The doctor just called to let us know they have officially scheduled my induction! Next Monday at 8:00 PM we will head into the Women’s Center if Baby Grae hasn’t decided to come out on his own before then!!
OH-EM-GEEE!! 😉
173 MORE HOURS!
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Category Archives: A diary for baby
39 Week Pictures
After listening to me wallow for the good part of the day, Ian decided that we needed to get out of the house. We went and did some errands and went out to lunch at one of our favorite little Irish Pubs. However, it was really busy- so by the time we got our food, I was super uncomfortable and my back was killing me, so we asked for “To Go” boxes and the check. After we ate lunch at rested at home for a bit, we decided that we would venture out again. We took Deacon, one of our Siberian Huskies, across the street to the park for some fresh air and a little exercise. It was a beautiful day and it felt good to get out of the house. Now we are back home, and I’m about to get my whine on again (or spend the rest of the night out in the hot tub). I am not enjoying this part of being pregnant. I keep telling myself only FIVE more days until his due date. (8 until my induction date, but I’m REALLY hoping he comes before that).
On a happier note, here are some pictures from our time at the park. 🙂
Weeble Wobble or Humpty Dumpty?
(Please read this post in your best whiny, complaining voice for me)
In my 39 week misery (yes, this is the first day I’ve actually been miserable pregnant), I walked by the mirror in my purple sweat pants with my tee shirt pulled way up over my belly (it just feels less restrictive), and I actually gasped. I stood there staring at my shocking reflection. My shadow is like an exaggerated monster. I don’t know who I look more like- a Weeble Wooble or Humpty Dumpty! How did my stomach become this huge? My skin is so stretched that it actually hurts to touch; it even hurts when clothing touches it. The bump is so heavy that I have to prop it up with pillows and blankets when laying on my side. I have stopped even attempting to lay on my back, as I feel like my lungs just might collapse under the weight. On top of all that fun stuff- I THINK MY MORNING SICKNESS THAT ENDED AT 13 WEEKS CAME BACK FOR THE LAST LAUGH! Argh!
Full-term pregnancy, how lucky I am to be here, but you are the polar opposite of comfort.
39 Week Update :)
We have our induction scheduled for next Monday, November 14! I can’t believe, in a maximum of 10 days, we will have that precious little boy in our arms!
Our midwife predicted that he is already 7.5 to 8 pounds, so its sounding more and more like he is going to be one big baby.
She said that he has definitely dropped further, but I have a little more “ripening up” to do- I’m still dilated only 1.5 cm.
I was fully expecting to hear that they were going to induce me this Monday, as in three days from now, and I was having so many mixed feelings about being induced before my actual due date. I’m incredibly relieved that I do not have to make that decision anymore. That’s not to say I’m not willing to try ANY and ALL NATURAL ways to induce labor starting NOW, especially after hearing that he is already a potential 8 pounder! 😉 So, I need suggestions… So far I’ve been told to eat lots of pineapple and eggplant, start bouncing on birthing balls, and go for long, brisk walks (especially up and down stairs)…Do any of you have any “home remedies” to naturally induce labor?? (This could get interesting ;))
A fun little local fact about eating eggplant:
There is a famous restaurant in Atlanta known for their Eggplant Parmesan recipe. For 25 years, it has been known to induce labor! To date, more than 300 of the pregnant women customers who ordered the eggplant parmesan have given birth within 48 hours, and the restaurant dubs them the “eggplant babies.”
Click on the picture to get linked directly to the SCALINI's website 🙂
Anyone in the mood for Italian?? 😉
Its a big day tomorrow!
Lots of exciting things are happening tomorrow! First of all- it is my last day of work before my maternity leave starts! I won’t be teaching again until February! I am beyond excited about having the opportunity to spend that uninterrupted time with my newborn- and I’m so thankful that taking the full 12 weeks off is an option for us. I have everything set up, ready, and organized for my maternity sub. I even have my lesson plans completed through the end of April so it will be a super easy transition back to work for me in February (well, that is the hope anyway).
Tomorrow also marks 39 weeks in our pregnancy!! There were so many days that I prayed and prayed that he would stay in and bake just a little bit longer… and now we have made it. Thank you for listening to your mommy, Little Boy. 🙂 You can come anytime you are ready now.
We also have our doctor appointment at 2:10 tomorrow afternoon. This is a big one, as they will do an internal exam and determine whether or not I am ‘favorable’ for labor. They will again discuss induction dates. I have heard many people say that oftentimes, expecting mommas are sent directly to the hospital after the 39 week exam to give birth! EEEKS! And, on the other hand, if the doctor finds that I’m not favorable, then they will schedule an induction for November 14. Either way, even though none of these dates are set in stone, as he could decide to come at anytime regardless, it still completely blows me away that we will have a “DATE” in our minds tomorrow.
38 SPECIAL WEEKS
38 Special... weeks 🙂
Why would we take a picture of the innocent baby bump with the hammerless, safety-less, 38 Special, you ask?? Well, I’ll let Ian tell you…
While on our tour of the hospital, somewhere in between her explanations of circumcision and using a nail file instead of bitting off our newborn’s tiny fingernails, the kind, old nurse informed us that there were a few additional things to consider. Without disturbing the informative pace and tone of the tour, she told us that the bassinet for our newborn will be placed in the small area between the hospital bed and the window, as far from the door as possible. Hmmm, this begged the question, “Why is that, you kind, old knowledgable woman?”
IT IS TO PREVENT THE THEFT OF YOUR CHILD! AND YOU CAN FORGET ABOUT THOSE CUTE “IT’S A BOY” BALLOONS TOO. OH YEA, AND CUT DOWN THE SHRUBS IN FRONT OF YOUR HOME AS TO ELIMINATE SUITABLE HIDING PLACES FOR WOULD BE KIDNAPPERS.. DUN DUN DUN!
Needless to say, Andrea’s face drained of its usual color and she looked back at me with eyes as big as saucers. She looked at me as if to say “Dizzle…. thats not really true right???? That old lady is just gearing up for All Hollows Eve, right???” The other “soon to be’s” on the tour laughed at her reaction. Even though this could truly be a reality of our time, I would not want to see the result of separating mamma Dre from her man cub. I’ve seen what happens when people cross the line. I can only tell you that she blacks out.
Watch me grow week by week
As we are nearing the end of this pregnancy (only 11 days until his ETA), I thought I’d show off my ever growing baby thus far. If we continue to make our weekly picture day, I will continue to update with new pictures.
However, quite a few people are betting that we will not make it through this week- he’s been dropping further everyday, and I’ve been having regular (well, almost regular) contractions for the last two days. I’m on high alert, and even the smallest change makes me call my mom in a panic asking her if I’m in labor. Thank goodness she has a lot of patience. 😉
We will see 🙂 Anyone wanna make any bets?? I’m still hoping he holds onto that AWESOME due date- 11.11.11!
Fall-ing in love <3
On this beautiful fall day, we decided to get a few pictures of Grae on his “first” Georgia/Florida Game Day. 🙂 Our due date is getting closer every day. It is fun to think that next fall, days like this will be spent with our beautiful new son!
38 Weeks
Only 14 days until our baby boy’s due date! I cannot believe how fast this is going (I know I just keep saying that, but JEEZ, it seems like just yesterday I found out we were pregnant!)
The big thing that happened at our appointment today- “INDUCTION” was pretty much the main idea. Apparently, next Friday (at our 39 week appointment), the midwife will check my cervix again, and if it is “favorable” for labor- which means 3 cm dilated, and more than 50% effaced, she will want to induce me on the following Monday, November 7! This is a little (ok, a lot) terrifying, because when I was checked two weeks ago I was already 1.5 cm dilated and 50% effaced!! If, however, my cervix is not favorable, the induction will be scheduled for the following Monday- November 14!
I truly hadn’t even let the word “INDUCE” into my brain up until today. It really caught me off guard, because all we have heard from the very same midwife throughout our entire pregnancy is that they do not believe in inducing women under 41 weeks. I have no idea why the tune changed.
I don’t even know how I feel about the idea of being induced. She said about 35% of women with first time babies need to be induced. She said that by inducing women, it increases the chance of an emergency C-section from 20-25% to 30-35%. Technically, the whole idea of giving birth makes me a little woozy at this point in time. Hopefully, when Grae is ready to come out, I am able to remain somewhat calm and clearheaded. Even as she was discussing the possibility of inducing me, I started feeling faint and sweaty…WTH am I going to do when its time for this little man to actually come out!?!?!
On a happier note, I hadn’t gained any weight since my last appointment and my blood pressure is perfect. Baby is also still head-down, and there is a very little chance of him flipping back around at this point (he’s getting too big).
We’ll keep ya posted! 🙂
XO,
Andrea
What’s in the hospital bag??
Time to answer another question– What did you pack in your hospital bag??
Well, I can share what we have packed in our bag, but honestly, I won’t have a great answer to this question until AFTER we come home from the hospital. Afterall, this is our first time doing this… Maybe all you expert mommies out there can fill ME in on a good answer to this question. 🙂
I’ll share what we have already packed- and if anyone else has any suggestions- we would LOVE to hear them!
1. Pillows
2. Blankets
3. Car seat (the hospital wont let you leave without one)
4. Snacks and drinks- (bottled water, gatorade, granola bars)
5. Towels (2 packed in the bag, 1 out in the car- in case my water breaks in there- a great suggestion from our midwife)
6. A baby towel for Grae- he will be getting his first bath there and we don’t want his first bathing experience to be less than perfect due to a rough towel. 🙂
7. Toiletries, Nightgowns, T-shirt, sweatpants, clothes to wear home, warm clothes, socks with grippers on the bottom to walk the hospital halls, bathing suit tops for the whirlpool birthing tub and trunks for Ian, and a button up shirt for Ian. The nurse told us that immediately following Grae’s birth, in case I am unable to warm him using skin-to-skin contact (in case of an emergency), it will be Ian’s job. She said “Please bring a button down shirt so you don’t tear your shirt off like Tarzan.” 🙂
8. Multiple outfits for Baby- one in newborn size, one in 0-3 month size to ensure a proper fit. He needs one outfit for pictures (a photographer comes to the room to take his first pictures at the hospital we are going to) and one outfit for him to wear home.
9. Hair ties and chapstick
10. Bobby pillow (recommended for first time moms who are planning to nurse) and receiving blankets
11. Music and camera
We would love to hear your suggestions and recommendations! Did we pack to much? Did we forget anything?
Love,
Andrea
The Mielke Way 