When it Rains it Pours...

I was showered yesterday...I am still so overwhelmed by the generousity shown towards my Daughter & I...My Brother & Sister-in-Law hosted a Baby Shower for me yesterday & I am touched by how many people came & how thoughtful they were with their gifts. My Girl will definitely be well dressed! I also received all the necessities for when Baby comes home...we're all set, at least I'm pretty sure we are. Now we wait...I can't wait to find out when my Daughter's birthday will be...I think I've come up with a name too...

Back in December, I mentioned here that I'd been referred to a psychiatrist to address my worries, fears & anxiety...I finally had my appointment on Friday & what an experience...I wish I had admitted sooner that I needed help because the Dr gave me a new perspective in which to look at my worries, fears & anxiety. He also reassured me that there's no reason to believe that all my fear, worry & anxiety has been detrimental to my Baby...he also debunked the information I'd heard in my prenatal classes that all this fear, worry & anxiety would increase my risk of postpartum depresssion...he said that I actually didn't fall into the high risk category by a long shot but even if I do experience PPD, by already having support in place will minimize the severity. He did specifically say, in his professional opinion, he did not believe I would develop post partum depression. I'm booked for a follow up appointment with him at the beginning of April...to either close out my file with him if all is well, or so that I'm reassured I have an appointment booked if I am feeling anxious, fear or worry....plus I can call in at anytime if I need help or support.

It took a lot for me to admit how deeply I was struggling with worry, fear & anxiety...I was afraid to admit vulnerability, I was afraid I'd be judged harshly...but I realize now, if I had admitted my need for help sooner, I could have received help sooner. I'm going to try to remember this in the future.

I also wanted to say a Happy Birthday to Jett & Congratulations to Gille on the birth of her precious son.

Lastly, I thought I would share a belly shot...yes, I'm HUGE & keep getting BIGGER, lol!!!

Just to keep things interesting...

Yesterday evening, I had my registration appointment at the hospital...it went well & I'm all signed up.

When I came out of the appointment, there was a message on my phone from my Midwife's office...I thought it'd just be a routine update about my ultrasound from Thursday...but she didn't leave any details like usual instead asking that I call her that evening or 1st thing this morning.

Well, I called back right away...turns out that although my Girl passed the Bio Physical Profile with flying colours scoring 8/8 my over all fluid level in all 4 quadrants was low...no need to be overly concerned since overall everything looks great & I wasn't leaking any fluid but as a precaution she asked that I meet her at the hospital today for a Non-Stress Test.

You can imagine me, being such a worry wart, & how much this news put me on edge...but I'm very proud of myself for keeping perspective & remaining calm...& for once Dr.Google actually put my mind at ease...for the most part.

My Girl passed the Non-Stress Test beautifully scoring 10/10 & showing excellent reactions...& what better way to spend a Saturday afternoon than listening to my Daughter's heartbeat for over 1/2 an hour! My blood pressure was up...but that's understandable considering I was worried.

I'll have to go for more ultrasounds (I think I can handle that) & probably more NST...& they'll probably have me deliver before 40 weeks...in the mean time, I can continue regular activity...I did ask if they were sure I should continue to work...but no dice there ;) I'll have to stick it out the next 2 weeks...

Ode to my Belly Button

Okay, no, I am not going to subject you to a poem about my belly button but I am fascinated with it lately...you see, I have always had a very deep one...I'm talking DEEP...I could stick half my pinky finger into it...now, I can see then end of it...it hasn't actally popped, it's still an inny...but I can actually turn it inside out now...I'm thinking, in the next few weeks it will pop...& this fascinates me!!

In other news...I had an ultrasound this afternoon...at 35 weeks my Girl is now estimated at 7 lbs 10 oz...this doesn't freak me out as much when I found out she was 6 lbs. I am reassured that although she is a big baby, she is growing consistantly & developing well...her heart looks great, she has a strong heart rate, her lungs look well developed, we even got to watch her practice breathing!!

Now I am counting down the days...1st, 2 more weeks of work! Just 10 more work days!! It could not come soon enough...this getting up at 5am is just not fun anymore!! 2nd, 5 more weeks until my due date...as intimidating as the thought of delivering a 9+ lb baby is, I really hope she holds out until at least the week of March 7th so that I can have a few weeks off work before she arrives.

I am ready for her though...I cleaned, organized & put away all her clothes this past weekend, her cradle is in my room now, I've set up the cloth diaper service...I'd just really like some rest & relaxation before she arrives...

Good Results

First of all...thanks everyone for your name advice...a few of you mentioned that once I see my daughter, one name will just be her name...& I agree...I'm just going to keep my ear out for new suggestions & I'll just know...but boy am I glad I don't have to pick TWO middle names, lol!! Her middle name is actually already set, always has been...My Mom & I both have the same middle name so it was easy to know that my daughter would share this tradition...it does help too since some names just don't flow with the middle name so I can cross them off the list right away...anyway, we'll just have to wait & see what her name turns out to be...

I had an appointment with my Midwife today...I went for my 2nd Glucose Tolerance Test last Thursday & they had the results...great news! I am still NOT Gestationally Diabetic (lol, is that a word?)...& the glucose in my urine has lowered...my results with this test are actually better than with the 1st test! I have been very careful about what I'm eating & it's obviously paying off...plus I've actually lost a couple of pounds...don't worry, nothing to worry about, it's just that I'm eating better...plus it wasn't like I didn't have a few pounds to spare!!

I do have to meet with an OB...because My Girl is weighing in at 6 lbs 2 oz already puts her above the 90th percentile, which here in Canada, results in an OB consult...but it's pretty much just to provide me with information & prepare me for different scenarios that could result from a large baby birth...& who doesn't want more information...it won't be new info that my midwives haven't already covered, just a different perspective & that's okay with me...I was afraid that they'd have to transfer care...it's not like I have anything against OBs, it's just that I fear that they jump to medical intervention too quickly & I'd be told that since she's big they'll jump to induction or c-section...my midwife reassured me that wasn't the case & we both agreed on who to refer too, he comes highly recommended & he's definitely not one to push medical intervention unnecessarily...the other thing I worried about with the consult is that it would have to go through my family Dr. I love my family Dr but he's not an OB & any referral from him would move me to another hospital in my city & I DO NOT want to be at that other hospital...but that's not a worry & I can stick with the hospital I know & already love...& still go for the luxury suite...which, BTW, my brother has offered to pay for if I do get one...he is so generous!!

Speaking of my brother...I had an eye opener about just how excited he is about my having a baby...he's a bit of a big-wig-muckity-muck at the company he works for...he was asked to speak at a conference in Florida, all expenses paid...but the conference is at the beginning of March & he doesn't want to be away when my daughter is born! I really am touched!

I guess that's it for now...if anyone has any more name advice or suggestions, keep 'em coming!!

What's in a Name?

So much!! Especially when you have no idea what or how to name your daughter! I posted here that I had a short list of names choosen but now I'm not sure any of them seem right...back then I was sure that one of the 5 names would be my daughter's...now I'm not so sure...I've thought of new names...I've revisited old names I'd already discarded...I just have no idea!

Why can't babies come out with their name stamped on the bottom of their foot? Remember Cabbage Patch Kids? They would come with their birth certificate & they had their name...oh sure, you could change it if you wanted but at least you had a starting point!!

I know I should be glad if this is my only worry right now (if only it were my only worry!) but it is forefront...with every day & week that passes by I get a little more stressed that I'll never be able to pick a name...part of me feels that The Perfect Name is out there & it will miraculously come to me & I'll just know, "that's The One". I'm hoping that when I see her for the 1st time a name will just fit & seem right.

For now, I am open to suggestions...so hit me Ladies!! Does anyone have any advice on how to choose a name? Or even just name suggestions?

SIX POUNDS 2 OUNCES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

At 32 weeks that's how much my daughter is weighing!!! SIX POUNDS 2 OUNCES!! With 8 more weeks to go & an estimated 1/2 pound weight gain per week...if I make it full term She'll be TEN POUNDS!!!! I know babies that were born full term weighing 6 lbs!!

Okay, so I'm freaking out a little, lol! The good (& reassuring) news is that she is developed well, good strong looking heart, really good amniotic fluid levels, cord blood flow looks really good, placenta is still up front & she's head down...all very reassuring & positive.

I'm going for the Glucose Tolerance test again...even though my blood tests from the last one came back perfectly normal, my last 2 urine tests had high levels of glucose...once could have been a fluke...two is enough reason to double check it again...I'm not really sure if gestational diabetes can develop within 4 weeks after a normal test result but I don't want to take any chances & since my Girl is measuring big, I would rather be safe & check than sorry...I've been really careful with my eating & trying to really limit my sugars...I only gained 2 pounds between my last appointment this one & that was over Christmas so I'm pretty proud of myself.

All of this has made me realize that I need to get my butt in gear & get organized as I could very well have way less than 55 days until Show Time!!

60 Days Left

Are you kidding me? There's just 60 days left until my due date!! That doesn't seem possible! I've finally entered the "enjoying pregnancy" phase & it's going to be over in 60 days? To be honest though I can't wait for my Girl to be here...having all this baby stuff around, I can't wait for there to be a baby to use it all.

I went for my hospital tour on Wednesday...I'm feeling really good about delivering there...their policies meet all of the things that are important to me...they encourage skin-to-skin right away & will assist me to breastfeed within the 1st hour...in the event of a c-section, they don't whisk my girl away but instead keep her close by me until I'm stitched up & able to do skin-to-skin & feed...they won't bathe my girl right away & they won't do it without me present...they have 24 hour rooming in so once my daughter is born, she won't be separated from me for any reason...even if she needs tests, it is my right to go along & be present...the only reason we'd be separated is if she needs to go to the NICU but I don't want to think about that...

What I didn't know before Wednesday was that they have these two suites there that are total luxury...they're not birthing rooms, they're for your stay after & they're 1st come 1st serve...they're pretty pricey if you get one, $150 a night, but all of that money goes to the hospital's children's charity...worth it to me, I'm definitely putting my name on the list! However, if I have a regular birth & everything is ok with my girl, I won't be in the hospital long anyway since with my Midwife they can send me home pretty quick...but I'll sign up anyway...just in case.

I am preparing myself for a c-section...something in me just feels like this is the way it'll go...everyone keeps telling me that since my girl is big, I won't be able to deliver vaginally...but I'm a bigger girl with wide hips so who knows...either way, my goal is a healthy daughter, however she needs to come out is fine by me...& if I end up with a c-section, then having the luxury suite would be sweet!

My focus right now is getting everything organized around my house...I have 6 more weeks of work & I can not wait to be done!! I had to take a few sick days this week...having a cold & being pregnant is NOT fun...it wasn't even a bad cold, but I wouldn't take anything & just suffered through...then the constipation set in & having been a long sufferer of IBS & always being very regular, this was a new experience...I don't ever remember being so glad to poop as I was yesterday!!! The point of all this TMI was that my boss, my big boss, the head guy, made a point of telling me to take any time I needed in these last weeks...I think he could tell how uncomfortable I was but since I work in finance & this time of year is SUPER busy for us, I was reluctant to be off...but he said not to worry & also gave me permission to work from home if I needed...I really appreciate that, having that understanding is so reassuring.

Well this is one of my most rambling posts...