38 Weeks

Well, this will most likely be my last blog post before this little guy has officially joined our family because he's coming this Friday! (Unless he really surprises us and decides he wants to come even earlier.) I can't believe it.

For my last several doctor's appointments, the baby has been breech. Well, of course he still is. (And let me tell you how annoying it was to hear EVERYONE tell me "Oh, don't worry- you've still got plenty of time for him to flip on his own."... NO, people, first time moms RARELY have their babies flip after 35 weeks or so... according to my doctor and everything I read on the internet... yes, it's possible- but very, VERY unlikely.) I don't know why that comment annoys me so much... but, it does. A baby has a lot more room in a uterus that has housed a baby previously. But, this is my uterus's first baby- so there just isn't enough room in there for a nearly 8 pound baby to turn at this point. So don't tell me that my baby has plenty of time to flip. Okay, I'm done. Sorry. Pregnancy is making me cranky. Oh, and while I'm at it... do you know what I've decided I'm NEVER going to ask a pregnant lady again? I will never ask, "What's your baby's name?" I DON'T KNOW! I haven't met him yet!! It doesn't bother me so much when someone asks me once, but once I've told you, "We're not naming him until after he's born." PLEASE don't keep asking me!! Okay, I'm really done this time. The funny part about me being so annoyed about the name thing is that I think Matt and I finally decided on a name just last night. But, don't ask me- we're not telling- just in case we change our minds (which we probably will). We both like several names- we just don't know which one will be the right one for sure until we see him.

So anyway... I started telling you about how the baby is breech. Because of this, the doctor is going to perform an ECV (External Cephalic Version) or "Version" to try to externally flip the baby. He wants to do this sooner rather than later so that the baby doesn't get too big. He says he has about a 60% success rate with first-time moms. So, not great odds- but good enough to give it a try to avoid a c-section. If he can get him flipped, he will induce labor to avoid two things- first, to avoid having the baby flip back to the breech position; and second, so that the baby won't get tangled up in the cord or for there to be problems with the placenta that would increase the risk of the baby dying. If he can't get him flipped, he'll do a c-section right then so I don't go into labor with a breech baby. So, he'll do the procedure in the room right next to the operating room and I'll be all prepped for surgery, just in case. Something that's a little discouraging is that Dr. Parker told me that he's "not impressed" with my pelvis. (Don't worry, I told him that I wasn't impressed with his, either!) So, he warned me that even if he gets the baby flipped, there might be a chance that I won't be able to push this baby out because my pelvis might be too small. It's really annoying that of all my body parts, it's my PELVIS that is small. Seriously? I've got good birthing hips- but apparently that doesn't matter when the pelvis is small. The worst case scenario would be that he could flip the baby, I'll labor for a long time, then have to have an emergency c-section because I can't get the baby out. I'd rather him just not be able to flip him than have to go through labor that ends in a c-section. Everyone I have spoken to has suggested that I try whatever possible to avoid a c-section, though- so we're going to. We'll see what happens. As long as our baby is healthy, I really don't care how he gets here. I can recover from surgery (though I know it will NOT be pretty... I'm a pretty big baby when it comes to that sort of thing).

As far as how I'm feeling these days... my back problems are quite a bit better. The only issue I'm having now is sciatic nerve pain. It's not so much in my back as it is in my butt and down my leg. It's a lot better than it was (I can actually move, now!), but I used to be able to get totally comfortable when I would lie down- but now, my sciatic nerve bothers me no matter what position I'm in. I hope that goes away as soon as this baby is out of me. It's the worst when I've been sitting for too long. Last night, Matt's family all went to the temple because his nephew, Tanner, went through for the first time because he goes on his mission this Wednesday. I decided to go with them since I know it will be a while before I have a chance to go to the temple again. By the end of the session, I was pretty uncomfortable. But, I'm glad I went. Today we went back up to South Jordan to hear Tanner speak in church and then to Steve & Angie's for breakfast. We ate really good food. It will be sad to have to be back on a diet once I have to start losing all this weight I've gained.

Also- this summer is NOT the summer to be pregnant. Of course we're having record-high temperatures for June. The other day I left my house just to get the mail at the end of our driveway and I was sure I was going to melt before making it back to the house. Our electric bill this month was more than double what it was last month because I have to have the air conditioning running constantly. I've also been spending a lot more time in the basement. I'm also exhausted. I'm sure it's a combination of the heat and pregnancy. It's exhausting just being. It has been really nice to not have to work these past couple of weeks. I've been able to use all my energy getting things ready for the baby to come.

My sisters and Ginny (my dad's wife) threw me my final shower last Saturday. I couldn't believe how many people came! It was a ton of fun to see so many people there! I got a ton of fun new clothes and baby gear. I also got lots of gift cards. Everyone was very generous. I think we're officially ready for him to come. We even installed his carseat in the car just an hour or so ago.

38 weeks down, FIVE days to go (actually, only 4 1/2! AHHHHH!)