Update - 31 weeks

30 weeks, 4 days more belly pics

There hasn't been a belly picture in a while, so here it is. I'm starting to get a bit uncomfortable when I try to sit, which is unfortunate since I get even more uncomfortable when I stand for a long period of time. Up until now I haven't really had any complaints, now I have 2 - heartburn (only when lying on the couch after dinner) and the 1 am and 4 am bathroom trips. I suppose all-in-all, if those are my only 2 complaints then I'm doing pretty good. At 31 weeks, the baby is 16 inches long and just over 3 lbs. He is supposed to gain about 1/2 a pound per week for the next 9 weeks. For the past few weeks, the baby has been decidedly head down (hence the constant need to pee), so I get a few really good kicks to the ribs each day (usually as soon as I relax at night).

30 weeks, 4 days more belly pics

Other than that, the only real updates are that all my dr. appointments have been very uneventful, pretty much the same every time - pee in a cup, listen to the baby's heartbeat (normal), check how much weight I have gained (normal, even though Dr. Schuurman is known as the weight nazi), measure my belly (normal - apparently the length in centimeters from your pubic bone to the top of your uterus is supposed to be equal to the number of weeks you are along), take my blood pressure (normal), ask if I have any complains or questions (no), make another appointment. The wait to see the doctor is always 3 times longer than the actual appointment, which is even more irritating now that I have to go every 2 weeks. I had my blood test for Gestational Diabetes which came back negative, and I had my second ultrasound at the hospital since my first one was not complete due to the baby's position. Everything checked out fine and on schedule. While I was there I pre-registered for the birth, so I'm pretty much all ready to go! Oh ya, only 5 of the labour rooms have tubs (the rest just have showers) and they are on a first come, first served basis, so I have to remember to ask for one of those rooms.... I'm thinking that will have to be one of Aaron's jobs since it won't be the first thing on my mind.

Doula

After reading a bit about how a Doula can help during labour, I decided to try to convince Aaron that we should get one. He didn't go for it at first. He was insulted that I was trying to "replace him", even though that was obviously not the case. After talking about it for a bit, he started to see that this could be a good thing... the pressure would be off him having to know how to help me during labour and he could participate as much as he wanted to instead of being responsible for everything.

For those that don't know, a Doula is a certified birth attendant that helps the mom with the pain and endurance of labour. She is not a nurse and doesn't do any sort of medical procedures, she's just there for emotional and physical support. She meets with you a few times during pregnancy to see how things are going and to go over with you what your "ideal" birth would be like, and goes over exercises and positions to practice before labour. Then she comes to your house when labour starts and helps you be comfortable there for as long as possible before going with you to the hospital. She stays with you through the entire birth and leaves about an hour afterwards, after she is sure that feeding is going ok. Then she visits you at home about a week later to see if you have any questions or if you need help with anything. Here are a few interesting facts on Doulas:

When a Doula is present it results in:

• a 25% reduction in the length of labour
• a greater than 50% drop in c-sections
• a 60% drop in the mother's request for an epidural
• a 30% drop in the mother's request for other drugs
• a 40% drop in the use of oxytocin and forceps
• a higher incidence of breast feeding success

After interviewing a few Doulas by email, we met with the one we liked the best and then decided to hire her. She will even take some (tasteful) pictures during labour and then write you up a birth story to give to you at your home visit after the birth!