Today was going to be a long day spent at DGMC. Two different childbirth classes are offered: one is over three Wednesday nights and the other takes place all day on a Friday. I really wanted the Wednesday night class as I felt more information would be covered over three classes as opposed to just one full day. However, the Wednesday night classes were full and with Mark's work schedule, which rotates every week, the Friday class would be a better bet. Thus, we found ourselves making our way to David Grant at 9am.
We found the conference room and found two seats next to each other at the front of the room (only place left). They had a whole bunch of brochures out for us to take so I took a few that spoke to me. I flipped through them while Mark laid his head against the wall and tried to get a few extra zzzz.
The class soon started with us going around the room and introducing ourselves, saying our due date and what we were having. I was due the earliest. Only one other woman was due in December, after that the closest due date was February. I guess we were taking this class a wee bit late :/ I was stoked to find out that three other couples didn't know the sex of their baby either. I LOVED that because I often feel as though we are completely alone in our decision to be surprised. I know without a shadow of a doubt that we made the right decision, but when you are constantly bombarded with the opposite mind frame it can be quite hard to stand firm in your convictions. It was nice to be surrounded by a few other people who chose the surprise.
The two women running the class went on to show us a video on a live birth and all the coping mechanisms the couple did during labor. The video was alright, pretty standard. I guess as a human development major I've seen more birth videos than the average joe. I wasn't stunned by anything in it, but from Mark's expression it was something he wasn't exactly expecting. When they showed the placenta coming out, he threw his head down on the table and began making some moaning sounds. If the fact that I would soon have to push that out wasn't so real, I would have laughed at him.
After the videos we talked about the different stages of labor, what defined them, what to do during them, etc. All stuff I knew, but all stuff that was new to Mark. When he heard how long labor could take (up to 24 hours), he leaned over with this look of absolute shock on his face and asked, "Are you serious?" After talking for a bit, we got into two groups and they showed us how to enter the building after hours and where to go to get to labor and delivery.
We took a tour of the labor and delivery room and then the mother/baby ward. This was the most interesting part of the day for me as I really wanted to see where my baby would be born at. I was very happy to find out that they had showers in the laboring room. Although I really wanted a bathtub, I was happy that I would at least have some access to water. I wasn't too thrilled with the idea of having to move to another room after delivery, but it is what it is. At least it is one couple per room, which is nice to know. They have fridges for us to put food in, which Mark was really curious about since he has to have his cold Diet Pepsi. They also put a tag on the baby, which will go off if the baby is taken past all of these yellow lines on the floor. Mark is now insistent that he is going to try this out and see if the alarm really does go off if he crosses the line. I'm trying my hardest to deter him from this as all I need is my husband being tackled and arrested for attempted kidnapping.
When we were done with the tour, we broke for an hour lunch. Mark rushed us out of the hospital and drove like a mad man to Burger King for lunch. He rushed us through eating all so we could get at least 25 minutes in at the thrift store on base. It was 5 onesies for a $1 though, so I'm kinda glad for his rushing.
When we got back to the hospital, we watched another video on C-sections and pain medicines. I think Mark almost fainted when they showed the C-section. I almost fainted when they showed the epidural. One of my biggest fears in life is having something poked in my spine. I hope beyond hope that I will be able to get through labor drug free. We then watched a video on infant care and practiced swaddling a baby doll. I didn't learn anything new, but I think it was a good exposure for Mark. We then concluded the class.
After class, we went to admissions to pre-register. Mark now has a plan in his mind that my mom is going to be his wingman because the class made him realize that he doesn't think he can do this on his own. He needs someone to be there to get him a fresh Big Gulp or something to eat, so he asked the admissions person about how my Mom would be able to get on base if the visitor's center was closed. This led to a 15 minute exploration as one person asked another and then another and then another. Finally, the answer came back to call labor and delivery and have them call the front gate to notify them that we were coming. Only my husband can ask a question that leads to so much uncertainty.
I was super disappointed that we didn't do any breathing practice or natural pain management techniques. I'm planning on having a natural childbirth, so I really want to know about these things. When they weren't covered, I got a little panicky. Will I be able to do this without meds? Will I know how to breathe right? Will Mark know how to help me? Worries flooded my mind like crazy and I cried the whole way home. Mark was very reassuring and kept telling me that it would all be okay, that we would get through it and I was stronger than I thought I was. It was good to hear him being so supportive because that is what I really needed.
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
37 Week Appointment
Hi ho, hi ho, its back to the doctor's I go.
I can't seem to get away from this place. Mark wasn't able to go with me as he was working and I had to see my backup doctor since my primary doctor didn't have any openings.
I arrived at DGMC, checked in and then sat in the waiting room people watching until the tech called me back. I'm always amazed at the variety of people at the doctor's office and find it some of the primest ground for good people watching. Thankfully the back-up doctor is always running later than my primary doctor so I had a good fifteen minutes of entertainment before being called back. Some people might find this an irritant, but I kind of enjoy just sitting in the waiting room. It sure beats sitting in the doctor's office and getting poked and prodded.
I didn't really like the tech this time around. She was one of those whiny complainy people who want to tell you all the reasons why they don't like their job. Not really something I want to hear when your job is looking me over. She complained as she took my blood pressure, moaned while she took my temperature and gossiped while she asked me the standard 3 questions. I was suppose to get my GBS test done today as had been discussed at my last appointment, but she wanted to get the doctor to postpone it a week more as she didn't want to have "to go through the trouble of going to the lab." I was very thankful when she finally left the room.
The doctor came in and asked me some questions about how I was doing, etc. I had gained 8 pounds in two weeks. I almost choked when I heard that. I mean I did eat really well while camping the week before, but 8 pounds worth?!? Holy freakin' moly. I am still under my pre-pregnancy weight, but dang.
The doctor went on to say that we would be doing the GBS screen today and that he wanted to do an ultrasound to check the position of the baby. He went and got the portable ultrasound machine, gelled me up (kinda messily I might add) and proceeded to locate the baby. I gasped when I saw the baby. I still can't believe that a baby is growing inside me and seeing the photo made it real. I got teary eyed as he moved the wand over my tummy showing me more of the baby's head. The baby's head was down (YEAH!!). He then went on to do some measurements to check the space between the baby and the placenta. He was a little concerned about this since the biggest gap was only 2 centimeters, but from how I understand it, this is a good thing. As the baby runs out of space, labor is caused. He told me to have my primary doctor look at it next week.
The doctor then left to have me undress from the waist down to do the GBS test. When I found out that I had to do the GBS test at my last appointment, I researched it like I do everything else. I have to say that Goggle is one of my best friends. I knew that I would be swabbed inside the vagina and then my rectum swabbed as well, but the Internet was very unclear if that meant the outside or the inside. Turns out it means the inside. I wasn't entirely looking forward to this and just wanted to get it over with. I undressed and sat down on the table underneath a drape to wait for the doctor to come back. Well, Miss Unhappy Nurse came back in to make sure everything was ready for the exam. She had left out the swab earlier, but got super upset because she thought the doctor had changed the swab for another one (the doctor never touched it). She stormed out of the room and confronted the doctor right outside the door in the hallway. I could hear her laying into him because he changed the swab, which he hadn't. It was totally a scene straight out of a tv show. I seriously wanted to get up and press my ear to the door in order to hear more!
After a bit more yelling, they both came back into the room. They quickly did the test (which although was unpleasant, wasn't painful) and then the tech stormed out of the room. The doctor told me I could get dressed and reminded me to make an appointment for next week (thankfully I already had as I was ready to leave).
I really wish Mark had made it to this appointment as he didn't believe me over all the craziness that went on.
I can't seem to get away from this place. Mark wasn't able to go with me as he was working and I had to see my backup doctor since my primary doctor didn't have any openings.
I arrived at DGMC, checked in and then sat in the waiting room people watching until the tech called me back. I'm always amazed at the variety of people at the doctor's office and find it some of the primest ground for good people watching. Thankfully the back-up doctor is always running later than my primary doctor so I had a good fifteen minutes of entertainment before being called back. Some people might find this an irritant, but I kind of enjoy just sitting in the waiting room. It sure beats sitting in the doctor's office and getting poked and prodded.
I didn't really like the tech this time around. She was one of those whiny complainy people who want to tell you all the reasons why they don't like their job. Not really something I want to hear when your job is looking me over. She complained as she took my blood pressure, moaned while she took my temperature and gossiped while she asked me the standard 3 questions. I was suppose to get my GBS test done today as had been discussed at my last appointment, but she wanted to get the doctor to postpone it a week more as she didn't want to have "to go through the trouble of going to the lab." I was very thankful when she finally left the room.
The doctor came in and asked me some questions about how I was doing, etc. I had gained 8 pounds in two weeks. I almost choked when I heard that. I mean I did eat really well while camping the week before, but 8 pounds worth?!? Holy freakin' moly. I am still under my pre-pregnancy weight, but dang.
The doctor went on to say that we would be doing the GBS screen today and that he wanted to do an ultrasound to check the position of the baby. He went and got the portable ultrasound machine, gelled me up (kinda messily I might add) and proceeded to locate the baby. I gasped when I saw the baby. I still can't believe that a baby is growing inside me and seeing the photo made it real. I got teary eyed as he moved the wand over my tummy showing me more of the baby's head. The baby's head was down (YEAH!!). He then went on to do some measurements to check the space between the baby and the placenta. He was a little concerned about this since the biggest gap was only 2 centimeters, but from how I understand it, this is a good thing. As the baby runs out of space, labor is caused. He told me to have my primary doctor look at it next week.
The doctor then left to have me undress from the waist down to do the GBS test. When I found out that I had to do the GBS test at my last appointment, I researched it like I do everything else. I have to say that Goggle is one of my best friends. I knew that I would be swabbed inside the vagina and then my rectum swabbed as well, but the Internet was very unclear if that meant the outside or the inside. Turns out it means the inside. I wasn't entirely looking forward to this and just wanted to get it over with. I undressed and sat down on the table underneath a drape to wait for the doctor to come back. Well, Miss Unhappy Nurse came back in to make sure everything was ready for the exam. She had left out the swab earlier, but got super upset because she thought the doctor had changed the swab for another one (the doctor never touched it). She stormed out of the room and confronted the doctor right outside the door in the hallway. I could hear her laying into him because he changed the swab, which he hadn't. It was totally a scene straight out of a tv show. I seriously wanted to get up and press my ear to the door in order to hear more!
After a bit more yelling, they both came back into the room. They quickly did the test (which although was unpleasant, wasn't painful) and then the tech stormed out of the room. The doctor told me I could get dressed and reminded me to make an appointment for next week (thankfully I already had as I was ready to leave).
I really wish Mark had made it to this appointment as he didn't believe me over all the craziness that went on.
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
The Beach for Thanksgiving
Pismo is one of the most wonderfulest places in the world. I love going there and sitting out on the beach, watching the waves roll in and the lifted Chevy's roll by. You can hear the quads in the background as they tear through the dunes, competing with the seagulls squawking on the beach. It is pleasantly warm in November and the sunsets can make you cry with their beauty. This is where we love to spend our Thanksgivings.
This year it was up for debate on whether or not we would be able to make it since I would 36 weeks pregnant. However, Mark ensured our trip by getting us a toyhauler. This is something that we had been saving up for the last three years, so it wasn't by any means a quick or unthoughout purchase. Since my ready access to the bathroom was now guarenteed, we were off for five days of bliss.
I have to admit this trip was a bit hard for me. I feel so selfish for even saying so since I have been blessed with the greatest gift of all, but having to stay at camp 24-7, watching everyone else drive off on their quads was a bit hard to deal with. I wanted to join in on the fun, but there is no way I would ever in a million years risk anything happening to my baby. Thus, I was stuck at camp working on my DRDPs (icky, icky, icky work stuff).
Although this trip brought forth my jealous streak, it also reminded me of what a wonderful life I want my child to have. Pismo is where they will get to spend their Thanksgiving, where they will have a chance to play in the sand and soak up the sun, where they will get to experience eating deep fried turkey in a lawn chair and where they will be exposed to our love of riding. It is a place where they will be exposed to our family traditions.
This year it was up for debate on whether or not we would be able to make it since I would 36 weeks pregnant. However, Mark ensured our trip by getting us a toyhauler. This is something that we had been saving up for the last three years, so it wasn't by any means a quick or unthoughout purchase. Since my ready access to the bathroom was now guarenteed, we were off for five days of bliss.
I have to admit this trip was a bit hard for me. I feel so selfish for even saying so since I have been blessed with the greatest gift of all, but having to stay at camp 24-7, watching everyone else drive off on their quads was a bit hard to deal with. I wanted to join in on the fun, but there is no way I would ever in a million years risk anything happening to my baby. Thus, I was stuck at camp working on my DRDPs (icky, icky, icky work stuff).
Although this trip brought forth my jealous streak, it also reminded me of what a wonderful life I want my child to have. Pismo is where they will get to spend their Thanksgiving, where they will have a chance to play in the sand and soak up the sun, where they will get to experience eating deep fried turkey in a lawn chair and where they will be exposed to our love of riding. It is a place where they will be exposed to our family traditions.
35 week appointment
Baby, don't get me wrong. I love you more than anything, but I'm not so fond of all of these doctor appointments. Thankfully, I like my doctor a lot, but I'm still quite leery of all of this medical intervention/examination.
Mark was able to go with me this time and I always find the visits that much more pleasant when he is able to come along. I think its because he engages the doctor in a lively banter of back and forth questioning. He gets to ask a question and then she gets to ask a question, back and forth they go through the entire appointment. Half the time I think they forget I'm even there, which is fine with me.
Today their conversation went something like this:
Doctor: Have you though anymore about giving up smoking? (This of course is directed toward your Daddy, since I don't smoke and would never put you in that sort of danger).
Mark: Yeah, I'll get around to it before the baby is born. What does it mean with her keep measuring larger with the tape measure thingy (yes he said thingy and he is referring to the fundal height)?
Doctor: That just means that her uterus is a bit larger than it should be, but since its been larger this entire pregnancy, it's not something to worry about.
Mark: So does that mean...
Doctor: Hold up...its my turn for a question first.
It's actually quite entertaining. You are doing great though and the doctor says everything is going as it should be. Your heart rate is still nice and strong and you are already in a head down position. It looks like you are getting ready to make your grand entrance to this world, which I can't wait for!
Oh and before I forget Mark said the most craziest thing today. Before the doctor came in, the tech was asking me some questions. She asked me if I felt safe at home. Mind you, I know that a lot of doctor's make this a routine question for pregnant women, but this is the first time I had ever been asked. Before I could answer her, Mark said, "I don't see why not. We have two big ass dogs." I laughed so hard, I fell off my seat. The tech was even chuckling. After she left, I had to explain to Mark that she meant did I feel safe with him or was he abusing me. I think he was actually a bit embarrassed.
Mark was able to go with me this time and I always find the visits that much more pleasant when he is able to come along. I think its because he engages the doctor in a lively banter of back and forth questioning. He gets to ask a question and then she gets to ask a question, back and forth they go through the entire appointment. Half the time I think they forget I'm even there, which is fine with me.
Today their conversation went something like this:
Doctor: Have you though anymore about giving up smoking? (This of course is directed toward your Daddy, since I don't smoke and would never put you in that sort of danger).
Mark: Yeah, I'll get around to it before the baby is born. What does it mean with her keep measuring larger with the tape measure thingy (yes he said thingy and he is referring to the fundal height)?
Doctor: That just means that her uterus is a bit larger than it should be, but since its been larger this entire pregnancy, it's not something to worry about.
Mark: So does that mean...
Doctor: Hold up...its my turn for a question first.
It's actually quite entertaining. You are doing great though and the doctor says everything is going as it should be. Your heart rate is still nice and strong and you are already in a head down position. It looks like you are getting ready to make your grand entrance to this world, which I can't wait for!
Oh and before I forget Mark said the most craziest thing today. Before the doctor came in, the tech was asking me some questions. She asked me if I felt safe at home. Mind you, I know that a lot of doctor's make this a routine question for pregnant women, but this is the first time I had ever been asked. Before I could answer her, Mark said, "I don't see why not. We have two big ass dogs." I laughed so hard, I fell off my seat. The tech was even chuckling. After she left, I had to explain to Mark that she meant did I feel safe with him or was he abusing me. I think he was actually a bit embarrassed.
Maternity Photos with Ashlee Gadd
Dear Baby,
Today your daddy and I got some pictures taken with a photographer. Your daddy thought I was silly for wanting to do this, but when I really really want something, he rarely tells me no. Plus your daddy and I have never had our photos professionally taken since our wedding photographer was a total flake (I'm sure you'll hear about this one day).
I wanted to capture you before you were even born. Even though I'm the only one (well sometimes your daddy too when you let him) who can feel you, I know without a shadow of a doubt that you are extremely loved already. I wanted some pictures to capture that love because every time I look down at your expanding baby bump, I'm filled with nothing but extreme love for you. I love to watch you move and dance on my stomach and your movements make me know that you are really there and not just a figment of my imagination.
I'm sure you'll see all of these photos. Don't be scared by your daddy. The photographer had to tell him to stop looking so angry, but don't be alarmed, that's just his look. Your daddy has a huge heart and I know that he will love you with all of it. His face has nothing to do with how he feels about you.
Love you more than anything,
Your Mama
Baby Shower - November 5, 2011
{Sift Cupcakery is the greatest! They made little owls to imitate the shower invites! }
{33 weeks pregnant and some change}
{3 generations (4 if you count baby)}
{Me and my grandmas <3}
It was a great day full of fun, laughter and love. It's exciting to know that our child is not only already adored by Mark and I, but also by our friends and family.
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
When I Knew Our Family Was Ready for Three
It took eight months for it to happen, but in one gesture and five words, Mark showed me that he was as committed to our new family as I was.
I was lying in bed getting ready to go asleep (mind you my bedtime is now somewhere around 8:30 or 9pm), when Mark knelt by the edge of the bed. He kissed me good night and then bent over and kissed my tummy. "I love both of you," he said as he tucked us in.
My heart melted in that second. With that I knew without a shadow of a doubt that our family was ready to increase by one. Isn't it amazing how the simplest gestures, the simplest words are the ones that turn your heart upside down?
I was lying in bed getting ready to go asleep (mind you my bedtime is now somewhere around 8:30 or 9pm), when Mark knelt by the edge of the bed. He kissed me good night and then bent over and kissed my tummy. "I love both of you," he said as he tucked us in.
My heart melted in that second. With that I knew without a shadow of a doubt that our family was ready to increase by one. Isn't it amazing how the simplest gestures, the simplest words are the ones that turn your heart upside down?
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