34 Weeks

Today we're 34 weeks pregnant! The time is flying by, soon we'll be welcoming our little baby. The last few days I've been having Braxton-Hicks contractions. I haven't felt any today, but if I work then I have them all day long. One pregnancy book said that it is rare to have more than two an hour. I've been getting them more frequent then that. So all have to OK everything with the midwives. The Braxton-Hicks aren't painful, but are uncomfortable. It feels like my uterus is a turtle and it pulls all its arms and legs in to hide in its shell (if that makes any sense).
I called the pediatrician's office in Roseville to find a baby doctor, but they wont let me pick one until I deliever beacuse I'm not delievering in Roseville. She said that I'll have to make an appointment after the baby comes and its normally after the 1st or 2nd day of life. I guess I can find one in Davis, but I dont want to have to drive there if my baby is sick and I want her seen ASAP.
I had a dream that I was skinny again! It was wierd because it was after the baby arrived and I was more skinny then before I got pregnant. I've been fanasizing about getting my body back to myself. But then I found a quote that put me back into perpective. It said, "Slowly, reluctantly, I have come to realize how utilitarin my female body is, and that, in truth, it doesn't belong to me, but my son. My breasts are for nurishing him, my arms for holding him, my hips for carrying him, my face for amusing and kissing him, my womb for growing him, and my vagina for delivering him to the world. This discovery has put some of my vanities and petty concerns into perspective and I am thankful for it."

33 Week Check-up

Yesterday I had my 33 week check-up with one of the midwives. She said that my blood pressure and weight gain is "marvelous," which made me happy! I'm uterus is measuring right on target at 33 weeks. My next appointment is in another three weeks and then I'll have to go weekly until the baby is born. I've met all the midwives at the Davis Women's Clinic and I really like then all. When I go into labor its whatever midwife is on call at the birthing center will help with the delivery. But there is another clinic in Davis (medi-cal patients) where other midwives could also be on call at the birthing center. But I hope that I dont get stuck with someone I've never met.
Tomorrow is our last prenatal class. It will be nice to have it over with, but it makes me nervous because it means that things are really speeding up. I'm running out of time to get ready for the baby girl! The baby supply list is slowly getting checked off, prenatal class (check), nursery (mostly checked), car seat inspection (not checked), supplies for labor (not checked), maternity leave papers? (not checked)...... Ahhhh! There is still a lot to do!

32 1/2 Weeks

Last night at our birthing class we were introduced to props that will help with labor. There were birthing balls (exercise balls), bean bag chairs, and rocking chairs. My favorite position was when I rocked in circles on the birthing ball. There were also cold packs, hot packs, massage tools and hot water bottles for back pain. The hot water battles weren't hot enough to feel anything, but everything else was nice. I felt pampered with all the back, feet and neck massages for Jeremy! The instructor told us to practice our breathing while relaxing. I hate counting while breathing, so that will probably be out of the window during labor. At the end of class the instructor showing a water birth film. After the babies were born the mothers and doctors let the babies hang out underwater for a minute before raising them to the surface. I didn't like how long the babies were underwater for, but the babies don't take their first breath until they're in air. They said that letting the baby hang out underwater for a couple of moments helps the baby adjust to the world easier. The water is the same temperature as the womb and they're not shocked with bright lights and medical intervention. My goal is still it deliver the baby underwater with few if any medical interventions with the lights low and maybe soft music playing.