34 Week Update

Hello, Hello!

Another baby update for your viewing pleasure today.

The top photo was taken of our squirmy baby who had her hands in front of her face when I was 31 weeks 1 day. The bottom left is Louis, the bottom right (the one that looks like she's pooping) is me.

How far along are you? 34 weeks 1 day, continuing the iphone bathroom photo trend.

Cravings: I hadddd to have chocolate chip pancakes a few weeks ago. I didn't have them and I wanted them for days.  It was strange, not just like I normal urge, like I couldn't be satiated until I had pancakes. Lou's pancakes.

Weight Gain: Holding around 10-12 lbs. Doctor says it's fine and I don't ask for a number.

Stretch Marks: Yea.... which stinks because I haven't gained that much weight. I am prone to them, and there's not much I can do about it now. I do use creams and oils daily.

Favorite moment this week: This was right around Thanksgiving, but Lou said something like how he wants to raise her so she'll turn out exactly like me, because I'm strong. And I was just so completely moved by that.

Fears: All the previous ones, like at 20 weeks, and more. I just want to meet her and see that she's healthy and I didn't mess her up somehow in my body. I worry about how to raise a good person. I also worry that this pelvis pain won't go away and that I'll never be able to wear contacts again... vain, but true.  

General mood: So much going on. Excited, Impatient :-) 

Sleep: I'll let you know once I start sleeping again... Seriously hard to get comfortable, insomnia, and potty breaks. 

Things I was surprised by: Ohh it would be TMI for the internet. 

Things I am most looking forward to: Just meeting her, having her here, our new family.

What I think is really cool and crazy: That she is almost here!

Wedding Ring on or off:  Still on, still too big. 

Food Aversions: Lots... not because I don't like the taste. Heartburn and nausea always&forever. 

Maternity Clothes: Yep... lots of dresses. The elastic waist band on pants tends to slip down. 

Gender: A little girl! :) 

Nursery:  Yep - mostly done. I revealed most of it here.

So soon... It's so hard to wait! I just want to speed up time... to meet her and get my body back! 41 days if she comes on her due date!

Patty

Nursery Reveal-ish

Me a few months ago: "I don't want a theme or to spend a ridiculous amount on nursery stuff."

Lou: "Ok"

Me now: "I know I said I didn't want to do a theme or decorate but....."

Lou <<eyeroll>>

So it kind of just happened, but Louis and I feel that it is very important to instill an appreciation (and hopefully love) of nature. And there is actually a ton of stuff right now that is woodland animal themed, which works out really nice (and is stinkin' adorable!). So while we're not going full-on theme, we did end up choosing a lot of items that are nature themed.

We were very lucky in that we acquired a crib, glider, and dresser from Lou's Aunt (thanks Cina!). The changing table / dresser / cat lounger was a medium blue, and the rest of the pieces were cream. We decided on Spring Green by Behr and it ended up perfect. The walls are light and bright, and not too vanilla. We got fabric from Joanns to reupholster the glider (Lou went with me, because he is a TROOPER. Boys going to craft stores with you, that's love.) The fabric was blue and green and black leaves and it ended up tying the room together perfectly. I have a sewing machine and knew the basics of sewing. I wanted something to cover the nice fabric that was on the cushions, and have something that I could remove easily to wash and launder if it gets all baby-bodily-fluids-y. I made most of the cushions pillow case style, using a tutorial I found over at Katie's blog. It was easy peasy and I think really ties the room together now. I used this same tutorial to create a changing cover made of vinyl, which I'm hoping will be much easier for clean ups. Let's see how they hold up :-)

Mary gave us the book rack (and most of the books in it) to hopefully get our little reader started. I think this is what Lou and I are most looking forward to doing first with our little girl. 

The blanket was a handmade gift from Toni & Frank, a friend of Louis' family. The Owl, fox, two dogs, and dolly, are gifts from Elaine. The Pink and yellow bunny is a gift from Seve - Future AUNT! The Raccoon is a present from my cousin Nicole. And the Mickie & Minnie I picked up on a whim shortly after I found out I was pregnant. I think she's got a decent sized collection started!

We're waiting to put the crib sheets on because, well, cats. I prematurely put a changing cover on early and the boys have loved resting on the changing table. It's all hair and is going to need to get washed again, already :) We're thinking white sheets will be easy to clean and bleach, and go well in the light green room. 

I did these paintings with cheapo Michaels acrylic paint and canvases, and are loosely based off of images I saw on Pinterest. I am definitely a novice, but I had fun and it was a nice way to relieve stress. 

I made a waterproof cover for the changing table using some fabric from Joanns and using a similar but modified tutorial of the pocket pillow. The handles we scored from Etsy.

Louis and I also made some car seat blankets from this tutorial. Pretty cute, I hope they work out!

Still a few things to get and do... like curtains and crib skirts and diapers etc, but I think that's mostly anxiety over not feeling prepared for a baby.  

We are getting so excited to bring this girl home, and feel so grateful that we have such a great support group of family and friends to bring her into this world to.

Patty

Hospital Visit - Questions to Ask

So in an effort to try to have a feeling of control with all the unknowns coming up in my life, I resort to lists. My husband assures me this is endearing, but I think that may just mean he's extra scared of my crazy pregnancy hormones. But, in any case, here is a list I came up for touring our hospital.

Questions to Ask on Hospital Tour

1. If I believe I am in labor, where will I initially be examined? Will I have to wait in a general waiting area, triage, or will I be brought to a private room?

2. How many births take place here on average, each day?

3. What percentage of women here have c-sections?

4. Do you utilize students or residents?

5. Are there any situations that may take me away from my birth partner?

6. Are there any restrictions on who is allowed in the room during birth? How many people can be with me?

7. How comfortable is the hospital with natural births?

8. Am I able to avoid having an IV upon entering, and have a Hep Lock instead? (or nothing at all)

9. Can I eat and drink during labor? If so, what?

10. How often are you fetal monitoring? And what types of fetal monitoring are available? telemetry? Wifi?

11. Can I walk and move around during labor? Am I just allowed to walk around my room? If I can walk around elsewhere, show me where laboring mothers walk.

12. Is there a tub or shower available for me during labor? Is it in my room, or shared by the entire floor? If it is shared, how often are women are turned away from using it because someone beat them to it?

13. Is there a hospital photographer available for infants and new borns?

14. What positions do you allow mothers to give birth?

15. What birthing tools are available? Birth balls, birth stools, etc?

16. If I share a room, does my baby have to go in the nursery?

17. Will I be in one room during my entire stay, or will I be moved to a separate postpartum room?

18. Will I have a private tub or shower for my postpartum room, or will I have to share?

19. Will I have to share a room with another family?

20. What is your policy on baby care immediately after birth? If my baby needs to be checked, weighed, or placed in a heater - will he be taken out of my room? Or will the examinations take place in my room?

21. Make sure to assess the rooms. Do you feel comfortable there?

22. Where will your birth partner sit and sleep during your stay? Have them try out the chairs.

23. How does the hospital support breastfeeding? Who will be there to guide you, shortly after your baby is born? Is support offered seven days a week?

24. Does the hospital support supplementing breastfeeding with formula?

25. Does the hospital support formula feeding?

26. Can I have my child immediately placed skin to skin after a c-section?

27. Can I choose to breastfeed immediately after a c-section?

28. Is there a newborn intensive care unit (NICU)?

29. Are there any situations where my baby would need to be transferred to another facility?

30. What security measures are there? Do people have to be buzzed in, are there security guards, and is a device placed on your tiny baby to make sure he can not leave the floor?

31. Are there specific hours for visiting? Do you allow young children to visit?

32. Does the hospital encourage the baby rooming in with the parents, or do they encourage the baby to stay in the nursery?

33. Is there access to the Internet?

34. Is there valet? At what times?

35. Will we have a TV?

36. Is there a CD or MP3 player in the labor room?

37. Do you have an option for a special "stork dinner" during our stay?

38. Is there a cafe? What time does the hospital kitchen close?

39. What time of day does discharge generally occur? Families are often allowed to stay 48 hours post vaginal delivery, and 4 days post c-section.

40. What follow-up support do you offer for new parents? Can I call, at any time, if I have questions or need emotional support?

41. Does the hospital use an enema?

42. Does the hospital shave you?

43. Can I wear earrings, contacts, and nail polish?

44. Can father sleep in same room?

45. Does hospital provide infant photography? If so, how much does it cost?

46. What is the nurse to patient ratio? When do nurses switch shifts?

Anyway, I hope these questions help all other expectant mothers out there! They helped ease my mind (a very small bit, but it does help!). Patty