Today was my last appointment with Michele. It was supposed to have been at 9am this morning but at 7:15am I got a text saying she was attending the birth of a woman who had gone into early labour and if I could just wait for her text to come in.
So at around mid-day (noon) I got a text asking if I'd prefer 2:30pm today or 10:30am tomorrow. We went for the 2:30 slot and arrived shortly after 2:30 due to massive rain storms and just being late in leaving the house.
Classic.
Everything looks and sounds good. The heartbeat sounds good - no ectopic beats today but we'll keep an eye/ear out for things there.
My blood pressure was (of course) a little higher than she likes to see, but I think it's just me being in Uganda - higher elevation levels? I have no idea. I'm personally not worried, but we'll keep an eye on things to be sure.
I'm measuring 33 inches so as big as I feel, I am still smaller than I've been with both other pregnancies so here's hoping for a smaller baby! He's not small by any means, but I'm hoping this means that I can expect an under 9lb baby. *crossed fingers*
We talked about where I go when I am coming in to deliver, how long they'll let me go over due (there's no rush but will likely book a 41 week physiological scan if no baby has arrived by then) and then a crazy lady walked into our room and interrupted our conversation. Awesome. Michele escorted her out and found a nurse to keep an eye out for her.
My thoughts on everything is that it may just be better to have my baby at a hospital here rather than a hospital in Canada. They seem a bit more laid back, less likely to administer or push drugs or a C-section and as I tend to be more of an independent labour-er the doctor will just be there for the end of things while the nurses/midwives will do routine checks on me (if I'm in the hospital with enough time to be labouring instead of pushing out a baby!).
So I've got my next appointment with the doctor in 2 weeks and we'll see how he is, how the appointment goes and I'm just trusting that God's plan is best and it's yet another opportunity to trust in Him to take care of me and this baby.
And now to submit my receipts (oh how I miss "free" healthcare - sure it all gets refunded back to us, but we have to pay up front here and then submit paperwork to our insurance. ugh. I hate paperwork.).
Showing posts with label midwife. Show all posts
Showing posts with label midwife. Show all posts
Tuesday, July 31, 2012
Tuesday, July 3, 2012
31 weeks + 3 days
I had my 2nd last midwife appointment with Michele today. It went well.
Jamie dropped me off because he had to go pick up our camera that I left at a friend's house on Saturday for his trip to Manila.
Of course this was the one time I sat waiting for Michele to finish up with her previous appointment. But it did give me enough time to chill, relax and almost doze off as I waited. Because of this, my blood pressure was nice and low. So we laughed about that. I should probably come to all my appointments early enough to sit and relax for a few minutes.
We heard the heartbeat and it sounded great and we only caught the ectopic beat at the very beginning and then the heartbeat sounded perfectly fine and regular. Again, she reassured me this was nothing to worry about and I'm not. I feel good and at peace about it.
I had her go through my birth plan and help me with wording and taking things out that are irrelevant and highlighting things that will be important for me and Jamie and the baby.
I also got the results of my blood work and for the first time in 3 pregnancies, my blood levels are within a normal range! Amazing. Perhaps I'm eating more red meat living here? I'm not sure. But I'm pleased.
I'll get blood work done once more around 36 weeks to double check as well as get tested for GBS and here's hoping it's negative. But we'll see.
Jamie got off to the airport okay and we all said good-bye to him after lunch.
I think that's it. I'll have one more appointment with Michele before she leaves for the UK and I'll meet Dr. Busingye (boo-sin-jee) at that time.
My next appointment is on Jude's birthday - July 31st.
Jamie dropped me off because he had to go pick up our camera that I left at a friend's house on Saturday for his trip to Manila.
Of course this was the one time I sat waiting for Michele to finish up with her previous appointment. But it did give me enough time to chill, relax and almost doze off as I waited. Because of this, my blood pressure was nice and low. So we laughed about that. I should probably come to all my appointments early enough to sit and relax for a few minutes.
We heard the heartbeat and it sounded great and we only caught the ectopic beat at the very beginning and then the heartbeat sounded perfectly fine and regular. Again, she reassured me this was nothing to worry about and I'm not. I feel good and at peace about it.
I had her go through my birth plan and help me with wording and taking things out that are irrelevant and highlighting things that will be important for me and Jamie and the baby.
I also got the results of my blood work and for the first time in 3 pregnancies, my blood levels are within a normal range! Amazing. Perhaps I'm eating more red meat living here? I'm not sure. But I'm pleased.
I'll get blood work done once more around 36 weeks to double check as well as get tested for GBS and here's hoping it's negative. But we'll see.
Jamie got off to the airport okay and we all said good-bye to him after lunch.
I think that's it. I'll have one more appointment with Michele before she leaves for the UK and I'll meet Dr. Busingye (boo-sin-jee) at that time.
My next appointment is on Jude's birthday - July 31st.
Saturday, June 30, 2012
thirty ONE
o canada!
breaking out my patriotic side with this shirt. i finally gave in and bought some maternity clothes. this shirt is not "maternity" but it's long. so it works.
there are some strawberry cupcakes sitting on my counter awaiting slatherings of icing and hungry bellies. tomorrow. i will likely eat at least two.
tuesday i have my next midwife appointment. i think i'll run through my birth plan with her to see if and what i need to change if they are things that are just not applicable. we'll see.
and it may be my last appointment with michele. i'm not sure but i'll find out on tuesday morning.
and now? i will sleep. and hope that jude does not wake up for the third night in a row with a tantrum because he doesn't want to be in his bed any more and that he wants to eat. um, no. we do not each at 3am. just because you chose not to eat your dinner, does not mean you get to make the rest of us pay the consequences.
that's all.
{31 weeks! crazy!}
Wednesday, June 6, 2012
if it's not one thing, it's another
I know. I missed this week's baby bump picture. But Jamie was away. But he's home. Hooray!
I had a midwife appointment yesterday. The good news is my blood pressure has gone back down to what it was, despite it still being higher than Michele would like to see {134/85}. But still. It went down! I'm happy with that.
The other news is that when we were listening to baby B's heartbeat Michele mentioned that she had thought she heard it last time and that this time she was pretty sure that the little "blip" sound that was coming at the same time as the "whooshing" of his heartbeat is what they call an ectopic heartbeat. She quickly reassured me that it's nothing to worry about and it can happen but usually resolves itself. She wasn't entirely clear on what it was as she said she didn't know too much about it, but again reassured me that women are told not to worry about it.
Which of course means nothing to a pregnant lady.
So I googled it when I got home. There's not too much info out there except lots of other worried mommies who end up having perfectly healthy babies.
So we'll keep monitoring it and praying for healthy growth for baby B.
I can't believe I'm in my third trimester! Where has all the time gone!?
I'm getting really excited to meet this little guy and also reading lots of stories online of accidental unassisted home births. Which I probably shouldn't. But I find them less terrifying now and more fascinating.
Who knows what this delivery will be like? I just hope it's quick and we're out of the hospital ASAP.
I had a midwife appointment yesterday. The good news is my blood pressure has gone back down to what it was, despite it still being higher than Michele would like to see {134/85}. But still. It went down! I'm happy with that.
The other news is that when we were listening to baby B's heartbeat Michele mentioned that she had thought she heard it last time and that this time she was pretty sure that the little "blip" sound that was coming at the same time as the "whooshing" of his heartbeat is what they call an ectopic heartbeat. She quickly reassured me that it's nothing to worry about and it can happen but usually resolves itself. She wasn't entirely clear on what it was as she said she didn't know too much about it, but again reassured me that women are told not to worry about it.
Which of course means nothing to a pregnant lady.
So I googled it when I got home. There's not too much info out there except lots of other worried mommies who end up having perfectly healthy babies.
So we'll keep monitoring it and praying for healthy growth for baby B.
I can't believe I'm in my third trimester! Where has all the time gone!?
I'm getting really excited to meet this little guy and also reading lots of stories online of accidental unassisted home births. Which I probably shouldn't. But I find them less terrifying now and more fascinating.
Who knows what this delivery will be like? I just hope it's quick and we're out of the hospital ASAP.
Tuesday, May 22, 2012
under pressure
I met with Michele today for another appointment at the hospital. This time we brought the boys as well. It's always fun when people get to meet my kids. She said they were like two peas in a pod. In her British accent, of course. :)
The appointment went well apart from one thing. I have slightly high blood pressure. I've never had high blood pressure. In fact, I think my blood pressure may have once been on the minorly low side with one of my other pregnancies. I always heard my midwives say, "Oh lovely." or "Perfect." when they took my blood pressure before. But even from my first appointment with Michele, it was never even close to being "low". I started around 132/83 and stayed around that number, went down for my last appointment to something over 79 but today's was 134/93. Not good.
I admit I googled "high blood pressure in pregnancy" a few weeks ago - probably after my last appointment with Michele.
The good thing is that there is no trace of protein in my urine (a significant warning sign of pre-eclampsia) and I have no swelling thus far. I did have a bit of swelling in my hands with Jude and significant swelling in my feet with Noah so I'm just hoping for no swelling at all.
I'm not freaking out, but I am mildly concerned and trying to stay calm and just chill out. Part of me also wonders if I have mild white-coat syndrome or if being out on the roads here is just generally stressful for my body as I don't feel quite relaxed or myself when I'm at the hospital. It could also be that the boys were there too, although they weren't acting out our misbehaving or anything.
Either way, I would appreciate your prayers that my blood pressure comes down a bit and that nothing serious would arise from this.
**oh and I've now gained 9lbs! whew, growth spurt indeed!**
The appointment went well apart from one thing. I have slightly high blood pressure. I've never had high blood pressure. In fact, I think my blood pressure may have once been on the minorly low side with one of my other pregnancies. I always heard my midwives say, "Oh lovely." or "Perfect." when they took my blood pressure before. But even from my first appointment with Michele, it was never even close to being "low". I started around 132/83 and stayed around that number, went down for my last appointment to something over 79 but today's was 134/93. Not good.
I admit I googled "high blood pressure in pregnancy" a few weeks ago - probably after my last appointment with Michele.
The good thing is that there is no trace of protein in my urine (a significant warning sign of pre-eclampsia) and I have no swelling thus far. I did have a bit of swelling in my hands with Jude and significant swelling in my feet with Noah so I'm just hoping for no swelling at all.
I'm not freaking out, but I am mildly concerned and trying to stay calm and just chill out. Part of me also wonders if I have mild white-coat syndrome or if being out on the roads here is just generally stressful for my body as I don't feel quite relaxed or myself when I'm at the hospital. It could also be that the boys were there too, although they weren't acting out our misbehaving or anything.
Either way, I would appreciate your prayers that my blood pressure comes down a bit and that nothing serious would arise from this.
**oh and I've now gained 9lbs! whew, growth spurt indeed!**
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
heart beat
We {Jamie came this time!} met with our midwife today and got to hear our sweet boy's heartbeat. It's always so sweet to hear the heartbeat.
I had a bunch of questions written down this time like, *gasp* circumcision {how much, procedure, who does it?} and how much it will cost to deliver here {around 2 million....shillings. ha. this is just under $1000 CAD} and when will I meet Dr. Busingye {the doctor who will likely be delivering this baby since our midwife will be going back to the UK when I'm due} and what if I had to deliver the baby at home {we got a good set of instructions for if I felt I couldn't make it in time - Jamie thinks this would be cool. I kinda do, too.} and a bunch of other things.
Phew. Having a baby in a hospital seems to add a whole other set of additional details to consider that I've never had to think about before {my biggest concern at this point is someone to watch our boys & getting to the hospital in time}!
I am sad that I won't be able to attempt a third home birth, but I'm not freaking out about it {anymore} and I'm really just feeling a peace surrounding this entire pregnancy and birth regarding all the details. God's in control and this baby, while his arrival is unknown to us, is entirely known and planned by God. I love that.
I had a bunch of questions written down this time like, *gasp* circumcision {how much, procedure, who does it?} and how much it will cost to deliver here {around 2 million....shillings. ha. this is just under $1000 CAD} and when will I meet Dr. Busingye {the doctor who will likely be delivering this baby since our midwife will be going back to the UK when I'm due} and what if I had to deliver the baby at home {we got a good set of instructions for if I felt I couldn't make it in time - Jamie thinks this would be cool. I kinda do, too.} and a bunch of other things.
Phew. Having a baby in a hospital seems to add a whole other set of additional details to consider that I've never had to think about before {my biggest concern at this point is someone to watch our boys & getting to the hospital in time}!
I am sad that I won't be able to attempt a third home birth, but I'm not freaking out about it {anymore} and I'm really just feeling a peace surrounding this entire pregnancy and birth regarding all the details. God's in control and this baby, while his arrival is unknown to us, is entirely known and planned by God. I love that.
Thursday, March 22, 2012
and we have...
...movement! yesterday the midwife asked if I had felt any movement and I said I wasn't sure but maybe. and then yesterday I for sure felt movement and this morning after drinking a cup of african chai and eating a slice of chocolate zucchini bread the baby was dancing!
this is the fun part for sure.
this is the fun part for sure.
Tuesday, March 20, 2012
heart beat
I met with M {the midwife} today for a 4 month check up.
It was short and sweet as there weren't any major concerns or questions on my part.
AND...I got to hear the baby's heartbeat.
S/he was moving about and M said that the baby is quite active! It took a few seconds to find the heartbeat and for one scary moment I thought, what if she can't find it? what if there is no heartbeat? Oh those ridiculous "what ifs".
But we did hear the heart beat and I can't wait to see the baby in a couple weeks {we'll go the week after Easter}.
I think I've started feeling movements which has been so sweet.
But I've got that pinched nerve back in my left foot. The only time it ever really bothers me is when I'm kneeling on the ground to change Jude's diaper. In fact, it's so painful at this time that I can't kneel so I have to switch positions {note to self; get Jude potty trained. soon.}
We've started thinking about giving the baby a Lugandan middle name {in addition to an English middle name}. Jamie suggested it and while not initially "for it", the idea has grown on me, and I quite like it.
Once we find out the baby's gender, and decide on a name, I think we'll at least make the first name public so as to help the boys really grasp the idea of this baby as a person and as a boy or girl.
It was short and sweet as there weren't any major concerns or questions on my part.
AND...I got to hear the baby's heartbeat.
S/he was moving about and M said that the baby is quite active! It took a few seconds to find the heartbeat and for one scary moment I thought, what if she can't find it? what if there is no heartbeat? Oh those ridiculous "what ifs".
But we did hear the heart beat and I can't wait to see the baby in a couple weeks {we'll go the week after Easter}.
I think I've started feeling movements which has been so sweet.
But I've got that pinched nerve back in my left foot. The only time it ever really bothers me is when I'm kneeling on the ground to change Jude's diaper. In fact, it's so painful at this time that I can't kneel so I have to switch positions {note to self; get Jude potty trained. soon.}
We've started thinking about giving the baby a Lugandan middle name {in addition to an English middle name}. Jamie suggested it and while not initially "for it", the idea has grown on me, and I quite like it.
Once we find out the baby's gender, and decide on a name, I think we'll at least make the first name public so as to help the boys really grasp the idea of this baby as a person and as a boy or girl.
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
introducing baby Mater!
today was ultrasound day {or as they say, "scan"}.
our good friend james drove me as I wasn't familiar with the roads and it turns out it was right downtown so I'm glad I didn't drive.
I arrived on time and went in to see Alice, the ultrasound technician. she was nice but quiet and got right down to work.
it took me a few minutes but eventually I realized that there was a television screen showing me everything she could see. I saw my baby! a tear rolled out of my eye as I saw my baby for the first time. so sweet with arms and legs and just swimming around.
you wanna see? {of course you do.}
that's right! 3D ultrasound! we never got it done with Noah or Jude because it's just too expensive and we didn't want to have to get it done with our subsequent children. it just so happened that the technology she was using could do both 2D and 3D. lucky me!
mostly the baby {I keep wanting to say "he" although I'm sure it's more out of habit than anything else} just wanted to sleep so at one point Alice tried to prod the baby a bit and he/she ended up twisting and turning a couple times and then went back to sleep. we laughed at that.
also? the boys have nicknamed this baby "baby Mater" so until we find out the gender {if we do, I guess...the jury's still out} I think that name is sticking.
my midwife appointment went well. M is lovely and quite nice but the bad news? she's not going to be in Uganda when I give birth {which by the way, my due date is officially September 1st}. so I'm pretty bummed about that, but God knows and so I'm just trusting Him to take care all the details.
I got a tour of the hospital and it seems nice and decent enough.
so we'll see.
mostly though I'm just completely thrilled that I got to see baby Mater and that he/she is growing and healthy and...I have a baby inside me! amazing. best Valentine's gift ever. :)
our good friend james drove me as I wasn't familiar with the roads and it turns out it was right downtown so I'm glad I didn't drive.
I arrived on time and went in to see Alice, the ultrasound technician. she was nice but quiet and got right down to work.
it took me a few minutes but eventually I realized that there was a television screen showing me everything she could see. I saw my baby! a tear rolled out of my eye as I saw my baby for the first time. so sweet with arms and legs and just swimming around.
you wanna see? {of course you do.}
that's right! 3D ultrasound! we never got it done with Noah or Jude because it's just too expensive and we didn't want to have to get it done with our subsequent children. it just so happened that the technology she was using could do both 2D and 3D. lucky me!
mostly the baby {I keep wanting to say "he" although I'm sure it's more out of habit than anything else} just wanted to sleep so at one point Alice tried to prod the baby a bit and he/she ended up twisting and turning a couple times and then went back to sleep. we laughed at that.
also? the boys have nicknamed this baby "baby Mater" so until we find out the gender {if we do, I guess...the jury's still out} I think that name is sticking.
my midwife appointment went well. M is lovely and quite nice but the bad news? she's not going to be in Uganda when I give birth {which by the way, my due date is officially September 1st}. so I'm pretty bummed about that, but God knows and so I'm just trusting Him to take care all the details.
I got a tour of the hospital and it seems nice and decent enough.
so we'll see.
mostly though I'm just completely thrilled that I got to see baby Mater and that he/she is growing and healthy and...I have a baby inside me! amazing. best Valentine's gift ever. :)
Thursday, February 9, 2012
Spain and sickness
I've neglected this blog. All my blogs, actually. And the internet. We had no (free) internet in Spain and then since we've been home I've been really sick with a head cold/flu thing. I'm finally up and about (mostly) today although still extremely congested. How is it that pregnant women's immune systems are lowered and they can't take cold medication? That's just plain cruel.
And this time it was me who had to cancel my appointment with M as I was so sick I really couldn't make it in. So I've rescheduled for next Tuesday - Valentine's Day! I have an ultrasound in the morning at 10:30 and then the midwife appointment at 1:30. So hopefully it will be a really good Valentine's Day and I'll get to hear and see my baby!
There is a part of me that worries for this baby. I forgot to take my multivitamins most days in Spain and I've only been well enough today to remember to take them again. Is my baby getting the proper nutrients?
And then there's a ton of other things...the spray they spray up and down the aisles on the airplanes when leaving Africa (I breathed through my shirt). And then with being sick and having weird back pain...let's just say I've prayed a lot for this baby already.
Spain was lovely, though. I slept a lot and the boys did too! We could hear the ocean from our bedroom and during the afternoons in Nerja it got up to around 17 degrees which was absolutely lovely. It was like a warm autumn day. Absolute perfection.
We walked a lot on the beautiful, smooth, paved, safe sidewalks. Did I mention I forgot how much I missed sidewalks? No? Well. Wow. Who knew such a small thing would be so important to my mental health?!? Sidewalks. What a marvelous invention.
Anyway, right now I'm just trying to recover, get lots of rest (I've been in bed pretty much since we got home on Monday evening) and drink lots.
And as of Monday I was 10 weeks pregnant!
And this time it was me who had to cancel my appointment with M as I was so sick I really couldn't make it in. So I've rescheduled for next Tuesday - Valentine's Day! I have an ultrasound in the morning at 10:30 and then the midwife appointment at 1:30. So hopefully it will be a really good Valentine's Day and I'll get to hear and see my baby!
There is a part of me that worries for this baby. I forgot to take my multivitamins most days in Spain and I've only been well enough today to remember to take them again. Is my baby getting the proper nutrients?
And then there's a ton of other things...the spray they spray up and down the aisles on the airplanes when leaving Africa (I breathed through my shirt). And then with being sick and having weird back pain...let's just say I've prayed a lot for this baby already.
Spain was lovely, though. I slept a lot and the boys did too! We could hear the ocean from our bedroom and during the afternoons in Nerja it got up to around 17 degrees which was absolutely lovely. It was like a warm autumn day. Absolute perfection.
We walked a lot on the beautiful, smooth, paved, safe sidewalks. Did I mention I forgot how much I missed sidewalks? No? Well. Wow. Who knew such a small thing would be so important to my mental health?!? Sidewalks. What a marvelous invention.
Anyway, right now I'm just trying to recover, get lots of rest (I've been in bed pretty much since we got home on Monday evening) and drink lots.
And as of Monday I was 10 weeks pregnant!
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
post-poned
I got a text yesterday from the midwife M, that she was going to have to reschedule our appointment. So I'll be seeing her when I get back from Spain. She said I had to go get an ultrasound before meeting with her so I'll do that in the morning and then meet her at around noon {they call it mid-day here}.
A bit disappointed that I'll have to wait until after, but excited for an ultrasound!
Also? Yesterday I felt like death. Today I feel better.
And...Jamie's getting the boys in the morning from now on so I can sleep in a bit.
Best.Husband.Ever.
A bit disappointed that I'll have to wait until after, but excited for an ultrasound!
Also? Yesterday I felt like death. Today I feel better.
And...Jamie's getting the boys in the morning from now on so I can sleep in a bit.
Best.Husband.Ever.
Thursday, January 19, 2012
Pregnant!
I knew after I didn't get my period on Boxing Day that in likelihood I was pregnant. But I waited. Maybe to just relish in the thought of my private confidence that there was a little life growing inside of me, or maybe to just make sure that I really was pregnant.
Either way, I eventually bought asuper sketchy pregnancy test from the pharmacy {for less than $1} and that confirmed what I already knew.
Baby #3 was on the way!
So I meet up with our potential midwife on Tuesday. At the hospital that she works out of. She doesn't do home births. So there's some anxiety there for me. Having had two previous home births {in Canada} I amterrified kinda nervous to have a hospital birth. It's not for safety reasons or anything like that, it's more the idea of being forced into a position I am uncomfortable with or having to be hooked up to wires or pressured into a procedure that is unnecessary. I am glad this is my third child. I know what my body is capable of and I think that should it come to it, I can act like a crazy pregnant woman and get what I know I need.
Yet another way God continues to teach me to trust in Him and know that His plan is good and no matter what happens, He will be with me through every step in this journey.
So here we go!
Either way, I eventually bought a
Baby #3 was on the way!
So I meet up with our potential midwife on Tuesday. At the hospital that she works out of. She doesn't do home births. So there's some anxiety there for me. Having had two previous home births {in Canada} I am
Yet another way God continues to teach me to trust in Him and know that His plan is good and no matter what happens, He will be with me through every step in this journey.
So here we go!
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