Bullets?

Not the exciting, dangerous kind...just a formatting preference. I'm not sure if I've done a post in bullets before, but today I'll give it a try.

• We had our monthly prenatal appointment yesterday at 18 weeks. Since we had already talked about the hydronephrosis, I didn't have too many substantive questions and she answered them all before I had a chance to ask.
• Can I be officially off pelvic rest? Yes! But I need to start slowly. Walking, swimming and yoga should all be fine, but I might not want to start all three in one week.
• When do I need to think about signing up for childbirth classes? Now! Or at least between now and our next appointment at 22 weeks. They apparently fill up far in advance.
• When will I have the diabetes screen? At my 26 week appointment. They usually do this between 25 and 28 weeks.
• What is the schedule of appointments after 26 weeks? 28w, 30w, 32w, 34w, 36w, 37w, 38w, 39w, deliver?
• In addition to my questions, she also let me know that I've gained a bit too much weight. Oops! I was 151 at the doctor's office. To put this in perspective...I was 146 at my 14 week aapointment, 140 at my 8 week aapointment, 136 at the start of my second IVF, and 125 at the start of my first IVF. So yeah, 151 is probably too much. She did say that lifting pelvic rest will probably slow the weight gain and so I don't need to worry about changing my diet yet.
• So classes...I went home and looked at our options and our calendar and it became immediately apparent that there was only one option for each class that would work, so I signed up for all of them. (Not all the classes, just all the ones we were interested in.)
• Natural Childbirth Education: This is a 12 hour class that meets over two Saturdays in December (8th & 15th). (I am due in January.) It covers much of the same information as the Prepared Childbirth Class but with less of a focus on medication and more of a focus on natural methods of pain management. I actually want to learn about both, but I think I should be able to get a handle on the medication options from our doctor. (I'd prefer not to have an epidural...but that's another post.)
• Breastfeeding: This wasn't expensive and was very conveniently located, so I just signed up. It's only a couple of hours and I figure it can't hurt. I do plan on breastfeeding, but if I have to read another "educational" packet full of half truths, coercion and statements that just aren't backed up by good research I might hurt someone. There are pros to breastfeeding for many families, and there cons. Can't we just be honest about them?
• Don't Break the Baby: Kidding. This one is actually called Caring for Your Newborn, or something like that. It was recommended by our doctor if we don't have a lot of experience with newborns. This is not really an issue for me, but BG has never changed a diaper and seemed interested in the course, so I agreed to go with him.
• Meet the Doctors & Tour: This isn't really a class. It's an opportunity to meet the doctors, one of whom will be delivering our child, and take a tour of labor and delivery. I'm sure it's not mandatory, but our doctor talked about it as if all laboring families would obviously attend. And it's free, so why not.
• I'm kind of overwhelmed by how booked my calendar looks with all these appointments and classes.
• I had my first PT appointment this morning. I almost left when it hadn't started by 9:20. (The appointment was for 9am.) But once it did start, it was not horrible. I didn't learn much about my body, but I did leave with exercises for homework and some confidence that I may learn something over the next few meetings. I'll go twice more to learn new exercises and once to wrap everything up. I went for the pinched nerve in my shoulder, and here is what the physical therapist learned about me.
• I do not have range of motion issues. ("I think you have enough range of motion to share with everyone else in this room.")
• I do have ligament and muscle strength deficiencies.
• I have a pinched nerve in my shoulder.
• Well no shit Sherlock. The only think I can do is build up my muscles in a good way and that may help keep everything else in place better. We'll see. I'm hopeful it could help.
• I am pretty much worthless at work. I need to find my focus again, but all I seem to be able to do lately is think about being pregnant. I have a lot to do in the next 5 months. Or really 4, I guess. My brothers and I all came early (2-6 weeks) and BG was born 4 weeks early, so I don't feel confident leaving much for 35 weeks on. I'll be 35 weeks on December 12th.
• I am clumsy...like always, but it's scarier when you're pregnant. I took a spill walking with BG after work yesterday. It's not unheard of for my ankle to roll over and me to fall down. (Did I mention I have loose ligaments?) But usually it's just embarrassing. Yesterday I had the added pleasure of being scared for the baby and cutting my hand a bit. (It's times like this that I miss non-city life. Nope, there's no car with a handy first aid kit nearby. Instead it's buy some neosporin and bandaids at 7-eleven and clean up in a public restroom.) Everything seems fine though.
• I am happier lately. You may have noticed this already, but I wanted to "say it aloud." I've written before about how I thought achieving pregnancy would feel different, happier. It's okay that it wasn't at first. It wasn't fair for me to expect a second pink line on a 25 cent HPT to take away all the stress and pain of 2 1/2 years of trying to conceive. And I couldn't have known that that second pink line would be followed by 10 more weeks of on-and-off bleeding and spotting. But as time passes I feel less and less fragile. And I am very grateful.