28+ Week Update: weight, kick count, and c-sections

Welcome back from the weekend!  Did you survive?

Our weekend was high on productivity and low on unabashed fun.  But I feel good about it.

Friday night our plans to have dinner at a new pizza place were thwarted by a rehearsal dinner. Boo – hissssss   And then the fancy futon we wanted for the baby’s room couldn’t be picked up.  We need a week for it to be delivered.

Saturday we headed to Buy Buy Baby to pick up the crib, diaper changing station, and crib mattress we had received as gifts from our registry.  Let’s just say it took, oh, a good hour to figure out how we were going to strap the crib box to Zach’s car since it wouldn’t fit inside. Oye.  What an adventure! 

But we did have some fun in BBB:

The remainder of the day was spent tackling the beast that is putting furniture together. 

I’ll definitely do all an-up post on the Nursery progress, but not today

But let’s back up for a second.  Friday morning I had my 28 week check up (28 weeks and 4 days actually).  I told Zach he didn’t have to go to this one since we weren’t having an ultrasound.  But it ended up being a super informative appointment with just me and the doc (whom I adore btw).

Let’s revisit the “By the numbers”:
(Compare to 24.5 weeks here)

• Weeks into pregnancy: 28.5 weeks at appt (29 weeks today!)
• Days to go: 77 days  (as of today) <—MEEP!
• Pounds gained: 16.5 lbs (average weight gain is between 17 and 24 pounds at this point)
• Current waist size (measured at belly button): 35.5 inches
• Uterus size (weird I know – outside measurement on stomach called “fundal length)):  26 cm
• Glucola test (for diabetes): Negative!  Wahoo!  As you recall, I fainted right after my blood was drawn.  Well apparently my sugar level was the lowest my doctor has ever seen in a pregnant woman!   Above 175 mg/dL is at risk (enough to have to take the 3 hour test).  Below 70 mg/dL is the super low range where people have extreme reactions.  I was at 50 mg /dL.  Bottom line, when I say I need food, I need food.  Rawr!
• Ta-ta size increase: 1++ cup size (no change since 24.5 weeks)
• Baby weight: ~2.5 lb (according to WebMD)
• Baby length: 16 inches head-to-toe  (according to What to Expect website)
• Kick Count Card: started at 28 weeks (Oct 3rd) – 10 baby movements are occurring in about 10 minutes (20 minutes tops).  He’s a wiggly one!
• Flu shot: Zero.  I do not plan on getting one.  I have never in my life received a flu shot and the last time I actually caught the flu, I was still in the single digits.  Yes, I’m aware that the shot also has H1N1, but I was in Mexico when H1N1 broke out and didn’t get sick.  Am I delusional that I’m immune?  Nope, but I don’t feel it’s right for me or my baby to start getting the flu shot now. (My doctor completely supports me and agrees with my approach)
• Weeks until next ultrasound: 7 weeks!  Too long to see my lil one again!

Me at 28 weeks and 3 days: Gap Maternity black pants, green Banana Republic (non-maternity) tunic, green Nine West peep-toe shoes

One thing I have not yet shared is my birth plan.  While there are many, many aspects to the plan, the big gigantic elephant in the nursery is whether or not I’ll have a c-section.

While my doctor does do elective c-sections (though not recommended), there is a medical concern for me based on my plummeting blood pressure (and fainting) after medical procedures.

Ideally, I agree that a vaginal birth is best / preferred, but I also need to do what’s best for my health as well.  That being said, I’ve been exploring the option of a c-section.

And you know what?

There really isn’t a lot of information out there.  Books do not abound, nor do classes. 

So I’m sort of stuck.

Readers, friend of readers, pregnancy blog followers, help!

• If you’ve had a c-section, please share your experience.
• How was the recovery different if you’ve had both a regular birth and a c-section?
• What are the pros / cons of c-sections

And to the rest of my readers:

Does a productive weekend make you happy?

What’s one thing you did this weekend that put a big ol’ smile on your face?

Some weekends are just good

Hey hey, welcome back to Monday

It’s a short week for me and possibly for you too if you’re going to the Healthy Living Summit in Philly this weekend.  I am so excited   It will be wonderful to finally put a face (in person) to the people behind the blogs I adore. 

Before I recap the weekend, thanks for weighing in on whether I should go with blonde vs brunette hair – there was a good mix of both, but brunette edged the blondes by a bit.  I think I’ll go back to brunette in another month!

Onto the weekend…

Friday:

After work, I snagged a large decaf iced vanilla latte from Peets (because now we know decaf and some caffeine is okay for preggers ladies!), then I was off to check out a new-to-me baby store to see if I’d want to drag the hubby back on Saturday.  More of that to come.

Long weeks and short weekend made staying in on Friday night an easy choice.  I whipped up some spaghetti and Trader Joe’s chicken-basil meatballs (<—if you haven’t had these, try them!  so good )  Besides I had to also prep the guest room for my bestie and her hubby since they were staying with us while in town for a wedding (win!)

Saturday:

It was all business, meaning errands, errands, and more errands.  We revisited Buy Buy Baby, which is the baby-sister store to Bed Bath & Beyond. 

We headed to the stroller section and I asked this young guy (21 yr old) if he knew anything about this stuff and he looked at me, like “yeah duh” (with a smile).  Turns out this kid is a stroller genius!  He knew *everything* and answered every question about weight, rank, consumer reports, color options, accessories, mix’n’match with other brands, collapsability, etc. 

I may or may not have asked if I could put him in my pocket and take him everytime I go baby shopping.  I heart him.  Seriously.  I may have a crush on him. 

We picked out the Baby Jogger City Elite and we’re both in looove

My hubby was having fun with all the bells and whistles, all-terrain air tires, and suspension.  I myself liked the aesthetics   We paired it with a sage green Chicco car seat.  Done and done.

Turns out every salesperson in Buy Buy Baby is extensively trained by department to know their stuff so every area we went to had another genius.  Can you tell I love this store?

So we also picked out this crib (ignore the pink):

And best of all?  Since we registered there, they offer up a personal consultant who will walk you around each department and let you know what (and how much) of each item is recommended.  So helpful for new parents.  AND we received no pressure to buy a darn thing while we were there (or even register at all).  Yipppeee!

I really didn’t want to make this a baby post, but I must tell you about another thing we did – we looked at my push present

My hubby managed to convince me that $3K is a bit much for a push present, so we’re settling on a “less” amount, which is TBD.  But I’m 99% sure I want this center ring:

Buuuuut, I am having them do some modifications – I want it widened from 4.7mm to 6mm, upgraded to 18ct white gold, and I want a mix of chocolate and yellow diamonds (also enlarged from current look of cognac diamonds).  I think we’ll have a verdict in  a few weeks!

Saturday night was spent at a potluck bbq party at our friend’s Mojan and Ali – someone brought Key Lime Pie and I maybe, just maybe might have had more than one piece. I made these again (Butterscotch smores bars):

Sunday:

Ugh, okay I hate long posts, so let’s wrap it up!  Sunday was brunch with the bestie and other friends at Hobees (I had pancakes of course!).

Then I got the hubby to walk the Stanford Dish with me (hecka hills!) by promising him I’d let him do this:

He hit range balls at Stanford while I read a magazine in the sun. 

Not too shabby of a weekend, eh?

Any highlights from your weekend?

Favorite kind of pie?  Mine will always be pumpkin, but I did love that key lime

Are you going to HLS?  If so, what are you wearing Friday?  I think I’m going to wear this new tunic-top from White House Black Market with my maternity leggings – it’s fun, dressy-ish, and should be comfy.