Last night was my 39 week checkup and things are progressing similar to my last pregnancy. I'm four centimeters dilated and 80 percent effaced. Baby is dropped nicely (which causes lots of pressure on my bladder, general discomfort and trouble sleeping).
My CNP Rosalie said I'd be sure to go into labor early and have a quick delivery. I told her to stop making promises she can't keep. Actually, what I really said was "Come on, I was just as far along with my son and still ended up getting induced five days late!"
I'm hoping this weekend is the time. My preferred doctor, Dr. Barton, is on call. I'd love to avoid being in the hospital over Christmas Eve and Day. Also, I would really, really, really like to not go back to work next week. It's humiliating to say goodbye to all your coworkers on a Friday, and then have everyone stare at you the following Monday and saying "Hey, what are you doing here, weren't you supposed to have a baby by now?" I know this from experience.
In the meantime, I've had a dream that I gave birth to a beautiful baby boy, but the delivery was so quick and painless that Rick didn't make it in time. Ha!!! Actually, I think the boy part might be true, the quick part could potentially be accurate, but I'm pretty 99.9% sure the painless part is alllllll in my dreams.
Over the next several days, please cross your fingers that Rosalie might actually know more than I think she does. Let's get this baby out a bit early, if not on time!! My next checkup is scheduled for next Monday, Dec. 19...but maybe I'll have to cancel :)
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
Saturday, November 26, 2011
Just a Few More Weeks!
It's Thanksgiving weekend and I am thrilled to have 4.5 days off from work! That, and the food, family, friends and a healthy 36-week checkup appointment :)
On Black Friday morning, while all the crazies were ransacking the shelves at BestBuy and Target or sleeping off midnight shopping sprees at the Philadelphia Premium Outlets, I went to visit Dr. Barton for my internal exam. I found out that baby is nice and low, in the anterior facing position. I'm dilated 2 centimeters and about 80% effaced.
Dr. Barton was very impressed with the progress as she commented, "You were just MEANT to have babies!!" She seemed to think I was on my way to an early delivery, until I mentioned that I was similarly "ripe" for over a month before Ben had to be induced 5 days late. That stopped her in her tracks.
"Well, you're a great candidate for an induction before Christmas then!" I told her I was hoping to avoid an induction until I was a week late and getting anxious about getting in my 2011 tax deduction. She agreed that was a fine plan of action.
After my successful appointment, I headed off to a local day spa for a surprise morning of pampering with my mom, sisters-in-law Chris and Madeline, niece Beth, and Auntie Chris and Dawn. It was a glorious spa pedicure complete with a paraffin dip. If I could reach my feet, I imagine they would feel very soft :)
The last several weeks have been busy, with a surprise "Fill Your Freezer" shower hosted by fellow mom friend Kacie Hsia. Not only were her culinary and decorating skills in rare form, but the group of lady friends packed a cooler full of frozen foods to feed the Gazica family in the post-delivery period. An excellent idea for any second-time mom!
While most of my "nesting" instincts have taken the form of early Christmas shopping and present wrapping, I also have managed to sort through all the baby gear and replacing batteries where need be and washing seat covers, play mats, etc.
I've got a few weeks left at work--depending on whether Dr. Barton's theory or my personal delivery history plays out this time around. But now it's time to put up the tree while I still have the energy!
On Black Friday morning, while all the crazies were ransacking the shelves at BestBuy and Target or sleeping off midnight shopping sprees at the Philadelphia Premium Outlets, I went to visit Dr. Barton for my internal exam. I found out that baby is nice and low, in the anterior facing position. I'm dilated 2 centimeters and about 80% effaced.
Dr. Barton was very impressed with the progress as she commented, "You were just MEANT to have babies!!" She seemed to think I was on my way to an early delivery, until I mentioned that I was similarly "ripe" for over a month before Ben had to be induced 5 days late. That stopped her in her tracks.
"Well, you're a great candidate for an induction before Christmas then!" I told her I was hoping to avoid an induction until I was a week late and getting anxious about getting in my 2011 tax deduction. She agreed that was a fine plan of action.
After my successful appointment, I headed off to a local day spa for a surprise morning of pampering with my mom, sisters-in-law Chris and Madeline, niece Beth, and Auntie Chris and Dawn. It was a glorious spa pedicure complete with a paraffin dip. If I could reach my feet, I imagine they would feel very soft :)
The last several weeks have been busy, with a surprise "Fill Your Freezer" shower hosted by fellow mom friend Kacie Hsia. Not only were her culinary and decorating skills in rare form, but the group of lady friends packed a cooler full of frozen foods to feed the Gazica family in the post-delivery period. An excellent idea for any second-time mom!
While most of my "nesting" instincts have taken the form of early Christmas shopping and present wrapping, I also have managed to sort through all the baby gear and replacing batteries where need be and washing seat covers, play mats, etc.
I've got a few weeks left at work--depending on whether Dr. Barton's theory or my personal delivery history plays out this time around. But now it's time to put up the tree while I still have the energy!
Saturday, October 8, 2011
29 Weeks
Well it's been a while since my last check-up with the doctor, but it went smoothly. Not much new to report. Baby's heart rate has been around 140 and my belly's popping further out front. Ben's been going back and forth between calling the baby "brother" and "sister." So we really have no clue what to expect.
As for me, the typical growing pains of pregnancy are catching up with me in my third trimester, although overall I feel better than I did in my second trimester! In the evenings I am attached to my heating pad to help my lower back pain. I get numbness in my hands at night, but I am slowly starting to sleep through it. Gotta watch my trigger foods/drinks that cause acid reflux at night. That's about it, I'm happy to say!
I took my glucose test last weekend and passed with flying colors. I forgot how gross that stuff is to drink! I also got my rhogham shot (pain in the butt!).
Last weekend Rick painted Ben's "big boy" room a delightful shade of Disney themed Behr paint called "Bippity Boppity Blue." I ordered Toy Story bedding and we all went out to AC Moore to pick out some cool wall decals--Ben decided on Buzz Lightyear and Lightening McQueen. Today we finished the room and put up a bed rail. Ben loved snuggling up in the blankets and pointing out his favorite characters in the room.
The true test will come tonight! Hopefully the transition to the new room doesn't take too long...we only have a couple months to make sure he's ready and happy to leave that crib behind for good!
As for me, the typical growing pains of pregnancy are catching up with me in my third trimester, although overall I feel better than I did in my second trimester! In the evenings I am attached to my heating pad to help my lower back pain. I get numbness in my hands at night, but I am slowly starting to sleep through it. Gotta watch my trigger foods/drinks that cause acid reflux at night. That's about it, I'm happy to say!
I took my glucose test last weekend and passed with flying colors. I forgot how gross that stuff is to drink! I also got my rhogham shot (pain in the butt!).
Last weekend Rick painted Ben's "big boy" room a delightful shade of Disney themed Behr paint called "Bippity Boppity Blue." I ordered Toy Story bedding and we all went out to AC Moore to pick out some cool wall decals--Ben decided on Buzz Lightyear and Lightening McQueen. Today we finished the room and put up a bed rail. Ben loved snuggling up in the blankets and pointing out his favorite characters in the room.
The true test will come tonight! Hopefully the transition to the new room doesn't take too long...we only have a couple months to make sure he's ready and happy to leave that crib behind for good!
Sunday, September 4, 2011
Six Months and Counting!
Time is flying, that's for sure. In the last six weeks since my previous blog post, I've had a great ultrasound appointment and a healthy checkup.
At 20 weeks, Rick and I were happy to hear the technician in the hospital say that the baby was developing normally. Although we agreed not to find out the sex of the baby, the technician took a little too much pleasure in announcing, "I know what it is, and YOU DON'T!" Rick enjoyed that she was pushing my buttons and saying "The baby's legs were wide open, I had a perfect view."
I didn't find it as funny as he did. I felt much more curious this time around and I was really hoping there'd be some opportunity for Rick to leave the room so I could corner the technician and beg the answer out of her. No such luck.
A few weeks later I had a healthy checkup and the doctor confirmed what the technician said about the baby developing normally and my due date being right on track for Dec. 20. The baby's heart rate was back around 150, again making me smile that this little peanut was going to be a handful keeping us guessing. After all, Ben's heart rate was 150 almost my entire pregnancy.
Earlier in my pregnancy I was convinced the baby was a girl. Everything was different this time around. Particularly my posterior! Not only was I growing differently, but I began having morning sickness in my fifth month. How does that happen?!?! On one notable occasion, I was in the kitchen preparing Ben's lunch to take to daycare while he sat and ate his breakfast. I had just finished a bowl of Chex when I didn't feel so well. That entire bowlful of Chex ended up in the kitchen sink (actually, the garbage disposal. I was proud of myself for that.) I was worried that Ben would be afraid, hearing me retch loudly. But as I turned around from the sink with a smile plastered on my face, he was pointing, laughing and mocking me with fake vomiting noises.
What an adorable child I have! Maybe the second born isn't going to be the handful of the family...
Lately, I've been questioning that girl instinct. As my belly starts to grow more out in the front and up high, I can see glimpses of how I looked during my pregnancy with Ben. And Ben himself has spoken out. As we try to remind him every so often, Rick said to him one day, "You know mommy has a baby in her belly, right?" And he looked up at me and said, "It's a baby boy!"
Normally, I would roll my eyes at anyone who claimed their 2-year-old predicted his younger sibling's sex. But, Ben just doesn't show enough understanding of the baby to answer out of "wishful thinking" for a brother. It seemed like he said it out of nowhere, and said it with conviction. As if he was in on a secret that I wasn't. I don't know, for some reason it just stuck with me. And it's kept me guessing.
As curious as I am to know if it's a boy or girl, I am enjoying the curve balls. I like that the element of surprise is still there. It's more fun this way!
At 20 weeks, Rick and I were happy to hear the technician in the hospital say that the baby was developing normally. Although we agreed not to find out the sex of the baby, the technician took a little too much pleasure in announcing, "I know what it is, and YOU DON'T!" Rick enjoyed that she was pushing my buttons and saying "The baby's legs were wide open, I had a perfect view."
I didn't find it as funny as he did. I felt much more curious this time around and I was really hoping there'd be some opportunity for Rick to leave the room so I could corner the technician and beg the answer out of her. No such luck.
A few weeks later I had a healthy checkup and the doctor confirmed what the technician said about the baby developing normally and my due date being right on track for Dec. 20. The baby's heart rate was back around 150, again making me smile that this little peanut was going to be a handful keeping us guessing. After all, Ben's heart rate was 150 almost my entire pregnancy.
Earlier in my pregnancy I was convinced the baby was a girl. Everything was different this time around. Particularly my posterior! Not only was I growing differently, but I began having morning sickness in my fifth month. How does that happen?!?! On one notable occasion, I was in the kitchen preparing Ben's lunch to take to daycare while he sat and ate his breakfast. I had just finished a bowl of Chex when I didn't feel so well. That entire bowlful of Chex ended up in the kitchen sink (actually, the garbage disposal. I was proud of myself for that.) I was worried that Ben would be afraid, hearing me retch loudly. But as I turned around from the sink with a smile plastered on my face, he was pointing, laughing and mocking me with fake vomiting noises.
What an adorable child I have! Maybe the second born isn't going to be the handful of the family...
Lately, I've been questioning that girl instinct. As my belly starts to grow more out in the front and up high, I can see glimpses of how I looked during my pregnancy with Ben. And Ben himself has spoken out. As we try to remind him every so often, Rick said to him one day, "You know mommy has a baby in her belly, right?" And he looked up at me and said, "It's a baby boy!"
Normally, I would roll my eyes at anyone who claimed their 2-year-old predicted his younger sibling's sex. But, Ben just doesn't show enough understanding of the baby to answer out of "wishful thinking" for a brother. It seemed like he said it out of nowhere, and said it with conviction. As if he was in on a secret that I wasn't. I don't know, for some reason it just stuck with me. And it's kept me guessing.
As curious as I am to know if it's a boy or girl, I am enjoying the curve balls. I like that the element of surprise is still there. It's more fun this way!
At the Pittsburgh Zoo and Aquarium on August 20
Monday, July 25, 2011
18.5 Weeks
Not too much to report, other than Rick and I got to meet the new doctor in the practice. Thea Barton, D.O. What a trip she is! So bubbly and super sweet. She called me "pumpkin." Who does that to a nearly 30-year-old woman?? And Dr. Barton is probably in her late 30s, so it's not like we're that far apart in age. I like it though, I think I'm going to start calling people by food items--muffin, cupcake, sugar, etc.
Aside from Dr. Barton being great, the baby is in great shape too. Lots of moving around and the heart rate is now 140. Hmm...the old wives tale of predicting the baby's sex seems like it's throwing us another curve ball. Supposedly, the higher it is you're having a girl, lower and it's a boy. Well, Ben was on the higher end, a steady 150 through my whole pregnancy--and he was definitely not a girl. This kiddo, who came in at 160 just 4 weeks ago is now at 140. He or she is already keeping us guessing--I like it!
Dr. Barton, who has two daughters, had a great perspective on predicting baby No. 2's sex. "Sure, I had two girls and they were completely different pregnancies. But it makes sense--they have totally different personalities!"
In a week or two I will have my big 20-week ultrasound to make sure our little "pumpkin" is developing just right. In the meantime, Rick and I are headed to the Poconos this weekend for our "babymoon." Ahhh, two days of sleeping in (if we can trick our internal alarm clocks), kayaking (if it's not 100 degrees out), and probably some romantic candlelit dinners, I guess ;)
Aside from Dr. Barton being great, the baby is in great shape too. Lots of moving around and the heart rate is now 140. Hmm...the old wives tale of predicting the baby's sex seems like it's throwing us another curve ball. Supposedly, the higher it is you're having a girl, lower and it's a boy. Well, Ben was on the higher end, a steady 150 through my whole pregnancy--and he was definitely not a girl. This kiddo, who came in at 160 just 4 weeks ago is now at 140. He or she is already keeping us guessing--I like it!
Dr. Barton, who has two daughters, had a great perspective on predicting baby No. 2's sex. "Sure, I had two girls and they were completely different pregnancies. But it makes sense--they have totally different personalities!"
In a week or two I will have my big 20-week ultrasound to make sure our little "pumpkin" is developing just right. In the meantime, Rick and I are headed to the Poconos this weekend for our "babymoon." Ahhh, two days of sleeping in (if we can trick our internal alarm clocks), kayaking (if it's not 100 degrees out), and probably some romantic candlelit dinners, I guess ;)
Sunday, July 17, 2011
Here We Go Again!
Yes, it's true. We've decided to embark on a new adventure in the Gazica household. Baby No. 2!
I am 17.5 weeks pregnant and already this little nugget is trying to distinguish him or herself from big brother Ben. I experienced nausea in my first trimester but no real food aversions or cravings. I "popped out" early on and I'm growing "around" rather than all out in front. Migraines have made an appearance.
(In contrast, my first pregnancy was free of morning sickness and migraines but characterized by a strange aversion to all vegetables. I didn't really show until about 5 months along and for the most part you couldn't really tell I was pregnant if you looked at me from behind.)
Of course, Rick assumes these differences mean I am having a girl.
But, we've decided to annoy our family and friends by NOT finding out the sex of the baby. This little one will be just as much of a surprise as Ben was. Adding to the excitement--he or she will be born around Christmas. My due date is Dec. 20!
Ben, for his role, seems indifferent. Other than the occasional acknowledgement of "Mommy, baby, belly" he does not seem to comprehend an impending change in the family dynamic. Then again, there haven't been many clues or signals.
Life over the last four months has been normal. Our daily routine is intact. Weekends are spent at home or at various events--weddings for Rick's friend Dan, my brother Dan, and my friend Aly. No big summer vacation for us--saving up paid-time-off--but we are enjoying long weekends here and there. Baby Gazica Version 2.0 is happily along for the ride...and at this exact moment is "nodding" (or rolling, punching, kicking) in agreement.
Stay tuned for updates as the next several months progress!
I am 17.5 weeks pregnant and already this little nugget is trying to distinguish him or herself from big brother Ben. I experienced nausea in my first trimester but no real food aversions or cravings. I "popped out" early on and I'm growing "around" rather than all out in front. Migraines have made an appearance.
(In contrast, my first pregnancy was free of morning sickness and migraines but characterized by a strange aversion to all vegetables. I didn't really show until about 5 months along and for the most part you couldn't really tell I was pregnant if you looked at me from behind.)
Of course, Rick assumes these differences mean I am having a girl.
But, we've decided to annoy our family and friends by NOT finding out the sex of the baby. This little one will be just as much of a surprise as Ben was. Adding to the excitement--he or she will be born around Christmas. My due date is Dec. 20!
Ben, for his role, seems indifferent. Other than the occasional acknowledgement of "Mommy, baby, belly" he does not seem to comprehend an impending change in the family dynamic. Then again, there haven't been many clues or signals.
Life over the last four months has been normal. Our daily routine is intact. Weekends are spent at home or at various events--weddings for Rick's friend Dan, my brother Dan, and my friend Aly. No big summer vacation for us--saving up paid-time-off--but we are enjoying long weekends here and there. Baby Gazica Version 2.0 is happily along for the ride...and at this exact moment is "nodding" (or rolling, punching, kicking) in agreement.
Stay tuned for updates as the next several months progress!
Baby's first, very grainy, portrait.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)