12 weeks to go

Hello all!

Had my 28 week appointment yesterday and everything is great. My belly measures 28cm from top to bottom (which is perfect since you're supposed to measure the same as your weeks), my glucose tests came back fine (meaning no gestational diabetes) and my iron levels are perfect (meaning I'm in no way anemic). Violet moves around a LOT, and mostly when I'm going to bed or just sitting still (like now, while I type this). So far so good!

Turns out, the reason for my rib pain and the severity of pain below my sternum are due to my body releasing a lot of relaxin for some reason. It's not dangerous or totally uncommon, but I just seem to be producing a lot of it at the moment, according to the doctor. Maybe that will make for an easier labor? Well, one can hope ;)

We finished our baby classes and, although I feel more prepared, I'm also more nervous about the pain of labor than I had been in the past. I guess as it gets closer to the due date, it becomes more real. I'm really, really against any medical intervention unless there is something wrong with me or the baby or we're in danger for some reason. I don't want Pitocin, I don't want an epidural, and I don't want a C-Section. I've already discussed it with the doctor and she's on board for just letting me proceed as necessary and not trying to speed up the process in any way. That makes me feel a lot better. You just hear so many of these stories about women who just can't handle the pain and go for the epidural immediately that, on one hand, I feel like "Maybe I'm being totally unrealistic about how painful this is?" and on the other hand I feel like "Listen, if my mom could do it naturally 3 times and my sisters could do it too, why wouldn't I be able to?" I realize everyone's pain tolerance is different, but I've been through/done some very painful things in my life, so I can't imagine I wouldn't be able to breathe through this, knowing the result is having my baby girl in my arms :)

We're getting ready for our trip to see my family and we're both totally excited! Got Rob some gloves and a hat (which he probably won't wear) and we got some travel stuff, like containers. My doctor also gave me a prescription for Tylenol with codeine. I want to avoid taking it, since it is a narcotic, but sometimes this pain in my chest is really, really horrible and I can imagine that sitting on a plane might just increase the discomfort. I'll have them for emergency use only, basically. Other than that, I'm just doing a SHITLOAD of laundry and trying to get packed today so I don't have to think about it during the week since I'm working.

The baby shower is Saturday and I'm really looking forward to having my friends and family (what family I have in California) with me, as well as my "new" family, a.k.a. Rob's family :) Thanks to EXTREMELY generous friends and family (some of whom can't make it to the shower and some of whom threw me a shower before I left L.A.), we already have the crib and mattress, the crib set (bumper, dust ruffle, comforter, sheets), the changing table, the high chair, the breast pump, the Baby Bjorn, and various other goods like the room monitors and clothing and decorations. It's just unbelievable how generous and amazing our friends and family members are and I want to say THANK YOU to everyone who has contributed. It's overwhelming.

Well, I'll be sure to post pictures of our trip and everything when we get back (unless we have down time in Maine where I can upload the photos from the camera).

Hope you all are well!