Only 4 More Visits To Go!

Today I had my 34-week drs appointment. I am "rotating through the practice" and today met the second of the 3 doctors (outside of my own). So far I have liked both of the the other doctors I met and it makes me even more comfortable with the group I chose. I would be completely comfortable if any of the doctors showed up during labor & delivery!

As usual, the appointment was quick. I was in and out in just a few minutes and everything looks good with both me and the baby. Starting with my next appointment they actually start looking for signs of labor. In two weeks I meet the last person in the practice and then I go back to my original doctor and begin weekly appointments. I have only 4 more appointments scheduled! That makes the arrival of Baby Schneider seem pretty close :) There is a possibility that I might have a 5th appointment, but thats only if things are not progressing. I am counting on NOT having that 5th appointment.

To reward myself for such a good appointment I treated myself to some McDonalds. Both the baby and I really deserved it. Now we are both happy and I think we should take a nap.

34 Weeks

Another week, another 1+ lbs :( I still havent regained my appetite and cant figure out where the weight is going. Though I obviously want a healthy baby, if its the baby itself putting on this weight we are going to have a 10lb baby at the end of 6 more weeks! Either the baby or me - one of us is going to be chubby :) The Baby @ 34 Weeks
Height: 17.72 inches
Weight: 4.73 pounds
According to What To Expext, Baby Schneider could be as tall as 20 inches right now and about five pounds. (Picture a five-pound bag of flour in weight, and three bags on top of one another for height!). Baby's fingernails now reach the end of the fingertips and may even curl over the tip ... so I better schedule us that manicure!

Me @ 34 Weeks
This week BabyZone talks about hospital prep, and lists a few things to do in order to get ready:

• Take a practice run
• Fill in your paperwork before delivery day
• Check the hospital's costs for incidental expenses
• Choose a pediatrician for your baby

Luckily we have completed all of these things ... that must mean we are ready, huh?

BabyCenter mentions that fatigue might have come back, but none of the other sites mention this. I am glad to see it somewhere because I am definitely feeling it. Its different than the first trimester when I couldnt stay awake, go up/down stairs, etc ... but its definitely there. I have about 2 good hours to run errands and/or get some chores done and I am physically wiped out. I also wake up tired and pretty much stay tired all day. Before I did have "normal" days where I didnt feel so tired all the time!

Hospital Tour & Info

The class on Sunday was supposed to run from 8:30 - 5:30, but we got out at about 3:15. That was a great ending to an information filled day! I couldnt imagine it going much longer unless people in the class had a lot of questions - the instructor gave us a lot of information and was very knowledgeable and I think Jeff and I walked out of there feeling a lot more confident about what is going to happen when Baby Schneider decides to make his/her grand entrance.

The entire class was really focused on the hospital itself, and how the stages of labor & delivery take place in this particular facility. If you werent having your baby at that hospital, I think a lot of the information would not have been useful. They talked to us about when we should arrive and how we arrive (things like parking & check-in). We were also told in a lot of detail exactly what happens when you get there. First you are checked out in "triage", which takes about 1 hour. If you are admitted they bring you up to L & D and after you have your baby (and go through a 2-hour recovery time) you are brought to the room in which you will spend the next two days or so. We got to walk around the floors of the hospital, see the paths we will take, and view each of the rooms.

The instructor also talked about a lot of the services the hospital offered, gave us information on pain-management choices, and told us how we can order food after delivery using the flat-screen television! Overall it was nice to have that information. The whole process still seems really scary, but having do a walk-through makes things seem a little more transparent and hopefully will keep Jeff and I from panicking on the day we have to go there for the real deal :)

Great Expectations

This weekend we have our first baby class at the hospital. This one is called "Great Expectations" and is basically an all-in-one labor & delivery class. Over an 8 hour period (9 hours if you include the fact we get a 1 hr lunch) we will cover the following topics: the "best of" the Lamaze & Bradley methods, Yoga and stress reduction techniques, current information about anesthesia options; cesarean birth; common labor and delivery interventions; and post-partum care. We will also be taking a tour of Prentice, the hospital where we plan to deliver. I'm not too sure what to expect from the class as a whole, but am glad we are finally getting a tour of the hospital. Though it might heighten our anxiety with the realization that our due date approaches, I think the familiarity with the hospital will also help us become more comfortable with what to expect in the weeks to come!

In addition to that class all day Sunday, we need to hit Babies R Us again. I have another coupon that starts today and expires on the 28th, and since we still need more stuff its likely we will make the trip this weekend. Luckily, Babies R Us is located by some restaurants we like so we can make it into a bit of a date night by combining the shopping with some dinner :)

Does This Look Like A Baby's Room?

Does This Look Like A Baby's Room?
Originally uploaded by dawnrschneider

Not yet ... But with one piece of furniture at least we are finally moving in that direction. And I sat and read a book in the new glider today, just to make sure it works. Considering I finished the whole book I think it passed the test.Not yet ... But with one piece of furniture at least we are finally moving in that direction. And I sat and read a book in the new glider today, just to make sure it works. Considering I finished the whole book I think it passed the test.

33 Weeks

Well, I am back on the weight-gain-train ... packing on 2lbs in the past 7 days! I should have known my body would get even with me. The Baby @ 33 Weeks
Height:17.20 inches
Weight: 4.23 pounds
In the past week, Baby Schneider's senses continued to develop. BabyZone says the baby can not only hear my voice, but also my stomach growling, my lungs taking in air, and the vibrations of my heart beating.

What to Expect, mentions that Baby Schneider is still growing...and might have grown a full inch more this week alone (especially if he or she was been on the shorter side) and between now and week 40 could gain from a third more to a full doubling of weight.

Me @ 33 Weeks
Back on the sleep talk, BabyZone talks about how hard it is to find a comfortable sleeping position. According to What to Expect, "Third-trimester insomnia strikes more than 75 percent of expectant moms — very tired expectant moms." They list a variety of reasons for this insomnia. In addition to the inability to find a comfortable position, expecting mothers also battle hormonal changes, midnight treks to the bathroom, leg cramps, heartburn and anxiety. No DUH! I spend my nights moving from position-to-position & room-to-room. On a normal night I start off in my own bed, and over the next 6-8 hours attempt to sleep on the couch (often both couch options) and one of the guest bedrooms. Though I am used to sleepless nights, I do have to admit that this is ridiculous.

Other Info
BabyZone talks more about going into labor - and how I should make sure Jeff and I have the necessary phone numbers in both of our cell phones. While I wrote out a list of numbers Jeff needs to have, he still hasn't put them into his phone. Maybe seeing these websites talking about it will make him realize that the pressure is on :)

Sheets ... For If We Someday Get A Crib

Today was my last day of "crunchy yoga". I can honestly say I am not sad to wrap that thing up. There are worse things I could have been doing, but for each one of those hours I spent over that 9 week session I have a huge list of things I would have rather been doing. With the trouble I had last night I can think of one right off the top of my head: sleeping.

Anyway, I no longer have to complain about that class because its over - so hopefully these are the last words I type about it.

Today was the shopping trip with my mom (the future Grandma Stanula). We hit a few stores and grabbed lunch, picking up quite a few things. I had a coupon for Babies R Us and went there intentionally to buy a Graco Playard. Mission accomplished, I bought the one below!
Grandma Stanula bought her future grandchild some things too. Some of them are boring and practical, but necessities. For instance, we got sheets for the crib that I hope to someday receive. But we did get some things that are a little bit more fun.

Two HALO Sleepsacks
According to the site "the HALO® SleepSack™ wearable blanket eliminates the need for loose blankets and is the #1 choice of parents and leading experts for keeping your baby safe and warm all night long".










A set of hats by Gerber to keep that tiny head warm (though in my family, heads tend to run a big large)











And some clothes by Carter!

Furniture Update? Sort Of!

Ok, so 1 piece of good news. The rocker we ordered will be delivered on Thursday. Although they told me 8-10 weeks it only took 5! So now we have a cradle and a rocker.

I talked to the furniture store and they are saying they expect the furniture to be in their warehouse the 2nd week of September. But the guy clearly said "That is my estimate". I am not going to hold my breath on that one. After all of the waiting, if it comes before Baby Schneider is walking I will be happy.

Tomorrow I am heading to the suburbs to do a bit of shopping at Babies R Us. I have a 20% off coupon to use on one of the more expensive items and then will pick up some more of the "necessities". Slowly we move along towards getting ready. Maybe I should reconsider the Baby Planner idea, its not too late :)

Dr Visit, Still No Furniture, Humor Needed

Yesterday I had my "32 week checkup". For my next three appointments (including yesterdays) I am rotating between the 3 other doctors in the practice. Its common to do this so you get a small amount of face time with other partners ... in case one of them is the one to show up at the hospital. Of course my doctor is the person who is supposed to show up - but just like any other human she cant guarantee she will be there at some undisclosed time and date in the future :)

The doctor I had was nice, and I felt a bit bad because I pelted her with some questions. Anyway, all is good with both me & Baby Schneider. Both of us have good sounding hearts, my weight gain is fine/normal and growth is fine, etc. The doctor wasnt concerned with any of the little things I have been experiencing, but did seem to think that the possibility of me fainting during delivery could be an issue. There isnt a whole lot I can do about it, but she just suggested that I make sure everyone at the hospital is aware of the possibility. She also suggested that I expose myself to more information/images/etc over the next few weeks so that I am less likely to see or experience anything that will shock me. We will see how that goes!

Furniture Update
Actually, there isnt one. I called yesterday and they told me it wasnt in stock yet, and that the guy who could check the eta for me was out until Monday. Its technically not due for 4-5 more weeks still (according to my last conversation with them) but I want to make sure that this is still the expected delivery date. Basically, I am nowhere with the nursery. Thank goodness we have a cradle ready to go - at this rate Baby Schneider will be sleeping in it until he/she goes to kindergarden.

Humor Needed
As this pregnancy just drags on and I seem to be in some sort of time standstill, I find having a sense of humor becomes increasingly important. Sarah Jo obviously agrees because she recently gave me some "pregnancy tips". For example, I mentioned that this past week I was supposed to start thinking about packing for the hospital. There are tons of lists online for what is needed - both for me, for Jeff, and for Baby Schneider. There are obviously some do's and dont's as well. Here is one:

32 Weeks

In the end I put a little bit of weight back on (after some loss) and ended up gaining about 1.5 lbs this month. I feel less worried now and assume I just hit some sort of plateau ... I mean, how much weight can a person gain in just a few months anyway?? Its been a busy week trying to get stuff wrapped up around the house, and I promise to dedicate next week to "baby stuff". I am calling the furniture store today or tomorrow to see if my stuff is ever coming in, and have a shopping trip planned with my mom for early next week to pick up some more essentials. In the meantime I will stick to my yoga, books, and the occasional made-for-tv-movie ;) Me @ 32 Weeks
ePregnancy talks about packing a bag for the hospital this week. I'm not ready to do that, that would be like admitting its just around the corner! I'm going to stall and wait until we do our hospital tour (next weekend) until I actually start thinking about the fact that this whole process ends up with a hospital stay ... for now lets just ignore that part of the whole scenario.

The Baby @ 32 Weeks
Height: 16 3/4 inches - 19 inches
Weight: 3 3/4 lbs
BabyZone says that Baby Schneider should be in a head-down position this week, and that 96% of all babies present head first by the time labor begins. Since I have a dr appt tomorrow, I am thinking this is one of the things we will check out / discuss?

What To Expect mentions that Baby Schneider is sleeping more (with sleep cycles of 20 to 40 minutes long), and that this means I may be noticing a decrease in movement.

Pain In The Butt (Literally)

So I have a new item to add to my list of complaints: tailbone pain. Basically, it hurts to sit :) (And when I stand my lower back hurts, so there is no winning here!) It appears this is another pretty common thing, with not a whole lot to do to avoid it. But I can add it to my (growing) list of questions for the doctor later this week!

Note To Grandparents
It's true that the "rules" of childrearing often change. What Jeff and I are often being told to do is different than what our parents were told, which is different from what their parents were told. For example, it was just in 1991 that the Surgeon General advised women not to drink alcoholic beverages during pregnancy. So grandparents today might not think its a problem if future mommies have a drink (or two, or three?) now and then. And it was just in 1992 the American Academy of Pediatrics began officially recommending a back sleeping position for infants ... which means that most grandparents were told a baby should sleep on their stomachs. And while we are not allowed to take the baby home without a car seat, many grandparents brought home their babies while holding them in their arms.

So yeah, times have changed. It's obviously a learning curve for new parents, but it's often one for grandparents as well! But, I am pretty sure at no time was it acceptable/appropriate to drive with a kid on top of your car. It's amazing what some people will do, whether or not its out of stupidity or just some sort of absent-mindedness. So if for some reason Baby Schneider's future grandparents didnt know about this ... you cannot put Baby Schneider on top of your car and take him/her for a spin :)





       This is also not ok














Neither is this!

A Place To Ride & Sleep

It may seem obvious that Jeff and I have not done a whole lot to get ourselves ready for this baby :) And the few things that we have done (nursery furniture & rocker) are not due for a while, and in fact might not be the first to arrive.

My mom got us the car seat, so we can actually bring the baby home. We have yet to pull it out of the box, but thats on our to-do list...and in the next few weeks I will go get it installed. The car seat came with a full "travel system" (that stroller to the left) in which the seat snaps right into. So in addition to taking the baby home, we can actually take it out of the house again someday too.


Jeff's parents got us this beautiful cradle, so Baby Schneider actually does have a place to sleep when we come home.
Next week or so my mom and I are also planning a shopping trip, and at that point I will pick up some of the other things on our shopping list. Just wanted to make sure we didnt look like bad parents-to-be :) We are moving slowly, but I promise we are moving! And I am pretty sure that if Jeff and I forget to get something, our families will pick up the slack ... its the first baby on both sides so everyone is excited. (Sometimes we think they might even be more excited than we are!)

Get Your Calcium at Dairy Queen!

According to the BabyCenter, women need 1,000 mg of calcium a day and most women only get about 700 mg. This is before, after and during pregnancy. Calcium is just as important for all women, and the RDA (recommended daily allowance) doesnt change if you are pregnant. But, for pregnant women this calcium becomes imporant for the developing baby in growing strong bones and teeth, a healthy heart, nerves, and muscles, and in developing a normal heart rhythm and blood clotting abilities. Without enough calcium intake, the baby will leach it from your bones, which may impair your own health later on.

Good News! A medium Dairy Queen Blizzard had 45% of the RDA of calcium! And to top it off, today is Miracle Treat Day. That means while you are helping you and your baby get the calcium you both really need, you will also be benefiting your local Children's Miracle Network Hospital. So run (or waddle quickly) to your local Dairy Queen and get yourself some much-needed nutrition :)

Week 31

The past few weeks I have actually lost weight ... only about 2lbs, but its still quite the change from the past few months where I was guaranteed to see an increase everytime I stepped on a scale. I have a doctors appointment next week, so I will be sure to check and see that there is nothing wrong with the weight loss. I am assuming my lack of appetitite and nausea are conributing to it, but also the fact that I gained so much in such a short time (all of my weight in 3 months) its possible I am just leveling off. Anyway, another week has flown by and we have 9 (or so!) to go. I have seen some info lately that suggests that the average 1st pregnancy goes 8 days or so beyond the due date, which means I actually have 10 weeks to go ... but lets not think about that :( Me @ 31 Weeks
Babyzone says:
"Things are beginning to get tight in there, and heartburn and indigestion are common. Eat small meals more often and drink lots of water. You may have developed the pregnant "waddle"—that happens because pregnancy softens the ligaments in your pelvis, allowing your hips to spread to make room for the baby. Don't worry, you won't walk like a duck forever!"
First of all, I have been waddling for weeks. In fact, I think I generally waddle all the time :) Second of all, I also think I ran out of room a while ago. I have had a constant pain in my right side (from some poor squished organ begging for mercy) for about 8 weeks. Also, my appetite ran out weeks ago and I cant polish of huge plates of food like I used to. While I wish that was a permanant change to my life, I realize its only temporary and I will be back to pigging out in no-time. Unfortunately, I have also lost appreciation for food. Nothing really tastes good, I dont crave anything, want anything, etc. Even cupcakes do nothing for me. Now thats just plain sad :(.

I also have a lot of trouble breathing. BabyCenter says its from squished lungs, but my yoga instructor (the one I like) says its because my diaphragm is smashed. All I know is that something makes me unable to get in enough air. Not only does this make regular breathing a bit complicated, but makes any sort of exertion on my part seem to be like running a maration. Thus, I am determined to exert as little effort/energy as possible over the coming weeks :)

The Baby @ 31 Weeks
Height:16-16.5 inches
Weight:About 3 1/3 lbs
During the next several weeks your baby will really begin to put on the weight. According to the American Pregnancy Association the average size of a newborn is about 7 ½ pounds and 19 to 21 inches long.

BabyCenter says that Baby Schneider knows my voice voice. Also that his/her fingernails have grown and that the baby "may even need a manicure" after it's born. Good thing I love manicures. I'm gonna call NailBar and schedule us both a mani/pedi for sometime in October ;)

Interesting fact from What to Expect: "Some babies suck their thumbs so vigorously while in the womb that they're born with a callus on their thumb."

Baby's Emotional Development

Parents.com has an article that provide a Month-by-Month Guide to Baby's Emotional Development. (There is also a guide to developmental milestones, if you are interested) Of course these things are only guidelines, but I thought I was pretty interesting. Here is there month-by-month breakdown:

Month 1
Makes eye contact
Cries for help
Responds to parents' smiles and voices

Month 2
Begins to develop a social smile
Enjoys playing with other people and may cry when play stops
Prefers looking at people rather than objects
Studies faces
Gurgles and coos in response to sounds around her
First begins to express anger

Month 3
Starts a "conversation" by smiling at you and gurgling to get your attention
Smiles back when you smile at him. The big smile involves his whole body -- hands open wide, arms lift up, legs move
Can imitate some movements and facial expressions

Month 4
Is intrigued by children. Will turn toward children's voices in person or on TV
Laughs when tickled and when interacting with others
Cries if play is disrupted

Month 5
Becomes increasingly assertive
Can differentiate between family members (parents and siblings) and strangers
Likes to play during meals

Month 6
May quickly tire of a toy but will never tire of your attention
Temperament becomes increasingly apparent. You'll see whether she tends to be easygoing or easily upset; gentle or active
Recognizes his own name
Coos for pleasure and cries with displeasure
Can make noises like grunts and squeals; clicks his tongue

Month 7
Starts to understand the meaning of "no"
Enjoys social interaction
Expresses anger more strongly
Tries to mimic adult sounds

Month 8
Can differentiate between familiar and unfamiliar
May become shy or anxious with strangers
Cries in frustration when he can't reach a toy or do something he wants to do

Month 9
Imitates gestures that other people make
Looks at correct picture when an image is named
Smiles and kisses own image in the mirror
Likes to play near parent (i.e., in kitchen while Mom is cooking)
May be more sensitive to the presence of other children

Month 10
Separation anxiety may begin
Self-esteem begins to develop
Responds to positive recognition such as clapping
Becomes cautious of heights
Shows moods such as sad, happy, and angry

Month 11
Tries to gain approval and avoid disapproval
Can be uncooperative

Month 12
May have temper tantrums
Can fluctuate between being cooperative and uncooperative
Shows a developing sense of humor
May cling to parents or one parent in particular

Bad Baby Names

Jeff and I are still pondering names, and not knowing the gender makes it 2X as hard ... we need to find both a boy's and girl's name that we both like and agree upon. We actually are finding boy's names more difficult than girls, and either way havent settled on anything. It's a lot easier to find names we both don't like or that we would never use because they are "too old fashioned" or our child would "get made fun of" or simply because we find them "cruel" :) Unfortunately, there are others out there in the world that don't seem to think like we do, and name their children the oddest things. I have seen lots of these lately and thought I would share some.

• Talula Does the Hula From Hawaii

A 9-year-old New Zealand girl recently won a court battle to legally change her name from "Talula Does the Hula From Hawaii) after a family court judge found this name to a form of child abuse.

• Dow & Indiana Jones

Indiana and Dow Jones are siblings, 12 and 7 years old, respectively. Indiana got her name because her dad's family was from the state. But Dow was a different story. Apparently, Dow's dad named him on a dare while his mom was asleep in the hospital bed after giving birth.

In a recent book, actualy titled "Bad Baby Names", the authors discuss REAL names that were found on record by the US Census. Some examples?

• Fanny Pack
• Fanny Whiffer
• Post Office
• Al Caholic
• Garage Empty
• Hysteria Johnson
• Please Cope
• Lots of "Ima's": Ima Hogg,Ima Pigg,Ima Muskrat,Ima Nut,Ima Hooker
• Mary Christmas
• Happy Day


And lets not forget some of the crazy things celebrities name their kids!

• Kal-El Coppola: Nicholas Cage (Kal-El is Superman’s original birth name)
• Moxie CrimeFighter: Penn Jillette (also father to Zolten)
• Pilot Inspektor: Jason Lee and Beth Riesgraf
• Jermajesty: Jermaine Jackson and Alejandra Genevieve Oaziaza
• Fifi Trixibell: Bob Geldof and Paula Yates (also parents to Peaches and Pixie)

So whats the big deal? What's in a "bad name"? Well, studies show that children with odd names: get lower grades and are less popular than in elementary school, are more likely to flunk out or become “psychoneurotic” in college, have their resumes spurned by prospective employers and are overrepresented among emotionally disturbed children and psychiatric patients.

Does that mean I just eliminate Justin Timberlake Schneider from my top 10 boy's names? Nah...what kid wouldn't want to be named Justin Timberlake?

Hmmm... A Baby Planner?

With the combination of busy lifestyles and the plethora of products out there on the market, there appears to be an increasing demand for Baby Planners. These individuals help new parents decide what products they need, help select pediatricians and nannys and even will design the nursery. According to an article in the Chicago Tribune, one planner even admitted to helping choose a baby's name!

There is some controversy over the subject, the fact that parents are relying on this outside help and no longer seem to trust intuition, judgment, or their own parents input/advice and instead seek out books, the internet and now the "Baby Planner". I can see both sides of the equation. Though Jeff and I are older and "wiser", we still find this whole world of parenthood quite intimidating. Things our parents did are often no longer recommended, products we grew up on are no longer safe, and every day there is a new study that says we should (or shouldn't) use this or that product or method. It can be overwhelming and I have found myself spending a great deal of time doing research, buying books, checking the internet and talking to friends.

While I admit the fact that there are about 1,000 strollers/cribs/car-seats (you name it) to choose from can be a bit daunting, we do trust our judgment in the long-run. But, the help and information seems to be crucial when choosing products. We can find information on safety, usability, and practicality that is offered by a combination of parents and experts. Without that information we might end up with dangerous products, or things that may have negative developmental impacts on our child. But I am not counting on all of the external advice and information to tell me how to actually raise Baby Schneider ... thats where we have to count on the fact that our intuition and judgement is going to lead us in the right direction :) I dont need an expert or a book to tell me what to do. Everyone makes mistakes, and I am sure we will make plenty. Its the making of mistakes that eventually makes good parents ... and those "oops" events are often more important than the things we do right the first time.

But Maybe I Could Use...
A personal assistant? Though we don't seem to need someone to help us with our product selections, I could use someone to actually go do the shopping :) We have a list of stuff we need, and have picked out the type/brand/color of most things ... yet we fail to go get them. It's not the thinking, its the doing. If I could just have someone go do all this stuff for me (and perhaps also take care of the labor part of this pregnancy process) then life would be pretty sweet.

6 Things to Never Say to Your Pregnant Friend

Cute article on MSN listing the 6 Things to Never Say to Your Pregnant Friend. For some reason there are 10 items on the "6 Things" list, but oh well! What's on the list?

1)"So...was it planned?"
2)"Twins! IVF or natural?"
3)"30 weeks? You're still so small!"
4)"Speaking of pregnancy, did I ever tell you about my sister's 36-hour labor?
5)"Well, maybe next time it'll be a boy."
6)"Felt any kicks yet [said while placing hand on her belly]?"
7)"[Insert name]? Really? Hmm, that's an...interesting choice."
8)"That's a decaf latte, right?"
9)"Let me know when you're at week 15. I'm praying this one works out."
10)"Yeah, babies are cute and all, but just wait until puberty..."