This blog is mostly for Jeff, Junior, and I, but we've decided to share it with close friends and family just in case you are interested in reading our deepest thoughts (not very deep) about our joys and fears during this pregnancy and throughout our child's life (at least that's assuming that Blogspot will be around that long, and that we'll keep up with posting pictures and thoughts, and that Junior enjoys seeing her life on the intertoobs).
So, enjoy our ramblings if you'd like and feel free to comment - we'll try to respond quickly!
The last time I wrote anything of significance about the pregnancy was actually in October! So I've got two months of catching up to do. Also, I need to get Jeff to do some writing so his thoughts will be saved for posterity too.
We had our last ultrasound in early November. This was down at Baystate Hospital in Springfield, Massachusetts because they have better trained technicians down there and we were scheduled to actually have an amniocentesis done. We had a pre-ultrasound genetics counseling appointment where we went over all the health issues of both of our families out three generations. Pretty detailed, and I'm sure we missed something, but luckily, the counselor didn't think we had anything big to worry about. We went in for the ultrasound and the technician took what seemed like hundreds of pictures (3 of which are posted here). We learned that our baby is a girl (at least we are going under this assumption at this point - we've been told that mistakes can easily be made in the gender identifying, but I'm about 99% sure the technician was right). All of the pictures looked good - all the right number of limbs, toes, fingers; heart beating and had the proper parts; activity (I hadn't felt her kicking yet, so it was nice to see her moving around). The technician said she thought the baby was very healthy.
Now we had to decide whether or not to have the amnio done. There is a small chance of miscarriage when doing and amnio, and I was hypersensitive to the idea of miscarriage since we already went through one in Bulgaria. I also HATE shots/needles, and this needle is supposed to be huge (never saw it). But since I'm "advanced" age for being a mother, having a test to look for genetic diseases is often recommended. But Jeff and I felt good after this ultrasound and decided not to do the testing. (This is kind of dark/graphic, so skip to the next paragraph if you're uncomfortable reading about ending a pregnancy) I also hated the thought of ending the pregnancy if we found out bad news - specifically because I would have to deal with the actual process for up to 3 days: the cervix would need to be enlarged and I would actually have to go through delivery. The baby was almost 6 inches long and nearly half a pound at that point - and I definitely had a baby bump, which made her even more real to me. After seeing the ultrasound, the idea of not letting that little alien grow to be born was heartbreaking. This was a difficult decision, because both Jeff and I agree that we don't want to bring a handicapped child into the world (handicapped mostly meaning a child with Down's Syndrome) just because we want a baby so badly. The world is already to overpopulated and we really want to be conscious of how our decisions can affect our lives as well as those around us. Anyway, enough of this. We have chosen to believe that little Strawberry Snowflake Juniper Jewett Savage will be a healthy human being.
I've had a couple more regular ob/gyn check ups and every time I mention one of the many symptoms I'm having (heartburn, sore boobs, cramping, general puffiness, swollen ankles and feet, mood swings, etc.), the Doctors just say, "that's perfectly normal." I guess I'm just enjoying some of the parts of pregnancy that aren't talked about all the time. I'm enjoying my time being pregnant - especially seeing how my body is changing (almost on a daily basis) and feeling Junior kick. I just didn't realize there were so many things that would change! My next check up is in 2 weeks. I guess this is where I'll get more information on setting up a birth plan, what to expect in the delivery room, how to prepare for baby coming home, and pediatricians in the area. It would be great if Jeff could go to this appointment with me, but it might clash with his schedule. We'll see.
I've started seeing a therapist - and I'll be seeing her about 8 times before the baby is born. I have suffered from clinical depression and apparently mothers who have had depression in the past are more prone to having post-partum depression, so I'm trying to establish a relationship with a therapist so someone other than Jeff and myself can help to judge whether I'm dealing with hormonal mood swings or actual depression throughout the pregnancy and after. She is also going to help me learn some self-hypnosis to help with the birthing process (and probably the days and weeks and months after!). We're also going to have Jeff join us for a few sessions so he can learn some hypnosis and other ways to help me through this process.
This coming Sunday I will be starting a prenatal yoga class. It will be funny to try some yoga poses with this giant belly sticking out. Also, Jeff and I are looking into childbirth classes. And trying to decide if we will hire a doula. So many things! Not to mention that we still have to furnish "the nursery." And buy clothes, diapers, blankets, and other stuff for Junior. And now we only have three more months to prepare! Insanity!
I'm really looking forward to this new chapter in our lives. I just hope the next three months take a really long time... ;)
Oh, and if you're interested in reading up about pregnancy, The Bump (www.thebump.com) has some entertaining stuff (if not exactly dry and scientific). We're at 27 weeks now and according to this site, Junior is the size of an eggplant: http://pregnant.thebump.com/pregnancy-week-by-week/27-weeks-pregnant.aspx.
So, enjoy our ramblings if you'd like and feel free to comment - we'll try to respond quickly!
The last time I wrote anything of significance about the pregnancy was actually in October! So I've got two months of catching up to do. Also, I need to get Jeff to do some writing so his thoughts will be saved for posterity too.
We had our last ultrasound in early November. This was down at Baystate Hospital in Springfield, Massachusetts because they have better trained technicians down there and we were scheduled to actually have an amniocentesis done. We had a pre-ultrasound genetics counseling appointment where we went over all the health issues of both of our families out three generations. Pretty detailed, and I'm sure we missed something, but luckily, the counselor didn't think we had anything big to worry about. We went in for the ultrasound and the technician took what seemed like hundreds of pictures (3 of which are posted here). We learned that our baby is a girl (at least we are going under this assumption at this point - we've been told that mistakes can easily be made in the gender identifying, but I'm about 99% sure the technician was right). All of the pictures looked good - all the right number of limbs, toes, fingers; heart beating and had the proper parts; activity (I hadn't felt her kicking yet, so it was nice to see her moving around). The technician said she thought the baby was very healthy.
Now we had to decide whether or not to have the amnio done. There is a small chance of miscarriage when doing and amnio, and I was hypersensitive to the idea of miscarriage since we already went through one in Bulgaria. I also HATE shots/needles, and this needle is supposed to be huge (never saw it). But since I'm "advanced" age for being a mother, having a test to look for genetic diseases is often recommended. But Jeff and I felt good after this ultrasound and decided not to do the testing. (This is kind of dark/graphic, so skip to the next paragraph if you're uncomfortable reading about ending a pregnancy) I also hated the thought of ending the pregnancy if we found out bad news - specifically because I would have to deal with the actual process for up to 3 days: the cervix would need to be enlarged and I would actually have to go through delivery. The baby was almost 6 inches long and nearly half a pound at that point - and I definitely had a baby bump, which made her even more real to me. After seeing the ultrasound, the idea of not letting that little alien grow to be born was heartbreaking. This was a difficult decision, because both Jeff and I agree that we don't want to bring a handicapped child into the world (handicapped mostly meaning a child with Down's Syndrome) just because we want a baby so badly. The world is already to overpopulated and we really want to be conscious of how our decisions can affect our lives as well as those around us. Anyway, enough of this. We have chosen to believe that little Strawberry Snowflake Juniper Jewett Savage will be a healthy human being.
I've had a couple more regular ob/gyn check ups and every time I mention one of the many symptoms I'm having (heartburn, sore boobs, cramping, general puffiness, swollen ankles and feet, mood swings, etc.), the Doctors just say, "that's perfectly normal." I guess I'm just enjoying some of the parts of pregnancy that aren't talked about all the time. I'm enjoying my time being pregnant - especially seeing how my body is changing (almost on a daily basis) and feeling Junior kick. I just didn't realize there were so many things that would change! My next check up is in 2 weeks. I guess this is where I'll get more information on setting up a birth plan, what to expect in the delivery room, how to prepare for baby coming home, and pediatricians in the area. It would be great if Jeff could go to this appointment with me, but it might clash with his schedule. We'll see.
I've started seeing a therapist - and I'll be seeing her about 8 times before the baby is born. I have suffered from clinical depression and apparently mothers who have had depression in the past are more prone to having post-partum depression, so I'm trying to establish a relationship with a therapist so someone other than Jeff and myself can help to judge whether I'm dealing with hormonal mood swings or actual depression throughout the pregnancy and after. She is also going to help me learn some self-hypnosis to help with the birthing process (and probably the days and weeks and months after!). We're also going to have Jeff join us for a few sessions so he can learn some hypnosis and other ways to help me through this process.
This coming Sunday I will be starting a prenatal yoga class. It will be funny to try some yoga poses with this giant belly sticking out. Also, Jeff and I are looking into childbirth classes. And trying to decide if we will hire a doula. So many things! Not to mention that we still have to furnish "the nursery." And buy clothes, diapers, blankets, and other stuff for Junior. And now we only have three more months to prepare! Insanity!
I'm really looking forward to this new chapter in our lives. I just hope the next three months take a really long time... ;)
Oh, and if you're interested in reading up about pregnancy, The Bump (www.thebump.com) has some entertaining stuff (if not exactly dry and scientific). We're at 27 weeks now and according to this site, Junior is the size of an eggplant: http://pregnant.thebump.com/pregnancy-week-by-week/27-weeks-pregnant.aspx.
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