I Can Actually Do This!

I had an epiphany (not episiotomy) this weekend during my tour of the labor and delivery unit at my local hospital - I can actually do this! I CAN give birth to this baby living inside of me!

Up until Saturday at 6:15 p.m., I wasn't able to quite wrap my mind around the idea of giving birth. I knew that it had to happen one way or another, but it was hard to picture myself in the moment. I'm a very visual person - I need to see things for them to become real. I didn't realize childbirth was one of those things.

My only "experience" with birth was watching "A Baby Story" on TLC and those scary "real life drama" births on Discovery Health. Sweating, screaming, panting, agony, getting wheeled into an ER and then being left in a hallway, a cramped hospital room that reeks of that terrible hospital smell, SHARING A HOSPITAL ROOM!! The horrors! For the many reasons listed above, it wasn't something I was ready to picture myself doing. Sweat + pain+ gross smells + unknown territory = a very freaked out soon-to-be-mama!

So my husband and I drove to the hospital on Saturday evening and it was NOTHING like I expected. First of all, this hospital has a separate "Women's Center" that is apart from the rest of the hospital. Its a beautiful building with soft lighting, non-threatening odors, and smiling faces. The Admissions Desk it quaint - no weird cubicles or mean receptionists. Everyone coming to the Women's Center is there for a reason - either giving birth, visiting someone who just gave birth, or taking a tour/classes (like me). We were able to tour the Labor and Delivery room, and then the "Family Centered Care" room. The Labor and Delivery room is straight out of a hotel - spacious, comfortable and PRIVATE! All the lights are adjustable so you can "set the mood you would like" before, during and after labor. The thermostat is also adjustable per room - no sweating for this mama! There is even a big-screen TV, DVD player and CD player.They demonstrated different birthing positions, and how the bed would come apart during the actual delivery. Daniel said I had the biggest smile on my face during the whole demo - I'm sure it was because this place wasn't scary at all, but instead pretty peaceful : )

Two hours after the delivery, we'll be moved to a different floor (still in the Women's center) and be given another PRIVATE room (I can't tell you how thrilled I am by the "private aspect"). This room is also spacious and comfortable with a private bathroom/shower and space for the family to spread out. Everything is clean, inviting and again, peaceful.

So now, with approximately 80-something days to go until my baby girl arrives, I am ready. Mentally ready, that is. The nursery? Don't ask... that is still a work in progress. Luckily Nana and Papa are coming down in November to whip that into shape : )

Metallic with a Tinge of OJ After Toothpaste

For the last week, my mouth has been a hot mess. No gum, mouthwash or toothpaste on earth can rid this TERRIBLE taste from my mouth!  It's the same taste that you get after brushing your teeth, and then drinking orange juice. PLUS - a little bit of aluminum foil mixed in. So bizarre! According to my husband, my breath does not stink - hallelujah! But I feel like it does. I've gone through three packs of gum this week alone. Is it just me, or does being prego seem to bring about the strangest symptoms? I'm sure doctors would blame it on the hormones - they always do. But for goodness ssake, can a soon-to-be-mama get a break?! Ay yi yi!

Just Call Me Dr. Sweet Leigh

I have decided that my due date is off by approximately 14 days. My "official" due date is December 30. But, due to my obvious medical skills as a soon-to-be-mama, I think it is actually closer to December 16. Here is my non-scientific rationale:

1. I completely guessed when asked the day of my last menstral cyle. I honestly had no clue. I knew I had gotten it, but I never kept track. It always came like clockwork - a perfect 28 days. By method of deduction, I guessed March 25. My shower and bachelorette party was March 20/21. I got terrible food poisioning that weekend and am positive I didn't have my period during that episode. So here is the question - did I have my period the week before? or the week after? I did some backwards math today from the last time I KNEW for certain I had my period, and I ended up on the week BEFORE my shower/backelorette weekend.

2.  My HCG levels were high. When I first realized I was pregnant and went in for the blood test, they said my HCG levels were somewhat high. So high that they thought I may be having twins. Thinking back, I wonder if they were high because I was further along than originally thought? Things that make you say "Hmmmm..."

3. The baby's weight and length is closer to a 28/29 week old, than a 26 week old. From the beginning, ultrasounds revealed my baby was ranging very high for weight and lenghth. She is consistently about 2-4 weeks ahead of the curve based on my scientific (aka Google) research. At 21 weeks, she weighed 1.5 lbs (24 oz), while the average at that time is 13 oz. At 26 weeks, she weighed nearly 3 lbs, while the average that that time is 1.5 lbs. Coincidence? I think not!

So there you have it... I know what you're thinking - I should be a doctor! LOL. Just kidding : ) But all throughout the pregnancy I have felt that I'm a little further along. Call it mother's intuition, or maybe it's just the hormones making me crazy, but I think this little one is going to come around mid-December, rather than late-December.

Oh - and I've expressed my thoughts to the doctors and they all say, "Well, a due date can be plus or minus 14 days.. so no need to change it!". It will be interesting to see when she arrives!!