We are officially 9 days until due date! I cannot believe it! The anticipation is crazy! Now it's a balancing act of when to let me mom come so we're not sitting around waiting too long. It's crazy to me that it's August already. As much as I don't love being pregnant, this pregnancy has flown by but these last few weeks have CRAWLED! But the finish line is so close!
Since the last update, Miriam and Sheila came by for the home visit. It was a great evening together and we felt so confident after their time with us. I'm so grateful everyday that they are a part of our birth team and I feel so empowered by them. We also met with our doula, Sara and she gave us some great tips, ideas and exercises as we approach the end.
I am now taking some homeopathic pellets to help start some pre labor contractions and train my uterus and they are working. I've been having inconsistent contractions for about 5 days now. It took me a full 24 hours to even recognize them for what they were. But it's exciting to know my body is working and prepping for me. I never got to feel this during my pregnancy with the twins.
Miriam was here this morning and everything is looking good. According to my last ultrasound about three weeks ago, my amniotic fluid is a little over 15 cm and apparently the average is about 9 cm at this point. This explains a bit why I look so big. It means baby could be big or he could be smaller than anticipated because there is so much fluid. It's hard to tell until he's here. His head seems to be just about full engaged into my pelvic area so that's another positive. I'll be going today to have another round of bloodwork. All my infusions, as of now, are complete. So we want to have the most accurate counts in the file before the baby comes. I am also seeing the chiropractor twice a week at this point. I went Monday and go again today and then I'll see him again next week Monday/Wednesday. I am also going to have another ultrasound Monday afternoon just to have one more guess on his weight. He was supposedly 7 lbs 8 oz at the last ultrasound at 36 weeks. If I'm still carrying him by next Thursday then Miriam will check my cervix to see what kind of progress there is. If she feels comfortable, she'll give me some natural induction ideas as well as up my intake of the pellets. We are trying to avoid a long labor - the goal is around 10 hours or less. The longer the labor, the more exhausted my uterus will become and the higher risk of hemorrhage. So we don't want to do anything too soon before my body is prepped and ready. So we wait. I am very grateful for smooth sailing so far (minus the anemia) and for such a fabulous birth team. I know that this is all in God's hands and he will lay a straight and clear path before us. My final prayer is the perfect arrival of grandma. I know that my birth experience will be over the top with my mom here and I know how incredibly special it will be for her as well to witness the birth of her grandson.
In the meantime, it's day to day operations in the Esparza home. Trying to keep the twins occupied since they are more anxious then I am. We've been trying to stay active for me and for them - lots of walking and swimming. When we go to the pool I try to swim around 8 laps but also play and swim with them. I've been working with them on their swimming skills. Elijah is still very timid and hesitant. He doesn't want me to let him go. But Ephraim is a fish. He is so excited and already swimming short distances without me. I can't believe how well he's doing. We're also trying to get things ready for school since school starts 8/24 and both boys will be going to Palmetto Elementary for 2 1/2 hours a day. They're really excited and I think its all the more reason they want the baby here because they know school starts when the baby comes. HAHA! Hopefully the next update will be introducing you to my third son and telling you our incredibly awesome and successful HBAC experience. Thanks for joining me on this journey. It's been so empowering, healing, inspiring and informative. We've loved walking this path and can't wait for the final chapter of this adventure.
