"Elly" wrote in message
I had my usual every-4-weeks ob/gyn appointment on Thursday, and the
ultrasound appointment on Friday - all is well :-))

Ob/gyn appointment:
- blood pressu110/65 (around the usual, so normal for me)
- urine: sterile (another YAY!)
- swelling: feet yes, hands no - so she contributed this to the heat and
humid days we are having (around 40 degrees Celsius!). Fortunately, the
swollen feet do not hurt, just make it a bit uncomfortable for me to wear
shoes other than sneakers.
- weight gain: 6.6 lbs in 4 weeks - 26 lbs altogether during the
pregnancy.

Sounds like things are great! I just love that our appointments keep going
like this :-)

Then I went in to see the ob/gyn, and she gave me grief about my weight;
she
said this is too much, her practice is to recommend a pregnancy weight
gain
of 26 lbs altogether, etc. I told her I am still eating balanced meals,
careful of what I'm choosing, and that I don't really thing 6 lbs is too
much to gain in 4 weeks' period; the official recommendation does state
that
you gain more during the last trimester, and that the total gain of
pregnancy should be no less than 20 lbs and no more than 37.4 lbs, and I
am
still within that frame. I also indicated my swollen feet to her (the
nurse
was filling in my chart and noticed the swelling at the beginning of the
appointment, and she's in another room). She said, "yes, well, this could
be
it, the last two days have been really terribly hot and humid"... but she
still gave me a diet menu (1700 calories) and recommended that I pay
attention to what I eat.

Ooh! I don't like this at all. Water weight can have a big impact on overall
weight and it isn't "real" really. Also, since you are still within the
range, it really doesn't seem appropriate to me that she gave you a diet
menu! Like I said in my update, I apparently gained 4 pounds in just two
weeks before my last appointment (though there is a possibility that their
scale was a bit "off" the appointment before, because I weighed less on it
than I thought I should relative to my scale at home, but this time it was
on target with my scale at home. Something may have been up the appt.
before!). According to my last appt. I only gained 2 pounds in an entire
month. Along those lines, not everyone gains at the precise 1 pound per week
level. I have heard of lots of women having "heavy" appointments where they
have gained several pounds, only to have gained 1 more by the next
appointment (as opposed to getting on a 6-pound per month schedule and
*staying* there, weight gain is variable over the weeks and month). I would
bet that you won't have the same type of gain next month at all and she gave
your grief for nothing!
snip
It seems that our timing was perfect, because when we came, there was only
one woman ahead of us, and nobody was waiting after us. We waited for like
10 minutes, and when the nurse called me in and I stepped into the U/S
room,
I started opening my mouth to ask the ob/gyn about DH sitting in, and she
stopped me and said that it's OK, he can come in when she finishes with
the
measurements. I apologised for not making an official *future mother and
father appointment* and explained our somewhat *international* situation,
and she said it's fine, she doesn't have anyone scheduled after us so she
has time.
The measurements are all fine, all on target for my due date. She
mentioned
my weight gain again, now with an explanation - "You are having a big baby
in a small bump" sort of thing - she calculated the baby's weight at 2 kg
(4.8 lbs). Heartbeat normal, everything fine.
Then she asked the nurse to call DH in. He came in, she told him where to
sit down and went over the entire body of the baby 5 times at her own
initiative (I could not believe this!

I'm glad your DH got to come in for the ultrasound! That is great! It sounds
like it was really thorough and probably great for him to experience.

She is usually very professional and
kind, but not that friendly!)! The tour started at the top of the head,
then
down the spine, the heart beating steadily; she stopped to ask us if we
still don't want to know the baby's sex, we both said no (so DH did not
change his mind!) and she proceeded with showing us the legs. I asked her
about the baby's position (it was transverse every time before), and she
said it was head-down! I was relieved, but still asked her if it would
turn
again, and she said it's not likely, the babies usually go head down
around
week 31-32, and I'm right on target for that (the baby's position was my
secret fear - I was feet first). So, the baby is head-down, two hands next
to the face made into fists - and it was funny because we both saw one
little fist kicking me on the monitor and the bump moved! - and the feet
are
up and sort of aiming for my ribs ;-) She made a point of showing us the
baby's face - the baby just woke up so it appeared sleepy, opening and
closing its eyes and mouth. At that moment I felt rhythmic pulsing , and I
asked her if the baby was having hiccups, and she said, "no, it's just
practicing breathing"!

I think it is so funny that both of us have had breathing experiences at our
last appointments. Must be the time for them to really get into their
"breathing lessons" :-) It is hard for me to imagine what the baby actually
looks like in there and what he is doing when he is moving around. Fairly
easy to picture the feet kicking, because I can so distinctly tell what is a
foot poking out. It is also easy to tell where his back is and how he kind
of pushes out with it, but it is hard for me to picture his little face in
there and what he is doing with his hands--sucking thumb, etc.--since I
can't feel that.

DH & I went out, totally over the Moon about it - he said he can't put
down
to words what he just saw, he was so happy. I loved the fact that it all
could be seen so clearly, the baby looked like a newborn already.
My favourite images of the baby are its face (oh yes, ob/gyn said it has
beautiful lips - maybe she wanted to indicate that the baby is a girl?);
then the heart beating, and then that one little foot ready for a kick.
And
the moving of the lips.. What can I say? We are totally in love with this
baby ;-)
What really boggled me is that I get to see this baby *now* (on the U/S)
and
then at birth - and then it will look almost exactly the same!!

So sweet :-) I checked a book out of the library recently that had a section
on newborn care in it and the pictures were of a *very* newborn baby. It was
neat to realize that that is almost where our baby is right now--that he
probably looks much the same, only with less of a fat layer. I'm getting
really excited to see him. I keep pictured him as dark haired, so I think I
will be surprised if he turns out to be a blondie! It is really fun for me
to imagine what he looks like and I'm really looking forward to seeing where
the genetic chips fell :-)

Avent Isis
breast pump (the ob/gyn at the childbirth class said to take it to the
hospital, and the woman at the store said I will have no problem returning
it if I found no use for it) - we paid all that 380 Euro (which is about
the
same in US$), got a discount of 47 Euro and a present: mattress & cushion
for the stroller.

That is the kind of pump I have as well (it was a gift). I'm planning to use
it minimally, but do want to be able to leave "just in case" expressed milk
bottles home with DH or my sister when I start working again after he is
born (I will only be working about 5 hours a week total, so he probably
won't need a bottle at all during the time I am gone, but I will feel better
about having left the option).

snip
At the third store, we bought some more baby clothes, baby monitor (have
yet
to try it out, but it was recommended to us friends), snowsuit, blanket
for
the stroller, blanket for the cradle, and some other items for us and my
Mom. We paid all that around 159 Euro, and got a discount of 32 Euro, and
a
bonus that allows us to buy clothes and shoes at 30% discount the next
time
we go there.

Sounds like you found some good deals and are really getting stocked up! We
haven't got a snowsuit yet--it is on my "wish list"! We also haven't got a
stroller. Because of the time of year, I don't anticipate needing a stroller
for several months after he is born, so we decided that if we didn't get one
as a gift, we would just wait until we actually need one before we buy one.

We haven't got too many baby clothes, I think it's just the right
amount -I've got 1-2 items in 0-3 months' size of everything from the
basic
baby clothes' list, and 3 items in 3-6 months size, plus the sweater and
the
snowsuit in 6-9 months size; we won't have a baby shower - over here
people
come a month after the baby's
birth and give you presents; there is no baby registry, but closer friends
and relatives usually ask you what to get for the baby so if you are
organized you won't get *double* presents (maybe just a few). Some of our
friends who came for 2 weeks for a visit already got us a present: baby
outfit for the day (yellow with white bears), and this is our first
present
we received for the baby; then my mother's colleague gave us baby shirts
(the ones opened at the back and tied) - she said they came so handy for
her
2 boys, she wanted us to have the same. I'm not counting on hand-me-downs
since most of our friends have small babies/no babies, but I did not want
to
buy too much stuff because we will get presents.

We don't have *that* many clothes either, but enough. I am holding off on
buying anything else, becuase I know a lot of people give cute little
outfits as gifts after the baby is born. I also want to figure out what we
like or use most of when he is actually here, before buying anything more in
advance.

My hospital bag list is done, so now I only need to wash those items that
go
to the hospital with me and pack 3 hospital bags - one for me (the
standard
staying period at the hospital is 3 days over here), one for DH to bring
for
the baby on the day we go home, and one with my going-home clothes. There
will also be a small bag with snacks/drinks (DH will keep it in the car
and
bring it up to the room after the delivery) and a belly purse where he
will
keep everything he'll need during the delivery (like digital camera (I
will
take a standard camera and some extra film for the time we spend apart in
the hospital - I will be rooming-in with the baby and another mother&baby
and I'm sure I will have plenty of photo opportunities once the visiting
hours are over, and I don't want to miss those just because DH took the
digital camera home to download the pictures!), cell phone in case we get
separated during the early labour check ups, list of people to call,
etc.).
Another thing that you MKPers reminded me of is to make my own tape for
drive to the hospital (+45 minutes) and delivery and to put it in the car.

Sounds like you are very prepared! We washed all of the baby clothes,
diapers, and blankets last week and I packed up his diaper bag to bring to
the birth center (has his going home outfit in it as well as diapers,
receiving blankets, and a few other supplies they told me to bring). I have
also been collecting things for my "birth supplies bag," but I haven't
actually packed them up yet. They are all piled on the rocking chair
together though, so they will be easy to pack. I even have a roll of film
and a new just-in-case battery for my camera sitting on the rocking chair.
My mom is going to be the snack-lady for the labor and we made a list last
week of foods she is supposed to supply us with when she arrives :-)

Can you believe we haven't chosen a name yet?!! We haven't even vetoed
some
off the lists yet! OK, in my head I have a shorter version, but we still
need to go over the lists!!

Since you are so prepared with everything else, I'm surprised you haven't
chosen yet! Better get to work ;-)

snip
DH is on holiday until September 1st, and I work from home now and go to
the
office for only couple of hours a week, so we are really enjoying this
period. We are going out a lot on day trips, for romantic dinners in the
evening, etc. - I can't believe we only have 8-10 weeks to go!!

Sounds like great quality time together before the baby gets here. I can't
believe how close the due dates are getting either! I'm starting to expect a
birth announcement from Cheryl S. any day now to kick off the late
summer/fall birth stories....

Glad things are going so well with you!

--
Em
edd 9/23/03
(34 weeks)