He's Here! Eren Michael 3/17/18

one week old

Eren Michael
March 17, 2018
7:17 am
8 lbs 5 oz
21 inches

Labor & Delivery Story Video HERE

We're in love!

Love,
Alaina

37 Weeks Pregnant with Baby #2

Week ending March 13, 2017.
Due Date: April 3, 2018

Like seriously, can you even believe we are at this point?! After everything, we made it. Thank God we've gotten this far.  

Bump:
Like every day Justin asks if my belly has grown lol. Well our little dude is supposed to be gaining an ounce each day, so yes, the belly is growing every day. And it's so itchy, I cannot tell you how itchy it is. I do not remember this much itchiness when I was pregnant with Cal.

Doctor Appointments:
At MFM, fluid levels were around the same as last time. 20-23 after measuring several times. Didn't get an estimate on Eren's size this week, but he looks pretty squished up in there, we didn't get any good pictures of his face or anything. He passed the BPP ultrasound great. And I only had a couple contractions on the NST, so we officially survived the last NST before full term! Yay!
At my regular OB, it was a pretty quick appointment, I didn't have any questions really, we covered a lot the week before. My belly is measuring 40 cm, Eren's heart rate was at 138 bpm. She told me to keep taking the Procardia until 37 weeks since I'm still having plenty of contractions. And that's pretty much it for that appointment. 

Energy:
Napped while putting Calvin down for his nap this week. That was actually kind of nice. I napped, he played on the iPad. When I woke, he went to sleep. Justin's been having me put Calvin down for bed lately so he can work on finishing the basement. Justin puts Cal down to bed 99% of the time on a daily basis. It's nice spending time with Cal before bed knowing it's going to be way harder when I have little Eren to nurse to sleep too. It's nice just having these last few weeks with Cal, not knowing what day might be his last as the only one around here. 

Food:
I've been starving and eating all the things lately! Not healthy things either. I've been bad.

Sleep & Dreams:
I've been having a lot more dreams lately, several each night, every time I get up to pee in the night I had one, but can't remember it. 

Physical Symptoms:
Hairline zits seem to be appearing more often. I think overall they weren't as bad as my pregnancy with Calvin though. 

I'm at that point I can't freaking sneeze. I can't get a deep enough breath to even make a darn sneeze happen! It's terrible. I need to sneeze, I try to take that initial breath in, then it goes away because I can't take a deep enough breath, there's just not enough room in my lungs I guess. Dumb. I remember this happening way earlier with Calvin though, so at least I'm glad it's taken this long to be an issue this time around. 
Some days I feel like death and want to lay around all day, then other days I am pretty good to go. I am having sooo many contractions it's not even funny. I can have 7-9 per hour no problem for many hours, then some days I'll have maybe 1-2 an hour, like wtf?! But they aren't painful or too intense. I have them a lot more at work than at home because I sit at a desk all day at work. I don't know if it's just gravity working directly on Eren or what, but that upright position can cause me to have sooo many contractions. Once I head home and lay on the couch, they'll go away. Even when I sit at my desk at home to edit YouTube videos, I can have several of them, so it's just the position that's making them worse, in my opinion. 
Some nights I have been having a couple contractions laying in bed, which is unusual for me. Usually I don't have contractions when I'm laying down like that.

Backache and cramping Saturday night and lost some more mucus plug a couple days. Started to worry that Eren was going to be that silly baby who comes just days shy of "full term" just to make me mad lol.
Driving is so uncomfortable. I have to be far enough away from the steering wheel to fit the belly, but I drive a stick and need to be able to reach my foot all the way down on the clutch, plus I'm short to begin with. I have contractions a lot when I'm driving because of the awkward posture and having to scrunch up over my belly to look both ways at stops and whatnot, it's just a pain in the butt. 

Natural Induction Plans:

We have the okay to have sex again at the end of this week. Not that I'm like super excited to be having sex at 37 weeks pregnant haha, but I want this baby out. I know my husband was hoping we'd make it to this point, seeing as once baby's born, we've got another 4-6 weeks without sex ahead of us lol.
Also plan to take walks everyday. And plan to go grocery shopping, with lots of walking. Since 31 weeks I've been told to limit walking.
Maybe I'll feel like nesting and cleaning. Cleaning can totally wear you out, so maybe it will help.
I told my husband I will only sit on the yoga ball until he comes. At the dinner table? Yoga ball. Watching TV? Yoga ball. We'll see how long that lasts haha.
Walking up and down the stairs, squatting, hot showers. I remember when I was in the hospital with Calvin, my doctor told me no hot showers because it would cause nipple stimulation and could start contractions. I am also contemplating trying to use my breast pump to see if nipple stimulation does anything.
I hate pineapple, but a lot of people say eating pineapple works. I don't know what the science behind that one is though. We'll see if I actually try that one. Maybe if Justin likes pineapple, we can split one. 

Favorite Moments of the Week:
Went shopping with my mom and sister at Hobby Lobby. Mom is making us a dockatot type lounger for Eren and we got to pick out fabric for that and I also got some scrapbooking stuff for Eren's baby book scrapbook. My sister let Calvin roam free in the store which is not something we usually let him do so I'm sure he had fun.

Random Thoughts:
Can't I just start maternity leave now? I think about starting it at 38 weeks but then I don't want to take one week away from Eren, if that makes sense. If I only take 8 weeks total and take one before he's born, then essentially I'm taking one week away from him. Can't decide. Should I just take 9 weeks and take off a week before she'll perform a c-section anyway.
It's weird not knowing Eren's birthday. I know that doesn't really make any sense because most people don't know the baby's birthday until they arrive, right?! I just wish I kind of had an idea at this point haha, I don't know why.

Love,

Alaina & Baby Brother Eren

36 Weeks Pregnant with Baby #2

Week ending March 6, 2017.
Due Date: April 3, 2018

Justin had to do "peek-a-boo" with Calvin to get him to smile. It took soo many pictures to get a good one this week! haha

Bump:
Itchy. 
It feels like Eren may be reaching that point where it's too tight in the belly to do much. His movements seem to have slowed down and I'm not feeling as many jabby movements.
Just realized I haven't updated weight gain in awhile, but we are officially up 40 pounds right now! Yes, it's higher than it should be, but better than my last pregnancy, so that counts for something right? Lol. 

Doctor Appointments:
At MFM my fluids were measured at 20 cm! Which is the lowest we've ever seen them. They're usually around 25, and they were at 27 at my highest point back around the new year. So that was awesome news. Then I went in for my NST and was totally having contractions, Eren was moving around like crazy and the heart rate monitor could hardly keep track of him so I was once again super worried I was going to be sent down to L&D again for more monitoring. I am so fearful of those NSTs after my hospital stay at 31 weeks.
At my regular OB, I was measuring 38 cm. Doc told me that I'd have a c-section at 39 weeks if I didn't go into labor beforehand, which will make Eren a March baby no matter what. At 36 weeks 1 day I'll take my last Makena shot and probably finish my procardia pills (36+2 I have a doc appointment and she said we'd discuss then). I have been having more contractions and more intense ones the last few days and my doctor said that's common toward the end and she wasn't concerned, but it does make me wonder what it's going to be like when I stop taking my pills. She said the procardia would be pretty quick to get out of my system. And I would hate for him to come just a few days shy of being officially full term (37 weeks).
So at 37 weeks we can start trying to induce naturally, which I'm super excited for. I was curious about a cervix check, but she said she wouldn't start those until 37 weeks and even then, she didn't sound like she was really big on them. She also said she's going to be on vacation in my 37th week, not that I'm very concerned with who delivers Eren, it's just ironic that of course, that's the week lol. I plan on doing everything in my power to induce naturally once we hit 37 weeks.

Energy:
Maybe I'm going to nest after all. I have spent the last couple months totally not caring about dishes, cleaning, pretty much any house duties. I've been a lazy hobo, no lie. Then all of a sudden out of nowhere this week, I am actually doing dishes, keeping the counter tops free of clutter, vacuuming the living room. It's totally strange. I was putting away groceries Sunday, saw that the fridge shelves needed wiping down, so I actually did it. Even wiped down the front of the fridge after clearing off the one million pieces of paper and random magnetized stuff. I never do that kind of stuff haha. Maybe this is the beginning of some sort of nesting...
Justin also seems to be getting ready for Eren. He pulled out all the baby stuff from the basement and organized our storage room down there. It's getting so close! Finally got the baby car seat out and installed the bases in our cars.

Physical Symptoms:

Everything hurts. This belly is so huge. Face chubbiness, especially the nose, is totally here. I'm just glad it waited this long this pregnancy, my face was chubby for months in my first pregnancy haha. I don't remember ever saying such a thing when I was pregnant with Cal, but I can't wait to not be pregnant!
Spent most of the day Thursday and again Tuesday recording contractions. I was having a TON. Not painful, but definitely more powerful than my usual belly tightening.

Round ligament pain is back, plus more cramping.
Boobies seem to be growing, and they can get tingly every once in awhile.

Food:
Maybe I'm starting to feel like I'm losing my appetite. Some days I just have to make myself eat lunch because I know I need to, not because I'm really hungry. But I still think there's a correlation between an empty stomach and contractions, so I do try to snack to prevent them.
But I have had one hell of a sweet tooth at the same time. I don't want to eat real food, I want cookies and snack cakes for all meals.

Sleep & Dreams:

Rolling over in bed sucks. My whole pelvis just absolutely aches and my belly feels like it weighs half my body weight. 

Favorite Moments of the Week:
Calvin said "tractor fall!" when his toy tractor fell and it made me so happy! He'll be talking in sentences before we know it. :)
Playing outside with Calvin over the weekend. He and Justin kicked a ball around the yard and Justin was throwing it onto our roof and they were watching it bounce down. Calvin thought that was lots of fun. We taught him the word "roof" and now he keeps talking about "daddy ball roof."
I love laying with him at bed time or nap time, I always ask him about his day and he'll tell me random words about what happened. I just can't wait to watch him form sentences and get even better at explaining himself to us.
We went outside after it rained and played in the yard a bit. Calvin was chasing his ball and kept kicking it further and further away. He landed in a puddle in the neighbor's yard and I could just tell by the look on his face that he wanted to play in that damn puddle! But I hollered at him and got him to return to our yard before he really made a mess. He was already pretty wet and had muddy shoes from playing out there at that point. He kept looking down at his wet pants and shoes and saying "all dirty."

Random Thoughts:
I never felt postpartum cramping while breastfeeding with Calvin. I'm actually kind of scared of it this time around. They say it gets worse with each pregnancy and some ladies say the pain is pretty intense, so I'm not looking forward to that.

Love,

Alaina & Baby Brother Eren

35 Weeks Pregnant with Baby #2

Week ending Feb. 27, 2017.
Due Date: April 3, 2018

Every week we get closer to meeting Eren. And every week is an awesome milestone in his development that puts my mind at ease more and more. 

Bump:
Stupid stretchmarks on the belly are getting worse. 
Only two more Makena shots! Can you believe it? I've been so tired of those things lately and I just can't wait to get them finished. I hate shots and needles and getting blood drawn, gross! I'm so glad Justin's been able to give them to me instead of having to go to the doctor all the time for them, even though I'm still at the doctor every freaking week anyway lol. I just can't believe I've already had 18 of those shots! That sounds so crazy. 

Doctor Appointment:
At MFM Eren was measuring 6 lbs 1 oz at my 34+1 appointment. Big boy, but still about half a pound behind Calvin at the same age. My fluids were measuring borderline again. This time at 25.1 cm. Stupid. Thought I was going to fail my NST because I was totally having little baby contractions pretty regularly. The nurse said it was probably just because of the high fluids and perhaps I needed to pee. So glad they didn't wheel me down to L&D again! I have fears of those NSTs because of my first experience with them at that office.

Energy:
Still want to nap always. How many weeks has this section said the same exact thing?! Lol.

Physical Symptoms:

Lots of pressure and heaviness in my pelvis.
Belly is so itchy! Like everyday non-stop itchy. I apply body butter morning and night and I don't think it's helping.

Crampy one night toward the end of the week. I don't think I've had that feeling at all previously this pregnancy, so that was weird. Kind of had me worried about preterm labor honestly. 

Low back and hip pain is back again. 

Constipation is back with a vengeance lol. It was here in the very beginning and all of a sudden it's back.
Had a little preterm labor scare Saturday night through Sunday afternoon/evening. I wasn't having regular contractions or anything, so I didn't call or go in to L&D. It literally just felt like Eren could fall right out. I was feeling so much pressure and heaviness and achiness in my pelvis, plus some cramping. I remember my doctor telling me I should try to sleep it off if I'm having lots of contractions, to see if they're legit or not. Even though I wasn't contracting regularly, I still took this advice and went to bed early. Woke up the next morning and my abs felt like I did one million crunches overnight and my lady bits felt almost swollen. So all day Sunday I moped around like a hobo, sat in a chair at the stove to make dinner, etc. It was miserable. But then right before bed Sunday night it all just magically went away. Wtf? Perhaps Eren was in a stupid position that was making me feel so much pressure, I really can't know for sure. Then I woke up Tuesday morning (35 weeks exactly) feeling the same heaviness and achiness, this time accompanied by the pregnancy waddle! Did not have this with Cal. It makes me totally understand when ladies say they just wish their pregnancy was over and done with. If this is what the next few weeks are going to feel like constantly, I totally understand.

Food:
I've been waking up feeling extra hungry lately, which is different.

Sleep & Dreams:

Sometimes it's hard to fall asleep, I just can't shut my brain off, but it's nothing terrible. Like I've said time and time again, I've been very fortunate in both of my pregnancies to sleep really well throughout overall. 

Favorite Moments of the Week:
Spent a full day with Mr. Calvin while Justin was staying at a friend's house. It stresses me out to think about having to put Calvin down for both his nap and bedtime, Justin's usually really good doing bedtime, in particular. So Mr. Cal surprised me by being an extra perfect little man for both naptime and bedtime. He was very cooperative and that made me super happy. :)
However, the weekend was also stressful for me because Justin was staying overnight at this same friend's house when I woke up to my water breaking at 32 weeks with Calvin and Justin had his phone on silent and no one would answer me to take me to the hospital. So that was great. Having him go over there again this weekend brought a lot of fear of the same thing happening again this time.

Random Thoughts:
Starting to rethink our newborn cloth diaper stash. Again. Lol. Do we really need more or do I just want to buy more stuff? Since Eren keeps looking like he's going to be a little smaller than Calvin, I wonder if it's going to take a little longer to get into one size diapers. I question having two in cloth and whether our stash is going to hold up well for two. I think about getting a pack of disposables just in case, but then I tell myself why spend money on trash when I could just buy a couple more cloth diapering items. Decisions. Justin's official stance is, wait and see. I hate that stance lol.

Love,

Alaina & Baby Brother Eren