What Happened in Weeks 32 & 33

Now that it has been almost two weeks since I last posted, I suppose I can update the blog again.

On March 3rd we had our last doctor's appointment. Dr. B actually had to go see another OB patient at the hospital so we met with her Nurse Practitioner Cathy. She is also a very nice woman. Everything was good at the appointment from my weight to the baby's heartbeat. Cathy, who is also a labor and delivery nurse as well as having taught years of Natural Childbirth classes, and having 10 kids of her own was a fount of knowledge. She showed me the pelvic thrust move (on your hands and knees moving your pelvis up and down to help shift the baby and stretch) which has been really helpful when the Niesling starts making me uncomfortable. She said if you do it before bed it helps most women sleep. I have been neglecting that pre-bedtime exercise and haven't been sleeping well, so I guess tonight I will start up again!

Our next appointment is not until the 23rd as Dr. B will be out during the week I should have had my two week appointment. After the next appointment, which is during week 36, I will be going in once a week for a check up until delivery.

Eric and I also decided that I will be done with work after the last week of March (barring any unforeseen complications). After that I can get everything ready, from washing baby clothes and setting up the baby's room to just resting up for labor and having the Niesling. Part of me is worried about keeping myself occupied for that time, but I'm sure it will fly by and no one actually knows when Eli will be making his grand entrance.

Last night I attended the local hospital's breastfeeding class. I already knew a majority of the information from reading books and attending the childbirth prep class, but I did learn a few new pieces. And yes, I will be breastfeeding Eli. It just seems like the natural choice, why wouldn't I choose to do so?

At the end of the class I got to tour the hospital's labor and delivery rooms. They have an excellent set up where you stay in the same room that you give birth in. They will only take you off the floor if you have to go downstairs to surgery for a c-section. The hospital also lets you keep the baby in-room as much as you like or you can choose to have them in the nursery while you rest and recover. The rooms also include cable TV, DVD/VCRs, wireless internet, and my favorite part, whirlpool tubs. I don't know how much distraction I will need during labor, but I will probably take advantage of the tub. According to the nurse, they want to monitor the baby for at least 20 minutes of every hour while you're laboring, but other than that you can be in the bath or up and walking.

Needless to say, I feel much better having seen the hospital and where we will be during delivery. Eric did not attend the class with me, but I hope to get him to the hospital soon just so he can get a tour as well so he knows where the heck he's going when the big time comes.

Other than those two exciting events, the last couple weeks have been relatively quiet. I'm so tired at the end of the day that I can't work up the energy to do much. We spend the majority of our time relaxing. There's still plenty of bathroom trips all day, as well as getting up at night because I can't sleep. I've been eating constantly as well (those three rounds of breakfast are great!).

The Niesling is running out of room to move now. When I'm sitting at work or home he's constantly moving and pushing my belly out. I've just reached the point where it's uncomfortable, but I'm fine with that. I can take a little less comfort as long as my baby is healthy and still doing well. He also usually has the hiccups at least once a day. This occurs after I've eaten and am relaxing on the couch or (of course) when I'm trying to sleep at night. Eric can feel the little movements with the hiccups and it makes him smile every time.

Like I said, everything is going great, we're just trying to survive the next 5-6 weeks before we get to meet our little man.

Week 32

Week 33