26 October 2008

Braxton-Hicks, Meet York High Class of '98

For those of you wondering what it is like to go to your 10-year high school reunion while 7 months pregnant, let me elucidate you: it is uncomfortable. You can't wear those really snazzy shoes (at least, I couldn't) because they don't allow the necessary amount of waddling to keep your back from spasming. You have to spend a lot of time excusing yourself from conversations to use the restroom (although, in the case of a few awkward conversations, this was a good thing). Among the pros, however, is the lack of desperate dieting in the weeks proceeding the reunion--any extra weight gain can easily be explained by the impending baby hidden like a bowling ball under your basic black dress.


Those of you not 7 months pregnant, feel free
to get your groove on!
The reunion itself was...well, exactly like I thought that it would be. My friend Joanna really wanted to go, and she even came down from New York with her incredibly supportive boyfriend...so we went. All the people I expected to be there were there...you know, the people who actually liked high school the first time around. There were a few other people who showed up out of sheer moxy (myself included, I guess). The awkwardness faded as the about 30 couples attending did their best to empty out the cash bar (minus yours truly; I had a Diet Coke and considered myself rebellious...it made me have to pee a lot).

Overall, though, I'm glad that we went. Aaron, the saint that I married, accompanied me. The baby also did a wonderful job, and slept most of the time (it's usually more awake during the day and kicks only a little bit at night)--at least until the end. I suppose I had been standing around too much, not drinking enough water, but at about 10:30, the Braxton-Hicks contractions really started.

Joanna, me, Jeff --just like highschool with one
BIG difference
For those of you who haven't been reading on-line pregnancy guides (or have actually gone through a pregnany), Braxton-Hicks contractions aren't real contractions. Nothing comes of them. It's just your body's way of getting ready for the "real thing." According to a website I read, BH contractions are not painful and you shouldn't even notice them. The person writing this was obviously male, because I have heard (and experienced) stories to the contrary. BH contractions might not hurt, but it's basically a muscle spasm--so if you've had a muscle spasm, you know that it usually does hurt. Mine tend to go away rather quickly, but can get distracting when I'm trying to do other things.

So I drank a ton of water. This didn't help a lot, and moreover--the contractions started to make the baby mad. I can understand; I don't think I would like my home being intermittantly squeezed, either. The baby starting kicking with a vengeance, which on top of the contractions made me decide it was time to go home. But I made it to almost 11:00, which I consider an accomplishment, even if it it is the earliest I've ever left a high school dance before.

22 October 2008

Hooray!

Went to the doctor today, and huzzah--no gestational diabetes for me and the little frog! They took my blood 4 times last Friday (and only one bruise to show for it--that lab tech was amazing, since normally I bruise when I get within a foot of a needle), and only one of the sugar counts was slightly elevated. The doctor said this means that I just need to watch my sugar intake (not difficult; I'm allergic to most everything sugary, anyway...at least, all the good stuff) and try to cut back on carbs like bread (ack!) and potatoes (NOOOOOO! NOT THE POTATOES!). He told me to eat lots of broccoli (yum) and red meat (cow is good).

I also LOVED this doctor because he seems to think that women should gain 35-40 pounds during their pregnancy, unlike the snarky nurse practioner who gave me a lecture last time because "we still have a long way to go and you don't want to gain too much too early." This DOCTOR thought that I was doing just fine (I've gained about 24 pounds, which is a bit much if you go with the nurse practioner's estimate, but right on target if I should gain about 35). I even explained to him that I thought I had gained a bit too much, but he just shook his head in a nice, grandfatherly way and told me that I looked GREAT, my face wasn't puffy at all, and I knew right then that I want him to be my doctor FOREVER. I would like to take him clothes-shopping, too.

Next week should be fun, too. Aaron and I are going to Riverside Hospital to take the Expectant Parents Tour on Tuesday, and on Wednesday, we are going to our first childbirth class. We get to bring pillows to that one, and I am a fan of any place that actively encourages you to bring pillows.

13 October 2008

Glucose, Part II

Ugh. Well, the doctor's office called today and...I get to go back and do the actual glucose test on Friday. A three hour test (hopefully, you read that to the tune of the Gilligan's Island theme song, because I expect this test to be just as ominous). See...they want your blood sugar count, or whatever it is that they measure in the glucose screen, to be under 140, and they pronounce that all is well. If you're above 200, they go ahead and count you as having gestational diabetes. If you're anywhere between...they make you take the three hour test. My count was 162. The test is the same as the one hour screen, except that they draw your blood every hour after you drink the ridiculously sugary solution (like Pedialyte, but fruit-punch flavored).

Anyway, other important things worth documenting that happened this weekend:
1) We sold the Camry! We recently bought a RAV-4 in preparation for needing a vehicle that could transport our dog and our baby at the same time without the dog sitting in the baby's lap (because Nesta would try). Aaron put up the ad Saturday on cars.com and we got a phone call yesterday, and the guy came today loaded down with cash (where do you even get that much cash? ATMs don't let you get that much all at once! Do you get it from these mythical bank tellers I hear so much about?) It was a good car, still running great after 9 years. It was with me through college, marriage, and most of the pregnancy. But the RAV-4 is very shiny, so it is nice, too.

2) Our main sewage system backed up! Hooray! We got to meet a lovely young man from Roto-Rooter on Sunday.

3) I signed up for childbirth classes, an expectant parents' tour at the hospital, and a meet and greet with our new pediatrician! I also pre-registered at the hospital, so we are almost ready to have this baby (not to actually take care of the baby, since our nursery isn't done and we don't have much baby-stuff yet, but we could have the baby). That leads us to...


4) Our crib came! And it's put together! Our baby has somewhere to sleep! (except that we still don't have a mattress pad or sheets or a baby, but still--it's something). The crib came in a box that was as tall as our friend Ayinde (who helped put it together because he is a wonderful person and I fed him lunch, dinner, and chocolate chip cookies). It only took Aaron and Yin about an hour to put it together, and it's very sturdy, as well as quite attractive, if I do say so myself.














08 October 2008

Glucose


Posts on this space are going to come a bit more frequently now. We have entered the third trimester and will be visiting the doctor every two weeks. We may not have pics (except of Kate's growing belly), but we will have funny and insightful commentary on the stretch run. Or something like that.

Today we went in for a diabetes glucose screening (we won't have the results until Monday), where they gave Kate some glucose (Fruit Punch-flavored!- Kate was worried about Orange, which she despises due to her allergy to all things citrus) then we had to sit around for an hour until they could take some blood. Luckily, we thought ahead and made an appointment with the doctor. It was the first time we've actually met with a doctor rather than a nurse practitioner. He asked how things were going (fine), and if we had any questions. Kate asked about a birth plan, which the doctor poo-pooed. Sweet! I was worried we'd have this elaborate plan that would inevitably be thrown out due to the baby's lack of knowledge of said plan. The doctor apparently knew this too, and talked about how you kinda got to go with the flow. How great is that? We obviously (subconsciously) picked the right doctor.

These visits are anti-climactic, but I'm glad we go. There are so many mothers who do not have the chance for pre-natal visits. I will refrain from any additional political commentary (you can visit my blog, Rambling Leaf, for that).

I find that the closer we come to having this baby, I do not have the anxiety that many fathers go through. Maybe it is because I'm older and am comfortable with what's going on. Maybe it's because I'm a total moron and have no idea what is coming. Regardless, I am ready.

I read to the baby (almost) every night. We started with John Hodgman's (of The Daily Show and Mac commercial fame) The Areas of My Expertice, which was hysterical and scary at the same time. Obsessed with werewolves and hobos, Hodgman is completely insane. Right now, we are reading An Arsonists Guide to Writer's Homes in New England on the recommendation of my Aunt Lanny, who owns a book store. You may wonder why we are subjecting our (unborn) child to this kind of material, and you would be correct to do so. We have a simple reason- THE BABY DOESN'T KNOW ENGLISH. All it hears is the dulcet (Kate would describe it as soporific) tone of Daddy's voice. Which is the point. Baby gets to hear Kate's voice all the time. Having baby recognize my voice when s/he decides to emerge from the womb is the goal. I don't know if we'll acheive that, but I do know this- After a few days of not reading, the baby went crazy for a little while when I started to read the other night. Boo-Yah!