Checkup
It's late now and I should be in bed, but I can't help blogging this. Today I've been scarce online because I had a prenatal checkup. This probably isn't as exciting for you as it is for me, so feel free to skip the rest of this post and only feign interest in my measurements and weight gain. I won't be offended.
I am measuring precisely on schedule again, just like last time. This surprises me a little because even though my insides are feeling much more crowded, I don't think I'm looking any bigger on the outside. I really did just what I told all my friends: I popped out at 4 months and looked about 7 or 8 months pregnant, then stayed that way indefinitely.
I only gained 1 lb in the last 3 weeks. This doesn't surprise me at all because it's been so hot. I don't like to eat much when it's hot and food becomes something I use primarily for medicinal purpose, if you know what I mean: I eat to keep well, not to satisfy hunger because, well, I just don't tend to get hungry during hot weather.
I had to remind my midwife to draw blood for an iron check. If you're a new reader, you have no idea what a grown-up, big-girl sort of thing this was for me to do. I usually faint during blood draws unless I'm lying down. I know what you're thinking. I am not a baby. Am not, am not, AM NOT.
I won't know my iron levels until around Tuesday since my midwife's centrifuge is out of commission. She'll have to send the sample out to a lab.
I made plans to borrow a labor/birthing pool, which I will pick up at my next checkup. Is it weird to look forward to labor? Like Kelly of Families Against Feminism, I love labor pains - but just the early ones!
And I heard a beautiful little heartbeat, loud and clear. That's always the best part. Five weeks and counting!
Related posts:
- Prenatal checkup
- First prenatal appointment!
- Coming up this Thursday
- oops & prenatal checkup
- My sister’s scale, part II
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Filed under: pregnancy/labor
FIVE WEEKS?!? When did that happen? I think I must’ve missed some major memo, because for some reason I was thinking you still had a good two months or so. Of course, everyone ELSE’s pregancies always seem to fly, right?
Feeling your baby’s heartbeat must be an awesome experience, maybe one of the best in your life! Good luck with hot weather, here in Italy we seem to have gone back to autumn: only rain, rain and rain again…
Love
I don’t think you are a baby about blood draws at all! I have a sister who faints about 10 minutes after every draw (once found out cold alone in an elevator!) and a daughter who not only faints, but vomits while she’s passed out! She gets very embarrassed and upset when she comes to.
Doctors have said it is an involuntary response that you cannot control!
Good luck with the labor and we are holding our collective breaths for the grand results!!
That’s awesome! Do you intend to “blog the birth” live like the last one?
I’m SO happy for you!
I’m on pins and needles.
Five weeks! Praise the Lord, then you will meet your son or daughter!
Ashley
Pascale,
I hope and intend to live-blog this baby’s birth. Last time, blogging was a fun distraction during labor. I’m thankful that my labors are so manageable these days – I certainly couldn’t have blogged through most of my first, but the really intense parts are so much shorter now. It still hurts, of course, A LOT, but at least it doesn’t hurt for 7 or 10 hours. Now the really unpleasant parts are mostly at the end.
I’ve used water for 3 of 5 labors. LOVE IT! It is my epidural. The other 2 labors went well but NOTHING like when I had the water. (Actually the one was AWESOME- 1.5 hours start to finish w/ very little pain- it was WEIRD! We didn’t have time to get the tub filled. Wish they all would be that easy, though I was in shock afterwards b/c it was so fast.)
I can’t believe you actually reminded her about getting blood drawn!!
I would’ve probably kept my mouth shut. I don’t like needles. I don’t think anyone who homebirths (or goes natural) is a wimp at all (or baby). Praying the rest of your pregnancy is smooth sailing – can’t wait to find out whether the baby’s a boy or girl! 
I can’t wait to read about your birth! And I think, if you guys are at the SAICFF, that we’ll actually get to meet your baby!Woo hoo!
I like reading about the commonplace activities of my friends’ lives! It’s not mundane to me.
Having hospital births in our city hospital means I don’t get the option of water birth, but I’ve heard good things about it. It sounds very relaxing……..to tell you the truth, I never feel like getting up/moving around or anything during labor. It’s a very intense time for me and I like it to be all quiet and still. I like to just stay in the bed and stay still……Don’t know what that has to do with water births! Forgive my rambling!
Leanne in Longview
Like Leeanne, a water birth was not an option for me at my hospital and I always thought they were a little “weird” when I saw them on TV. That is, UNTIL, I was in labor with my own baby and I was allowed to get in a tub for about 15 minutes and hold the shower nozzle directly over my belly. I felt like I could do the whole thing like that—it felt wonderful and really controlled the pain! Unfortunately, I couldn’t stay in the tub and after 23 hours of, let’s say, excruciating labor I had an emergency C-section.
I am happy about your relative ease with your last few babies. Will the children be around to experience it? You are in my prayers.
I’m very interested in how things are going… I’m about a week and a half behind you. My other two boys both had to be induced because I just never went into labor so I’m looking forward to trying to go natural with baby #3. We’ll see….
Yeah!! I’m so glad things are going so well! We got to hear our baby’s heartbeat for the first time (at 11 weeks) last week at the midwife’s. I LOVE that sound! I don’t think one can ever tire of the sound of life!
I can’t wait for the live blogging birth event! I was along for the ride when The Boy appeared and I’m looking forward to riding along to meet his “brother”!! LOL!
I have been so blessed by your blog (just so ya know). I am also about 5 weeks from my due with my second child and am planning my first homebirth (water birth). I am so glad the Lord led me to your blog (although I can’t remember how I got here) it has been such a blessing and encouragment.
We are also greatly interested in the Samartian Ministries if you have any additional opinions or information we are eager to hear it. My email is emilyfit@hotmail.com if you have time to say anything.
Blessings to you.