26 weeks this week! Boy did the holidays make time go by fast. I am so glad I felt so well through all the celebrations and activity. What a great Christmas and New Year's! I love the holidays so much anyway and this year there was something that much more special about them. I am kinda sad they are over but I am excited to get the new year started and have this little guy. 3 more months. I have a feeling he is coming early. Only because of the contractions that I still have but I could be totally wrong. One can always hope.Here is some info emailed to me about what is happening with the pregnancy this week. "Up until about the 26th week, your baby's eyes have been sealed shut. But now they open and blink. He can now see, hear, smell, taste and feel. All his senses are intact and will continue to develop after he is born. He weighs a little less than 2 pounds and will continue to gain weight. Some of the weight you have put on is the extra fluid you need to support and nourish a healthy pregnancy. He measures 14 inches (an English hothouse cucumber), from head to heel." What in the world is an English hothouse cucumber anyway? :)
This week they recommended you start thinking about a "birth plan". Some issues to consider when creating a detailed birth plan:
• Do you want a drug-free birth or are you banking on an epidural? Bring on the drugs.
• Would you like the freedom to walk around and move as much as possible? Sure, why not though I can't see myself wanting to be overly active.
• How much monitoring of your baby would you like? Do you want to see the monitors or have them turned away from you? As much monitoring as needed or recommended. I would want to see them unless me seeing them prevents the doctors from seeing them.
• Are you open to medical interventions, such as Pitocin, to speed up your labor? If this concerns you, what techniques would you like to try first? I am open to medical interventions. I trust the doctors to recommend the right next step and will listen to any advise that is right for my labor and the safety of my baby.
• Do you want a mirror brought in so you can see your baby crowning? No way!
• Would you like to use props such as a squatting bar or a birthing ball, or amenities like a bathtub during labor? Nope. A bed will work just fine.
• Do you want your delivery to be a private affair (just you, your partner, and the attending medical team)? Or would you like friends and family there to help? Just me and my hubby.
• Ambiance in the room: Would you like special music playing? The lights dimmed? A video camera rolling? Reba, lights dimmed, no video camera. Some pictures would be great but nothing below the waist!
• After your baby's born, do you want your partner to cut the cord? Do you want to hold your baby immediately? Would you or your partner like to stay with your baby during testing and evaluation? P. can decide if he wants to cut the cord or not. I would love to hold him immediately. It would be nice if we could be with him during testing but it is not necessary.
• How will you feed your baby? If you plan to breastfeed, would you like to try breastfeeding as soon as possible? Breastfeed as soon as possible.
•Will you have a religious ceremony after your baby's born? I don't think so.
•Would you like to stay home with your baby full- or part-time? I plan to stay home with him full time.
It's time to really start thinking seriously about names. K. really liked the name Jake but I am still not sold on it because it is so popular. Jacob was the 3rd most popular name in 2007. But Jacob Archer has a nice flow don't you think? I still have faith the perfect name will come to us, we just have to be patient.
My other kids are doing great. Can't forget about them in all this baby talk. They are great, kind, sweet dogs who are my closest companions. I have no worries about them adjusting to the new baby and all of us living happily together. Check out silly Serra in this picture.
