34 weeks

Packing the hospital bags??

I have the bag that I will be packing, I just haven't sat down and started yet. I don't want to be caught by surprise but I also don't want to get it done too early. Since Parker's nursery is done and everything else is in order I feel that packing the bag is the last thing I get to do while pregnant. I don't want to rush it in a way. I did however pack his diaper bag and that is sitting on the nursery room door. It's so close now and I'm very excited but getting nervous. I wanted to have an all natural birth but since I have been so uncomfortable the last 3-4 months, I just want to get the epidural and enjoy the birthing process and not think about all the relaxing and focusing.(I have been trying to relax and focus just to get through the painful contractions I'm already having and I'm tired.)

How far along: 34 weeks
Weight gain: 30 lbs
Stretch marks: I have the same small red marks on the left and right sides, not very big but definitely new.
OB Appointments: Right now I'm have appointments scheduled every week because I have been having a lot of nausea and even more contractions. I'm still not progressing which is very good at this point. We want Parker to continue to grow and be healthy when he's born.
Symptoms: Sciatica pain, tons of pelvic pressure/pain, insomnia, and exhaustion. I find that swimming in the morning helps a ton with the aches and pains.
Sleep: I sleep about 3-4 hours at a time, I will get up for about an hour and lay back down. Usually because I wake up extremely uncomfortable. Thank goodness for late night video games, they always put me back to sleep.
Best Moment this Week: I found out one of the reasons I was having such bad nausea...peanut butter. I had no appetite because the nausea was so bad, everything I ate seemed to upset me. Well, the ACTUAL culprit was peanut butter. I don't know why and I will ask my OB about it at this next appointment. I know that since I have stopped eating it, I have had ZERO nausea.
Food Cravings: Nothing, I'm not hungry at all right now. I'm forcing myself to eat right now.
Labor Signs: Upped my dose of Procardia this week since the contractions were getting worse. They seem to be worse as the day wears on. In the morning they aren't as bad.
Belly Button in or out?: In
Feet Swelling?: Minor swelling but I'm happy to say I don't have cankles!
Wedding rings on or off?: I took them off, they still fit but not comfortably. I just wear them on a chain around my neck.
Movement: His moving has graduated to more of a rolling type movement.
Milestones: Less than 6 weeks till my due date and less than 3 till I'm full term and can stop taking Procardia.

Maternity Photos!!

I just recieved my photos from the maternity session my cousin did. She has done a lot of photography for me including our engagement session and some back-up wedding photography(click the link on the right for the photos from those sessions.) She does wonderful work and I just LOVE how these photos came out. She took these photos when I was 30 weeks along.

Here is her website:

Simply Classic Photography

31 weeks

I just calculated that I will be considered full term on Sept 10th 2010. I have this feeling that he will be coming before Oct. 3rd, but I don't want to jinx it and be 2 weeks late.

My next OB appointment: August 10th (probably scheduling the last U/S and confirm his growth and his position)

Thought it would be fun to do a little longer pregnancy survey this week, and I really like some of the questions in this one.

*****About Your Pregnancy******
Is this your first pregnancy?
Nope, we have a 10 year old daughter
When did you find out you were pregnant?
Jan 17th, 2010. It was confirmed by a blood test on Jan 22nd, 2010
Was it planned?
Yes, although we did not think we would get pregnant so fast
What was your initial reaction?
We had a rough month the previous cycle. I had received a positive pregnancy test on two digital pregnancy tests. My period was over a week late at that point and that is not very common. A few days after the positive tests I started bleeding and I went to my OB the next morning. They drew blood and confirmed that I was not pregnant and she even told me she did not think I was having a miscarriage but after talking to some other people false positives, especially on two digital pregnancy tests, are not common and it probably was an early miscarriage.

SO needless to say I never used those digitals again and I was afraid that the same thing would happen. When I had my positive test this cycle I was on pins and needles for months, my husband will agree.
Who was with you when you found out?
My husband
Who was the first person you told?
My husband then, I’m pretty sure the next person we told was my mother in law.
How did your parents react?
The grandparents-to-be on both sides of our family were very excited.
What was your first symptom?
My first symptom was actually before I took my pregnancy test. I NEVER had this symptom with any other period. I had extremely sharp pains on my left side, I was at work and they were so painful I had to lie down and I tried to use ice and heat to help relieve the pain. The pain was so intense it would shoot down my leg at times. This was the Friday morning before my positive test. I firmly believe this was caused by implantation, it was confirmed when I had an ultrasound that this was the side I ovulated from that month.
What is your due date?
My due date is October 3rd, 2010 but he is measuring 2 weeks and 1 day ahead by ultrasound. The last ultrasound due date we received was September 17th, 2010. I still stick with my initial due date since I know when I ovulated and when I had my last period.


****About the birth*****
Home or hospital birth?
Hospital
Natural or medicated birth?
I started out this pregnancy really wanting a natural birth but as time has gone by I’m really starting to second guess myself. I definitely don’t want an epidural but I’m thinking maybe some other types of “allowable” painkillers. I have been having such bad contractions for over a month I can’t even imagine how hard they will be when I’m in real labor. I don’t remember much from my daughter it went so fast and I had an epidural so early.
Who will be in the delivery room with you?
It will be my husband and my mother.
Will you breastfeed?
Yes
Do you think you'll need a c-section?
There should be no reason I would need a c-section unless he is breech.
Will you cry when you hold the baby for the first time?
Yes
What's the first thing you might say to him/her?“Hi Parker, I’m so happy to finally see you and I love you.”
Would you let someone videotape the birth?
My mom did last time and I doubt I will have much to say about her doing it again this time.
Are you excited about the birth, or scared?
Very excited but I’m starting to get a little scared.