Now there are 3...

The baby is only a few days away now.

After months of this being in the background, as something that will happen, we're suddenly almost there. The baby things are more or less ready, and family is set to visit (including "Grandma" - my Mum - arriving today). C-chan and I more or less know what we're in for.

Now as we focus on our son, we realise how much this is going to rock his world. He can't fully comprehend what is ahead of him, as much as we tell him and hope he understands. C-chan and I have a bit of a difficult task trying to keep things normal for him over the coming months while his world changes. Loving grandparents will be here, but that won't be the same as when it was just Mum, Dad and him.

At the same time, he's being an absolute trooper most of the time. He kisses the baby's things, seems to be accepting that some things aren't his but belong to the baby (a difficult concept for him so far). He's being adorable, despite feeling rotten with a cold recently. He walks along, holding my hand, proud of wearing his new dinosaur back pack, and he is my little friend.

Sorry - must be hormones. I keep bursting into tears today. Dropping E-chan off at Kindy seemed to be the hardest thing ever this morning, and he wanted to stay with me rather than play with anyone. But I need to rest, and get over this cold before Friday... somehow...

So much for resting...

So work wrapped up last week, and it took a grand total of 4 days for E-chan to come down with a cold. He spent Monday home with me with runny nose and goobery eye, Tuesday having a short day at Kindy, and Wednesday at Kindy, and yesterday coughing and spluttering with me at home. Today seems have a return of a snotty nose PLUS a bonus worsening cough.

I seem to have that feeling between my eyes that I'm coming down with it too (or is that from being woken 5 times last night!?).

Getting cabin fever big time - I'd rather be out seeing friends, or sleeping. Yesterday my attempt at a nap resulted in 30 mins lying down, whilst darling son crawled around my bed, showed me how clever he was at naming things on his flashcards, built a pillow fort, and said "mummy open eyes!!" whenever it looked like I might actually doze off!!

I'm beginning to think "thank goodness for Playschool, The Land Before Time, Chuggington, Charlie and Lola, and Skunk Fu" (see ABC Kids website if any of those need interpretation). And at least I'm getting through the many loads of washing I need to do before visitors and new baby descend upon our house!! And a few boxes of eco-nappies (well the best you can do if you're not doing cloth) were delivered this morning, very conveniently at 8am, only a day after I ordered them!

Outside, it is cool and blustery today. They are recommending that pregnant women wear masks when they go out, due to a few Flu hospitalisations that have happened out west of Sydney. But I might need to venture out for our sanity - maybe a bandanna will do? But E-chan's cough is a worry. Trips to inside shopping centres might be all we manage...

Grotsky

I have started spilling food down my top again – I seem to remember having the same problem last time I was pregnant. However, my 15-week bump is hardly jutting out enough to excuse this yet.

Baby baby baby, you’re out of time…

Random person in shop: “Oh! When are you due?”
Me: “Last Wednesday!”
RPIS: “Uh? Oh! You’re overdue!”
Me: “yes”

Look forward to not having to answer that question much longer…

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Urm. Am at a loss to know what else to post besides baby stuff. I'm pretty baby centric at the moment... How could I possibly think of anything else?! Happy to hear anyone else's business... I'm thinking of you all, but I seem to be tied up in evenings with relatives so it'd be rude for me to ring while they are here.

Mum had to go today (sniff!) which is sad, because we never thought she'd have to go without seeing her grandkid. Being a nurse who works weekends and evenings/nights, she has to book her holidays months in advance because they are always so short staffed. She'll hopefully be back in a couple of weeks when Dad comes.

In-laws are on the couch behind me "because I shouldn't be left alone", so I have given them books and yesterday's paper to read. They didn't come with their own amusements it seems...

False alarm #3... 41 weeks pregnant...

This pregnancy is now officially 1 week longer than average (but not out of the realm of normality).

Had 8 or so hours of regular contractions yesterday. We thought I was going into labour. The thing that was fishy was that the contractions weren't that painful and didn't stop me from holding down conversations or doing other things. Kind of a stomach tightening/period cramp with the occasional back ache.

So we got all prepared, rang the inlaws like they asked us to, and they are headed over today.
Then I was tired so had a nap, and the contractions petered out. And stopped.

That's right. 3/4 of the grandparents are here in Sidonee, but no sign of baby.

Had drs appt as scheduled this morning. Had the first internal exam of my whole pregnancy, which was a bit more unpleasant than a pap-smear. He said there has been some thinning of the cervix (as usually happens when you go into labour), but no signs that I am actually in labour. Getting mild contractions again now. Fingers crossed (but not holding my breath). There is a good chance that I'll go into labour on my own some time in next few days, and I'll go in again on Saturday to hook into a machine that measures baby's heartrate over 20 or so minutes to make sure everything is OK, along with me monitoring that it is still moving around regularly.

Worst case scenario is an induction for next Tuesday (unfortunately they don't do them on weekend or public holidays - isn't it great that biology, which has little relation whatsoever to the Earth Calendar, is forced to fit in with medical services? I think if there is any emergency, they wouldn't hesitate, but normally they'd induce from 10 days overdue which is Saturday.

At least weather is sunny and I can go for walks with Mum today.

Hope to see some of you soon, with baby in tow!!

Dang, that was false alarm #2

We're still waiting...

We've resorted to firm talking-tos and snide remarks about how bub seems to be chicken, and is missing out on all these cuddles and back strokings from Mummy and Daddy. Coaxing just didn't seem to be having any effect. Guilt tripping is the next tactic, as Daddy approaches having his 2nd-last exam this Saturday and it would be best not to be inconvenienced (but don't tell bub we have the Uni exemption forms all ready just in case).

We're also trying dancing in the lounge room to songs with "Baby" in them, and brisk walks around our neighbourhood.

possibly something happening??

Last night we had some labour pains, but I managed to sleep through much of the night without much more than some back ache. When C-chan wakes up, we're going to go for a walk, and see if that speeds things along... Pains so far have been like period pain accompanied by some stabbing sharp pains in the lower pelvis. Nowhere near as bad as they are described, so I'm assuming I'm in very early stages, the raspberry leaf tea has REALLY helped, or it's another false alarm.

Mum arrives this evening, and we have had to come up with a plan B for if she flies in during the big moment and we're at the hospital!! Would be awesome if she is here for the birth (but it would suck big time if this drags on all week and she has to go home before it all happens... I guess she'll have to see if she can get out of working next weekend). In-laws also want to be notified as soon as we are certain, as they are going to drop everything and fly over to see their first grandchild. Haven't rung them yet because we aren't certain.

So... unless you hear from a very impatient me some time in the next day or so, you can assume things are progressing. Hopefully, my next post will be a photo... with a name announcement...

xxx

Overcooked

Well due date came and went yesterday - not suprising given only 4% of babies are born on their due date. So, it will be a June baby, afterall. Have lots of energy today, so am taking the opportunity to take little trips out of the house whenever they arise... walked C-chan to the train, went to post office. Walking is supposed to help things along.

Thought another way I could urge the baby out is with some Haiku*. When I was in primary school, we were taught that Haiku is a 3-lined poem describing a single thing/concept, that has the 5-7-5 syllable structure. I'm not sure that the syllables are that important from what I've read subsequently, but limited syllables is more fun.

So here goes:

Overdue baby
Please come out and see the world
It's waiting for you

or

Like a letter sent
But not yet received by us
We anticipate

Beautiful, poetic moments of blog-dom, I'm sure. I thought of the last one on the way back from the Post Office!

* Baby will come out screaming "Mum, stop it! Blog poetry is EMBARRASSING!!!"

but no baby yet

I'm being upstaged by Brangelina, my boss's daughter, Ginger Spice, and my ex's wife, all of whom have had their babies. Can't say I'm that upset about it, but I would like it if bub started to make its entrance into the world in the next couple of days. We are ready!! Come out little one!!

Am a bit sick of being pregnant, tired, and heartburny (my poor stomach is squashed somewhere up near my chest). Someone C-chan works with said that the last few weeks of pregnancy have the positive effect of making you forget your fear of childbirth, and you are overcome with impatience and discomfort!! So true!!

My Mum is coming on Sunday!! Can't wait!

Schemes for making my employer feel guilty for delaying my job interview until the week my baby is due....

Yes you read that right. Rough timeline for you...

Date I told my bosses I was pregnant: 22 November 2005 (see merry risa: Report on this weeks’ to do list)
What was done to resolve what would happen with my position from May onwards and who would replace me between 22 November and March 2006: bugger all
Work contract expired: April 30, extended to 31 May 2006 when they couldn't get shit together on time
Date job application was due: 11 May (ie 11 days after I left for Maternity leave)
Date I found out I would have to sit an interview (and only after I rang various people up to find out what the hell was going on): 26 May
Date they wanted to hold the interview, knowing full well the below: 30 May
Date of interview: tomorrow afternoon, 29 May
Baby due: 31 May 2006 (and I should point out the due date is only a statistical average, and the baby could have come weeks ago or might be as late as 10 June).

In summary, they decided to lengthen the term of my contract to beyond the standard year of maternity leave (which was a nice thing to do in concept). However, there are all these things they need to do when they increase the length of a contract, one being publicly advertising the position again. This got procrastinated, and I didn't end up finding out when I'd have to apply for my job until my last week of work, and I had to hand over my work to 5-6 collegues because they didn't get a replacement sorted out in time (apparently they can't do that until my own position is sorted).

Yeh, I'm pissed off about having this to worry about at a time when I should be focussing on getting ready for parenthood and looking after my health. Think I came down with a slight cold over the weekend. The only thing that stops me from flatly refusing to interview is that I'd forfeit my maternity leave rights entirely, and knowing that, they haven't given me an alternative (besides a telephone interview). Being a Scorpio, I thought I should come up with some things to say/do to make the managers responsible for putting me in this position feel a little bit (more) guilty. Going into labour during the interview would be priceless, but unfortunately cannot be arranged!

I have assertively discussed the issue with both my managers and HR regularly over the past few months to try to get someone to do something about the situation, and this has not got me anywhere, and I have not hidden my dissatisfaction at the slowness of action (nor overdone the complaining). Have no faith that a complaint will be taken seriously or acted upon, and not sure that I have grounds unless I can show financial loss or injury, although I certainly have the moral high ground.

Here are the things I've thought of so far:

1) Faint during interview.
2) Assuming they launch into an explanation/apology about the hold up between the 11 May & 26 May, say "Yes, well that certainly explains the delay over the past few weeks..."
3) "Well, we joked around the office that I'd probably be having my interview as the labour pains started, but didn't actually think it would be left THIS late!!"
4) Insist on coming in in person for interview so collegues can be fully aware of the situation I've been put in (I actually think that is why they want me to do the interview by phone, to avoid even the smallest spectacle).

You can see which kind of mood I'm channelling here (passive agressive). Any other ideas?
If serious ones, let me know before midday 29 May EST...

And just to add to the below...
How amazing is the human body? That it can contort itself for a few minutes (as in Wednesday's case) and change shape? Some time hopefully in the next week, it's going to contort itself some more and extract a baby from between my legs!

What is it in the body that tells it to do things like this in the late stages of pregancy? What clicks the body into "going into labour mode"? For the record, I don't think anyone knows down to the molecular level yet, but there are a lot of factors that can influence it, including: stress, semen (ahem), certain essential oils (clary sage & rosemary are some, according to what my hospital booklet tells me).

Amazing!

False alarm #1

Last night I thought I was going into labour.

Had significantly more pain after a few hours of feeling weird - tense shoulders, uncomfortable etc. We scurried about making sure we had everything packed for the hospital. However, it just seems the baby made a dive for it. I had an intense 15-20 minutes of quite painful contractions in the lower abdomen. This morning, I'm sure the baby is sitting lower (it's harder to keep my pants up!!). Today, everything was fine, and I've just been taking it easy. Baby still moving at regular intervals...

Whew! Quite a good practise run, actuall. Realised what we still need to get ready for the big day, when it finally comes.

let the sistas do if for themselves...

Interesting article on a preliminary study on midwife only birthing centres...

Yes, more years of data are required, but still - interesting.

Had 37 week check at hospital yesterday (by the way, all is fine and normal, except need to take iron supplements for next few weeks to bolster my haemoglobin). Have had a different obstetrician each time I've been to the hospital, and only one has been female. Why is it that so many more men seem to train in obstetrics rather than women? Anyhow, no complaints about any I've seen - they've all been competent enough to deal with my straightfoward preganancy. The one I saw yesterday I probably liked the best. Had a gentle english accent, and was good at explaining things in a way that made sense to me.

Entertained on Saturday on a scale that probably won't happen again at our place for a little while! Chose 2 of the most ambitious things I could possibly choose to cook (custard-filled chocolate eclairs and yeasty-based apple crumble thing), and nearly wore self out in process, but it was worth it. Others brought lovely food also, and arranged lovely things like suprise visits from Adelaide friends, cheesey pop quizzes, nappy services, and freebies from baby expos!!

Am sipping Raspberry leaf tea, as it is supposed to help with labour if you drink it from w32 of pregnancy. See some research that midwives at Sydney's Westmead Hospital did plus anectodal evidence at same link if you are interested.

Am pretty tired today. Don't have much I have to do, but can't lie down (back gets too stiff), can't sit comfortably, and feel too tired to attack the pile of dishes surrounding the sink. Hired out "the Upside of Anger" which I might watch later, and another chick flick yesterday which turned out to be shockingly bad and am too embarrassed to admit I hired it so I'm not telling what it was. That choice may or may not have been influenced by the male lead, but not much chance for a goggle after all, so shouldn't have bothered!!

Anyone got some good chick-flick suggestions to help pass some time next week?

real belly shot

Me, sans head, at 7 1/2 months (34 weeks). I seem to be of the "nothing much changes except belly pops out" body type. Perhaps leg and butt muscles have grown a bit to accommodate extra weight I am carrying. Still waiting for that once in a lifetime surge in bust size... which to date has only been minimal. When I asked if there were any negative implications re ability to feed given lack of bust growth to date, Midwife assured me that things can still increase in the last few weeks, and that is even more likely once bub is born and starts feeding.

Width < girth?

I have discovered something all on my own about pregnancy. That's right - this is something I haven't read nor been advised by anyone... Proud moment - here goes:

There comes a point in pregnancy where it is no longer advantageous to turn sideways to squeeze through gaps. If I can't lift my bags up and charge on through frontways, I best find another way to get around. I now am wider front to back than I am left to right.

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Speaking of bellies - hopefully next post will contain a real belly shot, not something poached from Roger Hargreaves.

I think I am entering that uncomfortable stage of my pregnancy. My legs get all "antsy" (is that a word?) every night at around 8:30-9pm. It's like they have a mind of their own - I'm content to sit quietly, but my legs get all grumpy and restless and want either to be taken for a walk or put to bed. I can't seem to get close enough to things - I've had to bring my phone closer to me on my desk, increase the font size on my computer screen so I can see it from an extra 20 cm back, and reaching for the stapler is a bit more effort than it should be.

I can't get comfortable. Actually, best place to be is in the bath or pool. Can only eat small amounts at at time - hard concept for my "eyes are bigger than my stomach" mind.... in fact my stomach is probably getting so squashed that my eyes collectively probably are bigger than my stomach. My brow breaks out in light sweats quite often, and on Wednesday at work I had to lie down for a bit under my desk due to a dizzy spell....

Roughly 6-7 weeks to go!!

Latest belly shot....

Ha ha ha! Actually, this is Little Miss Greedy! Disappointingly, there is no Little Miss Pregnant.

Another interesting point is that Mr Greedy (left) is also apparently 7 months pregnant or more!! Go figure!

Visitors from abroad and possibly some cravings...

Until now, I have denied having cravings of any kind during my pregnancy (and not just to be different - I really haven't craved anything more than what I consider to be normal eating behaviour for me). I will confess to eating ice cream (good for the indigestion), but the pickles have been untouched in the fridge since we used them in an antipasto platter before christmas. But today there have been some hankerings that I have felt more strongly than the normal urges... Crepes with lemon and sugar (mmm!), and beer. I've had the odd sip of C-chan's beer from time to time lately, and the taste has been so good. I possess enough self control, it seems, to not drink more than a sip. I should say at this point that chocolate hazelnut spread (you know the brand) is EVIL evil stuff, and should not be bought even if packaged with attractive free fridge magnet on lid.

Crepes with lemon and sugar
4 Oz plain flour (just < 1 cup)
1 egg
300mL milk

Mix into batter and leave for an hour. Cook in fry pan greased with butter (mixture should be poured in and spread around pan quickly by tilting it). When edges are beginning to get crispy, flip and cook other side for a short while. Serve hot with a good squeeze of lemon juice and a sprinkling of sugar, then roll up and eat!!

Easy peasy. This mixture will serve 2 not very hungry adults for breakfast, or give 4 people 1.5-2 pancakes each for dessert (this was a dessert we had frequently when I was a kid). Crepes could also be served with maple syrup, blueberries cooked up in light sugar and lemon syrup, or even savoury style, filled with cheesy chicken casseroley filling for example.

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We just said good bye to some visitors from abroad yesterday - the Japanese exchange student who stayed with me in 1990 while at high school, and her Norwegian parter and 2 year old. They have just spent 18 months in Norway, and visited us on their way back to Japan. Their little boy doesn't say much compared to other 2-year-olds I've met, and I don't blame him... I'd wanna sit back and not say much too if my parents switched freely between Norwegian, Japanese and sometimes English (at least while in Australia). But at the same time, I'm jealous of these multilingual kidlings I know around the world, growing up with fluency in more than one language. All I can do is play language CD's borrowed from the library and hope it sinks in.

Had 30 week check up at the hospital on Thursday. All is reassuringly normal: blood pressure: normal, position of baby: normal, baby activity: normal, size of me: normal. 3/4 of the way there... Most of the large items that we need for first 5-6 months of baby's life taken care of, except a suitable thing to bath it in (laundry sink too hard to access whilst holding a baby). Now just need to buy some little things... Nappies, muslin wraps, rugs, more bibs and a few clothing basics, possibly some baby products of various kinds (thanks to Seagreen's Mum, I have a whole suitcase of bub clothes that will fit in first year of bub's life!! Thanks Seagreen's Mum, and Seagreen, can you send me her address?)

Happy women's day

Happy international women's day, all. (it was 8th March). If you get a chance before it's taken offline, go here to listen to the podcast/mp3 of the 8/3/06 edition of late night live on Radio National. Interesting discussion on women & equality in society and government in the UK.

Me, I spent my IWD taking a day off from work, going to the Dr's to drink sickly solutions and then getting my blood sampled for glucose tolerance (ie my routine test for gestational diabetes), and checking out the range of baby goods and storage options at various stores.

This week at prenatal course, we covered breastfeeding (very cute to watch video of newborns latching on!!), then had a tour of the labour ward. My hospital has a very recently done up mothers and babies ward (I'm so lucky to live so close to this facility). Each delivery suite has a sofa bed for support person to crash out on if need be, and an ensuite with a bath!! There is a slight risk I'll get transferred to another hospital, because there seems to be a baby boom going on, and some days recently, the labour ward has been full. Seems my persuit to be average is going well - I'm exactly the average age Australian women are giving birth, every famous woman I could possibly think of seems to be pregnant (even one of the Hilton sisters is rumoured to be pregnant? or so I read in a gossip mag in the Dr's waiting rooms). Feel a little upstaged when I should be feeling special!!*

One of the farmers I'm working with at present greets we with "how are you both?!" each time I seem him. Very funny! Bosses finally met this week to discuss advertising a replacement for when I am away on mat leave. About bloody time. 1.5 more months of work to go... (thank god)

*don't worry, am overdramatising this whole sitution for something to write

Sleep cycles, and getting to the business end of preganancy...

Had a really good sleep last night after what seems to have been forever not getting enough. Not going to bed early enough, or if I am, I'm lying there awake thinking (about work, unfortunately) or I'm too hot to get comfortable. Still seems like I need more sleep - I feel a deep tiredness throughout my whole body - but gone is the crotchetty, on-edge feeling that has penetrated through the surface over much of the last week. Burst into tears yesterday for the first time in a while, but it didn't feel like a release, just frustrating. Am so looking forward to an early night and sleep in. Have no idea how my mother functioned on the permanent jet lag effect of night shift - she's being doing 1-2 nights a week regularly since 1978.

The baby has graduated from regular kicks to squirming in my belly - elbows, heads, feet - you name it, it moves it against the walls of my uterus. Sometimes have to tell it to settle down. Seems to be most active after I have eaten... when I am sitting down after breakfast, lunch and dinner. Sometimes it is still going strong when I go to bed. Feel so big that I don't know how I can get much bigger, but clearly I can - the women in my pre-birth and parenting class (who are all further along than me) are starting to look huge. Am now over 6 months along!!

Speaking of pre-birth and parenting class... an interesting experience. I guess I was hoping to meet some interesting people, but not really in our class - all we have in common is pregnancy. You'd think with 9-10 expectants + support people there'd be someone you hit it off with.... Maybe we're all so exhausted with thinking about what's ahead that we don't have the energy to be interesting or interested?? (that is actually quite possible) We share what we have to, then get home to have dinner then sleep. The Midwife who takes our course is well qualified - 9 years on the job plus 2 kids of her own before that. It has been most useful for learning what happens during labour, what aids or drugs can be administered and when they need to be used (only 25% of this public hospital's births in 2004 were completely unassisted by equipment or procedures). So that dreaded epidural may be required despite my intense dislike of the idea. I realise that you can only plan so much - the rest just unfolds and you have to deal with what's thrown at you. This week we have a tour of the labour ward and start to get onto the postnatal stuff - feeding, parenting etc etc.

There is one guy in our class who is prone to bringing up gruesome questions or facts. A few of us drop blatant hints that we'd rather not know some things (I'm particularly squeamish), but he is insensitive to it. I think he missed his calling to be a nurse or doctor, but rather wish he'd control his mouth just a little bit. One thing in particular that he brought up I could have done without ever knowing, and will probably (hopefully) never have to experience it. I got cross with him that time and his partner squirted water at him! Then last week he mentioned he'd tried breast milk (his sister in law's) - at that point I think I wrote him off as a freak. Won't be able to look at him again without thinking of the Little Britain sketch where the grown man still demands to be breast-fed!!