Pregnancy: 35 weeks 1 day
Total weight gain: 15 Kilos (33lbs)
Baby size (head to butt): 31cm (12.2in)
Baby size (head to foot): 45cm (17.7in)
Baby weight (approx): 2.3kg (5lbs)
I finally had my do I need a caesarian ultrasound on Wednesday. The appointment started out ok, the technician checked Mushi’s size and measurements, which were all spot on what they should be, with Mushi’s head down, and bum pretty much right under my boob (so where my stomach has migrated to, I’m not quite sure), laying on his/her side. I asked if I get a disc full of nice images like I did at my other ultrasounds (which were performed elsewhere, this one was at the hospital). She said no. Darn. I couldn’t even see the screen as she was performing the ultrasound. At the other place, the screen is positioned so both the mom and the technician can see it, so the mom doesn’t have to just stare at the ceiling the whole time. Then I was told I needed an internal ultrasound (“transvaginal” I believe is the technical term…). Not again. I’m not really a fan of being probed in my bits, but if it means I don’t have to have a c-section, then go for it. I had to put on one of those open at the butt gowns and then hello camera (well, ultrasound instrument). Mushi’s head is right down in my pelvis, so the technician tried to push the head up a little to allow some amniotic fluid to get under his head. Mushi was having none of that though. He seems quite comfortable down there and refused to move his head (and instead protested by kicking me in the ribs). The technician was amazed at how much Mushi was moving during the ultrasound. I told her he is playing games. Usually when you push on my stomach that means it’s playtime, and Mushi pushes back. Clever little baby. Anyway, after much prodding, the end of the placenta could not be seen at all by the internal ultrasound as it was too far away (which is a good thing). In the end, it was determined that my placenta is 7cm from my cervix, and no scheduled caesarian is needed. My placenta used to be 7mm from my cervix, so that was great news.
Thursday was my last day of work. I finally get to sleep in!!!! They took me out to lunch and gave me a cute little polar fleece blanket with a zebra on it for the baby. Now I get to rest up before Mushi is born, get the room ready, etc.
I mentioned before that I like surprises, but not surprise shots. Well, I got another surprise shot on Friday. I really wish they would warn me. Maybe something like “on your next visit, you will need to get another anti-D shot.” Although, then I may have been stressing about getting the shot (I HATE needles!), so maybe I don’t want warning. The Jury is still out. This time the midwife asked me if I wanted it in the arm or the butt. What? I have a choice? I didn’t get a choice last time. She said she likes to give people a choice. I asked her which hurt less, and she said the butt. Butt it is then. Last time it didn’t really hurt when I was getting it, and it didn’t hurt at all afterwards. This time, it was quite painful, and my butt was sore for hours afterwards. I think maybe that particular midwife needs some more practice giving shots. She was quite young, so I suppose she was not as experienced as the older midwife I had for my last butt shot. Luckily I don’t have to have another until after Mushi is born. Word on the street is they won’t be routinely giving negative blood type pregnant women anti-D anymore because it takes too many blood donations (they are made with blood or platelets or some part of human blood) to make them and there aren’t enough donors. There also isn’t a huge chance that the baby’s blood will mix with the mothers before birth if you haven’t had any sort of bleeding or anything. The midwife said that Mushi is thriving in there. I never tire of hearing that. The ultrasound tech said after taking all measurements, heart rate, etc. that he/she is perfect. Good baby.
I had my first baby shower on Saturday. The Jess (my sister in law) organised it, and had it at her and Grandma’s house. The greek in The Jess (I call her the Jess, she calls me The Sheri, that is just how we are) really came out, and there was food everywhere. I certainly wasn’t complaining! I even got to eat oreos. Finally, I’ve only been craving them for like 2 months. I didn’t want to buy any because I knew I would eat the entire pack. We played some funny games. Guests had to team up look through magazines, and then cut and tape onto a piece of paper to make their idea of what Mushi will look like. Oh was that funny. There were 2 comical entries, and one realistic one. The realistic one was really good, they even had the eyebrows and hair. I got lots of good presents as well, which is really helpful considering all we really have so far is clothes. My host Mum Linda even made us the cutest quilt for the cot, as well as a cute little knitted sweater. My host sister Lauren knitted us some booties and a beanie that match the sweater. Awww….. At the end, everyone had to take some yarn and cut a length that they thought would be the measurement of my belly. Everyone but Lauren was WAY off!!!! The Jess’ string was nearly as long as she is tall (she’s not that tall, but still…). Come on people, I’m not that fat! Most pieces were at least a foot longer then necessary. Lauren was only off by about 3 inches. She said she guesstimated how big she would be if she were pregnant, and then halved that. You’re funny Lozza! FYI, I’m 97cm (38in) around the belly at the moment. The month I got pregnant, my waist was 60cm (23in). Of course now I’m measuring the biggest part of my stomach, and then I was measuring my waist, the smallest part. I don’t want to measure my hips/butt. I’m not game enough to see how much bigger they are.
My stomach looks even funnier now. Apart from the battle zone that is my belly button, I now have a line running all the way down the middle of my belly. It looks like I have dipped a very small paintbrush in the cheapest, most orange, ugly self tanner I could find, and then drew a line all the way from the top of my belly to my bikini line (well, I’m assuming it goes all the way down to there, but since I haven’t actually been able to see my bikini line for some months now, that is debatable. Lucky it’s not summer, fixing up my bikini line doesn’t go so well when you can’t actually see it). According to the pregnancy magazine I was reading on the weekend, this line usually appears around 14 weeks if you are going to get it. Some women don’t. I guess I’m just a late bloomer.
Mommy Adventures 