Hospital Bag.

Maybe I'm just insane, but I've reached the point in my pregnancy where I'm up late making lists, checking them twice, organizing baby clothes, and reorganizing them the next day, and making phone number lists for everyone I'm close with just incase I go into labor while I'm with them.  With that, I plan on packing my hospital bag sometime this week.  I was planning on waiting until my baby shower [which is 3 weeks away!], but I think I might as well start it so I can add to it as I think of stuff.  So I thought I'd share a great list I found online for all you mom-to-be's.  And you can edit out, or add in, whatever you like.

For labor

• A picture ID (driver's license or other ID), yourinsurance card, and any hospital paperworkyou need
• Your birth plan, if you have one
• Eyeglasses, you wear them. Even if you usually wear contact lenses, you may not want to deal with them while you're in the hospital.
• Toiletries: Pack a few personal items, such as a toothbrush and toothpaste, lip balm, deodorant, a brush and comb, makeup, and a hair band or barrettes. Hospitals usually provide soap, shampoo, and lotion, but you might prefer your own.
• A bathrobe, a nightgown or two, slippers, and socks. Hospitals provide gowns and socks for you to use during labor and afterward, but some women prefer to wear their own. Choose a loose, comfortable gown that you don't mind getting dirty. It should be either sleeveless or have short, loose sleeves so your blood pressure can be checked easily. Slippers and a robe may come in handy if you want to walk the halls during labor.
• Whatever will help you relax. Here are some possibilities: your own pillow (use a patterned or colorful pillowcase so it doesn't get mixed up with the hospital's pillows), music and something to play it on, a picture of someone or something you love, anything you find reassuring. If you're going to be induced, think about bringing some reading material because it may be a while before labor is underway.
  
  

  For your partner/labor coach

  • A camera or video camera with batteries, charger, and memory card (or film or tape). Someone has to document the big event! (Note: Not all hospitals allow videotaping of the birth itself, but there's usually no rule against taping during labor or after the birth.)
  • Toiletries
  • Comfortable shoes and a few changes of comfortable clothes
  • Snacks and something to read
  • Money for parking and change for vending machines
  • A bathing suit. If you want to take a bath or shower during labor, you may want your partner to get in with you to support you or rub your back.
    
    

    After you deliver

    • A fresh nightgown, if you prefer to wear your own
    • A list of people to call and their phone numbers, your cell phone and charger or, if you'll be using the hospital phone, a prepaid phone card. After your baby's born, you or your partner may want to call family and friends to let them know the good news. Bring a list of everyone you'll want to contact so you don't forget someone important when you're exhausted after delivery.
    • Snacks! After many hours of labor, you're likely to be pretty hungry, and you may not want to rely solely on hospital food. So bring your own – crackers, fresh or dried fruit, nuts, granola bars, or whatever you think you'll enjoy. A bottle of nonalcoholic champagne might be fun for celebrating, too.
    • Comfortable nursing bras or regular bras. Whether or not you choose to breastfeed, your breasts are likely to be tender and swollen when your milk comes in, which can happen anytime during the first several days after delivery. A good bra can provide some comfort, and breast pads can be added to help absorb leaks.
    • Several pairs of maternity underpants. Some women love the mesh underwear usually provided by the hospital, but others don't. You can't go wrong with your own roomy cotton underpants. The hospital will provide sanitary pads because you'll bleed after delivery. Make sure you have a supply of heavy-duty pads waiting at home!
    • A book on newborn care. The hospital will probably provide you with a book, but you may prefer your own. Of course, the postpartum nurses will be there to answer questions and show you how to change, hold, nurse, and bathe your newborn if you need guidance.
    • Photos of your other children. When they come to visit, they'll see that you haven't forgotten them.
    • Gifts for older siblings. Some parents bring gifts for the new baby to "give" to big brothers and sisters.
    • A notepad or journal and pen or pencil. Track your baby's feeding sessions, write down questions you have for the nurse, note what the pediatrician tells you, jot down memories of your baby's first day, and so on. Some people bring a baby book so they can record the birth details right away.
    • A going-home outfit. Bring something roomy and easy to get into (believe it or not, you'll probably still look 5 or 6 months pregnant) and a pair of flat, comfortable shoes.
      
      

      For your baby

      • An installed car seat. You can't drive your baby home without one! Have the seat properly installed ahead of time and know how to buckle your baby in correctly.
      • A going-home outfit. Your baby will need an outfit to go home in, including socks or booties if the clothing doesn't have feet, and a soft cap if the air is likely to be cool. Make sure the legs on your baby's clothes are separate so the car seat strap can fit between them.
      • A receiving blanket. The hospital will provide blankets for swaddling your baby while you're there, but you may want to bring your own to tuck around your baby in the car seat for the ride home. Make it a heavy one if the weather's cold.
        
        

        What not to bring

        • Jewelry
        • Lots of cash or other valuables
        • Medications, including vitamins. Let your doctor know whether you're on any medications. The hospital will provide them for you if your doctor agrees that you should continue to take them while you're there.
        • Diapers. The hospital will provide diapers for your baby while you're there. Leave your supply at home.
        • A breast pump. If you end up needing a breast pump for any reason, the hospital can provide one.

        Tips from moms who've been there

        "For the drive to the hospital, you may want to bring a towel you don't care about and a garbage sack. Put the garbage sack down on your seat and then the towel. That way, if your water breaks on the way to the hospital, you don't have to worry about cleaning the car when you get home." – Anonymous
        "Bring both your glasses and your contacts, along with storage case and solution. I wore my glasses during labor with my first one, but it got so hot, the glasses just fogged up and I couldn't see what was going on – very frustrating. And just trying to wear glasses during delivery was annoying and one frustration I could've done without. So bring both. You may want to switch back and forth for comfort or convenience or whatever." – Anonymous
        "I brought a few changes of clothes, since you stay a few days after the baby is born. With hormones and everything, I sweated like crazy after I gave birth, so it was nice to change into some fresh pj's or some sweats or shorts during the day, especially with people always coming to visit. Just something that made me feel better." – groovitha
        "Disposable underpants – best advice I ever got! The mesh panties they give you at the hospital with the sanitary pads are not so comfy ... and once you get home, you probably won't be graduating to just a pad or pantyliner for a couple of weeks and you'll run out of the mesh panties before then!" – Anonymous
        "Bring the baby book. They will need to get footprints and while they are doing it for the birth certificate they can use the rest of the ink and make prints for your book!" – Anonymous
        "Bring baby nail clippers or an emery board. The hospital where my son was born didn't supply clippers for fear of liability, and as a result my son gouged his face before he was 12 hours old." – Jen
        "One thing that I didn't realize I would need was nipple cream. I found breastfeeding hard to get used to and had to get someone to buy this stuff for me because my nipples got chapped!" – Portsie
        "Bring cheap throwaway flip-flops to wear into the bathroom and shower. The hospital floors were icky."  – kaym12
        "I have found that a box of chocolates or yummy treats for the nurses, left at the nurse's station as you check in, is a nice gesture. I know that sounds silly, but being a maternity nurse is a huge commitment with each new mom that comes in, and it's kind of nice to recognize that with a little something, since you'll be seeing a lot of each other over the next couple of days." – Marci
        "I brought everything on our list with our first child, and my husband had to haul it around. I didn't use half of it. A change of comfy clothes for you, your hubby, and the baby was all we really needed. Toiletries were good to have – like my toothbrush, of course. But everything else seemed to just clutter up our small room. Even the diaper bag I packed never even got opened! If you feel like you need all the extras, I would leave it in the car, just in case." –Jannell21

Parents! Don't back down!

I think it's really important to discuss your parenting strategies with your spouse before the baby is here, and once you've decided on something, don't back down.  I believe you should listen to experienced parents advice, consider what they say, why they say it, and the possible outcome, but you don't need to change your opinion just because they've had kids before so they "must be right".  I think new parents are pressured in so many ways to make "right" decisions for their children, when ultimately that's what life is about-learning for yourself.  Especially if you know someone's kids have not turned out the way you would want for your own children, consider doing things differently.  I've decided half way through my pregnancy that when someone shares with me how they would do something in a situation with their child, I'll listen, smile, and then keep my opinions to myself [for the most part].  I've gotten a lot of flack for the way Thomas and I believe children should be raised, and we've gotten a lot negative feed back that has hurt us.  I get a lot of eye rolling, snarls, "psh's", and demeaning giggles, as if I have no clue what I'm doing and I just sound ridiculous.  I don't think this is right.  Not everyone needs to agree with how you plan to parent, but it's important to get support on your parenting decisions so make sure your spouse has your back, or it can really break you down!  Unless someone is genuinely concerned about your baby's health or safety, then PLEASE consider what they are saying and if you have doubts as your doctor.

28 week update

Sorry it's been so long!  It seems like my pregnancy is flying by!

Weight Gain:
I now weight 109 as of today's doctor's appointment.  That's a total of 17 pounds gained.  I have been eating a lot healthier this week, and I'm quite proud of myself-if only I could remember my prenatals more often!  I've been eating a lot more fruit, yogurts, and getting lots of fiber and protein.  I'm still craving a lot of cereal, sandwiches, pastas, and anything Mexican...and anything icey cold.  If I could freeze everything I would.  Oh and still putting mayo on everything!

Nursery:
We've added a beautiful rocking chair, thanks to my Dad and his wife, Pam!  Other than that we haven't bought much more.  I am getting some great project ideas thanks to Pintrest!  I'll eventually post pictures once I get everything done.

Milestones:
I can now identify if it's hands & feet kicking me or if it's elbows or knees.  I can no longer see my feet.  I've signed up for childbirth classes and they start in the beginning of May.  I'm doing a breast feeding class tomorrow.

Doctors:
So I've continued my healthcare with Mercy OB, and so far it's going pretty well.  I did the glucose test about 3 weeks ago.  The first time I did it, I threw up the juice, so I had to go back a week later and do it all over again.  They put me on Zofran and it helps tremendously, since my queasiness has slightly returned.  I had my first pelvic exam 3 weeks ago as well-and it went terrible.  I've never had any female exams, and the doctor was not exactly gentle.  Her fingernails cut me.  =(  I cried.  And then she told me I may be too small to deliver, but I'm not really giving her opinion much thought honestly.  I was 25 weeks at the time...there's no way my bones are done stretching in preparation for birth.  I know plenty of girls my size or smaller who have had perfectly normal births, and I really have faith in my body and God that this is going to happen alright.  If it doesn't, we'll deal with that then, but I really don't think I'm "too small to deliver".  I did do a Non-Stress Test today because I've had the sensation that the baby is seizuring inside my stomach a couple times a week.  You can look down at my stomach when it happens and you can see it shake.  It's definitely not hiccups or contractions.  It's the strangest thing.  They hooked me up to the monitors to make sure the baby's heart rate was good and that he was getting enough oxygen, and everything was fine.  I've looked online and some doctors believe that it's the baby practicing breathing and that's the nerves reactions to getting the amniotic fluid out of his lungs.  Very weird, but all the women who say they've had the same experience [which seems to be a lot!] all said their baby's turned out fine and have never had any seizure disorders, heart problems, or anything of the sorts, so that's comforting.  I just have to have faith that everything is alright.