40 Weeks and no dialation, no baby!

Well, I was so sure the 17th was the day. And here we sit, October 18th with no baby and unfortunately very little movement. I am hardly dialated 1 cm, and baby's head is still far up and facing the wrong way. I would feel a little better if I was farther dialated and knew I could be induced soon, but Doctor says I would have to start with a natural inducer and wait 12 hours to see if anything might happen. Then I would be sent home if nothing happend. So now I wait with the tentative plan to go to the hospital next Sunday night (10/24) to start he process...I just want to have her come naturally! I don't think I can wait another two weeks if that becomes the case.

On the positive side, I had four hours of early labor contractions Saturday night....so hopefully I can get some of that going again! I just feel depressed, I feel trapped like she is never going to come out!!!! Mom has been here for almost a week and we have been really busy doing stuff, but how much more can I do waiting!

Blah, blah, blah....

What I have been doing to keep myself busy

So, today we are nearing the end of Monday, 10/11. Based on the online calculation on Babycenter.com, I am due Sunday, 10/17. My Doctor has been going by the due date of Wednesday, 10/20. I am not sure which one it will be but this waiting game is insane! Thankfully, I am keeping myself busy...here is what I have been doing:

1. Sleeping/resting - yesterday I laid in bed all day watching bad TV and getting bored. Seriously, I love vegging but it can be boring after a while. And why is there no real good movies on when you need them.
2. I am trying to read some baby books, but they really are slow going. I keep trying.
3. Today I met with my colleague for lunch, took Coco for a work, caught up on some work, ran to the Dry Cleaner, and rearranged the book shelf in the nursery. Now I sit on the couch watching bad TV again.

Thankfully, I am still working a bit which is keeping me somewhat busy and my mom is coming in Wednesday. I will be doing yoga this week, a mani/pedi, more walks, finish work, visit the Doctor, take the dog to the cleaner and so on! I am keeping my cool, but kind of bored to be honest! It is just too hard to start a new project when you have such a big one starting around the corner!

And I have no more clothes to wear!!! At all!!!!

I am trying to just enjoy the quiet days but it is hard!

The latest belly posts!

Here are a few more belly pix before it goes away (which I have full confidence it will very quickly=)

jeans/purple shirt = 37 weeks
beach shots = just about 39 weeks

Thank you!

I just want to say thank you to everyone who has taken the time to read this blog and everyone who has given me so much wonderful support, advice, helpful tools and so forth. I feel so lucky to have so many wonderful people in my life and soon in Baby Duffy's life! We are so honored!

As big as a mini watermelon!

The picture with this post says it all. Baby Duffy is about the size of a mini watermelon as she enters her 39th week and she prepares to enter the World! The mini watermelon is making waves inside my belly - literally. Lately, she has been moving around like crazy, poking and prodding like she cannot wait to get out! And I am in and out of feeling fine and then feeling not so fine. Today, I am exhausted, sick to my stomach and achy! Oh, and oh so cranky. I will say that a chocolate shake and chopped salad from Jerry's Deli did help!

This will be my final week to say I have a week left. Although, if this baby does not come by next Sunday, I guess I could still be saying it next week! Either way, we are on our final week. We finally got a new car to fit the baby and all of her belongings. We are getting the car seats installed tomorrow. Mom is arriving Wednesday. And bags are packed! Nursery is just about done (still waiting on more custom stuff I had done, I seriously went overboard).

Now the questions start coming to the surface, when will she come? What will she be like? Will she be a good baby or colicky? What will she look like? Will she have blue eyes and dimples like Tim? Oh so many questions! I seriously cannot believe we are a week or so away from having a baby!!! Life is crazy!

What to pack for the Hospital???

This is a tough question if you have never been in the hospital for an overnight stay, especially after giving birth to a baby! Thanks to my Facebook friends, I got a lot of great advice on the topic and here is the list I have come up with:

1. Stuff for the baby: I currently have 3 outfits packed including a little hat and booties. I could not decide which outfit would work best so I brought a few. I also have a swaddler blanket, all in pretty pink colors.
2. 2 pairs of PJ's and one pair of lounge pants with a breastfeeding tank top.
3. A lightweight robe in a nice charcoal grey color.
4. My brand new Ugg moccasins.
5. Two pairs of comfy socks.
6. Undergarments.
7. A pair of yoga pants and another BF tank top along with a long sweater to go home
8. I will be wearing flip flops most likely to the hospital and another long sweater so will have those if I need them
9. A long tunic as a second option to go home (will throw in my leggings if it works out)
10. My ipod fully stocked with a playlist and an iPod speaker
11. My camera and video camera
12. My iPad
13. A few baby books
14. My baby file folder
15. A cool collection of lotions/shampoos in a travel pack made just for new moms that includes an eye pad
16. A small hair dryer, brush
17. More toiletries like toothbrush, etc.
18. A birthing ball
19. Baby seat in the car
20. Some clothes for Tim
21. A few DVD's
22. Baby book
23. Diaper bag with a few essentials
24. Cell phone and charger
25. Snacks/water

I think this is just about everything!

I will probably end up not using half of this stuff, but I prefer to be safe than sorry!

Pregnancy Massage Does a Body Good

Today, I went to get my final pre-natal massage before baby! I visit Burke Williams in Santa Monica for my massages and facials, and I wanted to make sure I got in there one more time to really give my body a break. Usually, I have trouble really enjoying the massage - my brain is usually going on and on and on about nonsense - and the ensuing milk bath they give you with the pregnancy massage since you cannot use the hot tub. But today, was different, I have never enjoyed a bath/massage more than I did today. I was half asleep for both services and the massage really hit on some sore spots around my hips and legs. I think I am just so tired lately and the cool/fall like weather in LA really allowed me to totally succumb to the relaxation part. It was wonderful and I am so glad I went! I still feel mildly cranky but in general I am as happy as a 9 month pregnant lady can be!

How much stuff does a baby really need?

Well, from what I hear, not a lot. But if you are a shopper like I am and a buyer in bulker like my husband, the baby is going to have a lot of stuff! I had received pretty much everything on my registry, but after taking a few classes and doing some more research, I had a few more things to buy, specifically around the breastfeeding space! Today, I managed to spend over $300 on more stuff - breastfeeding tank tops, lotion and wash for the baby, a new sling for the baby, a birthing ball which I hear is quite handy to have in the hospital and so on! I hope I am now officially set, but there is a little voice inside of me saying "you will buy more soon". Picture is of the loot I bought today at the Pumpstation!

How much stuff does a baby really need?

Finding the Perfect Baby Book

For some reason, I did not put finding a Baby Book at the top of my priority list for this baby! But I love journaling things, so it was something I wanted to get!

Well, my husband find one on Etsy of all places that we literally ordered and received with it personalized with her name within a 24 hour period! And I love it. The book is by Ruby Love Designs and it is modern, the baby's colors and Tim and I both love it. If you are shopping for a baby book, check out this designer at: http://www.etsy.com/listing/57595410/new-cover-girl-modern-baby-memory-book.

38 Weeks!

Well, we have hit 38 weeks now which breaks down to about 14 days left in this pregnancy! And I can honestly say I have officially hit the point where I am getting anxious and impatient. The exhaustion of being 9 months pregnant has really hit me - my feet are starting to swell, my body aches in different places and I am just tired most of the day! The funny thing is, I am sleeping as much as I can, but with frequent bathroom breaks throughout the night and the tossing and turning, I guess it is just not a good night sleep!

If the baby comes on or around my due date, the next few weeks seem to stretch on forever! I am so excited to have this baby but I feel like she is never going to come!!! From what I hear, this is pretty typical! I need to just keep myself busy whenever I can find the energy!

So at 38 weeks, the baby may be over 6 pounds now and 19.5 inches long (as long as a leak). She is considered full term which is great, but I just know she needs a little more time in there. She definitely likes to kick me a lot lately! It is crazy how much I can feel a foot here and a knee there. She likes to do the splits a lot! When I went to the Doctor last week, she said I was not dialated yet, so baby is definitely not coming for the next week or two! I have noticed an increase in my Braxton Hicks contractions which tells me the body is getting ready for baby!

Tim and I have one more class on birth to finish tomorrow night. We took a baby care class yesterday which was good but again, way too long! I am overly anxiety ridden about everything that still needs to be done....a few last minute touches to the nursery, a run to the Pump Station where I will spend lots more money on last minute items and finishing up some house improvement projects which won't be done until the end of the week! So frustrating that they are not done, but I am trying to keep my cool! Not easy!

Oh yeah, we still have to buy a new car and get the car seat put in each car! All reasons why I don't want this baby to come until her due date!

Oh boy, I need to take a happy pill today!!!

GBS Positive=(

I found out last week I am GBS Positive....for those of you not aware of what this is, it is apparently nothing horrible but just could lead to a potential issue with baby when you are in labor (I won't go into details but it is a bacteria found in many pregnant women)! So, they test you close to your due date to find out if you are so they can take precautionary measures during labor. Basically, I have to get to the hospital as soon as I start labor pains or if my water breaks so I can get a penicillin drip for 4 hours before having the baby. While I am told by my Doctor that it is not a big deal and about 25% of pregnant women have this, it still makes me a little nervous and cautious of when this baby is going to come! I was doing so well having no problems and boom here is a little issue I need to worry about. But I figure if this is the worse thing that happens and we can take care of it before giving birth, then I will try not to worry!

Very hard when labor is so unpredictable and there is now a reason that I have to get to the hospital as soon as I can!

Birthing Class - Informative but too long!

Just like our breastfeeding class, our birthing class - which we took part 1 of 2 this past weekend - was informative but just a day too long. If you know me, you know that I like to be prepared for things, so I am finding these pre-baby classes to be helpful in understanding what is about to happen to my body in the next three weeks! But I also find that these classes could be 1/2 as long as they are scheduled, to really walk away with the key nuggets of information you need. But nonetheless, Tim and I will go to the second half of this class next week and be as prepared as we can be for the day our baby comes!

We took our birthing class at Birth and Beyond in Santa Monica and overall I like the teacher and the class. A few key things I took away from this past weekend were: 1. If you start to go into labor or your water breaks, you may not need to go to the hospital quite yet if your contractions are not close together. They don't really want you hanging in the bed at the hospital all day waiting for movement to happen. 2. It is better to stay active to bring on labor versus laying in bed. 3. The Doctor does not really come in to the room until you are ready to pop that baby out. 4. It is best that the baby is looking at your back with his/her back up to your stomach on the way out, helps decrease back pain and other potential issues. 5. I learned the difference between dialated, effaced, position and station. 6. You really don't want to get the epidural until you are 4 CM dialated if you can help it.

No matter what happens, I will be able to ask questions when it comes down to it!

37 at 37 Weeks, that has a nice ring to it!

I am 37 Weeks this week! Down to 3 weeks left in this crazy journey they call pregnancy! Oh yes, it has been a crazy journey and I am more than happy to get off of it and start the next one with baby in tow!

Baby Duffy is over 6 pounds and close to 19 inches long (in average baby size and the size of a swiss chard). She is also considered Full Term! Wow, that is just crazy! A full term baby in my belly!

I don't know what else to say except, Holy Cow, I cannot believe it is finally here! I mean, it was such a long road and to be this close to meeting Baby Duffy and not being pregnant...I am ecstatic!

Bags are just about packed and nursery is just about done, but my baby daddy is out of town on business for the week, so I am hoping baby stays nice and snug until we get to the final week! In the meantime, I continue to work (which is keeping me so busy), run last minute errands for things I still need, pre-natal massage, continue to finish house projects and put my feet up when I can. She will be here before we know it!

Heat and pregnancy do not mix!

So, I have been riding along free as a bird with the lower than normal temperatures that LA experienced this summer and it has been great! Outside of some hot trips to Chicago, St. Louis and Cabo, I have remained relatively comfortable in LA - where the Beach and temperatures have been unusually cool and somewhat cloudy! And I enjoyed it! Because as I learned after a week in Chicago, being pregnant in the Hot summer weather is not fun!

Well, LA has decided to give me a little taste of that medicine during my final 3 weeks of pregnancy. This week - specifically today- we hit record temperatures across LA land, including 103 in Malibu. That is crazy - if you know anything about the LA area, the beaches are the cooler place to be, staying mild and comfortable around the 70's and 80's when it gets really warm. I heard Marina Del Rey hit over the 100 degree mark, which means it was close to that here at my condo. Where I don't have air conditioning (normally you don't need it by the beach). So today, I got a real dose of what it means to be pregnant and hot....I am tired, mushy brained, have no physical energy and my body just feels overheated! Thankfully we got a breeze in the afternoon, but even now at 6:30 I am warm!!!

I will be retreating to my bedroom where we have a little R2D2 air conditioner to attempt to cool down. And hopefully this weather goes away real quick.

I sympathize with anyone who dealt with this heat all summer long!

Breastfeeding class...bring your husband.

Last night, Tim and I ventured out to our first pre-baby class, this one on Breastfeeding (yes, they do have classes on this and yes they made me bring my husband). I actually had every intension of not bringing him, but the people at the Pump Station in Santa Monica where I signed up for my class scared me into thinking I would be the only person there without a husband, so Tim came with me in full support and with little pushback. I was very proud that he would come so willingly.

The class was three hours - yes 3 hours - which in my mind could have been dwindled down to about 90 minutes, but I am in PR and I believe in the quick pitch versus a 3 hour class where I am getting about an hours worth of information. Not to mention that you are asking pregnant women who are within a month or two of giving birth to sit in uncomfortable chairs, in the evening which for some of us is following a long day of work, for three hours to talk about how to breast feed. So, I had an issue with the length of the class, but overall I am glad we went. I think there were some general helpful nuggets that we were able to take away from the class that will help us with this potentially difficult process. I will tell you, the class kind of scared me a bit, I mean breastfeeding sounds like a lot of work...but then again, having a baby is a lot of work so I need to start mentally preparing myself for this! I have been so focused on having her get here that I have not been thinking through the actual day in and day out work that I will be doing (I should say what Tim and I will be doing as he plans to be as involved as possible). I know it will all be worth it, but the class did leave me feeling a bit nervous and adding several more items to my list of more baby accessories to buy.

A few key things we took away from the class - we bought the right pump, the Medela Freestyle that offers a handsfree attachment, we should not start introducing the bottle until about 2 weeks after baby is born (Tim has 2 weeks off basically), you need some accessories to take care of any potential "issues" you might encounter during the process and we got to see a video on how the baby basically feeds off of you. Interesting and informative for sure.

I can say that I do like the Pump Station in Santa Monica for their overall commitment to helping moms before and after baby arrives, the great merchandise they sell and the teacher was in general informative. Just cut the class in half next time, and I would recommend it to anyone.

Next up, a birthing class.

Toys are fun for a pregnant lady

For my first anniversary present, my husband surprised me with an iPad. I had been contemplating getting one for a while, it would be easier to travel with, the reader/email/web browser/tv capability would be great for the hospital time coming up and I had heard it was an awesome time killer while breast feading.....but I was skeptical. Thankfully, my hubby thought outside the box, got it for me and now, I am typing up this blog from my new favorite gadget....my iPad. I am in love! I have not stopped playing with it since I got it....it is light, sleek, easy to use, has a great big, colorful screen and I can slip it in my purse wherever I go. I am even getting used to typing on the keypad. Now I just got to get me one of the hot new iPad cases coming from case-mate (who also happens to be a client of mine). I am in love with their new line coming out for Nordstrom including a gold and pink number I have my eye on....so, I will keep u updated on how well this thing works for my upcoming mommy duties, but for now I can say pregnant Monica loves it.

Blonde moment from Tim?

I am often accused of having my share of blonde moments - which is fine, i admit I have them occasionally. But rarely do I hear one come from my dark blonde husband. Last night a question came out of his mouth that had me almost choking on my bread, it was so funny! After a stressful week at work and weekend of nursery work, I needed this hearty laugh...one that had my crying at the table

We were talking about breast feeding and he asked, "Where does the milk come from? Do you have to drink a lot of milk to produce milk?"

Well, I don't know the answer to that question and it may be a viable question, but I thought it was pretty damn funny. I am pretty sure drinking milk does not make milk.

I am taking my breast feeding class Wednesday, so I will make sure to find out for you Timmy!

36 Weeks - It's The Final Countdown...

Ah, I am hearing The Final Countdown going on in my head right now!

Yes, here we are, down to the final month - just 4 more weeks and Baby Duffy will be entering this World and our lives in full force.

As you can imagine, we are just so excited! I asked Tim last night during our anniversary dinner at Mozza (where I ate way too much but it was so good) if he was nervous to become a dad, and he said no. He is so relaxed and excited about this, so much more than I had imagined. My husband likes to joke and be sarcastic, but underneath it all, he is a real softy. It is really fun to see his reaction to all of this!

Yesterday, we spent the whole day working on the nursery, moving things around our 1200 sq foot condo to fit everything. It was exhausting but we are very happy with the results. Almost there....nursery pix will be up in early October.

Baby is one week away from being full term, and on average is weighing close to 6 pounds and is 18.5 inches long (the size of the Crenshaw Melon). That is big and I can feel her in there all over my belly!!!

Oh yeah, it's the Final Countdown, da da da dada....

Is that a foot in my ribs?

So the past few days I started experiencing some rib pain on my right side. I originally thought it was from sleeping on my side but after further evaluation I think it is from my baby's foot going up and inside of my ribs. Holy cow! As I write this, I am feeling something jut out of my far right stomach while at the same time I feel something else jutting out on my top middle. I mean, I don't know if she is doing the splits in there or what, but she is getting bigger and she is spreading her wings as much as possible.

This is crazy, I wish I could capture it for you all to see!

PS: this is a famous pix that no one can tell if it is real or not, my guess no!