Don't ask me to walk up hill with you - I will be at least 10 steps behind! I find that I have really slowed down with my regular walking pace, but going up hills or stairs, it's like my energy level is cut in half. I feel a bit frustrated by this as I can't do what I am used to being able to do. Stephen is being accomodating, but sometimes forgets to slow down enough.
I am also sleeping better. I guess I have adjusted to the new position. But my belly is getting in the way when I try to lean over...I am now at 69 kilos which means I have gained between 1/3 and 1/2 of what the doctor expects me to gain over the entire pregnancy.
As Stephen has written, seeing the baby on the ultrasound was a really neat experience. And I certainly couldn't tell the sex of the baby - it really helped that the technician pointed out all of the parts. I wouldn't have know that the dark area was the stomach. She also pointed out the thyroid - I still can't tell you what the throid looks like, but I guess we saw it. One of my co-workers from Finland said that there it is against the law to tell you the sex of the baby before the birth. We couldn't figure out why that was exactly. It would make sense in countries where girls aren't valued, but I don't think the Finns have any ideas like that!
March 31, 2007
March 30, 2007
Just some random thoughts
As time passes in this pregnancy, I am getting more used to the idea of parenthood and having to care for a child. On the other hand, the very idea of a living thing - a person - growing inside Sarah becomes more and more strange and harder to comprehend for me. When we had the first ultrasound, Baby was just a "blob with a heart beat," as I called it - an embryo with no shape resembling a human. That's when this concept started to be strange, even creepy - something living inside of you, and I compared it to a tapeworm in one's stomach at the time. With the most recent ultrasound last week, we can now see definite human features (and one of Sarah's coworkers even commented that Baby has my nose when she saw one of the ultrasound pictures), and it's starting to do human things, like move a lot, Sarah reports often. So I feel like this child of ours is already starting to take shape, like we already know it, but because it's not born yet, we really don't - and can't - know it. When we saw with the last ultrasound the baby moving its arm like it was waving at us and even yawning, I really did feel like it was a real human being, and that excites me. But then I have to keep reminding myself that this newborn won't be like most other humans I know and that I won't be able to talk and have conversation with it when it's first born (because that's what my instinct tells me will happen) - that it will be totatally dependent on me and Sarah for everything and will basically be a helpless little thing. So there's quite a paradox here with this unborn child and experiencing the incomprehensible miracle of a new lift being created.
One of the questions I seem to be getting asked a lot lately is, "Does Sarah have any cravings for certain foods?" No, not really, but she is eating quite a bit still, and now, as the "manager" of the household, the one who does most of the food shopping and cooking, I'm more used to the way Sarah is eating us out of house and home.
Last night we had a fondue dinner at the home of one of my former coworkers from ACT. When I told her one of the possible middle names if Baby is a girl (Geneva, so she would know where she was born and have a real connection to this place), the response was, "Oh, no!" Elisabeth is a middle-aged woman originally from France but has lived in Switzerland for more than 30 years, so she's probably just as conservative and staid as the native Swiss. There are rules (whether formal, written ones - laws - or things that are just done a certain way) for everything in Switzerland, including what you can name your baby. And just because you're a foreigner living here, don't think you're exempt from this naming rule and try to name your baby something strange (like a traditional name from your own culture). If you want to do this, then you need to prove that the name is common in your culture (and your embassy apparently can assist you in presenting your case to the Swiss authorities). Don't worry - we won't name Baby something unusual or strange, but it might be something European-sounding because Baby will have roots here!
One of the questions I seem to be getting asked a lot lately is, "Does Sarah have any cravings for certain foods?" No, not really, but she is eating quite a bit still, and now, as the "manager" of the household, the one who does most of the food shopping and cooking, I'm more used to the way Sarah is eating us out of house and home.
Last night we had a fondue dinner at the home of one of my former coworkers from ACT. When I told her one of the possible middle names if Baby is a girl (Geneva, so she would know where she was born and have a real connection to this place), the response was, "Oh, no!" Elisabeth is a middle-aged woman originally from France but has lived in Switzerland for more than 30 years, so she's probably just as conservative and staid as the native Swiss. There are rules (whether formal, written ones - laws - or things that are just done a certain way) for everything in Switzerland, including what you can name your baby. And just because you're a foreigner living here, don't think you're exempt from this naming rule and try to name your baby something strange (like a traditional name from your own culture). If you want to do this, then you need to prove that the name is common in your culture (and your embassy apparently can assist you in presenting your case to the Swiss authorities). Don't worry - we won't name Baby something unusual or strange, but it might be something European-sounding because Baby will have roots here!
March 23, 2007
Baby says "Bonjour!"
This morning we had the second trimester ultrasound. We went to a different clinic that Sarah's normal doctor sent us to for this, where the ultrasound machine is more powerful or where the staff is more specialized in doing ultrasounds. It was basically to check the anatomy of the baby carefully at this stage.
We're happy to report that the baby is "normal." I'm a bit disappointed because, even before our child is born, I expect it to be an above-average child, you know. But I'll take normal and healthy!
The views the machine gave us of the baby were quite detailed. You could see many features of the baby's anatomy - the bladder, kidneys, a strong beating heart, all of its facial features (it's very good looking, I'd say), 10 fingers and 10 toes, the spinal column, etc. Yes, we could have learned the baby's sex, but we chose not to find out. We'll wait for the surprise at the end! The baby at this stage is 20-25 cm long from head to toe and weighs about 400 grams.
What was most exciting, after seeing many of its parts in detail and seeing and hearing the heartbeat, was seeing it move. And boy, does it move! Either we have a young athlete here, or, as I said earlier, Baby has received Mommy's and Daddy's dancing genes. It was moving its hands a lot and kept waving at us (bonjour!) and responding to the technician's "Hello!" At one point we even saw it yawn! It's curled up with its legs way up by its head. Sarah says she is feeling movement more often, but whenever I put my hands on Sarah's stomach, I never feel anything.
Basically, the technician had little to say - no news is good news. "Continue" with the pregnancy is what she sent us off with!
We're happy to report that the baby is "normal." I'm a bit disappointed because, even before our child is born, I expect it to be an above-average child, you know. But I'll take normal and healthy!
The views the machine gave us of the baby were quite detailed. You could see many features of the baby's anatomy - the bladder, kidneys, a strong beating heart, all of its facial features (it's very good looking, I'd say), 10 fingers and 10 toes, the spinal column, etc. Yes, we could have learned the baby's sex, but we chose not to find out. We'll wait for the surprise at the end! The baby at this stage is 20-25 cm long from head to toe and weighs about 400 grams.
What was most exciting, after seeing many of its parts in detail and seeing and hearing the heartbeat, was seeing it move. And boy, does it move! Either we have a young athlete here, or, as I said earlier, Baby has received Mommy's and Daddy's dancing genes. It was moving its hands a lot and kept waving at us (bonjour!) and responding to the technician's "Hello!" At one point we even saw it yawn! It's curled up with its legs way up by its head. Sarah says she is feeling movement more often, but whenever I put my hands on Sarah's stomach, I never feel anything.Basically, the technician had little to say - no news is good news. "Continue" with the pregnancy is what she sent us off with!
March 20, 2007
Halfway
Well, depending on which calendar you go by, we are either in week 20 or week 21 - definitely halfway to the baby coming! We have 'the' ultrasound on Friday morning. This seems to be the standard one that everyone, in developing countries at least, has at the mid-point. My understanding is that this is where they check to make sure all the limbs, digits, etc. are there. We could also find out the sex, but we have decided not to. My doctor's ultrasound machine isn't detailed enough (or something like that) so we have to go to a special place that I think only does ultrasounds, but I may be wrong. We will let you know how it goes!
This is last week's picture (we always take them on Thursday!).
March 11, 2007
Paperwork, paperwork
I informed the health insurance company of my pregnancy and asked if there was anything that I needed to take care of in advance in terms of insurance for the baby. A few days later, we received a large packet in the mail with purple elephants walking in a line on the envelope. We have to sign a document for 'le future enfant de Madame Padre' and send it back. There is also a notification card when the baby gets here to tell them the baby's birthdate and name.
Then the Clinic where we will have the baby sent a package of stuff. (The doctor's office informed them that we would have the baby there.) Most of it is in French, but there are some forms in English. Some relate to the hospital stay, others to registering your baby with the state authorities. Part of that means getting our marriage certificate officially translated. Another thing to figure out....Here's the website of the clinc if you want to check it out. It's rather 'uptown' (and the same place that I had my laproscopic surgery in August). http://www.beaulieu.ch/index-en.html
Then the Clinic where we will have the baby sent a package of stuff. (The doctor's office informed them that we would have the baby there.) Most of it is in French, but there are some forms in English. Some relate to the hospital stay, others to registering your baby with the state authorities. Part of that means getting our marriage certificate officially translated. Another thing to figure out....Here's the website of the clinc if you want to check it out. It's rather 'uptown' (and the same place that I had my laproscopic surgery in August). http://www.beaulieu.ch/index-en.html
March 7, 2007
Feelings
I am continuing to feel pretty good though I wouldn't say I feel 'wonderful' like people tell me I might. I have sort of found a comfortable sleeping position so I am not as tired anymore - but I still feel tired, especially after meals. I can't believe how much energy it takes for me to do some things - walking with one of co-workers today, I was out of breath trying to explain something to her. I didn't think we were walking all that fast, but we did go up a short flight of stairs and we probably didn't slow down enough going up.
My latest blood tests shows I need to take iron pills. Another trip to the pharmacy!
My latest blood tests shows I need to take iron pills. Another trip to the pharmacy!
March 5, 2007
Pregnancy, week 19
We had doctor visit #3 today. Sarah passed with flying colors. Everything is normal/healthy. The doctor is sending Sarah to more of a specialist for the next "anatomical ultrasound exam" (or something like that), which usually happens around this time, I guess. So we go for that on March 23.
Therefore, at today's visit, the regular doctor didn't do an ultrasound. But she did listen for the baby's heartbeat. She put some sort of walkie-talkie-type device with a little listening part onto Sarah's belly. Because the baby can't talk yet (or is just unsure of what language to use with English-speaking parents living in the French-speaking part of a country where German is dominant), it simply moved (the doctor had to tell us the baby was moving, which it did three times during this exam). So we responded with, "Roger, Baby. We'll see you at the ultrasound in a few weeks. Over 'n' out." I guess I would feel a bit disturbed and might kick a few times if somebody were trying to listen in on me when I was trying to be private. Sarah says she can't feel any movement yet but is anxious to.
Although we didn't see Baby today, the doctor says it's about 18 cm long (head to toe).
We are taking a picture of Sarah in profile every week, and now I'm having Sarah lift up her top so you can see her growing belly directly. Sarah tends to wear baggy tops, so I still maintain that her pregnancy is not obvious. There are still a few people who are surprised when we tell them she's pregnant.
Sarah continues to eat a lot. She got a prescription for some prenatal vitamins today. We think that they're like any other prenatal vitamins that one could buy at the grocery store (i.e., over the counter) in the U.S., but here in Switzerland, you can't even buy cold medicine without asking for it at the pharmacy, so the doctor had to write a prescription for these. They're quite costly too (like everything in Switzerland), but the insurance will cover this.
Sarah is also slowing down when she walks. Going to church involves walking up the hill by our house, and even when she starts walking up the hill, she starts getting out of breath. I'm learning to slow down and walk at her pace too.
Therefore, at today's visit, the regular doctor didn't do an ultrasound. But she did listen for the baby's heartbeat. She put some sort of walkie-talkie-type device with a little listening part onto Sarah's belly. Because the baby can't talk yet (or is just unsure of what language to use with English-speaking parents living in the French-speaking part of a country where German is dominant), it simply moved (the doctor had to tell us the baby was moving, which it did three times during this exam). So we responded with, "Roger, Baby. We'll see you at the ultrasound in a few weeks. Over 'n' out." I guess I would feel a bit disturbed and might kick a few times if somebody were trying to listen in on me when I was trying to be private. Sarah says she can't feel any movement yet but is anxious to.Although we didn't see Baby today, the doctor says it's about 18 cm long (head to toe).
We are taking a picture of Sarah in profile every week, and now I'm having Sarah lift up her top so you can see her growing belly directly. Sarah tends to wear baggy tops, so I still maintain that her pregnancy is not obvious. There are still a few people who are surprised when we tell them she's pregnant.
Sarah continues to eat a lot. She got a prescription for some prenatal vitamins today. We think that they're like any other prenatal vitamins that one could buy at the grocery store (i.e., over the counter) in the U.S., but here in Switzerland, you can't even buy cold medicine without asking for it at the pharmacy, so the doctor had to write a prescription for these. They're quite costly too (like everything in Switzerland), but the insurance will cover this.
Sarah is also slowing down when she walks. Going to church involves walking up the hill by our house, and even when she starts walking up the hill, she starts getting out of breath. I'm learning to slow down and walk at her pace too.
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