Two days past due date
Topic: Baby
I think I started having contractions last night. They were difficult to time because I couldn’t really determine when they were starting or stopping. Took a hot bath/shower. Got to bed at about midnight. Woke up at 5 this morning with what felt like cramps. They were very intense. Colby and I took a walk outside and practiced some of the Bradley relaxation stuff. We called Labor and Delivery to try to find out if the cramping is normal, since it wasn’t really like a starting/stopping contraction like I had expected. After talking for a bit, we’ve determined that I am probably experiencing early signs of labor. We’ve called our moms and are now counting baby kicks to reassure the nurse and us of Baby’s health. It’s about 6:45 am now and, after some juice and an omelet that Colby made me, Baby is kicking away and we’re trying to time what could be contractions…

11am: Things have come to a stop. Cramping/contractions let up and I've been catching up on sleep. Hopefully things will get moving again soon.

Week 40 (Estimated Due Date)
Topic: Baby
Today’s the due date and still no sign of Baby. At our doc appt today we were told that they are going to want to induce at a week and a half past the due date. We’re really hoping that it won’t come to that because artificially induced labors are usually more intense and more difficult to manage unmedicated than naturally induced labors. Colby and I are asking friends and family to pray for things to happen this weekend because one of the midwives, whom we’ve seem a couple times and really, really like will be on duty. =)

Week 40
Topic: Baby
We've been having weekly doc appointments. Last week we were informed that I am one of 30% of women who is Group B Strep positive, meaning I am a "colonizer" of a kind of bacteria that an be harmful to the baby during birth. They assured us that it's nothing to worry about now that we are aware of it. To prevent Baby from contracting this bacteria during birth, they want to put me on penacilin (sp?) as soon as my water breaks for 15 minutes every 4 hours. Since we are aspiring towards a non-medicated birth, it is important to us that I have as much mobility as possible, which is why I requested not to have an IV in our birth plan, but it is a small sacrifice to make for a healthy baby.

Anyway, we're hoping to be able to labor in the comfort of our own home as long as possible, so please pray that my water doesn't break early in labor (so we don't have to go in to the hospital right away to get hooked up to the IV) and also that I go into labor before the beginning of September, otherwise they're going to want to schedule an induction, which will almost for sure lead down the spiral of medication (artificially induced labors are much more painful than naturally induced labors, and are therefore much more difficult to manage without pain medication and can probably more likely lead to a C-section).

On the bright side, Colby was shown by one of the midwives today how to feel around my belly to determine Baby's position. You should have seen his face when he flet the ball-shape of baby's head! =)

Week 38
Topic: Baby
Lots of Braxton-Hicks contractions lately. It could be the heat or it could be my body prepping for the real deal! Everything's almost all in place for Baby W. I'm pre-washing baby clothes and blankets as I type. Got the car seat strapped in and ready to go... I can almost picture our little one in there already!

I spent a few hours yesterday, bottle-feeding an abandoned, couple-day-old kitten. While I was sitting with both hands occupied, I became aware of the fact that I was unable to eat drink or pee for an undetermined amount of time... and of course I was needing to do all three. I realized then that I was being given a sneak peek of what I'm in for as an expectant mommy. =)

Week 37
Topic: Baby
Today's the first day of week 37, which I believe means our baby is now considered "full-term," which basically means... ANY DAY NOW! I've been doing some super-shopping to get those last final necessities for Baby W's first weeks of life. Colby and I are so excited. I can't wait to find out if we have a son or a daughter in there!!! For the most part, we're feeling prepared. We've submitted our birth plan to our Nurse Practitioner and she, like the Kaiser midwives, was very supportive of our desire for a non-medicated, low-intervention birth. We've also taken a tour of the Kaiser Walnut Creek facility and even had the opportunity to sit with the instructor to get a series of questions I had pending answered. What a relief!

At my last doc appointment on Wednesday, we learned that baby is still head-down (good to know!) and mom has gained a whopping 40 pounds since joining the prego club! I'm almost all belly, but it's still bizarre to watch the nurse continually nudge the weights on the scale to the right, if you know what I mean!

Week 36
Topic: Baby
Today marks the beginning of week 36, which means only 5 more weeks until our estimated due date (8/17). Today's also a day I hold close to my heart, as it marks the first day of my last week of work! =)

To prepare for the big day, which could realisticly be ANY day now, Colby and I have been shopping for furniture, taking newborn care classes and continuing our Bradley classes. We've got a tour of the Walnut Creek Kaiser facility scheduled for tonight as well.

I've attached some pictures below for your viewing enjoyment. And, in case you haven't noticed, there are links to some new photo albums posted on the main page (i.e. Hawaii, Capitola, Baby BBQ & Wine-Tasting).

(Click HERE to return to the main page)

Here's Colby practicing diapering & swaddling on our creepy doll at the newborn care class.

And here are a couple recent belly pictures (week 33):

Week 35
Topic: Baby
BABY
Big.

MOM
Big and tired.

Week 34
Topic: Baby
BABY
Baby responds as a newborn with its eyes open while awake and closed while sleeping. S/he is developing immunities to fight mild infection. Baby's sharp little fingernails are at the ends of the fingertips already, and may need to be clipped during the first few days after birth. Baby urinates nearly a pint a day! In fact, the pee, along with sweat and other fluids from Baby, help to make up the amniotic fluid. This amazing amniotic fluid completely replenishes itself every three hours! Interesting, eh?

Week 33
Topic: Baby
MOM
I’m getting a little nervous, as I move into the stage that prompts advise regarding what to pack in the hospital bag, practicing the route to the hospital, etc… This is coming up quick. On the lighter side, I’ve begun the transformation of our guest bedroom to the baby room. Colby and I spent this last weekend assembling some of the gifts we got at the shower. Thank you everyone!!

BABY
At this point, the amniotic fluid is at the highest level in the pregnancy. The amount will remain constant until delivery. Rapid brain growth has increased Baby's head size approximately 3/8 of an inch this week. Fat continues to accumulate which turns the baby's skin color from red to pink. Miraculously, Baby has started preparing for life outside the womb by storing iron in its liver.

Week 32
Topic: Baby
We had our Baby BBQ last Sunday. Thank you to everyone who could join us in the celebration and for spoiling our baby with all the awesome gifts! I will be posting pictures soon.

BABY
All five of Baby's senses are functional. The toenails are completely formed and the hair on the head continues to grow.

Based on today's doc appointment, Baby is in the head-down position which is good and also explains the kicks in the ribs! Baby's heart is sounding very healthy. We got to here is speed up as Baby kicked around, and then slow back to normal as Baby settled, which is a really good thing, according to the midwife.

MOM
I'm definitely showing signs of the prego waddle due to the pregnancy hormone, relaxin, which is loosening up ligaments in my hips. =)

I'm beginning to forget what a good night's rest is like. I often wake up from back or belly discomfort, so take the professionals' advise of using extra pillows to get my mis-shapen body situated, but then I'll wake up from being over-heated by the abundance of pillows. Once I can figure that out, I manage to get back to sleep, only to be woken by my crushed bladder... grrr... But as I fall back asleep, I feel Baby moving around in there and I can't help but smile.