rivka

I went to the midwife today. We've hit the point of rapidly-increasing visits: I just went the day before Thanksgiving, and my next visit is three weeks from now. After that, it will be weekly until I deliver. (They made me schedule appointments up through 42 weeks, but I hope I won't need to use them all.)

All looks well. Blood pressure 102/66, weight continuing to rise at a pound a week, measuring exactly right for dates (32.5cm to the top of my uterus, and I'm 32.5 weeks), no excess protein or sugar, no swelling, fetal heart sounds good. My symptoms - pubic bone pain and short sharp pains in my cervix - are normal. She couldn't tell if he was head-down or not, but apparently I still have another three weeks or so before that becomes an issue.

I gave her my birth plan, none of which came as a surprise to her. I was supposed to bring hospital registration papers, but I forgot them at home. Next time I come in, I need to bring both the registration papers and my Family Medical Leave Act paperwork for the midwife to sign. Also next time I go in they'll check my cervix and swab for Group B Strep.

We discussed my orthopedic history, because this midwife wasn't around when I was pregnant with Alex. We talked about second labors and how they tend to differ from first labors. We discussed the IUD at length; she was very enthusiastic, showed me a model, and sent me home with some literature.

In other Niblet news, I am still feeling surprisingly well. Walking is a little uncomfortable, especially when I first start out; everything is beginning to open up and spread out in preparation for delivery. And I have become lazier and less inclined to move around unnecessarily. Otherwise, I feel pretty good. Switching to Prevacid seems to have solved my intractable heartburn issues.

After Christmas, we have a lot of Niblet Prep to do. On the list:

~~Alex is signed up for a sibling preparation class on Jan 11.Michael and I need to re-take the hospital tour, because neither one of us remembers their policies and check-in procedures and so forth.~~

We need to buy Niblet gear, because although I keep thinking that we already have everything, that isn't really the case. We need: ~~a double stroller (I know she'll be almost four, but we walk a lot), a Diaper Champ, BPA-free bottles and teethers, a new baby monitor, one of those warm insulated carseat covers, diapers.~~

We need to figure out where we're putting baby gear in the new house, and get the newborn gear out of the basement and cleaned: ~~clothing storage, pack-and-play/diaper changing table, bouncy seat, co-sleeper, breast pump, carseat.~~ Toys and books can probably wait a while.

~~We need to launder baby clothes and baby blankets.~~

I need to get my office and my research project set up for my maternity leave.

We need to meet with Dorian and make all the arrangements for her to be our L&D childcare, including making her a key, teaching her how to install Alex's carseat, and making sure she knows how to get Alex to school.