35 Weeks: Everything's Changed

Well, well, well...I sure talked a big talk about not getting stretch marks and then, magically, at 35 weeks and 2 days I found two.  They're long, ugly, red, purple and definitely stretch marks.  After Childbirth 101 this Saturday morning, I asked Michael to please swing me by the store featured on the bag above and let me get some cream, oil, etc. to begin applying. 

The sweet girl who always helps me told me that the brand I had my heart set on was only for prevention and, well, it's too late for that.  You can see what I ended up purchasing.  She recommended this oil and cream because it's for prevention and repair.  Ugh.  I'm so stupid.  (Good news - the oil was a free trial size that the saleslady gave me.)

It's not like I haven't been applying cream three times per day, I have.  Yes, Lan.sinoh lanolin cream 2-3 times per day to prepare for breastfeeding.  Totally thought I wasn't going to get stretch marks though.  Wrong.

Baby Basics.  That was actually the name of the 3 hour class we took this morning.  I discovered the only thing I have not bought or task I have not completed is getting some Infant Tylenol.  Other than that, we're ready due to my obsession with preparing lately.  Nesting? One good tip on our sheet was to keep a camera, disposable or not, in the diaper bag.  What a great idea, don't you think?

I went to our local police station Thursday and had our carseat installed by the two nicest policemen.  Truly, it was the most important 25 minutes I've spent in 8 months.  They told me great tips about safety that would have never occured to me.  I'd highly recommend having them install everything and just letting you watch and learn.  I feel so much more knowledgable about everything now. 

I've been having a little breastfeeding anxiety due to these three factors:
1.  My pediatrician's lactation consultant kindly warned me that two IVF's in the last months my have an adverse effect on my body's hormones helping me produce milk in a timely manner.  She said this was common in IVF mothers and highly recommended pumping a lot at the hospital in an attempt to jumpstart production. 
2.  A few months ago I discovered that my right breast was full of grape-like clusters of cysts most likely cause by IVF hormone fluctuations.  You might remember I had an ultrasound to confirm this.  I was told that this could also effect milk production.
3.  And, today, it occured to me that I had a lumpectomy in my left breast in 2006, cutting through my milk glands.  How could I have not mentioned this to the lactation consultant before now?

So, after class today, Michael and I walked up to the L&D floor and asked to speak the the LC on duty.  Our teacher had just told us that there was always one on duty.  Sure enough, she met with us out in the family waiting area and answered tons of questions.  How nice was that?  Totally LOVE our hospital.

The least of her concerns was the current breast cysts.  But she was in agreement about IVF messing up the communication between hormones and milk production.  She suggested exactly what the other LC did - that I should pump constantly at the hospital, even after feeding the baby.  Interestingly her greatest concern was the 2006 lumpectomy I had.  Because of the location of both the incision and the lump, she was sure my glands had to be cut and all we can do is wait to find out if they've somehow healed. 

If it happens that I can't breastfeed because of any of those reasons then it will be fine because I tried.  So, bottom line, we'll try and then go from there. 

Now for the shocker...

Thanks goodness Michael goes to these appointments with me and confirms what the doctor says.  Otherwise, my family and you may surely think I've lost my mind. The truth is, I am told something at nearly every appointment that completely contradicts what I was told two weeks before. 

You can look back at my last post and see how I found out the baby was measuring so far ahead, he was definitely coming early, I would have repeat ultrasounds...blah, blah, blah. 

Well, I am not kidding you, at this appointment we were told that
1.  The baby was only going to weigh 8.5 pounds at 40 weeks
2.  Under no circumstances did I have a large enough baby to be induced in the next couple of weeks
3.  She was willing and expecting to let me carry the baby up to 41 weeks.

I cannot tell you how much these statements are in direct opposition to what we've been told in the last couple of months...repeatedly.  The GOOD news is that she always changes her mind to BETTER news, not worse.  So, as long as the prognosis is getting better, I'm not complaining.  (But I had told my family and friends about the big baby thing and now I just look like a drama queen.) Oh well.  I'm just so glad that this little guy looks like he'll be in his Mama til the bitter end, greatly reducing his risk of spending time in the NICU.   

Thank you for hanging in there reading these posts.  I have not been commenting lately at all.  Please know that I've been reading all of yours though.  Now that I know we're not having a baby in two weeks, life can move back to its normal pace. 


Pregnancy Highlights:


How Far Along: 35 weeks, 3 days

Size of baby: Since I've got this gestational diabetes under control, OB says baby will be a nice 8.5 pounds around due date.  This is average for my family so it sounds right to me.

Total Weight Gain/Loss: Gained 6.5 pounds  (Yes - I gained over 30 during two IVF's, not much wiggle room left.)

Maternity Clothes: I wear maternity jeans, pants, tops, and dresses

Gender: It's a boy!

Movement: I feel the baby kick tons when he's awake, but when he's asleep I can't do anything to make him move.  He kicked me so hard twice this week that my neck actually bent over to the side like whiplash.  That boy's got some strength!

Sleep: My sleep is only interrupted by trips to the bathroom.  My bladder wakes me up.  It's so difficult to climb out of our soft mattress with this big ol' belly.

What I miss: Sleeping on my back, having a clean house

Cravings: Formerly only oranges and orange juice, but now I really do crave sweets.  I have never given dessert a second thought and now I find myself wandering down the ice cream isle at the grocery store.

Symptoms: Tiredness, I am always tired.  Just today I have some pain from the weight of the baby in my stomach.  It's hard to explain...it just hurts.  Cramps in my calves a few times a night.  Round ligament pain nearly every time I turn over in the bed. And some newly discovered stretch marks.

Best Moments this week: Finding out my gestational dibetes is fully under control, getting the car seat installed at the police station, Michael returning from a week long business trip, completing childbirth class, getting some really valuable info from the lactation consultant at our hospital