Well, I blocked myself out from posting when I changed the layout and finally took the time this morning to figure out how in the world to log back in...
Little Baby Brother is due Feb 9 or Feb 12, depending on which doctor to believe. I have Valentine's Day in my head so I won't be too anxious before that date comes. So many of my girlfriends here in Pittsburgh have had their babies early, so maybe it's a Pittsburgh thing and we'll get to welcome this little one to the world sooner rather than later. Yet, I feel so great, I don't think this baby will be moving out anytime soon. This is actually very good because Marcus is in Houston, TX at the moment! I've promised him I won't have the baby until he returns. ;)
We have an appointment today and I'm pretty sure they'll say, "No progress- see you next week!" The whole pregnancy/doctor experience here has been very different from down south. The biggest differences have been that the doctors and nurses are very hands-off, only want one ultrasound at the 20 week mark (we ended up with 4 extras because of being at the specialist at first, found out the gender a little bit earlier with my grandmother in town, and did a follow-up one to ease my worries after the assault) plus whoever is on-call in the 8 doctor practice will deliver the baby. When you start your appointment, the nurse weighs you and takes your blood pressure, but doesn't tell you anything unless you specifically ask what they were. The doctor also measures your belly with a measuring tape- but again, doesn't tell you what it is. It has made this pregnancy much more "mysterious." I've had to take the stance that if they aren't concerned, I shouldn't be either. It's been quite a lesson in patience and trust that God is ultimately in control in creating this new life inside me.
With Max, we had ultrasounds within our doctor's office and were informed about how he was growing, what his percentages were on the growth chart, any concerns they had, and how much fluid I had around him. As for me, I always knew how much weight I had gained, how my belly was measuring, what my blood pressure was and was confident that my beloved doctor that I saw each visit would be there to deliver him. This southern way made me feel much more in control as good scientific evidence can be so much more comforting as I can see it and touch it. Maybe the Pittsburgh way is better after all- forcing me to be more faithful!
My dear friend, Lorien Ochello Owens, magically moved to Pittsburgh last year and we get to see each other from time to time. Lorien also happens to be a photographer, so I asked her to do some photos of Max and me as we are winding down to the last days of expecting little brother. Here is my favorite one. I will upload more from our session a little later.
Little Baby Brother is due Feb 9 or Feb 12, depending on which doctor to believe. I have Valentine's Day in my head so I won't be too anxious before that date comes. So many of my girlfriends here in Pittsburgh have had their babies early, so maybe it's a Pittsburgh thing and we'll get to welcome this little one to the world sooner rather than later. Yet, I feel so great, I don't think this baby will be moving out anytime soon. This is actually very good because Marcus is in Houston, TX at the moment! I've promised him I won't have the baby until he returns. ;)
We have an appointment today and I'm pretty sure they'll say, "No progress- see you next week!" The whole pregnancy/doctor experience here has been very different from down south. The biggest differences have been that the doctors and nurses are very hands-off, only want one ultrasound at the 20 week mark (we ended up with 4 extras because of being at the specialist at first, found out the gender a little bit earlier with my grandmother in town, and did a follow-up one to ease my worries after the assault) plus whoever is on-call in the 8 doctor practice will deliver the baby. When you start your appointment, the nurse weighs you and takes your blood pressure, but doesn't tell you anything unless you specifically ask what they were. The doctor also measures your belly with a measuring tape- but again, doesn't tell you what it is. It has made this pregnancy much more "mysterious." I've had to take the stance that if they aren't concerned, I shouldn't be either. It's been quite a lesson in patience and trust that God is ultimately in control in creating this new life inside me.
With Max, we had ultrasounds within our doctor's office and were informed about how he was growing, what his percentages were on the growth chart, any concerns they had, and how much fluid I had around him. As for me, I always knew how much weight I had gained, how my belly was measuring, what my blood pressure was and was confident that my beloved doctor that I saw each visit would be there to deliver him. This southern way made me feel much more in control as good scientific evidence can be so much more comforting as I can see it and touch it. Maybe the Pittsburgh way is better after all- forcing me to be more faithful!
My dear friend, Lorien Ochello Owens, magically moved to Pittsburgh last year and we get to see each other from time to time. Lorien also happens to be a photographer, so I asked her to do some photos of Max and me as we are winding down to the last days of expecting little brother. Here is my favorite one. I will upload more from our session a little later.
love love LOVE that picture of you and Max! How precious! And your "northern" obgyn experience might not be so much "northern" as "big city" because that sounds exactly like my experience here in Memphis...my office makes you rotate through all the doctors while you're pregnant so you won't have a total stranger delivering your baby!
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