Week 28

Weight gained: 8.5kg
Feeling: Bloated
Baby stats: almost 15", >2lbs

Welcome to the third trimester! I haven't really quite noticed the difference yet between 2nd and 3rd trimester, but this past week I have felt a bit more tired than usual. I'm just hoping 3rd trimester treats me better than 1st (no nausea please!).

This week active birth class has two sessions instead of one--too much to learn in the 5 week course that she had to double up this week and next! What I learned: in the first stage of labour (when you're 0-10cm dilated) your breathing and vocalising should go UP and OUT (take all your pain and get rid of it), while in the second stage (pushing) your breathing should go IN and DOWN (use all that energy to push the baby out). With the stress of the moment, the pain from contractions, and confusion from everything else going on, women have to remember all this information for first stage, and then completely reverse it all for second stage. Sigh! Thank goodness I will have Vincent to keep me encouraged. Also, the second time mothers in the class all said that in the pushing stage they can't feel a baby inside of them, which I thought was odd. They were just told to push but could not feel what they were actually pushing. Interesting!

Disclaimer: Don't click on the below links unless you are truly interested. I purposely made them links and didn't define the terms for a reason.

In couples class this week we learned about the episiotomy, labour induction, assisted deliveries, c-sections, the role of the support person, attitude, and relaxation. They also showed a video on a natural birth using forceps and a c-section birth. During both births I had to look away. Don't get me wrong, I am perfectly fine if my delivery requires such interventions, but just because I'm having it doesn't mean I have to watch it and see exactly what's going on. I did catch some glimpses of what was happening, and it's something I wish to not see again. Birth is a miracle of life, but all the stuff before it happens is scary stuff!

Here is Daddy sharing a fun moment with baby! It's so cute because by now baby has become accustomed to Vincent's touch and the warmth of his hand, not just his voice. So each time he touches my belly, baby will start kicking his hand. You may think that this is just a coincidence, but I really believe in baby's intuition and her love for Daddy!

This week was also my first Thanksgiving celebrated in Sydney. No one here celebrates it (unless you're American, probably), so we ventured to the American Club (yes there is an actual club--you don't need to be American to be a member though) to feast on the American buffet they were serving. The traditional turkey with gravy, honey-baked ham, and stuffing were also accompanied by beetroot salad, dry dinner rolls, and sushi (among other odd delectables)! Next year I'm cooking myself! Happy belated Thanksgiving, everyone! Enjoy the long weekend.