Coconut!

Little baby g is the size of a coconut at 31 weeks! He weighs around 3.5 lbs and is an estimated 16 inches long.  Since coconuts are not easy to find in Minnesota in December, I took a picture with shredded coconut. This is more common in our house since I love it over strawberry frozen yogurt. And...it usually lasts a long time because Dan hates anything coconut flavored.

Shredded coconut- the best ice cream topping

The BEST coconut ice cream in Thailand 

Dan is not a fan of coconut ice cream but still gave it a taste! 

According to my research, baby g now has all five senses but Dan is mostly concerned he has a sense of humor. And yes, he made that joke when I told read to him our 31 week fetal update. 

Most of my reading lately has been centered around labor and delivery. We had our first birthing class on Sunday. The class was 8 hours long and focused on the signs and stages of labor, breastfeeding and newborn safety. It was helpful to see videos of couples working as a team and I think Dan liked having a preview of his role in pain management and emotional support. I got some specific tips about knowing when I should go to the hospital. The 5-1-1 rule was useful (contractions that are 5 minutes apart for 1 minute and the pattern lasts at least an hour). 

There were a few other tips I wrote down but overall, I was hoping for more. There was definitely a bias toward getting an epidural and I know that is the norm but I wanted to hear more about my labor pain coping options, breathing techniques, benefits and risks of different medications etc. But instead I left feeling like I have more to research. Is fentanyl more dangerous than an epidural because it is systemic and does reach the baby? Could an epidural really slow down labor and lower my already low blood pressure? What pain options are less harmful for our baby- an epidural or systemic medications? 

I have heard from numerous mothers and doctors that a birth plan is just a plan and not a guarantee. However, I want to at least go into this feeling educated so that I can be my own advocate. I will trust the doctor to do what is best for our baby and me but I want to avoid any unnecessary procedures such as constant fetal monitoring, laboring on my back and being hooked up to an IV in bed the whole time. We are still considering a doula and/or taking a natural birthing class to learn more about our options but with the Holiday season and a busy work schedule, I am lucky to be even finding time to blog. So, if labor comes sooner than our expected 63 days...we at least know when to go to the hospital, the basic procedures and how to strap our baby into the carseat (we don't yet own). AND, Dan got to practice swaddling and diapering a baby doll. Not bad, right! 

Dan's first diaper change

Biggest surprise from the baby class according to Dan: the woman in the video that give birth on her hands and knees!?!?!

Biggest surprise according to me: the doctors usually give pitocin after labor to birth the placenta!?!?!

Current cravings: salt and vinegar chips (do they still sell these!?!)

Discomforts: painful kicks on my bladder, frequent urination and tightening of the uterus 

Favorite pregnancy moments: thinking about all the growing and developing that is taking place even as I sit here blogging and feeling his kicks! 

Favorite quotes from kids at our schools about my belly: 

1st grader: "Is there a baby in there?" 

Me: "Yes". 

1st grader: runs back to the lunch table and says to his friend "I told you, she is huge!" 

or 

Kindergartner: "That is too bad you are having a boy. I hate boys." 

29 Weeks!

This last holiday week flew by as we traveled the suburbs of Minneapolis visiting with family and friends. Thanksgiving really is a holiday that reminds me of all I am thankful for and I love the simplicity of the day. Not that cooking a turkey is easy but I like that the day is about family and giving thanks (and pie!) rather than gifts, leprechauns or overpriced heart-shaped candy.

I started my Thanksgiving morning on the elliptical with my friend Casie, who is now 39 weeks pregnant! We stayed at the perfect pace to allow us to talk the whole time and breeze through our modified workout. I definitely noticed some extra long looks from others and I am sure our large bellies bouncing on the machines probably did look a little funny. But I LOVE that we are healthy enough to be active and share in this experience together. After the gym and coffee time with the extended running group, we went over to my moms and of course she cooked way too much food so we have had leftovers all week. It was a super relaxing day and we enjoyed spending time with my mom and brother. It was also fun to have my cousin Emily and her friend from Belarus stop by before they went out to see the craziness we call Black Friday (or Thursday in this case). 

On Friday we pretended it was Thanksgiving again and spent the day with the Gustafson side. I always enjoy seeing all of our nieces and nephews play and laugh together. I feel so blessed to know our little one will have such great role models and playmates. Some of my favorite childhood memories come from visits with my cousins. The best part of the summer was when the cousins would move in for a few weeks and we would spend hours every day in the pool playing water football and marco polo. 

Cousin time in the pool (always so many boys!) 

On Friday, my sister in-law Lisa took some maternity/Christmas photos for us and it was fun to talk about doing newborn photos soon too. 

Sneak peek of week 29! 

I also really enjoyed having a very real conversation at dinner about the best and hardest parts about being a new parent. Dans brother Jeff talked about the challenging late nights when you can't comfort the baby and Maria shared how hard it is to operate on no sleep. If you know Dan's family, you know they are the most patient people so hearing them say being a new parent is hard, will bring comfort to me when our long nights arrive. 

Saturday we got a Christmas Tree and then went to my dads for the Badger Gopher game. It was a great game and another Wisconsin victory! Although being at Camp Randall would have been fun, the fire, family and good food made for a pretty enjoyable football game.

Mucky! 

Our tree with a little kitty underneath 

On a very different note...I am starting to think I have some sort of car curse. Dan got up early this morning to pick up my car from the shop after getting fixed from being rear ended a few weeks ago. I had the car in my possession for less than 5 hours and on my way to do a site visit, a car backed into me in the parking lot! Yes, another car accident on the same day I got my car back from the shop. Everyone is okay and it was a minor accident but I am losing all faith in other drivers and frankly, think I should start taking the bus. I honked as the car was backing up and couldn't have done anything to prevent this one either but I am still SO frustrated! Grateful I wasn't hurt but shook up by what feels like a car curse! Anyway, this blog is supposed to document my pregnancy, not my accident records so I won't vent any more. Let's just hope for a safe rest of the winter! 

Baby g is a cabbage 

Little baby g only has 11 more weeks to go and is currently the size of a small cabbage. 

Cravings: chocolate (like always) so I bought some carob today to see if that satisfies my craving. It did not, I had a cookie later on! 

Carob, milk and Schmidt honey

Symptoms: not many, just some indigestion even though I have been eating smaller meals. Oh, and constant trips to the bathroom and some swelling in my legs. 

Super swollen feet- you can still
see my sock line 20 minutes after
taking them off- gross! 

Fetus Development: Teeth are forming this week. Baby is also putting on white vs brown fat which not only keeps him warm but also stores energy.

Strangest new fact: baby's adrenal glands are producing hormones that might cause my breast to leak milk even before he is born. WHAT?!?! Never learned that in anatomy class. 

Favorite pregnancy moment: I love seeing Dan so excited about our growing family. He admires my belly, pokes it when we see baby feet trying to escape, and spoils me with kindness and support.