31 weeks and counting

Not much to report... We met our new midwife, Donna, last week and feel really good about switching to St. Joe's. Ramah had her interview with the UW Midwifery program yesterday and the director gave Donna and the practice at St. Joe's rave reviews. My acupuncturist, Mary, also gave her a thumbs up. Peanut continues to grow and measure in the 50th percentile. Last week she was 3 lbs. 5 oz. For the first time during an ultrasound she was not moving around and really did not want her picture taken. We could not get a clear shot of her face. She was head down, wedged in my pelvis, and not moving! Stuborn little thing.

We now start going for office visits every 2 weeks.

Peanut did have the hiccups for the first time yesterday, twice. Very cute, but it was tough knowing I could not do anything to help soothe them for her. My mom has said I used to get hiccups horribly in the womb. I continue to get them, frequently, and they are not fun! I sound like a croaking frog and they last for ever. I hope I've not passed this on to our little girl.

Don is loving working at the Mariners. He started taking the train to/from work. It is fantastic. He comes home and is not cranky from being in traffic.

This weekend, my mom and Heather are throwing a family shower for us. I'm excited to see everyone. Ann will be here for a long weekend and we plan to take her to a T-birds game on Saturday night. It should be great fun.

The best news in a long time...

In was hoping Don would post and tell all of you, but that's not happening ;)  Don is now a MARINER!  Yes, he got the job as their Audio Supervisor 10 days ago.  It is a great position and we were quite relieved.  Thank you all for your amazing support as we navigated the past few months.  

Don is loving it at Safeco Field.  The first day he worked I got a text photo from the broadcast booth, overlooking the stadium, with the Puget Sound in the background.  Gorgeous.  The following Monday, the HR team gave him his first M's memorabilia for his office; an autographed baseball in a case, signed by Dave Niehaus.  He was quite stoked.  I got another text photo of the ball :)  

After a long conversation with my cousin Ramah, who is also my doula, 2 weeks ago, regarding our birth plan and pain management, I have decided to plan for a water birth at St. Joseph Hospital.  Now that Peanut is growing and we are no longer concerned about delivering her early, I can give some thought to making the delivery as comfortable and memorable as we can.

The water birth is supposed to help me relax my muscles and be more soothing in general.  Remember - an epidural is not on the table and pain meds make me harf!  After my neck surgery in 2001, I leaked spinal fluid for 14 days and had to be flat on my back.  If I was even at the slightest incline, I was throwing up and experiencing the worst headache ever (worse than my migraines).  My neurosurgeon told me then that I was not a candidate for an epidural.  I can't even imagine going through that again AND trying to care for and breast feed a new born.   So a water birth is the best way for us to manage pain and make me comfortable.  The hope is my labor will also go quicker.  

I've switched my pre-natal care from my OB at Tacoma General to the midwife and OB practice at St. Joe's.  I had my intake with the nurse there last week, was not classified as high-risk, and I'm scheduled to see my new midwife this Wednesday.  Don and I really liked the women at the new office and are looking forward to this experience.  Ramah is too!  Though she's been a doula for Crystal and a few girlfriends, she's not worked with a midwife yet or done a water birth.  

Love you, 

~B