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I took several walks to Jennings Park while #WaitingForTodd
AKA: My pregnancy, Weeks 38-41+
I’m finally catching up with this blog and, although a LOT has happened, I’ll start where I left off at the end of July. This blog is really just a personal (and yet public) way for me to record (most) everything about my pregnancy and birth.
Oh– and #minivegan does have a name, and his name is Todd.
WEEK 38
This was my last full week of working. By this time, I was really having a hard time getting through the intense, full work days, and the summer heat made it much worse! Low back pain was an issue for the first time during my pregnancy. Also, this one spot in my right lower rib cage area was constantly feeling stretched and sore. Ligament stretching? Muscle stretching? I didn’t know.
I had a midwife appointment on Wednesday, July 30th. On Friday, August 1st, I had my 6th veganniversary. (Yay!!) During the evenings and nights, my heartburn and poor sleep continued.
WEEK 39
I worked Monday and Tuesday this week. I took Wednesday off. Thursday, August 7th was supposed to be my last day of work.
I had a midwife appointment on the Wednesday (August 6th – Happy 40th birthday to my sister!) I could have opted for a check of my cervix, but I decided against it.
I never made it to work on the 7th. In the early morning hours, I was feeling some mild crampy sensations that I thought could be labor starting. It wasn’t. Wishful thinking! I felt dumb about calling in to work. Rookie mistake. I regretted not having the experience of “last day goodbyes” with my co-workers and patients. Oh well. I spent the weekend shopping, cooking, relaxing, and gearing up for the big day…
WEEK 40
40 Weeks Pregnant
Monday, August 11th was my due date. I went for a walk and then I had an acupuncture appointment. I was hoping the acupuncture would give my body a nudge toward labor. I don’t know what it did, but I definitely had the best sleep in a long time that night. Baby was super active that evening…
On Wednesday, August 13th, I was awake from midnight to 4 AM, again feeling mild crampy sensations. I hoped it was labor starting, but it wasn’t. I had a midwife appointment in the morning, and Brianna checked my cervix (ouch!!). She said baby’s head was “really low!” and that I was at +1 station and 1 cm dilation. My cervix was in a good, anterior position. I was optimistic that labor might start soon. My sister and 10 year old niece decided to drive up from Oregon. I wanted them present for the labor and birth.
Welcome sign
On Friday, August 15th, I was again up in the early morning hours with the same pre-labor sensations. When I noticed my mucus plug and bloody show on the toilet paper in the morning, I really got excited! I was convinced the day had come. I even called my doula to give her a “heads up.” But, no. (Poor Eric stayed home from work that day for nothing.)
By Saturday, August 16th, we were all getting pretty stir crazy, so we planned a full day of activity. In the morning, I saw a little more bloody mucus. We walked on the Centennial Trail in Snohomish, WA…
Centennial Trail – 40 Weeks +5 Days – August 16, 2014
Centennial Trail
We went to the Snohomish Aquatic Center, which is pretty cool! I was not able to do certain activities…
Eric at the Snohomish Aquatic Center
And he’s down…
My niece comes out of the water slide.
Sunday, August 17th I hit my emotional low point. It was now 40 weeks + 6 days. I was so done with being pregnant. I was drained by getting my hopes up every night, only to still be pregnant each morning. I felt bad that my family had been in town for several days and there was still no baby for them to hold. I wanted them to enjoy the maximum number of days with Todd, before needing to go back home. Finally, I was increasingly fearful about the possibility of induction. With each passing day, I doubted my body’s ability to initiate labor on its own. That afternoon, I cried and cried.
WEEK 41
41 Weeks Pregnant – August 18, 2014
New week, new attitude. Another good night’s sleep helped. On Monday, August 18th, we took Ashley to the American Girl store in Lynnwood.
American Girl
On Tuesday, August 19th, we walked in the neighborhood in the morning, and I had an acupuncture appointment and a massage appointment in the afternoon.
Acupuncture Associates of Marysville
Ashley also used her special energy forces to try to coax baby out…
Ashley
Ashley uses her energy forces to coax Todd out.
On Wednesday, August 20th (after yet another night of being awake with pre-labor sensations, this time more intense than ever before), we decided to make Todd’s birthday cake. I made the recipe for Peanut Butter Mousse Cake, out of The Voluptuous Vegan cookbook.
At noon, I had a midwife appointment. Brianna did another cervix check (ouch!), as well as a stretch and sweep (double ouch!). I was 3 cm dilated. I also had a NST (Non-Stress Test). Baby responded well. I was sent for an ultrasound, too, but that was more of a wild goose chase than anything else (not worth discussing here). Brianna said it was time to use castor oil to induce labor. I was instructed to drink 2 ounces at bedtime (~10 PM) and then drink another 2 ounces 4 hours later (~2 AM).
NST at 41 Weeks + 2 days – August 20, 2014
TO BE CONTINUED…
As I write this LONG post, I’m now 2 weeks from my official due date of August 11, 2014. Technically, it could be any day, which is exciting to think about! It’s also maddening to imagine having to wait another 3 weeks. It’s so strange that such a momentous and life-altering day is also one big mystery. When I prepared for our wedding, I knew the date of the big day. Now, I have no clue other than knowing that it will eventually come!
WEEK 27
I started my third trimester in mid-May. Our “other” anniversary, on Saturday, May 17th, marked 23 years of Eric and I being together as a couple. No one can tell us we rushed into having kids, now, huh? 😉
WEEK 28
On Tuesday, May 20th, I had another midwife appointment. It was another opportunity to hear the heartbeat:
I also noted more “big rolling movements,” rather than distinct kicks. Baby was tough to catch on video, but I got a pretty good clip here:
28 Weeks
28 Weeks
That weekend, we went for a short hike at Meadowdale Beach Park. I was eager to be with the trees!
Meadowdale Beach Park – May 24, 2014
Afterward, we had the Vegan Sofritas, at Chipotle Mexican Grill. YUM! I love that they give you a LOT of guacamole!!
Vegan Sofritas at Chipotle Mexican Grill
WEEK 30
30 Weeks
On the same day that I wrote, “most active day yet” in my calendar (June 3rd), I received this baby shirt in the mail. It’s from my #NSNG friend, ScottyO, from Aspen. Sweet!
Thank you, Uncle Scotty!
On Wednesday, June 4th, I took the day off work, to go to a 3 hour midwife appointment. The purpose was testing for gestational diabetes. I had to fast the night before, and get my blood drawn at 9 AM. Then I drank 75 grams of glucose. Icky! My blood was drawn again at 10 AM and 11 AM.
I felt a bit ill and headachy after consuming the drink, but it was okay. The worst was that I didn’t eat any real food until shortly after noon, and by then my blood sugar was really crashing. As I sat down to eat my lunch, I was shaky and sweaty.
Gestational Diabetes Testing – June 4, 2014
Fortunately, my results were excellent! They want your readings to be: fasting glucose <95, 1 hour glucose <180, and 2 hour glucose <153 mg/dL. My readings were: 87, 104, and 90 mg/dL.
WEEK 31
On Sunday, June 8th, we hiked to Heather Lake, which is right next to Mt Pilchuck. It’s ~4.7 miles round trip, including circumnavigating the lake. It starts at 1400 ft elevation, and the lake is at 2400 ft. It felt really wonderful to be in the mountains, and I saw 2 other pregnant hikers, too!
31 Weeks – Heather Lake
Heather Lake – Sunday, June 8, 2014
My first baby shower was on Saturday, June 14th. It was fun to socialize with family and friends. And, I “made” each person pose for a picture with us when we opened his or her gift. I am a picture taker!
The venue was the Shire Cafe, a vegetarian restaurant in Arlington, WA. All the food served was vegan…of course! My sister made this adorable diaper cake…
Diaper Cake by Karin
Baby Shower – Saturday, June 14, 2014
WEEK 32
On Friday, June 20th, we drove to Bend, OR to visit my family for the weekend. On the way out of Seattle, I finally had the opportunity to satisfy the vegan donut craving I’d been fighting way back in January/February. Mighty-O for the whole family!
Mighty-O Donuts (Vegan)
We met up for lunch in Bend at Salud! Raw Food Cafe. It’s pretty much the polar opposite of vegan donuts! You gotta have balance in your life, right?
Eric’s Salad
My Plate
On Saturday, June 21st, Eric went mountain bike riding with our brother-in-law, while my sister and I hiked along the Deschutes River with her kids.
Hiking along the Deschutes River – Saturday, June 21, 2014
WEEK 33
On Monday, June 23rd, I had a special surprise waiting for me at work. My ~95 year old former patient, Lillian, had left me a baby present. Lillian never had kids of her own and she was so happy for me when I told her I was pregnant. She was way too generous!
Gifts From Lillian
WEEK 34
This week I officially decreased my work schedule from 5 days per week, down to 4. It was time!
At my midwife appointment on Wednesday, July 2nd, I found out that baby was head down and facing toward the back. To date, he’s stayed in that good position. We also met with my doula, from Serene Doulas.
34 Weeks
For the 4th of July holiday, we headed to Wenatchee for our last “just the two of us” weekend at our condo. I put on my bikini and we cooled off in the pool.
34 Weeks + 4 Days
For comparison, THIS was me exactly a year prior!
What a Difference a Year Makes – July 4, 2013
On Saturday, July 5th, we hiked 4.6 miles of the loop trail at Icicle Gorge, just outside of Leavenworth, WA. More wilderness therapy…I need it to remain grounded!
Upper Loop at Icicle Gorge
Mountain Views From Icicle Gorge
Along the Icicle River
After the hike, we had a tasty and beautiful vegan pizza at Lemolo Cafe & Deli, in Wenatchee.
Vegan Pizza at Lemolo
WEEK 36
Thanks to my friend, Molly, we got a nice car seat and stroller set. Here, the fuzzy frog from Nana tests it out for us!
Looks Comfy!
36 Weeks
On Wednesday, July 16th, I started my weekly midwife appointments. I also had my 2nd baby shower. My thoughtful co-workers at my last job put it together for me. I hadn’t seen these gals since last October. I especially thank Sharon for being the host and Julie for making the cake. I felt very special!
Anacortes Baby Shower – July 16, 2014
Vegan & Gluten Free Cake with Coconut Bliss Ice Cream
Before I left work on the evening of Thursday, July 17th, I suddenly leaked some watery, clear fluid that gave me a brief scare. It wasn’t much, but it didn’t seem like urine, and it wasn’t anything typical for this pregnancy. I called my midwife and she told me to wait and see if more fluid leaked out. It didn’t…phew! I was glad that it wasn’t my water breaking. I was only at 36 weeks + 3 days.
For the weekend of July 19th, we traveled to Ocean Shores, WA, to visit Eric’s parents. It was our last “long” road trip before baby comes. Now, we’ll stay close to home!
WEEK 37
At my midwife appointment on Thursday, July 24th, I found out that I am a carrier for Group B Strep. That means I will take IV Penicillin during labor. GBS can cause serious problems in newborns, even though it’s not harmful to the healthy carrier.
WEEK 38
At this late stage, I’m thankful for a LOT. Top on the list is not having our baby premature. But, I’m also thankful for no stretch marks, and for being able to keep my navel ring in. I’ve had the ring since 1996!
38 Weeks
38 weeks
Now– Just WHEN will this #minivegan be born??? I hope soon!
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3rd Trimester Weights (Weeks 27-40):
May 13, 2014 = 124.6 lb
May 20, 2014 = 126.4 lb
May 27, 2014 = 125.6 lb
June 3, 2014 = 126.0 lb
June 10, 2014 = 128.6 lb
June 17, 2014 = 128.0 lb
June 24, 2014 = 130.2 lb
July 1, 2014 = 130.2 lb
July 8, 2014 = 131.2 lb
July 15, 2014 = 131.4 lb
July 22, 2014 = 132.8 lb
July 29, 2014 = 131.0 lb
August 5, 2014 = 131.4 lb
August 11, 2014 = ?? = Due Date!
Freeheel Vegan 