one month to go check-up/consultation

Both of our midwives and their apprentice were supposed to come over on Sunday afternoon for their one-month to go check-up/consultation home visit. Only our primary midwife made it, but that was fine. The head of the practice is due a week after me and likely won't be at our birth anyhow. I would like to see the apprentice at least once before the birth as we've only met once, at our first appointment. I need to let the midwives know that.

All was fine at the appointment. We have all our supplies in order (though we learned of a few more that our needed for the pool for the water birth). We did a test for strep B- apparently something a lot of women carry vaginally or rectally that can make a baby very sick. I REALLY hope the test is negative. Standard practice if it is positive is I.V. antibiotics during the birth. I am not interested in that- at all. My sister says that if it is positive she knows of natural things we can do to turn it around and that I should be able to feel very comfortable rejecting the antibiotics. My midwife is fine with me rejecting them; she just wants me to make an informed decision (at least the head of the practice feels this way and her partner seems even more laid back than she is).

My weight was up to 220. Wow. Highest I've EVER been... and I suspect that will keep going up. But my midwife thinks I'm still healthy and all is fine.

My fundus was measuring exactly 36- dead on for the 36th week.

My blood pressure was right around what it usually is. Healthy.

The baby's heart beat was hard to find at first, likely because of the way the baby is lying (still apparently head down and facing my back, very good baby... stay just like that!) but sliding around all the way to the side of my belly we could hear a nice loud heart beat. She never did say at what rate- or if she did, I don't recall.

I haven't dropped. The baby is still pretty high. This is FINE with me. I'm chipping away at my final paper preparation. I am very motivated to get done by the Saturday before Thanksgiving, but I've miles to go before I sleep on that front (not literally, friends... just took a nap this afternoon... sleeping through the night for the most part). I'll be please if there are no "labor is coming" signs (all of which we discussed at the appt Sunday) until the last paper is printed. I'd be very please if the baby would hang on until December. Yup. That would be fine with me.

Maybe I'll feel differently come December, but right now, the due date or later is FINE with me.

Ouch

New sensation.

Not pleasant.

When I stand up after sitting for awhile- GREAT pelvic discomfort.

Apparently this is normal, the pubic bones and ligaments are spreading, getting ready.

OUCH.

A Month From Due, Just After Celebrating the Election of President Barack Obama, BELLY PICS!

I got more compliments on my appearance tonight.... radiant... gorgeous... not sure why exactly. no makeup. didn't do my hair. not sure i was still gorgeous and radiant when kev took these pics at 12:30 a.m., but... we're way overdue for a pictorial update.
and given all the feedback it seemed like a good night to record!

WHAT A DAY!

BIG day

I've been chatting with friends as they wait in long lines to vote today or texting with friends who are so excited they could "pee their pants". I voted weeks ago thanks to the early voting that is possible in my new state, and the encouragement of one of the two congregations I've been worshipping with to do so.

Kev and I are heading to a classmate's apartment when he gets off work to ready fondue for an election night party there. I'm hoping to grab a nap this afternoon so I can stay up as late as possible. Heck, maybe I'll even indulge in some late in the day caffeine.

This is a HUGE day for our nation (maybe for our world).

But... it is a pretty big day in this pregnancy too- I am due exactly a month from today.

I was born at the tail end of Gerald Ford's pregnancy. My earliest years on earth Jimmy Carter was at the healm.

I will be THRILLED if a month before our baby enters this world, we receive word Barack Obama is heading to the White House, THRILLED if he begins to lead just a month after our baby enters this world. May it be so.

o.k. how about this one?

i think this template is better. do you?

i monkeyed with the fonts a bit...

keep the template or keep looking?

what do you think?

a helpful exchange

The head of my fellowship program (who was actually my first point of contact at this institution, prior even to him being at this institution, but that's a long story) was waiting at the corner to cross the street to approach the divinity school as Kev and I approached the corner for the same purpose this morning- BRIGHT and early- Kev had to start work at 7:45 today and I had class, with said head of fellowship program, at 8:10 a.m. He asked as we crossed the street how I'm feeling and I honestly said "Not ready." And he laughed. He has two children, one a toddler, one a fairly new, still, infant. (His wife has passed on lots of maternity clothes to me.) "When is one ever ready?" He replied. "One can only be ready by some sense of false consciousness." But he thought for a moment and then said "But at the same time, your body is totally ready, or will be when it is time, and that is all your baby needs- you and your body. So, you are ready in the way that counts." I thanked him and we went our separate ways.

Some of you said as much in the comments, but... it was nice hearing it from him. Really nice.

Thank you God for the Kind Indian Grocer and the Head of my Fellowship Program (and for the really sweet voice mail from a friend and the great e-mails and the wonderful comments on the blog...) I hear ya.