Bradley Bit: a Bit Behind

We are slackers.

I thought we could overcome it, but our slacker tendencies have overcome us at the moment. Even though I'm trying to keep myself from being disappointed by reminding myself that Arielle really has 6 more weeks if she wants them, it would also be smart to realize that she could choose to come at any moment. We haven't practiced a single contraction, haven't done a single minute of relaxation and haven't studied a single page from my binder in weeks.

I got a bit of a wakeup call yesterday when Arielle decided to stretch out and put some major pressure on my cervix. I seriously felt like she was getting ready to pop out and say "hi." No contractions, just a lot of pressure. It made me realize that another baby was really going to come through there in just a few weeks. I haven't been nervous at all, but after that, I did get a little nervous and pulled out the Bradley book again.

We need to jump on the bandwagon again and get crackin' with some exercises and some reading. I did get one good thing to share from the chapter I read. It's a mnemonic for remembering how to handle all suggested interventions at the hospital - BRAIN - Is this Beneficial? What are the Risks? Are there Alternatives? What does my Intuition tell me? What happens if we wait and do Nothing? I would tend to switch the I for a G (What is God telling me?), but that would mess up the word... :)

Oh, and the other thing I read that was good was just the use of the words "birthing team." I wouldn't have thought to use that terminology except for a home birth, but it is true that the nurses and my OB at the hospital are my birthing team and it may help me keep a positive attitude for me to think of and refer to them that way.

Belly Shot: 35 weeks

Only one more week until no one will try to stop my labor if it should decide to start.
Anyone else see that she's dropping?

Waiting

I heard this song by John Waller this morning and, even though I don't feel like I'm desperately waiting for Arielle to come yet, I might need this reminder in the near future. I remember being completely consumed by wondering when Eden would arrive the last few weeks of my pregnancy with her. It will probably help to have her as a distraction this time.

These words are still worth meditating on.

I’m waiting
I’m waiting on You, Lord
And I am hopeful
I’m waiting on You, Lord
Though it is painful
But patiently, I will wait

I will move ahead, bold and confident
Taking every step in obedience

While I’m waiting
I will serve You
While I’m waiting
I will worship
While I’m waiting
I will not faint
I’ll be running the race
Even while I wait

I’m waiting
I’m waiting on You, Lord
And I am peaceful
I’m waiting on You, Lord
Though it’s not easy
But faithfully, I will wait
Yes, I will wait

I will serve You while I’m waiting
I will worship while I’m waiting
I will serve You while I’m waiting
I will worship while I’m waiting
I will serve You while I’m waiting
I will worship while I’m waiting on You, Lord

Doctor's Visit: 34 weeks

Another uneventful OB appointment. (That's a great thing.) Arielle's heartbeat was 160 and Eden was talking about it the whole time we were in the office and for the rest of the day that day and even some the next day. She says "hah-bee? hah-bee?" anytime I talk about "baby Arielle" or "the baby in Mommy's tummy" or even "being a big sister."

The OB did the group-B strep swab on me and, while it was available, she decided to check my cervix... without telling me. I was just chatting away with her when I suddenly realized that there was something uncomfortable happening. I asked her if she was checking my cervix and she said nonchalantly "I just thought I would really quickly." I told her I'd prefer she not in the future, at least not without telling me. She said she wanted to check to make sure that my Braxton Hicks haven't been doing anything significant. I can understand that, but I do wish she hadn't told me I was 1 cm. Now, even though I KNOW that it means NOTHING, I'm still struggling to keep my hopes of Arielle coming early (just a little early) in check. Women can be dilated for weeks with no change. It indicates NOTHING. nothing nothing nothing nothing... sigh.

More Words from the Highchair

Sorry for my occasional sniffle...

Belly Shot: 34 weeks

Why not just do one every week now? :)

Thoughts And Feelings At 34 Weeks

I said that in October I was going to pull out the double stroller and try it out so I could get used to maneuvering it through doorways. Well, October is here and I'm too embarrassed to do it. It would just look funny, wouldn't it? I shouldn't care that it would look funny. Who cares? Not me. Right? After all, what will look funnier; me strolling around with only one child in a double stroller now? or me running my double stroller into everything and not being able to get through doorways when I have two children in it?

Arielle feels BIG. She's really making herself known and we can easily feel body parts (though we're not skilled enough to identify them...) when pushing on my belly. I'm feeling a bit of downward pressure that I wasn't feeling last week as well as more Braxton Hicks. I'm noticing my belly in my way more often than before. I don't even attempt to put up the mugs in their proper cabinet any more because the countertop just doesn't let me reach where I need to.

My back and other muscles are easily stressed and I'm pretty sure I've come close to pulling a muscle or two and have stopped whatever I was doing just in time. I'm trying to be extra careful when picking up or playing with Eden. I make her stand up in her crib before get her out and I always bend from the knees. I do NOT need to be laid up with a pulled muscle right now.

Chuck's first week of call is the first week of November, so that would be a really inconvenient time for Arielle to come. Not that she's due then or anything. God's perfect timing is really what we need and that's all there is to it.

I thought a few weeks ago that by week 35, I would be sooooo ready for her to vacate my womb and sooooo distraught at the thought of her being even a day late. It's not week 35 yet, but I have to say that I'm really not miserable, nor am I in a hurry for her to come. Yes, it would be nice to be somewhat recovered by Thanksgiving and not have to wait through another holiday (like we waited through Christmas for Eden) for our new arrival to make her appearance. There's just a lot I'd still like to get done.

My new revised list now includes making Eden and Arielle outfits for Arielle's first photo shoot, making Eden and Arielle Christmas dresses, completing the burp cloths and hair bows for a friends baby shower gift, completing the planning and the invitations for Eden's second birthday party, choosing Arielle's birth announcement, writing the bulk of our Christmas letter with a place planned to put the info about the birth, planning and having our last photo shoot (Chuck and I together), putting Arielle's clothes in drawers and on hangers and then, of course, your basic getting and keeping the house clean.

That's a little overwhelming. I've got 8 weeks at the most.