Our due date (last Friday, January 23) came and went uneventfully, as did the weekend. I had a big surge of energy last night, and made cookies to bring into my office this morning (hoping all the while, of course, that the energy surge meant labor was imminent and I wouldn't be going to work today!)
I've been having painless contractions several times an hour since last night, so I've been on alert all day. They're just Braxton-Hicks, I suppose, but their frequency made me worry a bit so I called the doctor's office earlier today. The nurse just told me to time them like "normal" contractions and come in if they got to the intervals at which one would go to Labor and Delivery ordinarily. So, I'm stuck timing contractions that otherwise cause me no discomfort--I wish the signs were clearer!
Our hopes are high that the contractions will become "real," and that I'll go into labor tonight. There's an ice storm set to hit our area in the middle of the night, so that complicates things further. The plan is to induce on Thursday if she is not here before then, so either way, we'll be parents by Friday!
Monday, January 26, 2009
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Update and Vote!
We had our weekly doctor appointment today, and unlike our last three appointments, I (Jessica) did not leave the office feeling depressed! Yay! That is because, while I am still only a centimeter dilated (a "good" centimeter now, though, not a "maybe a" centimeter) I am also 60% effaced! Hooray! For those of you not currently or recently steeped in pregnancy/childbirth lingo, that means my cervix is softening and has thinned out to 40% of its original thickness. Awesome.
Our doctor suggested we take a walk around the mall (since it's a bit cold out now), so we went there after our appointment and did a couple laps. Hopefully, that will help things get moving even more. Our doctor is the one on call all this weekend, so Friday, Saturday, or Sunday would be terrific! We went ahead and scheduled our 40 1/2 week appointment for next Wednesday, though, just in case. If we get to that point, we'll likely be inducing soon after, she said, since she'd prefer not to let us get beyond the 41 week mark. Induction wouldn't be ideal, since it can make labor extra-difficult and lead to the "cascade of interventions" that end in C-section, but nonetheless, we're very excited to know that in a little over a week--at most--we'll have our little Kate out and in our arms!
Our doctor suggested we take a walk around the mall (since it's a bit cold out now), so we went there after our appointment and did a couple laps. Hopefully, that will help things get moving even more. Our doctor is the one on call all this weekend, so Friday, Saturday, or Sunday would be terrific! We went ahead and scheduled our 40 1/2 week appointment for next Wednesday, though, just in case. If we get to that point, we'll likely be inducing soon after, she said, since she'd prefer not to let us get beyond the 41 week mark. Induction wouldn't be ideal, since it can make labor extra-difficult and lead to the "cascade of interventions" that end in C-section, but nonetheless, we're very excited to know that in a little over a week--at most--we'll have our little Kate out and in our arms!
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
I-Day Come and Gone
True, there are still a few hours left in the day, so it's possible I could still be able to tell our little girl, "I went into labor with you the day Barack Obama was inaugurated," but the likelihood of today being her birthday is now pretty much nil. Ever since we found out our due date back in June, we thought it would be totally awesome if she was born on Inauguration Day. I started having some really strong cramps as all the dignitaries were filing in (my workplace projected the Inauguration on the big screen) and I really thought contractions would follow, but alas, the cramps went away, and I've only continued to have the painless "practice" contractions I've had for weeks. Oh well.
It's not really a big deal, of course. Her birthday--whenever it arrives--will be a far bigger deal to us even than this historic, momentous event in our nation's history. I'm getting REALLY antsy to have her, though, and passing this day just compounds the frustration and longing. I imagine I'll feel this even moreso on Friday, our due date!
Because I was so convinced she'd be early (and just because I'm so into planning and organizing), I find I have very little left to do at home or at work, so it's hard to focus on anything except her pending arrival. I'm trying to trick myself into not worrying about it anymore by telling myself "okay, she's going to be late. Don't even expect her to get here before next week." I highly doubt my little trick will work, though.
We have our 39 1/2 week appointment tomorrow, so we'll see what the doctor says!
It's not really a big deal, of course. Her birthday--whenever it arrives--will be a far bigger deal to us even than this historic, momentous event in our nation's history. I'm getting REALLY antsy to have her, though, and passing this day just compounds the frustration and longing. I imagine I'll feel this even moreso on Friday, our due date!
Because I was so convinced she'd be early (and just because I'm so into planning and organizing), I find I have very little left to do at home or at work, so it's hard to focus on anything except her pending arrival. I'm trying to trick myself into not worrying about it anymore by telling myself "okay, she's going to be late. Don't even expect her to get here before next week." I highly doubt my little trick will work, though.
We have our 39 1/2 week appointment tomorrow, so we'll see what the doctor says!
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Counting the Days
It's ten days til my due date, and I am getting really restless. I am physically pretty comfortable, but emotionally just eager to have Kate out and about, to see her and meet her and start this parenting adventure. Plus, I've made such careful (i.e. obsessive and neurotic) plans at work to ensure no work is delayed or lost due to my absence, that it's starting to feel awkward showing up every day, after all my talk about how it could be "any time." (It really could be any time, but not knowing when that time is is quite unsettling to a planner like me, and itmakes me feel like I'm crying wolf.)
We had our weekly doctor appointment today, and she said my cervix is softening some, but it sounded like she was being generous with her estimate of one centimeter dilated. After a weekend full of irregular, painless contractions and other phase-1 symptoms, I really thought we would have made some more progress. Asked for her estimate of when I would go into labor, our doctor said, "Not this week," but even she admitted right after that that I could make a lot of progress overnight and suddenly be in labor. So, I shouldn't be too disappointed or concerned.
Hard as it is, I've got to enjoy these last days of DINK-dom (double income, no kids), and of this special time that is pregnancy. It really is magical, feeling her squirm inside me as I rock in the chair in which I'll spend so many hours feeling her (yes, it arrived yesterday, so now the nursery is totally complete). I love this little girl so much. I can't wait to hold her in my arms, but as Matt reminded me today, I'll never be able to hold her as close as I am right now.
We had our weekly doctor appointment today, and she said my cervix is softening some, but it sounded like she was being generous with her estimate of one centimeter dilated. After a weekend full of irregular, painless contractions and other phase-1 symptoms, I really thought we would have made some more progress. Asked for her estimate of when I would go into labor, our doctor said, "Not this week," but even she admitted right after that that I could make a lot of progress overnight and suddenly be in labor. So, I shouldn't be too disappointed or concerned.
Hard as it is, I've got to enjoy these last days of DINK-dom (double income, no kids), and of this special time that is pregnancy. It really is magical, feeling her squirm inside me as I rock in the chair in which I'll spend so many hours feeling her (yes, it arrived yesterday, so now the nursery is totally complete). I love this little girl so much. I can't wait to hold her in my arms, but as Matt reminded me today, I'll never be able to hold her as close as I am right now.
Christians and War
I took the Belief-O-Matic quiz on Beliefnet.com last week. It had been several years since I last took it, and I was curious to see if my "true religion" had changed recently. Sure enough, it still had me as 100% Orthodox Quaker (followed by moderate-to-liberal Protestant and moderate-to-conservative Protestant in the mid-90% range). The quiz's perception of my ideal tradition is mainly based, it seems, on my answers to the last two questions of the quiz, which deal with abortion and war. I rank both matters "high" in importance, and respond to both questions in the strictest pro-life manner possible, rejecting the taking of human life in any circumstance, be it before birth or in response to international conflict. It's hard to find Protestants who agree with me on both those issues, but I (like orthodox Quakers and many Catholics) feel that is the view Jesus would espouse.
In all my pre-baby reoganizing and decluttering, I found a clipping with a quote I love from Will Willimon, who is currently bishop of the North Alabama conference of the UMC. The quote is from a Palm Sunday sermon he delivered as dean of Duke University Chapel sometime between 2001 and 2005, I would guess. I could offer my own commentary, but it would probably be rambling and ineloquent. So, I'll let Will's statement speak for itself. Suffice it to say, I think he's dead on.
In all my pre-baby reoganizing and decluttering, I found a clipping with a quote I love from Will Willimon, who is currently bishop of the North Alabama conference of the UMC. The quote is from a Palm Sunday sermon he delivered as dean of Duke University Chapel sometime between 2001 and 2005, I would guess. I could offer my own commentary, but it would probably be rambling and ineloquent. So, I'll let Will's statement speak for itself. Suffice it to say, I think he's dead on.
"During the last presidential election, there was debate about Senator Lieberman. 'He's a devout Jew,' some said. 'He keeps kosher. If we have a national crisis and need to go to war on a Saturday, could we count on Lieberman?' Nobody said, 'George Bush is a Methodist, Al Gore is a Baptist, don't these Christians have some funny ideas about violence? Can we count on them to kick butt when we need it?'
"Nobody asked because, well, when it comes to such issues, you can't tell the worshipers of Caesar from the devotees of Jesus."
Saturday, January 10, 2009
The Nursery, Unveiled
I've been waiting til the nursery was "all done" before sharing pics, but we've finally got it all ready with the exception of the chair, which should be delivered any day now.
All four of the grandparents-to-be participated in the preparation of Kate's room, which makes it extra-special. The grandmothers painted, Matt's dad (and Matt) put together the crib and moved the dresser in. My dad did repairs like sanding down the closet door so it would open and close without immense effort. I painted the various decorative elements, like the name letters, bulletin board, picture frames, and the safari-scene canvas. Matt has moved furniture, assembled the stroller, swing, etc., and always having the level, hammer, and drill handy. It's been a family effort as we all await Kate's arrival (any day now!)
And finally, the wide view, from the door. The chair will go just to the left of the window.
All four of the grandparents-to-be participated in the preparation of Kate's room, which makes it extra-special. The grandmothers painted, Matt's dad (and Matt) put together the crib and moved the dresser in. My dad did repairs like sanding down the closet door so it would open and close without immense effort. I painted the various decorative elements, like the name letters, bulletin board, picture frames, and the safari-scene canvas. Matt has moved furniture, assembled the stroller, swing, etc., and always having the level, hammer, and drill handy. It's been a family effort as we all await Kate's arrival (any day now!)
And finally, the wide view, from the door. The chair will go just to the left of the window.
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