Holy Cat what a day!

So we dropped off registration papers at the pediatrician's office.  That went pretty smoothly.  Then I went to the hospital to complete my pre-registration.  That went NOT so smoothly.  Took freaking forever and then I ran out of time because I had to go next door the the OB's office for my appointment.  Had hit a snag with the registration anyway that Lee had to go clear up with them.  

So the 38 week OB appointment went well.  She did an ultrasound to get the baby's size (although she admits baby is probably bigger).  Ultrasound says baby is 5.5 pounds right now, but I say ultrasound is full of crap!  I'm certain baby is bigger than that and will be born slightly bigger than Analese's 7 pounds 2 ounces.  REALLY REALLY weird that I dropped 3 pounds this week.  I mean I know my belly is bigger, but the scale says I lost 3 pounds.  She asked me if I've been throwing up.  I said yes, but not food - just morning dry heaves.  I've been eating pretty well actually.  High fat and high calorie I know!  I must have a parasite in there.  Her theory is I got rid of some fluid, but I really have not had any significant swelling.  So I'm only up 21 pounds from pre-pregnancy weight.  With Analese I gained 22 pounds total.  When she was feeling of my belly she said I am one of those people who measures small but really does have a belly full of baby.  Tell me about it!!  She also confirmed that the head is actually lower down, which I suspected.  My Blood pressure was up slightly after being at the hospital admissions desk.  It was still normal, just up for me.  My BP is usually pretty low.

So then Analese and I went back to the hospital.  As I was getting her out of her car seat to go in I told her, "Mommy is so proud of you for being so good today.  You are SUCH a trooper!"  To which she responded, "I NOT a trooper, I Analese, I a GIRL!"  So after Lee had smoothed out the bump in the road with registration, everything went smoothly and I am now fully pre-registered at the hospital.  All I have to do is show up at L & D the morning of the 20th!

Something else I am excited about:  Lee had talked to some of the OB nurses the other day.  This one nurse was talking about a pediatrician or somebody who had a c-section there.  This lady had a special clear drape ordered so she could view her c-section.  Lee says, "COOL - that is exactly what Melanie wants to do!"  So this OB nurse took it upon herself to get one of these clear drapes for me for my c-section!  So I even get to see the live event!  WOW a week from RIGHT NOW I will be holding my baby Mariele.  Unbelievable!

The 37 week OB visit blah blah blah.............

Yeah, I guess I'm getting tired of them. Today she swabbed me for Group-B strep. While there, she checked my cervix. It is very low and very soft but closed. Blood pressure is still great. I've gained 23 pounds total. When she was feeling of the baby, she asked me how much Analese weighed. I told her 7 pounds 2 ounces. She says this baby will be smaller. I'm like WHAT?? I don't really think so. She says it feels like the baby is 5-5.5 pounds now and she does not think the baby will reach the 7 pound mark. But then she says she could be off and sometimes the mother's perception is right. My perception is that I am bigger this time. I have already gained more weight total than with Analese (and I have 2 weeks to go). And it just feels to me like my torso is FULL of baby! I mean, when she moves sometimes I wonder if she is going to perforate my abdomen! So my guess is that she will be higher up in the 7 pound range than Analese was. My mom had a similar thing happen toward the end of her pregnancy with me. The doc told her he thought they had miscalculated her due date because I was too small. And lo and behold I was born right on my originally calculated due date weighing 7 pounds 2 ounces. I think it is just hard to judge weight from palpation like they try to do. Anyway, only 1 more OB visit to go, then we are having this baby!

Still behind with the laundry, but whatever....................

Analese & I had to wait an excessive amount of time at the OB's office this morning for my 36 week appointment. It went well, though. My blood pressure is still awesome. I've gained 20.5 pounds so far. Last pregnancy I gained 22 pounds total. I think this pregnancy will be more like 25-26 pounds total. I'm keeping down way more food this time than I did last time. I think we chose a pediatrician on the recommendation of my OB. We also decided NOT to do a tubal at this time. We are pretty sure 2 is the magic number, but the finality of that decision was stressing us both out a little. We have time. I will have several months of natural birth control with breast feeding! I can't believe we will meet Mariele in just 3 weeks! Her little heart is beating strong. I was planning to go to Wal-Mart following the OB today, but after being there for 2 HOURS, I did not think Analese or I could make it through a whole shopping trip. So we went home and had lunch. She had a nap and I tackled the tall mountain of laundry. But Lee finished work fairly early in the afternoon. It was a pretty day so we went to the park, fed the ducks, and let Analese play on the playground. Then we went to Home Depot followed by dinner at Denny's (Lee wanted one of their Boca Burgers). So I still have a tall mountain of laundry staring at me, but it was nice to get out with my family today.

Yesterday I received the new nursing nightgown that I ordered. I tried it on and it very much accentuates my pregnant figure. But Analese told me I look like a princess and that I am cute! Bless her heart! She says, "You pregnant mommy?" I said, "Yeah I am." She said, "I not pregnant." I said, "I am so glad, baby!"

Here are some cute pics I took of her today with the giant reindeer she got for Christmas:

34 week appointment..........

These appointments are getting kind of boring and redundant. Although Lee said that is a very good thing and exactly how we want it to be! I did not have any issues to discuss with her today. I've gained 16 pounds to date. My blood pressure was 102/66. Mariele's heartrate was 140. My belly measured at 33 weeks, but she is not concerned about me measuring 1 week behind. Again, I don't know what I would do at the OB's office without Analese. How would I know where the speicimen cups are, where to put my sticker, what to do with the specimen cup or where to put the specimen cup?

My OB rocks!

I had a good 32 week appointment yesterday. I had some specific concerns that I brought up with my OB and she addressed them and made me feel so Wmuch better!

First of all (these are not concerns, these are just nomal appointment things) I have gained 13.5 pounds so far. My blood pressure was very good. Baby's heartbeat was also very good. I told doc that I am taking 3 doses of Zantac 75 per day. She said that is fine, but she thinks I would respond better to prescription Nexiium, so she is calling in some this morning. I also mentioned the sharp pain in my right upper thigh and she thinks it is round ligament pain. Not much I can do about that but endure it. I had that same pain at the very end with Analese. I also mentioned the increased Braxton Hicks. She noticed I was contracting during the exam also. Not a concern unless I have more than 4 an hour. So baby Mariele and I are both doing well.

Now my concerns:

1) When I had Analese I was able to nurse her in the recovery room. I would like to be able to nurse Mariele in recovery as well. This hospital is not as well-run and posh as the hospital where I delivered Analese. She said that we will have to push for it, but we will have the baby in recovery with me. Apparently her dad who she practices with has fought with the hospital for 20 years over this issue. He says healthy newborns belong with their moms, not in the nursery. So she and Lee will both make sure that Mariele gets only the necessary stuff done in the nursery, then she will come to me. Lee says he will just go get the baby and bring her to me if he has to. Code pink! Dad abducting the baby! Makes me laugh! Apparently the recovery room nurses do not like being responsible for both mom and baby. But Lee can be there with me so they can relax.

2) I want to room in with Mariele. This is not a problem even at this hospital. Apparently this is common practice, and Mariele should be with me the whole time once I get into a room.

3) I want to go home the next day like I did with Analese. I told doc this is totally her call, and it is not my intention to be pushy or demanding. But she said as long as I am eating and moving around, there is not reason why I should have to stay more than one night.

4) Getting my tubes tied: most convenient to do at the same time as the c-section, but there is also an option to come back 4 weeks later and do it laparascopically. Lee and I are still discussing this one.

5) photography/videography during the c-section: She is totally COOL with this, even encourages it! She is such an awesome OB!

I am getting really excited now as the time draws near. I will be pre-registering with the hospital soon. I hope and pray that things go as smoothly as they did with Analese. I really do love this OB. She is so personable and close to my age. Her daughter is one day younger than Analese! Anyway, that's about it. I felt good about yesterday's appointment.