40 Weeks, 2 Days

Ok, ok!  I know I said that I wanted to go late and that I predicted I'd have Whitten on the 25th of October.  But, I'm ready now.  Can we get this show on the road?

(October 21 - 40 weeks, 2 days)

My next appointment with the doctor is Tuesday afternoon.  At that time, I'll be just shy of 41 weeks, and the doctor will discuss inducing me.  I've always been one of those "let the baby come when he's ready!" types of folks, so I'm not exactly excited about the idea of being induced.  However, after talking to my doctor and doing some of my own research, there are some concerns about allowing a baby to go too far past his due date:

1. The placenta can stop providing sufficient nutrients to the baby.

2. There is a higher percentage of stillbirth for babies delivered after 42 weeks.

3. There is an increased risk of meconium aspiration.

Of course, there are negatives to being induced, as well:

1. More medical intervention is required (IVs, monitors, etc.)

2. Contractions are brought on medically, so they can be stronger and more painful than natural contractions.

3. There is the possibility of longer labor, which could result in an emergency c-section.

So, basically, I'm hoping that little Whitten will arrive on his own.  And, I'm hoping he'll do it sooner rather than later.  Jeff is taking his professional engineering exam on Friday the 28th.  As long as baby comes on the 26th or before or the 29th or after, we're in the clear.  But, of course, he'll come when he is good and ready.

Send labor wishes my way!

6.4 pounds, 23 inches on October 25, 2011

"6.4 pounds, 23 inches!" predicts Margaret, my life/baby/work coach and good friend.  I had my 2-week appointment yesterday, and the doctors are still saying that Whitten is going to be a small baby, likely around 6 pounds.  Margaret is convinced that he'll be long and lean and will eventually end up with the perfect build for a career in the NBA (We won't tell Jeff this, since he'd much rather Whitten end up in the PGA).  Of course, that 6-pound estimate is assuming that I deliver on my due date.

I'm due on October 19.  Other than lower-back cramping and some pelvic discomfort, I don't feel like I'll be giving birth anytime soon.  So, I'm self-assigning a new due date of October 25.  That seems like a good date to have a baby.  And, I think I'd like to have him in the evening, just sayin'.  What are my other plans for Whitten's birthday?  There are really only two so far:
1.  Private labor and delivery
I know there are women who feel that "the more the merrier" when it comes to visitors in the delivery room during labor and childbirth.  I, however, am not one of them.  I know that our families will be at the hospital before Whitten is born (assuming they have time to get here before he's born!), and they'll want to check in on Jeff and me before things start heating up.  Of course, that's fine.  But, as soon as I start breaking a sweat or squirming from pain, it's time to clear the room (except Jeff of course...I need him in there with me).  Call me old-fashioned, but I think that labor and childbirth should be private experiences.  Friends and family are welcome to visit after Whitten has arrived and I've had some time to catch a breather (and hopefully take a shower).
2.  As med-free as possible
I've never had a baby, and I've never experienced labor pains, so I can't say for sure whether or not I'll be able to go without an epidural.  But, I can say that there are things about epidurals that make me squirm, including not being able to feel the lower half of my body, having a catheter, not being able to walk around, having a needle inserted into my back (so close to my spine!), and the potential for labor to slow down.  Call me crazy if you want to! 

Jeff and I will probably go ahead and pack our hospital bag this week, just in case my "plans" don't go accordingly.  I welcome your suggestions on additional necessities, but here's what I'm planning to include:
1. Necessary toiletries (toothbrushes, shampoo, soap, etc.)
2. Clothes for Whitten (during our hospital tour, they requested that they be gown-style, so that the baby can be easily checked by the pediatrician/doctor)
3. Fuzzy socks (I'm cozy just thinking about them)
4. Nursing pads for leaking boobies
5. A couple changes of clothes for Jeff and me (I bought a cute nursing gown to change into after the baby is born...I'm sure I'll be ready to ditch the sweat-soaked hospital gown after he arrives.  Stretchy pants would probably be more comfortable, but other mommies have made the excellent point that the doctors will continue to check things out down there during my stay, so it's best to have easy access.)
6. Camera/videocamera
7. Hair dryer and hot rollers (Yes, I said hot rollers, and yes, I do plan on hot rolling my hair while in the hospital.  I don't care what anyone says, feeling pretty helps your mental state of being.)

That's all for now, folks!

Fat Face: 3 Weeks and Counting

"Hey, chubby cheeks!"
This is how I was recently greeted by my step dad when I came to visit my sister at the hospital (when she was delivering her bundle of joy!)  For those of you who know my step dad, or "Dicki" as he is lovingly called, there isn't a mean bone in his body, and I'm sure that he didn't know that he was making me even more insecure about my pregnancy physique.

I've gained roughly 30 pregnancy pounds.  Overall, that's not so bad.  But, I've gained quite a bit of fluid in my face, hence "chubby cheeks."  The average pregnant woman gains roughly four pounds of fluid in their hands, feet, faces, etc.  While I can't get my wedding ring off anymore, my hands still look fairly normal, and I haven't developed "Shrek" feet either.  But, I do have fat face.

Fat face is one of the many things I'm anxiously awaiting for to go away once my little boy arrives.  I want my body back in general - to be able to wear my "normal" size clothes, climb in Jeff's truck with ease, sleep on my stomach again, etc.  And, what is all this about "Your skin will never look better than when you're pregnant"?  Are you kidding me?  My skin has never looked worse.  I feel like I'm back in high school battling acne.  I never thought I'd be so excited about reuniting with ProActiv...only a few short weeks, my sweet topical savior!  Don't get me wrong, I'm more than willing to have surrendered my body for little Whitten during these past nine months, but I am counting down the days!

So, what am I going to do to get back in shape postpartum?  I'm not sure, but I think Dance Dance Revolution will be somehow involved.  And, I'll be putting little Whit on the boob...a lot! 

Tomorrow is my 37-week appointment.  At that time, I'll be considered full term.  This basically means that the baby won't be a "premie" if he is born anytime after tomorrow.  His due date is October 19.  Late first babies run in my family.  We'll see.

Baby Face

Yesterday, I had my 32-week appointment.  Although my doctors don't typically do ultrasounds at this time, I got the opportunity to have one because my belly was measuring small at my previous appointment, and they wanted to check his growth and my fluids.  He is 3 1/2 pounds.  The average weight of a baby at 32 weeks is 3 3/4 pounds.  My theory is that Whitten is trying to stay as small as possible to help me have an easy delivery...what a sweet boy.  In the meanwhile, I'm feeling less guilty about sneaking in a few extra snacks during the day!

It's hard to believe that I'll be a mommy in less than two months.  Fortunately, my wonderful family and friends have helped prepare me with all of the necessities.  Jeff and I have been hard-working on the nursery, but it's just about complete.  Once I do a little bit of organizing, we should be all set. 

(Oh yes, and that little baby boy you see is ours.  He was only willing to show us half of his face...he kept throwing his hand up in front of the other half.  I think he's going to look like Jeff!)

The Baby Buldge!

Today marks my 25th week of pregnancy.  Over the past 25 weeks, I have gained 17 pounds, 8 of which I gained over the past month (I blame this on cinnamon frosted Pop Tarts, which are delicious...especially coated in butter).  My doctor said that, by the time it's all said and done, I should not gain more than 25-30 pounds total.  Considering I've already gained 17 pounds and that the baby will grow at an astronomical rate for the rest of my pregnancy, I think I'm in trouble.

As a result, I've developed a 5-step plan:
1. Reduce the number of visits to Sweet Frog from 4 times a week to 1.
2. Eliminate the usage of butter on my Pop Tarts.
3. Walk at least 2 miles, 4 times a week (this week doesn't count...holidays always throw me off).
4. Decline my colleague's invitation to eat the delicious chocolate cheesecake that she brought in...without changing my mind two minutes later.
5. Stop using the excuse that "I can't have artificial sweetner" to justify drinking regular soda.

How much weight did you gain during your pregnancy? 

Baby Belly!

Here's my baby belly at 22 weeks.  Jeff says my belly grows daily.  The baby is currently about 13 ounces and is quickly approaching the one-pound mark.  As of my last appointment (2 weeks ago), I'd gained 7 pounds...I figure that I've put on at least another pound or so, so I've likely gained a total of about 10 pregnancy pounds at this point.

Whitten is very active, especially after I eat lunch and dinner.  I started feeling his movements about three weeks ago.  At first, it felt like tiny bubbles in my stomach.  Now, his movements are unmistakable.  Jeff has fun putting his hand on my belly and feeling Whitten jiggle around.

It's time to start preparing for delivery - I need to get in shape.  I stopped exercising while my morning sickness was in full swing.  Now, it's time to start moving again.  My doctor says it will help ease the delivery if I'm in a good shape...makes sense to me!  I'll start next week.  In the meanwhile, I'm meeting friends for dinner...yum!  Adios!

See ya later, pink!

"So, it seems that your daughter has an erection."  Yes, those are the words my OBGYN used when referencing the fact that my thought-to-be girl was actually a boy.  Fortunately, I'd kept the receipts for all of the pink baby things I bought with the anticipation of having a baby girl.

We've been set on the name Whitten.  But, now I'm contemplating the middle name - first, I thought I'd use Minor.  But, now I'm thinking that maybe our baby boy should share Jeff's middle name, Allen.  So, Whitten Allen...Whitten Minor...who knows?  I suppose I'll have made up my mind by October 19th, or whenever he comes.

I'd picked out a beautiful white crib for our "daughter" before I learned the big news.  Fortunately, it will still work for Whitten.  This will be my inspiration...

First stop...Target!

I bought this great cottage style crib that will work marvelously (and, it was on sale!).  Try to see past the ugly yellow walls in this photo...

This rug will be my next purchase...



One of Jeff's first projects when we move into our new home (in July!) will be to put the bead board in the nursery, so that we can get the same effect as the walls in my "inspiration" photo.  I'll tackle the other elements.  I'm anticipating that the glider will be the biggest challenge.  Gliders are ugly, which is why they've used a beautiful, impractical, antique-looking chair in the photo above.  There are less glider-looking rocking chairs out there, but they come with a heavy price tag.  So, I'll have to put on my creativity cap!

More to come soon...I have to make up for the two months I went without blogging.

Oh, and, in case you're wondering, I'm not puking anymore.  Woohoo!