Madeline-A Birth Story

I love a good birth story and Madeline's is one I never want to forget...

The day after my due date we had invited our pastor and his family over to our home for dinner.  Thus far I hadn't had any signs of labor (similar to Mara) and was just hoping to go into labor sooner rather than later.  We enjoyed a great night of fellowship while the kids played.  They joked they may have to take me to the hospital but all was silent up in there till right after they left.  I started cleaning up and began to notice contractions.  There wasn't any rhyme or rhythm to them so I didn't think much of it.  They also seemed to stop all together if I sat down so I figured this was nothing.

We went to bed thinking tomorrow may be the day but not positive.  It was starting to closely resemble Mara's birth so I figured I had at least another day if this was the real deal.  Throughout the night the contractions kept coming but again weren't anything to get too excited about.  I wasn't timing them but they probably came every 15-20 minutes and were just painful enough to wake me up but not strong enough to really have to focus through.

By 5 am this started to change.  The contractions got closer together and about every other one was pretty painful.  Even though I continued to lay in bed I had to really focus on breathing and relaxing to get through them.  I woke Josh up and we started to time them: about 6 minutes apart and lasting for a solid 90 seconds.

Everything was still pretty manageable so I started texting our doula from Mara's birth, Doris Ann, back in the states.  We love her and just having her reassurance via text was comforting.  She told me to get up and start squatting.  Also to go in if my water broke as I was likely to go quick...little did I know how quick.

Almost as soon as I got on my feet the contractions started coming quicker.  I got in the shower and yelled out to Josh when I was having one.  By the time I was finished they were 3 minutes apart and we knew we had to get moving.  Josh jumped in the shower and I tried to gather everything we needed in between the pain.

By now it was a little after 8 and I knew we had to get to the hospital.  There was no long labor with this one.  Josh ran around loading the car, waking up his parents, and grabbing Mara when she stirred.  I remember just trying to focus on controlling the pain.  The contractions were on top of each other.  I was still squatting with each one as it was the easiest way to deal with the pain.  I also took to moaning which is something I don't remember with Mara.  I could really tell how much the moaning helped if I kept it low.  The second I started moaning at a higher pitch it wasn't much help.

When we finally left for the hospital I knew I had to be in transition.  I was on all fours with each contraction and felt a tad pushy.  It was a rainy morning and thankfully traffic was light.  Josh got us to the hospital at 8:30 and I made my way up the stairs.

Midway up I stopped and breathed through a contraction.  The locals just stared.  Most Georgian ladies don't have natural births yet alone come into the hospital this late in the game.  I was immediately ushered into triage where approximately five nurses swarmed me trying to get my BP, draw blood and who knows what else.

It took them all of five minutes to see that there wasn't time for this and tried to get me on a gurney.  I wasn't having it.  I told them no way and started booking it for the elevator at the end of the hall way. I knew there was no way I could sit yet alone lay at this point.

After we got upstairs we made our way to the birthing suite.  Apparently we would have gotten the VIP room had they known who we were but we ended up in the post soviet looking room where they insisted I get on top of the examining bed and into stirrups asap.

At this point things were happening really fast.  There were a lot of nurses coming in and out.  Some trying to attend to me and others requesting things from Josh.  During my examination they made him leave and the second it was over I demanded he come back.  They had made him suit up but quickly recognized that I wanted him in the room.  I was 9 cm.

Next thing I knew my water broke (8:45 am) and I immediately pushed with that contraction.  This really had them going as they basically threw me up on the table at this point.  I had one nurse on each leg and each shoulder basically holding me on the bed.  My doctor still wasn't there and they wanted to wait for her.
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My body had other plans.  With the next contraction I pushed again.  In broken English they yelled, "NO PUSH!"  I yelled back, "PUSHING!"  The first push had her crowning and the nurses trying to push her back in.   With the second push her head was out and with the third she was born.  (8:53 am)

She came out so quietly we were both a little worried but she was fine.  They put her on my chest and within a minute she was nursing.  At this point my doctor walked in with a surprised look on her face.  She was able to deliver the placenta and tend to me (I had a minor tear).

From there we were wheeled into the VIP delivery room and allowed to recover for a few hours before moving to our permanent room where we stayed for about a day and a half before heading home.

Overall it was a bit of a stressful birth.  Madeline came a lot faster than either of us ever expected and because of that we weren't at the hospital long before she came (a whoopin 23 minutes).  There also wasn't anyone present that spoke good English.  Our doctor was supposed to be our main translator and she never made it.  We had the nurses yelling in Russian and Georgian and us yelling back in English.  BUT in the end we're both healthy and doing well.  I am so thankful that we were able to have her here and didn't have to travel.  And heck we'll always have a story to tell her!

Introducing.....

Introducing...

 Miss Madeline Ann Bast

Born Wednesday, January 6

8:53 am

7 pounds 6 ounces

19.5 inches

Tbillisi, The Republic of Georgia

39 Weeks with Baby #2

Really hoping this is going to be the last weekly post I make.  Mara came at 40 weeks 0 days so if this baby decides to do the same that is next Monday!!  I'm still hoping for a December baby but realize that dream is a little far fetched at this point.  I also want to avoid New Years eve and day here so that kind of limits that plan. lol

We're pretty much set otherwise.  We got our papers translated.  Hopefully they don't have to be officially translated as they originally claimed.  I worry that they won't take our translation serious despite me asking if it had to be notarized.  We also have all of our official documents so Josh can be on the birth certificate.  :)

I still need to get my blood work done.  I've been putting it off this week mainly because I have just been feeling lazy.  I understand that it's somewhat important but don't feel the urgent need to go get it done.  I think this is because I don't have any scheduled appointments with my doctor anymore.  So in my head it's like well what is she going to do about my results once I'm in labor.  We'll likely go get it done tomorrow while Mom is getting her hair cut.  

If you could just cover us in prayer the next week or so:

Prayers for a safe and healthy delivery for mama and baby

Prayers for a healthy baby girl

Prayers for Mara as she adjusts to being a big sister

Prayers for us as we navigate a health care system in a country where we don't know the language

Prayers for me that I have patience and understanding if my birth doesn't go the exact way I have planned

Prayers for traffic and the day in which I go into labor

For comparison Mara at 39 weeks!

38 Weeks with Baby #2

Well still pregnant here.  I really hate to say that I'm inpatient but I am.  I do not want to wish this pregnancy away but I'm ready for her to be here.  Tomorrow is week 39 and she can officially come anytime she wants.

I still feel like she's sitting really low.  It's hard for me to get around and chase after Mara.  There also seems to be very little space in there for her.  I've been getting very sharp pains as she shifts too and from.  I still haven't really had any true contractions yet.  This doesn't surprise me as I didn't get any with Mara till the real deal.  Frankly I think this is the way to do it because then you don't have to worry about false labor.

Sometime next week we have to go in and get some blood work done.  We also need to get our passports and marriage certificate translated.  I'm hoping Josh can get this accomplished at work on Monday.  I'm kind of nervous we're going to put this off and then I'll go into labor and then what.

I finally made a few freezer meals.  I definitely don't have as many as I did before but I'm ok with that.  We have a few soups and crock pot dinners.  I have the supplies for more just need to get around to it.

Thankfully I haven't been hit by the nesting bug this time.  I have Lizi to clean so I've just been putting things away and hanging the last few things in the nursery.  I'm also trying to enjoy this time with Mara.  I know her little world is going to be turned upside down and I want to treasure this time with my firstborn.

For comparison 38 weeks with Mara!

37 Weeks with Baby #2

Not much has changed this week.  I feel it's redundant to say but I'm just feeling really pregnant at this point.  My stomach is huge and everything just takes more time.  I feel like this little one is really between my legs and just right there.  I've been getting a few contractions here and there but nothing regular and nothing real.

Josh's parents arrived on Wednesday which was a huge blessing.  They are going to be here through the birth staying with Mara when we are unable to.  I am so thankful that they were willing to head our way and are staying for as long as they are.  Mara has been in heaven having them around.

On Friday Josh gave me an early Christmas present of a night away.  It was so needed and relaxing.  I haven't been away from Mara since she's been born and it was just time.  Especially with this little one bound to make her appearance soon.  We stayed at a beautiful hotel for a night and explored the area.

I'm hoping there won't be too many of these updates left.  I'd love for her to come soon.  Maybe she could wait till after Christmas but anytime after that is good with me.  

For comparison Mara at 37 weeks!

36 Weeks with Baby #2

Well folks that's 9 months.  Gosh I can't even believe we're here and yet I'm so ready to be done.  I really hate wishing this pregnancy away but it is hard to be pregnant with a toddler!  Everything just aches.  I'm still getting the rib pain occasionally and most nights.  Getting around is getting harder and harder especially with Mara not understanding that I can't carry her everywhere.

This week I went to my first and last doctors appointment.  Yes I said last.  I totally thought I would be seeing my delivery doctor a few more times like they do in the states but apparently not.  I went in they took my pulse and blood pressure, looked at my labs and ultrasounds and deemed me good to go :)

I will go back after Christmas and get some blood work done but that is it.  I just call her when I am in labor and we'll go from there.  I kind of appreciate this hand's off approach and I was dreading getting to and from appointments with Mara and no car.  It's hard dragging her to and from in a taxi.

I was a little disappointed with my doctor's response to getting out of the hospital early after I have the baby.  They usually make their patients wait THREE days in the hospital before they discharge them.  I have no idea why but I asked if I could leave after a day or so if both me and the baby were doing well.  I was politely told no.  WELL....we'll see :)  Frankly I'd rather be recovering at my own home than in the hospital.  Also I really don't want to be away from Mara for that long.  I think it would be hard on her and Josh.  I don't think it's the best transition to having a new sibling.

For comparison 36 weeks with Mara!

 

Maternity Pictures

Josh and his amazing camera skills came through again with my maternity photos!  I love the fall theme!  Mara wasn't too interested in a being a part of them but popped in and out :)

35 Weeks with Baby #2

This week marks the end of my time with the embassy and the beginning of my time with the Georgian health care.  On Friday I went to Mediclub (the most Americanized clinic here) and got another ultrasound done.  I don't know if it was actually necessary but Tricare approved it.  This is surprising as they usually will only approve two during your pregnancy and technically they have paid for 3 out of our 4 done.  I did appreciate the ultrasound because it confirmed that she was indeed head down at 12 and 6!  whoo hoo!  Now stay that way!

I feel like I have started the pregnant waddle in full force this week.  I can feel her weighing heavily on the muscles down there which causes some strain.  I do still get a little rib pain but it's now localized in the front right just below the breast.  Strange but it is much more tolerable than what I was dealing with in the past.

Heartburn is there and consistent.  It doesn't matter what I eat or what I don't.  It makes me wonder if this baby will have hair.  I highly doubt it but I never had heartburn like this with Mara.

Sleep has been a crap shoot.  I'm trying to just get it when I can and not stress too much about it.  Mara has been waking at least once in the night and usually won't rest until I go in there.  Last night she settled with Josh so that was very helpful.

Otherwise I think we're just struggling with the second baby to do list here.  We don't have any hospital bags packed nor have a name.  We're pretty relaxed and not on top of things.  It's refreshing and a tad stressful all at the same time.

For comparison 35 Weeks with Mara!

34 Weeks with Baby #2

This week has brought some relief from my rib pain.  About Tuesday this little one dropped down.  On one hand it's a little hard having her so low so soon but on the other I am so thankful that I don't have to endure another week of the rib pain.

I've been having some heart burn again.  For now it's not a particular food but more so just the acid that keeps coming up.  It's tolerable and I know it's not going to be forever.  This week I've developed stretch marks on my belly.  I didn't have any stretch marks with Mara until afterwards and they quickly went away.  These keep getting worse with time so I hope that they too disappear after birth.  I'm going to keep putting on the bio oil and hoping for the best.

We got a lot of the pictures hung in her nursery this week.  I also had all of the hooks put in the ceiling too.  Now it's just a matter of putting up the decorations.  I'm so glad we made some progress on it.

We still don't have a name nor do I feel like we are close.  We don't even have a top 5 like we did with Mara at this point.  Maybe next week?

I've also started drinking my raspberry leaf tea and will start the oil at 36 weeks  I can't believe we're at this point already.  We have blood tests and an ultrasound next Friday then we transfer to the local hospital at 36 weeks.

For comparison 34 Weeks with Mara!

33 Weeks with Baby #2

I feel like I have nothing new to add here this week.  I've been dealing with a lot of rib pain.  The only relief I get is to stand (which causes other things to hurt) or lay.  I have a heating pad that helps a tiny bit.  It's funny because I'm getting to the point where I am questioning my movements.  Do I really need to go upstairs?  How can I make this trip the most fruitful?

We go to our last embassy appointment next week.  I'm not expecting anything crazy.  They'll likely just do the normal urine test and Doppler.  From there I will switch over to Chavchava clinic where we'll deliver.

I've been starting to really think about delivery.  I'm not nervous but just mentally preparing.  I want to make sure I have everything I need for recovery set to go.  I also want to prep some freezer meals for afterwards.  Josh's parents will be here so that will help but I want to make it super easy on us if we need it to be!

This little one has been moving a ton this week.  She still doesn't really do sharp movements but more so stretching ones.  It's really weird to me the differences in how it feels versus Mara.  With Mara I had an anterior placenta so all of her movements were muffled.  For this one I sometimes feel like my uterus is being stretched to it's limit.  I can also feel body parts as she pushes against my skin.  It's seriously the strangest thing.

I still think she is head up so praying that she flips with plenty of time to spare.  We'll probably confirm her position with one of our first appointments with the delivery doc.    Also hoping we can do some maternity photos before it gets too cold and dreary.

For comparison 33 weeks with Mara!

32 Weeks with Baby #2

8 months with little girl!  Wow has time flew!  This week we went to the doctor.  I've decided to ride out my time at the embassy before switching fully to the doctor at Chavchava clinic.  I'll go back one more time before I'm cut off.  Everything went fine.  At this point they are really just looking for early labor signs (which I have none) and measuring my belly.

I was reflecting the other day how nice it is to have a more hands off pregnancy.  Sure we've checked for any underlying issues but otherwise I've just been allowed to be pregnant.  My body knows what it's doing and little girl is growing just fine.  Over here I have never had an internal check or any questions about evasive tests.  They will even let me be pregnant till the 26th of January before they get too excited about inducing.  My due date is the 4th so to have that much time is unheard of.

I've had some serious aches this week.  I have severe rib pain which was also my major complaint with Mara.  In my upper right back I get this aching pain toward the end of the day.  It's worse if I'm sitting and goes away completely if I'm laying or standing.  I read up on it and it's just because my uterus is up there in my rib cage at this point.

I haven't had much nausea this week which is refreshing.  I hope it stays away for the rest of this pregnancy.

Otherwise everything is flying by as usual.  We only have about 7 weeks left.  Josh's parents will be here in less than a month and then we're waiting on this little girl.  We still have to come up with a name and are also waiting on our marriage certificate.  We had to get it authenticated so that we can put both our names on her Georgian birth certificate.

For comparison 32 weeks with Mara!

Sorry for the poor quality.  I was too lazy to go upstairs to take a better picture.

31 Weeks with Baby #2

This week started off pretty much normal.  I was feeling pretty good just the usual third trimester woes.  I feel like this little girl is sitting pretty low.  We were out and about yesterday and I was feeling it by the end of the day.  I've found that I need to take it easy and wear my belly support as much as possible.

For the most part my heartburn was pretty absent this week.  I was so surprised as it has been a constant thing this last trimester.  I did have it pretty nasty last night but was able to fend it off by laying down and sucking on some mints.  It makes sense as we had spaghetti and the acid from the sauce always gets me.

My sleep has been pretty bad this week.  I've been waking up every couple of hours to use the restroom or because of Josh's snoring.  It really isn't his fault either I just feel like I am getting to be a lighter and lighter sleeper as time goes on.  My hips aren't helping either as I have to roll over a lot to relieve pressure on them.

I worked on the rest of the nursery projects this week and have everything pretty much ready to hang. I'm so glad I got my act together on this and got things done.  I know everyone says it's different with number two but I had Mara's nursery ready when she arrived so I'd like to have this little one's ready too.

We've talked more names lately but still are no where close.  I made a short list and Josh has vetoed some.  Some we both like it's just a matter of narrowing it down more.  I don't know if Josh will do some searching of his own or if we'll choose from my list this time (with Mara none of my names made our short list).

For comparison 31 weeks with Mara!

30 Weeks with Baby #2

This week marks a countdown of sorts.  10 more weeks till this little girl is here.  I'm surprisingly feeling ok.  I still feel pretty run down and tired most days but we're getting through.  Insomnia is huge for me now.  I've been taking meltoninto help me fall asleep and have a hard time falling back asleep when I wake up in the middle in the night.  It doesn't help that Mara has been up at least once a night this week.

We officially switched to Chavchava clinic this week.  I made an appointment with who will be my prenatal doctor.  They do things a little different here so you have one doctor for prenatal things and another starting at 36 weeks.  I met both and am happy with my choices.  I'll likely stay at the embassy for at least one more appointment before fully going "on the economy" though.  

Today we also got to see the little girl again.  At my first appointment with the new doctors they were shocked that I hadn't had an ultrasound since 20 weeks.  They asked for one to check circulation and size and I said that was fine.  What was really neat was that they had a 4D machine and we got some close ups of her face.  She looks so much like Mara!  

The doctors had me going for awhile as they spoke in Georgian and kept pointing to her face.  Turns out she was biting her lip and they thought this was adorable.  They also gushed over how beautiful she is.  Now if they are just saying that I have no idea, but I guess they see a lot of babies! 

We also confirmed that she is indeed a girl.  The first techs seemed a little bit skeptical so I wanted to ask again.  This time they were pretty confident.  Her head is also up.  At this point (or before) Mara was already head down.  I'm sure she'll turn but it makes me a tad nervous.

For comparison 30 weeks with Mara!

My Pregnancies-The Similarities. The Differences.

I wanted to take a few minutes and jot down some of my thoughts about my two pregnancies.  The similarities and the differences.....

1. Heartburn- The second time around I am really feeling the heartburn!  With Mara I had the occasional bout but not more than what I deemed usual.  With baby #2 I feel like some nights it's just debilitating.  I chew my tums and lay on the couch till it passes.  Also the second time around I feel like I'm getting heartburn from the strangest things.  Sure anything acidic still does it (tomatoes, pizza, etc) but water?  And milk?  Weird...

2. Cravings- I don't think I really have had any true cravings with either of my pregnancies.  I ate a tad spicier with Mara's and don't now mainly because Mara eats off my plate a lot.  Yes I still get yens for certain foods but again I don't think it's anything abnormal.

3. Energy-This one is a no brainer.  With Mara I didn't have to chase a toddler around so I felt a lot better a lot longer.  I think it wasn't till about week 34 that I really started to slow down.  This one I feel like I never got that second trimester boost of energy.  I have also moved with both of my pregnancies (not fun) and have had to set up a home amidst growing a human.  Exhausting.

4. The Nesting- Oh man with Mara I was a nester.  Since we moved a little into my second trimester I was in full on nest mode for the majority of my pregnancy.  I scrubbed, organized and repeated.  Moving during a pregnancy again I was a little nervous to say the least.  Thankfully I haven't really hit that crazy nesting mode this time.  Sure we got the house settled and I did go through a brief "I have to organize" phase but I feel pretty comfortable where we are now.  This may have to do with our awesome housekeeper but either way I'm thankful for not having that crazy urge.

5. The Movement-This little girl doesn't move much.  She's pretty quiet throughout the day and seems to wake up at night.  When she does move the movements are small.  I can almost picture her stretching and resettling.  She rarely gives a strong jab or kick.  Mara was all legs and elbows so it's kind of refreshing.

6. Weight Gain- Although I definitely put on more weight quicker with my second pregnancy at this point I am basically at the same point I was with Mara.  I think I'll probably hit that 35 pound mark again which is fine with me.  It was semi easy to take it off with Mara and I hope it will be the same this time around.

7. Dairy-Mara had huge problems with dairy after she was born.  I was warned by my sisters but I didn't listen.  So this time I will be going off dairy before this baby is born.  No point in going through 6 weeks of "colic" before realizing it again!

29 Weeks with Baby #2

This week has been a little trying.  Monday started off with a serious stomach bug.  I was laid up basically all afternoon.  It was all I could do to hang in there till Mara was down for the night.  Pregnant with a toddler and no hubby = no bueno.  Tuesday I felt better but was still pretty nauseated all day.  Thankfully by Wednesday I was back to normal and was finally feeling like I was getting some energy back.

I've been going to bed super early this week but am not sure I'm actually getting any more sleep.  Mara's been up a lot with bad dreams and when she does sleep I'm up peeing.  Oh the joys of the third trimester.

This birth is starting to feel really real to me.  We have just over 10 weeks left and with those 10 weeks being the holidays I KNOW they are going to go fast.  With Mara's pregnancy I couldn't wait to get her here.  Each day felt like an eternity.  With this one I'm perfectly content to let her cook in there.  Not that we can't wait to snuggle this sweet little girl, it's just going fast.  Mama's of more than one know what I mean.

I have all the usual third trimester things.  So much so that it seems redundant to type them here.  I'm getting big, getting slower, tired, veins are large, etc.  You know the drill.

This week I'm finally trying to do some nursery projects.  I want her nursery to be special too.  I remember obsessing over Mara's and that's typical of a first baby.  But I want to hers to have the same special thought out touches.  I'm doing the same colors (red, yellow and teal) mainly because I don't want to rebuy bedding but actually doing a theme this time.  With Mara I utilized different patterns and went with it.  Here I want to do a bit of a travel theme.  Josh has this sweet airplane that I thought we'd hang up if we ever had a boy but then I thought why can't it be in a girl's room too?  So we'll do that and I'm going to make some clouds to hang next to it too as a make shift mobile.  Her artwork is centered around paper airplanes, hot air balloons and pin wheels.  Just simple and whimsy.

For comparison 29 weeks with Mara!

28 Weeks with Baby #2

Well hello third trimester.  Are we really here?!  This year is just flying by!  I feel like with each week I don't have much to report in these posts.  I'm still feeling quite big for this time.  I've been wearing my supportive brace already and am in love with leggings.  I realized that I have horrible maternity jeans this week.  I guess I really didn't need jeans with Mara since most of her pregnancy was in the summer.  The ones I have don't stay up and I am constantly having to pull them up otherwise the crotch would be between my knees.  I'm stubborn and won't buy myself any new ones especially because I can't try them on in person.  Nope going to live in leggings the rest of this pregnancy.  Sorry, I'm not sorry.

So we changed our mind on the hospital we're going to be giving birth at here.  Although we love the doctor we have met with we don't love the hospital he has to deliver at.  We've decided to go with the private maternity hospital here in town and are currently looking for a doctor there.  I can still go to the embassy for five more weeks so I'm in no rush.  I've spoken to a few friends who have delivered there and got their recommendations.

Josh's parents have been working on securing their flights here for when the baby is born.  I am pretty excited that they have chosen to come for the birth.  They'll arrive a few weeks before and stay for a few weeks after.  It's going to be such a blessing to have them here to visit first and foremost but to also be with Mara.  She's going to love having her Nana and Papa around!

This week we all came down with a nasty cold.  Let me tell you being sick while pregnant isn't cool.  When you google what medicines you can take you come up with literally nothing.  Yes I know you don't treat most colds with anything but it would have been nice to take something for the sinus pressure and the congestion.  I still have a lingering cough and runny nose.  Mara seems to be just getting it so next week may be fun.

For comparison 28 weeks with Mara!

27 Weeks with Baby #2

Well here we are one week away from the third trimester.  Not much has changed from the last week for me.  I'm starting to feel really big and still waking up multiple times a night to use the bathroom.  The veins in my legs are pretty much the same and the doctors are getting on me to wear compression tights all the time.  I don't know about you but I'm not so interested.  I do have a pair of leggings with built in compression that I'll wear but otherwise I just hate tights.  I continue to put arnica on them and this seems to relieve any pain.

On Tuesday we got to tour another hospital.  We saw the VIP recovery rooms and the delivery rooms.  I think this is the hospital we will go with.  The hospital itself you wouldn't be impressed with but it's the doctor that comes with it that I am interested in.  I trust him and he's the head of the OB department there.  He speaks excellent English and comes highly recommended by other Americans.  I only plan on staying in the hospital a day so it's not a huge deal.

One of my main goals this week was to work more on her nursery.  Like I said before I'm not too stressed about it but I do have some craft projects I want to do.  I do have an alternative motive with this because I have other things around the house I want to hang.  I don't want the GSO to have to come multiple times to hang so it's great motivation to get moving.

Mara has been so sweet this week.  She has really wanted to rock her baby doll in some of the baby items we have.  She especially loves buckling her baby into the swings and then pushing her.  I think she's going to be so sweet with her sister!

For comparison 27 weeks with Mara!

26 Weeks with Baby #2

One word pretty much sums up this week for me....heartburn.  Man it's bad.  I had some with Mara sure.  Heck I get some in general thanks to genetics but this has been bad.  Like nausea going to vomit heartburn.  And I know it doesn't mean this baby has hair.  I don't believe that old wives tale for anything.  Josh and I yeah we don't make babies with hair.

As for other pregnancy symptoms this week has been the pretty much same old same.  Getting bigger.  Sleeping less.  Peeing more.  I have had some insomnia this week which is heightened by Mara waking up more during the night and Josh's snoring.  Sorry to sound bitter.  I really am ok with it.  Someday I'll sleep as long as I'd like again :)

In exciting news this week we finally made the decision to have this little girl here.  We've been leaning that way heavily for awhile now but I think this week is the first week we've said it out loud.  I had the call from Tricare where they asked and I told them that we were staying so I'd say it's official.

Otherwise just in denial that next week is pretty much the beginning of the third trimester.  This pregnancy flew by and I'm sure it's just going to keep going faster.  On a positive note I don't feel too stressed to get things done.  I have a plan for her nursery and I do want to make it special but it'll get done.  And if it doesn't get done till she's here fine.

For comparison 26 weeks with Mara!

25 Weeks with Baby #2

This week has been busy!!  We're preparing for Mara's birthday party (blah can't believe my baby will be 2?!) while also visiting a lot of doctors and clinics around Tbilisi.  On Monday I returned to Chavchava maternity hospital.  I was able to meet with the head OB there and ask her all of my labor questions.  For the most part I heard everything I wanted to.  They tend to push natural labor with little interventions which is what I am striving for again.  The only things I disagreed with was their policy that mothers had to stay in the hospital for 3 days regardless of the type of birth you have.  I'm sorry but I'm going home!

On Wednesday we went to American clinic to talk with Dr. Nemsadze.  He comes highly recommended by other Americans who have given birth here.  We spent over an hour with him discussing expectations for birth and what birth is like here in Georgia.  Again everything seems to be in order.  We did not get to tour the hospital (where he is also the head of the OB department) but will schedule that soon.

Right now I'd say we're leaning heavily toward having this little girl here in Tbilisi.  No red flags have been raised and the stress of leaving seems to be higher for us.  We just got settled here.  Flying with Mara isn't fun and the thought of being separated for an extended period of time over the holidays doesn't sit well.  This pregnancy has been nothing but healthy and the baby is doing great.

Otherwise, everything is going well.  I don't have too many complaints this week.  I've been sleeping fairly well only waking a few times to use the restroom in the middle of the night.  My enlarged veins in my legs are doing well although the doctors here seem a little concerned.  I've been trying to wear compression leggings when I can and put arnica on them every morning. At the end of the week I did have some bruising but nothing painful.

This little one is pretty quiet in there.  I get some kicks in the early morning and late evening but nothing major.  She seems pretty content to hang out most of the time, completely opposite of her big sister.  I know this could change in the coming weeks as she gets more cramped in there so I am enjoying it while it lasts.

Our doctor's appointment at the end of the week went well.  I'm measuring a little large but I don't put much weight in that.  They are a tad obsessed about dates at the embassy and I'm just so relaxed about them.  She's cooking fine in there!

For comparison 25 weeks with Mara!

24 Weeks with Baby #2

This week has been pretty busy around here.  For the most part I've been feeling pretty well for six months.  I've been waking up a lot during the night having to use the restroom or readjust my pillow.  I never realized how sleep dependent I am till I had kids.  It's been really tiring on me to wake up this much during the night.  Most nights I can't even handle going in to Mara's room if she wakes.  I resort to waking Josh and sending him in.  I feel bad that I'm not evenly handling that load but my body seriously can't do it.

I finally got some new maternity items this week as well.  I tend to get some enlarged veins while pregnant but hate wearing the traditional "support hose".  I found some leggings that have the support built in and they are awesome.  I've also been using arnica on them daily which has greatly reduced the pain.  Along with the leggings I bought a support top.  I wore it once and it was awesome.  Unfortunately I got a serious heat rash from it that I can't seem to shake.  I don't know if it was the direct cause but I haven't worn it since.

We've also got our act together (finally) and started looking into hospitals and doctors here in Tbilisi.  We've haven't made our final decision but we are leaning heavily on staying here to have this baby.  On Friday we went to Chachava Clinic and got a tour from the nursing staff of the birthing rooms.  Overall there were no red flags.  Communication was a little difficult as few spoke English but we managed.  We tried to go back on Saturday to meet with a doctor but an emergency c-section changed those plans.  I'll go in next week and meet directly with her.  Next week we also have an appointment with another doctor at another clinic and then our regular monthly visit at the embassy.

I'm still feeling the nesting instinct like crazy.  I don't think it helps that we've been planning Mara's birthday part next week.  We just have a lot going on at the end of this month and I'm sure things will slow down a bit once we get into October.  Thankfully I'm not feeling the urge to clean but I really want to get some areas of the house organized and then a few more decoration done in the baby's room.

For comparison 24 weeks with Mara!