37 Weeks

Not too much has changed since last week, so I thought I'd answer some Frequently Asked Questions that I'm getting several times a day now.

How Far Along: 37 Weeks

Food Comparison: Swiss Chard (19.25 in. and 6.3 lb.) 

Are you still working? When will you quit? How long will you be off work? Yes, I am still working. I don't know for sure when I'll stop working. My plan for now is to work up until I have Peter--not necessarily until the very last minute possible, but I do want to save my maternity leave for time with Peter as much as possible. As of right now, I plan to begin my leave on Monday, October 27, but we'll see how that changes over the next few weeks. I will take 12 weeks of maternity leave. 

How do you feel? This is really a different answer every day. Today, my answer would be "good! I got a good night's sleep and am feeling pretty energetic today." Last week, I wasn't feel this way at all. I got a cold and was feeling sore and sluggish and very pregnant and there were moments I just wasn't sure I could make it for another month. Thankfully, I realized I was getting sick and took some cold medicine (including a night time formula that helps me sleep at night) and I feel like a brand new woman! 

Do you have a birth plan? Will you get an epidural? I do have a birth plan. I wasn't going to make one because I tend to make specific plans and then get disappointed when things don't go that way, but my midwife encouraged me to make a birth plan with an "ideal birth" as well as a "plan B", so that we at least know what I'd really like to happen. I understand it might change and, at least for now, I am ok with that. 

I do not plan to get an epidural or any other pain medication. However, I reserve the right to change my mind in the midst of labor. :) I really do hope to be able to give birth naturally and will do my best to make that happen. 

You have a midwife--does that mean you're doing a home birth? No, I will give birth in a hospital. My midwife will be with me there and if something happens and I need to have a c-section, the OB-GYN that she works under (who attends my church and I consider a friend) would perform the surgery for me/Peter.

Will you go back to work after baby? Good question. I think I will, but nothing is set in stone. At this time, I'm hoping to return to work Part-Time in mid-January, but we'll see how I feel once Peter arrives as well as how our finances look, what works best for our family, etc. There are a lot of factors to consider, so we will make this decision after Peter is born and we've got a better grasp on what life with a baby looks like. 

Are you nervous/excited/scared/freaking out? No/Yes/No/Not really. A friend remarked recently that I seem very calm and it helped me see that I feel very calm. I've prayed for peace and I believe God has granted it to me. I don't feel like I'm super hormonal or emotional these days. I feel excited and happy and am trying to soak up all this time with just Kory and I while we still have it. I'm also sleeping in and taking naps every weekend...and thoroughly enjoying the fact that I can still do that! I think part of the reason I'm not scared is that I really have no idea what I'm about go through. I told someone yesterday that the not knowing is a gift, and I think that's really true. I've prepared myself as much as I can, but I don't really know what labor/delivery/having a newborn is like...and I think it's probably best because I'm not worrying now about what I can't control later. Again, I consider it a gift from God and I will enjoy it while I have it. 

When will he be born? How big is he? Who does he look like? We live in an age of incredible technology, but there are still some unknowns. All of these things are in God's hands, so I'll be surprised with everyone else to learn the answers to these questions.