Braxton Hick who. . . . 34 weeks

I have been told by a good friend to really think 4 weeks to go because 38 weeks is considered a term pregnancy. But I’m thinking 6 weeks to go sounds better as I feel I still have so much to do to get ready for Baby Girl. The thought of 4 weeks is a bit overwhelming. It’s all up to her when she wants to come, so it’s out of my hands. I’ll just do my best to be ready for her.  I have 2 weeks of work left until maternity leave. . . . .that means a total of 6 days! I can’t wait until that 6^th day. I actually had to run down the hall of our hospital floor the other day at work and I felt like my baby was going to come out. . . .not a fun feeling!

I unfortunately have discovered what Braxton Hick contractions are. For those that don’t know what they are, they are mild uterine contractions where the uterus is exercising and getting ready for the “big day.” For the most part they have been some mild discomfort and pressure in the belly region. But one day I thought I was going into preterm labor, the Braxton Hicks were so strong and painful. It was this radiating pain from the sides of my belly up to the top of the belly that lasted for a couple of minutes. . . . but the pains were completely irregular in frequency. This lasted for about 3 hours. . . .grrrrrrrr!!! Once again, not a fun feeling!

Baby and I had our 34 week check up this week. I have nothing bad to report back to the family. Baby and I are still growing as we should be. Measurements are good, baby heartbeat is still strong, and the midwife still says she’ll be somewhere between 6-7 lbs at birth. Her head has not dropped down into the birth canal yet but that is a good thing, we don’t want her coming until at least 37 weeks when her lungs are fully developed. Her head is still down and she likes to reside on my left side using her feet to kick my right side. She gets her little feet up in my right ribs and I have to massage her down. . . .not a good feeling! Are you catching onto my theme of this blog yet!?!? Oh how I long to take these 28 lbs off!!! It is hard and uncomfortable to carry this much extra weight around. I’ll be the first to say that I could NEVER be a surrogate for someone. . . sorry loved ones you can find someone else to carry extra weight around for you.

I don’t know if I have said this before. Our floor at work has a total of 7 pregnant nurses on it between the day and night shift. The nurses from the other floors say, “Don’t drink the water on 4North.” Really it’s just our floor has a good number of younger nurses on it. We are all mostly in our late 20’s early 30’s. So the 3 pregnant day shift nurses took a picture of their “bumps.” I am biased but I like my “bump” the best. In the back is Ruby she is 10 days behind me in gestation, then Hiwot in the middle is 6 weeks behind me in gestation, and then me! I’ll be the first to leave on maternity leave!! Woot woot!! I have the smallest "bump." (wink, wink)

 

 

Johnathon has been really helpful with the nursery. He painted the walls, put new flooring in and assembled the crib for baby girl. When I have the nursery all done or close to being finished I’ll post pictures to share. Until then, you’ll have to wait in anticipation!

30 Years of Maddness. . . .

I have officially turned 30 years of age. A big hip hip hooray! Johnathon took me on a weekend trip to South Lake Tahoe with some friends for my birthday weekend. We had a great time. I of course can't do much. But we went to a snow park and played in the snow. I watched other people sled down the bunny slopes and I made a small snow man. The weather was absolutely beautiful! I couldn't have asked for a more beautiful weekend in some fresh mountain air. It was nice to get away for a quick trip.

Am I having a stroke. . . .31 weeks

I am still counting down. 9 weeks to go! At 31 weeks baby girl’s height and weight hasn’t changed much but the big news is her brain has. Until now, the surface of her brain has been smooth. Now her brain is taking on the characteristic grooves and indentations (“fissures”). The wrinkles allow for an increased amount of brain tissue for baby to prepare for life outside of the womb and the street smarts she will need to deal with her crazy parents.  Connections between individual nerve cells are growing franticly and she should now be able to perceive information from all five senses. I know she is getting stronger as I feel her kicks, turns and stretches prominently. Now is her time to grow, grow, grow and grow.

I had an interesting event this week. I woke up in the middle of the night, after only sleeping for 2 hours and could not feel my arms. My arms were numb. I tried shaking them out and still couldn’t feel my arms. I was so exhausted and delirious from working a shift at the hospital that the only thing that could come to my mind was, “Am I having a stroke?” Now that I look back on it I can chuckle. Of course I wasn’t having a stroke; I am a 30 year old healthy pregnant female. It makes sense to me that that would come to mind as I work with stroke patients on my hospital floor. What ended being the case is that I was lying wrong in bed, cutting off the circulation to my brachial nerve. I can’t believe I really did think I was having a stroke. Numbness in arms and hands is just another pregnancy symptom to add to my list. I am sure there will be plenty more.

I had another OB appointment this last week. Baby girl and I are where we should be at this stage in development. My midwife said that baby girl will be somewhere between 6 ½ and 7 pounds. She said that I am a healthy small. She made the comment that it is almost unheard of for her to deliver babies in the 6 pound range. Most babies today are born in the 8 pound range. Just goes to show that women are either not starting their pregnancy at a healthy weight or are not taking care of themselves while pregnant and put anything they want in their mouths. It frustrates me. I have a real bone to pick with families that allow their children’s health to get so out of control that children develop diabetes. In journals I read it all stems back initially to the health of the pregnant mom and baby in womb for 9 months. Grrrr. . . . I could go on and on with that soap box but don’t want to ruin my blog with the negativities of society and my true opinion on children and diabetes.

What else can I report this week that has happened in our Muchow household. . . .Our roommate has finally moved out, so Johnathon and I can move forward with setting up a space for baby girl. I pretty much have everything I need for baby girl to arrive. I have been really diligent about getting hand-me-downs and stocking up on what I can over the last 7 months. There are just a few small last minute items I have to pick up but am waiting until I set up her room so I have a place to put everything. Diapers are the hot topic I am trying to decide on. . . . whether to go the Costco route and stock up on Costco diapers or just order them online with the convenience of having them shipped to our house with “no hassle necessary.” Hmmmmm. . . . decisions decisions.

Johnathon is doing really well in his student teaching phase of school. From what he tells me the kids at school have really grown on him. But really who wouldn’t. I know I am biased because he is my love but he really in all honesty is a personable guy. Who wouldn’t like and relate to him.