I went to a La Leche League meeting today. I was a bit nervous because I have no clue about breastfeeding. I had downloaded a few newsletters and saw a few names of people that I knew but I was going in pretty blind.
The talk today was on returning to work. It was really interesting and I took 3 pages of notes. I now have a few strategies on how to deal with pumping and freezing and bottle feeding while breastfeeding. Next month's topic is bringing baby home and Aidan said he'll come along for that one.
While I was there I couldn't help but notice the amazing range of bellies in the pregnant ladies attending the meeting. I was feeling absolutely huge this morning and then felt positively tiny compared to the other ladies. And as for my boobs, I have nothing compare to many of the ladies there. I just need to take my body changes in stride because it is truly the incubation and feeding factory in development.
11 September 2010
10 September 2010
Yoga and Who will Watch the Sprog???
My return to prenatal yoga was a surprise. I remembered that it was tough but it's tougher with a baby in the belly. The class is a combination of yoga and pilates. I was fine in class but I have been really sore since so I can imagine how the others in class who admitted that they haven't been exercising must feel! The class is $25 for 2 hours so it is a pretty good deal for the next 3.5 months. And since I'll be teaching and doing warm-ups for highland 2 times a week and water aerobics twice a month, I should be in shape for my c-section recovery!
We've been having fun in the exploration of child care options. I have contacted a number of nurseries and they're pretty pricey (and many have waiting lists). I am not hot on the nursery option at the moment so we are exploring a nanny-share option with another couple who currently have an 8 month old. Then yesterday, the caregiver for our niece told Aidan's mom that she is losing a child to pre-school and whether we'd be interested in taking the spot. She is reasonably priced but (1) she keeps the children until about 2 and (2) she doesn't do Fridays. Aidan's parents offered to take the baby twice a week if my parents would do the other two and my parents loved the option. So now we need to figure out what to do on Fridays. The options are (a) taking turns working from home on Fridays or (b) Aidan takes Fridays off and works on Saturdays or (c) we find a caregiver for Fridays. So we're exploring this option as well.
And the shower... One of my friends wants to plan it so I need to sit down with her to identify a date and time and to give her email address and stuff. I think I'll offer my house as the location and provide the food so she doesn't have to worry about that part (with family, it'll be too big possibly to have a tea at a restaurant). I started getting info about doing registries in Bermuda and I can only set them up 2 weeks before the shower. People purchase the items and take them with them. Anything left over then goes back on the shelves. So I need to know where I am going to have to register for what! As for things we can't get here, I will set up a registry through myregistry.com but I need to talk to a college of mine who flies back and forth to Bermuda to see if I can send the items to him to bring down - Aidan and I will then pay him for duty and any extra bag charges that he may have. It's a pain but I don't think andy of the local stores will bring in some of the items that we want (i.e. the stokke xplory travel bag).
We've been having fun in the exploration of child care options. I have contacted a number of nurseries and they're pretty pricey (and many have waiting lists). I am not hot on the nursery option at the moment so we are exploring a nanny-share option with another couple who currently have an 8 month old. Then yesterday, the caregiver for our niece told Aidan's mom that she is losing a child to pre-school and whether we'd be interested in taking the spot. She is reasonably priced but (1) she keeps the children until about 2 and (2) she doesn't do Fridays. Aidan's parents offered to take the baby twice a week if my parents would do the other two and my parents loved the option. So now we need to figure out what to do on Fridays. The options are (a) taking turns working from home on Fridays or (b) Aidan takes Fridays off and works on Saturdays or (c) we find a caregiver for Fridays. So we're exploring this option as well.
And the shower... One of my friends wants to plan it so I need to sit down with her to identify a date and time and to give her email address and stuff. I think I'll offer my house as the location and provide the food so she doesn't have to worry about that part (with family, it'll be too big possibly to have a tea at a restaurant). I started getting info about doing registries in Bermuda and I can only set them up 2 weeks before the shower. People purchase the items and take them with them. Anything left over then goes back on the shelves. So I need to know where I am going to have to register for what! As for things we can't get here, I will set up a registry through myregistry.com but I need to talk to a college of mine who flies back and forth to Bermuda to see if I can send the items to him to bring down - Aidan and I will then pay him for duty and any extra bag charges that he may have. It's a pain but I don't think andy of the local stores will bring in some of the items that we want (i.e. the stokke xplory travel bag).
08 September 2010
Week 22
Date/Week: September 8; week 22 (15 weeks (105 days) to C/S)
Total weight gain/loss: 185 (+7 since last month; +15 since beginning)
Milestones: We're almost 100 days until c-section; the nursery is taking shape; I've begun pulling things together for my hospital bag
Physical Progress: It feels like my boobs have settled. They're still a bit overwhelming but I am learning to get used to them. My maternity pants with the full panels are finally starting to fit - they're a bit warm though!
Symptoms: heartburn has been a pain; not as many leg cramps; some nausea
How do I feel about my body: I'm liking the pregnant profile somewhat. It's kind of odd that everything is compacted between my belly and boobs. I've done some measurements and my legs and arms are still the same size. My under-bra measurement has increased by 1 inch. All of my expansion is in the torso, which is not that long on me (I'm all legs). It's kind of cool!
Food cravings/aversions: plums; banana bread
Sleep: Some nights I get up at 3am and can't go back to sleep. Other nights I sleep all the way through to 6.30am but have really vivid dreams. Either way, I feel tired in the morning.
Energy level: I have energy but I can't do everything that I need to do. I cooked on Sunday for 3 hours and then I had to take a 2 hour nap to recover. I have a prenatal DVD that I want to try but I don't have enough energy in the evening to do it...
Exercise: Walking and the warm-up at dance class.
Baby Movement: I've felt a few strong kicks but generally I just feel him moving around. I look forward to feeling him move since we've apparently broken our doppler (still don't know how we've done that.
Thoughts and Feelings? We're focused on getting sproglet to December and home for Christmas! I'm a little tired of the emotional rollercoaster of doctor's appointments. I am thankful through that we've had a good pregnancy thus far and that sproglet is growing like a weed.
What I am looking forward to: Continuing to work on the nursery. I also need to work with a friend of mine on a baby shower (I have to give her addresses and phone numbers). I'm nervous about the whole baby shower concept but she knows that I don't handle frou-frou well... Guess I need to put together a registry...
What am I reading / things I’m learning: I have had to read a handbook from a hospital in Halifax and it was actually really informative. I used it to put together my list for my hospital bag. I've also been reading up on the local LLL and will go to my first meeting on Saturday morning.
Total weight gain/loss: 185 (+7 since last month; +15 since beginning)
Milestones: We're almost 100 days until c-section; the nursery is taking shape; I've begun pulling things together for my hospital bag
Physical Progress: It feels like my boobs have settled. They're still a bit overwhelming but I am learning to get used to them. My maternity pants with the full panels are finally starting to fit - they're a bit warm though!
Symptoms: heartburn has been a pain; not as many leg cramps; some nausea
How do I feel about my body: I'm liking the pregnant profile somewhat. It's kind of odd that everything is compacted between my belly and boobs. I've done some measurements and my legs and arms are still the same size. My under-bra measurement has increased by 1 inch. All of my expansion is in the torso, which is not that long on me (I'm all legs). It's kind of cool!
Food cravings/aversions: plums; banana bread
Sleep: Some nights I get up at 3am and can't go back to sleep. Other nights I sleep all the way through to 6.30am but have really vivid dreams. Either way, I feel tired in the morning.
Energy level: I have energy but I can't do everything that I need to do. I cooked on Sunday for 3 hours and then I had to take a 2 hour nap to recover. I have a prenatal DVD that I want to try but I don't have enough energy in the evening to do it...
Exercise: Walking and the warm-up at dance class.
Baby Movement: I've felt a few strong kicks but generally I just feel him moving around. I look forward to feeling him move since we've apparently broken our doppler (still don't know how we've done that.
Thoughts and Feelings? We're focused on getting sproglet to December and home for Christmas! I'm a little tired of the emotional rollercoaster of doctor's appointments. I am thankful through that we've had a good pregnancy thus far and that sproglet is growing like a weed.
What I am looking forward to: Continuing to work on the nursery. I also need to work with a friend of mine on a baby shower (I have to give her addresses and phone numbers). I'm nervous about the whole baby shower concept but she knows that I don't handle frou-frou well... Guess I need to put together a registry...
What am I reading / things I’m learning: I have had to read a handbook from a hospital in Halifax and it was actually really informative. I used it to put together my list for my hospital bag. I've also been reading up on the local LLL and will go to my first meeting on Saturday morning.
07 September 2010
06 September 2010
Lovely Holiday Weekend and 100 days to go!
It has been a good holiday weekend! I got to sleep in on Saturday but the dogs made it impossible on Sunday. I got some cooking and freezing done yesterday - enchiladas, bologanese, meatball, spinach and brown rice shells soup and portugese red bean soup. Next week's menu will be fun too (lasagna is on it). I'm even making banana bread... yum!
We started putting together the nursery yesterday. I can't believe the number of books we have. Many were mine but we've also collected a lot over the years. We still have a lot of Aidan's junk in the room so there is still the need to transition. Plus, we're not really decorating the room since we don't see the use of doing much in there for a baby so once the crib is up and the fitted sheet and quilt are in there, there won't be much else to do. As for clothes, I'm waiting for a few more lots I've won on eBay, I'll sort through what I like, wash the ones we keep and sell the rest.
I have my hospital packing list from the Halifax hospital. It's good for the hospital here as well so I used it for my packing list. I don't have some of the stuff - like nursing bras and pads - but I do have most of what is needed. It is kind of sobering to have this list and the suitcase out. I can't bring myself to pack yet. I wish I could hold off until the 3rd trimester when I feel that I should be packing a hospital bag. It sucks that a good part of this pregnancy is dealing with mental crap...
As for the milestones, I am going to go for a pedicure to celebrate 24 weeks. We're possibly going out to dinner for 28 weeks but I am also contemplating a prenatal massage. I am trying to think of something for week 32 that will be enjoyable for both of us. And if we make it to 36, it will be a great gift indeed (and an amazing yet exhausting Christmas).
We started putting together the nursery yesterday. I can't believe the number of books we have. Many were mine but we've also collected a lot over the years. We still have a lot of Aidan's junk in the room so there is still the need to transition. Plus, we're not really decorating the room since we don't see the use of doing much in there for a baby so once the crib is up and the fitted sheet and quilt are in there, there won't be much else to do. As for clothes, I'm waiting for a few more lots I've won on eBay, I'll sort through what I like, wash the ones we keep and sell the rest.
I have my hospital packing list from the Halifax hospital. It's good for the hospital here as well so I used it for my packing list. I don't have some of the stuff - like nursing bras and pads - but I do have most of what is needed. It is kind of sobering to have this list and the suitcase out. I can't bring myself to pack yet. I wish I could hold off until the 3rd trimester when I feel that I should be packing a hospital bag. It sucks that a good part of this pregnancy is dealing with mental crap...
As for the milestones, I am going to go for a pedicure to celebrate 24 weeks. We're possibly going out to dinner for 28 weeks but I am also contemplating a prenatal massage. I am trying to think of something for week 32 that will be enjoyable for both of us. And if we make it to 36, it will be a great gift indeed (and an amazing yet exhausting Christmas).
03 September 2010
Back to Earth
I was a bit of a basketcase last night. I always seem to get that way after an OB visit recently. My white coat fever doesn't help the situation any in his office... in any case, a lot of talking and a lot of research took place last night when we got home. I even got up at 1am and looked up a few more things. This morning, I feel more like my old self. I sure as hell don't want to be going through this every 2 weeks now that we will be seeing the OB that often (and then every week perhaps after Oct 20th). In any case, I did become comfortable with one scenario - if I go to Halifax, they can ensure the baby remains in utero longer. However, the question ultimately becomes when do I go - when there's a problem??? I think that's my issue with the whole going overseas thing at the moment. Sure, we're probably going to pack a "just in case" suitcase" for that scenario over the next week or so but unlike Boston, there isn't a 'how this scenario would work' plan in place.
Anyhow, we talked a lot last night and while our ultimate desire is to get to 36 weeks here, we're willing to do whatever it takes to get sproglet here healthy (hence the suitcase packing preparation). In any case, we now have 4 milestones that we're focused on:
Anyhow, we talked a lot last night and while our ultimate desire is to get to 36 weeks here, we're willing to do whatever it takes to get sproglet here healthy (hence the suitcase packing preparation). In any case, we now have 4 milestones that we're focused on:
- Sept 22 (24 weeks = viability);
- October 20 (28 weeks = 3rd Trimester; start of NSTs);
- Nov 17th (32 weeks = can deliver in Bermuda); and
- Dec 15th (36 weeks).
02 September 2010
Key Milestone - 32 Weeks
Today was my twice monthly OB visit. As usual, my BP was up but the baby's heartbeat was good (148) and I measured well. My weight was spot on (185.25) so I would say it was a good visit.
We went over what the high-risk OB said in Boston and my OB agrees with what will be done. I will start NSTs at week 28 and we'll look at bedrest and hospitalised bedrest if necessary. Concerning delivering at 36 weeks, he doesn't think I'll make it to 36 weeks. He thinks we'll end up delivering somewhere between November 12th (week 32) and Dec 17th (week 36). Any earlier and I'll have to be flown out to Halifax (thanks to my insurance company...). So we have a new milestone to reach - 32 weeks means I'll be able to deliver in Bermuda...
We went over what the high-risk OB said in Boston and my OB agrees with what will be done. I will start NSTs at week 28 and we'll look at bedrest and hospitalised bedrest if necessary. Concerning delivering at 36 weeks, he doesn't think I'll make it to 36 weeks. He thinks we'll end up delivering somewhere between November 12th (week 32) and Dec 17th (week 36). Any earlier and I'll have to be flown out to Halifax (thanks to my insurance company...). So we have a new milestone to reach - 32 weeks means I'll be able to deliver in Bermuda...
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