ok - I have reached the stage of pregnancy where I am officially uncomfortably large (in the belly). No bands fit comfortably around me any more- weather it be a waist band or bra band- so nightgowns become my favorite clothes- although I often find myself longing to run around naked like a toddler in the summer.
I got a new stretch mark this week. The only way I knew it was a new one was because it was bright pink and still tender to the touch. It stretches all the way across my belly button and up into my ribs. I am beginning to wonder how much bigger can this belly grow?.... but I know better then to ask. The universe is happy to provide answers like that.
And of course people keep wondering when I am due. I tell them I am past one of my due dates and heading towards the next. Right now March 8th seems like an eternity away. And part of me would try to force the baby out, but I would prefer that he is fully cooked first and I believe babies are best at determining that. No body has every been pregnant forever.
At least that is what I keep telling myself. I have never found a reference in any of midwifery textbooks or readings regarding a pregnancy that went on forever.
Not surprisingly there are lots of answers to that on line..... many mothers must ask themselves that.
375 days seems to be the record of medical proof (280 is normal) and the baby was still under 7 pounds.
But if you are looking for extreme cases there are a few cases of fetal calcification that occur in extra-uterine pregnancies and one of those has been documented at 18 years, another lasting as long as 60 years. These are really rare events.
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Monday, February 21, 2011
Undenably Ornery
I have reached a stage of undeniably orneriness. I feel like I should be laughing manically at all the evil things I am doing now- just because I am ornery.
- I don't share my sandwiches with kids who are supposed to be in bed/
-I don't correct spelling when I read through home work papers- I actually make them look it up.
- I make the dogs stay outside all day
-not allow TV time because the didn't get all the dishes done.
- I don't wan to be sat on, pounced on, ran into or crawled over.
- I do want to be held and cuddled, but only if you don't want anything from me- and only if you are older then me.
-I wish children had volume buttons and dream of making a sleeping draft to give them at bed time.
- I am not sure if I can even hold a civil conversation face to face anymore. I will automatically respond snarkly and make some evil jokes about cats that come to harm. And if you don't laugh that would be a good enough reason to bite off your head.
- And speaking about biting heads off (naa...., I think I'll skip this point)
- I don't share my sandwiches with kids who are supposed to be in bed/
-I don't correct spelling when I read through home work papers- I actually make them look it up.
- I make the dogs stay outside all day
-not allow TV time because the didn't get all the dishes done.
- I don't wan to be sat on, pounced on, ran into or crawled over.
- I do want to be held and cuddled, but only if you don't want anything from me- and only if you are older then me.
-I wish children had volume buttons and dream of making a sleeping draft to give them at bed time.
- I am not sure if I can even hold a civil conversation face to face anymore. I will automatically respond snarkly and make some evil jokes about cats that come to harm. And if you don't laugh that would be a good enough reason to bite off your head.
- And speaking about biting heads off (naa...., I think I'll skip this point)
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Grand Multipara
In many cases I am officially considered a "Grand Multipara" meaning that I have given birth more then 5 times. This changes the natural of labor.
In general the grand multipara has lots of prelabor and on and off again- then when real labor starts it is usually either easy or quick.
I think I first saw this effect with my 4th. Active labor (3cm to birth) was 25 minutes- this left me with no time to breath between contractions.
Number 5- went off and on again for about 1 week before I had an easy labor of about 1.5 hours. This labor left me in charge of myself and my birth.
Studies suggest that grand multiparas often have latent labor to about 6 cm- then the real work kicks in.
This seems to work pretty well for home birthers- we keep up with our life, ready for the baby to emerge at short notice, meanwhile our other children can get the attention they need and the laundry keeps getting changed and the floor keeps getting mopped - mostly because we got to keep busy so the waiting and unknowing of when our short labor will kick in won't drive us crazy.
There has been studies suggesting increased risk in grand multiparas- but studying into those studies and you will find that they represent the under-educated and poor folks of the wold- when adjusted to economic and health status they were just as safe if not safer then regular multi paras in giving birth. (assuming of course that drs don't interfere).
I have personally learned that my body works best without interference during and after labor. Generally I loose no blood and don't tear and the babies are strong and noisy.
I am excited though, because for each pregnancy I have increased my overall healthy eating standards and have been less medically involved, and often more physically active.
I look forward to another healthy baby in my arms, and the ability to sleep on my stomach again.
In general the grand multipara has lots of prelabor and on and off again- then when real labor starts it is usually either easy or quick.
I think I first saw this effect with my 4th. Active labor (3cm to birth) was 25 minutes- this left me with no time to breath between contractions.
Number 5- went off and on again for about 1 week before I had an easy labor of about 1.5 hours. This labor left me in charge of myself and my birth.
Studies suggest that grand multiparas often have latent labor to about 6 cm- then the real work kicks in.
This seems to work pretty well for home birthers- we keep up with our life, ready for the baby to emerge at short notice, meanwhile our other children can get the attention they need and the laundry keeps getting changed and the floor keeps getting mopped - mostly because we got to keep busy so the waiting and unknowing of when our short labor will kick in won't drive us crazy.
There has been studies suggesting increased risk in grand multiparas- but studying into those studies and you will find that they represent the under-educated and poor folks of the wold- when adjusted to economic and health status they were just as safe if not safer then regular multi paras in giving birth. (assuming of course that drs don't interfere).
I have personally learned that my body works best without interference during and after labor. Generally I loose no blood and don't tear and the babies are strong and noisy.
I am excited though, because for each pregnancy I have increased my overall healthy eating standards and have been less medically involved, and often more physically active.
I look forward to another healthy baby in my arms, and the ability to sleep on my stomach again.
Monday, February 14, 2011
Ready To Burst
Tonight I enter my "stay around home" phase of pregnancy. That means I am in my birthing safe zone and would not be surprised if baby made his entrance at any time.
And I feel ready to burst. Every other step feels like a contraction- I think it is just baby bones sticking out through all parts of my anatomy. Just about every part of me is sore and achy and when I look in the mirror I see a semi- truck, double loaded.
So far this baby reminds me most of Galen. That could be his size - or all the weight he made me gain. At least this kid is a picky enough eater to make me eat mostly healthy- plus all the good ice cream.
I have washed enough of his stuff for the first several days and have a nice stock of diapers, pads and the like ready to go.
The crib and new bedding have yet to arrive. I have enough for the first few days.
Mike wishes the crib would show so we could set up the nursery area.
Except for me feeling ridiculously uncomfortable, I could wait a few more weeks.... but he most definitely has my permission to arrive sooner then that.
The ultrasound showed him to be 2 to 2.5 weeks farther in development then the due date would indicate. Being that I never usually deliver somewhere between 39 and 40 weeks that puts me right around 39 weeks now. ... or the ultrasound is off and we wait until sometime in early March to burst. Unfortunately that feels like forever from now.
On your 6th baby there is no signs of impending birth like there was on the first 3. There is no walking around dilated at 3 cm for a week or 3. The cervix won't budge until labor starts- and then it knows what it's job is so well that everything will happen quickly- usually in less then a few hours. So this makes the "checks" the doctors usually do pretty useless. And it is pretty nice to know that there is one less reason for a stranger to have his fingers up your privates.
Baby drops and engages every time I stand up and disengages just as easily when I try to sleep. He must like sleeping in my chest. Soon he'll be sleeping on it.
And I feel ready to burst. Every other step feels like a contraction- I think it is just baby bones sticking out through all parts of my anatomy. Just about every part of me is sore and achy and when I look in the mirror I see a semi- truck, double loaded.
So far this baby reminds me most of Galen. That could be his size - or all the weight he made me gain. At least this kid is a picky enough eater to make me eat mostly healthy- plus all the good ice cream.
I have washed enough of his stuff for the first several days and have a nice stock of diapers, pads and the like ready to go.
The crib and new bedding have yet to arrive. I have enough for the first few days.
Mike wishes the crib would show so we could set up the nursery area.
Except for me feeling ridiculously uncomfortable, I could wait a few more weeks.... but he most definitely has my permission to arrive sooner then that.
The ultrasound showed him to be 2 to 2.5 weeks farther in development then the due date would indicate. Being that I never usually deliver somewhere between 39 and 40 weeks that puts me right around 39 weeks now. ... or the ultrasound is off and we wait until sometime in early March to burst. Unfortunately that feels like forever from now.
On your 6th baby there is no signs of impending birth like there was on the first 3. There is no walking around dilated at 3 cm for a week or 3. The cervix won't budge until labor starts- and then it knows what it's job is so well that everything will happen quickly- usually in less then a few hours. So this makes the "checks" the doctors usually do pretty useless. And it is pretty nice to know that there is one less reason for a stranger to have his fingers up your privates.
Baby drops and engages every time I stand up and disengages just as easily when I try to sleep. He must like sleeping in my chest. Soon he'll be sleeping on it.
Sunday, February 13, 2011
Ian's Baptism
For those who wished they could have been there.
Ian was baptized today. We had a full room of wonderful people in attendance, including Grandpa Paul, Aunt Amy and family.
President Oldham conducted, Bishop Howard presided. Ian was all smiles and hugs. Mike managed to squeeze into the largest white suit they had.
The opening song was "Scripture Power", I gave the opening prayer.
Bishop Howard talked on Baptism. Then I help Shannon up to see the baptism. Ian wasn't overly thrilled about having his whole head underwater- but he managed without a cry. Brother Swankle and Bro Simmons were witnesses.
We waited to piano music (not as quiet as I would have liked) to Sister Brown to play to piano while Ian and Dad dressed. Then Grandma Lynn gave a talk on the Holy Ghost. And Ian was confirmed a member of the Church by his Dad, with Bishop Howard, President Oldham, Bro Swankle, Bro Simmons, and Bro Weaver (our Home Teacher) in the circle. Ian was told he would serve his mission and be a great servant of the Lord. Afterward Ian had to hug everyone again.
Then we had our closing song of I am a Child of God and a closing prayer by Bro Simmons.
The refreshments were nice. We had build your own sandwiches with a variety of choices in breads, cheeses, ham, turkey, condiments, tomatoes, pickles, and letus. And cut veggies sticks, fresh lemonade (made from organic lemons), apple sauce and brownies.
We had lots of help with clean up and lots of pleasant time talking with our wonderful friends and family who made it.
Ian was baptized today. We had a full room of wonderful people in attendance, including Grandpa Paul, Aunt Amy and family.
President Oldham conducted, Bishop Howard presided. Ian was all smiles and hugs. Mike managed to squeeze into the largest white suit they had.
The opening song was "Scripture Power", I gave the opening prayer.
Bishop Howard talked on Baptism. Then I help Shannon up to see the baptism. Ian wasn't overly thrilled about having his whole head underwater- but he managed without a cry. Brother Swankle and Bro Simmons were witnesses.
We waited to piano music (not as quiet as I would have liked) to Sister Brown to play to piano while Ian and Dad dressed. Then Grandma Lynn gave a talk on the Holy Ghost. And Ian was confirmed a member of the Church by his Dad, with Bishop Howard, President Oldham, Bro Swankle, Bro Simmons, and Bro Weaver (our Home Teacher) in the circle. Ian was told he would serve his mission and be a great servant of the Lord. Afterward Ian had to hug everyone again.
Then we had our closing song of I am a Child of God and a closing prayer by Bro Simmons.
The refreshments were nice. We had build your own sandwiches with a variety of choices in breads, cheeses, ham, turkey, condiments, tomatoes, pickles, and letus. And cut veggies sticks, fresh lemonade (made from organic lemons), apple sauce and brownies.
We had lots of help with clean up and lots of pleasant time talking with our wonderful friends and family who made it.
Tuesday, February 01, 2011
building a nest
I had a few contractions on Saturday- which reminded me that contrary to how I may have been feeling that I will not remain pregnant forever.
That seemed to finally be enough motivation to actually do the things on my to-do-list that I have thus far been successfully ignoring. Little things like getting the baby's car seat ready and other little things like ordering a crib, and sewing those blankets that have been sitting on my sewing table for many months.
Mike calls it "nesting". It could be. It doesn't seem to be the classical form of cooking and cleaning- but those are things I never seem to stop doing with the 5 kids I already have, so actually focusing on baby stuff probably qualifies as nesting pretty well.
But please do not ask me to paint any thing or get matching curtains to the crib decor- everything would have naturally matched perfectly if baby Roo was baby Arwen instead. But now I get to combine Shanny's pink and butterfly room with the nice little mis-match boys collection I have. We have baby blue, baby yellow and nice primary dinosaurs. It's a good thing little babies don't care about how coordinated their bedrooms are.
In my experience he will probably spend most of the first 2 years in my room anyways.
That seemed to finally be enough motivation to actually do the things on my to-do-list that I have thus far been successfully ignoring. Little things like getting the baby's car seat ready and other little things like ordering a crib, and sewing those blankets that have been sitting on my sewing table for many months.
Mike calls it "nesting". It could be. It doesn't seem to be the classical form of cooking and cleaning- but those are things I never seem to stop doing with the 5 kids I already have, so actually focusing on baby stuff probably qualifies as nesting pretty well.
But please do not ask me to paint any thing or get matching curtains to the crib decor- everything would have naturally matched perfectly if baby Roo was baby Arwen instead. But now I get to combine Shanny's pink and butterfly room with the nice little mis-match boys collection I have. We have baby blue, baby yellow and nice primary dinosaurs. It's a good thing little babies don't care about how coordinated their bedrooms are.
In my experience he will probably spend most of the first 2 years in my room anyways.
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