Oh Baby!

Before you were conceived I wanted you
Before you were born I loved you
Before you were here an hour I would die for you
This is the miracle of Mother’s Love.
–Maureen Hawkins

Our baby didn’t care.

She didn’t care that every one of her siblings had been born on, or the day before, their due dates. She didn’t care that we had two weeks left. Two weeks to paint the bedroom, buy some diapers, wipes, blankets, figure out a crib, wash and organize the clothes, prepare the car seat, finish some work projects, attend some important meetings and make and freeze some meals. At least pack a bag for the hospital (as my husband had suggested just a few days prior….I, of course, chuckled at his premature planning).

Our baby didn’t care that none of this had been done. Not even one diaper in the house. She decided it was time to be born.

2:15 a.m.
I was dreaming that I felt a strong kick and my water broke. I awakened from a deep sleep and realized that my water had just broken. “Are you sure?” asked my groggy husband when I raced out of bed toward the bathroom. Yes. Very sure.

He couldn’t have played the anxious, doting husband role any better if he’d had a script. “What do you need?” “What can I do for you?” “How far apart are the contractions?” “Have you called the doctor?”

Foolishly, I told him that we had plenty of time. Could he make me a sandwich? Could he clean the kitchen and wash the dishes? (I hate coming home to a dirty house.) I took a shower, dried my hair and put on make-up. (If I was a nurse, I’d like a clean patient.)

Driving to the hospital, we became resigned. We let go of our ‘plans’ for the next two weeks. We relinquished the need for organization and having everything ‘in its place’ before her arrival. We welcomed our baby’s timing. And I braced myself for labor.

Most birth stories end up a blur. Ours was no exception. Triage. Signing forms. Breathing. Moaning. Hand holding. More moaning. Pain. Lots and lots of pain. I love you. You’re doing a great job. Push. Push. Push. The cord is wrapped. Fear. Anxiety. Help her! The beautiful, beautiful cry. Sigh of relief. Utter exhaustion. Sheer joy.

 At the birth of our daughter, there is one profound moment that has been carved in my heart forever. The minute she was born, my husband stayed by our daughter’s side…holding her hand, stroking her head, soothing her with his familiar voice. When she was content and swaddled with the nurse, he came to me, sat on the side of the bed, and collapsed into my arms weeping. In his eyes were the years of longing, of heartache, of loneliness, of unspoken sadness, of the need to have a child. And in his weeping was the realization that he was loved, he was whole, and he was, at last, a father.

 What’s happening to baby this week? 
*Labor may last anywhere from one hour to many hours. The average is about eight to 14.
*Women typically pass through many emotional phases: excited, nervous, forlorn, frightened, determined. It is very common to go through a myriad of emotions.
*Baby now fills most of the uterus and is preparing for birth.

What’s happening with ME this week?
*My water broke.
*I had a baby.
*We are blessed.

Community has a professional photographer on hand to take your baby’s first photo while you’re in the hospital, so you can share it with friends and family and post it to your SharingSite.

Let’s hear from you!
If you’ve already had a child, what was the most memorable part of your birth story?

“Motherhood has a very humanizing effect. Everything gets reduced to essentials.” –Meryl Streep

I have been officially banned from most Internet use.

Oh, I can still check my e-mails, update my Facebook page, and find out the current weather in our area, but, according to my husband (and his accomplices at my OB/GYN office), I am disallowed from ‘looking up pregnancy related stuff.’

It’s because I am truly a ‘glass is half empty’ person. Never thought of myself as a doomsday-er, but this last week proves that I most certainly am.

After having my 36-week ultrasound, I was told by my nurse practitioner (whom I adore because she is soft-spoken, calming, thorough, and shares my love for Sedona, Arizona), that I have a ‘grade 3 placenta.’ Hmm. Does that mean that mine is at the top of its class? A spectacular specimen of a student? On the prenatal honor roll? Sadly, no. It means that my placenta is ‘mature.’ Not in a, “Wow! Your child is so well behaved for his age,” mature, but rather, “We need to just keep an eye on the baby and make sure she is getting all the oxygen and nutrients she needs due to your aging placenta and its calcium deposits,” kind of mature. She suggested that I rest, eat well-balanced meals and sleep on my left side for optimal oxygen and nutritional health for the baby.

I smiled and nodded my head while she told me this information about my deteriorating, under-performing, rapidly aging gelatinous mass in my belly and plotted the quickest way home to my computer.

I didn’t even take off my sunglasses when I sat down and Googled: “grade 3 placentas.”

Not good. T.M.I., as my children would say. (Too Much Information)

According to the blogs, threads, Yahoo questions and other ‘mature placenta’ related topics, my baby was doomed. She was suffering, not getting enough oxygen, on the verge of low weight, lack of fetal development and at great risk for even scarier scenarios.

Let’s just say, I freaked out. For the entire weekend. I did kick counts. I laid on my left side until I had permanent pillow impressions on that side of my face. I filled up with antioxidant foods. I drove my poor husband nuts (he even called my sister to try to calm me). It all came down to one thing: protect my child.

Monday morning. 9 a.m. sharp. I phoned the OB/GYN office and thus began the process of trying to talk myself down from my cliff of placental despair. I talked with my sweet nurse again. I hunted down the ultrasound sonographer who had originally seen my calcified, mature, aging placenta and asked for her opinion. Then I patiently waited to see Dr. Carr. (Well, actually, there was nothing patient about it; we arrived 15 minutes early to my appointment.) Travis promised me (and held to his promise) that he wouldn’t reveal my weekend’s mental insanity to the doctor. That was my confession to share.

As always, Dr. Carr was terrific. She didn’t even laugh at me. She told me clearly and concisely all the reasons that my baby was doing well. She told me that she was zealously watching over my baby and would never to anything to put the baby at risk. She told me to stop obsessing over my placenta.

It’s amazing how priorities change when you have a child. My ankles are the size of my thighs. My legs are blue from the amount of varicose veins running down them. I can’t walk up a flight of stairs without panting, and if I have to sit down, I plan on staying there for quite awhile. But, I have a healthy baby who kicks and moves, and a placenta, which, like me, is aging and maturing.

Life, despite the curveballs and fears, is good.

What’s happening to baby this week?
*Baby now weighs approximately six-and-a-half pounds.
*The baby is acquiring important antibodies to protect her when she is born.
*For some women, baby descends into the pelvis (most common with first time moms). This will leave more room for breathing, but also create more trips to the bathroom as baby pushes on the bladder.

What’s happening with ME this week?
*I’m staying off the Internet…with much difficulty.
*My full body pillow (given as a gift from my mom) is a lifesaver.
*I am giddy with every kick, spin, turn and move of this little one.

Let’s hear from you!
How do you handle fears/worries during pregnancy?

The moment a child is born, the mother is also born.
She never existed before. The woman existed, but the mother, never.
A mother is something absolutely new.
–Rajneesh

“She looks like a monster from a horror movie,” declared my 10-year-old as he leaned towards the monitor for a better view. “You looked just like that,” I said to him. He stared at me for a moment and then said, “COOL!”

Sometimes I have these grandiose ideas of how certain life events are going to unfold. Introducing my four children to their little sister on an ultrasound monitor, for instance. In my mind’s cinematic eye, I pictured gentle sunlight and the sparkle of dust filtering through the ultrasound room, with four little faces intently watching with wonder and delight the first images of this new life on the screen. They would gasp quietly, amazed and awestruck, as emotional movie soundtrack music swelled and brought tears to the eyes of all onlookers.

Yep, that was GOING to be the way the ultrasound went.

In reality, my grand imaginative bubble was first burst by the elevator button; who was going to get to push the ‘up’ button? Obviously, amongst my ‘Lord of the Flies’ offspring, whomever reached the button first would push it. So, pushing (each other), shoving, arguing and mayhem ensued even before we made it through the hospital lobby.

Fortunately, the waiting room wasn’t a very long wait and we were all quickly ushered back to the ultrasound suite. Then, of course, came the jockeying for chairs, seating positions, viewing area, etc. The ‘Wait that was MY place…Mom, she stole my spot!…What does THIS button do?…Can I sit on your lap?” chaos that defines an outing with my children. I sighed, got everyone settled, and turned to look at the monitor.

It gets me every time: the realization that the eerie, ghostlike images on the screen are the bones and hair and face of my child. I catch my breath. The tears fall. I look around the room at the faces of the children who are no longer tethered to the inner mysteries of my body…and I still see the newborn beauty in all of them: My firstborn, almost 13, who still has the same baby mouth I memorized while nursing him (and wearily wondering if he would ever sleep through the night). My 10-year-old; whose eyes are still the color of a perfect Michigan blueberry, and who, just moments ago, made the ‘monster’ comment. My still downy-blond haired 8-year-old, who is not yet too old to sit on my lap and hug me like he did as a toddler. And the smooth broad canvas of my 6-year-old daughter’s forehead; the very spot that I inhaled and kissed and permanently etched into my mind’s eye as we rocked in her nursery so many years ago….

I looked back toward the screen filled with wonder and amazement and overwhelming love for this little person whom I was yet to meet.

My reverie on the blessing of this unknown child floating before me on the screen was broken by a voice asking, “Mom, when we leave, can I be the one to push the elevator button?”

Yes, my child…who was once the same undiscovered squirming ball of beauty as the child inside of me…you may.

What’s happening to baby this week?
*Baby now weighs almost six pounds. Baby’s weight gain slows down considerably this month, but will still gain around an ounce a day.
*Your cervix has begun to soften and thin out and your bones and ligaments have softened to make the passage for delivery easier on the baby.
*The placenta still provides the nutrients and oxygen the baby needs through the umbilical cord, which it the vital link between you and your baby.

What’s happening with ME this week?
*I am greatly relieved to see my active and strong baby in the ultrasound images.
*I learned that my placenta is at a grade 3 (mature stage) and my doctor ordered non-stress tests to monitor the baby.
*I am trying (unsuccessfully) not to worry about my grade 3 placenta.

Let’s hear from you!
How did you feel and what did you think the first time you saw your child on the ultrasound?

“Siblings are the people we practice on, the people who teach us about fairness and cooperation and kindness and caring – quite often the hard way.”   –Pamela Dugdale

My sister Deb is three years younger than me. She is one of my best friends…now. But, when she came home from the hospital, I was foursquare against giving up my rightful place as the only girl. One afternoon, my grandmother was holding sweet little innocent newborn Deb and I said, “Granna, put that dumb baby DOWN!” Fortunately, the rivalry was short-lived and Deb and I ended up being favorite playmates and shared a room until I left for college. (Of course, my grandmother insisted on retelling that story to her friends every time I came for a visit.)

My parents could have benefited from the Community Hospital class I took with my kids this week: “Siblings class.” It’s a ‘what to expect when your mom brings that little interloper home from the hospital’ class designed for the new baby’s brothers and sisters.

I have four children. My older boys, ages 10 and 12, were not too excited about going to the class. I promised them that they would not have to change any diapers and we’d get pizza in the hospital cafeteria afterwards. My younger kids, ages 8 and 6, were looking forward to the class. Especially my daughter, Claire, the 6-year-old, because she WAS hoping to change a diaper!

The siblings class is a wonderful, one-hour introduction to life after a baby comes home. There are several ‘stations’ set up that teach older siblings how to keep their hands clean (thanks to glow in the dark sparkle hand gel and a device called ‘Mr. Germ’), how to diaper a baby and how to buckle a newborn into a car seat. They also learn how they can contribute by being the ‘big helper’ around the house, and there is even a small library with books about new babies that families can read together. The kids watch a short video about what will happen to mom while she in the hospital and then the entire family gets to tour the maternity floor and peek into the nursery windows.

Although my older kids had their doubts, the siblings class turned out to be a fun way for our entire family to get ready to welcome our newest member.

What’s happening to baby this week?
*Baby now weighs almost five-and-a-half pounds.
*Most babies will now be head down (the traditional birthing position). Less than 5 percent of babies are breech (bottom down).
*Many parents begin narrowing their list of baby names now. Keep in mind that while a unique spelling or name may sound interesting now, your baby will have this name for the rest of their life. Some parents wait until their baby is born to name them in order to see if the name will ‘fit’ their baby.

What’s happening with ME this week?
*I am amazed that after finally being free of a diaper bag, wipes and the need to buckle children in their seats, I am entering the world of babies once again.
*My children suddenly seem very grown up and tall.
*I am getting excited to have a new little one, even though it will be chaotic.

Community Health Network’s siblings class can help you prepare your other children for baby’s arrival. Click here to register!

Let’s hear from you!
If you have other children at home, what are some successful ways you have prepared them for a new sibling?

“Writing is like driving a car at night. You never see further than your headlights, but you can make the whole trip that way.” –E. L. Doctorow

Of all the good things I did during each of my pregnancies (diet, exercise, vitamins, etc.), there is one thing of which I am most proud: I’ve always kept a pregnancy journal. This is quite the accomplishment, because I get panicked looking at a blank page. But with each pregnancy I forced myself to put pen to paper and keep an account of my progress. Nothing noteworthy or profound, simply a short page here and there, whenever I found the time; I tried to document the growth and changes of each of my children before they were born. (Past journals have proven invaluable for easing my constant neuroses and worrying…I look back through my past pregnancies and discover, “Why YES! I was a weepy mess with THAT pregnancy as well!”)

Surprisingly, with this pregnancy, journaling has been getting easier…because moving my body is becoming harder. I used to be an avid exerciser. I would work out almost daily, even if all I could accomplish was just a 30-minute walk. However, I was most happy when I finished a back-to-back kickboxing class followed by weight training. These days, I am happy when I can climb up to my bedroom at night without a two-minute pause on the landing halfway up. My 30-minute walks have turned into laborious quests to the mailbox at the end of the driveway, and resistance training means doing Kegels while I am in the carpool line.

So now, while I elevate my swollen ankles on the couch, I grab my journal and pen and begin writing. Things like, “I’m lying on the couch elevating my swollen ankles,” and other such Pulitzer Prize-winning thoughts. I talk about my doctor’s appointments, my fears about labor, my crazy middle-of-the-night dreams that make no sense. My journal is filled with the hopes and joys (and fears and worries) that every expectant mother experiences. It also contains pages and pages of detailed notes of each kick and twist of the increasingly large bump in my belly.

But the most wonderful aspect of journaling is that now, when my children ask me what they were like inside of me, I can open their journal and read to them; that even then, I could tell what kind of personality they would have. Most often they snuggle tighter to me, and ask me to read it to them again.

What’s happening to baby this week?
*Baby now weighs almost five pounds.
*Baby’s lungs have been developing since the fourth month and with the exception of the air sacs, are now mature enough to breathe air.
*The first breath will be five times more difficult than an ordinary breath. Similar to the effort it takes to blow up a flat balloon.

What’s happening with ME this week?
*Catching my OWN breath is difficult; I have to take frequent breaks to sit down otherwise I feel faint.
*Turning over in bed is becoming increasingly difficult.
*I still worry over the health and safety of my baby and breathe a sigh of relief each time I feel her move or kick.

Become a myCommunity member and set up your own SharingSite page to document your pregnancy and share baby photos with loved ones.

Let’s hear from you!
What is your favorite way to document your pregnancy and child’s birth?

“Life is always a rich and steady time when you are waiting for something to happen or to hatch.” –E.B. White, from Charlotte’s Web

Let’s talk about ‘nesting.’ Nesting is typically a last-trimester phenomenon wherein a pregnant woman’s natural instincts “take over” and cause her to clean things to the standards of an operating room and organize rooms, furniture and clothing akin to a military maneuver.

You know that you are nesting if you:
-Panic if you don’t have a crib purchased by week 33. (I have done this in the past.)

You know that you are deep into nesting if you:
-Panic if that crib is not erected and placed in the nursery by week 33. (I’ve done this too.)

You know that you need to join a nesting support group if you:
-Scream and fall apart sobbing if ‘said crib’ does not have the matching sheets, bumper pad, quilt and bed skirt double-washed in Dreft, ironed, and placed on the crib with the perfect mobile suspended from the rail with a verbal threat of annihilation if anyone dares to move a single blanket or stuffed animal out of place. (Sadly, although not my finest moment…I’ve done this too…sigh….)

Strangely, with baby #5 on the way, my nesting looks much different than it did with my first four. Oh…I’m still nesting, to be sure…but it does not involve organizing onesies by size and color, nor does it include creating a checklist for my diaper bag. (Another one of the skeletons-in-the-closet of my nesting past.)

With this pregnancy, it’s the patio furniture. I have no crib. I have nary a diaper in the whole house. Not even one. The baby clothes remain unwashed in the Rubbermaid container in the attic. Sadly, I have no desire to scrub, wash, disinfect or sterilize any baby items, yet…. But, I am completely obsessed with making sure that I have an immaculate backyard seating ensemble. And flowers in their pots. And a tidy lawn. None of this has anything to do with preparing for a baby.

Of course, I am personally too tired to actually perform any of the cleaning, planting, mowing, and raking duties required to achieve landscape perfection. So, I’ve wearily begged my kind husband, Travis, to adopt my patio preparation frenzy. Out of the goodness of his heart (and because he is sick of hearing me whine), he did all of the work for me while I napped gratefully on the couch.

I told him that when it was all said and done, he too would be happy to have the backyard completed for cookouts with family and friends. (Because secretly, he really enjoys a nice looking backyard when company comes over.) I like to call it his ‘Guesting Instinct.’

Perhaps in the next week, I’ll start washing baby clothes…but more likely, I’ll reorganize my file drawers.

What’s happening to baby this week?
*Baby now weighs approximately four-and-a-half pounds.
*Braxton Hicks (practice contractions) are the uterus’s way of warming up for the main event. They can sometimes be uncomfortable and last up to 30 seconds. Rather than being frightened or concerned, consider them a ‘tap on the shoulder’ leading up to actual delivery.
*The hormone progesterone is being produced at a rapid rate (250 milligrams a day) vs. a few milligrams during a normal menstrual cycle. This combined with the increase of estrogen which multiplies by 20-30 times, can cause you to feel weepy, depressed and suddenly emotional. It is very normal. Don’t be alarmed.

What’s happening with ME this week?
*I am distracted and clumsy…moving from one unfinished project to the next.
*Surprisingly, I am not yet worried about the lack of preparation for the baby to come home…call it denial.
*I have made peace with my exhaustion; lying down whenever my body can’t go one more step.

Are you prepared for baby to arrive? Visit our Web site to sign up for classes, including Breastfeeding Basics and CPR for Parents and Grandparents.

Let’s hear from you!
What ways have you found yourself ‘nesting’ to get ready for your baby?

“Cleaning your house while kids are still growing is like shoveling the walk while it’s still snowing.”   –Phyllis Diller

I lived in Moscow, Russia for a year. We had no hot water for two months while the city’s boilers were being cleaned. I walked to four different kiosks to buy bread, eggs, juice and fruit. Each one was a half-mile from any of the others. And, least of my concerns, there was no dishwasher in my kitchen. This all took place B.C. (Before Children)

Now, I know there are some heroic moms out there that still have no dishwasher, line dry their clothing and grind their own wheat for homemade bread. These women, in my opinion, are rock stars. I, however, am not. I like being able to put dirty things in a metal box, wait an hour, and have them come out clean and fresh. Call me pampered. Actually, call me tired. Dirty dishes and cups procreate faster than rabbits in my house.

This week, our dishwasher died. It’s no wonder; the nice man who delivered the new one said, “Lady, I’ve never even SEEN a model this old!” I was hoping he wasn’t talking about my pregnant body. Turns out, our dishwasher was almost as old as I am. No wonder the ol’ gal gave up the ghost. After washing the millionth juice cup and cereal bowl, I’d call it a day as well.

But, worse than having a dead dishwasher, was the task of purchasing a NEW one. I first made the grave mistake of suggesting we go shopping for one as a family. Two of my kids were using the aisles as a ‘Heely’ skate park, my daughter kept asking me how to pronounce words in her My Little Pony book and my other son needed to go to the bathroom. Needless to say, the outing lasted exactly seven minutes when my husband asked, “Whose crazy idea was this anyway?”

So, the next trip, I went solo (after losing ‘Rock, Paper, Scissors’ to my husband). My next mistake was asking the nice salesperson to explain the various features of the 382,000 display models in front of me. We are apparently a country that really, really likes to wash dishes!

Here’s what I needed:
A dishwasher.
One that cleans dishes.
And lasts a long, long time without ever breaking.
And costs less than an automobile.

Apparently, this is a tall order.

But, I did find one. It doesn’t steam, sauna or give a mani/pedi to the fine china, but it does the job of swishing hot water and soap around so that I don’t have to. Called Travis to check on the purchase and he said, “Yes. Wonderful. Get it. Now come home; the kids are going nuts.”

Handy husband that he is, he removed the old washer and installed the new one. Works like a charm. Now I’m praying that the 40-year-old washing machine and refrigerator like their job security well enough to forego retirement for several more years.

What’s happening to baby this week?
*Baby now weighs approximately four pounds.
*The baby has predictable wake/sleep cycles now. This is guaranteed to change once baby is born.
*YOUR wake/sleep cycles may be anything but predictable. Sleeping may be difficult and uncomfortable and you may have to use the bathroom many times during the night.

What’s happening with ME this week?
*Even though I’ve had four babies, I’m having crazy, disturbing dreams about the health and safety of this baby (very normal I’m told).
*Naps are my friend.
*I’m getting weary of taking my prenatals…but I’m taking them nonetheless.

You won’t sacrifice any luxuries during your Community hospital stay. Click here to view pictures and learn more about our maternity suites.

Let’s hear from you!
What is your ‘luxury item’ you couldn’t live without during pregnancy?

“All journeys have secret destinations of which the traveler is unaware.”   –Martin Buber

Traveling while pregnant can be quite the undertaking. Not nearly as difficult as traveling with a baby, or, say, with four screaming kids in the back seat for that matter, but pregnant travel does pose its challenges.

There’s the lack of comfort: Where to put your swollen feet up? How to ride so that the seatbelt is securely under your belly but not making an incision across your midsection? Where’s the next rest stop? How much longer?

And there’s the food issue: Are you hungry? I’m hungry! What do you mean we just ate 45 minutes ago? I’m starving! No, I don’t want a piece of gum…I want a whole rotisserie chicken and a milkshake! Isn’t there a Cracker Barrel somewhere near here?

In a way, a physical journey mimics the nine-month journey. There are sudden weather delays, last minute changes, the possible flat tire or mechanical trouble, and routine stops for food and fuel. Some peoples’ travels are smooth and uneventful, while others encounter freak storms, colossal rerouting and completely different itineraries than they anticipated.

But, unlike the common phrase, “It’s all about the journey…,” the real goal during pregnancy is the destination: a healthy, beautiful new life at the end of the trip.

Which, of course, is truly only just the beginning of the real journey…

What’s happening to baby this week? 
*Baby now weighs approximately three-and-a-half pounds.
*Making room: Because the baby is growing so fast, your body has reduced the amount of amniotic fluid; half of what it was a month ago.
*Baby’s lungs are maturing rapidly as well; baby is rehearsing at intervals by breathing in amniotic fluid and expelling it.

What’s happening with ME this week?
*I have learned to pack lots and lots of good snacks when traveling: inevitably I will need to eat four small meals for every one meal needed by my traveling companions.
*I take advantage of every rest stop opportunity while traveling. And stay hydrated in between stops.
*Okay…I confess…this week I’ve been pretty crabby. Traveling has worn me out.

Ready for your baby’s first trip? Visit our car seat safety page to get started.

Let’s hear from you!
What are your best ‘traveling while pregnant’ tips?

“Because they’ve either conveniently forgotten with time or they’re trying to be supportive, most mothers won’t tell you how hard pregnancy (and then childbirth) can be. Let me tell you, it is. It’s brutal sometimes! But, if I did it, ANYONE can do it. I mean, I always knew I was meant to do something really BIG in life, and now I know that this was it. Forget winning an Academy Award someday … I GAVE BIRTH.”   –Jenny McCarthy (comedian/actress)

What is it with women who have a ‘high pain threshold’? Are they superheroes? My mother-in-law delivered my husband with no pain medication (and not the slightest inconvenience of a ‘real’ contraction) in one push. She’s amazing.

I, on the other hand, get a splinter on my finger and am begging for an epidural for my arm.

NOT the best candidate to have gestational diabetes; or to simply suffer the general aches and pains of pregnancy, for that matter.

But, alas, I was diagnosed with G.D. To be sure, I have it MUCH better than many other moms who have to take insulin shots, or are confined to bed rest, or a myriad of other health constraints during pregnancy. I have to stick myself with a pin several times a day (which my children think is “really cool”!), and, I have to be careful what I eat. Balance my proteins and carbohydrates and cut back on sugars. I think the eating part is more difficult than the ‘poking with a pin’ part. I LIKE sugar. I mean… really, really enjoy it, thank you very much. Never tempted by Doritos, but bring a plate of homemade chocolate chip cookies to my door and I’m your best friend for life!

My husband keeps reminding me that I’m doing this for our child. Which really, for every pregnant woman, is the mantra for the rest of her life: Doing things for her child. Giving up sleep, rocking them when they have a fever, helping them with school projects, being the last to eat your (now room temperature) dinner, etc. But, for some strange reason, they are sacrifices that we willingly do out of devotion for our child.

I’ve always thought the tag-line of the Peace Corps would be perfect for The National Association of Mothers: “The Toughest Job You’ll Ever Love.”

So, I’ll gladly give up the Toll House. And, if you come over for a visit, I’d be grateful for a nice handful of almonds and some string cheese instead.

What’s happening to baby this week? 
*Baby now weighs three pounds and is 17” long (two-thirds its birth length).
*Baby blues: Baby’s eyelids are able to open now and the eyelashes and eyebrows have developed. Most newborns (especially of parents with fair skin) are born with slate blue eyes, but the true color begins to come through in the first several weeks after birth.
*Baby’s level of infection fighting antibodies now is equivalent to mom’s.

What’s happening with ME this week?
*Learned a great deal from the Diabetes Care Center; they were very kind and supportive.
*Protein is my friend. Protein is my friend. Protein is my friend.
*Pricking my finger is not as bad as I thought; I actually barely feel it anymore. Now, my varicose veins on the other hand….

Let’s hear from you!
What is the biggest lifestyle change you have made since becoming pregnant?

“Pregnancy seems like a tremendous abdication of control. Something growing inside you which will eventually usurp your life.”   –Erica Jong

I have this memory: I’m four years old, riding in the backseat after church, sobbing. I am limp and shaking from hunger and I am crying from the lack of food (the Cheerios snack during Sunday school just didn’t cut it). My mom has since said, “I don’t know why I never thought to bring crackers in the car for you!”

As an adult, I now have crackers in my car. At all times. And granola bars, nuts, raisins and the occasional protein shake. I’ve always had a blood sugar problem. If I eat every, oh, hour on the hour, then I’m fine. If not, I do “the Whitman stare” as my husband refers to it. Even as I type this, I am eating a bowl of oatmeal with sliced strawberries. It’s 10:23 at night. And I just might have some toast before bed.

Each pregnancy, I take the dreaded “glucola” test. Basically, you drink a ridiculously (maliciously?) sweet 10-ounce beverage (the equivalent of 30 Campfire Marshmallows), and then have your blood drawn an hour later to see if your sugar levels are still too elevated. I always fail the one-hour screening. Seems like an odd test to me. Perhaps I’m just bitter and jealous of the women who actually pass. Perhaps I’m just grumpy because none of the other women in my family have struggled with blood sugar levels. Perhaps I just need a (less sugary) snack.

I’ve always thought that a simpler, and, (in my feeble mind), just as accurate test, would be to invite a few friends out to Cracker Barrel for breakfast, feast on pancakes, maple syrup and orange juice, and THEN get your blood drawn. SO much more fun than drinking warm Hawaiian Punch concentrate in the waiting room!

But alas, doctor knows best. So, this week I took the test. In talking with other pregnant women, this test is a pretty paltry inconvenience compared to some of the scary things they face: bed rest, early labor, placenta previa, and other challenges that make my husband beg me to avoid the Internet because of my penchant toward unfounded fears and worrying.

Having gestational diabetes is one of those fears. I immediately picture myself with lancets and insulin pumps and a 23 lb. baby upon delivery. Until those fears are confirmed, I will continue to follow the advice of my family and friends: “Eat healthy, well balanced meals as often as you need to.”

So, some people sleep like a baby; I apparently eat like one.

What’s happening to baby this week?
*Baby now weighs two-and-three-quarters pounds.
*Swimming anyone? Baby’s hearing is now quite developed…similar to the sounds you hear when someone talks to you while you are underwater.
*Baby is able to distinguish voices; speaking of underwater, my husband has now taken to ‘talking’ to our baby…but he doesn’t use his regular voice. He sounds more like the mating call of a large whale. So, when the baby is born, she won’t necessarily recognize Daddy’s voice, but she’ll bond well with Shamu.

What’s happening with ME this week?
*I’ve dreaded this glucose test; just thinking about drinking the juice makes me a bit nauseated.
*I’ve developed a pain in my left groin that makes me limp around like Igor. I’m told it’s a varicose vein in my ‘feminine area.’ Lovely.
*I am on the quest to find a car seat and stroller. Again, the Internet is a dangerous place for me: Too many options, too much information, not enough cash flow. In my opinion, a stroller should not cost more than our vehicle; some of them do.

Let’s hear from you!
What is the most challenging aspect of pregnancy for you?