I.am.so.tired. Big mama is slowing down. I never thought I would say that but the extra 28 lbs I've gained so far is really taking its toll on my poor little ankles and feet. I had a wedding shower this past Saturday (I'm a bridesmaid) and was out of the house from 10am until 6pm. Most of those hours were spent talking with old and new friends- hours and hours of small talk. By the time I got home, I couldn't even muster the energy to speak any more, I just had to change into my pajamas and sit on the couch with my feet up. I don't think I've ever, ever been so tired.
It was a busy week last week- we had the tour of the Birth Center on Wednesday evening, and we LOVED it. It was fun to compare and contrast that tour with our hospital tour on Friday evening. Both were very informative, but the birth center just appeals to our senses and how we envision our birth way more than the hospital does. The hospital nurse had all the "right" answers to our questions, but someone saying how it will happen in theory doesn't always match how it happens in practice. I mentioned my birthplan and my doula, didn't get any eye rolls, so that was unexpected. We are still undecided but are leaning towards the birth center. I have a couple of weeks to make a decision but am TERRIFIED of making the wrong one. I am scared of going to the hospital and ending up medicated or with a c section. I'm scared of going to the birth center, having a complication then having to transfer to a hospital anyway and not having enough time. I don't know which is worse because I really can't live with either of those options right now. I suppose I lean more towards the hospital because he's all I really care about- his safety. Complications and injury to the little man scare me way more than going under the knife. But both are equally risky in my mind. Just a couple more weeks to keep mulling this over and over...I wish I could be decisive about it. I keep saying I need a sign or a dream or something to steer me one way or another. I will continue to pray for the answer.
I am still awaiting the results of my first glucose tolerance test, which was last Thursday. SO not as bad as all the whiners out there have made it seem. I was expecting like 30 oz. of pepto bismol like substance, instead it was 8 oz of orangy watery substance that tasted like melted freeze pops. I drank it in 2 minutes flat, waited the hour, and was done. What does everyone complain about??? I also got bloodwork taken for my antibody screen, vitamin D levels, and thyroid hormone (all the ones that were out of whack during my first trimester screen). I am anxiously awaiting results for all of these things because they will determine whether or not I can even give birth at the birth center. Birth center patients aren't allowed to have high blood pressure, diabetes, positive antibody screens, multiples, etc. Anything that would cause you to be closely monitored, you obviously have to go to the hospital.
Finally, yesterday we made the decision to ahead with the Cord Blood banking. I turned in the paperwork and $100 deposit today, and will owe another $1,900 or so when the baby is born. That will allow us to bank the cord blood for 20 years at a facility in NY, with the option to transfer it somewhere else at any time, and if the company goes out of business it will get transferred somewhere else entirely. Those were the only questions I really asked; we are using the company my one sister in law used. I cost compared 8 different cord blood banks and this one was half the cost of the others because they don't advertise. Or so they say. I told M that if for some reason it didn't work out and we could never make use of the cord blood, I wouldn't lose sleep over $2K. I mean, let's face it, we've already spent $30K on IVF. Drop in the bucket if you ask me.
Work during the month of April is going to be hell. I'm just trying not to work over 55 hours a week because that's just not good for anyone!
