Full Term

Just a quick post to say how excited I am that we are full term!! Although 40 weeks is technically full term pregnancy, they consider 37 weeks a full term baby. She would be able to survive outside my belly more than likely with no outside medical help. That is huge. It is such a peace of mind that we have made it to this milestone. Now, I would like her to wait until her anticipated scheduled arrival date haha but I am happy to know that if I were to go into labor before then she would be a healthy girl. It certainly feels like I have a full term baby in my belly!

35 & 36 Weeks

Looks like we have a tentative birthdate!!

Our last appointment was on Tuesday, 9/13 and we found out she was still in breech position. The doctor explained that we could either wait another week and see if she flips and if she doesn't we have the option to do the Version or if we know we didn't want to have the Version done we could schedule our c-section. We chose to schedule the c-section!

I felt better immediately that we could schedule it. I was incredibly nervous before the appointment (I even wrote my name wrong on something at some point) because all this up in the air and unknown was just killer. The doctor was fine with our decision. In fact, part of me thinks he agreed with not doing the Version. He even made a small comment that if it was his wife he would probably feel the same. Interesting.

She could still flip and if she does then we go back to square 1 and the "old fashioned" way of delivering a baby which is fine with me obviously - although knowing when she is coming is kind of fun for a planner like me and is a blessing with a retail schedule like Chris's. Speaking of Chris's work, they have been very accommodating with everything which we are very grateful for. Not a place of unemployment should be difficult but let's face it, in today's world not many companies seem very accommodating with the birth of a child which is sad. He is able to take off 5 days so that he can be with me the whole time in the hospital and a couple days at home. I am so relieved by that.

Anyway, back to the c-section. So, the doctor took out the calendar and we looked at the possible days for my surgery. Chris and I wanted to go for Friday, October 7th so that it would be as close as possible to my actual due date and my parents coming. Plus, I like the sound of the 7th as her birthday! The 7th was available. The doctor on call that day is a new doctor to the practice although not a new doctor herself as my doctor assured me. We will meet with her next Friday for my regular appointment which makes me feel a lot more confident that we can have some face time with her prior to the big day. Fingers crossed we like her. I don't need to want to be best friends with the woman; just feel confident that she is competent!

The doctor answered a few questions about the c-section. Chris can stay with me the whole time. Once she is born, she will be given to Chris to hold (I'm assuming after she is cleaned off and measured/weighed) and he can bring her over to me so I can touch her and give her kisses. Unfortunately, I can't hold her immediately because they will still need to stitch me up but as long as one of us is with her I am okay. He can go with her to the nursery where she'll get her newborn care (any necessary shots or treatments). They will stitch me up and wheel me into the recovery room where I can hold her and hopefully be able to nurse her for the first time. After the recovery room, I will go to my regular room on the labor & delivery ward where I will stay for approximately 3 nights. I say approximately because I am hoping for an early discharge. We go in on Friday (our surgery is scheduled for 1pm but we arrive at 11am) and I would love to be able to go home Sunday afternoon or evening instead of staying over to Monday. The doctor had said it is possible for women to stay only 2 nights but I think they are cautious about it. We'll see. I'd much rather have my little family at home and have just the 3 of us cuddling together!

My mother-in-law will be able to come on Friday for the actual delivery and stay with me on Wednesday when Chris goes back to work. I am so happy about that! It is great to have her be around to help. The Grandparent Unit (GU) as my sister calls them aka my mom & dad arrive that Thursday for 2 weeks and obviously I am THRILLED by that. Not only can I not wait for them to meet her, I am so happy to have them around in general with me and helping me. They make great baby nurses haha! Then, my sister comes at the end of their stay and it'll be so great having her here to pick up where they left off and transition us into our real lives (like releasing us back into the wild haha).

So as of this post, it is 3 weeks from today! I cannot believe it. Chris and I are just dumfounded. We are trying to finalize anything left on the to-do list and prepare as best as possible. I have been cooking extra of every meal and freezing it for easy dinners before and after my parents arrive (not that Chris doesn't cook because he actually does but on nights he goes into work I'm left to my own devices). This weekend we are visiting a possible pediatrician and going car shopping. We are hoping to lease a Kia Sorrento or Sportage. My little 2 door, 1999 honda civic ain't gonna cut it! That's a big item on the to-do list haha. Once we get that, we get the car seat in, hopefully figure out the damn stroller, put up the pack and play and her stuff should be ready to go!! We're trying to keep busy so we don't just burst at the seems with excitement. We're going to try to get in some relaxation in between all this and maybe a date night or two :)

Dear Adelaide,
Holy moly your mama and daddy can't wait to meet you! We are just about jumping out of our skin at this point! You are getting so big in mama's belly. The doctor estimates you will be about 7 1/2 - 8 lbs at birth which puts you around 6lbs at this point. Some babies are born around 6lbs so you really are almost full size! You seem to take up every square inch of my belly. I feel a body part sticking out of each side which never ceases to amuse me. Although your mama complains about being big and uncomfortable, she sure does love having you so close and safe with her all the time. I thought I wouldn't miss being THIS pregnant but I tell you I will miss feeling you move and react to noises and voices. It's such a special bond that we have. But, I want to share that love with your daddy. He is so eager to meet you and I want him to be able to hold you and love you the way I can with you in my belly. He is just dying for you to come out and play, little one. As we sit around or do our daily activities, we imagine you with us and it's becoming a clearer and clearer vision. We talk about what you would be doing if you were here and the places we can go and where we can't wait to take you. You have so many wonderful adventures waiting for you and SO much love! Your family will just eat you up and spoil you rotten and I wouldn't have it any other way!! 3 more weeks, Junebug.

All My Love,
Mama

33 & 34 Weeks

She is getting bigger & bigger! Although I am still getting some body shaking kicks, most of her movements now as rolls and turns and as her whole body shifts so does my belly! I wake up in the morning now to find her usually balled up on one side of my belly or another. This has been a favorite of hers to do for a little while now. If I wake up on my right side, she is usually all the way on my right and I can feel a series of hard lumps all the way down the right side of my belly. Usually, when I am waking up I feel a few flurries of activity but she is pretty quiet. I pray this means that she likes sleeping in the morning as much as I do haha. Nighttime is still her most active period which I think is probably true of most babies, fetuses and newborns alike. I can't always discern what bump is what but i'm fairly certain what I am feeling on either side of my belly button are her elbows or arms. I had though before that she was sideways but she is most certainly right side up (which is to say wrong side for labor haha).

Yep, she's still a little breech baby! We had our appointment on the 30th and she is definitely still head up. Still doing fine. Still cooking in there. Our next appointment is on September 13th and if she is still breech then we need to make some decisions. We can either have the doctor try to turn her or go ahead and schedule our c-section. We have come to the decision to go the c-section route for certain if she is still breech. There is still time yet for her to flip but as I've mentioned before I think she is quite content as she is. I am less and less nervous about the c-section (that may change as the day gets closer) and we are getting more and more prepared for that scenario. I have joked though that the more prepared we are the more likely she will flip around last minute to pull a fast one on us!

If we schedule the c-section, we will shoot for October 7th depending on what doctors are available. We're hoping this would only mean 1 day difference between Chris going back to work and my parents arriving in town for 2 weeks. Obviously, we have Chris's family close by to check in which is fantastic but of course I want my mom and dad there as soon as possible! It makes me a little sad they won't be able to visit in the hospital but I am happy that they will be able to spend the full amount of their visit with their new granddaughter. That was very important to me. It is still odd to think that I may never have a "typical" labor and delivery but I just want her here safe & sound so I am accepting that this is how she will more than likely enter the world. Good news for her, it's almost no trauma to her to come into this world via planned c-section. No tough labor or squishing through a birth canal. Just lifted gently on out of my belly. I mean am I great hostess or what?

October 7th would be a couple days after I turn 39 weeks so if that's the case that means 4 weeks from tomorrow I will be having Adelaide in my arms. I don' t think I have fully processed that yet!! We are more than ready for her (at least in our hearts and I believe in our home with the amount of stuff we have haha). We just can't wait to focus on this angel 110%!!!

Dear Adelaide,
Don't worry, Mama is going to leave you alone in there. You seemed to have made up your mind on what is best for you and I am not going to change that. I like to think that you are an independent woman already haha. I have a feeling this won't be the first time you make up your mind and won't budge. I can't say your Mama was much different. I have washed your clothes and unpacked all the odds and ends in your nursery and organized it as much as I could. Your Daddy has put everything together (except the stroller which is still baffling us haha) and we are getting every little loose end tied up as best we can before your arrival. We are trying to keep ourselves busy so the time passes by quickly until we meet you. We are simply amazed that in a matter of weeks you will be here with us and our lives will never be the same and we are so ever looking forward to that moment. It seems we've waited our whole lives just for you!

All My Love,
Mama