Just got back from seeing the midwife, and things are good! Weight is 153.3 (with shoes and jeans) and my belly is measuring 31cm. It’s right on target!

His head is down and where it needs to be (YAY!) and the rest of him is sorta sideways. Whatever. Hope he’s comfy in there, and hope he stays in that general orientation.

Midwife Tanya confirmed that I passed my gestational diabetes test. My levels were fine at each sample, but for some reason the final sample went up. How is that even possible? I don’t know. But, it’s fine.

My next appointment is in two weeks. Truckin’ right along!

My baby has been kicking me HARD lately. He’s getting me in my sides and ribs. He’s so oddly positioned that I’ve been feeling him kick where I didn’t realize my uterus even was. Waaay on the far right side of my body, sort of even with my hip bone.

Feeling him there makes me think that he’s still in the transverse (sideways) position. I’ve tried to encourage him to move already. I’ve been doing my Bradley ‘exercises’ which include tailor sitting and pelvic rocks, and I’ve been sitting on my exercise ball for a few hours each day since I got it last week.

I have my next appointment with the midwife tomorrow, and I’ll talk with her about his position and how we can get him where he needs to be soon.

I know that some babies wait until the last minute to drop, or even flip-flop around just days before their due date, but it seems like it would be least painful for me if he gets into position soon. My belly hasn’t really stretched far out yet. My skin is tight, and I’m certainly going to notice when he flips around.

I have a really faint “linea nigra” going on my belly. This is a vertical line that goes down the center of my belly. It’s faint enough that it doesn’t show up in pictures. It’ll fade after he’s born.

Fun fact: I’m about 37 to 37.5 inches around at my widest point. I’m going to guess that I’ll hit at least 40 inches around and gain another 10 pounds before this is said and done. So far, I think I’ve gained about 16 or 17 pounds.

Here’s what Baby Center.com says:

By now, your baby weighs 3.75 pounds (pick up a large jicama) and is about 16.7 inches long, taking up a lot of space in your uterus. You’re gaining about a pound a week and roughly half of that goes right to your baby. In fact, he’ll gain a third to half of his birth weight during the next 7 weeks as he fattens up for survival outside the womb. He now has toenails, fingernails, and real hair (or at least respectable peach fuzz). His skin is becoming soft and smooth as he plumps up in preparation for birth.

See what your baby looks like this week. (Or see what fraternal twins look like in the womb this week.)

Warning: This post is all about breastfeeding. If the topic makes you woozy or uncomfortable, don’t read this post.

I went to a La Leche League meeting this morning to get some more info on breastfeeding. Besides me, there were four other moms (plus the leader). Three of us were pregnant (all boys!) with due dates ranging from next Thursday, to mid-Dec., to my date of the end of the year.

It was pretty informal. The leader discussed nighttime parenting tips and we were able to ask all sorts of questions.

The leader wasn’t a certified lactation consultant, but I still wanted her opinion on a few things.

I wanted to know what she suggested in terms of nursing wear. She said she found it easiest to get tank tops with built-in shelf bras and layer them under other shirts. Nursing bras were helpful, too, and she said Target had some for a decent price. She told me that when she nursed with a regular bra and pulled it up, it eventually led to a clogged milk duct which was painful.

Who knew?

She suggested I get some after my baby is born so I can have a better idea of what size to get. I don’t know how practical that will be. One mom there suggested getting one or two a few weeks before my due date to get me started. I think that’s what I’ll do.

Next, I wanted to know her opinion on the need for a breast pump to help with engorgement. She said that simply nursing the baby is the best way to relieve that, though some moms find pumps helpful. She said it was an optional thing, and I could probably wait until after the baby was born to decide on whether I need one.

I also received a folder full of handouts, which I’ll read later.

I don’t think I need to attend another meeting, but maybe I’ll change my mind after Baby is born.

It was nice to meet other moms in a similar stage of life, but I think it might be more beneficial to simply speak with a lactation consultant. I know I’ll do that before I leave the hospital, and I’ll make sure I can get one to come to my apartment if I’m having any trouble.

Stacy reminded me that I forgot to blog about eating and drinking during labor. At our Bradley childbirth class a few weeks ago, I gave a short presentation about the pros and cons of it.

From my research, I learned that when you’re in labor, your body will probably try to clear your gastrointestional tract. Yes, we can look forward to vomiting and diarrhea during the early stages of labor. This is thought to make more room for the baby to pass through, and prevents food from sitting in the body for too long, as your digestion might slow down. Cuz hey, your body is busy doing other things.

It’s possible that we won’t feel hungry at this time. Kinda hard to have an appetite if you’re in the bathroom ralphing.

In the 1940s, a doctor did a small study on animals. I don’t know much about the study, but I know that he concluded that it would be better for a woman not to eat or drink while she was in labor, in case she needed general anesthesia.

If she needed to be knocked out, there was a small chance that she could vomit and asphixiate.

That was pretty much the only “study” on the topic, even though actual laboring women and their nutritional needs during labor haven’t been fully studied.

Back then, it was more common for a woman to be unconscious while delivering her baby. So, the risk of asphixiation was slightly greater.

But today? Highly unlikely. Here’s why I think the “need” to fast during labor is a bunch of bunk:

1. Even if you don’t eat, there’s no guarantee that your stomach will be empty. There’s usually a small amount on your stomach at all times. And, you’ll have stomach acids there anyway.

2. It’s much more dangerous to vomit pure stomach acids than it is to vomit food mixed with acid. You’ll burn your throat and if it gets into the lungs, it’ll be more harmful that way.

3. The likelihood that you’ll need general anesthesia is incredibly small.

4. With modern improvements to anesthesia, your doctor will be more able to monitor your barfing and help you if you do.

5. There aren’t any documented cases of a woman asphyxiating while in labor.

6. If you’re hungry but denied nourishment, your labor could stall. But, if your nutritional needs are met, you might actually have a quicker labor and a baby with a higher APGAR score!

7. Ever try to run a race or take a difficult exam on an empty stomach? Good luck! Childbirth is the ultimate physical and mental exertion (I’m guessing). You need your strength. If labor lasts for a long time, you could get dehydrated or start to starve.

8. Being hooked up to an IV of fluids and glucose isn’t necessarily a safe alternative to actually eating or drinking. For one thing, it’s not a natural way for the body to eat. Two, you’re increasing your risk for infection. You’ll be less mobile, which can slow your labor or cause unnecessary pain. It can cause other problems for the mom and baby.

Some hospitals have a policy stating you can only have ice chips while in active labor. Excuse me? What? The logic of ice chips vs. water makes no sense to me. Ice melts. It becomes water in your belly anyway.

I asked my former OB what she thought. She told me that food will be the last thing on my mind, but I could only have ice chips. Why? “Risk” of asphixiation. Kthxbai, lady.

As long as everything is normal, the midwives I’m seeing do allow you to eat or drink as you please.

I’m greatly affected by what I eat and drink. I get out of sorts if I go too long without a meal. I’m not pleasant to be around. If I think of it, I’ll eat a light meal before heading into the hospital. And, while there, I’ll have snacks that will be easy to digest.

Possibilities include yogurt, applesauce, scrambled eggs, toast, honey, broth, Jell-o — ya know, mushy stuff.

Back during my cross-country days, I would carry a pack of M&Ms with me on long runs. I just needed those extra few calories to get me through it. I think this’ll be a similar thing for me.

For more info on the topic, check out this info sheet.

Oh my goodness, I am such a fan of the exercise ball!

Some people call them “birthing balls,” but they’re the same thing.

I bought this thing a few days ago for about $12 at Target, and it’s already worth every cent.

Not only are they a good aid for exercise, but simply sitting on them does great things for your posture. Also, it takes pressure off your sitting bones.

It’s no longer comfortable for me to recline in a chair. Even if I’m leaning back just a little, all that extra weight in my belly presses on my back and it hurts.

So, I’ve been sitting on an exercise ball instead, and it feels much better! My spine can lengthen, my back is straighter, and my belly isn’t putting pressure on anything. And when I’m not sitting on the ball, I can feel a difference.

My childbirth instructor told me that sitting on these balls (and sitting cross-legged on the floor) can help the baby get in the proper position for delivery. Right on.

After my baby is born, I can continue to sit on it, use it to get back in shape, and hey, since it’s a giant ball, it’ll be a fun toy to amuse the baby.