Being Pregnant, Again

In the past few weeks I have been thinking about the state of pregnancy, mostly because I am now pregnant enough that it effects what I can physically do. At 28 weeks, there is no doubt that there is a wiggly person in my belly, making it hard to tie my shoes. All in all, I have easy pregnancies. I do not get overly sick and I feel pretty good. That being said, the second time around is just not the same.

The first time you are pregnant, everything is amazing and wonderful. Your growing belly is exciting. You do not know what to expect at all and so it is all great, even the random pains.

The second time is pretty blah. I already know how this works. While I do feel wonderfully fertile, I am no longer amazed by my growing belly. It is a bit grotesque in some ways. I am annoyed that I get out of breath so easy, that it hurts my belly if I bend over too much, or that putting my head anywhere lower than my shoulders results in instant heartburn. I still love to feel him move around, but Brother (the baby’s prename thanks to Gideon) likes to poke me in uncomfortable places in a way that Gideon never did. One of my ankles swells, just one, and my hips are sore.

It is hard to chase a 2.5 year old with 14 extra pounds in the middle of my body. Overall, it is just more tiresome this time around.

I wish I could have a pint of good beer with my husband some evenings and I am more irritated about that than I was last time. While the end result, a sweet baby, is definitely worth all the little annoyances and I do not mind having a great diet to give Brother the best possible start, I am not sure I want to do this again.

I am looking forward to Brother being here. I am looking forward to breastfeeding again. Giving birth and feeding a baby from the power of my own body makes me feel very powerful and productive. I love that part of having a wee babe, so if we could just rush forward 12 weeks (and the house would magically be ready) that would be great.

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Just what the world needs, another Smith

We started this blog in December of 2007 to chronicle our plunge into parenthood as we expanded our family. Sometime around March 30, 2011, our family will expand again.

That’s right. We decided this parenting thing is only halfway crazy and we still have some marbles left to lose.

I had my first appointment with my midwife yesterday. Jackie Griggs, the lovely lady who shepherded Gideon into the world, will be with us for this birth as well. I am 10 weeks along and I heard the heartbeat yesterday. It was a strong 170.

I am not as tired as I was with Gideon but I feel a lot worse. I know that will get better soon though it is a bit of a drag right now.

This second time around has been interesting. While we know what to expect, we also know full well what can go wrong. I am not wasting too much time worrying because I know what will happen will and God will be with us regardless. Our family knows He provides in different ways, even when we do not like manna and would rather have pizza or gyros or sushi.

I have been praying for three things:

A healthy baby (a little less drama getting there, please!).
A labor under 24 hours.
A girl, but I will resign myself to being a Momma of boys if I need to.

I told Jackie my list and she said would like a labor under 12 hours for me. I hope so too.

When we told Gideon about the baby he asked, “For me?” with big eyes. Now he asks me if things I eat are for the baby. He knows the baby is in my belly and that food goes in my belly, so he has deduced that the food I eat is in my belly with the baby. It is amusing.

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New Breastfeeding and Maternal Care Studies

Ries sent two breastfeeding articles to me yesterday and I thought I would pass them along here. Good maternal care, which this study says is directly related to breastfeeding success, should be important to every woman and everyone who knows a woman. In March, a study was published that brought light to the fact that the United States C-Section rate was up to 32%. Amnesty International puts us behind 40 other countries in terms of maternal care. When I heard this on the radio last month, they also said that the study found that the C-section rates for minority women were even higher.

The Childbirth Connection has a good explanation of why the C-Section continues to go up. I know this is an emotional issue for many. I am just passing along information. “And knowing is half the battle.”

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39 Weeks Belly

39 Weeks Belly

Originally uploaded by Wandering Eyre

I took this picture this morning, less than 5 minutes ago.

Yesterday, as I was sleeping in with Pullo, I realized that this will be the only time I will be able to be this lazy and pregnant. All the quiet time and naps I have enjoyed will be gone forever… soon. Next time I am this large and full of child, I will be chasing around a toddler. I am exhausted just thinking about it.

I am finishing up the nursery today, with the help of my Mom and Grammy, so there should be pictures soon.

It is absolutely beautiful outside today!

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29 Weeks Update

It is now T minus 11 weeks and counting. Ries and I have been in the middle of a major home renovation project (pictures soon!) and we are thankfully almost done. I am starting to have some nesting urges and I can not do anything in the baby’s room at the moment as it is filled with stuff that belongs in the living room. It is making me anxious and crazy even though I know, rationally, that I have plenty of time.

Kal-el and I had a check up last week. I have gained a total of 12 pounds, hooray! Just the right amount, my midwife, Jackie, says. I also had my glucose screen done to make sure I do not have gestational diabetes. The test involves drinking an orange glucose solution that tastes like flat orange soda and getting blood taken. It came back great, so I am free and clear. I also had my iron tested, which was low, but I am not anemic. Jackie told me to eat more green leafy veggies and other foods high in iron. No problem.

I continue to feel good though I am getting more ungainly. I have to wear shoes that are a bit more loose and put my feet up sometimes, but it is not terrible. Napping during the day is looking better all the time, but soon I will be able to nap to my heart’s content. My last day at work is February 29th. I am so glad. My only major complaint at the moment is that my gums are starting to bother me and my teeth hurt. I am taking extra care of them. If this is the worst thing that happens, I will count myself lucky.

Ries and I started taking Bradley Classes, a husband coached approach to natural childbirth. We like them and our instructor is very good. Ries and I have to practice relaxing every night. I love it! I get a body rub every day of the week. For those of you that did not know, we are seeing a midwife, Jackie Griggs, and will be delivering in a birth center instead of a hospital. When I have more time, I will post more midwives.

I am stayed home this morning to sleep in and do some things around the house. It is time for work though so I better get my fat belly moving.

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Belly at 22 Weeks

Belly at 22 Weeks

Originally uploaded by Wandering Eyre

This is a bad picture of me, but a good one of the belly. I swear it grows every day now. I had to buy a couple more pairs of pants today as I am quickly wearing out the two pairs of maternity pants that are my favorites.

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T Minus 19 Weeks and Counting

The Smithling has been occupying my belly for 21 weeks now. He is starting to be more active and I can feel him many times during the day. There are so many strange things about being pregnant that no one ever tells you about. For example:

• Pregnant women can not bend over, not because their bellies are big, but because their bellies do not bend. There is no bending of the baby. I have recently noticed as well that the more I bend the less I can actually breathe. I am forced into good posture now or I feel unable to take a really deep breath.
• At some point, your body starts producing Relaxin which causes your joints to turn to mush. My hips and bad knee have begun to hurt a bit. Very Exciting. Relaxin enables your pelvis to stretch and let out the kid clawing its way through the birth canal. Even more fun.
• Your possible sleeping positions go down to 2: left side and right side. If you sleep too long on one side, your hip falls asleep. This results in having to flip over many times a night, but you are up going to the bathroom anyway.
• I knew I was going to be tired, but routinely going to bed at 8pm sucks.
• Your freckles and moles get darker.
• And on, and on.

Soon, we will get some links on the registry, a belly picture, and the ultrasound pictures up. Stay tuned.

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