Liz Expecting

Making Your Hospital Stay Work For You

2009-07-27T08:16:00.000-07:00

We recently came home from the hospital with our second child. We had the unique situation of delivering baby #2 in a completely different hospital than baby #1. The stays had very big differences. Delivery process aside (both c-sections) the postpartum stays vary so greatly that we wanted to give some tips so that no matter where you deliver, you can enjoy those first few days with your baby to the maximum.

I want to leave some tips for expecting moms to get the most out your postpartum hospital stay.

TIP 1 - Nurses
All nurses are not created equal. Some nurses win awards, have been doing this for 30 years, have 12 kids of their own, and are so kind you want to call them "momma bear" and they would probably let you. Other nurses look like they should be your little sister and make you feel like you should be giving them advice on why their new nose piercing was not the best idea and that there are certain types of boys to stay away from. The last thing they seem capable of is understanding what your body just went through and what you need on an emotional level.

TO DO: Be prepared for each nurse to handle you differently. Some will just bring you a cup of pills at seemingly random times and expect you to take them without question. Some will expect you to call them when you want pain meds and then explain what hurts and how it hurts in great detail before they hand over medication, and only after they have described in detail all the possible side effects, etc. More on pain meds later. Just be prepared for different nursing styles and temperments amongst the staff that will be caring for you. They really mean it when they say they are there to help you in any way they can, so don't hesitate to ask, ask ask. The "momma bears" will even help you take a shower if you want to.

TIP 2 - Charts
There are lots of things to keep track of during your stay: when the baby eats, when the baby goes peepee and poopoo, when you go peepee and poopoo, when you take your pain meds.

TO DO: Be prepared to keep track of everything that is important to you by yourself (in other words, make sure your spouse is prepared to do this). At our first hospital stay we did this using paper charts we brought with us. At our second hospital stay there was a dry erase board we used. Second time around, we weren't so worried about when the baby last ate and for how long on each side, etc...our babies are excellent eaters and this time breastfeeding came much easier. But we were interested in keeping the pain medication I was taking on a regular schedule so that there were no periods of time when a pill was missed and the pain began to be unbearable. Let each nurse know that pain management is important to you (or breastfeeding, whatever the case may be) and that you want their help in supporting you in keeping track, etc.

TIP 3 - Meals
If you are delivering at Northwestern's Prentice, you are in luck...the food is pretty good and you get a room service menu to order from at your leisure. Most other hospitals bring you a menu the check off items on before the scheduled meal and then deliver it when they get to it.

TO DO: At Prentice there are 3 tips.
1. Ask the person that takes your order (over the phone) what you can have (i.e. one entree, 2 sides, 1 dessert and 1 drink) and then order the max. Your spouse can help you eat what you don't get to...or your toddler if she happens to be visiting when your lunch arrives with a chocolate milk and a fruit cup you hadn't planned to get to.
2. Make sure you order in advance, it really does take 60 minutes from the time you place your order to the time they bring it.
3. Find out from your doctor how soon you can order from the full menu (I think this mainly applies to c-sections). With baby #1, I had to have clears (think jello and chicken broth) for 2 whole days, but with baby#2 my doctor said I could have solids as soon as I wanted if I wasn't feeling nausiated. So within 5 hrs of having my baby, I ate mac n cheese and a fruit cup and chocolate brownies.

Tip 4 - Nursery
With baby#1, we didn't take enough advantage. By the second or third night we turned our baby over to the nursery staff for 3 hours each night so mom could get some sleep and dad could get a shower and a change of clothes and something hot to eat. We put a note in the crib with the baby that she was a breastfeeding baby only, but I think they might have given her a little something else once or twice to sooth her so I could get some sleep.

TO DO: Find out right away what the nursery policies and hours are and decide if you plan to check your new bundle of joy in during your stay so you can sleep. You can also send her to the nursery to get a bath. If you are breastfeeding only, make sure that you know whether or not they will bring her back to your room when she get fussy instead of giving her a bottle and decide how you feel about that. It's your call, sometimes a good 4 hours of sleep will be better for you than ensuring nary an ounce of formula ever passes your babies lips.

Baby Comes Tomorrow

2009-07-20T16:04:00.000-07:00

Yes indeed, she will be here Tuesday, July 21 in the afternoon. Will keep you posted!

I saw the doctor today and got my last weight check of the pregnancy. Current weight is 16o.5 lbs. Total weight gain for the pregnancy = 28 lbs.

She'll Be Here in 1 Week!

2009-07-14T12:07:00.000-07:00

That's right - baby girl number 2 is scheduled to arrive via c-section next Tuesday afternoon. I have one more doctor's appointment, 1 stop to make at the hospital to pre-register, and 1 appointment to give my own blood, in case I need blood (O neg is rare I guess). Things are getting pretty exciting around here!

Week 37 - or week 38ish...

2009-07-07T06:22:00.000-07:00

Well, hard to say what week this is. Better to just count the days left until baby #2 will be delivered via scheduled c-section. And that count folks is just 14 days! 2 weeks from today I'll be heading to a different part of the hospital than my OB's office and checking in!

At today's doctor's appointment everything looked good. I'm not dilated at all, so a planned c-section seems the way to go for sure. My weight hasn't gone up but half a pound since last week. So I'm at 156.5 lbs. Total weight gain to date is coming in at 25 lbs. And honestly folks, it's not from trying to eat healthy or exercise. I have been consuming enough McDonalds, ice cream and grilled meat (read hot dogs and hamburgers) to offset any veggies and fruits I consume. I've also found that chasing after a toddler and cleaning the entire house twice a week for showings is really good exercise. By 9:30pm I'm usually one my way to bed...completely exhausted. And yes, I know, I should be greatful for the full night of sleep because in just 14 days...

Week 36 - Less Than 1 Month to Go!

2009-07-01T05:57:00.000-07:00

The week's appointment with the doctor was uneventful. We talked about the planned c-section, especially about the anesthesia... "let's just make sure everyone in the OR knows that under no circumstances are they to administer Ketamine or another form of hallucinogen for that matter." Sounds like a planned c-section should go much more smoothly than one following 21 hours of labor and a worn off epidural.

Weight update (that toddler keeps me too active!): current weight is 156 pounds. Total weight gain = 24 lbs.

Week 34 - Ooops

2009-06-19T12:16:00.000-07:00

Oh yeah, the OB appointments are every 2 weeks now. I guess I should have been paying closer attention to my calendar. Do you think the Dr's office will mind if I just don't come in until week 36? Maybe I should call them back.

Week 32 - How Many Weeks Am I?

2009-06-04T12:13:00.000-07:00

Is it bad to ask your doctor how many weeks along you are at an appointment? I just haven't been good at keeping track this time around. Turns out I'm 32 weeks :) At this point in the pregnancy I'm noticing some more differences between pregnancy #1 and pregnancy #2. First off, my weight gain is less. And most noticeably at this point, I don't have the swelling like I did the first time. My wedding ring still fits and I am not afraid to show my ankles in public (they are not grotesquely swollen like last time). I am extremely grateful for this since I'm doing the end of my pregnancy during the summer. Not that it has felt like summer very much yet here in Chicago, but someday soon maybe it will warm all the way up.

Current weight = 154 lbs, total weight gain to date is ~22 lbs.

We also had an ultrasound at this appointment which went well. Everything with baby looks good and measures correctly. Here is a grainy pic. Sorry if you can't tell what on earth you're looking at...it's the baby, I promise. She's looking up in profile. Top of her head is to the right of the shot. Her arm is coming up from the left of the shot and her hand is in front of her mouth. We saw her swallow and move her arm around during the ultrasound.

Every 2 Weeks

2009-05-22T17:55:00.000-07:00

I guess with your first pregnancy it gets kinda fun when your appointments switch to every 2 weeks...it makes you feel like things are really getting going, especially that first time they check your cervix and tell you that you are 1 cm dilated. Well, maybe it's just me, but with #2, I am really peeved to have to go in every 2 weeks just to pee in a cup and have them take a few measurements. Honestly...I have to take a toddler downtown and mess with a parking garage and validation and elevators and all that for a 10 min doctor appointment. Can't I just mail in some pee?

My current weight is 150.5 lbs. I guess I've been exercising too much (read: chasing, hauling and dragging around a 30lb toddler) and last night's peanut M&M binge didn't do enough to tip the scale. Current weight gain to date is still ~19lbs.

Week 29 - Glucose Test

2009-05-08T18:01:00.000-07:00

This time at the OB I enjoyed taking the glucose test. The use of the word enjoyed is sarcasm. Most women hate the orange flavored suggary drink you have to take down in 5 minutes. This is probably bad to admit, but I am fond enough of sugar that it doesn't bother me that much. I'm as surprised as you, especially since I don't care for anything orange flavored (even oranges the fruit are pretty low on my list of favorite fruits). I also don't drink soda so this type of drink is way out of my zone. Long story short, I passed my test and therefore don't have gestational diabetes. Good thing. I really like me some sugar. Boston Creme donuts are still one the menu!

Today's weight 151lbs. Total weight gain = 19lbs.

So this isn't turning out to be a weekly thing...

2009-04-22T13:02:00.001-07:00

I guess I'm not really going to manage to post something to this blog every week. I'm sure other moms out there are not surprised. I had my 24 week appointment with the OB a few weeks ago and everything is great. It was one of those quickie appointments... pee in the cup, hop on the scale, check for the heartbeat, measure the belly and book the next one. I'm so glad they validate parking because the parking garage at Northwestern Hospital is not cheap.

Details from the appointment: the OB said I'm measuring slightly big (are we surprised?). My weight gain is a total of 11 pounds. I'm showing like a first pregnancy... in other words, my belly is not sticking out as far as most do for a second pregnancy. What can I say? The abs still have some fight in them. We'll see how things measure up at the next appointment. Getting our condo on the market has triggered some serious stress eating (pudding snacks or ice cream anyone? how about pudding on top of ice cream - seriously). Hopefully I pass the glucose test at my next appointment, I'd hate to get diagnosed with gestational diabetes.

Third Trimester - Call It Official

2009-04-20T13:09:00.000-07:00

Since I'm going to be having a repeat c-section with this one, baby number 2, we already have the delivery date booked. Today marks the 3 months before baby is here date, so I'm calling it official, I'm now in my third trimester.

Week 20 - It's a GIRL!

2009-03-12T12:12:00.000-07:00

I'm thrilled to have found out today that I'm expecting a girl. She was being very coy during the ultrasound and kept that bit of information private for as long as possible. The nurse had to ask me to get off the table and walk around for a few minutes to get the baby to move into a favorable position. Hopefully she'll carry her modesty with her for life :)

What's up with baby: She was active during the ultrasound and everything looked and measured perfect. Her weight is up to about 9 ounces.

What's up with mom: So this will be girl number two. I'm really excited about that. I didn't have a sister, so I'm curious to see how my daughters will relate to each other. I feel really good. The only complaint I have is how tiring it is to lift and carry an almost 30lb toddler. She is getting to walk and climb stairs a lot more on her own these days. My official weight gain so far: 6 pounds.

Week 19 - Here We Come Florida

2009-03-01T12:11:00.000-08:00

What's up with baby: baby is almost 6 inches (crown to rump). Baby weighs about 7 ounces. I'm looking forward to finding out if baby is a boy or a girl next week!

What's up with mom: this week I'm heading to Florida with my daughter to visit my parents. We're all planning on soaking up the sun and getting plenty of beach time. I am also planning on getting plenty of sleep and rest. My parent's spoil me and I love it! And I'm looking forward to enjoying all the great food...I'm into that glorious part of my second trimester where I can eat whatever I want without feeling full too fast. I've had a nagging cough for the last few weeks. Hopefully the sun will bake any illness out of me for good.

Week 18 - Learned Something New

2009-02-22T12:11:00.000-08:00

What's up with baby: baby has put on some more length and measures about 5 - 5.5 inches. Weight is about 5.25 ounces. I recently read something that I hadn't taken note of with the first pregnancy: there is no direct connection with mom's blood and baby's blood. The placenta takes oxygen and nutrients from the mom's blood and then transfers them into the baby's blood through the umbilical cord. It's a protective measure for both mom and baby.

What's up with mom: my uterus is the size of a cantaloupe. I can feel it below my belly button. As predicted, I am feeling less tired and have a more normal appetite back.

Week 17 - Feel the Love

2009-02-15T12:06:00.000-08:00

What's up with baby: baby is still about the same length (4.5 inches) but she is putting on weight more rapidly. Baby is about the size of your hand spread wide open.

What's up with mom: I can finally feel the baby moving. This being the second time around, I thought I'd feel it sooner, but here it is right on time. It's as neat as I remembered. The tiny little taps and flutters are pretty amazing. Happy Valentines day baby, I love you.

Week 16 - Tired

2009-02-08T12:11:00.000-08:00

What's up with baby: baby is about 4.5 inches long (crown to rump) and only weighs several ounces. The baby has fingernails.

What's up with mom: Not sure I mentioned this yet, but this pregnancy has me pooped. I'm still dealing with it too, but I can see that the end is in sight. Not every night do I want to fall asleep at 7pm on the dot. I bet my husband will appreciate it when I get back to helping with our toddlers bath and bedtime again.

Week 15 - Starting To Show

2009-02-04T13:02:00.000-08:00

It depends on what I'm wearing, but I am starting to show. We won't talk about where I do carry extra weight on my body, but it isn't my stomach, so for me to have a "pooch" is considered showing. Why is it that real 'maternity' clothes make you look more preggers than regular clothes? I put on one of my favorite maternity sweaters this past weekend (the first maternity item I've donned) and asked my husband if it made me look pregnant. Affirmative. We better take a picture soon or there won't be a 'before' picture.

What's up with baby: According to the pregnancy book I own, it's still too early to feel the baby move, but I think there have been a few times this week I've felt something. Based on how active the baby was during last weeks ultrasound, maybe Jr. is down there rocking my entire uterus and I do think I'd feel that.

What's up with mom: Also according to the pregnancy book, I'm supposed to stop sleeping on my back and stomach. Grrr. Those are my two most comfortable positions of course. I'm going to try to work on it and see how I do. With my first pregnancy I think I used a pillow to keep me from rolling onto my back. That was mainly out of fear...the book warns that back sleeping can reduce some of the blood supply.

Week 14 - First Ultrasound

2009-01-30T15:57:00.000-08:00

Isn't she/he quite the looker! What you are seeing is the ultrasound of our second baby. On the left of the picture is the head - you mostly see skeleton showing up in white...from right to left: cranium, cheek bones and jaw. The roundish blob to the right of that is the torso...I think you can see spine at the top or maybe ribs. We got to see the heart beating and watch the baby squirm around as the doctor tried to get a good look.

Based on the measurements of the baby and the relative uncertainty of the date of my last period, we think the baby is actually 14 weeks. I am down with that. It moves my due date into July (out of August) and since it will most likely be another c-section delivery, my doctor said she'd probably opt to deliver 1 week before my due date.

As for the summary of the doctor visit, everything looks great. Oh, and in case you wanted even more personal information...I thought I'd be 100% honest about my weight gain with this one and see what we end up with. So you can start the counter at my normal non-pregnancy weight of 132.5 (I range between 130-135, so let's split the difference). As of 14 weeks I am at 131. I guess all that barfing on Christmas Eve lost me a few pounds...it sure felt like it ;) I am also going to try to get some pictures of the belly as it expands. I better snap a 'before' picture quick because right now I look like I'm showing after I eat a meal.

Week 13 - Will the Doctor See You Now?

2009-01-27T08:36:00.000-08:00

I had an interesting conversation with an office assistant at the Obgyn. practice where I'm trying to get an appointment. She said she couldn't simply schedule me for an appointment since I was further along than most patients when they come in for a first visit. My laziness is coming back to haunt me. She said they like to do first blood work at week 9 and that she'd have to talk to the doctor before scheduling my first appointment to figure out what they would want to do at that appointment since I'm already 13 weeks. Ooops.

Update: got a call back. I'm all good. The doctor will see me, and we're all set for this Friday. And we get an ultrasound!! Can't wait to see you baby.

Weeks 6 - 12 Too Laid Back

2009-01-20T07:49:00.000-08:00

So I've been really laid back with this pregnancy. It's my second. I've already done this. I'm not freaked out by the changes in my body or my moods. I'm busy chasing around a toddler. But I think I'm being a little too laid back. I haven't made an appointment with my doctor yet. I've started. I called and left a message. I filled out the new patient form online. I listened to the voicemail they left me. I called back. I left a voicemail for them. We're getting there.

What's up with baby in week 12: the baby is the size of a large lime. For more on weeks 6 -12 specifically check with my notes from the first pregnancy (too lazy - I know).

What's up with mom: I'm doing well. Still not really any nausea. I think I'm out of the woods on that for this pregnancy. Many friends suspect it's a boy since I'm having a different experience. As for me, I don't have boy or girl feelings either way yet. It is a different thing being pregnant at home (as a stay at home mom) versus in the office like with my first. It's easier to get to things to eat and drink all day. But it's more physically demanding. My 20 mo old weighs over 28 pounds - probably not a weigh my doctor would want me lifting up and carrying around again and again like I do all day. We'll have to see about that when I finally get in for my first visit.

Weeks 1 - 5 Who Knew?

2009-01-17T07:38:00.000-08:00

Most pregnancies start out this way, for the first official 4 weeks, no one knows you're pregnant, not even you! Then you miss a period and it gets fun. You wonder if you are. You take a test (or if you're anything like my friends you take 4-8 tests). You tell your spouse. You tell your mom. You tell your best friends. You get busted at a party when you refuse to drink any wine or coffee. That brings us up to week 5. My parents and most of my friends knew.

What's up with baby in week 5: there is a beating heart, and little buds of arms and legs. So much work is going on in there.

What's up with mom: not puking. Amazing if you compare it to my first pregnancy! With one exception. On Christmas Eve, I starting by getting sick at 10 am and then couldn't keep anything down. I didn't get anything done that day that I needed to... didn't clean the house, didn't go to the grocery store, didn't cook anything to eat for Christmas dinner the next day... nothing. It was so bad, my husband had to come home from work early to help care for our daughter (who saw way to much TV that day). And for Christmas day, I mostly laid on the couch recovering and we ate pizza. But since then, no sickness! What I am is tired. I usually go to bed shortly after our toddler does.

How We Shared the News With My In-Laws

2009-01-12T07:31:00.000-08:00

This is a fun story. For a week after new years, we headed out to visit all the in-laws. We hadn't told them yet because we knew this trip was coming up and wanted to tell them in person. Our daughter (20 mo.) is very verbal and so we decided to see if we could get her to be the one to share the news. We worked for several weeks on this question and response...
Daddy says: What's new with us?
She responds: There's a baby in mommy's belly.

All was going smoothly. She said it correctly almost every time. But then the last day before we left, she decided to start saying: There's a baby in my belly. And patting her own tummy. This could be a challenge. We worked on it, but to no avail.

With massive numbers of family all in one big room, we announced that our daughter had a special trick to show everyone. Daddy asked: What's new with us? And, you guessed it, she responded: There's a baby in my belly! She said this very loudly and clearly - well done - but it was confusing. I simply said: No, there's a baby in my belly. And after a few seconds most people figured it out!

How Far Along Am I?

2009-01-11T07:27:00.000-08:00

The first problem I encountered was trying to remember when I had my last period. I just couldn't. I looked back at the end of October, for clues on the calendar that might remind me...was I on my period at Monica's party? at our Halloween party? I still can't quite remember so I'm going to guess and say that Oct. 26 was the first day of my last period. It's as good a day as any. I also figured out why we weren't getting pregnant in those months before our Turkey trip. I probably ovulate really close to the end of my period. This was true of our first conception, and is true of this second one. I wonder what my doctors will make of that. Does it matter if my baby is 1 week ahead in existence from a normal pregnancy?

How I Found Out I Was Pregnant

2009-01-09T07:21:00.000-08:00

This past Thanksgiving (2008), my husband and I decided to take a trip to the country of Turkey with our church. We had been trying to conceive for several (about 6) months prior to this trip and needed a break and some time alone. We left our daughter at home with my parents and headed abroad. I planned on getting my period during the trip. But then I didn't. I also was pretty weepy and a little picky about the food, but I figured this could be attributed to missing my daughter and being in a foreign place. We got home from the trip when I was a good week past when I should have gotten my period. That night my husband picked up some pregnancy tests. Thanks to jet lag, I woke up at 3am that next morning and figured it was as good a time as any to pee on a stick. So I took the test, and yes it was positive. I woke my husband up and he some something to the affect of: yes, I already knew you were pregnant (like last time) can we go back to sleep. Really, he was thrilled! Me too. We got to tell my parents in person the next day before they headed home.

Expecting Again!!

2009-01-07T06:52:00.000-08:00

Yes! Our first, daughter Lauren, is 20 months old. After several months of trying, we are pregnant with number two. I've been super lazy and haven't gotten into the doctor yet. I have new insurance so I need to switch doctors. I've been gathering and screening suggestions from friends and am finally just getting around to it. Let's hope I don't get much of a lecture when I roll in there for my first appointment and I'm already 12 weeks :)

May 2 - The Birth

2007-05-11T09:20:00.000-07:00

We welcomed our healthy baby girl into the world on May 2. Here's the birth story:

We checked into the hospital on Tuesday evening expecting to get Cervadil to prepare my cervix for induction on Wednesday. When I got to triage, they decided that I was dilated enough to try a different method of induction. They checked me into a labor and delivery room and then inserted a catheter with a bulb on the end that they inflated with saline to expand my cervix to 4 centimeters. They also started the Pitocin. I immediately requested an epidural! I got my epidural a few hours later after I had progressed to about 4cm.

Overnight, I got to 7cm. But in the morning my cervix had failed to progress past 7cm (the goal is to get to 10 and then push the baby out). After some additional attempts to adjust the Pitocin, it began to look like the baby was not going to delivery through my birth canal. I consented to the C-section.

The surgery was atypical. There have been several suggestions from my doctors, nurses and anesthesiologists about what happened, but I experienced too much sensation and sharp pain in my abdominal area. I was in pretty bad shape by the time they delivered her, but I got to see her crying before they took her over to the warmer. Once they began removing the placenta, I was in really severe pain and so the anesthesiologist gave me some serious drugs. It pretty much knocked me out and I didn't really come back to reality until sometime later in the recovery room. My baby was doing great - she scored a 9 out of 10 on her APGAR test - very healthy. She weighed 8 lbs 12 oz and measured 21 inches long. She has lots of dark hair.

Other than that first glimpse over the curtain in surgery, I don't remember meeting my daughter until I was checked into my hospital room. But 1.5 hours after she was born, I was able to hold and nurse her. It was love again at second sight! My husband did a great job supporting me during the whole experience. Baby girl and I are lucky to have him...we're all doing really well now.

Week 41 - Induction

2007-05-01T12:54:00.000-07:00

What's up with baby in week 41: she's still in the womb. Today I am 4 days past my due date. We've had several non-stress tests and the baby is still doing fine. So she's fine, but late.

What's up with mom: I am not so happy that she's this much overdue. I was hoping for her to come by the end of the weekend, but that didn't happen. So we saw our doctor on Monday and decided the plan would be that if she didn't come on her own by Tuesday afternoon, I'd come to the hospital on Tuesday evening and get checked in. So Tuesday night (tonight) I'm going to get Cervadil to further ripen my cervix. As of Monday I was at 2 centimeters. Then on Wednesday morning, they'll start Pitocin to bring on the labor contractions. Sometime Wednesday the baby will arrive!

I'm a little stressed about having medication intervention to bring on what I thought would be a natural process. But I have to stay positive and remind myself that at the end of it all, as long and me and the baby are both healthy, then everything is as it should be. I can't wait to meet her!

Week 40 - Due Date is Here

2007-04-27T10:22:00.000-07:00

What's up with baby in week 40: well, like the majority of women, it looks like I won't be delivering on my exact due date, which is today April 27. We've been to the antepartum testing room at the hospital twice to have a non-stress test to make sure the baby is doing well. She is doing awesome...maybe she is too happy just hanging out in the womb. I have plenty of amniotic fluid and she is getting plenty of what she needs from the placenta. Her heart rate is right where it should be.

What's up with mom: My parents arrived a few days ago and we've spent the last few days shopping for those last minute must haves before the baby comes (you know....must haves like a new summer handbag). I have been having some stronger contractions and bouts of more frequent contractions, but nothing even close to real labor. This morning during the non-stress test I didn't even have one contraction. The plan is to see what happens over the weekend and then I'll be back in the hospital on Monday morning to have another non-stress test and then meet with my doctor.

I am ready to have the baby. Not in the sense that my pregnancy is unbearable. I actually feel pretty good for being full term. I have been sleeping through most nights without too much trouble. I am ready to have the baby so I can meet her and begin to experience parenting. I am not looking forward to going through the labor and delivery however. Especially now that it's my due date and nothing seems to be happening, I am beginning to worry about what happens if my body doesn't want to cooperate for a natural delivery, and what happens if I need to have a C-section.

Week 39 - Tour of Labor and Delivery

2007-04-18T11:38:00.000-07:00

What's up with baby in week 39: our doctor did an ultrasound again this week and guessed that the baby weighs about 7lb 11oz! I hope she doesn't plan on getting any bigger. Our doctor estimates that she could put on as much as four more ounces a week. All her organ systems are fully developed and ready to go. The last organs to mature are the lungs. She is still active and moves around but with what feels like much more restricted movement.

What's up with mom: I am about as big as I will (and want to) get. I have put on about 30-35 pounds. I feel really good at this point in the pregnancy. Symptoms I've been dealing with in the last trimester include some bouts with swollen feet and ankles, usually getting worse as the work week progressed and then going away over the weekend. I have also had some heartburn but not bad enough to keep me from sleeping normally with just one pillow under my head. I certainly feel large and have a hard time navigating around the big belly to put on shoes and socks. I walk much slower these days and get tired and winded easily, but that hasn't stopped me from attending a few parties and doing some shopping.

This past Saturday, my husband and I went in to tour the Labor and Delivery facilities at our hospital. They had been busy the last few days and all of the postpartum rooms were full. We were able to view two different versions of the labor and birthing rooms. I was glad to see that their was plenty of space, each has a private bathroom and a living room area for my husband and guests. I was also glad to learn that once our baby is born, she is placed immediately on my stomach so we can say hi, and then taken only a few feet away to get weighed and cleaned up a bit before being brought right back to me so I can hold and feed her. Only after I'm ready, is she taken to the nursery for her bath, and I will get taken to the postpartum room where we'll stay for about 2-3 days.

I'm happy to note that yesterday was my last day at work and now I'm on leave. I have really great co-workers who had a shower for me last week. Yesterday, I went to lunch with some of my closer girlfriends from the office. They got the baby some very cute outfits and got me a gift certificate to my salon. I look forward to getting a haircut and manicure before having the baby (if she stays put next week and doesn't decide to come early). I look forward to bringing the baby in to meet them a few months after she is born.

Week 38 - Winding Down Work

2007-04-12T07:53:00.000-07:00

What's up with baby in week 38: as the baby settles down into the pelvis, she can put pressure on nerves that feel like a little electrical buzz down the legs and in the pelvic area. I think I felt this twice last night, it was like a very small electric shock down the back of my right leg. Luckily it wasn't a lasting feeling like a pinched nerve. My doctor estimated that my baby weighs as much as 7 lbs at this point!

What's up with mom: I have begun counting down the days I have left in the office before I start my maternity leave. As of today, I have only 4 days left. I've been starting to experience "pregnancy brain" so it's harder to concentrate and remember everything as easily as I used to. My co-workers threw me a baby shower yesterday. It was great. They were very generous, so the baby has even more new outfits to look forward to! I am looking forward to a few days of rest after I go on leave and before the baby comes. While I don't want her to be late, I also don't want her to come too early and cut into my last few days of "vacation time."

My most recent visit to the Doctor was uneventful. I am still 1 cm dilated. I am 50% effaced. The doctor says that everything measures good and that the baby's heartbeat sounds perfect. I dropped off the insurance and FMLA forms for him to fill out. Also, my husband and I are taking a tour of the Labor and Delivery area at the hospital this Saturday, so we have just a few more things to accomplish before we're ready for baby.

Week 37 - Why I Missed My Dr. Appt.

2007-04-05T14:50:00.000-07:00

What's up with baby in week 37: she is practicing her breathing and still gets the hiccups. I can feel her moving, but as she gets larger each week, the variety of movements seems to have reduced. I get feet in the ribs and what I think might be stretching (at least that's what happens to my abdomen) as she pushes her butt out one way and her feet out the other. It's pretty amazing to think that the life that has been forming inside me will be a real baby, out in the world in just a few weeks.

What's up with mom: so I missed my doctor appointment this week. I'm at the point in the pregnancy where I go in every week, and originally I was supposed to go on Wednesday. But then something came up at work, so I rescheduled it for Thursday. And then I found out a friend of mine got us tickets to see the Oprah show. I figured that was a good enough reason to skip the doctor. I called the office and at first the nurse didn't really want to let me out of the appointment, so I had to be honest with her. "But I just got tickets to see Oprah! Isn't that one of the best excuses you've ever heard?" She conceded that yes, it was a pretty good excuse...I heard someone else in the background saying, "Girl, you go to Oprah!" So I did. They office re-booked me for Monday. Unfortunately, Oprah wasn't giving away cars or even miracle bra's today. The show was live, which was interesting. The topic was autism, which was informative but sad. Oprah interviewed parents of autistic kids and it turns out that there is very little medically know about the cause and treatment for autism. They didn't take many questions or comments from the audience during the show, so I doubt I made it onto TV, but it was neat to be there to see Oprah in person and see what goes on during a live broadcast.

Week 36 - 1cm Dilated!

2007-03-29T12:36:00.000-07:00

What's up with baby in week 36: she is preparing for birth. She has moved into the head down position. I can tell because I have noticed more pressure on my bladder and feet kicking me in the ribs.

What's up with mom: sorry if this is gross, but I am happy to report that I am 1 cm dilated. At my doctor's appointment this week, my pelvic exam revealed that my body is getting ready down there for birth. I am also 25% effaced. I learned what thse things mean recently, so I'll share that info with you. Again, sorry if this is gross...think of it like an anatomy and physiology lesson. Dilation referes to how large the opening of the cervix is. For most of the pregnancy, the cervix is not dilated....so it's at zero. As contractions begin (even the Braxton Hicks ones I've been having the last 6 weeks or so) the cervix will feel pressure to open. That starts it down the path of going from zero (not open) to 10. At 10 centimeters dilated, the cervix is open enough for the baby to be pushed out. See my comments on Stage 2 of Labor in week 34. The cervix also goes through a shortening process. The cervix is already a short tunnel between the utereus and the vagina. Effacement is the process of it getting even shorter as the baby pushes down against it. 25% effaced means my cervix is about 1/4 of the way thinned out. When the baby is ready to come, it will be 100% effaced (as short as possible) to allow the baby through. I think it's pretty amazing that the female body is so well equipped to build another person and prepare to bring her into the world without the owner of that body (me!) having to think anything about it.

Week 35 - Baby Wise

2007-03-23T07:23:00.000-07:00

What's up with baby in week 35: she is getting close to the 5 lb weight mark and will continue to put on about a half a pound a week for the rest of the pregnancy. She continues to be, what I would consider, very active in the womb. I guess she hasn't run out of room to move around.

What's up with mom: I'm continuing to read about labor and what to expect with a newborn. Have I mentioned the book Baby Wise yet? The full title is 'On Becoming Baby Wise' by Gary Ezzo and Robert Bucknam. It's the self proclaimed classic sleep reference guide utilized by over 1 million parents worldwide. I hope to find that the book's advice on how to synchronize an infant's feeding, waketime and sleep cycles will result in a healthy and happy baby and give my husband and I the best chance at sleep ourselves. The book espouses a parent directed feeding plan where the parent uses her best judgement to find the right balance between feeding when the baby seems to wants to be fed and feeding on a strict clock schedule. It is helpful in breaking out different phases over the baby's first year to year and a half.

Week 34 - Learning About Labor

2007-03-19T12:21:00.000-07:00

What's up with baby in week 34: she just continues to get bigger and bigger. She now weights about 4 lbs 7 oz. She is about 16.8 inches in length.

What's up with mom: my abdomen also continues to get bigger and bigger. I have been reading about labor. There are three major stages. Stage 1 is when mom starts to have contractions that are regular and increasing in frequency and intensity. As the contractions intensify, mom moves to the "active" phase of stage 1. At this point, I will know I'm really in labor and will probably plan to get a move on to the hospital. The end of the first stage of labor is called "transition." During transition (which some resources say is a short but challenging part of labor), contractions become very close together but compare in intensity to the contractions from the active phase of stage 1. The end of the transition phase marks the end of stage 1 of labor. Mom is now fully dilated.

Stage 2 of labor is the pushing phase. Contractions will get further apart and will feel different (let's hope that with an epidural, they don't feel like very much at all) and mom will be instructed on how to actively participate in pushing the baby out. Stage 2 ends with the birth of the baby! Hopefully this stage will not also involve an episiotomy or a C-section.

Stage 3 of labor almost seems to be an after thought. Hopefully by now, mom is gleefully holding the new baby. In stage 3, mom will be instructed to give several small pushes to deliver the placenta. Nursing the baby right away will help speed up this stage.

Baby shower #2. Our small group threw us a couple baby shower. This was really fun since my husband was able to attend along with our friends and their husbands. The guys seemed to enjoy the games as much as we did. Who doesn't want to sniff baby diapers "soiled" with melted candy bars in a Name That Poo game. Like any good shower, we had wonderful food and received more gifts that we would ever have hoped for. We have great friends!

Week 33 - Hiccups

2007-03-12T12:11:00.000-07:00

What's up with baby in week 33: she is getting so big! She weights about 4 lbs. The amount of amniotic fluid measures 2 pints. The baby's lungs have a coating of surfactant on the aveoli which helps her breathe after birth. After this week, if I went into labor my doctors wouldn't do anything to stop it, since the baby has a good chance of being just fine.

What's up with mom: I am still amused at how active my baby is. I like to watch the distortions of my abdomen as she pushes and kicks and stretches. For many weeks now, she has also been having the hiccups. This results in a rhythmic pulsing that is much more frequent than the hiccups people get. I've read that they don't bother the baby, and I guess they don't bother me that much either.

I'm looking at list of classes provided by my hospital: Childbirth Education, Refresher Prenatal, Cesarean Birth, Infant and Child CPR, Breastfeeding, Siblings, and Tours of Labor and Delivery. I will probably go to the Breastfeeding class and the take the Tour of Labor and Delivery with my husband.

Week 32 - Baby Shower

2007-03-07T11:49:00.000-08:00

What's up with baby in week 32: her movements will peak this week (and let me tell you, she is quite a mover and shaker). She has put on a lot of weight since last month, mostly in fat and muscle tissue, so now she weighs about 3 lbs 11 oz and measures 15.8 inches in length.

What's up with mom: My friends threw me a baby shower this past weekend. It was a wonderful event. We did an afternoon tea with games like try to identify the baby food flavor (some baby food doesn't taste very good) and guess how big around my belly is. Each guest had to cut a piece of ribbon that they thought represented my circumference. Some folks were way off, but my mom ended up being the winner, only off by about an inch and a half. Everyone wrote advice for me on a 3x5 card and I tried to guess who gave me each piece of advice. One of my friends mom's made a really cute diaper cake. The two tired "cake" was made of rolled up newborn diapers and was decorated by baby toys, socks and pacifiers. It was really cute. I felt very honored by all the work that went into the event...it was so much fun and the cute baby gifts will all be much used.

This week marks the turning point where we start going to the doctor every two weeks. It's a long story, but we were there two weeks ago for an ultrasound but couldn't meet with our doctor. So we were back this week, and will be back two weeks from today. After that the frequency bumps up to once a week. Luckily my hospital is easily accessible from work or home so it's not so bad to go more often. But I joked with my husband that it would be nice if I could just pee in a cup at home and mail it to them.

Week 31 - Heartburn and Waddling

2007-02-26T12:23:00.000-08:00

What's up with baby in week 31: The baby's irises can now dilate and contract in response to light. Due to the deposits of white fat underneath the skin, the baby's skin is no longer red but pink. She weighs about 3 lbs 5 ounces. Her fingernails may reach to the end of her fingers.

What's up with mom: I have been having some heartburn this week. So far in my pregnancy, it has only cropped up once or twice...but this week I've had it four out of five evenings. I've been trying to eat smaller and more frequent meals to help, but I am beginning to think it might be more related to the foods I'm choosing. I have some fruit juices that I've been drinking this week that might not be a good match to stomach acidity, namely orange juice.

I learned from reading online that my pregnant body is now creating a hormone called relaxin. It's what loosens the joints of the pelvis to make it possible for the baby to be born. Apparently it also contributes to waddling. I try to be aware of how I walk to make sure I'm not waddling, at least not in public. Overall, I feel really good.

Week 30 - Feels Like a Milestone

2007-02-20T15:19:00.000-08:00

What's up with baby in week 30: for my baby in particular, everything is average. That's good news for us. We had another visit to the doctor this week and they did a fairly indepth ultrasound to measure the important stuff and look around in general at how our baby is developing. She looks perfect. That's always such good news to hear. She hit the 3 lbs mark - a milestone! She is SO active it keeps me awake sometimes and is getting entertaining at work...sometimes I wonder if anyone can see the movement of my abdomen from across the conference table.

What's up with mom: I feel like I've reached such a milestone. 30 out of 40 weeks! Just 10 more to go. I am having Braxton Hicks contractions from time to time. The uterus (which is really just a muscle) flexes and my whole abdomen gets hard. Apparently the baby can feel it but she isn't bothered by it. I feel kinda the same way. I can feel it, but it doesn't hurt. I am at the point where I feel like my due date is getting close, but in reality, it's still 2.5 months away. Sometimes I hope it will hurry up (mostly so I can take maternity leave) but on the other hand, it's the calm before the storm for my husband and I so I should enjoy this time we have now.

Week 29 - Fat Ankles

2007-02-09T12:32:00.000-08:00

What's up with baby in week 29: she is beginning to regulate her own temperature (which is good in Chicago this time of year) and her bone marrow is completely in charge of creating red blood cells. It feels and looks like my abdomen is her aerobics studio. She moves around like crazy, so much so at times that my stomach juts out and ripples and bulges visibly, even under my clothes. She is most active after I get home from work and before bed. This week her weight is about 2 lbs 9 oz.

What's up with mom: I thought about this and decided to swallow my vanity and admit that I have fallen victim to one of pregnancy's less attractive side effects. Two days ago (end of week 29) my ankles suddenly puffed up. It happened out of nowhere. The rest of me (I am happy to report) is not puffy at all except in the expected places. The rest of the good news is that this seemed to be a short-term occurrence. My ankles are now back to normal. I stuck a box under my desk at work so I can keep my feet elevated and that seems to be helping a lot. Other goings on with me...I'm looking forward to my baby shower that is coming up in a few weeks. But before that I turn 30 (this Saturday). Last weekend I celebrated with a friend who just turned 30 at the end of Jan. We had an extravagant dinner out and then followed up with a party and a three tiered chocolate cake decorated with fresh flowers and strawberries. Since I wasn't going to be able to indulge in wine or cocktails on my birthday, I thought I'd make up for it with cake :) The party aside, I do feel like my 30th birthday is being completely eclipsed by having a baby...the baby just seems like so much more of a life change. It's a good way to say goodbye to my free-wheeling 20s.

Week 28 - Rogam Shot and Glucose Test

2007-02-08T11:44:00.000-08:00

What's up with baby in week 28: she is in the phase of development where she just keeps getting bigger. Pretty much everything is created and in good working order. She will be adding body mass and growing eyelashes this week . She weighs about 2 lbs 4 oz.

What's up with mom: I went to the doctor for my monthly appointment. No ultrasound this time. It's the first appointment without one. We did listen to the heartbeat. This week I got to do my glucose test. At my last appointment they gave me the Tang colored drink and I put it in the fridge at my work. 1 hour before my appointment, I drank it. It wasn't as bad as I thought it would be...some people had been telling me how horrible it tastes. Then when I got to my appointment they took a urine and blood sample to test my glucose levels to find out if I have gestational diabetes. Luckily I don't. I would have a VERY hard time staying away from sweets. As I type this, a co-worker has just given me half her oatmeal chocolate chip cookie from Potbelly's. I didn't even ask...she just gave it to me, honest.

Also at this doctors appointment, I got a Rogam shot. I had been expecting one. The reason for the shot is that I have RH Negative blood and my husband has RH Positive. That means there is a chance my baby has RH Positive blood. If she does, then if any of her blood gets into my bloodstream, my immune system would develop antibodies. It's not a risk to this pregnancy, but if my next pregnancy is RH Positive, my antibodies would not play nice and it would be a really difficult pregnancy and risky for the baby. So the Rogam shot basically will stop by immune system from forming antibodies to and RH Positive blood. The effects of the shot last 12 weeks (I have 12 more weeks of pregnancy) and then they will give me another shot right after I deliver. That's the most likely time for baby's blood to come in contact with my bloodstream.

Some interesting notes on the administration of the Rogam shot. I wasn't expecting this and it was midly annoying. My docotors office had to call in a prescription for the Rogam shot to the pharmacy (both are in the same hospital building) and then I had to go down to the pharmacy to get the shot. I had to pay about $60 for it (after insurance) and then trot back up to my doctor's office so a nurse could give me the shot (in the you-know-where). If I wanted to go the fully insured route (no payment from me) I would have had to go to the hospital lab to have my blood drawn and tested to show that I had RH Negative and then my insurance would cover the shot. But the nurse said that takes three hours, and I didn't factor that kind of time into my day, since I had no idea what was involved when I made my appointment.

Week 27 - A Registry is Born

2007-01-26T07:14:00.000-08:00

What's up with baby in week 27: baby has hit the 2lb mark! She is starting to get wrinkled skin due to being in the 'swimming pool' 24-7, but she is also developing her looks. Once she is born, the wrinkles will go away as she fills out into her chubby baby form.

What's up with mom: mom is now in the third trimester! My due date will be here in just 13 weeks from today. I am happy to report that I have been gaining a typical amount of weight during my pregnancy and it's pretty much all in the belly (and some in the boobs)! My pre-pregnancy weight was about 130 and I'm now at about 142-145. I suppose I look pretty good for being 6 months pregnant and I feel pretty good too.

I had my first occurrence of heart burn this week. But I think that's my fault for eating sausage pizza. Sausage has always been a bit unsettling to my digestive system.

I also finally got going on the baby registry. I tool some wise advice and brought along my friend who has two young kids. She has pretty much tried out all the stuff on the market. During our shopping outing, she said, you need this and you don't need that and I gladly scanned items to fill out my registry.

Week 26 - Baby Hearing

2007-01-17T13:24:00.000-08:00

What's up with baby in week 26: I've been wondering for a while what the baby can hear in the uterus. I found some info online. It turns out that the baby can hear quite a bit actually (and I assumed the uterus was a quiet, peaceful place). The baby can hear my heartbeat, digestion, and other body function noises. The baby can also hear noises outside my body. If they are loud or sudden, she might even 'jump' at the sound. One website even said that the uterus allows some light in, so that the baby can sense lightness and darkness to some extent. Wow.

What's up with mom: mom is starting to have trouble sleeping. I really shouldn't sleep on my back or side anymore so finding a comfortable position is getting harder as my belly gets bigger. Plus, I think I am waking up in the middle of the night (3am usually) as a result of some biological urge...either to go to the bathroom or get a drink of water or because I'm hungry. I am not really sure if I want to be be eating a snack in the middle of the night or not. I have lately been eating a cracker or two that I keep by my bed. Then again, it could be just the dog waking me up. He seems to have the same needs...and often gets a cracker too :)

Week 25 - Nursery Planning

2007-01-17T13:00:00.000-08:00

Last week was week 25. Now that the holidays are past, my husband and I are ready to focus on planning for the nursery. We've started to look at cribs and I have a date planned with a friend to go shop for my registry.

What's up with baby in week 25: the baby weights about 1 lb, 9 oz. The bones are continuing their ossification process, meaning they are becoming harder. Other systems continue to mature.

What's up with mom: mom really looks pregnant these days. Everyone comments on how they can really see my belly now. For the first time today, someone gave up his seat on the train. And this is Chicago in the winter, so he must have been pretty confident that even under my winter coat, that was a pregnant belly sticking out!

But getting back to the nursery planning. I bought the book: Baby Bargains (from the same authors as Bridal Bargains). And it won't be long before my husband begins his exhaustive investigation of consumer reports and online reviews of some of the more important baby items to identify the best purchases...crib, car seat, stroller. We have rave reviews from our family about the Pack and play, so I see one of those in our future. We also have a business friend that is willing to give us their crib - so that is really great.

Week 24 - 3D Ultrasound

2007-01-04T13:46:00.000-08:00

I've caught my posts back up to real time. Today we had another doctor's visit. I have to admit we think we've hit the doctor goldmine. We've had an ultrasound on 100% of our visits. Every 4 weeks I've gotten to hear the baby's heartbeat. The last two visits were Level II ultrasounds where they spent a good 15 minutes or more doing structural assessments, showing us the brain, the spinal cord, the beating 4 chambered heart, the arm bones, the leg bones, the stomach, the kidneys, the facial bone structures.

But this week takes the cake. This week, the technician went and got a 3D ultrasound wand and we got to see our baby girl in the same clarity you'd get if you shot a slightly blurry black and white video. We got to see her face just the way it looks right now. Her eyes were closed and she kept moving her hands and arms up in front of her face. At first we thought she was shy, but then I think she flipped us the bird. Really. I have a still picture the lab tech printed out where it looks like she is holding up her middle finger while the rest of her fingers are curled down. It's pretty funny. She better not give us that kind of attitude when she's born.

What's up with baby in week 24: the baby is pretty much completely formed at this point. She weights 1lb 6oz. If she were born today she would have some chance of survival with very special care, but would be spend many weeks in the hospital. She is almost a foot long. Maybe I'll nick-name her coney dog for a while.

What's up with mom: I am working on my posture. The section of my torso in the front, right below my breasts often feels tight or sore. Especially if I am slouching forward. So I've tried to sit with my torso in a more correct, shoulders back posture to stretch this area out and give it as much room as possible. The baby isn't up into this area yet, but some organs must be pushing up there as the baby and uterus grow. The baby's head is up and to my left side and she is facing across my body with her feet on my lower right side. I can certainly tell where her feet are...I feel them in that area when she is awake and kicking around.

Week 23 - Merry Christmas

2007-01-02T12:59:00.000-08:00

Week 23 brought about more air travel as my husband and I flew to visit his parents in Oklahoma. No getting sick on this trip!

What's up with baby girl in week 23: she continues to grow and I can tell because my belly is growing too. The uterus is practicing contractions (Braxton Hicks contractions - slight tensing of the uterine muscles) but I can't feel them. The baby is not affected by them either.

What's up with mom: mom is still really psyched to be having a girl. My husband and I got some beautiful baby gifts from our family for Christmas. We also shopped for some baby things on our own for the first time. We picked up some large butterflies to hang on the wall and butterfly curtains to decorate the baby's room (a theme is born!). I visited a local baby/kids store and bought my first baby clothes (for my baby anyway). I picked out two pink outfits and a onesie that has a horse on it and says "Well bred". Appropriate humor from Oklahoma. Once we are back home and the holidays are over, it will be time to work on a baby registry and pick out some furniture for the nursery.

Week 22 - Party Pooped

2007-01-02T12:48:00.000-08:00

What's up with baby girl in week 22: she has hit the one pound mark and has developed eyebrows (which I will show her how to pluck correctly in her teenage years).

What's up with mom: mom is feeling much better. The nausea is 99% gone and I feel like I have more energy (but still not my pre-pregnancy energy levels). I notice I get winded easily when I exert physical effort such as climbing several flights of stairs or walking briskly for several blocks. My husband and I hosted a party and I really became aware of how tired I can get now that my body is supporting another person. After cleaning the house and prepping food all day, by the time the party started to get in high gear at 8PM, I had to go sit on the couch. Good thing I had my husband for help...he is now the mover of all things heavy or up high. It's a big help for hosting a party.

Week 21 - Love Old Navy Maternity

2007-01-02T12:38:00.000-08:00

Week 21 really happened in the middle of December.

What's up with baby girl in week 21: she's happy to be a girl. I've done some more shopping and she's been super jazzed about that...continuing to bop around freely in the amniotic fluid. I can't always tell what position she is in, but due to where the blows come from, she is still pretty mobile, maybe mostly in a breech position. She isn't expected to move to a head down position until later in the third trimester.

What's up with mom: more maternity clothes shopping from Old Navy. Hands down the best quality to cost ratio. I was able to get multiple version of some essential items...2 pairs of nicer pants for work; 3 pairs of jeans (ok, also for work - I love my job), 3 sweaters and 4 long sleeve t-shirts. All for about the same cost as 5 items at the fancy-schmancy maternity boutique.

I also love borrowing. I have two friends who have gone before me in the baby making department. They both loaned me some great maternity items. One friend had stocked up on a 'office' wardrobe, so I will be looking more professional in my office job than I had planned. That is a big help. I am not sure if there would have been (there might still be) a point in the pregnancy when I give up and start wearing sweatpants to work, but the loaner wardrobes might stave that off.

Week 20 - It's a Girl!

2007-01-02T12:26:00.000-08:00

Woo Hoo! We went to the doctor this week and found out we're having a girl. Exact date of the big news (sorry, still catching up to real time) December 6. This also marks the halfway point of the pregnancy.

What's up with the baby in week 20: now that we know she is a girl, we also know that her ovaries are forming primitive egg cells. She also has teeth buds forming under her gums. At 20 weeks, she is covered with laguno hair, a fine layer of hair over her whole body. The baby weighs 10 ounces and is about 10 inches in length.

What's up with mom: mom is so happy to be having a baby girl. Despite the more difficult challenge of finding the perfect girl name (for some reason boy names had been coming to me), I am super happy to be having a girl. I was secretly looking forward to decorating the baby's room with girly things. All my girlfriends in the city are so excited that I'll be having a girl...they are going to have so much fun cooing over the pink outfits and thinking about how young is too young to have a designer handbag and wear lip gloss.

When asked if he was hoping for a boy or a girl, my husband indicated that he hadn't been hoping one way or the other and that he is very happy to be expecting a girl. I think he will be a wonderful father to 'daddy's little girl', so I'm really looking forward to it.

Week 19 - Sleep Changes

2007-01-02T12:15:00.000-08:00

What's up with baby in week 19: the baby weighs 8 ounces this week and has developed its own sleep cycles. Apparently, its sleep cycles aren't in sync with mine because sometimes when I lay down to go to bed, the baby can be pretty active and keep me awake.

What's up with mom: for a few weeks now the pregnancy books I've been reading strongly suggest that I need to change my sleeping position. I am really used to sleeping on my stomach, but I also find that laying flat on my back is comfortable. Apparently those are bad positions for the baby at this point in the pregnancy. Stomach sleeping could put undue pressure on the baby and laying flat on the back causes the uterus to lie directly on the major ateries that supply blood to the baby and my lower extremeties. So I've started to try and sleep on my side. I still wake up on my stomach or back from time to time, but I'm working on it.

I certainly can feel the baby move now. I almost don't know how to describe the feeling. The whole sensation of my belly changes when the baby is moving. The kicks or punches feel similar to strong digestive rumblings. Some are so strong that my husband has felt the baby move with his hand on my lower stomach. It's such an amaxing experience to share together. I had thought that he'd have to wait until much later in the pregnancy to feel movement, and that for a while it would just be my own private experience with the baby, but lucky for us, the baby wants dad to be getting involved with the fun early.

Week 18 - Baby Testing the Dog

2007-01-02T12:08:00.002-08:00

Still playing catch up to real time. Week 18 for me was Thanksgiving Day Nov 23.

What's up with baby in week 18: baby is up to 8 inches in length and 7 ounces in weight. The baby has developed the pads on his/her fingers and toes and is even beginning to form fingerprints.

What's up with mom: mmm turkey. Nothing better than being pregnant for the holidays. Not that anything stopped me in years past, but I can eat anything I want and people let me get in line first. I was very happy to spend the holiday with my parents and brother's family who haven't seen me since I started to show. My brother's family brought their 6 month old baby girl with them, so it was some good time for practice with a baby...for me and for our dog. We had an idea that our adopted greyhound would be ok with kids, but we though we'd put him to the test. He passed. Our niece played with him on the floor and he let her touch and pet and pull on him without so much as a disgrunteled look or growl.

Week 17 - Babymoon in Prague

2007-01-02T12:08:00.001-08:00

What's up with baby in week 17: the baby is now developing fat deposits under the skin to help keep it warm when it is born. Loud sounds can now be heard by the baby. One pregnancy website even said that really loud and sudden noises can startle the baby.

What's up with mom: last week my husband and I took what we are calling a 'Babymoon'. We took a 4 day trip to Prague in the Czech Republic. It was my second trip there and my husband's first. We wanted to get in some world travel before the little one arrives. I suspect after baby is born, we will take most of our trips to visit family. On a side note, when we want to splurge for a nice hotel in a foreign destination we look for a Leading Small Hotel... www.leadingsmallhotelsoftheworld.com

The trip to Prague also reminded me that I'm not over the nausea yet. I had two fun experiences while traveling. At the end of our trip, as the car driver was taking us from the hotel to the airport and I had to ask him to pull over so I could be sick. Nothing like puking along the side of the Prague interstate. I was ok all the the way back to Chicago until we landed at OHare. The plane taxied around so much to get to our gate that I got carsick (I guess that's what you'd call it) and threw up in an airsick bag. Once I realized how great the airsick bags were, I stocked up on a few from nearby seats and now carry one with me at all times.

Week 16 - Movement?

2007-01-02T11:46:00.000-08:00

What's up with baby in week 16: this week marks month 4. The baby has fully developed fingernails and empties it's bladder every 40-45 minutes. Sounds like a reall person , despite weighing only 3 ounces - amazing!

What's up with mom: I read that I could start to feel the baby moving inside me this week, so I've been trying to detect any changes down there. Women who have had a previous baby can often feel their baby move this early since they know what to look for. I asked a few moms in my office what it felt like to them and I got some really interesting responses. Some said it really feels like gas bubbles, so it's hard to tell sometimes, especially if you are having a gassy pregnancy (oh great!). One mom told me it was like the concept of flicking a computer screen or window with an index finger...almost like the baby was trying to communicate "Hey there. Hey there. Can you feel me in here."

Week 15 - Shopping

2007-01-02T11:33:00.000-08:00

What's up with baby in week 15: by this week my baby might be sucking his/her thumb. I can't wait to see the next ultrasound to find out if this is true.

What's up with mom: clothes are starting to get tighter. I'm ready to look pregnant, but really I just look like I have a tiny 'pooch' tummy. I couldn't resist the urge to shop for maternity clothes. I dragged a friend out with me to brave one of the Chicago maternity boutiques. I had prepared myself for the shock of how expensive maternity clothes can be, but I hadn't done a good enought job. I had sticker shock. I suppose part of it is my own fault for shopping at Filene's Basement and TJMaxx all the time. I did grab a few items off the sale rack but splurged on a $38 tank-top that says Due in April. Then we popped into Urban Outfitters on the walk home. I had taken some cues from Lucky magazine that current fashion trends might favor pregnant women. I scored big time. Urban has so many tops that were cut with empire waists and lots of material. Plus I got this great long sweater that has two zippers, so I can zip it up from the bottom as the belly gets larger. It's quite warm and cute.

Week 14 - Linea Negra

2007-01-02T11:21:00.000-08:00

What's up with baby in week 14: the baby is about 5 inches long this week. New functions for the baby include urinating into the amniotic fluid. The baby also 'breathes' the amniotic fluid in and out (which sounds really gross since it has pee in it). I read on a pregnancy website that doctors aren't sure where amniotic fluid is produced. And we thought they knew everything ;)

What's up with mom: mom is starting to see that hint of a brown line from the belly button down to the pubic bone. It's called a linea negra. I am not really sure what causes it, other than to add it to the list of strange things that happen to my body thanks to changing hormones. My uterus is about the size of a grapefuit.

Time to Catch Up

2007-01-02T11:18:00.000-08:00

Ooops. I managed to get 10 weeks behind in postings. I'll try to play catch up in the next few days with shorter posts about each of the weeks and what I remember of them. Happy New Year!

Week 13 Soooo Lucky

2006-10-18T15:03:00.000-07:00

Oddly enough, week 13 contained a Friday the 13th. Must be a very lucky sign.

What's up with baby in week 13: there are lots of things going on this week. All twenty teeth have formed and are waiting. The baby weighs 1 ounce. Also the placenta weighs about 1 ounce now. The baby's intestines are migrating from the umbilical cord into his or her abdomen. The villi are also forming in the intestines, these help in peristaltic movements and digestion. The pancreas is even secreting insulin.

What's up with mom: well, I thought that after the first trimester, my morning (all day) sickness would go away. It hasn't completely gone yet. I've had a few sick days this week. All I'm gonna say is that fresh pineapple tastes good going down but it burns like crazy coming back up. I am not sure if I will be able to eat pineapple again for a few months. On Saturday, my husband and I and another couple went to visit out of town friends to see them and their 6.5 month-old. It was a fun day, with good food and conversation. Thair baby boy is darling and he had recently taken some dapper photos. And we made off a supply of baby magazines.

Week 12 End of the First Trimester

2006-10-12T15:48:00.000-07:00

Tada! I have made it to week 12. This is the real week 12 (today, October 12 is day 2 of week 12).

What's up with baby in week 12: While the baby's brain is not the same size it will be at birth, it does have the same structure. Bile is being secreted by this time (whatever that means). The baby weighs about 14 grams and is 3.5 inches long, about the size of a large lime. The baby has its reflexes and also practice movements in the digestive tract. All of this is in preperation for extrauterine life. Also, the placenta takes over the production of hormones this week.

What's up with mommy: I am feeling much better this week. I have almost cleared all the morning sickness. I am not as tired. I am really enjoying some more interesting food flavors. I even got to go to the coveted Chipotle. Of course, I had a desire to deviate from my standard order and try something new. I am still not digging guacamole, which was one of my top five most loved foods prior to conceiving.

Two days ago I went to my second doctor's appointment. I have two doctors in my physician group so I go to meet the other doctor that might be the lucky guy to deliver my baby. I have to say that I like them both. My regular physician did a good job with the recommendation. I got my second ultrasound is as many visits....maybe I'm lucky, or maybe both doctors wanted to do an ultrasound to see for themselves. Both times I've heard the baby's heartbeat. This time the baby looked much more like a baby. I could see hands and feet and even fingers. In one view I could see where the facial bones were, the eye bones and the nose and the chin. It's a handsome baby indeed. The best part of the entire ultrasound was seeing the baby move for the first time. Amazing! It brought tears to my eyes. This was a really neat way to see that the life inside of me is healthy and doing great!

Week 11 I Got Behind Again

2006-10-12T15:30:00.000-07:00

Well, I got behind in the posting again. It's not really week 11 (on Oct 12) but I want to catch up with the details from week 11.

What's up with the baby in week 11: the iris will begin to develop this week as well as fingernails! The head is really big - about 1/2 the total baby size. The baby weights 7 grams.

What's up with mom: I can see the light at the end of the morning sickness tunnel. It's so close! I am looking forward to eating some more interesting foods. I have gotten into a morning routine that starts with my husband bringing me a glass of milk and my prenatal viatmin. Then on the way to the train (or on the train) I eat a granola bar. I find that most days this allows me to get to work without actually getting sick.

Week 10 Coming to an end

2006-10-04T18:23:00.000-07:00

Today (the real today, Oct 4) is the last day of week 10!

What's up with baby in week 10: the baby has now entered it's fetal period. The average size is approx 27-35 mm crown to rump or about the size of a small plum. S/he weighs in at 4 grams (or about 4 paper clips). Tiny toes have formed. The eyes are largely open, but the eyelids are beginning to fuse and will stay that way until 25-27 weeks. External ears are completely formed, as well as the upper lip. The biggest accomplishment this week is the disappearance of the tail!

What's up with mommy: still tired, especially tonight working very late. I'm really looking forward to my Dr. appointment on Tuesday. I want to hear that everything is going well. And then after that my husband and I will feel comfortable spreading the news beyond family and close friends.

My husband and I are planning a trip in early Nov to have a long weekend away and travel somewhere really cool before we become parents. I'm looking forward to it and hope that I am feeling good by then. I also hope the air travel doesn't make me uncomfortable.

We have started talking about where the baby will stay...in the second bedroom or in our room. We don't have many options so it's kinda one or the other. We also have some no longer needed furniture to get rid of to make space. Sooner or later we get to start baby shopping...cribs and strollers and clothes. I think it will be fun to create a registry. I plan to bring along a friend who has two little ones of her own so she can help me pick out the right stuff. Of course we might need to wait to find out if baby is a boy or girl first!

Week 9 Still Catching Up to Present Date

2006-09-26T14:59:00.000-07:00

What's up with baby in week 9: baby is now approximately 13-17 mm crown to rump length, or about 0.51 - 0.66 inches. S/he also weighs in at 1 gram! Toe rays are present as the toes begin to form. The internal sexual organs have decided boy or girl, but you can't tell externally yet. Baby will move away if touched through the uterine wall, and can spontaneously move as well. Ossification (hardening) of the bones may begin.

What's up with mommy: tired. Working a full day at my office job takes it out of me. I wish I could sleep in most mornings, but I find that I toss and turn in the mornings anyway. I am also relaxing as much as possible on weekends (read: spend all day on the couch watching TIVO, reading or napping). I have started to consider when I will tell my boss that I am expecting. I am not showing yet, so there is no concern that people have started to wonder. I have my next doctors appointment on Oct 10. So I think I will tell my boss after that. I like my boss and he is a dad, so I'm sure the conversation will go fine. Our office has several mommies that work. I have heard that there is even a "pump room" for mom's at work that need to pump their breast milk into bottles. The only thing I wonder about is if they put it in the fridge. What kind of label do you put on that - Property of Baby - DO NOT DRINK.

Week 8 Bring on the Sickness

2006-09-25T15:14:00.000-07:00

This is what's going on with baby in week 8: Your baby will be about 8-11 mm by the end of the week. The baby's hind brain is clearly visible. And spontaneous movement begins! Bones and joints this week have many things going on. Elbows appear and the process of ossification (hardening of the bones) begins. Toe rays become present.

We have decided to tell our parents this week. We also have started telling some close friends and other family members. My sister in law was commiserating with me about my "morning sickness." And just to be official, this sickness is poorly named as it does not restrict itself to morning. She pointed out that her morning sickness was the worst weeks 8-10. Oh boy. The worst is now beginning. I am really puking more often now, sometimes more than once a day. I am working on figuring out what my body needs when as far as food and liquid to keep this to a minimum.

Bland is in. Bland food and drink. Bring on the potato soup and bread and cereal and turkey sandwiches and crackers. Put away the Chipotle. I have also taken a dislike to coffee and most teas (which is what I used to drink at work all day). Now I am a water person. I like to mix it up at lunch with a Vitamin Water or if I want to splurge (and why not if all I'm eating is a cup of soup and crackers) with a Naked juiced fruit drink.

Week 7 We Meet Our Obstetrician

2006-09-25T15:00:00.000-07:00

Some interesting baby info for this week: The hand plates become present this week, and the baby is about 7-9 mm by the end of the week. The genital tubercle is present, but you can't distinguish girls from boys by sight at this point. Nasal pits are forming. The baby will actually go through 3 sets of kidneys, very rapidly as they develop during this period. This week the second of such sets will form.

3 sets of kidneys? Who knew?

My primary care physician scheduled an appointment with an obstetrician she recommends. I wondered if this was one of those times in life to go through an exhaustive practice of polling friends in my city to find out who is recommened and who isn't, but decided that my doctor's recommendation would do just fine. So many babies are born everyday that this isn't a risky business. If I were having a brain tumor removed, I might be more selective. If I were having a brain tumor removed, I'd have McDreamy from Gray's Anatomy do it.

Our obstetrician is part of a group. I will have 2 doctors that I meet with in rotation during my pregnancy and then either one of them will be the one to delivery my baby. It's all about who turns out to be the lucky guy on call when I go into labor. So it will be a fun surprise...surprise, it's doctor Shawn, or surprise it's doctor Mike.

While at the obstetrician, we had an ultrasound and got to see our baby for the first time. It really did not have much of a baby shape to it. I think it still had a bit of a tail. In the ultrasound photos the baby looks more like a seahorse. The best part was hearing the heartbeat! So amazing. That really made the pregnancy real for me.

Knowing I'm Expecting Week One (week 6)

2006-09-25T14:30:00.000-07:00

When I found out I was expecting, I was in week 6 of my pregnancy. At this point, my baby is just a little head and body with a beating heart and the starts of arms and legs. I look exactly the same. My nausea does not result in real puking that often. It's more like a consistant feeling of maybe puking sometime in the future. My abdomen feels like it does during PMS, a constant ache with occasional sharper pains. But this is all within the bounds of normal for someone with a pea sized alien devouring my body for it's nourishment.

I spent a lot of time this week trying to remember what I had been doing for the last 4 weeks...when I was with child, but did not know it yet. I do remember having a margarita. I think My husband and I also went to dinner once and I had a glass of wine. I am determined not to worry about it. When we saw the doctor in week 7, the heart-beat was healthy and he said the baby is just fine, so no worrying.

The Story of How I Told My Husband I Was Expecting

2006-09-22T15:14:00.000-07:00

So in my previous post I told the story of how I found out I was expecting. It was a Wednesday morning and my husband has left the house early for a one day business trip. I went upstairs to the computer and read some pregnancy websites to get some details of what was pregnancy is all about. I wanted to know how to figure out how far along I was and what changes were going on with the baby and in my body. Who knew that most doctors count the pregnancy as starting the first day of your last period? That means that the baby has actually been around about 2 weeks less than how "far along" you say you are. In my case I figured out that I was 6 weeks along. Which meant that the baby had been created 4 weeks ago.

I had to go to work, so I shut down the computer and got going. All day I sat at my desk or in meetings and every now and then my brain would say: psst you are pregnant. I'd think back: shhh, don't let anyone hear you! I haven't even told my husband yet. I knew that he was unreachable during the day. During my lunch break I went to a bookstore and picked up a few pregnancy books. One for my husband: The Dad to Be Everything You Need to Know book. I snuck these back into the office with more stealth than if they had been shopping bags full of new shoes.

After work I had an event with co-workers to attend. My husband's flight wasn't getting in until after 9:00pm, so he wasn't due home until late. I beat him home and sat casually on the couch watching TV until he got home. He came in the door and we greeted each other and I asked him how his day was, how the meetings went, how the flight was. Casual, casual, casual. Finally I told him that I had picked up a book for him that day and slid it across the table. While he took a second to read the cover, I held up the home pregnancy stick and said: this goes with it! There was much smiling and hugging and kissing and smiling. And then he said he had thought so!

The Story of How I Found Out I Was Expecting

2006-09-22T13:58:00.000-07:00

Some people say that when they conceived they immediately knew. I was not one of those people. One day I started to have abdominal pains similar to what PMS feels like. So I figured it was just that - the period before my period. But then my period never came and I realized the abdominal pains were pretty consistant throughout the day. I also felt a little more tired than usual. This went on for a week.

Into the second week of the pain, my husband and I went out of town over Labor Day weekend. By then I was starting to think that work pressure was causing stress that was manifesting itself physically. At this point I hadn't begun to experience nausea, so I was eating fine over the weekend. My mother-in-law cooked up a storm, so there was plenty to eat. We also had the joy of meeting our newest nephew, Bryce. Bryce's mom and I talked about her experience of how she found out she was expecting. That's when I really started to wonder. Her symptoms sounded familiar.

Once we returned home, and the first nausea set in, I realized it was time to see the doctor (in case I had an ulcer on the way). I was still telling myself it was just stress ;) My doctor's appointment was set for Thursday. On Tuesday night, I bought a home pregnancy test. I didn't tell my husband. On Wednesday morning, my husband left very early for a one day business trip. I figured while I was up I might as well pee on a stick. I honestly didn't really think it would be positive.

So I pee on the stick and sit it down on the side of the tub. Our dog decided to be in there with me, he sensed my need for moral support I guess. I gave him a few pats on the head and casually glanced over at the stick. Check the label: One stripe = not pregnant. Two stripes = pregnant. Ok, count the stripes in the window...one...two. Ok, check the label: One stripe = not pregnant. Two stripes = pregnant. Ok, count the stripes in the window...one...two. Look at dog. Look back at stick. Look back at dog. Tell dog that you are pregnant.

Hearing myself say "pregnant" outloud and realizing that I'm talking about myself was a pretty strange moment. I looked at myself in the mirror and said it again. Then I smiled real big. Then I tried saying a few other things like, I'm going to have a baby. The smile stayed on. I found out I was expecting and it was a good feeling. The date I found out was Wednesday, September 6.

Welcome to Liz Expecting

2006-09-21T14:50:00.000-07:00

Hi, welcome to my blog. I am 9 weeks pregnant with my first. It's an amazing experience so far, not necessarily that physically pleasant, but just the idea of growing another human being inside me is sureal.