Week 26, Day 6

At week 26! I can't believe it. If Zoe were to be born now, she would have to stay in intensive care for quite some time and probably have complications (perhaps life-long) but she would most likely live! Way to go Zoe!

We took a tour of the birthing center w/Los Boudreau (also expecting!) on Tuesday and I really enjoyed it. The midwife we talked to seemed well educated and likeable, granted I can't remember her name. I have my first appointment at the center on Tuesday. Actually, I have two appointments. One for gestational diabetes at 8:15a and then I come back at 3:30p for my first prenatal check up at their office. From now on I'll visit with the midwife every two weeks instead of every month like at the beginning of pregnancy! How exciting! It is all beginning to feel more real.

I think the Bradley birthing class plays into the "real" factor quite a bit. Every Monday night for 2 hours, Matt and I join up with 7 other expanding pregnant women and their partners to talk about giving birth. We see pictures, watch videos, play games about the stage of labor and sometimes practice relaxation. We're really learning a lot I think about what to expect. Matt even asked the midwife some very pointed, informed questions during our tour, such as, "At what point of late first stage labor do we come to the center? How far apart will the contractions be and for what duration?" My husband - such an active partcipant. You basically get to choose the room you want at the center if no one else is there (usually the case) and I really want this one: http://austinabc.com/modules.php?name=Content&pa=showpage&pid=11
What you can't see is the beautiful giant tub and the wonderful shower/bathroom/large area where people can sit, etc.

So one of the ways listed that you know you are ready to go to the center and are in what is called "active labor" reads "No longer modest." If there was anything I am not looking forward to it would be this. I AM modest. Even in marriage. And I'm going to be doing all sort of bodily functions in front of matt... a boy?!?! I'm sure at the time it won't matter, but gosh does it matter now.

I'm starting to get really, really excited about Zoe. I mean, I have been excited, but when your stomach isn't growing and you have 6+ months to wait it can be hard to feel like pregnancy is even real. I mean, puking felt extremely real, but even then we had so long. Now, I'm 3 days away from my third trimester and gearing up for baby fest '09. Not to mention the semester will be over soon and I will have a month of rest/ramp up to the summer. I'm going to register the second weekend in May!! Registering... oh the fun. I'll let you know when/where I go. Ceci says I should register at both and hopefully get gift cards to both places. Ever so exciting. I'm still trying to figure out if I want a infant or converitble car seat. I'm leaning towards convertible, but then I'm not sure how the stroller factor works. So much to figure out when pregnant.

In terms of how I'm feeling - well, mostly uncomfortable. I can't breathe after meals (I don't think the lungs have enough room with the baby and the stomach competing for space) and often sitting in class seats makes it hard to breathe also. And sleep is pretty much nonexistent. It has been since the beginning of pregnancy - I've never slept so poorly in my whole life. Thank God we have a dog who can keep me company in the middle of the night. Niko and I have had some good conversation between the hours of 1 and 6 am. Latley though, I wake up because of straight-up pain. Sciatic pain, hip pain, because the act of rolling over reminds me greatly of a beached whale struggling to maintain any sort of control. Every night when we get into bed I cringe a little because it might be my least favorite part of the day. Except for getting to be with Matt - that I love.

Zoe is still moving strong. Consistently after I eat and when I lie down to sleep. And if I push on my stomach she'll squirm around as well. Apparently she is about 14 inches and weighs around 1 and 2/3 pounds. I'm not sure where this 14 inch human is resisding, except that this little girl must be very, very squished.

In the third trimester most women pick up around another 10 pounds. Eep! I've gained right around 19-20 right now. We ate dinner with Los Porter last Sunday and Matt picked up two 5 pound weights and a 8 pound and held them at his stomach and exclaimed, "this is how you feel!?" I corrected him by placing the 5 pound bar at his chest, another 5 pound where Zoe is and I should have directed that 8 pounder to his hips. That, I think, is a more accurate representation.

Well, until next time - happy life to Baby Boudreau, just 6 weeks old in the making!

p.s. for the record, I have not bought one thing for baby Zoe yet. Her auntKim, her gramma jamma, and her mostly-aunt meagan can not say the same. :) Everyone loves babies.