Mommy and Daddy had their first Labor class last week at Baylor Frisco Hospital. They no longer "teach" you how to breathe, which was good news to Mommy (she always thought it was weird anyway). They did teach Mommy and Daddy how to help Mommy relax and push through (pun intended) contractions and delivery. Unfortunately, the deep breathing and relaxing music put Mommy's labor coach (aka-Daddy) to sleep! Mommy was not too pleased and told him she will bring a water gun with ice water to keep him in line if he tries to doze off during labor. Mommy and Daddy also learned a lot about how Mommy's body will change throughout the labor and delivery process and they learned how I will work with Mommy to make it easier for her (not that any of the "easy" talk sounded "easy" to Mom!). Mommy was also very happy to hear that the instructor was also a lactation consultant (someone who helps Mommies and babies figure out the whole feeding thing) and head nurse of Labor & Delivery. The instructor was very pro women's ability to have a baby naturally (because that's what a woman's body is made to do) and shared a lot of similar views as Mommy regarding labor and delivery.
Mommy has been trying to get my stuff all organized and ready. She spent most of last week doing baby laundry and getting my room all situated. Then, after the Labor class, Mommy realized how soon I will be here, so she started packing the hospital bag. I don't think she realized that the Doctors and Hospitals consider her "full term" at 36-37 weeks, she always thought full term was 40 weeks. Luckily the hospital she will deliver at is new and sort of like the Nordstrom of hospitals, providing lots of essentials and nonessentials to women and their family during the labor and delivery process. They even feed Daddy for free and will give Mommy and Daddy a celebration meal of steak and lobster on their last night there! Daddy was really excited to hear about that! Check out all the cool stuff the hospital offers us!
Speaking of Daddy, he has been "nesting," too. He's been searching the stores for a Carbon Monoxide detector for the past week, and he finally found one and installed it, then checked all of the alarms in the house (*I* did not enjoy this loud noise and made my feelings known... unfortunately I forget when I move around I jab Mommy... sorry Mommy!). Afterwards he announced: "Now my family is safe!" What a great Daddy!
Mommy thinks it's funny how I seem to know when Daddy puts his hand on her belly. Mommy can rub her belly all day and I just move as normal, but when Daddy puts his hand on her belly to feel me move, I get so excited to communicate with him, I go a little overboard with the communicating... accidentally jabbing Mommy too hard. Mommy will be glad when Daddy and I can communicate via me sleeping on his chest instead of punching him through her belly.
... still no sleep due to the occasional back pain, potty breaks, and now contractions (which seem to only show up at night when Mommy lays down to sleep!).
Mommy's weight gain (between 25-30 lbs) is normal, though Mommy is already thinking of ways to lose the weight after I arrive. She and Daddy bought an exercise ball so Mommy can get a head start doing simple things and she was also told in the Labor class that if you plan on doing a natural delivery, this ball would help take the pressure off your back and hips. Mommy has tested this theory out and indeed it works!
My house is about 6 inches above Mommy's belly button, now. There's no question that there's a baby in here! Mommy has been hearing the "She's about to pop" comment, which is exciting and annoying at the same time. Mommy feels huge, but at the Labor class last week, she realized how small she is compared to other Mommy-to-be's. Sorry Mom, but you feel big now, just wait.... you will get bigger!
My house is about 15 times its original volume, isn't that amazing. At the labor class, the instructor passed out a book that showed a diagram of how all of Mommy's organs have shifted from her growing uterus, Mommy thinks it's incredible how her body is able to do all of that! Only God could have planned it this way.
Mommy will start going to the Dr weekly soon (since Full Term is 36-37 weeks), just to check out everything and make sure she and I are doing great.
Hormones are taking over every now and then, but I think she's doing a pretty good job keeping them under control (especially with the lack of sleep she's been getting). The main thing that's getting to her are those hormones that trigger nesting... she wants everything to be perfect for me and it seems she just can't get it all done at once all by herself! She gets tired after doing what used to be simple things and then has to stop to rest. How frustrating that must be, but don't worry Mommy... all I really need is love and food, two things you are more than capable of providing!
Mommy is doing a pretty good job with the anxiety of labor. She keeps reminding herself that God made her to do this and that she will have Daddy there to help her through it (as long as the Army doesn't try to take him away again for training, I think Mommy might have some choice words for them if they do!). Thanks to the Labor class, Mommy knows now that even if the Army does take him away, she has the knowledge that labor will be a long process and Daddy will be able to leave and make it in time for my arrival!
Another thing they discussed in the labor class was how important it is for newborns to have that skin-to-skin with their Mommy immediately after delivery. As long as everything is okay, Mommy and Daddy want me nestled on Mommy's chest until the skin-to-skin development is complete (usually taking about an hour). This is a crucial time for Mommy and me to bond and gives us a greater chance of enhancing breast-feeding success. It will also give Mommy, Daddy, and I some quality bonding time as a new family. I will post a blog with the steps so you are in-the-know of this new research.
What's going on with Me?
Mommy had our bi-weekly Dr appt. this week. She and I are doing well. The Dr just wants Daddy to check Mommy's blood pressure every few days and she wants Mommy to stay off her feet. The Dr didn't measure my weight this visit because she needed to measure the amniotic fluid, which was normal. However, according to studies, I have been putting on about an ounce a day, so I may be close to 5 pounds this week. I am also probably about 18-20 inches long (almost 2 feet). I won't get much longer but I will continue to gain weight until I am born.
I'm gaining more fat, which will keep me safe and warm after I arrive into the world.
I'm not doing so many acrobatics now that space is sparse (also due to the now decreasing amniotic fluid), though I think when I move around it's painful and uncomfortable for Mommy. I know because she tattles on me to Daddy telling him I need a spankin' cause I'm hurting her. Daddy's response (I think I like this dude!)... "I'm not spanking that perfect angel!"
My suckle reflexes are now well developed, if they had a sonogram, Mommy and Daddy could possibly see me sucking my thumb.
My lungs are maturing, producing surfactant (coats lungs and keeps them from sticking together). Fun fact! Girls' lungs usually mature faster than boys'... maybe that's why we can talk and talk and talk.....while boys just roll around in the dirt and grunt! Yay, Girl Power!
My brain development is in high gear, protected by the soft plates (which will allow me to more easily fit through the birth canal), all of this development means my brain is growing, which means my head is weighing more, which means there is more pressure on Mommy's bladder (she feels like she has to go, then she doesn't... that must be pretty frustrating sometimes! Sorry Mommy).
My hearing is fully developed now. I respond best to high-pitched noises... meaning I can more easily hear my brother Hank's puppy bark over my brother Jr's big dog bark.
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