The Seidel Family: Pregnancy Update at 37 weeks

Since I had an appointment yesterday morning, I thought I'd do a quick pregnancy update. Well, I think I've hit that point of being done. And by that, I just mean, when the baby wants to come, he or she can come! I have been doing really good...no swelling, getting around good (except in and out of bed is always tough), no heartburn, no other issues really of any kind. In fact, just a few days ago, I told Vic "wow - my back doesn't even hurt like it did last time with Grace". That was a mistake because now it hurts a lot more. I just remember I had to pick Atticus up so much that my back was in constant achy mode. But, with Grace being a little older and able to do more by herself, I really haven't run into that unless I just totally overdue it during the day.

So, all has been good until the past 2-3 days. The kids have been sick since Friday night with fevers/colds, so there has been less rest and more getting in and out of their beds and my bed and being up at night. So a little less rest for my body; and now I've come down with the cold. And my entire mid section/uterus area/lower back has had aches and pains and while not something that is not alarming to me yet, but just uncomfortable. So, I'm doing a little complaining but I always hate to complain much because it's just part of pregnancy and I know I need to suck it up. It's just that little thought in the back of your mind constantly that you want to make sure nothing is out of the ordinary that would be causing any distress with the baby. The baby still moves a lot but I think it must be a giant boy right now because there is less and less room to move in there. It's just no fun to be in pain or discomfort. I like to think I am a pretty easygoing pregnant person; but yesterday with everything hurting and kids being kids and just being kind of tired, I was kind of an emotional mess. Tears, tears, go away! I'm better this morning. Thank goodness for Vic who came home and took over; I feel like the worst person to just sit while he does stuff, but it sure helps my body last longer to sit and rest when I can.

At my appointment yesterday, Dr. Bertsch said we are still good to go right now for April 21st as a c-section delivery date. She mentioned a different wound suture plan she might do this time, but didn't go into detail yet. My blood pressure was 144/90 when I went in and she said the bottom number of 90 is usually their cutoff point for concerns so we took it again before I left and it was 138/83. So, she said since it went down, she feels good about just seeing me at my regular appointment next week. She said if there was gestational hypertension, they deliver at 37 weeks (as in THIS week) and would need to monitor me for the next few days. So, hopefully we are ok since the second time it was lower. Plus, I had Grace with me and while that is not a big deal, I know they usually tell you if you are busy, then your blood pressure might be higher. It's been in the 120/80 range most of my pregnancy but since it was high with Atticus and low with Grace, she wants to watch it. Anyways, so hopefully we are good to go there.

She also said, when she was checking the heartbeat and feeling around that she thinks this will be a big baby. She said that doesn't change anything on her end as far as delivery, but our pediatrician might have some extra instructions about formula supplementing, etc. when the baby arrives. So, that will be new for us if the baby is really big. With Grace at 8 lbs. 14 oz at 40 weeks and Atticus at 6 lbs. 9 oz. at 36 weeks, I'm not surprised this one could be big. And maybe that is why I am so uncomfortable right now.

I've been having Braxton Hicks contractions a lot lately in the last 2-3 weeks. Only a few times, have they been kind of painful, but at least I know these are contractions. With Atticus, we induced at 36 weeks and so if I had BH, I didn't know it. And with Grace, I hit contractions in the middle of the night and all at once, I knew what one felt like. But, there was not time to hang out with those - they were strong and we went in right away to find out I was dilated to a 5 or 6 I think? Anyways, this time, I can tell when I have those little contractions. I'm sure I'll make it to 39 weeks, but part of me really wonders. 39 weeks makes it easier to plan, but 2 weeks still seems like a long time away and I am not convinced I'll last until then.

As far as food, I've not had any crazy cravings throughout my pregnancy. Mostly, they come and go and last a few weeks. Right now, I can't get enough cold things...like watermelon or water. I will wake up just to eat watermelon in the middle of the night to get that satisfaction of water and coldness, but try to avoid filling myself up with water just to use the restroom 5 times a night. My nausea has been under control since I've stayed on medicine. Back around 31 weeks, I got sick for the last time...I hope. The insurance company has gone crazy and only gives me 9 pills at a time, so every 9 days I go get more. Around 31 weeks, they made me wait a few days and not taking that little tiny pill meant I was sick the very next day. Crazy! I have been feeling yuck, so I've been taking 2 a day if I feel yuck 2x in a day. Our bodies are just crazy the way they react to pregnancy sometimes....and you just don't know what to expect.

As far as other updates, we are ready for the baby. We have a few little things to pick up, like diapers, and we actually have not gotten the 0-3 clothes down for both boy and girl yet, but we will do this weekend. I'm getting excited to see how tiny they are and reminisce. We also have not gotten the crib down, but since the baby will just stay in the bassinet, I'm not too worried about that. We can do the crib in the weeks after baby comes. With Atticus and Grace in one room now, the baby room is ready.

Atticus and Grace ask all the time when the baby will come. Grace even gets it now...as much as she can. She talks about the baby and yesterday, kept asking me to pull my shirt up in the doctors office for her to look at the baby. They both kiss my stomach sometimes and they both change their minds about what they think it will be. Grace even pulled out a baby and bottle and paci the other day to play with...so maybe she will embrace it! Atticus talks about the baby using "she" and "her" but also has said in the last 3-4 weeks that he thinks it needs to be a boy so "the boys will be stronger and the girls will be weaker".

One funny thing the other day happened when I asked Atticus if he would help me take care of the baby and maybe not go to kindergarten again. Of course, he says he has to go to kindergarten. And I kept asking who would take care of Grace the other times and he said he would. So, I asked him if he would make her food and put her on the potty, etc. And he made the decision that when she needed to go potty, he would trade me and he would take care of the baby and I would do the potty stuff and then we would trade back. I just thought it was cute because it was all willing to help, but "trading" kids was the way to do this. He's going to be fun with a new baby in the house, especially now that he is almost 5.

We also attended a Sibling Class at Scott and White on Saturday with our friends, the Gregory's. It was cute; she read them a little book and asked them questions about rules with babies. She let them wrap up baby dolls and carry them. And then they got to dress in scrubs and take a tour through the rooms of the hospital that they might see when their little siblings arrive. Grace was feeling a little under the weather and doesn't really like dress-up anyways, but Atticus was all in to putting on the scrubs and walking around. It was pretty cute to see all of those little miniature doctors and nurses walking around. It was also nice for me to see the facilities - all so clean and new and big.

I can't really think of much else. Most of this post is not too exciting, but I like to remember these little things. I am getting excited to see what this baby looks like and whether they resemble Atticus or Grace. And I am anxious for the baby to arrive and know that he or she is healthy...still a little nervous about it being so big - not for the delivery part, but I hope they are healthy and ok when they arrive. 15 days to go!