Week 31

Well, this last week was actually pretty slow, but quick at the same time.  I only had the glucose testing this week, which took up 3 hours... and the child birthing class with Clark.  I had a waxing appointment and I am at the point where my skin is getting sensitive because I get a little swollen after waxing now, but it is a must!

Sorry for the TMI, but guys, if you are reading this, I feel bad for you... but this blog is about honesty!  So stop reading, if you don't want to hear about the personal aspect of it.

I just finished my birthing plan.  Before you start rolling your eyes or shaking your head, I did NOT make a plan that includes the time by time ha!  The calendar plans are ridiculous as it is most likely going to go according to plan.  My birthing plan consists of what I want to do during my labor, like walking or taking a bath, etc. There is one part that says, "Can we shave you, if necessary" so I marked off no because I get waxes every 6 weeks for that lady business.  The girl who looked over my birthing plan laughed so hard.  She goes, wow, no one ever is brutally honest about that!

Now, in regards to the birthing classes, I am even more terrified now to go through labor and we haven't even gotten to the part of what can go badly in labor!  That is next week!  There was a part of the class where they talked about episiotomys and tearing and what not... Now, our last ultrasound we were told Anson has an extremely large head... but in reality, so did Clark.  So we weren't expecting different... why make it easy, right ;)!  The RN told us that if our baby has a big head, your rip will be upwards and it will ruin a vagina forever.  That stopped me dead in my tracks, like, um... excuse me, can you repeat that?!  She said that episiotomy's are dependent on how your doctor feels about them and how you are progressing and not everyone gets one.  Plus, in the book we got from the birthing classes, sounds really freaking great about episiotomy's instead of tearing:

"Research has shown that women with a spontaneous tear generally recover in the same or less time and often with fewer complications than those who had an episiotomy.

Women who have an episiotomy tend to lose more blood at the time of delivery, have more pain during recovery, and have to wait longer before they have sex without discomfort. An episiotomy also increases the risk of infection, and a recent study showed that getting an episiotomy for a first vaginal birth is linked to an increased risk of tearing in the next birth.

What's more, women who get an episiotomy are more likely to end up with a serious tear through the anal sphincter or even all the way through the rectum (known as a third- or fourth-degree laceration, respectively) than those who deliver without being cut.

These serious tears result in more perineal pain after the birth, require a significantly longer recovery period, and are more likely to interfere with the strength of the pelvic floor muscles. Tears that disrupt the anal sphincter make it more likely that the mom will have anal incontinence – trouble controlling bowel movements or gas."

All of that just honestly doesn't sound very appealing. I was VERY against getting a C-Section before the birthing classes... now I joke around that it would be nice to have one for convienence... But out of the few pros that I have for a C-Section:

1) Being that I won't bleed after birth because they suck everything out.

2) Being that I wouldn't tear up ruining my vagina

3) I won't go through hours of labor

4) It would be more convenient to reduce stress of labor (especially being my first baby)

5) A reduced risk of sexual dysfunction for the first three months

6) Less trauma to the baby

But all in all, there are more downfalls than there are positives.  I was reading you really shouldn't have more than 3 C-Sections (2 was pushing it) because you can have serious complications after the 3rd.  Here was some of the cons I was reading that really has deterred me, unless medically necessary (because we want 3 kids):

1) Your uterus can collapse after the 3rd C-Section

2) After the 3rd, you can have problems with your baby's growth, like having the organs on the outside of your baby

3) Your placenta can detach leading to many miscarriages and other bodily issues from massive scar tissue

4) Longer hospital stay (get me out ASAP please)

5) Apparently you have permanent bowel problems that can vary from minimal to extensive

6) Just a larger risk in general with having more than 2 c-sections can really hurt a woman's body

From what I was reading... a C-Section didn't sound to great from the pros and cons of it... but, like I said, unless medically necessary, I plan on doing a vaginal delivery and not a C-Section no matter how much better it might sound at birthing classes LOL! But don't get me wrong, a C-Section has some perks to it ;)!

Overall, the anticipation is growing for the next few weeks to come!  I have been busy planning the baby shower.  A HUGE thank you to one of my best friends, Vanessa for helping me plan it and doing the majority of the work!  I wouldn't be able to do it without her.  From maid of honor to future aunt, she has stuck by me through everything!  

We are finishing up the nursery (for the most part anyways) so people can see it at the shower... and we are moving furniture around so Yogi and Kole can get used to where things will be in the upcoming months before Anson gets here!  We are beyond excited.

One of the most exciting things about it, is we are having the first boy!  Clark's half sister has a son, so technically for his dad it won't be the first grandson, but for his mom's side this will be the first boy in the family that is blood related and Clark is very excited to be able to share the first grandson with his mom and his dad!  For my family, it is the first anything ha!  I am an only child after all, so they get a grandson to begin with :) We are over the moon.  I love my nieces to death, but it will be a nice change to mix up a boy into the mix!  Plus, Clark is very excited to do all the things his dad did with him.  Clark can pretty much fix anything and he can't wait to teach Anson how to ride a dirt bike and motorcycle, go hunting with him, and just show him the ropes.  

I always joke with Clark that his dad taught him everything he knows in regards to the manly man work, but you turn around and Debbie knows everything else.  If John can't answer it or fix it, Debbie sure can!  As for my parents, both my mom and dad can show Anson the ropes on being a computer nerd ;)!

In regards to maternity pictures, we might do some just on our own.  We were planning on doing them, but with family pictures right around the corner, we thought it would be best to hold off and save that extra money for family pictures since he will be born before the holidays, we plan on taking pictures for holiday cards!

Other than that, my only complaints are normal ones haha!  I am having a hard time breathing now... seems like everything has definitely pushed it's way up (organ wise).  I also have a hard time getting to bed and finding a good position to sleep in, which in return, my lower back hurts now.  Overall, everything is going well and the 9 week countdown begins!

How far along? 31 Weeks! 9 weeks left.

Total weight gain/loss: 23 lbs total... nothing more yet... Thank God!

Sleep: Getting harder to get comfortable... hard to breathe when I first lay down to sleep

Best moment this week: Resting... I have been non-stop these last couple weeks and having a semi-busy week helped! 

Miss Anything?  Avocados

Movement: I am starting to feel him once an hour or at least every couple hours. 

Food cravings: Everything that is edible!

Looking forward to: My baby shower and seeing people I havent seen in a while!