32 weeks

We had, what we hope will be, our last ultrasound today. And everything is fine fine fine. It's official - we're having a girl! (mami, you can continue knitting in pink.) When we had an ultrasound back at week 19 the technician was pretty sure that we were having a girl, but it was still a little early to say fer sure, fer sure. But this time there was no doubt about it. And we got a perfect score on all counts --> heartbeat: good; amniotic fluid volume: good; fetal movement: good; respiratory movement: good; presentation: cephalic (aka head down, ready to go!).

Super Girl

It was so good to see her again. She raised her fist in a power-to-the-people kinda way and she scratched her head just like her papa always does. More than ever we've been completely distracted by the bump and it's movements. It really is trippy. At Easter dinner, the whole family just sat in silence (a rare occurrence in the Flores household) to watch the kicks, twists and turns and at work yesterday a few of the ladies surrounded me to watch the floor show, Baby Bump Does Macarena. It is such a strange sensation and so very hard to explain, but it always makes me smile when I feel it. And for Jay it's all brand new, every time. I wonder what she must think when she hears us oohing and ahhing at her every move. If she's anything like her ma and pa, she's loving every minute of it!

The Perfect Guide

I was surfing around the net and found a few funnies. This one I liked especially...

The oppression continues, but only ever so slightly. Or maybe it just doesn't bother me as much anymore. I've been reading this most awesome book, Ina May's Guide to Childbirth and it really is amazing.

Not only is it helping me understand why women have such "unpleasant" attitudes towards labour & birth, but it's helping me prepare myself for what's to come and how to deal with it. Not only is this book filled with positive natural birth stories, it also deals with everything from what happens during the various stages of labour to pregnancy and prenatal care. Some of my favourite sections so far (besides the birth stories): The Powerful Mind/Body Connection, Orgasmic Birth and Respecting Our Bodies.

The more I read, the more I'm drawn to a natural labour. Most people think I'm nuts and react with "ya right, wait till the pain kicks in". I've gone through two miscarriages. Both were extremely painful. For the first one, I was being treated by an OB and when they couldn't detect a fetal heart beat at my 12 week ultrasound I was told that I had a miscarriage and that I would bleed a bit in order to pass the sac, etc. What I wasn't told was that I would bleed so much and go through so much pain that I would end up in the hospital emergency room for hours, where I would eventually be told by a doctor that I was having a miscarriage. Duh! But what's with all of the pain, I wanted to know. Well, I was told, in order for everything to pass I would need to go through contractions for the cervix to dilate enough for my body to expel what it needed to expel. The second time, similar situation. But this time I was with a midwife and I knew what to expect. Although it was painful, at least I knew that I wasn't going to die.

I wish that I knew then what I know now, perhaps I wouldn't have suffered so much. I would have been able to let it pass instead of fighting it. I'm not saying that the contractions and dilation that occurred during those miscarriages will match what's to come during labour, but at least I've had a little taste. And now, armed with some knowledge (thanks Ina May!) and surrounded by people who love and care for me and encourage me every step of the way, I feel that this is something that I may be able to conquer after all.

And just as an excercise, I keep a ruler & tape measure close by as a reminder of what 10cm really looks like. And it ain't so bad....yikes!

week 28 and feelin GR8!

We had our 28 week doctor's appointment today and all is tip top. Baby's heartbeat is a-rockin, my blood pressure is right on and my ever expanding girth is exceptionally spacious. I had to drink some funky carbonated cocktail so they could prick me for a glucose tolerance blood test that screens for gestational diabetes. Having had to fast since the night before, i was extremely parched and had no problems chugging it all down. I'll have the results in the next few days. The test is routine for all preggos, I'm not too concerned.

Since Baby's hearing is well established by this point and studies indicate that the unborn prefer classical music, we're thinking of piping in some Pink Floyd through headphones....

That's classic, right? I actually enjoy classical music. I find it very soothing. Jay on the other hand finds it unnerving. Perhaps all of those Looney Tunes episodes he watched during his childhood have taken a toll on his rock n' roll brain. So to give Baby a broad range of options, we'll feed her a tasty eclectic mix of all things music. From Salsa to Sondheim; Elvis to Easy Way Out; Bach to the Beatles -- Baby will be bouncing in the womb!

Shhhh the baby can here you...

Why is telling pregnant women gory horror labour/birth/breastfeeding stories a national pastime? I am so sick and freakin tired of hearing about everybody's sister, mother, grandmother, aunt's c-section, episiotomy back labour, bleeding nipples, etc!! The next time it happens, I'm just gonna put my fingers in my ears and sing la la la la la la la until they walk away. During the first few months I would just smile and nod and shake my head. Now, many months later I'll blame it on the hormones and just say, "Only positive birth stories, please. The baby is listening". Some will stop and laugh, yet others will continue, assuring me that theirs was a special case and that it will be different for me. Yes, of course it will be different for me. I'm not you. I'm not them. I'm me. Through all of that crap I've only heard one positive story (and I think she was lying). She told me that for each of her three daughters, she only laboured for one hour. Is that even possible? Regardless, it was a nice change from all of the other nasty tales. Don't get me wrong. I enjoy hearing the odd birth story every now and then. Some days I'm really curious, some days not so much. And of course I realize that sometimes complications can't be helped. Fine. But why is it that people need to share such negative information? Could it be that they feel robbed that they weren't given the chance to experience a wonderful labour/birth? Do they feel that they failed somehow because once they got to the hospital their labour could not progress? Or maybe they get some sort of sicko pleasure out of watching pregnant woman squirm? Weren't women built to do this? We wouldn't all be here otherwise right? Yes, it's scary, yes it's painful, bla bla bla. I just don't want to hear it anymore....

So I've stopped listening. I will educate myself as much as possible, whether it be through my doula, my yoga teacher, my books, my positive-thinking supportive friends, my own intuition. I realize that things don't always go as planned, but I can keep an open mind, I can indulge in positive thoughts and wishes, I can empty my mind of expectations and fill it with empowering possibilities.

And I can always throw on a pair of headphones and maybe one of these t-shirts:

Snoogle Me!

I have a new best friend. It's soft and cuddly and takes such good care of me. I am oh-so glad that we got together. I believe that everyone should have one - pregnant or not!

The Snoogle Total Body Pillow! Seriously, one of the greatest inventions of all time! They even have smaller sizes for kids. How awesome is that!? I feel like I'm being cradled all night long. Or depending on the position, continuously spooned. And when breakfast-in-bed comes a-knockin', I can just double it up and prop myself up against it. Be sure to click on the additional positions so you can get a good overall feel for the cozy Snoogle experience.

On the prego-health front, we had a doc appointment on Monday. As always, I was concerned about my weight and swelling ankles. But doc says that all is great. I'm gaining weight at a very normal rate, my blood pressure is perfect, my ankles could be worse and the baby's heartbeat is a-rockin away! Only 102 days to go!

24 weeks - Make My Day

Only 107 days to go! And boy oh boy is this belly ever expanding. I've just started my seventh month, what the heck will it look like by the 9th!?!? Remember this cute little bump.....

16 weeks

well, it's turned into this gorgeous lump-o-baby! I've been giving it a daily slathering of belly butter and so far -- not a stretch mark in sight. My vanity is most grateful...

24 weeks

I remember thinking to myself, "how do women do it!? how can they carry all of that weight!?". And the answer is -- you get used to it! It's awkward and uncomfortable but manageable. I absolutely love it! And so does Jay. He'll come home from work and go straight for the belly. I have to remind him every now and then, "yo, babe, I'm up here!"

On another note, I've been "awareded"! Thanks Joyce!

Now I'm supposed to “Give the award to 10 people whose blogs bring you happiness and inspiration and make you feel happy about blogland. Let them know by posting a comment on their blog so they can pass it on. Beware you may get the award several times.”

My Make My Day Ten:

• Easy Way Out
• It's the Hormones
• Not An Artist
• My Sensitive Girl Hole
• I'm Not Bad...
• Purl This
• Unplumbedshallows...
• And She Knits Too
• My So-called Anonymous Life
• KoKopalooza

Baby Kicks and Aqua Bellies

Jay's been waiting and waiting and waiting to feel the baby kick. He'll sit next to me on the couch with his hand on my belly, like he's waiting for a sign. He'll sing and talk and try to coax a kick, but nothing. Until this morning! Papa Jay felt his first kick! He claims that it was a flying backwards scissor kick that made contact with his palm. A move she learned in the cervix, back when she was semen first class. I have a feeling that it was just a poke. And Jay has a vivid imagination. I'm so glad that Jay is finally able to share in the fascinating world of the moving-growing-inside-the-belly-baby. Kicks, pokes, tumbles and all!



On the exercise front -- I took an aqua bellies class last night and it was quite the experience! Most of the time I thought I was gonna drown! I learned quickly to stay as close as possible to the shallow end, but with 14 preggos jumping up and down, creating waves and currents against my 5 feet nada frame I thought I might get pulled under at any moment. I kept one eye on the instructor and the other on the lifeguard at all times! Maybe next time (if there is a next time) I should strap on some sort of floating device to keep me from going under. Don't get me wrong, the class was excellent. And I'm so glad that I gave it a try. We used flutter boards to work our butts and noodles for our abs and these Styrofoam weight things to work our upper bodies - a very thorough workout. But it just wasn't for me. I like floating around and relaxing in the water or cooling off at the beach on a hot day, but I'm no mermaid. I'll embrace my granola side and stick with the yoga. A true A-blood type-Taurus, I need my head relaxing in the clouds and my feet firmly planted on the ground.