I can’t really remember what happened between <\/em>weeks 32 and 33.\u00a0 But I kicked off Week 33 with my baby shower (01\/09\/2011).\u00a0 It was a great success.\u00a0 So thankful to everyone who helped put it together, but especially my mom and my friend Laura!\u00a0 They did a great job.\u00a0 I have a lot of out-of-town friends who, understandably, couldn’t be there.\u00a0 But we definitely had a great turnout with family and some local friends.\u00a0 Baby girl got a lot of great stuff, too.\u00a0 She is going to be so loved.\u00a0 And so spoiled, too, if we’re not careful!\u00a0 I need to come up with a clever way to upload an album to this blog, but in the meantime…here’s a link to my facebook album (facebook account not necessary):\u00a0 Shower Album!<\/a> <– (clicky clicky) \u00a0 There’s really just sooo much I could say about the shower.\u00a0 I am truly blessed to have such great people in my life!<\/p>\n The next evening I had my first of two childbirth classes.\u00a0 It was pretty interesting.\u00a0 I wouldn’t say there was a ton of NEW information, but it was good to hear how things are done at THAT hospital.\u00a0 Just getting the perspective of the place where I will have my daughter was helpful.\u00a0 We also got a tour of the labor and delivery area, which was probably what I had looked forward to the most.\u00a0 It’s not quite how I imagined it, but I’m not sure what I was imagining anyway.\u00a0 The rooms are small, but appear as comfortable as possible.\u00a0 Wish there was more than just one extra chair so there would be a place for both Pete and my doula!\u00a0 The craziest part (to me) was the light that comes down when the doctor is there for the actual delivery.\u00a0 I’m kind of glad I got to see it ahead of time.\u00a0 Because it is kind of intimidating.\u00a0 It comes down from the ceiling, and it’s a little reminiscent of things you might see in TV shows or movies about alien abductions.<\/p>\n Apparently, there is a doctor who has you catch your own baby after he or she is out.\u00a0 Our childbirth class teacher started to warn us about that, but none of us has this particular doctor.\u00a0 I don’t know if there’s any chance of him being the on-call Dr or not.\u00a0 I didn’t ask.\u00a0 It wasn’t a name I’d heard before.\u00a0 Pete’s like…that’s kind of…Amazon.\u00a0 When I first heard about it, I thought, no way, <\/em>that’s insane.\u00a0 But the more I think about it, the more I think it’s kind of awesome in a way.\u00a0 Not that I’d request doing such a thing.<\/p>\n The following Wednesday, I attended a class called Babysense.\u00a0 I was expecting a dumb sort of “this is a baby…this is a diaper” kind of class.\u00a0 But it was actually really, REALLY good.\u00a0 I only signed up for it because I figured I might as well since I already planned to take the childbirth class and the breastfeeding class (which was canceled last-minute, grrr).\u00a0 But I am SO glad I did.\u00a0 Lots of things about safety.\u00a0 And lots of resources.\u00a0 A fair portion of it was common sense, but a lot of it was really useful.\u00a0 Kind of makes you wonder how so may of us survived infancy…but hey, whatever steps I can take to make our baby safer, of course I’ll do it.\u00a0 (Side note: I didn’t realize that this was a class open to couples, so I was one of the few mommas there without the daddy…a little awkward.\u00a0 But oh well.)<\/p>\n Week 34 -Monday afternoon, I had my epidural interview.\u00a0 It was kind of a let-down, but I’m viewing it as an obstacle cleared ahead of time if I do end up getting the epidural.\u00a0 First I met with a nurse, and she weighed me (in kg) and took my blood pressure.\u00a0 She took my history, and I watched a video that had some information about the epidural and showed how it’s done.\u00a0 They didn’t really make it look like it was a piece of cake to get one, but they did make it look like it’s no big deal to have one.\u00a0 In some ways it made me feel better about getting it…if I get it.\u00a0 In other ways, it wasn’t helpful at all.\u00a0 (It doesn’t cross the placenta?\u00a0 But a tiny amount does reach the baby?)\u00a0 I really wish I knew where to find some truly unbiased information about it.\u00a0 But I don’t think I’d know unbiased if it bit me at this point.\u00a0 Anesthesiologists think it’s the best thing since sliced bread.\u00a0 Other folks think you’ll poison your baby and burn in hell for having one.\u00a0 (I’d listen to the docs over the anti-epidural extremists…using hyperbole here, if you missed that.\u00a0 It’s just confusing.)\u00a0 After the video, an anesthesiologist came and introduced himself.\u00a0 He listened to my lungs and had my say “Ahh” to check my airways.\u00a0 Though it was the most pitiful ahh ever because I kinda choked on my spit or something as I opened my mouth.\u00a0 On the way out, the Dr. said, “See you in a few weeks!”\u00a0 It was kind of annoying.<\/p>\n Before we parted ways, the nurse showed me how to get to L&D from the new entrance.\u00a0 Very easy, now that I know where it is from that direction.\u00a0 Before leaving hospital grounds, I drove around a bit to explore the new parking garage and roads around the hospital.\u00a0 I’m pretty sure I know where we’re going now.\u00a0 I drove that day, but I made sure Pete paid attention because I do NOT plan to do the driving when we’re actually going there to have a baby. \ud83d\ude09<\/p>\n Since we had some time to kill before childbirth class #2, we ate an early dinner at Chick-Fil-A then went to Target to spend our gift cards.\u00a0 Got lots of stuff, including items that are necessary but not fun to give as gifts.\u00a0 Like lanolin and milk storage bags and nursing bra pads and changing pads.\u00a0 Between the gift cards and a rebate card we had, we didn’t have to pay anything out of pocket except for some granola bars Pete picked up to get us through childbirth class. =)<\/p>\n Monday evening was childbirth class #2.\u00a0 (We took a semi-accelerated class…first time it was offered.\u00a0 The four-week class seemed difficult schedule-wise; the all-day Saturday class sounded exhausting and I’d miss too much work…so this was perfect for us.)\u00a0 This one was a little less exciting.\u00a0 It started out with the stuff we DON’T want to happen.\u00a0 Like cesareans, vacuums, and forceps.\u00a0 Let me just say this: I really, really do not want a giant metal pair of salad tongs in my vagina.\u00a0 So definitely praying against that.\u00a0 But it was good to see everything ahead of time so it’s not so shocking later…God forbid anything like that becomes necessary.\u00a0\u00a0 Also stayed for some of the breathing\/relaxation techniques.\u00a0 We went over it a bit the previous week, but not as much.\u00a0 The class didn’t consist of a lot of that kind of stuff, but I learned enough to think about it at home where I feel less awkward anyway.\u00a0 I think some of that stuff is hard to really pull off before you’re actually in labor.\u00a0 Then, you do whatever in the world you can figure out that makes you handle it better.<\/p>\n Tuesday, I got a call saying my breastfeeding class (scheduled for tonight, Wednesday) had been CANCELED!\u00a0 BOO!\u00a0 I really wanted to take two classes: childbirth and breastfeeding.\u00a0 The other two classes (Babysense and the Fatherhood Basic Training class) I just signed up for because, by the time I paid for the childbirth and breastfeeding classes, it was just $15 more to take the other classes by going with a package deal.\u00a0 And I was a little interested in the Babysense class too, even though I didn’t expect it to be as good as it was.\u00a0 Pete isn’t really enthusiastic about the Daddy class…I signed him up against his will…and he might get off the hook anyway if this kid debuts anywhere around Feb 15th.\u00a0 Ramble ramble.\u00a0 Anyway, I probably would not have paid for the class package if I had known the breastfeeding class would be canceled.\u00a0 The teacher moved me to the February 21 class…but attending that one may be a problem.\u00a0 I guess we’ll see.\u00a0 I was told I could be reimbursed for that class if I deliver early, but we’ll see.\u00a0 I don’t know if, being a package, it’s different.\u00a0 And the registration thing said no refunds.\u00a0 I really wanted to hear about breastfeeding and pumping.\u00a0 I was planning to rent a pump, but by the time I rent one for 6 months, I could buy one.\u00a0 So I might buy.\u00a0 It’s just ANOTHER up-front cost, which doesn’t excite me.\u00a0 If I miss out on the breastfeeding class though, there are<\/em> several resources available to me to help.\u00a0 So I’m not defeated or anything.\u00a0 It’s just annoying.<\/p>\n YESTERDAY!\u00a0 I had an OB appointment.\u00a0 Probably the last of the quick and easy ones.\u00a0 I’ve gained one more pound since two weeks ago (bringing the total weight gain to exactly 20 lbs…though I swear I’ve gained a least a couple since yesterday =P).\u00a0 Blood pressure was good.\u00a0 Fundal height 34.5 cm.\u00a0 Right on.\u00a0 Heard the heart beat, but didn’t catch the heart rate.\u00a0 She’s still head down, too.\u00a0 The way I feel her move sometimes, I was starting to wonder!\u00a0 But she’s head-down, facing my left.\u00a0 Which shouldn’t surprise me because I thought that was a little butt I was feeling on my right side.<\/p>\n Next appointment (in two weeks) I get tested for Group B Strep.\u00a0 My doctor is going to be gone in two weeks.\u00a0 I was given the option to go next week instead, but I didn’t know if my schedule was already booking up, so I’ll be seeing one of her partners instead.\u00a0 Oh yay, it’s been a while since a total stranger swabbed my personal places.\u00a0 But it’s fine.\u00a0 So.\u00a0 Next appointment is two weeks from today: February 2 at 3:30.<\/p>\n Last night, I placed a massive order for baby stuff on Amazon.\u00a0 First, I signed up for Amazon Mom (it’s free), which offers a discount on diapers and wipes and, more importantly to us, allows one to earn free months of Amazon Prime (free two-day shipping).\u00a0 So I ordered boat loads of stuff we needed anyway, including the playard (doubling as a bassinet at first) that my parents are getting us (\u2665).\u00a0 I thought you had to order a bunch of stuff over time to extend the Prime benefit, but turns out it can be cumulative, and I already ordered enough stuff to get the full year (maximum you can get for free).\u00a0 Sweet!\u00a0 Almost everything will be delivered tomorrow.\u00a0 The diaper ointment is supposed to get here on Friday.\u00a0 We will then have all the essentials…just have to get everything set up…our biggest challenge.<\/p>\n If I can make it through another day or two, I’ll officially be pregnant longer than my mother ever was.\u00a0 That’s crazy to think about.<\/p>\n Some other random thoughts:\u00a0 I must say it again…relaxin is one crazy hormone.\u00a0 Some achy joints…joints I haven’t thought about since anatomy class.\u00a0 (Who really thinks about joints in her pelvis?)\u00a0 But I gotta count it all joy because I know it’s my body getting ready for the big day.<\/p>\n I have definitely perfected the waddle.\u00a0 Maybe I shouldn’t say I’ve perfected<\/em> it because that word seems to imply some level of grace.\u00a0 Then again, waddling, by definition, is not graceful.\u00a0 My joints feel so weird and different, I just can’t help it.\u00a0 So by the end of the day especially, I’m just walking around whatever way feels the best, even if I look funny.<\/p>\n Baby girl has been letting me sleep through the night without getting up to pee.\u00a0 Now that I say that, I’ll probably get up like 3 times tonight.<\/p>\n It’s crazy how big and strong she’s getting though.\u00a0 I’m amazed at the way she can morph my belly sometimes.<\/p>\n Okay, it’s midnight, so I should probably get myself to bed.\u00a0 Is anyone even still reading this???<\/p>\n Week 34 cartoon baby!\u00a0 First week the cartoon has been head-down, though my girl has been head-down for WEEKS. \ud83d\ude09<\/p>\n Side note: Pete just moved our site to a new web host (where we can upload a LOT more PICTURES!)\u00a0 So let us know if you encounter any glitches. =)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" I procrastinated.\u00a0 Badly.\u00a0 I kept putting off an update because I had so much to say…the task just seemed too daunting.\u00a0 Turns out, by waiting, I don’t have any fewer things to write about.\u00a0 I’ll try to hit the highlights.\u00a0 Waiting too long to post, I also sort of forgot the smaller things I’d like […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[4,5],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/babyg.brainstormwarning.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/402"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/babyg.brainstormwarning.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/babyg.brainstormwarning.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/babyg.brainstormwarning.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/babyg.brainstormwarning.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=402"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"http:\/\/babyg.brainstormwarning.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/402\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/babyg.brainstormwarning.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=402"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/babyg.brainstormwarning.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=402"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/babyg.brainstormwarning.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=402"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}![\"34](\"http:\/\/images.3dpregnancy.com\/en\/3D\/200\/34-weeks-pregnant.jpg\")
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\n34 Weeks Pregnant<\/a><\/div>\n