Week #30 - subtitle - shots, doulas, and trees (oh my)!

Hard to believe that we only have 10 weeks (or so) to go before we meet our baby! (Eeeek!)  This week the baby is approximately 15.7 inches long and 2.75 pounds or about the size of a head of cabbage (another fruit/vegetable that I know-yesss!).  The baby continues to kick all throughout the day, but I have yet to experience what it's like when the baby gets the hiccups.  Several people have been asking about the Lovenox shots and what they look like, what type of needle, etc... So here are a few pictures (I will spare y'all the one of Ben in action).  In the package:

Afterwards:

Many thanks to my sister for  the Sharps Container and disposing the used needles at her hospital for me/us!

This past weekend Ben and I took in the annual Dade City Christmas parade on Friday evening with his parents.  It's hard to believe that next year we will have a little baby in tow for our annual family tradition.  For me, I love going out in Dade City because I know hardly anyone and Ben and his folks know basically everyone.  We always have a running bet to see how many people Ben will recognize when we go anywhere in Dade City.  Here is a photo that Ben snapped from the parade:

On Saturday, we had our parenting/childbirth class at Countryside Hospital.  The class was taught by the same woman who taught our breastfeeding class.  There was quite a few (graphic) videos shown during the four hour class.  There were a total of 24 people in the class (including spouses), with most of the women being due in December/January/February.  It's always fascinating to me to see other pregnant women and see/hear how their experience has been.

The thing that I was most surprised to learn is that it is not recommended that you give birth laying on your back.  Apparently my training/knowledge from movies is bogus...go figure!  Basically, it is recommended that you either lean over a chair/back of the hospital bed, stand up, or do child's pose that we all know and love from yoga.  Essentially, the idea is that when you are lying on your back, the baby has to clear your pelvic bone; whereas if you are standing/leaning, gravity can do some of the work for you.

The woman who taught our classes is a certified doula.  Since we are completely ignorant to basically everything in relation to childbirth/babies, on our break during class we asked her about the role that she plays, costs, time line, etc..  You can read a little more here about doulas.  But, Ben and I have decided to interview Melissa to see if perhaps a doula would be helpful for us.

There are two main reasons for our sudden interest in the doula.  One, I'm super scared that I'm not going to be able to give birth without having a c-section.  The clotting disorder makes the surgery especially risky, and I'd like to avoid the added risk if possible.  Secondly, I feel like it would be easier to recover if I didn't have a c-section.  With that being said, I realize that a lot can change in a matter of moments during childbirth and my "plan" my not be feasible.  But, going in with a plan with hopefully make things easier.

On Sunday, Ben and his coworker Tim headed up to Croom for the Dirthead Duathlon.  I agreed to volunteer so that Ben could race for half price.  This was the first duathlon for both Ben and Tim, and it was actually a lot more fun than I thought it was going to be.  Croom really is such a beautiful place to run and bike, even if it is so far north.

After the race and refueling, we headed over to Ergle's Christmas Tree Farm to select our Christmas tree.  Ben and his family have been frequenting Ergle's since forever. And ever since Ben and I have been dating, we've made it one of our traditions as well.  They really have grown their business in the past couple of years, but we've always had a great experience.  I'm certain our little peanut will enjoy watching Ben cut down our tree next year, too!  

The "one":

Ben doing all the dirty work (as per usual):

We did have a doctor's appointment on Tuesday.  However, we got all the way back to the room and the doctor had to leave for a delivery and then a c-section.  We did get some of our Christmas cards written out while we were waiting, but other than that we don't have much of an update on the doctor front.  We went ahead and re-scheduled for December 23rd, so at least they aren't making us go back this week.  I personally don't think that seeing him every two weeks is necessary, but it's better to be safe than sorry.

That is all for this week, lots of excitement going on with the holidays coming up.  Until next time, y'all!