Baby Update: 38 Weeks

How far along? 38 weeks!

Symptoms: Sleepy, stressed, lower back pain, braxton hicks contractions, this wierd burnign feeling under my skin some times... the works.

Total weight gain/loss: +12

Maternity clothes? Lots and lots. But I prefer to just wear comfy sweats and my husband's large shirts.

Sleep:  Still only waking up once a night and then really early. 

Best moment this week:  FINALLY finishing little man's bedroom!

Movement: Not much, his head goes from under one rib to under the other, and all the kicks feel like his foot is going to come out my vagina (super cute, right). And yes, I said his head.. little man is still breech. Waaaah.

Food cravings:  Marylou's Oreo Cookie Monsters. And Watermelon Coolatas from Dunkins.

Gender: Boy!

Labor Signs: Braxton Hicks contractions and lower back pain but nothing of significance yet. Dave and I decided to schedule a csection after our version attempt yesterday didn't work.  Now I'm just crossing my fingers I don't go into labor before the c-section date!

Belly Button in or out?  In. Still. Go me. Actually, that probably just means I'm fat, right?

What I miss: Feeling relaxed. The scheduled c section has really freaked me out because now I know there's no way this baby is showing up later than 5/2. Factor in all of my Masters coursework will need to be turned in by 5/1 and I still need to finish my state teacher evaluations... this week might suck. :/

What I am looking forward to: Holding little man in my arms! In just 6 days!

Weekly Wisdom:  My baby is an uncooperating asshole. I mean, everything happens for a reason, and I just have to trust that there's a reason this baby needs to come out via c section.

Milestones:  I passed the group B strep test! Wooo! And now I can keep saying "This is our last Friday/Saturday/Sunday/etc as a family of three...." :)

Baby update: ECV aka Version Part 1

I am officially a sad momma. 

At my appointment today, they confirmed little man is still breech at 37 weeks 4 days. My options include attempting an ECV, or version, or scheduling a c-section.  

An ECV, which stands for External Cephalic Version, is a procedure done in an attempt to flip a fetus while still in the uterus.  My doctor has recommended I at least attempt because according to him, the baby is perfect size and I have just the right amount of amniotic fluid to perform the procedure.  Additionally, this is my second pregnancy and so far, the baby has not engaged into the cervix. Versions have a 50-75% success rate and I'll take those numbers over a guaranteed c-section. 

The procedure itself will take between 1 and 2 hours. 

It starts with a non stress test on the baby and having a fetal heart monitor attached.

After the doctor confirms the baby is not under stress, they will inject my uterus with a muscle relaxer.

The muscle relaxer will, obviously, relax the uterus wall enough that the doctor can physically, and forcefully, move the baby simply by placing a hand on the baby's head and one on his bum and literally spinning the baby. It ends with another non stress test and more monitoring before we are sent on our way.

No, there is no guarantee it will work.

The baby may not move. The baby may flip over during the version and then flip back on his own.

Yes, it will be uncomfortable.  

The walls of the uterus will have to stretch sideways, rather than straight up and down as the baby turns. 

Yes, there are complication risks. 

I have an anterior placenta, meaning the placenta is between my baby and the abdomen so it will act like a pillow between the doctors hands and the baby, making it a bit more difficult.

Also, with my earlier bleeding, there is a higher chance of a possible placental abruption, however it is a low risk to begin with so we're going to cross our fingers. 

Other risks include the umbilical cord entangling the baby, pre-term labor, and any other complication that may lead to a c-section/delivery of the baby on FRIDAY!

I am petrified.

I do NOT want this baby on Friday but it's a risk I have to consider.

We will try just about anything, short of moxibustion - way weird, to attempt a vaginal delivery again. 

However, even if the version works, there is always the chance I'll end up needing a c-section anyways...

Wish us luck on Friday!

Be Earth Friendly with Seventh Generation!

Happy Earth Day!

I was recently given the opportunity to host an in-home Seventh Generation Healthy Baby Home Party and just had to share!

Seventh Generation uses plant derived ingredients to create healthy, sustainable products that you can feel good about using with your children!
Additionally, Seventh Generation has started a petition asking Congress to hold companies responsible for what chemicals are in their products.
You can sign that petition HERE.

Seventh Generation also sent me a wonderful box full of samples to give to my guests and I saved a gift set for one of my readers!

So here's what you can win:

2 samples of dish soap,
2 samples of laundry detergent,
2 samples of soothing lotion,
2 samples of baby wipes,
and
coupons for Stoneyfield, Happyfamily, and Seventh Generation products!

Use the Rafflecopter below to enter!
US winners only. Entries will be verified.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclaimer: I was provided free product in exchange for hosting a Healthy Baby Home Party, I chose to post about the products.

Label it with Label Daddy!

We are moving up to size 3T clothes with the little princess.

She just keeps growing! 

And that means we need to send new clothes to her daycare in case she needs a change.

We've been writing her name on clothes but as a consignment mommy, it lowers the value on clothes since someone else's name is scribbled on it...

Label Daddy is exactly what we need in this house!

 Label Daddy labels keep your (or your daycare attending 2 year old's) belongings from getting lost or mixed up with others. 

These labels are super durable peel-and-stick washable labels -- they're washer/dryer safe, microwave safe, dishwasher safe and UV resistant! 

Label Daddy labels are also fun and attractive. You design your own labels! . . . Pick from many colors, sizes and logos, including Disney and Marvel characters, MLB, NBA, and NHL team logos, other sport and fun logos, and more. We ordered Sophia the First and Elsa from Frozen labels for the Princess!

The exclusive laminated coating gives labels an extra layer of protection and is a must for camp, daycare, the beach, or everyday clothes! 

These labels are made in the USA and shipped directly to you worldwide.

And lucky for you, I have a 10% off discount!

Just use the code USFAMILY10 when you check out

Disclaimer: I was offered product in exchange for my post, however all thoughts and opinions are my own.

Baby Update: 36 Weeks

How far along? 36 weeks!

Symptoms: Painful lightening crotch. Baby is still breech so all those kicks are going down, instead of into my ribs. 

Total weight gain/loss: +10

Maternity clothes? Lots of maternity. Loving the pretty spring colors I've been wearing lately, but I'll be even more excited to start wearing dresses soon!

Sleep:  Still only waking up once a night and then really early. 

Best moment this week:  Getting to Friday! It's been such a long crazy week! Unpacking the baby's room feels pretty wonderful too! Here's a little peek!

Movement: It's getting more painful.  He's running out of room and I can feel it. Lots of jabs and at times it feels like he's tsretching out to a star shape and it hurts! I can feel his head in my ribs and all of his kicks are down so that hurts.  I just keep praying he'll flip!

Food cravings:  Noting specific still, but when I see things I need to have them. 

Gender: Boy!

Labor Signs: Nope, but I am getting random lightening crotch pains so that sucks.

Belly Button in or out?  In. But way shallower, maybe for not much longer.

What I miss: Not being stressed about breech! It wasn't even something I had thought about and now I'm researching c-sections and moxibustion so it's a different stress than I had with Emmalee.

What I am looking forward to: School vacation week! Only 4 more work days to go!

Weekly Wisdom:  Taking time out for yourself is the best thing you can do sometimes.

Milestones:  Officially in my 9th month, and have less than a month to go! If it's a scheduled c section, only 3 more weeks! Yikes.

Breech Baby Blues

Little man is being very uncooperative and is not ready to go head down yet!
The doctor is a bit concerned since most babies have flipped by now but he is not ruling out little man flipping on his own yet.

To help him along, I can do some crazy things like moxibustion (google it-- it's worth it) or laying inverted for 20 minutes at a time.  It's recommended that I put a heating pad on my pubic bone and an ice pack near my chest since some babies hate the cold and then will flip...

It all sounds crazy to me but I'm willing to do just about anything to avoid a c-section.

Who has a "I can't believe it worked" breech baby story to help me feel better?

Baby Update: 35 Weeks

In the craziness of moving last week, I didn't get to update but here's this weeks!

How far along? 35 weeks!

Symptoms: Fatigue. Like crazy. But that may also be because of college midterms and the whole moving into a new house thing...

Total weight gain/loss: +9

Maternity clothes? Lots of maternity. Although I wish I could live in yoga pants and long sleeves or sweatshirts. I just want to be comfy. It's starting to get warmer out (some days) so hopefully I can wear a few cute dresses before this is over!

Sleep:  Still only waking up once a night and then really early. But I'm pretty sure I could sleep for 4 days straight and still wake up tired...

Best moment this week:  Closing on our house, moving into our new house, showing off the new house! The baby sprinkle my mom threw for us! New furniture! Getting cable and internet back! Any of those would work!

Movement: It's getting more painful.  He's running out of room and I can feel it. Lots of jabs and at times it feels like he's tsretching out to a star shape and it hurts!

Food cravings:  Still no real cravings but when I see things I want them. Lately it's been turkey, salads, and fruits but a big pate of fried seafood would taste pretty awesome too. 

Gender: Boy!

Labor Signs: Nope, but I am getting random lightening crotch pains so that sucks.

Belly Button in or out?  In. But way shallower.

What I miss: Feeling rested. I've definately noticed a change in how tired I am. Also, I miss the feeling of denial I had that this baby had a while to go.  He's coming NEXT MONTH. Holy hell.

What I am looking forward to: Getting this house unpacked! And the weekend! Very few "plans" so it will be a lot of unpacking and relaxing with my princess.

Weekly Wisdom:  Remember where you packed the can opener...

Milestones:  I can officially start saying I'm due next month. Yikes. 

30 by 30: Update!

I'm still whittling away at that 30 by 30 list I started last year!

And I'm happy to report we crossed off another item!

3. Buy a house.

We are so happy and blessed to be able to buy our first house and I am just obsessed with it!

It's brand new construction in a tiny little town near the water and it's just perfect for us.

Target Preview from Influenster

As a member of Influenster, I am constantly getting to try out great products and the latest is no exception!

I'm lucky enough to not have any wrinkles yet but the best step to eliminating wrinkles, is to prevent them!

I'm really loving the Restoring Cleanser and the Sun Shield.

What I really love is that they included a daily cleaning regimine to follow! I'll be honest, I'm not following it, I haven't tried the peel or the eye wrinkle remover since they don't really seem to be necessary right now but I'm open to someone else trying them out! 

I love that you can find each piece individually at Target and Target.com and they range from $16.99 to $36.99. Totally allows you to custom create your antiaging cleaning regimine!

Catch Up: I'm Back!

Sorry I haven't posted lately!

We moved last weekend and just got cable and internet back today. I didn't feel right posting at work and I tried really hard to not destroy my phone data usage but I'm back!

I'm sure I'll be going crazy over the next month cleaning and unpacking but cross your fingers I don't go crazy!

I promise to write more asap!