Week 27

Oh man! With report cards being due this week, I really haven't had a chance to do much else. Well maybe a few other things...Todd and I decided to take advantage of the lake effect snow and go snowshoeing at the Clarence Nature Center again. We found a new path that ended up leading us to Uncle Carl's backyard!

But was I sore that night! This hasn't been the first time I felt discomfort especially after exercising so after self-diagnosing myself online (smile), I think I may actually have an acute case of Symphysis Pubis Dysfunction (SPD)?? I was actually a little fascinated with what I found. According to http://www.i-am-pregnant.com/,

"During pregnancy, your body produces hormones and body parts shift to meet the demands of your growing baby. Your body produces a hormone known as relaxin during pregnancy. Relaxin softens the ligaments in your pelvis to enable your baby to pass through your pelvis. Normally, the two halves of your pelvis do not move very easily because the symphysis pubis is strengthened by ligaments. If one side of your pelvis moves more than the other side, you can experience pain and inflammation. This can happen when you walk or move your legs and the pain can become severe."

In addition to my SPD (ha ha ha), Sarah, one of the midwives, called on Monday to let me know I'm slightly anemic and my glucose was slightly higher than it should be (my levels were 144 milligrams of glucose per deciliter of blood plasma - the cut off is 140 mg/dL). Luckily the anemia can probably be taken care of with an increase of iron and folic acid in my diet.

However, because my glucose levels were just above normal I have to go for a THREE HOUR glucose tolerance test on Friday - ughhh!!! That means I will need to fast for at least 8 hours (nothing but sips of water), go to a lab, have my blood taken, drink some glucose solution, and have my blood taken after 1 hour, 2 hours, and 3 hours of sitting in the waiting room.

One would think the best time to go would be first thing in the morning; however, I wouldn't get back to school in time to just take a half day. So I will be going on Friday at 1:45pm. It may actually kind of work out because I'm hoping it will be okay for me to get up at 5:30am to eat some cereal before going 8 hours without any food - yikes! Wish me luck and that I don't pass out from hunger!

Time to shuffle off to bed!!


Baby Development (from Pregnancy.org)

• Your little one's brain continues its rapid growth. Don't forget to share music, conversation, and even books with your baby!
• Response to sound grows more consistent toward the end of the seventh month, when the network of nerves to the ear is complete. Your baby's hearing continues to develop, he or she may start to recognize your voice as well as your partner's.
• Lungs continue to grow and prepare for functioning outside of the womb. Each day in the womb greatly increases survival rates!
• S/he also continues to take small breaths and although s/he's only breathing in water and not air, it's still good practice for when he's born.
• Eyelids are now open more. Your baby can distinguish between light and dark.
• Retinas have formed.
• Your baby will grow over a half inch this week alone! You may suspect this phenominal growth rate repeats in the preteen years!
• Average size is now 14.4 inches and 1.9 pounds.

(pictures from Pregnancy.org)

Week 26

Weight: 124 lbs. (+ 11 lbs)
Fundal height: 26 cm (determined by measuring from the top of the pubic bone the top of the uterus (called the fundus) which is just above the belly button right now)

It's been a busy week. I'll start with today's big event - our visit to our new caretaker: Nurse Midwifery Associates of WNY. Apparently, they used to be housed in a Victorian home on Linwood. However, as of July they joined the Kaleida Healthcare System and are now housed in a traditional medical building on Hertl near Elmwood. I can tell they miss the intimacy of the house, but I assume they had to merge with Kaleida probably for insurance cost reasons.

I will say that I had my doubts if I made the correct decision when we walked in - it was not the best decorated waiting room to say the least. But then I quickly learned that this building houses a few different practices which means you need to check in at a general desk and then wait in this room to be called by your specific practice.

To add to the doubts, we ended up waiting almost 45 minutes to be called back. We found out later that there was a problem earlier in the day and we can expect to be called back within 15 minutes of our appointment time from now on. My doubts continued as we were taken to the exam room which was just as bare and thin-walled as you can expect in a medical building.

Fortunately, things started to turn for the better when we met Sarah, one of the midwives. I think we spent at least 1.5 hours with her - answering medical history questions, asking questions, and then doing the exam as well. We then needed to wait another 30 minutes to have my blood drawn for the big glucose test. So Sarah brought us back to their office which was much more comfortable and inviting than the front waiting room.

There we met Mary (the woman I initially talked to on the phone) who was just as friendly and helpful. Another great aspect of this practice is that they encouraged us to set up appointments for the next four months so I could pick the exact time and date for each one to save Todd and me from taking time off from work.

And to top off the experience, while we were waiting, Sarah made sure we were introduced to the two other midwives, Martha and Elaine, who seemed just as friendly. In all my appointments at Audubon's Women Medical, I think I had only met three of the seven doctors by the time I left. Today I met all three in one day!! I even found a picture posted in the office of a student I previously taught who was delivered by the midwives!

Our next appointment is in four weeks - before we fly down to Marco Island for our last hurrah. I am only hoping my experiences will continue to be just as pleasant.

Rewinding to this weekend, Todd, his parents, and I went to H.A. Whites on Kenmore Avenue between Delaware and Colvin to check out baby furniture. Holy cow...what a selection!! It was initially quite overwhelming, but after a couple hours we were educated on crib manufacturers, car seats, and even strollers. Needless to say we did not make any selections. But our visit did do a good job of getting the wheels turning.

Fortunately, my cousin-in-law, Gen, e-mailed me her registry which at least gave us a starting point. I have also been working my way through the book Baby Bargains to help us start a list of items we would like to purchase. So much to think about and decide on!!!

Time for bed! Check back for new pictures. Will see you next week!!!!


Baby Development (from Pregnancy.org)

• Your baby may weigh about two pounds now (average is 1.7 pound, 760gm) and is 14 inches (35.6cm) in length.
• To support the fetus's growing body, the spine is getting stronger and more supple.
• Though no longer than the span of the average adult hand, it is now made up of 150 joints, 33 rings, and some 1,000 ligaments.
• Air sacs in the lungs form now.
• Lungs begin to secrete a greasy substance called surfactant. Without surfactant the fetal lungs would stick together and couldn't expand after the baby is born.
• Although they've been sealed shut for the last few months, your baby's eyes are opening and beginning to blink this week. Depending on ethnicity, some babies will be born with blue or gray-blue eyes (which may change color in the first 6 months of life) and some will be born with brown or dark eyes.
• Retinas begin to form.
• Brain wave activity for hearing and sight begins to be detectable.
• Fetal brain scans show response to touch. If you shine a light on your abdomen, your baby will turn his head, which according to researchers, means his optic nerve is working.

(from Pregnancy.org)

Week 25

Well, trying to get back into the swing of things after being off for 12 great days. It did make it a little easier to transition back last week only having 3 work days.

This past Saturday Todd and I went snowshoeing at the Clarence Nature Center (off Thompson Road). Even though there wasn't a ton of snow, we just had to try out Todd's new snowshoes. Besides it's a great way for me to enjoy the winter now that I shouldn't ski. After the Clarence Nature Center, we hiked the Clarence Escarpment Park (off Greiner Road) which led into the backyards of Spaulding Lake where we continued to walk. I think we ended up being out for almost 2 hours! Needless to say I was pooped by the time we got back home.

Today we met with Cindy, a doula who came highly recommended to us by our friend, Michelle P. A doula is "a person who accompanies a woman in labor, mothers the mother, taking care of her emotional needs throughout childbirth. A doula also provides support and suggestions for partners that can enhance their experiences of birth. A postpartum doula continues that valuable emotional support and guidance, helping a family make a smooth transition into new family dynamics." Since we have only heard wonderful comments from those who have had a doula during their birth, we thought we'd look into the option as well.

We ended up talking with Cindy for almost 2 hours! She had a lot of information for us to think about that we will eventually have to articulate in a Birth Plan. Things like what we would like available to us during labor for comfort, induction/augmentation of labor, fetal monitoring, leg support, environment (light and noise), episiotomy, anesthesia, and postpartum wishes such as skin to skin contact with the baby, evaluation of the baby, cutting of the umbilical cord, delivering of the placenta, breastfeeding, rooming in with the baby, circumcision, and more. Yikes, so much to think about!!!

I personally think that we would only benefit from having Cindy with us during the labor and delivery. Other than being there to implement as many techniques as necessary to ease the 'pain' of labor so as to deliver as natural as possible, I also see her as being a patient advocate. Someone we could look to to help us make as educated of a decision as possible if the midwife should propose it during labor.

In the meantime, the tum tum is getting bigger and the baby's movements are getting stronger. I tend to feel him/her much more during the weekend and at night. All my movement during the school day must keep it quiet.

Furthermore, little by little my former students are finding out that I am pregnant as well. I've noticed a few of them 'checking out' my belly when they come in to say hello each morning, and apparently it came up in one of the first grade classrooms today. Hence, I received three cards from two of the girls. One of which said," Dear Mrs. Rassman, Hay I hrd (heard) you wear (were) haveing a baby."

I'm definitely enjoying being pregnant and really don't want it to go any faster as I imagine this is the easy part compared to what s/he has in store for us!

Baby Development (from Pregnancy.org)

• The structures of the spine begin to form -- joints, ligaments and rings. These will protect the all important spinal cord which serves as the information transmitter for your child's body.
• Blood vessels of the lungs develop.
• Your baby's nostrils begin to open. There is a study out of Belfast that suggests babies at this stage have the capability of scent preferences!
• The nerves around the mouth and lip area are showing more sensitivity now. When baby is rooting for food later on, these will be valuable!
• His swallowing reflexes are developing.
• Dexterity is improving. Your baby can make a fist and would clasp objects placed in palm.
• Your child has now obtained an approximate length of 13.6 inches (34.6cm) and weighs 1.46 pound (660gm).

(from Pregnancy.org)

Week 23

Merry Christmas!! This is going to be a quickie since it's that busy time of the year. ..

This past Tuesday I spoke with a woman from Nurse Midwifery Associates of WNY to inquire about possibly changing from an obstetrician to a midwife. Even though their website provided many answers to my questions, I still had my list of questions to ask. Well, if my experience on the phone with Mary is any indication of what our experience there will be like, we are going to LOVE it!!! I was astounded when this woman had no problem giving me over 15 minutes of her undivided attention to answer my questions. I would have NEVER been able to do that with my current obstetrician!

With this change I believe we're going to have the best of both worlds now! We will have the personability of a midwife with the medical security of a hospital (they deliver at Children's and work closely with University Obstretics if there is a need for a cesarian). I was also told that whatever midwife is on call when I go into labor will be physically by my side during just about the entire time I am in labor. And...it's ALL covered by insurance!!!

At last, on Thursday afternoon, I let the pregnant cat out of the bag to my students' parents through a newsletter. I am relieved to have finally let them all know (even though my principal still did not want me to until February). I now don't feel as if I need to 'hide' it from them. Although a few were definitely suspicious - I apparently was the talk among the moms at our classroom's holiday party!

Have a GREAT Christmas and hope to see many of you during this next week!!!

Baby's Development (from Pregnancy.org)

• Proportions of the body are now quite similar to a newborn although thinner since he hasn't begun to form body fat.
• Bones located in the middle ear harden.
• Your baby is able to hear. (Dads, did you know: low-frequency sounds mimicking a male voice penetrate the abdomen and uterine wall better than the higher frequencies of the female voice?)
• The eyes are formed, though the iris still lacks pigmentation.
• The pancreas, essential in the production of hormones, is developing steadily. She has begun producing insulin, important for the breakdown of sugars.
• If born now, your baby has a 15% chance of survival, his odds going up with each passing day.
• The average baby at this stage weighs 1.1 pound (501gm) and is 11.38 inches (28.9cm) long.

(pictures from prenancy.org)

Week 22

Today I officially had a student question me if I was "going to have another baby." My quick-witted reply to avoid the obvious answer was that I haven't had one yet. His reply was, "Well, I hope you have one so you can bring it in." I guess that means it's time to spread the news to the parents!! Especially the way by belly has 'popped' these past two weeks. It's like there was a sudden growth spurt. Nothing, nothing, nothing and then bam!

Speaking of the belly, it's been interesting how my uterus continues to grow upward. I had read about it, but thinking about it tonight I can 'see' the path it's taken. Right now I feel as though it's directly behind my belly button. Almost time to take out the belly ring!!

Oooo...there's more big news in the family. My step-brother, Brian, and his wife, Barb, are expecting a baby in July!! That will make four grandbabies for Mom and John within three months next year!!! How fun it will be to have a cousin just months apart and only minutes away.

Other than that just getting ready for Christmas, but more excitedly for 11 days off from school!!! What I am looking forward to most is spending time with DJ (who's coming in from California on Wednesday) along with many of our other family members...from all 3 sides!

It will be a fun, but a busy few days as Christmas Eve will start at Sally and Chip's and then end at Gram's. Christmas morning will start at Mom and John's this year and then end at Todd's Mom and Dad's. Then we'll do a brunch and gifts with Dad and Heather on the 26th. Oh boy, what the baby has to look forward to in the years to come!

In the meantime, feel free to comment to any of these entries by clicking on comments at the bottom of the post. HOWEVER, you do NOT need to sign in or sign up. Instead, either use a Nickname or click on Anonymous at the bottom of the comments window. And don't forget to vote in the upper left corner as to whether you think it's going to be a boy or a girl!

Hope your enjoying this holiday season!!!

Baby's Development (from Pregnancy.org)

• Your baby weighs close to a pound at this point!


• Your baby can now hear your conversations more clearly than before! When you talk, read, or sing, expect her to hear you. Studies have found that newborns will suck more vigorously when read to from a book they heard frequently in utero.


• Eyelids and eyebrows are fully formed.


• Fingernails have grown to the end of the fingers.


• Be prepared for all those "Why" questions coming! Your baby's brain has entered a stage of rapid growth, especially in what's called the germinal matrix. This structure deep in the middle of the brain serves as a kind of factory for brain cells and disappears shortly before birth. But the brain's amazing expansion program continues until around the fifth birthday.


• With some help from mom, baby's liver is starting to break down bilirubin, a substance produced by red blood cells.


• If your baby is male his testes begin their descent to the scrotum.


• Primitive sperm have formed and he is producing testosterone.


• Length is 10.94 inches (27.8cm); weight is nearly 1 pound (430gm).

(pictures from Pregnancy.org)

Week 21

So my goal is to get a new post up around Monday of each week. As I just spent some time going through and adding a Baby's Development section (easier to read than the paragraphs from WhatToExpect.com) to each entry, it gave me the opportunity to see the progress Baby Rassman and I have made since first finding out 16, yes 16, weeks ago. Not to be cliche, but it really is a miracle that this baby started off as a countable number of cells and then somehow 'turns' into a human being...crazy!!!

I feel that in the last two weeks by belly has certainly grown. Sometimes it feels like my stomache is trying to stretch more than my skin is letting it! But, I guess it still can be unnoticeable as I went through 17 parent conferences and no one seemed to know (or at least they did not elude to it). I figure that I will officially let them know just before Winter Break so that they will have time to take in the information without immediately panicking - you never know with parents of kindergartners. But, as I have told many people, this will be a hard class for me to leave because they have been one of my best classes ever - full of personalities, hugs, kisses, and just cute kids.

Finally, I have definitely been feeling movement this week. I think I have been feeling it here and there over the past two weeks, but it's just taken me a while to figure it out. It truly is a neat feeling, makes it even more real that a little guy or girl is in there getting ready to come out in just 4 short months!

Time to get Team Rassman to bed - we had a busy weekend finding and cutting down our Christmas tree! Have a wonderful week!

Baby's Development (from Pregnancy.org)

• White blood cells are under production. Leukocytes (or white blood cells) form our body's defense systems. They help fight infections and diseases.
• Your little one's skin has changed from translucent to become more opaque. Your infant's tongue is fully formed. If you were able to peek you might catch your son or daughter practicing giving you a raspberry!
• If your baby is a girl, her womb and vagina are formed. Unlike males, females have a limited supply of eggs in their lifetime. At this point your daughter will have 6 million eggs. This amount decreases to approximately one million by birth.
• Baby swallows more this week. After your baby takes in amniotic fluid, his body absorbs the water in the liquid and moves the rest into the large bowel. This is good practice for his digestive system!
• Wake and sleep periods become more consistent. Some research suggests that baby sets her internal clock to match the outside world's even before birth! Your eating and sleeping habits as well levels of light and noise serve as her signals.
• Length is now measured crown to heel; therefore, take notice of the difference between this week's length and last week's!!
• Baby measures about 10.51 inches (26.7cm) and weighs nearly 12.7 ounces (360g).

(pictures from Pregnancy.org)

Week 20

So this is it...we're half way there!!! Feeling like I may be at the peak of my pregnancy - feeling great with a lot of energy. So much energy that even Todd has told me to take a rest here and there!!!

I didn't mention last week how disappointed we were with the OB we met with after our sonogram. Not only did she rush us through the appointment, when I very gently brought up the fact that I could opt for a home birth, she just about wrote us off. Told us we should find a midwife and pick up our records - yikes!

Therefore, I contacted a doula that was recommended to me by two friends, Michelle P. and Michelle T. I spoke with Cindy tonight and she mentioned that United Memorial Medical Center in Batavia actually does water births with a midwife!! Wow...this could be just what we are looking for - a natural birth in a hospital - the best of both worlds. I also asked Cindy to recommend some OBs as we would like to look into changing to a doctor who is not so medically driven since I have been categorized as a low-risk pregnancy. We're excited to meet with Cindy in a few weeks to further explore our options. If Batavia wouldn't work out, I believe we'd still opt for a hospital birth but make sure that Cindy was at our side to be our patient advocate!

In the meantime, I have 'reserved' the substitute who will take my place when I leave school in April. She is a GREAT teacher and I will feel so relaxed leaving the kiddos and my classroom in her hands. I am now just waiting to finally tell my parents and students.

Oooo...a really cool thing happened to me last night!! As I was cleaning up from dinner I kept feeling something hitting my tummy. When I looked down I was actually able to see a small spot of my lower tummy pop out. I'm not sure, but it certainly looked and felt like the baby moving. When I showed Todd he got a little 'freaked' out - it definitely was weird to see something inside moving the outside.

Keep checking back!!

Baby's Development (from Pregnancy.org)

• You're half way there!
• The rapid growth stage is about over. While things have slowed down, this next stage is vital to survival.
• The baby's heart grows stronger. Find a quiet place, lay flat on your back. Locate your own heartbeat by finding your pulse. Next lay your hand on your belly. You may be able to distinguish the two heartbeats!
• His legs are reaching their relative size. With the increase muscle develop occurring as well, you will start feeling much more than tiny flutter kicks soon!
• Immunities are being transferred from you to your baby now. These immune cells will protect her from viruses you've already had for up to six months after birth!
• The nerve cells for taste, smell, hearing, seeing, and touch are now developing in specialized areas of the brain. Production slows down as existing nerve cells grow larger and make more complex connections.
• Your baby may startle in reaction to loud sounds. Amazingly, she can actually hear noises outside of the womb. Familiar voices, music, and sounds that baby becomes accustomed to during her development stages often are calming after birth.
• If your baby is a girl, her uterus is starting to develop. She has approximately six million eggs in her ovaries. About one million will remain at birth.
• Baby is about 6.46 inches (16.4cm) and weighs around 10.58 ounces (300g).
  
  
  (pictures from Pregnancy.org)