the patient felt like. That then determines the dilation. 

To help you get a visual, I found this great food comparison chart on Baby Center that relates a food to a certain centimeter of dilation. 

So you need to go from closed all the way to an opening the size of a bagel...no biggie, right? :) 

Another important thing to keep in mind...you can be only 1 cm dilated for forever and then all of a sudden BOOM! you are in labor and contractions are opening and thinning your cervix and its time to have a baby! 

OR you could be stuck at 3-4 cm (for example) and not go in to labor until you are induced. 

There really seems to be no magical number for dilation or effacement. However, progress in either area is showing that you are heading in the right direction. But then again, no progress doesn't mean you won't make your way into labor either....

Hope this helps a little! 

You can also check out Elizabeth Allen's book Laboring Well to read more in detail about effacement and dilation from a nurse's perspective.

 

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