31 weeks.....

I feel as if I have popped out this week.  I can no longer tie my shoelaces without difficulty, I sound like a beached whale every time I have to turn over in bed and I am fighting the sprout for stomach space.

Apart from that , everything seems fine. No gestational diabetes - woop woop - I was dreading that given my sweet tooth.  No iron deficiency - may have something to do with the amount of spinach/artichoke dip I've been eating lately, and good blood pressure (unless we start talking about names).

Thank you to all who have voted in the poll.  Looks like we are expecting a boy who will arrive early!  Both fine by me!

Childbirth 101

So Mikey and I have completed our Childbirth Education Classes - hooray :-)

Here's what I learned....


* There is no such thing as 'Preparation for Birth' - no one can prepare you for riding that roller coaster
* Holding a fistful of ice for 1 minute bears no resemblance to having a contraction
* Every time Mike tries to say something soothing, comforting or encouraging, I have an uncontrollable urge to laugh (what does that tell you?!)


As part of our homework, we now have to prepare a birth plan (which has to be a little more detailed than 'play it by ear' Mike), find a pediatrician (more about that later), buy a car seat and pack an overnight(s) bag.
I wanted to make a playlist for my iPod too, and foolishly asked my dear sweet techie husband to take care of that for me.  Here is the list so far:


Hurts so good - John Mellencamp
I'll do anything for love but I wont do that - Meatloaf
Relax - Frankie Goes to Hollywood
The first cut is the deepest - Sheryl Crow
Everybody Hurts - REM
Under pressure - Queen
Do you really want to hurt me - Culture Club
What hurts the most - Rascal Flatts


I think I'll be making my own Playlist.  Feel free to offer any suggestions!

29 weeks......

....which means I am officially in the Third Trimester......which means I am 2/3 of the way there.......which means we have to start thinking about weighty issues such as birth plans and car seats and DIY projects to finish before the baby arrives etc etc etc.  Yikes! 

Actually - there are huge benefits to being pregnant so late in life, one of which being that over the last 20 years or so I have watched and listened and read and researched so much , whilst observing my family and friends travel this wonderful journey themselves, that I now have not only a wealth of knowledge on which to draw - I have also formed some opinions of my own!

It has nevertheless been an interesting challenge adjusting and adapting those ideas/opinions to fit in with the American pregnancy and birthing culture.  It won't come as a surprise to learn that there are choices galore when it comes to bearing and birthing your child.  It's just like ordering food; do you want your dressing on your salad or on the side?  eggs sunnyside up or overeasy?  and how would you like your child delivered?  naturally (oooh - sharp intake of breath), epidural, C-section?  and when would you like it?

I must admit - it is one of the aspects of living here that I find most challenging.  The choices are supposed to be liberating but most of the time I simply find them perplexing.  Of course, I was raised in a country where choices are pretty much a luxury - especially when it comes to healthcare.  God Bless the NHS!  You get what you get and you don't make a fuss!

Today I watched a documentary called 'Pregnant in America'.  Amongst other things it claims that the rate of C-Sections in the States has risen to over 30% nationwide, with some areas (Miami for example) as high as 75%).  Wow.  That means that over a third of women giving birth find themselves in an 'emergency' situation requiring the immediate extraction of their baby.........can this really be true?  I didn't clarify how many of those cases were elective Caesarians - which I have absolutely no issue with - each mother knows what her threshold/preference is - but if these cases of major surgery are more to do with convenience to the medical staff - I find it more than a little disturbing.

Over 90% of births in this country take place in a hospital (which is probably similar to the rate in the UK) but the difference here is that almost all those births are attended by an OB/GYN.  Midwives are still viewed with some skepticism, and unless the birth is a home-birth, they are rarely allowed to take the lead in a hospital situation.  Unless it has changed since I left, midwives are revered in the UK - seen as much better birth companions than a doctor.  In fact I remember my Mum telling me that for both my sister and myself (both born at home), the doctor literally turned up as we were being born to perform an almost perfunctory check.

I have found myself in a tricky position over this.  Whilst my preference would be for a home-birth, or at least a birthing centre with midwife, I also have to acknowledge that my situation is a little unique.  I have found what I think is a great compromise; a birthing centre attached to a hospital.  I have heard nothing but excellent reports about the staff at the centre - they seem to go the extra mile to try to ensure that the birth experience is as close to the parents' wishes as possible. Now all I have to do is work out what those wishes are!

Still, over the next few weeks, as well as my breathing, I shall be practising my self-advocacy skills - in the hope that our child's entry into the world is as close to what I hope for as possible.  And if that fails - I shall deploy my secret weapons; my wonderful sister, who has made standing up for oneself an artform, and my fabulous husband, who can find a logical reason or justification for anything.  Both will be with me in my hour of need and I know that both will be a tower of strength (although Mike does have a side bet with Sarah as to which one of them will be the first to be slapped and banished from the room ;-)

Hopefully I can remember enough about the whole experience to write about it afterwards... in a few short weeks!

Inhibitions and belly burn....

I've heard this from many sources - but pregnancy and childbirth pretty much annihilates any inhibitions one might have had prior to conceiving.  I think this is a deliberate ploy on the part of Mother Nature to prepare you for parenthood.

I discovered that, this weekend during a trip to the Snake river to spend the day with Mike's cousin and family.

Having paid a little more attention recently to pictures/photos of pregnant ladies in books/magazines etc, I had resolutely decided that, even though I am experiencing my pregnancy during the height of the scorching Seattle summer (that's irony for anyone who didn't catch it!), there would be no bearing of flesh in public.
Although there is something rather special about a pregnant body, let's face it, there are some rather 'not so special' parts too - and I had decided that no-one needs to be exposed to that.

That was until I crossed the equator (aka Snoqualmie Pass) this weekend and found myself shedding clothing like a demented reptile in the 90 degree Eastern Washington heat. 

Sadly there are no pictures of the group, plus beached whale relaxing on the river on a floatilla of floaties but only this one of the post reveal cover up due to impending and severe sunburn.  Yes - there is a reason the experts tell pregnant women to be careful in the sun as those pesky hormones play havoc with the sensitivity of your skin.

See what I mean......

I ditched one more inhibition - and gained a useful skill to boot - whilst at the river - another one directly related to pregnancy.  Having been born with an iron-clad bladder, it has been a shock to me to have to listen to the call of nature yelling in my ear so loudly and frequently over the past 7 months (I especially find this tiresome during the night, as Mike will tell you).  I have had to become accustomed to viewing journeys, venues, events in a whole new light - namely by the quality and more importantly quantity of their toilet facilities.  It can make or break an experience let me tell you!
Well - the Snake River has no such mod cons - except the river itself of course.  And with that thought I think you can probably figure out which skill I acquired and which inhibition I lost after making sure I stayed hydrated throughout the day!