Final Stretch :: The Third Trimester

This week I crossed over into my seventh month of pregnancy and the THIRD and final trimester!

Since I am in the midst of a busy spring/summer wedding season, I don't have a ton of updates, but for those of you following along, I'll share what updates I do have. 

Baby Preparation + Childbirth Classes  

Now that we're in the final stretch of this pregnancy, we've started our classes at the hospital. I'm not one of those Moms who feels the need to take every single class there is, but I'm also not one to completely skip the classes either. I think we have a healthy balance of classes ranging from basic baby care to infant first aid/CPR. So far, both Rob and I have found the classes to be beneficial and informative...definitely worth the expense! 

Glucose Tolerance Test 

A few weeks ago I took my 1 hour glucose screening test. After weeks of dreading this test and hearing all of the awful stories about women passing out and others not being able to keep the drink down, I went into this test extremely anxious. I tend to build things up in my head and work myself up over nothing...especially when it comes to medical tests and needles. Rob offered to come with me to keep me company and by the time the test was over, I felt relieved that I had made it through without any problems! Well, fast forward 24 hours later and I find out I FAILED. Ugh! Talk about a let down. I will say that I just barely failed...we're talking only 6 points above my OB's cut off. But either way, failing is failing, which meant I had to endure the nasty 3 hour glucose tolerance test which would ultimately tell me if I had gestational diabetes or not. Well, to make a long story short, I went in for my 3 hour test about a week later and worked myself up over the test yet again, but made it through without any problems. Luckily, I received great news from my OB that I had PASSED with flying colors! Whew! Huge sigh of relief! 

Next up on our list of things to do is interviewing/finding a pediatrician for our little guy. We're hoping to get this squared away within the next few weeks, then it's time for some baby shower fun in June! : ) 

Until next time,

 

Patio + Backyard Landscaping

Rob and I have been busy bees lately wrapping up some open-ended landscaping projects before Baby Schmitt arrives (oh by the way, he'll be here in just 3 months! Where has the time gone?!). 

 Right side of the patio/retaining wall before (just after construction)...

And after...complete with landscaping!

Another view

Here's what we did with the left side landscaping...

 Another view

Hospital Tour

Yesterday we had our hospital tour at Magee. I found the tour to be beneficial and I'm glad we went. It was fun to see where our little boy will be born in just a few short months!! This upcoming week marks less than 100 days to go until my due date and the last week of my 2nd trimester!

Things have been quite busy around here with the start of wedding season, but I'll write an update post soon.

Until next time,

 

Dear Non-Pregnant Person

 A friend sent this to me the other day and I HAD to share!! It's a lengthy read and quite hilarious, but definitely carries truth in the points made. Enjoy! :)

Dear Non-Pregnant Person, 

I hope you find these guidelines helpful in your interactions with pregnant women as failing to follow them may result in serious physical harm. If you are thinking, surely she doesn't mean me - then you should probably read this twice. 

1) The appropriate response to a couple telling you they are having a baby is "Congratulations!" with enthusiasm. Any other response makes you an ass. 

2) Through the wonders of science, we now know that babies are made ONLY by the mother and father - not grandparents. Unless the baby is in your uterus or you are the man that helped put it there, you may not ever use the phrase "my baby". 

3) On the same note, unless you made the baby as defined in 2, the pregnancy, birth and raising of the child are not about you. You do not have input. No one wants to hear your opinion unless they ask for it. The same goes for the name of the baby. 

4) The body of a pregnant woman should be treated the same as any other body. You would not randomly touch someone's stomach if they were not pregnant, nor would you inquire into the condition of their uterus, cervix or how they plan to use their breasts. Pregnancy does not remove all traces of privacy from a woman. 

5) Likewise, no woman wants to hear comments on her weight - ever. A pregnant woman does not find it flattering that you think she is about to pop, must be having twins, looks swollen or has gained weight in her face. Telling her she looks too small only makes her worry that she is somehow starving her baby. Making such comments invites her to critique your physical appearance, and you may not act offended. The only acceptable comment on appearance is "You look fabulous!". 

6) By the time we are 20-30 years old, most of us have picked up on the fact that the summer is hot. We are hot every summer when we are not pregnant. We don't need you to point out that we will be miserably hot before the baby comes. 

7) There is a reason that tickets to L&D are not yet sold on Ticketmaster. Childbirth is actually not a public event. It may sound crazy, but some women really do not relish the idea of their mother, MIL or a host of other family members seeing their bare butt and genitals. Also, some people simply feel like the birth of their child is a private and emotional moment to be shared only by the parents. 

8) Like everything else in life, unless you receive an invitation, you are NOT invited. This includes doctor appointments, ultrasounds, labor, delivery, the hospital and the parents home. You do not decide if you will be there for the birth or if you will move in with the new parents to "help out". If your assistance is desired, rest assured that you will be asked for it. 

9) If you are asked to help after the birth, this means you should clean up the house, help with cooking meals, and generally stay out of the way. Holding the baby more than the parents, interfering with breastfeeding and sleeping schedules, and making a woman who is still leaking fluid from multiple locations lift a finger in housework is not helping. 

10) The only people entitled to time with the baby are the parents. Whether they choose to have you at the hospital for the birth or ask for you to wait three weeks to visit, appreciate that you are being given the privilege of seeing their child. Complaining or showing disappointment only encourages the parents to include you less.

Sincerely, 

All Pregnant Women