39 week appointment update

so I had a regular OB appointment this morning.
a few things I wanted to mention to my doctor:
- the ever lasting itching of my belly (which is now joined by raised bumps within my stretch marks);
- Ronin's decreased movement (he's still moving, but not nearly as much as he has been throughout the pregnancy... I've chalked it up to him running out of room, but wanted to make sure);
- and I wanted a cervical check (to make sure these contractions are actually doing their job).

so, an update to those specific issues, in bullet form:

- the itching belly started about a week and a half ago. I mentioned it to my nurse practitioner at my last appointment, and she just shrugged it off as a normal pregnancy symptom. I spent the next week trying to combat the itch with hyrocortisone topical cream, calamine lotion, cocoa butter, and tea tree oil. they all provided temporary relief, but when the itch eventually came back, it was just as miserable (if not more) than it was before applying the cream, lotion, butter, or oil.

I decided I didn't want to just blow it off, so I brought it up to my OB this morning. turns out... itchiness + raised bumps = PUPPP. she prescribed me an oral steroid that I have to take for 5 days, and it should help. woo to the freaking hoo... I can't WAIT to have some relief from this shit. it is misery. absolute MISERY.

- she sent me to labor and delivery to monitor Ronin's movement. as expected, he made me into a liar by doing somersaults and showing off for the nurse in triage. also? I could listen to this kid's heartbeat all day everyday and never get sick of it. I'm going to miss that part of being pregnant.

- as I mentioned in my 39 week bump watch post, I was a fingertip dilated at my appointment on Friday (I know, I know... you're all very curious as to what the status of my cervix is). she checked me again today, and said I was 50% effaced and 3cm dilated - holy cow, talk about PROGRESS! I am so happy to know that my body is doing what it's supposed to do and that these contractions are not for nothing.

however... on the back end of that awesomeness: my doctor does not want to let me go very far over my due date because of my continuously high blood pressure. she's worried that it will get too high if he decides to take his time, which will probably lead to a C-section. so with that said, we have an induction scheduled for next week (waiting to hear from labor & delivery on the date, but it will be either Wednesday or Thursday) if he doesn't make his way into the world on his own. I've been scared of being induced since the beginning of this pregnancy, so obviously I'm hoping he gets his shit together before next week. personally, I think he'll be here by the weekend, but I've learned that I am officially on HIS schedule now, so I'm not holding my breath.

so that's where we are now... just waiting for him to make his move. after my appointment (and subsequent internal exam), I had some serious cramping going on. it was so intense that I was really convinced the exam had done something to jump start my labor. let's just say that I am thankful to have absolutely no qualms about receiving an epidural, cause I am a big old wuss. I was in so much pain just after a simple cervical check and here I am getting ready to push a watermelon out of my vag. bring on the drugs, damnit.

baby Q bump watch - week 39

DISCLAIMER: this post was written yesterday, before my 39 week appointment (aka there's more to tell... stay tuned). oh, and no worries, he hasn't joined us just yet. :)

how far along? 

39 weeks. 

how big is the baby? 

well, every baby site is telling me that Ronin is the size of a watermelon (in other words, over 7lbs and about 20 inches long)... and damnit, I believe them. he's still growing and accumulating fat and he is still experiencing rapid brain development.

total weight gain: 

no gain in the last week, so still sitting at 27lbs.

sleep: 

terrible. absolutely fucking terrible. between the itchy belly and the contractions, I'm lucky if I'm asleep by midnight, and then I wake up to reapply ointment (and pee) a few times. thankfully I have the ability to sleep until 1pm if I want to. 

best moment of the week: 

finding out that we've made some progress! at my appointment on Friday, my doctor said that I had softened a bit and that I was about a fingertip dilated. it's not much, but it's more than the previous week. I also got all of our newborn cloth diapers prepped, woohoo! 

food cravings: 

carbs, carbs, carbs. yesterday I ate leftover mac & cheese and mashed potatoes for lunch.

food aversions: 

nothing really.

symptoms: 

the most notable (and recent) ones are the itchy belly (stretch mark related) and contractions. the contractions are getting steadily stronger, but they're still pretty irregular and not timeable.

gender sex: 

BOY! :D 

most looking forward to: 

our OB appointment tomorrow morning. fingers crossed for more progress... Mama would like to avoid an induction if at all possible!

what I miss right now: 

not wanting to rip my skin off. I'd rather have morning sickness again than the itch of these stretch marks. 

next appointment: 

tomorrow morning!

baby Q bump watch - week 38

38 weeks! heading to physical therapy, feeling like crud after a crappy couple nights of sleep. 

how far along? 

38 weeks. 

how big is the baby? 

he's weighing in at about 6.8lbs and measuring a bit over 19.5 inches long. his organs are mature enough to be ready for life outside the womb at this point.

total weight gain: 

27lbs so far. 

sleep: 

so annoying. I was up until 3am the other night for no reason at all, and then last night I was up until 1:30am. I'm so thankful I'm on bed rest, cause lots of naps are happenin' around this house.

best moment of the week: 

oh geez, lots of good things happened over the week:

1. we finally got the crib put together! I love it. it's so perfect. it was super easy to build, too. 

2. I also put together Ronin's bookcase. it needs to be filled, but it's getting there! 

3. we went up to Baltimore on Saturday evening to enjoy some delicious (aka the best in Maryland) crab cakes at one of our favorite restaurants. 

4. I had dinner with my BFF and another great friend last night... it was nice to have some girl time (and a glass of delicious moscato). 

5. we got our maternity pictures back! they are absolutely beautiful, not that I had any doubt in Jen's talents. I am so blown away by them and I'm so glad we made the decision to do them. I'll share my favorites once I upload the photos to the computer, but this link will take you to a sneak peak. ;)

also, an important event to be mentioned: 

on Thursday, I was sent over to labor & delivery after my weekly appointment, due to my OB's concerns regarding my blood pressure and my recent headaches. they wanted to run some labs (blood work and urine analysis) to make sure I did not develop pre-eclampsia. thankfully, everything came back PERFECT, so I didn't have to be admitted. I had a cervical check at my OB's office, and we are 100% high and closed, which means no effacement and no dilation as of yet. looks like Ronin is going to take his sweet time, which is fine with mama!

food cravings: 

carbs, carbs, carbs.

food aversions: 

nothing really.

symptoms: 

everything, haha. no contractions yet though!

gender sex: 

BOY! :D 

most looking forward to: 

getting more stuff done around the house. we're pretty much just waiting on him to be ready at this point. I am so excited to meet and snuggle his cute little face.

what I miss right now: 

my weekly paycheck. this is the first time I've ever been unemployed in 12 years, and I'd be lying if I said I didn't miss that money. 

next appointment: 

Friday morning.

baby Q bump watch - week 37 [FULL TERM!]

I have yet to take a bump photo today since I've been in bed with a headache for a few hours. I'll take one tomorrow. for now, here are two from last week:

heading out for a pool day with my BFF - 36 weeks, 2 days.

from Saturday - 36 weeks, 4 days.

how far along? 

37 weeks - full term! :D 

how big is the baby? 

he is about the size of a winter melon (The Bump) or a stalk of swiss chard (Baby Center) - meaning he's weighing in at over 6lbs and measuring a bit over 19 inches long. at 37 weeks, he is considered full term, meaning he's developed his most crucial functions; if he were to be born today, his lungs would likely be mature enough to full adjust to life outside the womb.

total weight gain: 

26lbs as of last Friday.

sleep: 

mostly sucky. 

best moment of the week: 

got lots of stuff done over the weekend, which I mentioned in this post. 

Sean & I also went out and celebrated our 3rd anniversary (okay, I just sobbed like a baby while watching that slideshow from our wedding. holy hormones.) over the weekend. we went to Mike's Crabhouse and enjoyed some Maryland Blue Crabs. I may or may not have treated myself to a sip of his Sam Adam's Summer Ale, too. ;)

we had an ultrasound at our appointment on Friday, which is always awesome. his hand was in front of his face (jerk), but we confirmed that he IS indeed head down. my OB said I'm measuring right on time, which is great to hear as well. oh, and since Sean was able to come to my appointment with me, I had him record Ronin's heartbeat on his phone so I can listen to it whenever I want. 

food cravings: 

this week, it's a toss up between fresh fruit and sweet carbs. I've been indulging in donuts, muffins, and bagels with strawberry preserves. yum!

food aversions: 

nothing really.

symptoms: 

believe it or not, for being so close to delivering, I feel pretty good. thanks to a prescription from my OB, the headaches have mostly subsided (with the exception of the bastard headache I have today). physical therapy is working wonders for my achy pelvis and Zantac has eliminated my heartburn (for the most part). my discomfort mainly just comes from being so large, haha. I find it difficult to get comfortable at night, and walking with this big ol belly is awkward, to say the least. 

gender sex: 

BOY! :D 

most looking forward to: 

just making more preparations (I have daily to-do lists) and enjoying my last few weeks of pre-motherhood. I'm taking lots of naps and soaking up my alone time while it lasts. I have to say, I'm really going to miss being pregnant. I love feeling Ronin move inside my belly and although I am more than ready to meet his cute face, I know that the end of pregnancy will leave me feeling bittersweet.

what I miss right now: 

I was really pining for an over easy egg this morning.

next appointment: 

Thursday morning.

hospital bag check list

I put this list together a few weeks ago, and finally got our bag packed this past weekend (minus everyday used items). 

I bought travel size toiletries so that I wouldn't have to worry about packing our shampoos and soaps at the last minute. 

under the advice of our birth class instructor, I put brightly colored and patterned pillow cases on our pillows we plan to bring with us so that the hospital staff won't accidentally mistake them for hospital pillows and steal them. 

HOSPITAL BAG CHECKLIST

FOR THE MAMA:

-          insurance card/ID/wallet/birth plan (all in my purse already)

-          cell phone charger

-          toothbrush/toothpaste

-          contact case/glasses/contact solution

-          shampoo & conditioner

-          body wash

-          deodorant

-          makeup

-          lotion

-          chapstick

-          headband

-          camera bag with lenses and charger

-          pillow & blankie (this is the blanket I sleep with, made by my grandma)

-          yoga pants

-          nursing tank

-          hoodie

-          socks

-          granny panties/comfy undies

-          breast pump (just in case)

FOR THE PAPA:

-          toothbrush

-          shampoo

-          body wash

-          deodorant

-          extra clothes (basketball shorts, tee shirt, boxer briefs)

-          pillow

-          laptop & charger

FOR THE RONIN:

-          coming home outfit (I packed a single onesie, a separate shirt & pants outfit, and a one piece sleeper... just to have options)

-          car seat (in the car already, duh)

-          receiving blankets (to practice swaddling before we leave)

if there are any mamas out there that would recommend adding anything else to my bag, please feel free to let me know in the comments. I tossed around the idea of bringing the Boppy, but I decided it was probably not necessary. 

so, this is happening.

so, the nursery isn't done. not even close. as in... the trim has yet to be painted and the crib is still in a box in our bedroom. am I stressed about it? meh, sometimes. but because I am a paranoid first time mama our bedroom is on a different level than the nursery, Ronin will be residing in our bedroom for the first few months. I'm thinking he'll be rooming with us for 4-6 months, but it could be shorter or longer, depending on my comfort level. 

as I started to realize that the nursery is just NOT going to be complete before his arrival, I had a list of a few key things that NEEDED to be done to prepare. and I am happy to say that we are in a good place when it comes to that progress now - I feel like Ronin could join us today (but please don't, little one... we want those little lungs to be 100% ready for life) and I'd feel comfortable bringing him home. we got everything done this weekend, so I thought I'd share that progress here with you guys. 


#1. hospital bag is PACKED! with the exception of items we use everyday (toothbrushes, cell phone chargers, etc), we are ready to go! I looked a few sample packing lists online, but I ended up really just going with what I think I'd need. obviously, I don't know if I have everything covered or not, but we're a short drive from the hospital, so I can always send Sean home if I forget something. I will share my list in a separate post later today for those expecting mamas who are curious. 

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#2. the one thing I knew we needed to set up before bringing Ronin home was the Pack N Play, since that will be his bed/my command center for the first few months. we got the Graco PNP with the newborn napper and the changing table attachment so that I could use it in the living room during the day, and therefore avoiding going up and down stairs all day long. 

Sean surprised me one night a few weeks ago and put it together for me, so WOOHOO for that. also? as of this weekend, the PNP is officially Bear tested and approved. 

he seriously loves this thing. I'm pretty sure he thinks we bought it for him.

in fact, he was in the bedroom with me this morning and he walked it around meowing and meowing... so I picked him up and placed him in the newborn napper... where he proceeded to take a nap. 

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#3. another kinda-maybe-could-be-important thing we did this weekend was installing the car seat. since ya know, they won't let us leave the hospital without one, we figured it was time to go ahead and get that done. I did tons of research when it came to car seats (consulting both Baby Bargains and Lucie's List), and we ended up choosing the Chicco KeyFit 30 due to it's outstanding ratings in safety categories. I picked the "Extreme" model because I loved the orange and grey - I wanted something gender neutral so that it could be used for our next baby, regardless of the baby's sex. 

love the orange & grey. 

ready for a baby!

I love all the features and the fact that it's so light weight, although I do know it'll be a bit heavier with a baby in it, haha. it was ridiculously easy to install, and since posting the picture on Instagram, tons of people have shared how much they love their Chicco car seats, so I feel confident that we made the right choice. :)

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#4. last, but not least, a baby cannot come home unless he has clean clothes to wear! so I gathered all of his NB and 0-3 month sized clothing, wash cloths, towels, receiving blankets, socks, hats, and gowns and washed them. let me just tell you - this kid has so many clothes that there is NO WAY in hell that he'll be able to wear them all. the entire load filled up the whole washing machine... I couldn't believe just how much room was taken up by those little teeny tiny items. 

welcome to Baby Clothes Mountain.

teeny tiny side snap shirts.

teeny tiny baby socks.

I think I am officially obsessed with baby clothes. I organized them all according to size and type of clothing (short sleeve onesies, one piece sleepers, gowns) and hung them on hangers. I also went ahead and organized a basket with his bath items and put the whale spout cover over the faucet (not that he'll be bathing in the tub for a while, but I figured I might as well). all of his bath stuff is in one place and ready to be used on his cute little tush.

wash cloths, baby shampoo, bath water thermometer, etc.

___________________________________________

so there you have it - we are officially (but not really) ready for Ronin to join us. however, I am still mostly comfortable and would prefer for him to stay in there for at least two or three more weeks. I may change my mind on that at some point, but for now, I am ready and preparing to go to 40 weeks, even though I'll be full term tomorrow. full term doesn't always mean that baby is 100% ready (hello, there's a reason pregnancy is 40 weeks long and not 37 weeks long), so I won't be one of those pregnant girls trying to induce labor early or anything like that. I know that we are now on his schedule and he'll come when he's ready, whether that be today or a month from now. 

Happy Monday! 

baby Q bump watch - week 36

are those crickets I hear? so sorry for the absence around here - I've been spending a lot of time resting at home and getting the house ready for Ronin, so I haven't had much time to blog. I do plan on working on the Thirty Thangs challenge this week, though.

how far along? 

36 weeks/9 freaking MONTHS.

how big is the baby? 

Ronin weighs in at about 6lbs and measures about 18.5 inches long. he is shedding the downy covering of hair that covers his body, as well as the vernix caseosa (the waxy substance that has protected his skin during his time in the womb), both of which he will ingest. those, along with other substances, will make up the meconium that he will pass during his first bowel movements.

total weight gain: 

25lbs so far.

sleep: 

sleep? what sleep?

best moment of the week: 

we finally did maternity photos over the weekend with the fabulous Jen Lowe, who was also our wedding photographer. last night, I packed our hospital bag (minus items used everyday like toothbrushes and phone chargers), and I also separated all his NB and 0-3 month clothing to be washed today. our friend Jessica visited last week and further spoiled Ronin with lots of awesome gifts and clothes.

 

food cravings: 

lots of fresh fruit.

food aversions: 

nothing really.

symptoms: 

I've got it all (sleeplessness, headaches, pelvic pain, swollen feet, leaky breasts, heartburn/acid reflux, carpal tunnel, constipation, etc). I've even been having some Braxton Hicks contractions over the last week. I'm breathing a little easier though, so I think he may have dropped since last week.

gender sex: 

BOY! :D 

most looking forward to: 

we didn't do shit in the nursery last weekend, so this weekend will consist of that. we will also have an ultrasound at my appointment on Friday, so it will be awesome to see the little nugget. OH, and we'll be celebrating our 3rd anniversary this weekend (actual anniversary is next Wednesday)!

what I miss right now: 

being able to go an hour without peeing.

next appointment: 

Friday.

 

baby Q bump watch - week 35

how far along? 

35 weeks! that means we only have 35 days to go!

how big is the baby? 

according to Baby Center, Ronin weighs about 5.25lbs and measures about 18 inches long. his kidneys are fully developed and his liver can process some waste. his testes have most likely fully descended, too. most of his basic physical development is complete at this point, so the next few weeks will be spent plumping up.

total weight gain: 

I'm guessing 24lbs.

sleep: 

on and off, depending on the status of my pelvis and my husband's snoring. also, I think I may have been having some contractions last night, but I'm not sure.

best moment of the week: 

getting most of the stuff left on our BRU registry, making a final to-do list, and getting a much needed pedicure over the weekend.

a mile long to-do list.

food cravings: 

fresh fruit - peaches, watermelon, cantaloupe, honeydew, etc. <---- yep, same as last week. 

food aversions: 

nothing really.

symptoms: 

with the exception of Braxton Hicks contractions, I've got it all (sleeplessness, headaches, pelvic pain, swollen feet, leaky breasts, heartburn/acid reflux, carpal tunnel, constipation, etc). 

and I will be adding vision changes to this as well - I've been seeing moving spots the past few days. and I think (TMI ALERT) that I may be starting to lose some of my mucous plug, not that it means anything, because some women lose it weeks before delivery and some don't notice it at all. either way, I'll be bringing up both of these issues to my OB on Thursday.

gender sex: 

BOY! :D 

most looking forward to: 

uhh, everything. the nursery is not even CLOSE to being done, so we will be spending the ENTIRE weekend doing that. my last day of work is next Wednesday (WOOHOO!), so after that, I will be quite the little nesting busy bee getting the house prepared for Ronin's arrival. 

OH, and my BFF is coming home from NYC this weekend, and I can't wait to see her and her handsome hubs! 

what I miss right now: 

being comfortable in general. and beer. I could really go for a beer.

next appointment: 

Thursday.

baby Q bump watch - week 34

34 weeks, 1 day. holla. 

how far along? 

34 weeks (34 weeks, 2 days today, technically).

how big is the baby? 

little boy weighs about 4.75lbs (like a cantaloupe) and measures almost 18" long. his fat layers are filling him out, which will allow him to regulate his temperature better. he is now recognizing and reacting to songs sung by Mama, and will (fingers crossed!) be soothed by them once outside the womb.

total weight gain: 

up another 4lbs, for a total of 23lbs gained. I guess not gaining any weight for the first 20 weeks is finally catching up to me! ;)

sleep: 

still on and off. some nights are great, some are down right shitty.

best moment of the week: 

I went to a breastfeeding class last night and am SO GLAD I did. I feel so much more confident that breastfeeding will be a success for our family, given that it's extremely rare that a woman cannot physically breastfeed. there are a lot of misconceptions and myths out there regarding breastfeeding, so it's refreshing to feel a little more informed. 

my physical therapist successfully realigned my pelvis, which is awesome (it's stayed correctly positioned for over a week now), and it's really helped with the pain. 

food cravings: 

fresh fruit - peaches, watermelon, cantaloupe, honeydew, etc.

food aversions: 

nothing really.

symptoms: 

with the exception of Braxton Hicks contractions, I've got it all (sleeplessness, headaches, pelvic pain, swollen feet, leaky breasts, heartburn/acid reflux, carpal tunnel, constipation, etc).

gender sex: 

BOY! :D 

most looking forward to: 

finally finishing the painting in the nursery this weekend, a much needed pedicure on Saturday, and maternity pictures with Jen Lowe on Sunday (we had to reschedule last weekend due to weather). also? I have less than 2 weeks left of work. HALLELUJAH. 

what I miss right now: 

honestly? it really sucks to not be able to see your own vagina. 

next appointment: 

I had an appointment this morning, and because of my pre-eclampsia symptoms, I will go back in a week (the 26th) instead of the usual 2 week break. my blood work from last week was fine, but my headaches have been getting worse and my blood pressure is still high, so my OB is a tad concerned.