preggo update

taken 10 days ago.  31 weeks along.

I've been trying to take it easy these last few weeks of pregnancy.  Technically I have 7 more weeks (due march 18) but who knows when she will actually arrive.  I've never made it to my due date. My earliest baby was born at 34 weeks. I really WANT to deliver in March (because everyone in our family has their own birthday month so far:  Anniversary in June.  Ben=July, Mom=September, Roma=October, Simon=November, Dad=December, Zack=January, Luke=February.)  How perfect would a March baby be?  So I really am trying to take it easy and keep my feet up.

On Sunday my contractions were extremely intense after a long day at church.  I knew I needed to take it easy.  That night I was up all night timing and breathing and trying to relax, but not getting any rest.  On Monday morning I lost my cervical plug because the contractions were so strong (TMI, sorry...) but I tried not to freak out, this has happened with my other pregnancies.  I had the same kind of scare with Simon and Roma's pregnancies and everything turned out okay.  I am praying the same for this baby.

I will be delivering at a nearby hospital.  I need to drop by and register soon.  My doctor visits have been okay, but I truly miss the care I received with my two previous midwives.  There is really no comparison.  I don't look forward to my long office waits and feel like the appointments are completely pointless.  But oh well.  It's almost over.

About a month ago, my doctor told me they are putting me on a high risk list because I'm "almost 35."  Then the next visit she said it looks like after looking at past ultrasounds, I might need a C-section.  I asked her why but she couldn't really give me a solid answer, just that she would pass my test results to another doctor and see what he said.  The following appointment Aaron happened to surprise me at the office (such a fun surprise!) he waited for an hour in the waiting room with me and then listened to the nonsense the second doctor gave us, which was that they wanted to schedule my C-section because I was on the high risk list.  He said it wasn't really about my age, just that this is my 6th baby and my placenta didn't look healthy.  I asked him if it was placenta previa and he said no, not really.. just that it seemed safer to schedule a c-section.  I was totally annoyed.  I don't mind having a c-section if it's necessary, but I felt like they were just giving me the run around.  At the end of the appointment, I told him I was going to get a second opinion and he seemed surprised saying, "I thought I was the second opinion." No, not when you're in the same practice as the first doctor. I was so grateful Aaron came to that particular appointment so he could see my frustration with this doctor's office.  (so many in Vegas are the same.  the really good ones are farther from my house and longer wait for each appt, so I just suck it up.) I still end up waiting about an hour for such a short, impersonal opinion.  I often go and feel like I am wasting my time, but I know it's necessary and so I do it. It's really not worth complaining about, but I miss having a midwife!  I'm just really glad this isn't my first doctor's experience.  I've really enjoyed each and every one of my doctors and deliveries (and disliked them too) for different reasons.  I feel like it should get easier to better to handle, but I think being "almost 35" has had a negative effect on me..
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our sweet little baby GIRL.  She was moving all over the place during the ultrasound.
Zack came to the appointment with me and was ALL smiles watching her on the screen.

So... Last week I went to a "high risk" ultrasound tech for a third (second) opinion.  She confirmed what I knew, that I am perfectly capable of delivering without surgery and that my placenta is healthy and there is zero sign of placenta previa or any complications.  She sent all of the info to my doctor and they are taking me off the high risk list and I hope to have a non-medicated delivery.  Although I am completely 100% willing to do whatever it takes to get a healthy baby here!  In fact, after all the doctor visits, I told Aaron that I really wouldn't even mind having a c-section... I might even like it because I haven't experienced it yet and down the road, I might want to relate to others and know what it feels like to recover from a cesarian.  Aaron laughed and said, "That doesn't surprise me one bit."

I am hoping and planning on this pregnancy being my last.  I would love a houseful of kids and might think about adopting someday, but I really don't like being pregnant.  I honestly don't like anything about it.  I am exhausted and brainless and uncomfortable and I feel so big.  Yes, it's amazing to have a living human being inside of me.  I love her already and can't wait for her to arrive, but I don't want to do this again.  Ever.  I knew right away, the first few weeks of this pregnancy that I wanted it to be my last and I desperately wanted a girl because I didn't see how I could possibly go through another 16+ weeks of nausea plus the last 10+ weeks of being terribly uncomfortable.  Usually there is a sweet spot in the middle of my pregnancies where I feel energetic and haven't gotten too big, yet.  But I don't remember any time during this pregnancy when I felt good.  I've basically been a big fat boob for the last 7.5 months.  My poor family.

taken today.  32 weeks, 4 days.
I look much bigger when forward facing.
Basically I am a big box.  Chubby all around.

  We have a short list of names for her but it's been decided that Aaron will have the final say and I have no problems with this.  Honestly, I really don't care what he chooses to name her.  I will just be so happy not to be pregnant anymore!  (am I complaining too much?)