Week 33 - April 22-28
Our baby boy Calvin Lee is due June 17, 2016!
This week I'm in the hospital, if you haven't checked it out, please run on over to my last blog post to get a little update. Some of this week's post were written prior to the hospital, some afterwards.
At the hospital:
I don't have any new news really, essentially this is all just a waiting game. My doctor says as long as I don't go into labor on my own and I don't get an infection, we're waiting as long as we can to induce. He is very positive and nice and I'm very glad we came to this hospital and have him for our doctor, I just feel in my heart that if we hadn't chosen to come here, perhaps Calvin would have already been born. It worries me so much that he'll have to spend a long time in the NICU.
So our doctor tells me that typically they would automatically induce me if I made it to 34 weeks. He doesn't want to do that, he'd rather wait as long as possible. So far things are going well and he sees us making it past the 34 weeks mark. However, it seems like these things can change in an instant, so I'll keep praying that Calvin stays all safe and warm in my belly for awhile longer.
For a couple days there they had me hooked up to an IV and were giving me antibiotics to help prevent any infection and magnesium sulfate to prevent contractions. The magnesium definitely made me tired and when I woke up the next day I was off-balance and my vision was kinda blurry and sucky for the day. When they had me on the IV I literally needed to pee every hour because of all the fluid they were putting in me and it was a big ordeal to get up to the bathroom because I was attached to everything.
I've since been taken off the magnesium and am taking oral antibiotics, so I don't have to be hooked up to the IV anymore. They are also only monitoring Calvin for a couple hours per day, instead of all the time. So essentially, I am free! I'm not attached to anything except for the little while when they want to monitor him. So this is great. I can get up to pee without making a big extravaganza about it.
We've had visitors. My sister works at this hospital so she's come to see me on her lunch. My parents have brought me food and come to visit. Justin's dad and stepmom came by, my aunt, my other aunt and uncle, my other sister and her fiance. It hasn't been too terribly lonely so far. Justin's able to come by during the day every day. He works in the city and drives around a lot, so anytime he's nearby or doesn't have much to do, he comes to hang out with me. He's been spending every other night at home. I know this little couch in my hospital room is uncomfortable for him, plus the nurses come in a couple times per night to check on me or give me medication. So, I know Justin needs his rest too.
Everyday the doctor comes in and does an ultrasound to check my fluid levels, they have been great each time. He makes it sound like we're looking at the 35-36 week range for delivery if all goes well until then, my doctor even mentioned getting to full term! And if we can get to that time, it seems as though there's a pretty good chance our little Calvin could come home with us in reasonable time. :) So, that's our goal! It's just a sucky situation. Of course I'd love to make it to 37 weeks and have perfectly healthy little baby boy, but in the meantime, that's over a month in the hospital!
At the hospital:
I don't have any new news really, essentially this is all just a waiting game. My doctor says as long as I don't go into labor on my own and I don't get an infection, we're waiting as long as we can to induce. He is very positive and nice and I'm very glad we came to this hospital and have him for our doctor, I just feel in my heart that if we hadn't chosen to come here, perhaps Calvin would have already been born. It worries me so much that he'll have to spend a long time in the NICU.
So our doctor tells me that typically they would automatically induce me if I made it to 34 weeks. He doesn't want to do that, he'd rather wait as long as possible. So far things are going well and he sees us making it past the 34 weeks mark. However, it seems like these things can change in an instant, so I'll keep praying that Calvin stays all safe and warm in my belly for awhile longer.
For a couple days there they had me hooked up to an IV and were giving me antibiotics to help prevent any infection and magnesium sulfate to prevent contractions. The magnesium definitely made me tired and when I woke up the next day I was off-balance and my vision was kinda blurry and sucky for the day. When they had me on the IV I literally needed to pee every hour because of all the fluid they were putting in me and it was a big ordeal to get up to the bathroom because I was attached to everything.
I've since been taken off the magnesium and am taking oral antibiotics, so I don't have to be hooked up to the IV anymore. They are also only monitoring Calvin for a couple hours per day, instead of all the time. So essentially, I am free! I'm not attached to anything except for the little while when they want to monitor him. So this is great. I can get up to pee without making a big extravaganza about it.
We've had visitors. My sister works at this hospital so she's come to see me on her lunch. My parents have brought me food and come to visit. Justin's dad and stepmom came by, my aunt, my other aunt and uncle, my other sister and her fiance. It hasn't been too terribly lonely so far. Justin's able to come by during the day every day. He works in the city and drives around a lot, so anytime he's nearby or doesn't have much to do, he comes to hang out with me. He's been spending every other night at home. I know this little couch in my hospital room is uncomfortable for him, plus the nurses come in a couple times per night to check on me or give me medication. So, I know Justin needs his rest too.
Everyday the doctor comes in and does an ultrasound to check my fluid levels, they have been great each time. He makes it sound like we're looking at the 35-36 week range for delivery if all goes well until then, my doctor even mentioned getting to full term! And if we can get to that time, it seems as though there's a pretty good chance our little Calvin could come home with us in reasonable time. :) So, that's our goal! It's just a sucky situation. Of course I'd love to make it to 37 weeks and have perfectly healthy little baby boy, but in the meantime, that's over a month in the hospital!
 |
| the lopsided bump |
Bump:
Friday, day one of the week, Calvin was sitting up super high and my belly felt soo gigantic.
Maybe the belly is going through a growth spurt because it is sooo itchy lately! Even when I definitely remember to apply lotion.
Friday, day one of the week, Calvin was sitting up super high and my belly felt soo gigantic.
Maybe the belly is going through a growth spurt because it is sooo itchy lately! Even when I definitely remember to apply lotion.
I don't feel like my belly is significantly smaller even after having lost some fluids though.
The doctor had me go in for an ultrasound and Calvin is measuring big, as usual. Although I was advised that weight estimates get more and more inaccurate as time goes on, it still looks like he's going to be a good size even if he shows up much earlier than expected.
The doctor had me go in for an ultrasound and Calvin is measuring big, as usual. Although I was advised that weight estimates get more and more inaccurate as time goes on, it still looks like he's going to be a good size even if he shows up much earlier than expected.
Maternity Clothes:
I hate pants and shoes... and about to hate regular shirts too... so let me whine a little bit...
The full panel pants are too tight around the middle of my belly and the low under the belly ones just stab me under the belly.
Of my entire shoe collection, we're down to literally a handful of shoes that work. About ready to give up entirely on laced shoes though, so that's gonna cut back one more pair.
Regular shirts, like the ones I wear to work, are getting too damn tight around the belly! I have to pull them down to cover the bottom of the belly, but that makes them too tight in the space between the belly and the boobies, so I have to pull it back up a tad, just back and forth all day!
I really just want to wear only dresses.
I hate pants and shoes... and about to hate regular shirts too... so let me whine a little bit...
The full panel pants are too tight around the middle of my belly and the low under the belly ones just stab me under the belly.
Of my entire shoe collection, we're down to literally a handful of shoes that work. About ready to give up entirely on laced shoes though, so that's gonna cut back one more pair.
Regular shirts, like the ones I wear to work, are getting too damn tight around the belly! I have to pull them down to cover the bottom of the belly, but that makes them too tight in the space between the belly and the boobies, so I have to pull it back up a tad, just back and forth all day!
I really just want to wear only dresses.
And being in the hospital, not having to look civilized, I can wear much more comfy stuff. One bonus I guess lol.
Emotions:
Oh no guys, I can feel myself getting more irritable as the days go on... Not good! And I must say my physical comfort can play quite the factor in this as well. If I'm super uncomfortable and even one little thing else goes wrong, it's the end of the world, no doubt.
Oh no guys, I can feel myself getting more irritable as the days go on... Not good! And I must say my physical comfort can play quite the factor in this as well. If I'm super uncomfortable and even one little thing else goes wrong, it's the end of the world, no doubt.
But I must say I'm proud of myself once getting into the hospital. At least so far, I think I've got a pretty good demeanor.
Food:
Appetite is similar to pre pregnancy. I just don't feel starving and I don't even feel like snacking usually either. I don't eat as much as I have been previously, both before and after entering the hospital.
Food:
Appetite is similar to pre pregnancy. I just don't feel starving and I don't even feel like snacking usually either. I don't eat as much as I have been previously, both before and after entering the hospital.
Sleep & Dreams:
I'm sorry to my sweet husband for my snoring. He leaves for the couch in the early morning hours probably 75% of nights. :( And once at the hospital, he's only spending every other night with me, I know he needs his good rest as well.
Hey, why haven't I been having strange pregnancy dreams? I dreamt a lot of strange stuff in the very early days, but there's not really anything to talk about for awhile now.
Energy:
Crappy but I'm in the hospital so there's not really much to do anyway.
Exercise:
No longer applicable. I did some small weights exercises on my yoga ball Friday night before all this went down.
Hey, why haven't I been having strange pregnancy dreams? I dreamt a lot of strange stuff in the very early days, but there's not really anything to talk about for awhile now.
Energy:
Crappy but I'm in the hospital so there's not really much to do anyway.
Exercise:
No longer applicable. I did some small weights exercises on my yoga ball Friday night before all this went down.
Physical Symptoms:
Sciatic nerve pain down my right leg. At least I think that's what it is. Sometimes it's like right in my right butt cheek, but more often it's like way down in the outside of my upper calf. And it's not horrible, just kind of annoying.
Sciatic nerve pain down my right leg. At least I think that's what it is. Sometimes it's like right in my right butt cheek, but more often it's like way down in the outside of my upper calf. And it's not horrible, just kind of annoying.
Heartburn and indigestion has been acting up again this week. I sure hope it's true that it means Mr. Calvin will have lots of hair!
Movement:
His hiccups are getting more intense these days. He is moving around just like usual even though we're in the hospital, so that's good, it's like he doesn't even know what's up.
Movement:
His hiccups are getting more intense these days. He is moving around just like usual even though we're in the hospital, so that's good, it's like he doesn't even know what's up.
Favorite Moments of the Week:
Hearing good news from our doctor each time he visited. People coming to see us. Hearing that people have been calling to check on us.
Baby Purchases:
The baby shower is this weekend! You'll hear all about it in next week's post. I think they still plan on having it without me physically there. Justin's going to try to have me on Skype.
What I Look Forward To:
Seeing Calvin! I can't wait to hold him and love him. Up until now, I've only envisioned this whole pregnancy thing ending in labor. But recently, I've started to switch my thinking to after the labor part where we actually get a precious little baby! I couldn't get myself past labor before. I couldn't imagine our lives with a baby. I was just stuck on the idea of pushing him out! By thinking more about being a mommy and having a little family, I think it's helping me get through the scary thoughts about what labor's going to be like. However, I don't want to just ignore the fact that it's gonna be hard and sucky either. I think I'm in the process of finding some balance here with the idea of labor.
Hearing good news from our doctor each time he visited. People coming to see us. Hearing that people have been calling to check on us.
Baby Purchases:
The baby shower is this weekend! You'll hear all about it in next week's post. I think they still plan on having it without me physically there. Justin's going to try to have me on Skype.
What I Look Forward To:
Seeing Calvin! I can't wait to hold him and love him. Up until now, I've only envisioned this whole pregnancy thing ending in labor. But recently, I've started to switch my thinking to after the labor part where we actually get a precious little baby! I couldn't get myself past labor before. I couldn't imagine our lives with a baby. I was just stuck on the idea of pushing him out! By thinking more about being a mommy and having a little family, I think it's helping me get through the scary thoughts about what labor's going to be like. However, I don't want to just ignore the fact that it's gonna be hard and sucky either. I think I'm in the process of finding some balance here with the idea of labor.
Random Thoughts:
I tell myself every day I'm here in the hospital is hopefully one more day our little Calvin won't have to be here once he comes. One of the nurses said the equivalent was more like everyday I'm here is two days he won't be, so that's even better.
Sitting at the hospital all day, a lot goes through your head. I'd be lying if I didn't say, "how much is all this going to cost us in the end?" never came to mind. And Justin has good insurance. It disgraces me to be one of the only major countries on earth where this is an issue. And let's not get into my unpaid maternity leave that is now going to be quite extended from our original 8 week plan. We have so much already on our plate in this entire situation, insurance and finances should be the last thing we're worrying about. I never planned to be political in my social media career or here on the blog but I'll just leave you with this: something needs adjustment in this country.
Thanks so much for reading!
Love,
Alaina and Little Calvin
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