Swollen Like a Balloon

I'm beginning to swell. Ankles, feet, wrists, fingers... no more wedding ring, no more bracelets. Even my watch is leaving marks. When I type for too long, I have trouble bending my knuckles. But none of this is as annoying as my swelling feet.

After a long day today (and a long day yesterday), my feet were actually bruised from my shoes. I am currently writing this entry with my feet, ankles and calves submerged in our beverage cooler. Dave filled it with hot water and lavender milk. I feel better.

Babies, Babies, Everywhere

So when we got pregnant seven months ago, we didn't have any friends with babies. None. And people started telling us, "Just wait. As soon as you have a kid, you'll make friends with lots of people who have babies." Yeah, right, we thought. Like these people would just magically drop into our life.

Well... we were wrong, and those people with the advice were correct. We had a baby/toddler-centered weekend, something that would have NEVER happened last year at this time.

On Saturday we attended lunch at our Rabbi's house, who is pregnant and has a toddler of her own. And there was another two-year old and his mom present, and a couple who is due in two weeks, and another couple named David and Sarah who have a 6 month old. Babies, babies, everywhere. Dave was so overwhelmed he insisted we drive straight to Babies R Us and pick up our new crib.

Then last night we hosted our annual Oscar Party, and our friends Jason and Kira brought Silas, age two weeks, who is tiny and sleeps a lot. Purna the cat really liked his car seat. Babies, babies, everywhere. I was so overwhelmed I went to sleep and dreamed of our baby's first birthday, with all those little people present. How great that you can be born into this world and already have friends!

Prenatal Yoga Class is My Friend

This morning I attended my second prenatal yoga class - and it is amazing. First of all, everyone is pregnant! I know this seems obvious, but being pregnant all by yourself can be a little lonely, and attending an exercise class with other pregnant people makes you feel normal and less... awkward, especially when you're doing squats.

Secondly, the instructor, Edie, is Grandma-aged (of course, she looks like she's 35, but...) and does this out of the goodness of her heart rather than for the money. We use a yoga center's space, but we pay Edie directly. And it's a very minimal amount.

Thirdly, Edie teaches us labor and delivery techniques, breathing exercises, basic yoga, all rolled into one. This class might be more worthwhile than the childbirth prep class Dave and I took for five weeks in Jan-Feb through the hospital.

Fourthly, Edie asks people for specific physical pains/discomforts and then targets the class directly - for instance, today a woman said she was having sharp pains from her sciatic nerve (something that plagued me two weeks ago and is excruciatingly difficult to stretch out), and Edie changed some of our routine and incorporated positions to take off the pressure on our sciatic nerve. Beautiful!

I *heart* prenatal yoga. Hooray that the class exists and isn't financially out of our league!

Brain Turns to Mush; House and Car Suffer

I kept hearing about pregnancy brain, which is a symptom of pregnancy that includes scattered thoughts and trouble concentrating. Pregnancy brain is pretty much preparing women for child-rearing, I've been told. But so far, I had escaped. Some minimal incidents occurred, yet they were relegated to forgetting to ask someone a question when I saw them in the hallway or misplacing my eyeglasses in the house. Minor, no big deal...

And then I hit the house with my car. I swear that the house just jumped out of nowhere and got in my way. I pulled a little siding off the house (which I pushed back in) and scraped off a minimal amount of vehicle paint near the wheel well. Otherwise, no harm, no foul.

Then I drove to school, parked in the lot, had a full day, and as I was leaving the parking lot, I put the car in reverse and drove right into the car behind me. I got out and looked - the bumpers touched, the structure of both was unchanged, no paint was removed... again, no harm, no foul. But TWO incidents in one day? After having a stellar record of NO HITS since a 2am occurrence in 2001? How was this happening to me?

I was going to blame the weather. Or lack of sleep. Or lack of caffeine in the mornings. But I have to be honest. I have pregnancy brain.

My Temporary Handicapped Parking Permit

During college my parents lived in Germany, and I was fortunate to visit two summer in a row. One cultural difference that was very new to me, and to most Americans, is the Third Trimester Parking Spaces all over the place. They weren't just in front of doctor's offices; they were in metropolitan parking garages in Cologne, in front of the H&M in Bonn, at the airport in Frankfurt... everywhere.

Fast forward 8 years to Syracuse, New York, the land of winter and ice and everything nice. I love winter, but I am having a bit of a problem with it this year. My balance just isn't what it used to be, seeing as I'm carrying 20 extra pounds right out front, and skating down the icy driveway is no longer fun - now it's terrifying.

I also park in no man's land on the SU campus, and even though it is supposedly "handicap accessible" - the whole thing is uphill on ice.

And there is no such thing as Third Trimester Parking in the States, unless you count my doctor's office and the Babies R Us parking lot.

So I asked my ob if the office could help me acquire a temporary handicap parking permit- and they said certainly. It took a couple of days to figure out HOW to actually apply for a permit in the city, but now I have one. And it has already contributed to my peace of mind substantially. I only use it when the weather is nasty, and since we have a large winter storm rolling in tonight, I am fortunate to have this little red sign in my possession.

Crib Crisis!

Dave and I thought we were being responsible by ordering and paying for our crib 4 weeks ago. The crib would take between 10 and 12 weeks for delivery, so by ordering early, we were giving ourselves a lot of time to put together the baby room and move out/rearrange the other furniture. We pride ourselves on being organized like this.

And then Babies R Us called on Thursday to report that the crib we ordered had been discontinued, and it took the company 4 whole weeks to report this information to us. Suddenly, we were in crisis mode - we only have approximately 10 weeks left in this pregnancy, and the crib might arrive post-delivery if it took the manufacturer 12 weeks to deliver it! Not that the crib arriving late would be horrible, but still... our organization didn't matter. We no longer had a crib, the one and only piece of furniture for the baby that we've actually bought.

And shopping for a crib in early January had been a pain - we didn't realize how picky we were until we got down to buying one, and then a lot of little things mattered. For example, not all cribs have a drop-down mechanism for one side, and as a petite person, there is just no way I can reach into a full-sized crib and pick up a baby with my short arms. Not to mention the process of changing the crib's sheet. This drop-down feature was important us, and you'd be surprised how many cribs don't have this. Apparently all Americans are now American Gladiator-sized. As are their houses, because many of the cribs we looked at are too large for the baby's bedroom.

Also, we live in a geographical area where baby furniture is relegated to Babies R Us and Target - we looked in regular furniture stores, but no luck. And forget specialty baby boutiques - they don't exist in Central New York, nor could we afford a $900 crib. So our choices of merchants were limited if we actually wanted to see the crib first. We had looked at some cribs online, but without being able to actually see how tall they were, measure them, play with the drop down sides, and see and feel their materials, I didn't want to buy something sight unseen. Some cribs are made from something called, "Manufactured Wood" which is plastic with wood grain painted on it - I never would have known this unless I got to see the stuff in Babies R Us and decide we weren't putting our kid in a plastic crib with painted-on wood grain.

So Friday evening before dinner, Dave and I dragged Paula and Azzy to Babies R Us to find a crib pronto. Even though we had spent a lot of time there already, the store manager who called about the discontinued crib reported that they had new models on the floor, and they were giving us a 10% discount on any other crib we bought. And lo and behold - we found one we liked even better than the original crib, and it'll be arriving next week.

Crisis averted!

Dave Has Enough: "Stop Bludgeoning Me with the Baby"

I'm carrying a wide load, and I'm carrying all of it straight out front. I still have a waist, an hour-glass figure even. I also have the largest belly imaginable, and it's only getting bigger with every passing day.

So I'm making some adjustments, like sitting farther back from the computer desk at the clinic and angling myself at the dinner table because the belly doesn't fit underneath. Don't get me started on washing dishes - I can do the plates and silverware ok, but as soon as I try to wash the pots, with my short arms at odd angles because I have to stand so far from the sink... I beg off and leave them for Dave.

A baby gut is not a beer gut - it doesn't move out of the way, it can't be sucked in, and it's hard as a rock. Think of it as an extra appendage.

And I love my husband. A lot. (Has that come across in these entries? We have been accused of being sickeningly cute with each other, which is why it's a good thing no one else lives with us). I get excited when he arrives home, or when we cross paths as I beeline toward the bathroom, or when I decide that it's time to go disturb him as he does his homework.

So with all my enthusiasm in mind, picture me rushing toward my husband and almost knocking him over with the belly. Bam! Dave grabbed the counter and remained upright, but he almost hit the floor. And then he had to say the following words: stop bludgeoning me with the baby!

Never did I consider that I would be responsible for abusing my husband with our child in utero. This is my public mea culpa - sorry, Dave!

Leg Cramps and Fish Tea

I have leg cramps in my right leg. And they are painful and all-consuming and last days and days and days. I tried foot baths and elevating my feet and drinking lots of water, all without any alleviation.

So Chris the Doula suggested I try some nettle tea, as it helps leg cramps. So...yesterday I went to the health food store and bought some stinging nettles to make into tea, and today after school I steeped the nettles. While I was waiting for the tea to be ready, I busied myself putting away dishes, and as I did, I could smell a strong fishy smell near the sink. I sniffed around, thinking Dave had made a tuna fish sandwich for lunch, or something was rotting in the garbage, or... no. It was the nettle tea. It smells like fish. And anyone who knows me knows that fish is not my friend.

I added honey to the tea, and it doesn't taste that bad (although I do detect some fishiness). The smell, though, is almost over-powering.

Leg cramps or fish tea? Right now the leg cramps are so bad that I'm holding my nose and drinking the steaming, smelly liquid. But really... is there any better way to torture me than fish tea?

Our Doula, Chris

Dave and I have hired a doula (pronounced doo-lah) for our labor & delivery. Her name is Chris, she has two children of her own, and she will be with us for the full labor & delivery. Doulas provide education, experience, & emotional support for laboring parents, and they also provide post-partum services/ newborn care. Doulas are not midwives, but labor assistants - they know all those little secrets to childbirth, such as helpful labor positions that use gravity rather than sheer pushing force.

Studies have found that doula-assistance decreases the rate of cesarean birth by 50%, decreases the amount of laboring time by 25%, and decreases the need for pain medication by 30%. Doulas also provide support to labor partners - Dave is so emotionally-invested in the birth that we had some worries that Dave might not react logically during the birth, but instead instinctively (you've started contractions? Let's go to the hospital NOW instead of staying home for the next 8 hours, just in case...).

I had first heard of doulas when we lived in California - a high school friend of Ouida's told me that his girlfriend was training to be a doula, and after a brief conversation, I realized that either I wanted to be a doula or else I wanted a doula with me during my labor. Seeing as how I am going to be a lawyer instead, I guess I get option B.

Central New York has an extensive doula network - some of the doulas are trained & certified, and others are in the process of gaining enough experience. Chris has asked if a doula-in-training can attend our birth as well, so actually there will be four of us in the room: me, Dave, Chris, and the Doula-in-Training.

Dave and Baby Have Their First Private Moment

If you don't already know this, Dave is a big political junkie, and Super Tuesday was the first time either of us have voted in a primary during an election year. And Dave was excited. And Dave didn't want to go to bed last night because he didn't know how California had voted yet in either the Republican or Democratic primaries. So I went to bed, and Dave stayed in the living room and flipped back and forth through the TV channels hunting for results until he finally got some answers.

In the meantime, I fell soundly asleep.

Dave then got into bed, and I was on fire! Hot, hot, hot. And Dave was kind of cold, so he snuggled up next to me to use my body as a radiator, and in the process, put his hand on the belly. And what a surprise! The baby started kicking, rumbling and tumbling, and Dave lay there feeling the baby's movement for a good five minutes. All the while, I was completely asleep - thus, it was the first time that Dave and baby have had a private moment to themselves. I like to imagine what Dave looked like as he held his hand to my tummy, what Dave felt with his hand, how thrilling it must have been for him to have this little moment with his child.

Look What Three Weeks Can Do!

Well. I thought that I wasn't really growing that much, and then I decided to take a picture this evening to post on the blog... and WOW! The top picture is at week 25, and the bottom picture (taken today) is week 28. I can't believe how much we've grown!!!

ps - do you like my pregnancy pants? Hallelujah for spandex! Mom bought these for me at Pea in the Pod, in case anyone's interested.

pps - click on the photos to enlarge them, if necessary

I Fall in Love with My Tummy

Generally I've been sort of gawking at my pregnant tummy so far. I didn't feel very attached to it - instead I've felt attached to the baby. But the belly? Ugh. The tummy was in the way, it made me feel overweight, it hurt my back... And when I sat down, it deflated like a balloon. Bleh.

I've felt attached to the baby for some time now, but the belly was its own thing - it was the outward manifestation of the pregnancy, whereas the baby was a little person growing inside. And in my mind, those were two different issues.

This morning as I toweled off after my shower, I took a good hard look in the mirror, and I didn't feel revulsion or embarrassment at all. Instead I felt a little part of my heart turn to complete mush. I fell in love with my tummy this morning.

Can Baby Pick a Superbowl Winner?

We're not sure who the baby will root for today in the Superbowl - the NY Giants or the NE Patriots? Dave's a Jets fan (please give him a little love, as he is disappointed season after season). I haven't decided whom to root for yet - the underdogs? Or support a team that's chasing perfection? I think I'll wait until kickoff to pledge my allegiance.

But the baby... the baby lets itself be known at certain times. The baby loves Professor Kelder, who makes funny voices when describing Constitutional Criminal Procedure Supreme Court Cases. The baby is silent when I talk in class. The baby thinks Neil Young songs played by Dave on the guitar are incredible. The baby doesn't seem to care for the radio. So we're going to have a little experiment today to determine how this baby roots in the Superbowl contest. Will baby flip for Tom Brady? Punch me in the ribs after Eli Manning makes a pass? We'll see what happens, and whether baby's responses lead to Superbowl victory. (If this works, Dave and I are heading to the Turning Stone Casino tonight to gamble! I'll never be a gambler, but maybe baby knows something I don't about roulette?)

Welcome to the Third Trimester!

Here we are! The third trimester! Hooray!

This information means the following:
1. We attend ob appointments every two weeks until the end of March, and then our appointments occur every week until delivery
2. We only have 12 weeks to go (give or take)
3. I'll probably gain about 1 lb a week from now on
4. The baby has a very good chance of surviving if born at this point
5. We have a lot to do from now until then

Today we had an ob appointment, and I've gained twenty pounds since August. That explains why my back is so sore -- all that weight is right out front. I feel bad for men with big beer bellies. But not as bad as I feel for pregnant women!

We also learned that my stomach is measuring at 30 weeks rather than 28 weeks. No one has really explained what that means, nor is this the first time we've been told as much. At our 20 week sonogram the baby was measuring at 21.5 weeks, but they decided not to change our due date. Today I again asked if they would change our due date, to which we were told no. So what's the point of being told we're measuring two weeks farther along??? I don't really know. The problem with today's medical technology is definitely TMI -- too much information. I'm glad they tell us so much, but then I wonder what I'm supposed to get out of the information, besides concern and curiosity. I'm not worried about this new info, but I am a little tired of being told medical info to which there is no point. If the info could help me plan my school schedule a little better and be better prepared in the event I went into labor two weeks early, then I would welcome the news. But to receive this info and then be told, "It's just something to be aware of," strikes me as false. Why should I be aware of it if I'm not supposed to DO anything with the info? Besides write grumpy rumblings on our baby blog???