Update on Classes and our Pre-Admissions Appointment

Just thought I'd update a little on all the stuff that has happened in the last two days.

We had our Breastfeeding class on Tuesday. It was interesting and a lot of stuff to learn. AJ said he felt kind of stupid being there since they didn't have really anything for him, this was mostly for the Mom's. I don't think I'm going to make him come to the second half of the class since he really didn't need to be there. We learned all about the ways to hold the baby and how to get a good latch and how it takes a while for breastfeeding to actually get into a rythm, I think they said like four weeks usually. I'm excited to at least try breastfeeding, but I'm keeping an open mind in case it doesn't work out.

Yesterday we had the Baby care class... learned some stuff I didn't know and some stuff that I already did. They went over changing a diaper and swaddling a baby and how to clean the umbilical cord etc. They went over the circumcisions and how they do them and I definately do not want to have to watch that, AJ is a champ though and surprisingly said he would stay with Sam when they take care of that business. I love how involved AJ is getting in the whole thing, he is just as excited as me about it. He said that he's going to be with Sam for all the tests and stuff the nurses have to do... We can't wait for July to get here!

We also had our pre-admissions appointment yesterday, pretty straightforward, they went over all the stuff with us around the birth and hospital stay and everything else. They gave us an estimate of how much everything would cost with a no complications vaginal delivery. $1260!!! Yikes, expensive, but that's why I got this Flexible spending account.

I also called the Pediatrician, Dr. Luebbert. He's Sarah's pedi and he also went to school with my OBGYN (like 30 years ago!) and she highly reccomends him. So we got a great peer recommendation and an awesome client recommendation, so we decided it must be fate, lol. It was really pretty simple, I called and they basically told me to just put him down as the Sam's Dr when we get to the pre-admit stuff and that's all I have to do. When he's born they will call the practice and whatever Dr is on-call will come take a look at Sam. They are going to send me some info about the practice and everything though as well.

AJ and I also started talking about the delivery and what's going to happen after the birth, etc. We decided that that first hour immediately after the birth we don't want any visitors besides our Mom's who are going to be in the room for the delivery anyway. I wanted this mostly because they say that you should try breastfeeding as soon as possible after the birth while they are alert and I really don't want an audience for that, lol. AJ said that he just wants to enjoy that first time with his new family without a lot of interruptions and distractions. (He made me cry when he said that, lol.) Don't worry though, after we get moved to the post partum room (which is like approximately 1.5-2 hours after the birth,) we'll want everyone to visit!

32 weeks!

How far along?: 32 weeks!

Total Weight Gain: 15.5 pounds!!!!

How big is baby?:  Sam is around 4 lbs this week!
Food cravings?: Ice cream, I always always want Ice cream, lol.

Belly button in or out?: I have very little belly button left, though I am accepting that it will not pop. Right now it's almost gone though, lol.

What I'm looking forward to: Baby Shower! Which is only 1 week and 3 days away!!!
Milestone: We are officially in the 8th month of the pregnancy and we're taking out classes right now!

Feelings this week?: This week I'm feeling like the time is dragging, I don't know why but it just feels like this week took forever and a day to go by. Sometimes I think about how far along I am and all I can thinks is: "I'm only 32 weeks?!?!" It feels like we've got forever to go right now, even though it's only 2 months.

 

Well beyond that we had our first class yesterday, the Breastfeeding class. It was interesting, a lot to learn and a lot I already knew. I don't know why but after going to the class it makes everything seems more real.. I mean, we're going to have a baby in 8 weeks! I'm so excited and I'm not at all anxious about the birth, I'm only a little nervous about that first few moments after we bring him home, and the thought of: "Okay, we have a baby, now what?" But I know we will be fine. I'm honestly just so excited and I'm starting to feel like a kid before Christmas, lol.

Update 31 weeks!

How far along?: 31 weeks!
Total Weight Gain: 15 pounds!!!!
How big is baby?: Sam is roughly 18.5 inches long and 3 lbs 12 oz. Usually this is the time where lengthening slows down and weight gain picks up, so he could be longer or shorter at this point, but he's not going to get much longer, just bulk up!
Food cravings?: Cherries... I spent $14 on a 3lb bag of cherries at Safeway... it is early early in the season that's why they are so expensive, but man I wanted it, and it was worth it!
Belly button in or out?: I have very little belly button left, though I am accepting that it will not pop. Right now it's almost gone though, lol.
What I'm looking forward to: Baby Shower! Which is only 2 weeks and 3 days away!!!
Milestone: In 3 days I will be starting the eight month of this pregnancy, and I'll have only 2 months to go!!
Feelings this week?: I am burnt to a crisp right now!! AJ and I went fishing this morning with the dogs and I didn't think the sun was that much of a cause for concern, I was totally wrong though and am paying for it now! All in all I am feeling okay this week, I had my 31 week doctors appointment yesterday and am measuring 30 weeks right now, I am a little concerned about the growth since I was measuring 29 weeks at my 27 week appointment, but my Dr said that most likely between the 27th week and this week Sam flipped head down, and that head down babies measure smaller in the tummy than breech babies. I did freak out a little bit between my 29 week appointment and this appointment, I guess I went a little overboard thinking I wasn't eating enough and I gained 4 lbs in two weeks. She said not to worry about it and it's not a cause for concern since I am still growing along the normal lines. It's only concerning if you fall more than two weeks behind gestational age. (I.E. I'm measuring more than two centimeters behind.) AJ and I also got our maternity pictures taken today and most of them turned out great, besides the ones with me having a funny face in them. I can't wait to get them! I will post them tomorrow when I have access to the website.

Hospital Tour

AJ and I took the hospital tour today and I have to say I was rather impressed. The labor and delivery rooms are extremely nice, they are HUGE first of all, and they have a couch and a few chairs in the room, also flat screen TV and the bathroom is pretty big as well. I'll be in L&D until we have Sam and they said that after Sam is born and cleaned up as long as everything is okay that the first hour of Sam's life will be spent with us for bonding time. They actually won't take him out of the room for that first hour. I really like that concept so we get some immediate bonding time. After the first hour AJ gets to take him down to the Nursery for his first bath and a check up for the little things, and while they're doing that we get moved to the Post partum rooms. I was really expecting the post partum rooms to be really small... but it was suprisingly roomy. At least as roomy as the old L&D rooms were at Penrose Community hospital. The nice thing is that the post partum rooms have a pull out couch so AJ can be comfortable while we're there, though we both doubt we'll get much sleep that night. Penrose also said they have a "room-in" policy so that unless there are other reasons, we get Sam in our room the whole time we're there. Another thing that impressed me a ton was the security... it is nice to see how many precautions they take. They have a wrist band for me, AJ and Sam and they all match and then they will also have an electronic band that goes on Sam and me, and if he gets taken too close to the exit doors the whole hospital goes into lockdown... Nice to know I won't have to worry about that. Oh and another thing I find so sweet is that whenever a baby is born and they activate one of the electronic wristbands the hospital plays a lullabye over the intercom to announce the baby's arrival. That's pretty much it for now, but I am getting so excited that we're at this point and the day is almost here! Only 66 days to go!

Oh and if anyone wants to do a virtual tour of the birthing center, just go here: http://cos-homes.com/SFMC/6.htm and it will show you the rooms.

30 weeks Update

How far along?: 30 weeks!

Total Weight Gain: 12 pounds

How big is baby?: Sam is about 18 inches long and around 3 lbs 6 oz!
Food cravings?: Anything ice cream, I can't get enough of it right now.

Belly button in or out?: Still in, I don't know if it will pop out or not.... looks like it's going to keep stretching till it dissapears, lol.

What I'm looking forward to: Now that we're in the 3rd trimester I'm looking forward to my baby shower which is coming up in the next month!

Milestone: We are 3/4 of the way through this pregnancy, maybe more if I go early. Only 10 weeks left!

Feelings this week?: I feel like I am on the downslope now.... The second trimester was such a peak and now it's all down hill from here (in a good and bad way.) I am starting to get tired and achey a lot of the time, it is getting really hard to get a good nights sleep right now too. I'm also finding that I am listing things in my head that need to be done... I don't think I'm nesting just yet because I haven't felt any uncontrollable urge to do something, but I think that may be coming soon. Other than that I am emotional and moody and I do find it difficult to keep my emotions in check lately. I get frustrated easily. I am starting to get that impatience for July and for Sam to come into the world... Of course I am patient enough to want him to stay in there till he's ready, but I wish the days would go by a little faster.

Update!

How far along?: 29 weeks!
Total Weight Gain: 11 pounds
How big is baby?: Sam is about 17 inches long and around 3 pounds!
Food cravings?: Ice cream sandwiches and del taco.
Belly button in or out?: Still in, I don't know if it will pop out or not.... looks like it's going to keep stretching till it dissapears, lol.
What I'm looking forward to: Now that we're in the 3rd trimester I'm looking forward to my baby shower which is coming up in the next month!
Milestone: We've pretty much passed all the important milestones, now it's just plumping up and getting ready to face the world. There's only 77 days till my due date!
Feelings this week?: Hiccups, hiccups, hiccups. I swear Sam has the hiccups all the time now. At night usually. His head is also harder and when he moves I can tell where his head is versus the rest of him. I've had pretty bad allergies the last few days, but it's starting to clear up finally...I also had my Dr's appointment today it was pretty routine and very simple. The measured me and suprisingly I haven't grown any in the last two weeks, but I have gained weight... Dr. Skiles said not to worry because the position of the baby can affect the measurments. Also she asked me if we were thinking about Pediatricians yet. I told her about my Sister-in-Law Sarah's Pedi and that we were thinking of going with him...it was totally awesome because we found out that Dr. Skiles has known him for the last 20-odd years and she highly reccomends him. So if there were any doubts about whether we were going with him before, there aren't any now. It's very nice to have a reccomendation like that from not only my SIL whom I trust completely, but my Dr too. We are going to call him to see what we need to do about joining his patient list. I also scheduled us for our classes! Yay! They start at the beginning of June, but we are taking a tour on Sunday in a few weeks, then I'm scheduling my pre-admission appointment for the last Wednesday in May. I can't believe we're getting to this part already!

Update Week 28!

How far along?: 28 weeks!

Total Weight Gain: 10.5 pounds

How big is baby?: Sam should be around 2 lbs 12 oz this week. Best moment this week?: Feeling him have the hiccups for the first time.

Food cravings?: Cereal again, lol. And ice cream

Belly button in or out?: Still in, I don't know if it will pop out or not.... looks like it's going to keep stretching till it dissapears, lol.

What I'm looking forward to: Now that we're in the 3rd trimester I'm looking forward to my baby shower which is coming up in the next month!

Milestone: We've officially hit the third trimester! Yay! Only 12 more weeks to go!

Feelings this week?: Well I passed my glucose test! Yay! But I am anemic and low on iron so I have to take an iron pill on top of my prenatal vitamin. Also I am running out of breath really quickly now. I have to slow down to do things other wise I end up gasping for air. I am going to talk to the Dr about it at my next appointment, but I don't think they'll be able to do anything. My tailbone is also starting to hurt a little and I have a horrible time getting up out of a sitting position now. It is a struggle, lol. But it's all worth it when I feel my little sweetie bouncing around in there. He gets the hiccups a lot now, I first noticed it a few days ago, and now it's like he gets them once a day, lol. All in all still feeling pretty good this week, but I feel the uncomfortable part of the third trimester banging on my door.