Julian Ridley Schrock: May 2005

Don't take it from me - 33 weeks

Well I am 33 weeks pregnant as of yesterday. Read all about the baby's progress at 33 weeks here.

Dare I say....

That I “think” we are ready for the baby?!? Well let me clarify, I think we have all of the necessities for the baby at least for the first few weeks. As far as mentally ready…that’s another story! We decided to wait on buying a highchair since he won’t use it for a good 5 months or so and even then I think we decided to get a booster seat one that attaches to a regular chair. We’ve seen a couple we like and need all the space saving we can get. Speaking of space saving, we also decided against the pack n’ play. Everyone I talked to only used their pack n’play while they were still small enough to use the basinet portion. After that it became an oversized toy box. But we really don’t have the space for one regardless of how we rearrange the house. Unless we’re willing to give up our couch for it which I don’t think we’re ready to do. We still may want something to act as a bassinette for downstairs for the first few months but neither of us are really crazy over bassinettes. Is there a functional reason why all of this stuff is so frilly? I rather just get a moses basket but think something out of the dogs reach would be best. We’re still thinking on that one.

But we have a small supply of infant medicines and emergency care, the bath products, diapers, bottles (even though I’ll be nursing but hoping to pump for Bryan to do some feedings) car seat and stroller...I think we may be good to go! Everything else we should be able to get on an as-need basis. If not, we’ll soon find out!

OB appointment at 32 weeks and 5 days

Blood pressure - OK
Urine - OK
Weight - OK (3 lbs - makes sense since I'm typically 6 lbs at my 4 week appointments)
Baby's Heart Rate - OK
Measuring - 33 centimeters, right on target

I love my doctor, I really do. It's so nice to feel like you are in the hands of someone who is actually competent. Yesterday was your typical appointment. It was cool though because I got to feel where the head was (right where I want it!) and his little bum and limbs. He started to show me all the different body parts but then I had a contraction and we had to wait it out. Kinda hard to feel around when your stomach is rock hard.

I asked my doctor if there was anything I could do for my sleeping issues. It's been wearing me out. He asked me a few questions about what happens when I wake up, heart racing? What's going through my mind, etc. And then he gets to the point. He wants to put me on an SSRI (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) in addition to my current anti-depressant (a dopamine reuptake blocking compound). While sleeplessness is a common symptom of pregnancy he feels (and I tend to agree) that my anxiety can be playing a big role. But he said for the next 4 weeks it's optional but after that I need to get on something because I'm classic textbook candidate for post-partum depression. Oh lucky me.

Bryan and I already have discussed that possibility and figured it's pretty inevitable. I know me and always knew that was a great risk. That is the last thing I want, depression is hard enough but when a newborn is involved it is even harder. So my doctor wants me to be on these meds about 4 weeks before I deliver so they are already effective and just something to get me through the first 6 weeks. He said my saving grace is that I'm due in the summer when the weather is nice and there is a lot of sunlight. It would be much harder for me in the dead of winter since that is a tough period for me anyway! I'll have to remember that for next baby making session (IF there is one!).

Well I’m still contemplating it. I'm not opposed to it, I know he wouldn't prescribe anything unsafe while pregnant or nursing. But this is a big part of why I love my doctor so much. He was the ONLY doctor (aside from my prescribing psychiatrist) that knew of a previous medication of mine was. (Unfortunately that medicine was not safe to take while pregnant so we stopped that before we started trying). But I've had doctors asking me how to spell it; they looked through their books to find info on it so I was greatly impressed when my OB/GYN could tell me all about the medication. I know picking your OB on the fact he knew of a particular medicine isn't the best way but it told me he's up to date, he has more general knowledge outside of the GYN world. (Plus he trained under midwives too so he's the perfect balance of "natural" and "clinical" for me.) I wanted someone who knew my whole life and could take all aspects into account. But I just found out yesterday that he was trained in the psych field before, he did some work out of Sheppard Pratt and he currently does some primary care for people in need of head meds. He's the perfect combo for me!

So for now I'm still deciding on the meds. I know I'll do it; I just may wait a few more weeks. It's hard because all pregnant women experience mood issues but it's hard to tell what is normal pregnancy hormones acting up and what is being compounded by that along with my depression. He said every mood change a normal pregnant woman would experience would only be greatly increased for me. I rather not (and I'm sure Bryan would rather not) deal with unnecessary negative feelings and mood swings if we don't have to.

Ugh, more decisions for Bryan and I…

All packed up and nowhere to go

I started packing my hospital bags yesterday and have almost everything together. They said to bring 1 small bag...I wonder how they will feel about 2 medium sized bags. I wouldn't even consider my purse to be a small bag they can't expect me to go into this unknown with one little bag (and my big birthing ball, and the video camera, and...)! I still have just about 7 weeks left still but can never be too prepared. I'm hoping he'll decide to come a couple weeks early anyway. They say typically first time mom's go late but pretty much everyone I know has gone early and that's what I'm hoping for! It'll depend on who he takes after. If he's like me he'll be ready a month ahead of schedule but keep forgetting something at the last minute and end up late. Or if he's like Bryan he'll wait until the last minute to get ready but then only take a few minutes and be out in no time! He'll come when he's ready so we're just trying to be ready for him.

We still need to get a tripod (or find ours). Yes we are filming the birth but it's for our own personal collection, not to share! It's just going to be Bryan and I in the delivery room so we'll just set the camera on a tripod and film what we can get. I also need to gather up my CD's, these delivery rooms are in major need of some ambiance!

I have an OB appointment today which should just be your typical 10 minute routine appointment. My only complaint now is the daily insomnia I have been having from 3:30 a.m. which seems to keep extending itself until almost 6 a.m. these days! It makes it pretty difficult to get up in the mornings for work which is hard enough to begin with!

I'll let you know how the appointment goes!

Don't take it from me...

You can read what happens at 32 weeks all on your very own: Babycenter.com - 32 weeks

Interview with a vampire

Fine, he wasn't a vampire but almost just as bad...HE HAD A MULLET. Yes the potential pediatrician we met with yesterday had a mullet. And it wasn't the hip version that was coming back around, like the one my friend Pepper had. This was your good ol' fashioned business in the front, party in the back. Can I see us putting our son's life in the hands of a mullet man? That is the question we are currently trying to answer. I'm sure there is no correlation between his hairstyle and his medical skill, but it makes me wonder "how can I ensure he is up on all the latest treatments when he can't even keep up on men's hairstyles."

Aside from that, he seemed like a good doctor. I can't say I left there like "oh yeah he's totally the one" but there wasn't anything I didn't like (aside from said hair). I was surprised that he hadn’t heard of Attachment Parenting, that doesn’t sit too well with me. It’s not really a new concept. I can’t say it’s mainstream but I thought someone in his field would have at least heard it mentioned before. We haven't finalized our decision but not sure if we'll be interviewing anymore. He seemed like he was on the same page with parenting lifestyles as we were. He is a little green but I kinda liked that he was on the younger side. He is a Johns Hopkins doctor which are supposed to be great. He's located within walking distance of our house; he does have some evening appointments which were all things I was looking for. And it's not like we're forced to stay with him if it doesn't work out.

One thing that really bothered me was the receptionists. We've had 4 interactions with them, all very unpleasant. Normally I would have moved on right then but I made several calls to other offices and they were all just as bad. Good help must be hard to find in pediatrics. The first time I called the girl was just very unfriendly...I didn't even know if I had the correct place because she answered the phone so unprofessionally. The 2nd time I called to schedule the appointment the girl must have been new. I had to repeat my information (and repeatedly tell her I couldn't give her my son's name or date of birth BECAUSE HE WASN'T BORN YET.) 3rd, Bryan called to reschedule our appointment which of course they couldn't find anywhere in the system. They eventually found it but it was because of girl #2 had my first name, last name, address and date of birth ALL WRONG despite me telling her about 20 times. Then last night was probably the worst, in person too. The girl (who I’m thinking was the unprofessional girl I talked to the very first time) was just rude and got a very bad attitude when I filled out the form wrong. Silly me for thinking that I should put mine and Bryan’s info as the mother and father. Apparently she wanted MY parent’s information which still does not make sense to me.

Anyway it was very silly and we told the Doctor how poorly it was handled. He seemed sincerely apologetic for their rudeness. He also ensured me that if I had to call with any issues I wouldn't be dealing with them. I hate to think that we would pass up a good doctor because of bad receptionists. So we're still officially undecided at the moment but feel he is a good potential candidate.

Welcome Family and Friends...

To the blog (web log) of Baby Schrock's journey into this world. We will try to keep this updated with all news regarding our son. It'll be your one stop shop for all things Baby Schrock!

32 weeks today!

I told some of you that last weeks birthing class was horrifying. Well went for our 3rd and final class yesterday and only half the class showed up! I think the movies we saw the week before scared them away. If that’s true and they happened to figure out away around this birthing stuff, I wish they would share the knowledge! I’m kind of glad it’s over though. I didn’t enjoy being in a room full of pregnant women. No special treatment, no “awwwing” over me, I was just so....common.

Last nights class was about pain medication options, Cesareans and post-partum care. I liked hearing about the pain relief. It was pretty much everything I’ve already read but I seemed to gain more insight last night. This is my plan (not up for discussion either!) I’m going to try natural. Once I realize there is no way I can handle it, I’m going to go for the Stadol. Once I realize there is really no need to feel the lower part of my body since it’s causing me such extreme pain, then I’ll do the Epidural. Hopefully I’ll find some inner strength I didn’t know I had and not need to go beyond the natural. The episiotomy (cutting) scares me the most still. If birth is such a natural process, you would think our bodies would be designed with exits at least the size of what is exiting!

That’s really the only thing that concerns me about gaining more than the recommended weight, how it increases the chances for a larger baby. Despite what I say I really don’t care I gained more than recommended. Sure it’ll be more to lose after but who cares, I’m enjoying it now. But I’ll be very upset if my baby weighs an extra 2 pounds just because I couldn’t keep from eating (regardless of how Bryan tries to politely stop me “You may not want to eat all 3 chicken patties, I couldn’t even do that. Maybe you should let the meal that would serve 4 adults you just scarfed down digest before having more.”) Meanwhile I already reached over and stabbed the chicken patty on his plate like a caveman and started gnawing away on it still on my fork w/out even cutting it. My doctor says I'm healthy and she says my weight is fine and that's all the reassurance I need. So bring on the ice cream!

So today I am 32 weeks…just 8 weeks away! How can being 32 weeks along seem further away than 30 weeks?? I swear 2 weeks ago I was freaking out about how close I am and now today I feel like its light-years away. I think I’m going to miss being pregnant though. I like my big ol’ belly, I like having my baby with me every second of the day in a safe place (where he doesn’t cry either). But I’m sure nothing compares to actually caring for your newborn. Generally I feel great. I feel better and better every day which isn't what I would expect. After the first 5 months of all-day sickness I feel like this is way too easy now! I do have my daily Braxton Hicks contractions. They aren't painful or uncomfortable at all (yet!), they just let me know they are there and that everything is getting ready for the big day!

His room after the womb

Here are some pictures of our nursery that is juuuuuuuust about done. Some final touches, a tad more painting touch up and endless more love and we'll be good to go!

(I need to tweak the pictures so they actually enlarge when you click them, I'll get to that eventually!)