Oh Baby!

“Too many good docs are getting out of the business. Too many OB-GYNs aren’t able to practice their love with women all across this country.”   –George W. Bush

Although good ol’ Mr. Bush uttered this infamous “foot in mouth” quote, it does indeed ring true. OB/GYNs are a pretty unique bunch. They voluntarily work each day with women (and their most modest womanly parts) who are weepy, euphoric, sleep deprived, incontinent, nauseated, chock full of worrisome questions AND they want their doctor to be part psychologist, part best friend, part omnipotent fortune teller. Tall order.

In his book Babyhood (which, I would highly recommend for hilarious nighttime reading aloud to your significant other), Paul Reiser says this:

“Women bond with their gynecologists. Men have none of this. You rarely hear men say, ‘I just love my proctologist.’ Or, ‘I really need a urologist I can talk to.’ For women, this relationship is very complex.

{During our appointment, my wife and I} went from serious adults who were discussing matters of medical importance with this trained professional to suddenly being just a goofy couple in a room, one of whom was virtually naked and had just been handled in the most personal of ways and the other of whom was standing there in a jacket.”

I met my new OB/GYN this week, Dr. Cathy Carr at Community North. I found her through Community’s ‘Find a Doctor’ Web link. She and her staff are just terrific. None of my obsessively hormonally based questions scared her off. She answered each of them with a smile, a nod and a reassuring answer to quell my fears. She did everything but offer me a large decaf chai latte. I definitely consider her ‘girlfriend’ material. Even without the latte.

What’s happening to baby this week? 
*In the last four weeks, baby’s weight has doubled; weight is about two-and-a-half pounds.
*At the end of this week, baby has a good chance of survival if born early.
*The lungs are producing surfactant, a detergent type of substance that prepares the lungs for that first deep breath.

What’s happening with ME this week?
*I’m completely hormonal; dancing with my kids in the kitchen one moment…sobbing in a heap on the couch the next. My poor husband is at a loss.
*I’ve been living on cereal and fruit; it’s the only thing that sounds good this week.
*I still wouldn’t trade the experience of pregnancy for the ability to fit into ‘skinny jeans.’ Okay, well, maybe if they were really, really cute jeans that made me look like I had the backside of movie star. But, I’d probably still opt for being round and pregnant.

Looking for a pediatrician? Use our Find a Doctor tool to get started!

Let’s hear from you!
What is most important to you in your relationship with your OB/GYN or family physician?

“Making a decision to have a child–it’s momentous. It is to decide forever to have your heart go walking around outside your body.”   –Elizabeth Stone

I wasn’t supposed to be a mom. I was going to be a famous news anchor. Or a fabulous Broadway performer. Never mind the fact that I can’t really sing. Or have an aversion to depressing, troublesome and disturbing news stories. I certainly wasn’t cut out to have children.

My sister Deb was going to be the mother. She loved babies. Adored them, in fact. I, on the other hand, babysat exactly twice. The first time I gagged my way through the sweet potato feeding. The second time, I turned to throw a dirty diaper in the pail and caught my 9-month-old charge seconds before she tumbled off the changing table. (Nobody told me that watching them meant you had to actually WATCH them!) Obviously, Broadway show tunes would be FAR easier!

I remember my grandmother telling me that when God wanted to bless someone in ancient times, he almost always granted them land, livestock and children. Lots and lots of children. At the time, I understood the value of a good herd of sheep, but kids? Not so much. They eat nasty sweet potatoes and launch themselves off of changing tables.

Apparently, I should have been born in first century Israel. I now have four children. And am due with my fifth. And consider myself one of the most blessed women I know. Go figure.

I’d like to invite you to join me for the ‘Home Stretch’ of my pregnancy, and share your baby story with me as well.

We’ll talk about the joys and fears of pregnancy and motherhood, discuss hints and tips for triumphantly moving through these incredible nine months, and, you’ll get to watch me get larger each week. Much larger. And, you’ll come with me into the delivery room for the main event! Thanks for joining me in this journey!

What’s happening to baby this week?
*This week marks the beginning of the third trimester.
*Baby now weighs around two pounds and is about 15 inches long.
*The eyes (which began forming during the fifth week of pregnancy), are able to blink open and respond to light through the womb.

What’s happening with ME this week?
*It’s official: I can no longer climb a flight of stairs without getting winded.
*My heartburn (which went dormant for a few weeks) has made its fabulous encore.
*I awaken each and every morning with a thrill in my heart when I feel this baby move inside me.

Have you scheduled your childbirth prep class yet? If not, click here to register.

Let’s hear from you!
What’s the craziest thing anyone has ever said to you while pregnant?