Something's Changed

Clearly, I have started experiencing some 'crazy mommy' behaviors.

Last night, after stressing all day about sideways baby, I did everything I could immmediately think of (or had heard of) to turn baby head down.

I laid on the couch with my hips up on the arm on top of 3 pillows for 15 minutes.

I spent time visualizing baby turning head down.

I crawled down the stairs.

I put a bag of frozen peas on the right side of my belly where baby's head was.

I pressed down on baby's head with the palm of my hand while telling baby to turn.

And then... I felt it... movement!

I know I didn't imagine the movement, and I definitely felt more down in my pelvic area. And now, on the right side of my belly where baby's head was, it feels like a much bigger hard body part (like the butt or its back?). Last night, I only woke up once to pee, which is like a major miracle. And this morning, I felt this massive amount of pressure in my pelvic area. Could it be? Did baby move into the right position that easily? I won't really know until I go in to see my doc again in 2 weeks... but something has changed down there in the uterus. Maybe I have a very compliant and easy baby? Let's keep wishing!!

And I haven't even tried burning mugwort near my toes... ;)

Breech Baby

I had another appointment with my doctor today. Most everything is still right on track... baby measures 32 weeks and weighs in at just over 4 pounds. My bp is 120/64 and my weight is right where it should be.

The only (kind of) concern now is that baby is still not head down. I thought it had turned a few weeks ago but was wrong. It has actually settled into a transverse lie position, and the ultrasound today showed that its head is on the right side of my uterus with the butt on the left side. It's legs are actually straight out by the head (flexible little thing in there!).

My baby is actually just opposite of this- facing down with its spine on top rather than bottom like this picture shows. Doc said I could have a funny shaped uterus that encourages baby to hang out this way since its more comfortable. Not exactly comfortable for me when the back of baby's head gets lodged up in my ribs!

The good news is that most babies will turn on their own before 36 weeks. I've been trying some of the at home methods of turning a breech baby for the last few weeks without any success (but I don't give up easily so I'm still trying!). Doc said maybe I could try a chinese herbalist for Moxibustion treatments which according to a study published in JAMA has been successful in turning 75% of breech babies. Doc actually gave me the phone number of a woman who might be able to help me do this (doc wants to avoid a c-section as much as I do!), although if you watch that You-Tube Moxa video (link above), it appears that I could do it pretty easily on my own... maybe I'll be making a trip to ChinaTown to see if I can find some??

Last resort, if baby is still hanging out like this at 37 weeks will be to go to Kapiolani Women and Children's hospital to have a specialist work on performing an external version. Not real excited about that so hope baby figures it out and turns on its own in the next few weeks!! I guess I'm skeptical that it will since its head has been in the same place all along... But I think I'll order some of the moxa and give it a shot. Can't hurt, right?

I'm a Soccer Mom

I think I have to officially admit it. I'm a soccer mom. And I don't even (really) have a kid yet.

Two years ago if someone would have told me that I'd be a soccer mom at any point in my life I would have laughed. Loudly. Not that there's anything wrong with that. I just didn't picture it for myself. Weekends spent watching soccer? HA! My weeekends were spent training on my bike or ocean swimming or on a long run...

But alas, this is where I spent my weekend.*

My husband is a good soccer player. He plays on several real teams. This year he has qualified to play on the 45+ team. Who would guess he's 45 years old already? Anyway, I guess age teaches you something because yesterday he went out and bought me this...
Now I'm the stylin' comfortable and not sunburnt pregnant soccer mom.

I actually enjoyed hanging out there on the field and watching the old guys run around kicking the ball at each other.

Afterward, we went to consumer hell.

Apparently, this is where everyone on the island with kids spends their Sunday afternoons. Scott and I aren't exactly big consumers, and the sheer volume of products in this store scared us to some degree... but we put our patient hats on and managed to get through unscathed with at least a few of the things we set out for. And now we have enough pasta/sauce to get us through a major famine.

As a reward for guarding the house while we were gone and not attacking the cats today, Hoku got to go to the pool!

3 seconds later...
Ahhh, it's a tough life for the dog.


*For the record, I've already claimed Saturday mornings for my own workouts after the baby is born...

BabyProofing Your Marriage, Inlaws and Outlaws

The next chapter of Babyproofing Your Marriage deals with family... not just the new little nuclear one you and your partner have created, but the extended family (i.e. inlaws who are now, for good reason, more interested in you than ever.)

I don't actually picture having to deal with this too much personally. First, because Scott and I live on an island in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, thousands of miles away from any grandmas... and Secondly, because both Scott's and my families are generally very reasonable people.

However, just as the Mama Bear hormones can turn (us) generally reasonable women into overly-protective psycho-moms, apparently it is also possible for grandparents (especially grandmas, who were, after all, Mama Bears themselves not too long ago) to become more overbearing and opinionated than necessary or desired.

This chapter was rather long because there are so many possible scenarios, depending on where you live in relation to your parents (his and hers) and how reasonable everyone is. But I'll summarize a couple of key points from the chapter that will be good to keep in mind regardless of the scenario...

1. Grandmas love love love their grandbabies. They want to hold them and cuddle them and smell them... and impart some sort of their own legacy on them as well. They hope that baby looks like their side of the family. They are sure they know how to take care of them because, afterall, they have raised at least one if not several into successful adults (ahem, you). And you know what? You slept on your tummy and were bottle fed and you turned out just fine.

2. We, as the nuclear family, do still have ultimate authority and responsibility for the lives of our little ones. This means that major decisions still lie with us, which can be a blessing and a curse. So maintain your ideals to some degree, but maybe give grandma a little slack when its her turn with the baby. Let it go if kids get to bed 30 minutes later than usual, or are allowed a snack/dessert that you normally wouldn't give them. It's wonderful when kids have a chance to bond with their grandparents so sometimes it's best to just step aside and let that happen. Hey, the more adults in their world that love them, the better.

In many cases, families get closer once little ones enter the picture. You will likely have a whole new understanding and respect for your own mom. Or you may gain a whole new appreciation for your mother-in-law if, for example, she lives close by and volunteers to watch your kids so you can take a break to get to your yoga class.

That being said, inlaws can unknowingly cause problems in lots of ways. Maybe there's too much pressure on you to spend more vacation time with one side of the family (depending on where you live this might be inevitable). Maybe you feel that his dad doesn't think about safety quite enough when your kids are around (i.e. when knives are left right out on the counter). Maybe your dad is too critical of decisions you've made regarding your choice to work outside the home. Maybe your husband thinks you and your mom make all the decisions and he's left wondering where he fits in to the picture. Maybe your mom and dad are divorced and you feel like they are competing with each other for time with your kids or who gave the best birthday gift... This list could go on and on...

Regardless of the scenario, communication with your husband is the key. Remember that your husband and kids come first (and vice versa- YOU are his priority as his wife) and then all the other relationships will fall into place. The two of you then need to sit down and hash out your priorities. Set up a schedule of who you're going to visit and when. Create your own new traditions. And remember that it is your responsibility to run interference if your side of the family is the offending party. Just like you shouldn't be the one to have to call his dad out on his lack of judgement in showing your 4 year old how to shoot a gun, your hubby shouldn't have to tell your mom to stop dropping in every Saturday morning for breakfast.

In the end, remember point number one above. Grandmas love love love their grandbabies. And that's awesome for your kids.

Should I Patent This?

I have always been a stomach sleeper.

Flipping back and forth from side to side over the last few months has felt so restrictive. My hips hurt. My shoulders hurt. And since I get up at least 4 times every night to empty my bladder, I'm just exhausted and cranky tired a lot.

Me: I would give anything just to sleep on my stomach again.

My problem-solving friend Mike: Why don't you get a big piece of foam and cut a hole out for your belly?

I mentioned this idea to Scott. Since he's the one who listens to me grumble about how sore and tired I am all the time, this is what I found him doing the other day.

Me: What are you doing?

Scott: A mommy who sleeps through the night is a Happy Mommy. A Happy Mommy makes for a happy home...

And within minutes... TA DA! Check it out! How cool is this? I covered the pad with a loose sheet. My belly fits right in there and I am once again a stomach sleeper. :)

We may need to double it up in the coming weeks to make the hole deeper as I continue to grow... I have some ideas of ways to make it more supportive and comfortable too... Maybe add a couple smaller grooves just above the belly hole to accomodate the BOUS's*...

I've slept on it for a few nights now and although it's not perfect, it is the best solution I have found so far. I dug around some on the internet looking for a similar product that is made and sold, but found nothing like it. All those pregnant woman sleep aids are just versions of pillows that let you sleep only on your side. I really thought we could patent this piece of foam with the hole. Scott doesn't think so because it's such an obvious idea. Whatever. All that matters is that I'm sleeping a little bit better these days. Happier Mommy. :)

*Breasts of Unusual Size

Baby's Pediatrician

On my To Do List lately has been to find a pediatrician that seems suitable for Baby Simmons once he/she arrives. Apparently it's the norm to go meet several doctors and pick one early because the hospital will ask you to designate your choice when you go to give birth.

So obviously I wanted to find someone good, located in Kailua, hopefully with similar values to my own... and guess who I found? I found a local competitive triathlete for a pediatrician for our little one! I was so psyched. I met her today and really liked her. She grew up here, her dad was a doctor (who knows Scott's dad, who was a practicing urologist for years on Oahu- small world) and her husband is a sports medicine MD on the island as well. She's done Tinman all 25 years of its existance (one of only 5 people who have done the local race every year)... she's only 43 so that would put her triathlon start at what, 18 years old? Her kids are all into it too.. apparently she and her husband do the local team swim/run biathlons and race against their teenage kids (who have started beat them). So cool. Anyway, clearly she and I are like-minded. :) She was really glad to hear that I'm still exercising everyday... assured me it would make labor and delivery easier, as well as getting fit again afterward... It feels good to find a doctor who you can really relate to, you know?

The funny thing was that after my appointment with her I went swimming in Kailua and then headed to the local health food store for grocery shopping and lunch... and guess who I ran into there? I bet I start seeing Dr all around town now that I know who she is. :) Heck, who knows... maybe we'll end up as training partners?

Labor Day

First Monday in September... Labor Day. But not really Labor day... Not for me anyway. Although I do have several friends who are actually pregnant enough to have had their labor today... but since I have not heard anything from anyone I'm going to assume that no one I know actually labored today.

Scott and I woke up this morning kinda late (we're getting good at sleeping in these days) and came to the conclusion that today could possibly be our last holiday together sans kids. We should do something fun together! What's something cool to do on Oahu that we don't usually do? Ah ha, we will pretend to be tourists. We will go to one of the most popular tourist sites on the island... We will go snorkeling at Hanauma Bay!

After all, we're all just tourists on this earth.

It's been 15 years since I've been to Hanauma Bay, which is really a shame because it's a stunningly beautiful place and the perfect place to snorkel... and snorkeling happens to be the perfect activity for a pregnant woman in her third trimester.

So we gathered up the snorkeling gear, packed some fruit and cheese and crackers in a small cooler for lunch, and headed off to the beach.

As usual, it was a beautiful day. As we walked down to the water we were commenting about how just about everyone else there spent thousands of dollars saving for their Hawaiian Vacation to get there today. We figured our spend was about $8 in gas (the X-Terra isn't so good with gas) and whatever the fruit and cheese for our lunch cost... Oh yeah, and a dollar for parking. We should never take for granted that we live here.

We put on our mask, fins and snorkels and headed right out past the reef... cruised along looking for big fish, which we didn't really see, but the variety out there is worth mentioning. Scott took a bunch of underwater photos but the water wasn't quite clear enough out there to get too many good ones. Here are a few though so you have an idea. Look closely to see the three pretty fish in the second picture. :)

And Scott even captured a panoramic video from the water. Pretty cool.

I can only hope that in about 2 months when it comes time for my real Labor Day that I can at least have some fond memories from this place... because I can't imagine that experience will be quite as pleasant!!