29-5-2008 - Antenatal classes, being sick and glucose test

My mood while writing this blog: Ok

Last week Thursday we started our 7 week antenatal classes with parents centre. Max and I are finding it alot of fun, It certainly beats watching TV!

Last week we did alot of ice-breakers to get to know each other and then spoke about "probable, possible and definite" signs of labour. Of course, contractions are the only definite sign of labour, anything else falls under possible or probable signs of labour. We all lined up according to our due dates, I'm 2nd in place with the other two before being due on the same day on the 29th July. It was interesting seeing that I am certainly much smaller than others who are due way after me and all are 1st timers except for 2. I'm also the youngest in the group who is expecting with the oldest being around 35 years old I think.

This week's class was fun too with more ice-breakers and then the talk about the labour stages and watching two DVD's. From this class I am more convinced to do a water birth and to try and go without medication as the baby is affected by any medication I end up taking and will latch on to the breast alot easier and more naturally if I don't use medication. Water birth I feel will be more relaxing for me and cleaner and not so invasive as such. I would like Max to be in the labour pool with me so I can lean my back against him when I need to and just use him as strength. Of course this all falls on the fact of whether my midwife will do a water birth at parnell birthcare or not. I'm also keen on the skin to skin contact of baby and me for at least an hour.

The whole of last week I was down with a cold which wasn't nice considering you can't take medication when you are pregnant. So I had to do with using vix vapour rub, panadol (limited) and drinking plenty of fluids and hot drinks with honey and fresh lemon. Half way through the week when I was getting better, Max got the cold too and the roles were reversed with me looking after him now. He somehow put out his back so the both of us are lying in bed complaining about back pain and myself complaining about pelvic pain. Last night I got a "smiley belt" which fits very snugley/tightly around my hips to hold it all firmly together. So far it seems to be working ok. The worst is tring to put on my pants or shoes or even just shaving my legs or trying to dry my legs and feet after showering. The other part is trying to turn over in bed... man, thats painful and my groin feels on fire when I try and move.... nasty :-p

This morning I went and had my glucose blood test done to test for gestational diabetes, iron levels and protein/sugar levels in my urine. I have an appointment with my midwife next week Tuesday so should have my results then. Everyone was saying the glucose drink I would have to drink would be aweful... it wan't! I t was like drinking a soda water drink with some sweet cordial added to it. Not bad at all.

I went and bought a change table off trademe last weekend for $60. It's been used by two other babies but it honestly looks brand new! There's a $100 save there. This morning I went to check out the baby factory to find the bassinet we bought of trademe for $65 was $215 at the shop brand new! Mine has only been used for 3 months by 1 baby and looks brand new too.... huge save there too! We will wait till baby outgrows the bassinet before purchasing a cot which the in-laws want to purchase anyway.

Bubs has been kicking me pretty hard lately and I don't know if it's normal to be painful or if I'm just feeling it more because my stomach muscles are sore from coughing and blowing my nose for 2 weeks now. We thought of another boys name: Jayden. It means thankful. Another girls name we like is: Asher.

Well, I've hit my 3rd trimester now with 11 more weeks to go, give or take. I will be 29 weeks on Sunday.