37 Weeks & Doctor's Appointment

How far along? 37 weeks
Total weight gain: 29lbs
Maternity clothes? anything comfortable and cool. and the tighter the better (I've found this makes you look less fat)
Stretch marks? still none! woot!
Sleep: actually sleeping really good lately (knock on wood), but still so exhausted.
Best moment this week: i passed my paraplanner certification mid-term! yay!
Worst moment this week:  oh the pain.  the difference i feel from last week to this week is a complete 180.   I'm retaining so much water that my ankles and my feet are constantly swollen, to the point that they hurt. My back feels like someone came at me with a baseball bat. I wish I could tell you that I am just being over-dramatic, but sadly this is the harsh, harsh truth.
Miss anything? watching football, drinking a pear cider.
Movement: lots of body parts sticking out of my stomach and "flopping" movement
Food cravings: i suddenly love iced tea
Anything making you queasy or sick? still feeling nauseous at night for whatever reason
Labor signs: i may or may not have lost my mucus plug this week (sorry, TMI), which doesn't necessarily mean anything because some people lose. i am still 1cm dilated, the baby is head down and low.
Belly button in or out? half in, half out and a little painful
Wedding rings on or off? i couldn't wear any for a while but I am back to wearing one now
Mood? everyone keeps asking me how i am feeling; the best way to describe it is to say that it feels like i am going on vacation to a a job interview.  so excited (vacation) but so nervous and antsy (job interview).
Looking forward to: my work baby shower on Friday :)

Roscoe is busy preparing for Mila to arrive!  This book, Just Me and My Little Sister, was given to me on my 4th birthday from my aunt and my uncle; it was only right that it be passed on to him.

Our doctor's appointment went well today.  Since I am 37 weeks now, and considered full term, my doctor said she won't stop me if I go in to labor so that's pretty crazy.  My blood pressure is still looking good so I can keep working, although I think I may stop working on October 2nd, assuming I haven't had her yet, rather than working right up until I deliver.  My B Strep Test came back negative, which is great news, so I won't need antibiotics during delivery.

I had another vaginal exam today and, unfortunately this one hurt!  She said I am still 1cm dilated but the baby is much lower this week; I am also partially effaced so that's good news.  In order to get to my cervix she had to reach around the baby's head so this exam was MUCH more uncomfortable than the last one.  She did say that next week she may stretch out my cervix (OWWWW) and break my membranes (what?!), which will help her shoot for a 39th week delivery because that is the optimal time to have the baby. Obviously she can't guarantee that will jumpstart labor and she won't induce me until my 41st week. 

She said that the baby is so low that I probably won't drop any more, which is kind of disappointing because, even though she is lower, she is still sitting so high and it's hard to breathe.  I asked if the baby was a good size and she said that she estimates that she is normal size (not too big or too small) and, if I go to my due date, she will probably be about 7-7.5lbs.  She said my weight gain has been great and I am measuring right at 37 weeks so she doesn't think Mila will be too big.

So, looks like things are right on track. I can't believe there are only 18 more days until my due date.  She will be here in no time!

Upcoming Doctor's Appointments (ahh! there are only TWO left!)

9/19 at 3:45pm

9/26 at 3:45pm

36 Weeks & Doctor's Appointment



How far along? 36 weeks
Total weight gain: 30 lbs...this can't be right? i didn't eat that much this week!
Maternity clothes? anything comfortable and cool. and the tighter the better (I've found this makes you look less fat)
Stretch marks? still none! woot!
Sleep: actually sleeping really good lately (knock on wood)
Best moment this week: spending a random Wednesday (today) off work with Robert, celebrating our anniversary. he got us coffee, we watched the news about a kidnapping/robbery at an LA bank, went to the beach so I could watch him surf and get some sun and then went to lunch. it was a great day.
Worst moment this week: i spilled a whole glass of water on Robert's Macbook laptop :(
Miss anything? watching football, drinking a pear cider.
Movement: lots of body parts sticking out of my stomach and "flopping" movement
Food cravings: i suddenly love iced tea
Anything making you queasy or sick? still feeling nauseous at night for whatever reason
Labor signs: none yet...i hope i am one of the people that has something obvious to start labor (water breaking, bloody show...ick) because what if i never know i am in labor and the baby just plops out on the floor? (i know all of you already moms are dying laughing over this right now but i am serious!)
Belly button in or out? half in, half out and a little painful
Wedding rings on or off? I'm wearing 2 out of 3 this week. it's the little triumphs :)
Mood? aside from the slight breakdown at ruining the computer, great!
Looking forward to: football starts tonight! and my work baby shower on Friday :)

Our doctor's appointment today was the quickest one yet, I think.  I did have my vaginal exam to test for Group B Strep (a bacteria some mother's have that can be passed on to the baby, whose immune system can't fight it. if i have it it's not a huge deal, they will just give me antibiotics during the birth to protect her); we will get the results next week. She also checked and said the baby is definitely head down and that I am 1cm dilated!  Ahh!  I think she did say something about that meaning the baby will come on time and I won't go past my due date (which is contrary to what she said at my last appointment) but I was too busy freaking out that I am dilated to remember what she said.  She said "the baby is packing up her things and getting ready to move out." AHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

Upcoming Doctor's Appointments (ahh! there are only three left!)

9/12 at 3:45pm

9/19 at 3:45pm

9/26 at 3:45pm

My Favorite Things

I read a lot of blogs.  And on these blogs people always list their favorite things; granted it's usually after they have the baby and it's all baby supplies/gadgets/gear but i thought people might care about my favorite things that I have discovered recently that you probably need to buy.

Snoogle - personally, i would have called this a snoodle (snuggle nooodle) but no one asked me :) this is hands down the best thing I have purchased for the pregnancy. it may even be the best thing i have purchased in life.  ever. this thing is amazing; part body pillow, part snuggler, part lifesaver.  The only negative is that sometimes it does feel like there are three people in our bed, but Robert knows better than to complain...if he did he would be the one to have to move to the guest room! Seriously. Doesn't this girl look so happy?

L'Oreal Nature's Therapy Mega Moisture hair conditioner - if you buy one thing on this list, make sure it's this one.  A friend of mine from work brought me a sample and said that she leaves in on her hair overnight and then washes it out in the morning. I tried it and had the softest, most conditioned, tamest hair IN LIFE.  it makes such a difference in the quality of your hair.

Anti Stretch Mark Regime - I may have gone a little overboard when it came to my anti-stretch mark regime, but I wasn't taking any chances.  I can't promise that this will work for everyone but I like to think that it's the secret remedy.

• Burt's Bee's Mama bee belly butter
• Avon Skin-So-Soft
• Palmer's Massage Cream for Stretch Marks - Concentrate
• Vasoline Cocoa Butter Oil (I mix this with regular lotion)

Breathe Right strips - these things are AWESOME! As a lifetime allergy sufferer I have spent many allergy seasons so stuffed up come bed time that I can't breathe, let alone sleep. I always thought these things were geared more towards snorers but I started using them to breath when I got pregnant and couldn't take allergy medicine. it may be my imagination but they LITERALLY clear me up the second I put them on my nose.  Bonus: when you pull them off you can check to see if you had any blackheads, so consider it a sleep aid AND Biore pore strip in one!

Mayo Clinic Guide to Pregnancy - there are a bagillion pregnancy books out there; I'm pretty sure I own half-a-bagillion.  This is the best one I have read; not only do you have the breakdown of what is going on week by week but it also tells you what to expect during childbirth, bringing baby home, and much more.  I was sold on this book when I found out it had a section on how to introduce your dog to your baby and a detailed checklist of how your labor coach (HUSBAND) was expected to act during childbirth. If I don't lay it out there for him, who knows what will happen.

No Crease Hair Ties - I received one of these in my birch box and was instantly obsessed.  Not only are they cute enough to wear as a bracelet, they are meant to be used as hair ties that don't get caught up in your hair OR crease it if left in your hair for too long.  Some places charge $12 for 5 but I found this site where you can get them for $1 a piece. I think they would also be fairly easy to make but I am not confident enough with my knot-tying capabilities to try.

Maxi Skirt from Old Navy - you NEED to own this. I bought it last week and it's soooo comfortable. It doesn't look like it in the picture, but it's really long but not to the point that it drags on the floor. And yes it's just normal clothes, not maternity clothes; I wouldn't do that to you fools.  It also comes in grey and black and white. I probably need to go buy it in every color, that's how much I love it.

Blogs - I read these two blogs religiously.

http://www.modgblog.com/ - sometimes this girl is a little much but posts like this one make me laugh out loud and I think we would be friends if I lived back east.

http://andeelayne.blogspot.com/ - I only recently started reading this and, once you get over how freaking cute this girl is, she has some really cute ideas for fashion, recipes, home decorating, etc

.

35 Weeks & Doctor's Appointment

Our baby girl will arrive in six weeks or less...I still find that hard to believe.  I finished washing all of Mila's newborn clothes and blankets this past weekend (it took me two days!) and Robert has put together almost all of her "gadgets" (stroller, swing, etc).  With our anniversary, Robert's dad's retirement, our two baby classes (breastfeeding and baby care basics), my work baby shower and Robert's birthday, I have a feeling that September will fly by and she will be here in no time.  



How far along? 35 weeks
Total weight gain: 26.5 lbs
Maternity clothes? anything comfortable and cool. and the tighter the better (I've found this makes you look less fat)
Stretch marks? still none! woot!
Sleep: no matter how good i sleep i am still exhausted at the end of the day
Best moment this week: i started prenatal yoga on Sunday and it was great. definitely should've started it weeks ago.  also, i did not write last week's post to gather sympathy, i was just having a bad day; but those of you sent me the nicest, sweetest words that made me feel so much better.  thank you SO much. <3
Worst moment this week: i was going to save this for the "truth about pregnancy - 2nd half" post but it's got so bad this week i have to say something. no one tells you how bad your vagina bones will hurt during pregnancy! a couple weeks ago it felt like someone had kicked me in the vag...now it feels like my bones are actually broken. it even hurts to walk! not all the time, mostly only at night right now.  pregnancy casualty!
Miss anything? sitting in the sun, drinking a pear cider.
Movement: unfortunately now that she's bigger, Mila's movements are making me nauseous, especially at night
Food cravings: none
Anything making you queasy or sick? none this week
Labor signs: none yet...
Belly button in or out? back in this week
Wedding rings on or off? I'm wearing 2 out of 3 this week. it's the little triumphs :)
Mood? much better than last week :)
Looking forward to: our anniversary next Wednesday!

Today started the beginning of our weekly doctor's appointments. It started out with my doctor telling me that I hadn't gained any weight in the last two weeks (score! not sure how this happened, but I will take it); she said my blood pressure looked good as well.  She asked if I was having any labor signs and, since I am not, she said that I won't deliver until my due date or later on in the first week of October (good news mom and dad!).  She said to make sure our hospital bag is packed and the car seat is installed, though, just in case.

She said that Robert will need to get the TDAP vaccine (for whooping cough) and that anyone who will be around to help me care for the baby will need it as well; those people just visiting don't need to worry about it, though.  So some of you will probably be getting a "crazy new mom" email from me. you've been warned :)

Upcoming Doctor's Appointments

9/5 at 3:45pm

9/12 at 3:45pm

9/19 at 3:45pm

9/26 at 3:45pm

34 Weeks

Holy smokes we are going to have a baby in seven (7) (siete) weeks or less!



How far along? 34 weeks
Total weight gain: 27 lbs
Maternity clothes? it's too hot to wear anything. i wish bathing suits at work were appropriate.
Stretch marks? still none! woot!
Sleep: sleeping a little better but still getting up at least once every night
Best moment this week: Roscoe must know something is going on. He has been so super snuggly and cuddly all week. Loving it!
Worst moment this week: don't let the picture above fool you; today has been the worst day ever :( i feel like a big giant cow, which has made me really sad, thanks to the following:

• i am retaining water, which made my weight jump up and my (c)ankles are swollen
• i have eaten like 15 cookies since saturday (that's the last time I am making cookies that Robert doesn't like. I had to make myself throw some in the trash and then I ACTUALLY CONSIDERED EATING THEM OUT OF THE TRASH!)
• i'm feeling really nauseous at night still, which means I have been cutting my walks short because I need to lay down or I feel like I will throw up. 
• Not to mention that Mila is sitting really high at night, literally on top of my ribs, right under my boobs, which is super uncomfortable. 

Miss anything? sitting in the backyard, drinking a pear cider.
Movement: she's still moving a lot but not as much as she has been, i think she is running out of room
Food cravings: sweets. which is surprising since i don't normal like
Anything making you queasy or sick? someone keeps making some dish in the community kitchen at work and they're lucky i don't throw up on the floor every time I smell it
Labor signs: none yet...
Belly button in or out? halfway in, halfway out
Wedding rings on or off? 2 out of 3 are off but I'm still wearing one...don't count me out yet!
Mood? a hodge podge of exhaustion, happiness, excitedness and nervousness. today, you can also throw in mild depression :-/
Looking forward to: not feeling like the largest pregnant person in the world (this pregnancy has made me sooooo dramatic)...getting everything washed and put away in the nursery. I am finding myself antsy to organize and clean things. I spent an hour cleaning our bathroom shower last night. Who am i?!

Having a Baby? Move to California

I realized recently I haven't posted anything about my maternity leave. I know you are all barely functioning with all of the suspense.  Let's start out by saying that if you are planning on having a baby you might as well just move to California because the maternity leave here is ah-mazing compared to other states, but sadly not really that impressive in the overall scheme of things.

In addition to the national Family & Medical Leave Act (FMLA) that protects your job (unpaid) for 12 weeks, California also has something called Pregnancy Disability Leave (PDL), which covers up to four months for complication or disabilities related to pregnancy or childbirth.  In California you can ultimately take up to seven months off for maternity leave (assuming complications) and still get partial pay and be guaranteed to return to your job (or a similar job). The biggest bonus: FMLA/PDL leave in California is not unpaid; in most cases you are paid at least 55%-65% of your salary the entire time you are off.

In California maternity leave is split into three sections: before baby, recovery time and baby bonding time.  Luckily for us, this entire time off for these three sections is paid (assuming that you are working and paying into the state short term disability fund, which almost everyone does), not at 100%, but at least you're still getting something.

Before Baby
In California, State Disability allows you to leave work (paid) for up to four weeks before your scheduled due date.  If you don't use it you lose it.  Your money during this time comes directly from the state and it's not 100%, usually only 55%; you will find out the exact figure you will receive one to two weeks after sending in your disability form.

Recovery Time
You are entitled to six weeks of recovery time after having your baby.  The money for this section comes from a combination from the state (short term disability) and your employer.  After you have the baby you will receive a call from the State Disability Dept. to confirm details on the birth (whether it was a vaginal or a c-section delivery); disability pay will continue for six to eight weeks.  At the end of this time you will receive a form in the mail and if you are still in pain or having complications you can have your doctor sign on requesting that you remain on disability longer.

Bonding Time
When your disability runs out (six weeks for vaginal delivery, eight weeks for a c-section) you will get a letter from the Paid Family Leave (PFL) program, which allows you to continue getting the money you were getting on disability for up to six weeks to bond with your baby.  The great thing about this PFL section is that all six weeks don't need to be taken consecutively, the time just needs to be used within a year of giving birth.

So, now that the maternity leave lesson is over, on to the details of my maternity leave.  I plan on working right up until I have the baby, assuming I still feel good enough to do this.  I'm feeling great now so hopefully this will continue to be the case.  

After the birth I am going to take the six (or eight) weeks off for the recovery time, which will put me back to work around Thanksgiving (if I have her close to the due date).  

After that, for the next six weeks of bonding time, I will be splitting my time.  I will work Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays while Robert is at home with the baby and then I will be off on Thursdays and Fridays when he is at work.  This will put us allll the way to the end of March 2013 to when I will be going back to work the full five days a week. 

That's best case scenario for us because at this time Mila will enter childcare at six months, rather than at three.  I am lucky that Wells Fargo Advisors lets me split the maternity leave; not all companies allow it.

Robert will also be taking off four to six weeks as well, which is covered by his work (FMLA covers both spouses!) so it will be nice to have him around to help.

While California's maternity leave is better than all the other 49 states, it's still not as good as other countries in Europe.  Sweden, for example, provides working parents with 16 months paid leave per child, the cost being shared between the state and the employer.  16 months sounds a little excessive but I am still hoping the United States gets this in place by the time Baby #2 comes around :)

33 Weeks & Doctor's Appointment

How far along? 33 weeks
Total weight gain: I forgot to weight myself today so let's just pretend that I didn't gain any weight
Maternity clothes? still rockin mostly dresses...but I am getting sick of all my options and now it's too late to buy any new ones
Stretch marks? still none! woot!
Sleep: sleeping better the past couple of days but i am so exhausted at the end of the day I feel like I am not sleeping at all
Best moment this week: my California baby shower was great (pics to come soon!)! AND my parents have been here since Friday, staying in their new condo. AND I got to see Shawna for a quick lunch on Sunday.  best week ever!



Worst moment this week: THE HEAT. we've hit summer in Southern California, ladies and gentlemen.  There are usually 2-3 days out of the year that are unbearably hot (especially without air conditioning) and that was this week. hopefully that's it for the year!
Miss anything? sitting at the beach, drinking a pear cider.
Movement: still lots of movement.  i can't really tell what her little moving parts are but i can guess what's what (I think I noticed a foot the other day?!)
Food cravings: pretty much everything. I'm so hungry lately!
Anything making you queasy or sick? I've been feeling a tad nauseous lately, sometimes in the middle of the day and sometimes at night; not sure where it's coming from because it's never consistent
Have you started to show yet: obvi. i would start to worry if this wasn't the case.
Gender prediction: it's a girl!
Labor signs: none yet...
Belly button in or out? halfway out. especially after a drink a ton of water or eat a lot
Wedding rings on or off? on
Happy or Moody most of the time? happy
Looking forward to: getting everything all in line and taken care of before the baby comes. I've got a lot on my "to do" list and I am anxious to make sure it's all complete before Mila makes her debut.

We had another quick doctor's appointment today; she did all of her usual things (urine check, blood pressure, stomach measurement) and I asked her about her feelings on inductions.  I'm not one of those people that has any positive or negative feelings on induction so I plan on going along with whatever the doctor thinks. She said that if I haven't delivered Mila by 41 weeks (October 9) she will go ahead and induce labor because there's really no benefit to going more than one week past the due date.  So we have an expiration date on this pregnancy, that's good to know!

She said that my next appointment will be pretty quick too and then the 36 week appointment will be where she does my vaginal exam to make sure the baby is positioned correctly and to see if I am dilating at all (!).  I've heard the vaginal exam is a liiiiiitle uncomfortable, even painful, so I figure this will be a good preparation for childbirth.

Upcoming Doctor's Appointments

8/29 at 3:45pm

9/5 at 3:45pm

9/12 at 3:45pm

9/19 at 3:45pm

9/26 at 3:45pm