Labor Prediction by JustMommies.com

We'll see how accurate this is...

Get your bags packed early just in case you need them. Make sure your partner has a phone available when he's away because this baby just might come early. We predict your baby will come 2-3 weeks early. Your baby will most likely be born in the morning. JustMommies predicts that your baby will weigh approximately 6.5 pounds and that your labor will be about 12 hours long.

The Magic Number Day - 35 / 35!

So today marks 35 weeks down with 35 days to go!  35 DAYS!!!  Holy boogers, that went by really fast!  I can actually count the days now!

Let's take a quick measure... Still feeling pretty well.  Staying up an extra 2 hours helps me sleep better at night so I only wake up once.  My ankles are starting to swell a bit when my days are too long (and don't put them up much).  My restless legs kick in a bit earlier than they did before pregnancy.  My back only aches at random times, but the heating pad usually helps with that.  And my belly button is still off center - I hope it goes back to "normal" (whatever that is) after Nuggette gets here.  All in all, still can't complain.

The funny part is that I've started to bump into a few more things with the belly.  It's not like I forget that I'm pregnant.  I can feel the little movements from my little Nuggette most of the time.  I feel the aches from my hips when they start to catch, and my feet when they're a bit tired.  I can definitely feel the extra weight I'm carrying. 

I just forget how round I've gotten.  I'm starting to look like a basketball shoplifter.  I've run into a couple of door jams, Chad, our table a few times, Chad, the desk at work, Chad, and now I can no longer fit through our bathroom doorway with only one of the doors open.  Before you start calling me names that would surely get you hurt if we were face to face, the bathroom has a doorway slightly larger than a normal size standard door but has 2 small french doors instead of a single standard one.  For most of this pregnancy, I could turn sideways and fit though the door in the morning so the light wouldn't bother Chad while I'm getting ready for work.  Now I have to open both doors to make it through.  Fabulous.  Suddenly, I'm reminded of a horrid rhyme from when I was a kid... "Fatty, fatty, 2 x 4, can't fit through the bathroom door."

Well, I lost it once, I can do it again.  It just may take a little more time than the first time around.  Until then, I'm taking full advantage of my "condition" and enjoying my fresh baked chocolate chip cookies.  Mmmmmm, cookies.

It's Getting a Bit More Real Now…

We had our Labor and Delivery Tour of Northside Hospital last night.  That was an adventure in itself, then add in the bad weather on the way there and I think it’s safe to say I was a bit frazzled when we arrived.  (Don’t ask Chad, though.  I’m sure he would use different words to describe my mood / attitude.)

The directions to where we were supposed to meet were somewhat incorrect so we ended up at St. Joseph’s Hospital first.  Luckily we were a bit early and still managed to find the correct hospital.  Unfortunately, we parked on the fully opposite side of where we were supposed to be and had to wind our way through the main portion to find the Women’s Center on the other side.  While on our trek through the hospital to find out starting point for the tour, we did manage to find the cafeteria and McDonald’s.  Good for Chad to know while we’re sitting around waiting for the Big Show.

Once the tour actually started, they showed us the Baby Boutique and A Woman’s Place Boutique.  The Baby Boutique is pretty self explanatory.  A Woman’s Place is a small store that sells anything and everything a mom-to-be could want at the hospital but forgot to pack.  Let’s hope I remember the few things I really want.  (That reminds me, I need to start my list.)  There are vending machines, phones, restrooms, a small café, and a newspaper stand also in the same area.  The tour guide mentioned that some people like to buy a news paper on the day their child was born as a keepsake of the day.  That makes me wonder how much stuff will I start hoarding and how much I will actually look back on.

The second part of the tour directed us to the driveway that Chad will be speeding down to let me out at the doors as well as the entrance a little farther down for family and friends when they arrive.  I promise I’ll give better directions than the hospital’s website.  (When leaving after the tour, we drove around to the entrance to make sure we know how to get to both driveways.)

The “meat” of the tour came next.  We were shown the VERY large and comfy Labor and Delivery room.  All lights can be dimmed if Mom wants that during labor.  There is a glider to use during labor, very comfy.  The bed adjusts in 1800 ways, good to know.  There is a TV and DVD player in every room for distractions.  Some of the rooms have  There is a full shower in the attached bathroom, and includes a bathtub.  (I peeked into the bathroom to see what it looked like before we moved on.  Not sure who they expect to fit in the “full sized tub” to help relax during labor.  I would consider it more of a half sized tub.  Looks like I’ll only be showering if I want hydrotherapy to relax.)  There is no hospital limit to the number of people that can stop by and visit during my time in this room.  There will definitely be a Me limit on the number of people in the room, especially as labor progresses.  I prefer to not relive The Exorcist with a large crowd.

The Recovery room wasn’t quite as large, but it was private.  There was a bench for Dad, but I’m not sure it work for anything other than sitting on.  Hopefully, we’ll be allowed to bring one of our blue camping lounge chairs.  The recommend Baby rooming in with Mom while there.   They only take Baby to the nursery for the initial “tests” or if requested by the parents.  I’m told I should take advantage of this the first night as I won’t get anymore sleep.  But as a first time mommy, I’m not sure I want Nuggette to sleep anywhere but in my room.  I know I’ll be exhausted, but I also know I’ll have a lot of adrenaline for a while.  Just another aspect I’ll have to play by ear.

One good thing that we found on both the L&D floor and the Recovery floor were the “Pantries.”  Small kitchenettes where we can store snacks for Dad or popsicles for Mom.  Chad and I have an agreement that he’s not allowed to eat anything that I can smell when I’m not allowed to eat.  :o)  That just might make me cranky.

The last stop on the tour was the nursery.  There was one Itty Bitty being tested and measured.  That made it all sink in a bit more.  In about 7 weeks, our little Nuggette will be the little pink Itty Bitty on that scale.

A little scary and way exciting at the same time.  Always an adventure.