Nerves.

Mine are kinda on edge. I am so close to having my first baby, and I will fully admit, i'm slightly scared of the whole process of her getting out of me. Thankfully, I have an amazing husband who is fully prepared to support me and whatever I may need during labor and delivery. We've done the class (Thanks Confident Birthing and Kyndal!!) and learned as much as we can to help with our natural childbirth decision. We are both fully committed to going unmedicated, My reasons are for more than just not wanting my child to be exposed to such strong meds as she enters this world, but also that I have drug allergies, which I don't know the extent of. I've had bad reactions to Vicodin and Codeine, and nitrous oxide... something traumatic which I don't want to experience again if I can avoid it. So we've prepared, we've read up on all possible drugs and reactions, and epidurals, and I would rather just avoid them all. We are planning to meet with the anestesiologist... just in case. My midwife thinks it would be a great idea to meet them, let them know we dont want meds, but find out our options if I end up needing an c-section. We'll have the plan all worked out ahead of time, which actually makes me feel a ton better about labor and birth. 

We've already turned in our birth plan, which I realize most mom's laugh at... but I'm a first timer, so i'm allowed to make one and feel like it's there for guidance. I also realize that it's just a guide... and things are going to happen the way they will happen, and we are more than fine with things not going perfect, I wont stress out if I cant or don't like laboring in the tub, or if there is a certain laboring position I thought I would love that I end up hating, We'll just go with the flow. 

I think the biggest thing helping ease my nerves is knowing that after all of it, we will get to meet our baby girl finally! Brent and I are both so excited to meet her, and we really cannot wait to bring her home, introduce her to Abby and Lilly, and start our journey into sleepless nights (hopefully not for too long!) and dirty cloth diapers! So until that moment, we wait, with our hospital bag packed (finally!), carseat still not installed... and all the hopes of a happy, healthy, quick and perfect labor and delivery! 

Sneak Peek!!

I am so excited to share a sneak peek of the maternity pictures that our amazingly talented friend, Nikki Hoover, took of us last weekend! She just posted these, and I had to snag them and post them here immediately for friends and family to see, I just love them! I have to say, they turned out pretty great for it being so cold, about 40 degrees, and the wind was picking up, so the chill factor was even worse... but, we braved it, frozen fingers and all, and got some pretty amazing shots. THANK YOU NIKKI!!! 

"full" term

I'm officially 37 weeks! Our baby girl should be between 6.5 and 7 lbs, and approximately 19-20 inches long at this point. Were still thinking she's a bit bigger than average, so our guess is closer to 7lbs and about 20 inches long... she's going to be a good size girl, nice and tall like her parents. We know she has a little bit of hair at this point, it showed up in the last ultrasound at 33 weeks, so i'm sure she has more by now, or it's all fallen out and she'll be completely bald... lets hope for a little bit of fuzz though. Her lungs are almost fully developed, and she would be fine coming out at this point to breath on her own with a little encouragement. She's constantly practicing her breathing, I can actually feel her now taking quick little breaths when I lay still at night. 

This week is going to be pretty exciting around the Norris household, here are just a few of our prep plans: 

Were getting the hospital bag packed with all the things we'll need from home for our *hopefully* less than 24 hour stay in the hospital, and getting the little baby things that we might need to bring also. 

We get to practice installing the car seat in both our vehicles, over and over again, until we have it perfect, and we'll get it inspected once or twice to make sure it really is properly installed. 

Our last birthing class is this week, which makes me a little bit sad, it's really been a wonderful learning experience and we are so thankful we found this awesome class to take! I honestly don't think I would be able to achieve the natural, unmedicated childbirth that I'm wanting without this class, which has taught not only me how to cope and get through the pain in natural ways, but also which has taught Brent to be the amazing support that I need him to be, not just mentally and emotionally, but physically as well. I'm sure he will be just as exhausted after labor and birth as I will be. 

I'll be finishing up with the babies laundry, washing and prepping all of her cloth diapers, wipes, towels, swaddle blankets, sheets, and most importantly, her adorable little clothes. 

I'm sure my nesting instincts will be even more in full swing, and i'll once again dance through the house on a cleaning frenzy, making sure everything is spotless, disinfected and in it's place. 

Hopefully we can get most everything done before baby girl decides to make her grand appearance, I'm sure i'll find things to distract me, and to add to the list, so I better start with the important things, and just hope the rest get done :)

I think... she's dropping!

So I've noticed the past few days that when I try to bend over, while putting socks on, picking laundry up, etc... It is SO HARD! I have to almost do a squat and then bend, so the belly has room to swing between my legs. I also have to breath differently to be able to bend, I cant have my lungs full of air... It's pretty hilarious. I also cannot lean forward to give my back some relief without popping my knees full out to the side, they have to be wider than my shoulders! Not to mention I look like i'm starting to drop, not much, but enough that I stop and look twice in the mirror, thinking that my belly has a new shape to it. I'm also starting to get a little bit of breathing relief, she's not pushing up into my diaphragm so much anymore, which is giving my lungs a bit more room to expand, and making me cough a little less.

So what do you think? Comparing these two pictures, one from Saturday, one from tonight... is the belly dropping? I sure hope so! I really prefer to be comfortable when breathing :)

36 Weeks and counting down! Yes, thats 9 months!!

*** Minor disclaimer for friends and family... From here out there may be some fun body stuff happening with my pregnancy. I will try not to post about the yucky stuff, but this blog is also a place for me to write about everything that is happening in my pregnancy, in our lives, and soon to be with the baby. I'll try to do 'TMI' disclaimers if there will be anything mentioned that is a bit yucky, or that you may just prefer not to know about me in general. Most of you women have had babies, and i'm sure understand what happens, so hopefully this wont be an issue, but I want to be able to document these final weeks with full disclosure, so if you would rather not hear about lost mucous plugs, a ripening cervix, or how my boobs happen to be preparing for the baby already, then I suggest you skip the TMI sections. Thanks! :) ***

It's hard to fathom that I have been carrying this baby inside of me for 36 weeks now. I'm just starting to get to the uncomfortable stage... which I hear is a blessing, that it should have started weeks ago, so I am thankful that i'm just not having trouble breathing lol. Baby girl has been pushing into my diaphragm for about 3 weeks now, which is making my lungs a bit squished in there, which in turn, makes me cough a ton after a long day, and makes it tough to get a good deep breath. My midwife gave me a prescription for an inhaler a few weeks ago, which I waited a week to fill, and while I wish I had filled that first day. The 1-2 puffs of Albuteral that I get to take at night seem to have helped contain my cough tremendously, which I am so thankful for! She told me that now that the baby is pushing so much into my lungs, it will start to feel like i'm having some sports induced asthma, which I get when I run or hike vertically a ton, so i'm no stranger to the inhaler, but it's just weird that I can do nothing and end up in a coughing fit at the end of the day. 

Other uncomfortable things i'm experiencing? My hips are separating... fun! my little waddle has turned into me trying not to let my hips pop out of joint lol, which in turn slows me down when were out running errands. Brent is usually pretty good about letting me lag behind, and he can tell when something changes, like a braxton hicks contraction, he'll hang out with me and let it pass, what a good hubby huh! More about those darn braxton hicks... I've been getting them more and more often every day. I think yesterday while we were out I had probably 10 total... but they were spread over several hours, so it's nothing to worry about yet. I was told not to call unless I have 5-6 in one hour, but to pay attention to 4 or more an hour, because they could quickly increase to more.  I have had a couple uncomfortable contractions, just randomly, more like cramps, but nothing too bad, and nothing more than a couple seconds long. 

Tomorrow is my 36 week appointment, I get to have the lovely Strep B test, see how baby is measuring, see if my fundal height is still measuring 2 weeks ahead (which would put me measuring at 38 weeks!) and see what the plan is from here out. If I am still measuring ahead, then my midwife told me last visit that we could start natural methods to get my body ready for labor (woo hoo!) *** TMI DISCLAIMER *** I'm noticing things are already starting to happen that are signals labor will start soon, I've lost most of my mucous plug (the booger type plug that protects the cervical opening, keeping the baby safe from germs and infection) which means my cervix is starting to soften (or ripen or thin) and could mean that I will be dilating soon, or already has begun dilating. I wont be checked until I actually go into labor. OB's sometimes check (actually often check) women around 37, 38 weeks, but being checked would just make me more anxious. Women can walk around for weeks dilated at 3 cm, 4cm, I've heard even 6cm! So why stress myself out knowing this information? I'd just rather let it happen naturally, let my body go into labor when it's ready, and when baby girl is ready. So, once we get the go ahead from my midwife that it's ok to start natural induction methods, I'll be doing the following; 

Evening Primrose Oil (EPO): helps to soften and tone the cervix and can help with making contractions more consistent.

Acupuncture: I truly believe in this ancient Chinese art, and with how it helped Brent and I get pregnant in the first place, and how it gave me such a strong second pregnancy that has grown this beautiful baby, I think it's only fitting to use it once more to help my body ready itself for birth. Started around 37 weeks, and done twice a week until Birth, it can help speed up the labor process, help prevent stalling during labor, and help labor and birth be shorter and go more smoothly. I don't know if I'll be able to go more than a few times, it's pretty spendy, but if it readies my body and helps, then a couple of treatments may be worth it. 

Massage: With how I've been feeling, and how my sleep is starting to be affected, I think it's time to indulge in a little massage for myself. 

Chinese Foot treatments: This is another special little indulgence that I loved before getting pregnant. I have not been in months (9 to be exact) but there are special reflexology points in the feet and ankles (hands and hips also) that are linked to the uterus, so once I've got the good to go, then I can relax and let the amazing crew at VIP foot massage do their job and give my achy feet and legs some love. 

Red Raspberry Leaf Tea (RRLT): I have been trying to enjoy this tea for weeks... I'm just not a tea drinker I guess, unless it's loaded with honey, I just don't like the taste of it. RRLT is used to strengthen and tone the uterus, preparing it for labor, and again, helping to potentially make contractions more consistent. I don't think the few cups I've drank will do much to help unfortunately.

The number one, best thing to help get labor going, is the same thing that got us into this, Sex. I'll just leave it at that :)

So for now, We wait, for my body to do it's thing, and for this baby girl to make her grand appearance. We are so excited, and nervous, for this next big step. Thankfully, the birthing class we've been taking has been a huge help, I honestly don't know that I would be successful in attempting a natural, unmedicated childbirth, if it wasn't for this class. 

Oh, and i'll be sure to get a belly shot posted today, I know i've slacked off on that, my apologies, so check back tomorrow and hopefully one will be posted.