Local Le Leche League and Pediatrician

Last night I made my way to a local Le Leche meeting.  Fortunately one of the local groups has evening meetings.  Many tend to meet during the day mid-week, go figure.  There were three other ladies there last evening, so it was comfortable and not too overwhelming for me.  I admit I had some fears about people being super free about breastfeeding, but people stayed covered, so I didn't mentally freak out.  Everyone was very friendly.  I can see myself going back.

I also neglected to report that we met with the recommended pediatrician last week and were very satisfied with our discussion, so we've got a doctor lined up for our wee one!  She is available to come to the hospital for first checkups etc, is onboard with some of our opinions, and offered a great deal of information and dialog.

In other news I am officially heavier than I've ever been.  Today is week 31, so 9 weeks to go, so I am guessing that will tick up by another 10lbs, which would put me at a 35lb gain.  That is at the top end of allowed gain - IF I had started out at what they consider to be a healthy weight.  Since they classify me as overweight (and a mere 2 or 3lbs under what they'd say is obses) based on BMI I'll be 10lbs over what they would want, easy.

I still think if I'm that close to 'obese' they need more categories because there has to be somewhere to go from there given the tremendous (word selected on purpose) variety of even larger sized women I encounter on a very regular basis.

I also have the hospital packing list started.  I want to start setting stuff aside, being the crazy planner I am.  After all, I need to get my stuff in order so I can then start telling him what all he needs to get in order, right?

Contract signing meeting and 3/4 done!

Last night we had our contract meeting with our doula, Sara.  It was nice to sit and talk a little more freely one on one.  I am confident she knows/gets what I'm wanting and will be willing and able to support it providing there isn't medical reason to go another direction.

Craziest moment was filling out the form and putting my name in where it said "Mother's Name".  While you know instantly what they want there, you do have a second where you think "why do they need my Mom's name?  oh wait... that's me... Mother!"

The other craziness is that today is week 30.  3/4 done.  10 weeks to go... 70 days.

I am still getting some heartburn, but have a big container of Tums.  The temps went down a little, so my feet don't feel or look as much like a sausage as they were.  I'm sleeping pretty well and feeling better than I was standing/moving.  All good progress vs the downhill things could easily take at this point in my pregnancy.

Labor and Childbirth... class

Friday night and this (Saturday) morning we had a labor and childbirth class at the hospital.  It was worth taking but it does have me a bit wiped out.  Probably for the best as some of the stuff feeds the thoughts of what could go 'wrong'.  The bonus is there was a Chick-fil-a close by, so I got a delightful lunch after we departed today.

I also reached out to an Etsy seller to start working on a name decal for kiddo's room.  Originally I wanted one that was more child-like and included a few more birds, but with more thinking and hunting I am leaning more towards a decal that has a scripted first and middle name and a larger script last initial.

Appointment Scheduling wah.

My appointment went normally yesterday.  The wee one remains in the 150 range on heartbeat - doing well!  The doctor wasn't worried about the swelling (as noted, I know it's normal) or the pain I had the other night.

I do have my first complaint about this office though... now that I have to go every two weeks it is harder to get scheduled.  This time there wasn't a single appointment for 2 or 3 weeks out here in this office.  So I am scheduled to drive the whole way to the hospital location in 2 1/2 weeks *sigh*  at least they have evening hours so I won't miss as much work, but what an irritation.  She was able to then go ahead and book the next two appointments in advance to make sure I was on their schedule, so that's good at least.  Let me tell you how crazy it feels that the third appointment is August 2.  August.  My due date month.  Yikes.

I took the time to go lay down and cuddle with my guy last night as was starting to feel very necessary.  It was nice to just lay close, or at least as close as the belly would allow.  He was also so kind as to rub my feet and calves for a while, which was delightful.

Joy and Pain, like sunshine and rain?

I'm sitting here today thinking about how incredibly lucky I am with this pregnancy.  I've not had the many of the typical unpleasant symptoms and at my age to say that everything look so healthy at week 29 is truly a blessing.

That said, I do have to note that the swelling in my ankles/feet has started - moreso on the left.  Nothing extreme, but it's worth mentioning to the doctor's office today and watching.  I'm pretty sure it is due to the warmer temps and the fact that I was standing a little more and outside while my sister was here busy working away.

I also was woken before 1am with a rather sharp pain at the lower left of my belly, right at 'that spot' that felt 'odd' to me years ago before I had the miscarriage/found out I was pregnant.  It lasted for just a few minutes, but it was unpleasant and had me nervous to stand to use the restroom.  I was sleeping on my left side as they want you to at this point.  It may have been round ligament pain, but to this point I've only felt that when moving and as soon as I relaxed it went away.  I don't think it was a braxton hicks contraction as it was just at that one area and not hardening my whole tummy.  This too will get mentioned at today's doctor appointment.

I've also had a few bad dreams in the past week.  Nothing about kiddo, but moreso relationships.  I think he and I need a nice cuddle to ease my brain.

Still I know these are all small potatoes worries and I'm grateful.  Girl was pretty quiet while my sister was visiting, so there wasn't really an opportunity to say "here feel", but she's shifting around a little more this morning.  I do think she's just going to be a stubborn/contrary one, but I guess I deserve that.

Breastfeeding class

This past weekend I went to the Breastfeeding Basics class I had signed up for.  It was informative enough and I came back with more reading materials.  We have another class later this week - the labor and delivery one - which spans two days, that should be ... interesting.

I've been trying to get through a book I pulled from the local library:  Ina May's Guide to Childbirth.  They only give you two week loans now, what's up with that?  I'm not that great of a reader!

My sister is in visiting and today she is ironing the goodies for the baby's room.

I also had a small miracle last night - I didn't get up once to go to the bathroom.  Heck, I didn't even move.  When I woke I was expecting to be in major pain from not budging, but I feel great today.  That is definitely worthy of the miracle label.

Doula meet and greet

Last night we attended a meet and greet for a regional doula group in downtown Pixburgh near Magee Hospital.  I didn't _want_ to drive into the burgh on a week night but I knew it was the best way to meet a few of these ladies in person, get some more information, and to see if we found someone that would be a fit.

3 of the 6 in this group were in attendance and all three seemed quite pleasant.  2 of the 3 there had been recommended by my chiropractor by name.  We had some conversation about it on the way home and after - so this morning I reached out to the group and asked about the availability of one doula to support our birth.  It's an added expense, but I think it will be worth it.  At least it is something that can come out of pre-tax HSA dollars too.

If she is available and willing, there should be a couple of meetings with her in the next so many weeks before we ever go into labor, but that window is fairly small, so I needed to get the ball in motion.

Sugar sugar... awwww honey honey

My glucose results are back at 114.  From what I had read online the number to be under was 140, but my office sets the threshold at 135.  Regardless, I'm good to go.  What a relief!

Baby's on fire!

Almost right on cue as week 27 ends, firmly landing me in the third trimester, heartburn has set in.  It started yesterday afternoon and quelled somewhat with eating dinner - which is shocking since I loaded kiddo up with lots of garlic and onions - but alas it returned again this afternoon.  It isn't bad, but it's there, just lingering.

My Dad was constantly popping tums, bleh.  I don't know how he could stand it.  I'm going to need to grab me a roll to see if they'll help me out.  I just keep telling myself how lucky I've been - this is nothing.