37 week update

So, Baby Bean Sprout is officially full term.  That means any day could be THE day, but so far no signs of anything.  From here to the end, s/he is just going to keep getting bigger and stronger.  I've been doing all the last minute stuff I can think of and trying to stay busy, willing the days to go by quickly.

I've spent most of the week doing my baby-flipping exercises and feeling around my stomach to try to determine which little body parts are where.  I'm feeling much more calm about the whole thing.  I'm going to do everything I can to flip Sprout but it's possible that s/he is a stubborn little thing (where could this personality trait possible come from?!?) and will not cooperate.  In that case, there's nothing that I can do.  I will just wait to go into labor naturally, no induction, no scheduled C-section, and hope for the best.

How far along?  37 weeks
Total weight gain?  Meh.  I have a lot of work ahead of me in the new year.
Maternity clothes?  I feel lucky that I haven't had to spend a lot of money on this.  I'm in all regular clothes in my photo this week.
Stretch marks?  I'm pretty happy with the situation here.  It could definitely be worse.
Sleep?  I still wake up every night and can't get back to sleep, but when I am asleep it has seemed much more restful, if that makes sense.
Best moment of the week?  Realizing that we really are getting near the end and one way or another, Sprout will be making his/her debut soon!
Miss anything?  Nothing comes to mind
Movement?  YES.  A lot and it's sometimes painful.  I'm taking that as a sign that there's a good chance Sprout might figure out how to get his/her head down.
Food craving?  Oh my god I love grapefruit juice!  And carbs.
Anything make you sick or queasy?  Nah.
Gender?  Strangers are still split about 50/50 on guesses.
Labor signs?  Nope, but I'm much less disappointed about this than I was last week.  Take your time and get your head down, Sprout!
Symptoms?  Back pain has subsided somewhat, but my wrist is on fire all the time.
Belly button in or out?  Out
Wedding rings on or off?  One on, one off.
Happy or moody most of the time?  Happy, and focused on checking things off my to-do list.
Looking forward to?  I will be having another sonogram on Tuesday to see exactly what position Sprout is in, so that I best know how to get him/her where s/he needs to be.  Also, we can get another peek at his/her little face!

P.S.  I don't know what's up with the weird spots on my photos.  I think there's sand in my camera or something, ugh.

Baby is breech and Mama is not amused

You didn't really think I was going to break my streak did you?  Like, suddenly I was going to have uneventful normal doctor's visits from here on out until Sprout arrived?  Haha, you're so funny, with your optimism!

So, the little Sprout is intent on being a little troublemaker.  That's fine by me, kid, Battle of the Wills is one of my favorite games and I think you'll find your Mama a worthy adversary.  At my doctor's visit yesterday, they did an ultrasound and found Sprout's little head hanging out right under my ribcage.  Immediately, the doctor starts talking about a C-section, the one thing I've been trying to avoid/terrified of for the past 8+ months.  I spent most of the rest of the day on the computer (per usual, following my doctor's visits) looking for ways to turn the baby on my own and got right down to it.  So far those have included (often in combination): laying at a 45 degree angle with my legs up in the air for 20 minutes at a time, applying a bag of frozen corn to the back of Sprout's head, downward-facing dog with my knees on the couch and head on the floor, trying to find Pulsatilla, some kind of homeopathic pill, applying acupressure to the outside of my little toe, Moxibustion, which involves holding a smoldering Chinese Stick of Wonder next to my little toe for 20 minutes, researching the Webster's technique that some chiropractors perform, shining a flashlight/playing music next to my lady exit, and scoping out a pool for me to do handstands in.  Clearly, I'm not messing around.  If none of those work by my next visit, the doctor will try an external cephalic version, which basically means manually trying to move the baby into the position it's supposed to go.  Possible side effect:  the need for an emergency C-section right then and there, yea!

One technique I haven't mastered yet is deep relaxation.  I'm just so frustrated.  I've had a more stressful pregnancy than most (though it could be worse, thank god I'm not on bedrest) and it's just really annoying me to think that I may have done all this work and preparation for natural childbirth only to possibly need the least natural form of childbirth there is.

Words of encouragement would be welcome here, as well as any stories of how you got your baby to turn.

I'll leave you with a palate cleanser, my favorite wedding photo:

36 week update

Less than a month until my due date!  We're getting pretty near the end.  Bean Sprout is almost fully developed now, just his/her little lungs need a bit more time.  Other than that, s/he is just going to get bigger between now and whenever s/he decides to make a debut. (Soon, Sprout.  The sooner the better at this point.)  I've been doing all the home remedies they tell you to move things along but so far, no luck.  I don't have any indications whatsoever that s/he is ready to come out.  *Sigh*  At any rate, Sprout's room is finished, with the exception of bedding, which should be arriving sometime in the next week.  My hospital bag items are gathered but not yet packed and all Sprout's things have been washed and put away.  It's just a waiting game now.

Today is the Chicago marathon and I've been thinking about that all week.  I can't believe it's only a year since we ran it!  So much has happened in the past year (because why not do it all at once, haha) that it seems like much more time has passed.  I've been thinking a lot about the lady who ran last year while 8 months pregnant and went into labor as she crossed the finish line (and, shamefully, only finished like 10 minutes behind me).  She was about as pregnant then as I am today and I consider a 45 minute walk an intense workout at this point.  Last year, I thought she was crazy. This year, I can say without a doubt that she was batsh-t insane, but I have Questions.  Did she have to stop to pee 114 times?  Was that my saving grace, the only reason I finished in front of her?  By the end, were her feet the size of parade float balloons?  Which of the day's events was more physically grueling?  And mostly, why are you such a showoff?

How far along?  36 weeks
Total weight gain?  I woke up one morning this week and felt noticeably larger than when I went to sleep.  I decided that day to stop looking at the scale until Sprout is born.
Maternity clothes?  My long sweaters are still wearable, they're just much shorter now.  Shoes are my biggest problem.
Stretch marks?  How am I getting stretch marks on the skin that is not doing the actual stretching?
Sleep?  Nightly baths are making sleep possible at all, but I still wake up 2-3 times a night.
Best moment of the week?  Scott's feeling much better so he was able to finish up the last few things in Sprout's room, which was so exciting!  I can't wait to post some pics soon!
Miss anything?  Attractive clothes and shoes.
Movement?  A little less intense and more predictable than before.  There's still a dance party in my lady house every night around 11 p.m.
Food craving?  I drank 2 gallons of grapefruit juice this week!
Anything make you sick or queasy?  Nope!
Gender?  Sis-in-law dreamed I had a girl and we named her Quinn.
Labor signs?  All day on Thursday, I had this weird downward squeezing feel in my stomach.  I thought maybe it was the baby dropping down, but no such luck.
Symptoms?  Sudden, intense back pain, the top of my stomach feels numb/asleep all the time, shooting pains in my lady parts, constant soreness in my wrists.  It's a beautiful and graceful process for sure.
Belly button in or out?  Out.
Wedding rings on or off?  Wedding ring on and I just can't wait to wear my engagement ring again.
Happy or moody most of the time?  I feel mostly happy.
Looking forward to?  I'm going to ask the doctor on Tuesday how big she thinks Sprout is, and also see if there's any indication that Sprout is coming.

35 week update

It's going to be short one this week.  I've spent a lot of time preparing and finishing up little odds and ends around the house, started filling out the baby book, and I lined up a photographer for newborn photos.  I'm just feeling tired, sore, and ready to be done, even though I know in my head I may have a month or more to go.  You can come out any time now Sprout!

How far along?  35 weeks, about 8 months.
Total weight gain?  Under 30 lbs. but I'll have an exact number on Tuesday.
Maternity clothes?  More and more now that the weather is changing.  Boo pants weather!
Stretch marks?  Nothing new and the ones I have are already fading.  My new cream is awesome.
Sleep?  Better, but I feel like I have to be really mindful of sleep positions.  If I don't keep my hands flat and away from my body, they really hurt when I wake up.
Best moment of the week?  It's been a pretty low key week honestly.  No big ups or downs.
Miss anything?  Nothing that I can think of...
Movement?  Lots of wiggles, pokes, punches and twists.
Food craving?  Grapefruit juice.  Twix bars.
Anything make you sick or queasy?  It doesn't make me sick exactly, but meat is totally uninteresting to me and I try to avoid it.  Fish is okay though.
Gender?  You can end all this speculation if you'd just get here, Sprout!
Labor signs?  No, and for the first time this is disheartening.  I don't have any contractions and Baby is still way up high hanging out near/in my ribcage.
Symptoms?  My carpal tunnel syndrome is worse, so that I wake up every morning with witch hands, and the top of my stomach and under my ribs feel numb all the time, like it's asleep.  So weird.
Belly button in or out?  Mostly out.
Wedding rings on or off?  I'm happy I'm at least able to wear my wedding ring again.
Happy or moody most of the time?  Definitely less moody than last week.  I'm just busy, trying to check things off the list while there is still time.
Looking forward to?  Honestly, a warm bath and some sleep tonight.  I'm beat.

About the "kids" I already have...

So ever since I posted about Josie's Great Escape on Sunday, a few people been asking what I'm going to "do" with my dogs once the Sprout arrives.  I'm sorry?  I don't understand the question.  Turns out, these people are subtly (or not so subtly) suggesting I get rid of my dogs or, even worse, make a Sophie's Choice and only get rid of one!  Then this morning, someone actually sent me this article:

http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/09/25/14095596-police-pit-bull-fatally-mauls-3-month-old-baby-in-texas?lite

Let's dissect, shall we?  We have a domestic disturbance bad enough for someone to call 911, which would clearly stress out and agitate any person or animal in the house.  Then, while people are OUTSIDE talking to the police, someone leaves a tiny baby UNATTENDED on a regular BED (not in a crib or playpen) with a DOG.  Are we really blaming the animal in this scenario?

After that, I felt like I had to defend my girls.  Yes, I have two big dogs that many would consider more trouble than they are worth.  I am fully aware of each of their behavior issues that can be considered potentially problematic.  But there's no way I can get rid of either of them, ever.  If you're not a dog person, I get that.  Here's how it goes in my house though.

Let's start with Josie.  I was there the day she was born and I've had that little monster since she was 6 weeks old.  She's a rottweiler though, so people automatically bring preconceived notions to the table, and she's had some traumatic encounters so she doesn't trust strangers.  Once you're in her circle though, you'd have trouble to find a more loving, loyal dog.  Not to mention, Jo and I have been together since before Scott and I were, so she has a little more seniority in my book.  She's not going anywhere.

And Belle.  She is big and clumsy and hyper and she jumps.  She won't mean any harm but she could hurt Sprout.  Okay, but please remember that Belle is still a baby and that she's already starting to calm down.  Also, Belle was a gift from me to Scott, and trust me when I say that those two love each other so much that they are each visibly upset when separated.  She stays.

I know it's going to take a lot of work and patience to get everyone to live together harmoniously when Sprout comes.  I'm working on their behavior daily, I am letting them adjust to Sprout accessories in the house gradually, and I have enough common sense to not ever leave my baby unattended with either of my dogs.  So please stop suggesting that I get rid of one or both of them like they are bags of old clothes instead of members of our family.  You're getting nowhere with that and you're pissing me off.

34 week update

Lesson of the week:  Scott is no longer allowed to travel out of town overnight, at least until the New Year (says I).  Something bad always happens.  Last time it was a gas leak from our fireplace, the time before that the power went out and before that, the hot water heater stopped working.  This week?   Josie got out of the yard and was missing for about an hour before I noticed the door was open.  That means I got to run around the neighborhood looking for her, praying that an unleashed Rottweiler didn't terrify people enough to call Animal Control.  So, after over an hour of driving around and trekking on foot through the woods (falling and spraining my ankle in the process), I finally found her sleeping on the neighbor's back porch, two doors down.  Thanks, Josie.

Scott had his own little mishap this week, bruising his ribs badly enough that he is even less mobile than I am.  We've spent the weekend laying around trying to out-misery each other.

Sprout is getting bigger and so am I.  This week s/he is about the size of a butternut squash, 18 inches long and 5 pounds or so.  S/he is still laying head down but I'm hoping s/he drops soon because my lungs could really use some relief from the constant pressure.  I'm a countdown person.  The longest they'll let you go is 2 weeks past your due date.  So, I've got 56 days max left.  Why don't you be a nice little Sprout and come in about 20 days instead?

How far along?  34 weeks
Total weight gain?  I actually forgot to look at the scale on Monday at the doctor's office.  I feel bigger though, no doubt.
Maternity clothes?  Still about 50/50.  My outfit in the pic this week is 50/50!
Stretch marks?  The new routine seems to be working.  Gotta keep being vigilant.
Sleep?  Worse, if possible.  Not only do I wake up several times a night, but for the last 5 days or so, I have searing pain in my left wrist and my thumb is dislocated every morning.  Rudimentary research (google) says this is pregnancy-related carpal tunnel syndrome.  Awesome!
Best moment of the week?  Finding Josie.  There are so many places to disappear near our house, I was really afraid she was gone for good.
Miss anything?  Same old same old.
Food craving?  I really really really want some Portillo's.
Anything make you sick or queasy?  Meat is becoming increasingly unappealing.
Gender?  A lady came up to me at the store this week and said "oh you must be having a girl!"
Labor signs?  I've spent a good amount of time this week preparing for this.  Bottom line?  It's going to hurt worse than anything I can imagine, it's going to be long and hard work, and I can do it.
Symptoms?  Taking a bath at night relieves some of my lower back pain, but I'm just TIRED all the time.
Belly button in or out?  It's still kinda out but not protruding.
Wedding rings on or off?  I've been able to get my wedding band every day this week!  No hope for my engagement ring though.
Happy or moody most of the time?  Oh, who am I kidding?  I've been feeling combative and yelling makes me feel better.  The recipients of my tirades?  Sub-par X-factor contestants, bad drivers, and people who can't ever put their phones away (seriously, they're like adult security blankets for some people and I want to rip them out of their hands and tell them to actually try being present in their lives for a change).
Looking forward to?  Fall!  The leaves are already starting to change colors and that means that Sprout won't be much longer.

33 week update

It's the middle of September and you know what that means...I'm all ready for my most favorite holiday, Halloween!  I'm dedicating the next week to decorating my house and gathering everything I need for my costume.  I have two Bean Sprout costume options, one for if s/he decides to arrive in time and one if not.  We even went to the Chinese supermarket a couple of weeks ago and got little packets of dried fish to give to the trick-or-treaters who don't bring their A-game with their costumes.  So don't come ringing my doorbell wearing your little league uniform and expect the good candy!  My house is totally getting egged this year.

It's been a pretty relaxing week which has been nice after a busy month of visitors.  Well, Scott and I have been relaxing.  Sprout, the restless little thing, is either training to be the next Muhammad Ali or McKayla Maroney in there. And it's getting pretty cramped so this is not the most comfortable feeling.  Thebump.com says that Sprout is the size of a durian this week, but since I have no idea what that is, it's basically 17.5 inches long and 4.5 pounds.  S/he keeps his/her eyes open while awake (um, all the time then?) and is starting to coordinate breathing and swallowing.  I don't know how well that's going since I can feel him/her hiccuping almost every day!  His/her little bones are also hardening and some major brain development is also happening, which is pretty cool to think about.

We actually just got back from our newborn care class, where I learned which side of a diaper is the front and Scott basically laughed at me the whole time.  So that was fun.  Actually, the coolest part was learning that they put a lo-jack on the baby as soon it is born that sets off alarms and locks the doors if it gets too close to any of the exits.  I have secretly been anxious for weeks about people switching/stealing babies in the maternity ward.  This is clearly the result of watching too many Lifetime movies on Sunday mornings in college!  At least I feel better about that extremely unlikely possibility.

How far along?  33 weeks
Total weight gain?  I will find out again tomorrow at my doctor's appointment, but I'm not anticipating more than a pound or two from last appointment.
Maternity clothes?  Still pretty much regular clothes except for my jeans.  *sigh*  It's jeans weather.
Stretch marks?  I've made a huge mistake.  I've been focusing on the area that I actually thought was stretching, my stomach.  I found a tiny mark on each hip this week, ugh.  So now, I'm covering everything from my neck to knees twice a day in Mederma.
Sleep?  Um, impossible.  Last night, the Sprout was so active it actually woke Scott up.
Best moment of the week?  Yesterday, we slept till almost 11, took a picnic to the beach and hung out all day, and were back to bed by 9.  Oh, did I need that.
Miss anything?  Sleeping on my stomach and curling up in a ball on the couch.
Food craving?  Cheese fries from Portillo's.
Anything make you sick or queasy?  Not at all.
Gender?  I've actually been thinking more about personality than gender lately.  A merciful God will send me a baby with Scott's temperament.  A just God will probably send me one just like me.
Labor signs?  I am going to freak out when this actually happens.
Symptoms?  Some new and delightful ones:  I get really overheated and sweaty lately and my hands are so sore I can't even crack my knuckles, and I have weird pressure in my lady parts.
Belly button in or out?  Out, but not so much that it's obvious through my shirts.
Wedding rings on or off?  Off.
Happy or moody most of the time?  Probably 50/50.  Halloween decorating will improve my mood!
Looking forward to?  Another update from the doctor, breastfeeding class and a birth center tour.