Wednesday, May 16/18
The first half of the third trimester was really one of my favourite parts of pregnancy, baby was moving constantly, I looked properly pregnant and the really huge belly hadn't arrived, so while I thought I had a sore back I really felt pretty good. Lot's of exciting things happened for me during these weeks, my husband and I enrolled in a local prenatal class and learned a fair amount, I met my wonderful OBGYN, and plans for labour and delivery really started taking shape! Not only that but I had an incredible baby shower hosted by my two best friends and it was more than I could have ever hoped for! Let's start describing things in far more detail...
MEETING THE OBGYN
For some reason I didn't meet my OB until 29 weeks, and this was kind of a fault from my family doctor who should have referred me earlier as I'm a type one diabetic and considered high-risk, and also the fault of an Ontario winter and not being able to make it to my first appointment due to all of the snow! When I finally made it there we discussed a few things, she wanted me to have another ultrasound to take a close look at the baby's heart (just being cautious as I'm diabetic), and anticipated that the baby was going to be big based on the measurements she had taken (also because I'm diabetic) and finally that I was likely going to be induced at 38 weeks (because *surprise* I'm diabetic). These were things I'd already researched and planned for in the early weeks of pregnancy because I'm a bit of a planner, and I don't really love surprises. At 31 weeks I had my fetal-echo ultrasound to look at the baby's heart- and I'm not going to lie I was nervous. Luckily it went really well and there were no concerns, and a bonus of being a diabetic with a big baby and lots of fluid is that the ultrasound technician could get really clear pictures of the baby and when she invited my husband in to see it we got a really good look! The baby was head-down (woo!) and hugging the placenta like a pillow. It was the first time I really welled up at the thought of this new life, and despite being horrifically hormonal I had a proper little cry looking up at our baby and seeing how real it looked! (PSA- Don't have a full bladder at 31 weeks. There's enough fluid to clearly see the baby and you will not be able to hold your bladder. It's not worth it in the slightest. My sonographer took one look at my bladder and sent me off to pee saying "why is your bladder full? The baby's huge we won't have any trouble finding it!")
THE PRE-ADMIT CLINIC AND BIRTH PLAN
The pre-admit clinic happened at the same time as my fetal-echo ultrasound at 31 weeks. Basically we sat down with a nurse and discussed the birth plan and had a little chat about what our plans were. She said that most diabetics need constant monitoring during labour and walking around wasn't really going to be an option for me, which was disappointing, unless I went into labour naturally and didn't need the pitocin IV. Unfortunately for me, I was eventually induced, but I thought it would be good to mention. She also confirmed what I had anticipated, and that was "no birth plan is the best birth plan", but I got to check off a few things like needing diabetic-friendly, vegetarian meals (would not recommend) and that we wanted my husband to cut the cord, I wasn't crazy about having anyone but my husband in the delivery room and what our thoughts were on circumcision. What are your thoughts on circumcision?! Please discuss. We were stumped thinking about that for weeks and thank goodness our baby was a girl. Anyway, we were sent home with a bag full of safety gear to baby-proof the apartment, a tentative birth plan to fill out and various pamphlets about mental health post-partum, baby blues etc. Overall it was a really informative experience!
THE BABY SHOWER
Man, as an immigrant from the UK where baby showers seem to only now be getting popular, I was overwhelmed by what it entailed. Essentially delicious food, desserts, games and gifts. It was so much fun- plus everyone told me all day how great I looked and I didn't have to plan a thing! My friends Jess and Sara planned everything and it was an amazing day (but at 32 weeks pregnant I will say it was quite exhausting!). Something to note is that baby showers are where you'll get a good portion of unsolicited advice and belly rubs, but it's not the end of the world. I had a blast- and everyone in attendance was incredibly generous! We were so lucky and totally spoiled. A definite highlight of those weeks in pregnancy.
The first half of the third trimester was really one of my favourite parts of pregnancy, baby was moving constantly, I looked properly pregnant and the really huge belly hadn't arrived, so while I thought I had a sore back I really felt pretty good. Lot's of exciting things happened for me during these weeks, my husband and I enrolled in a local prenatal class and learned a fair amount, I met my wonderful OBGYN, and plans for labour and delivery really started taking shape! Not only that but I had an incredible baby shower hosted by my two best friends and it was more than I could have ever hoped for! Let's start describing things in far more detail...
MEETING THE OBGYN
For some reason I didn't meet my OB until 29 weeks, and this was kind of a fault from my family doctor who should have referred me earlier as I'm a type one diabetic and considered high-risk, and also the fault of an Ontario winter and not being able to make it to my first appointment due to all of the snow! When I finally made it there we discussed a few things, she wanted me to have another ultrasound to take a close look at the baby's heart (just being cautious as I'm diabetic), and anticipated that the baby was going to be big based on the measurements she had taken (also because I'm diabetic) and finally that I was likely going to be induced at 38 weeks (because *surprise* I'm diabetic). These were things I'd already researched and planned for in the early weeks of pregnancy because I'm a bit of a planner, and I don't really love surprises. At 31 weeks I had my fetal-echo ultrasound to look at the baby's heart- and I'm not going to lie I was nervous. Luckily it went really well and there were no concerns, and a bonus of being a diabetic with a big baby and lots of fluid is that the ultrasound technician could get really clear pictures of the baby and when she invited my husband in to see it we got a really good look! The baby was head-down (woo!) and hugging the placenta like a pillow. It was the first time I really welled up at the thought of this new life, and despite being horrifically hormonal I had a proper little cry looking up at our baby and seeing how real it looked! (PSA- Don't have a full bladder at 31 weeks. There's enough fluid to clearly see the baby and you will not be able to hold your bladder. It's not worth it in the slightest. My sonographer took one look at my bladder and sent me off to pee saying "why is your bladder full? The baby's huge we won't have any trouble finding it!")
THE PRE-ADMIT CLINIC AND BIRTH PLAN
The pre-admit clinic happened at the same time as my fetal-echo ultrasound at 31 weeks. Basically we sat down with a nurse and discussed the birth plan and had a little chat about what our plans were. She said that most diabetics need constant monitoring during labour and walking around wasn't really going to be an option for me, which was disappointing, unless I went into labour naturally and didn't need the pitocin IV. Unfortunately for me, I was eventually induced, but I thought it would be good to mention. She also confirmed what I had anticipated, and that was "no birth plan is the best birth plan", but I got to check off a few things like needing diabetic-friendly, vegetarian meals (would not recommend) and that we wanted my husband to cut the cord, I wasn't crazy about having anyone but my husband in the delivery room and what our thoughts were on circumcision. What are your thoughts on circumcision?! Please discuss. We were stumped thinking about that for weeks and thank goodness our baby was a girl. Anyway, we were sent home with a bag full of safety gear to baby-proof the apartment, a tentative birth plan to fill out and various pamphlets about mental health post-partum, baby blues etc. Overall it was a really informative experience!
THE BABY SHOWER
Man, as an immigrant from the UK where baby showers seem to only now be getting popular, I was overwhelmed by what it entailed. Essentially delicious food, desserts, games and gifts. It was so much fun- plus everyone told me all day how great I looked and I didn't have to plan a thing! My friends Jess and Sara planned everything and it was an amazing day (but at 32 weeks pregnant I will say it was quite exhausting!). Something to note is that baby showers are where you'll get a good portion of unsolicited advice and belly rubs, but it's not the end of the world. I had a blast- and everyone in attendance was incredibly generous! We were so lucky and totally spoiled. A definite highlight of those weeks in pregnancy.
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| The 32 week bump. (feat. Badger the cat in the background) |
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