crystal's capers

one girl's international adventures

Saturday, December 18, 2010

For Future Reference

40 weeks today. Such a milestone, yet so anti-climactic. No baby to speak of yet.

I'm not sure how I'm feeling about the situation. I mean, really I don't have a lot of choice either way, but I still have mixed feelings about Baby coming now or later.

The Thursday before last my ultrasound scan indicated that Baby is a bit of a piglet at 10lbs and growing. Not too keen on labouring that, but I'm getting constant reassurance that it's all about positioning, rather than size. Right. I'm sure in this case, size really doesn't matter. Uh-huh. Whatever, Baby is coming regardless. I am still thinking the sooner the better. So far I can conclusively say that baths, scrubbing the floor on all fours, bouncing on a yoga ball, walking and keeping active, climbing up 4 - 6 flights of stairs and curry have not done the trick. I'm currently waiting on the midwife to show up to do a 'sweep', the first, non-chemical stage of induction. We'll see. Have to schedule in some sex as well. Ha. In the end, as everyone and their dog reiterates, Baby will come when it's ready.

So why the mixed feelings? Well, looking back, I've really enjoyed being pregnant. Of course there's the added attention, which this girl obviously revels in! But there have also been a range of other benefits: better skin, better hair, cute maternity clothes, flutters and wallops in the belly, shopping, decorating, ultrasound scans (of which I've had 8!)... For my own future reference, it wasn't as bad as they make out. Even now, I'm increasingly uncomfortable and still having trouble sleeping, but I do love my expansive baby bump.

On the downside, and again, for my own future reference, there have been hard parts. Morning sickness wasn't that bad, but not being able to brush my teeth without gagging for four months was trying. Also the bleeding gums, not painful, but gross. The worst thing during the mid-section of the pregnancy was the pelvic girdle pain: excrutiating. It is still there, but either I've grown used to it or my other discomforts have masked it, because I'm not noticing it as much. Later in the pregnancy, as I've whined about, sleeping became an issue. Now my turning over at night is an on-going point of contention in our bed: the process usually takes at least five minutes and requires a break mid-way to summon up the energy to continue. I've had slight issues with itchy palms and feet, but thankfully not with swelling or rashes. I've had the usual boughts of 'women's issues' in the nether regions, but nothing out of the ordinary. Overall, I think I've been very lucky.

What's more, Riccardo said something very cute the other day. He said, 'If this whole pregnancy thing wasn't so uncomfortable for you, I would have you pregnant all the time, because I think you're even more beautiful than usual!' Aw - gotta love him!

So it's bittersweet, this imminent end and imminent beginning. I want to deliver a healthy baby, naturally and without lasting damage to either of us, and I honestly cannot wait to meet the little nipper and cuddle it, and bathe it, and dress it, and feed it and play with it, and, and, and... But I know that I'll also miss this very special stage in my life, this condition that I will get to experience for such a short time overall. Riccardo and I agree that making a child of our own is a blooming miracle, but also, pregnancy in itself is an amazing and precious time.

That said, KNOCK, KNOCK! Time to come out now, Baby!

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Tuesday, December 07, 2010

38 Weeks

I've been well taken care of over the past couple weeks: Ashley's been here from Canada! While Riccardo was in Germany, we had some great girly time, and she's stayed on an extra week to visit London! I really hope she loves London as much as I do!
So what have we been up to? Well, we went for Afternoon Tea in Stratford-upon-Avon; bought truckloads of chocolate at Cadbury World; shopped in the Bullring and on New Street; got into the festive spirit at the Frankfurt Christmas Market; and enjoyed a traditional Sunday roast lunch at a lovely country pub. All this in addition to never-ending laundry (have to wash all the baby stuff I've bought!) and preparations of food for the Christmas season. This year I've scaled back slightly, despite knowing we're still going to have a very full house! We've made wontons, filo triangles, greek rice pies and chocolate chip cookies. I have yet to do the sugar cookies and macaroons. And people think I'm sitting around with my feet up during this maternity leave! Ha!

In other news, my parents and sister, Kelsey, are currently sunning in the Mayan Riviera. So jealous! They seem to really be enjoying themselves; they're currently at an ocean-side villa with private pool. Because it's in the middle of nowhere, it's actually quite affordable. Definitely something I'd consider doing on a future holiday! (None of those in the horizon, however!)

Baby is still baking nicely and seems to have no intention of making it's debut any time soon. Now that Riccardo has safely returned from Germany, I'm amping up my physical activities: more walking, more cleaning, more stair-climbing. At 38 weeks, as long as it's done in moderation, there's no harm... especially when baby is currently sized at about 41 weeks! OMG! Otherwise, I'm feeling healthy and energetic still. Back to the hospital for ultrasound scan #8 and other check-ups on Thursday.

Riccardo and I recently finished the antenatal course we signed up for in our area. It was quite expensive, but really worth it on two levels: obviously the 15 hours were full of information - in some cases, Riccardo thought, a little too much information! But also, we got to meet eight other couples in the same situation as us. Of course they are all expecting a baby within a month of us, but also, they are all around our age, from our local area and at least semi-professional. It's been a great way to meet people. Tomorrow I'm meeting u
p for a second post-course luncheon with the ladies, and on Thursday evening Riccardo will meet with the guys for drinks. I'm just so pleased about this!

When we took Ashley out for the roast lunch last weekend, we enlisted her photography skills. Since the location is so picturesque, we asked her to take some preggers pics of us together, so that's what you can see here. I'm 38 weeks in these photos - what a beach ball! xx

1 Comments:

    • At 6:56 PM, Anonymous Danica said…

      Look how beautiful you are!
      Glad to hear everything is going so well. Merry Christmas! (Why don't you e-mail me your address and I'll send a card in the mail. danicagrunert@yahoo.ca)

       
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