35 weeks.
Week 36 has begun.
That's somewhere around the eight month mark (or beginning of month nine) for those of you who would rather count in months.
It's amazing really. Your whole life you count pregnancy milestones in months. Then you get pregnant and everything changes. Milestones happen daily but to save everyone the aggravation we prefer to discuss weeks.
According to my baby development bible, this is the week that the baby's lungs are hard at work producing surfactant. Surfactant is the slippery stuff that allows the baby's lungs to inflate properly at birth. What the bible is really telling us is that nothing much is happening this week as the lungs began producing surfactant MONTHS ago.
In my life, this week has started off slowly... and yet it's Wednesday night already. Garbage night. Have to remember that. Mundane things are becoming increasingly difficult to remember. I think we'll be lucky if we get the kitchen garbage out, never mind the bathrooms.
Yeah, so the week began with a generally sleepy-tired day on Monday. Trip to the OB on Tuesday. Had the test done for Group B Streptococcus. That's a fancy word for, "if you are a carrier of Strep B it means nothing to you, but it could potentially, in a worst-case scenario, kill your baby during a vaginal delivery. So we like to check you for it ahead of time so we can get some nice antibiotics into you during labour via IV to prevent any nasty things happening."
For those who are interested, Group B Strep is tested via a vaginal and rectal swab. As my OB put it, "you don't make a lot of friends doing this test." That about sums it up. Of course, it's not as bad as an internal or a colonoscopy so I'm really not complaining.
For those of you who aren't interested, too late.
So, now you're probably wondering what else we've been up to. I think it's been a week or so...
We had a nice big baby shower where we acquired all kinds of good loot from waaaay too generous people. I said this at the wedding shower but it bears repeating, "having that many people dote on you is a touch on the embarrassing side." Of course, they weren't really doting on me, so I suppose it was nice of them to teach Jelly some humility at this stage of the game.
The one problem with all the stuff Jelly has acquired is that we still haven't finished the nursery. The paint needs to be touched up (probably happening this weekend), the carpet is in desparate need of a good shampooing (hopefully next week), and as of tonight we only have half the furninture. Fortunately the dresser showed up first so we can file most of Jelly's belongings away before Jelly gets here. The dresser is being built and will remain in our room for a while until we're ready to move Jelly out of the bassinet and into a big baby crib in the other room... which I imagine will have never felt as far away as it will that first night... Not looking forward to that moment.
Ooh- we have finished our prenatal classes. They were a bit helpful in that we have a slightly more realistic approach to what labour is actually going to be like. The new plan is, "I want this done as quickly and painlessly as possible. I would like to spend as much time as possible at home where we're all out of each other's way." Provided they don't need to strap me to 47 different monitors from the get go. Which I am also prepared for. In that case, I want my epidural NOW. If I can't move around, I want drugs.
We have also had a tour of the birthing unit. Very nice rooms. Love that pink and white decor. Southlake is a clear fluids only hospital. This means, Mommy is not allowed to eat real food while in labour. Daddy on the other hand can eat whatever he wants. I have told him that it would be in his best interest to avoid eating timbits in front of Mommy during labour. As tasty as I'm sure my dextrose drip will be, I'm not above having people with real food removed from my room.
That's about all that's happened in the preparing of the nest so far so let's return to an old component of this blog (and personal favourite)...
The Symptom Check!
Morning Sickness and heartburn - back in full force as Jelly's home expands ever upwards and Jelly has nowhere else to put its feet.
Sciatic pain - blissfully gone. Disappeared as quickly as it started and I am so not complaining about that!
Mysterious itchy rash on hand - still there, but only drives me nuts the day before and the day after my OB appointments so I keep forgetting to tell her about it...
Braxton Hicks Contractions - stronger and more frequent now, but no real pattern established.
Jelly's kicks, flutters, and general movements - Kicks, punches, and rolls are better terms. Often causing Mommy to bend suddenly at the waist while saying things like, "oof!" or "is there a reason you need to focus all of your energy on that one spot beside my bellybutton?"
Back pain - none. Still.
Pillow count - we moved up to 4 last night. Three King size pillows and one standard.
Sudden attacks of the all-out sobbings - yep. Still there. Getting harder to control. Had one at work last week. That was pleasant, let me tell you. No embarrassment there. *note sarcasam*
Dog nose - back stronger than ever. Point: At work today, I was standing in front of the pharmacist's coffee. She said, "do you smell weed?" I pointed at the coffee. She said, "That's what I'm smelling?" I said, "that's what it smells like to me, but I have dog nose, so..." she offered to throw it out so it wouldn't bother me. I told her she needed the coffee and I didn't have to stand right in front of it so it was all hers.
Anyhoo, that's about it for now. Mat leave starts next week! Woo-hoo! Grandma and I will be spending more time together making things clean and pretty for Jelly's arrival. There will also be tons more doctor's appointments as things draw to a close so look for details on upcoming non-stress tests and ultrasounds!
Ciao!
-HLC
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