This morning we had another appointment with the baby doctor to monitor Baby's heartbeat and check its position. We now have these appointments weekly, and the next one is on the actual due date. The baby is still head-down and has dropped low, the doctor said. If you look at the latest picture of Sarah, she's really big (and I'm telling her so!). But Baby is on track to be within the average weight range at birth. Everything is "perfect," which means we're on track for a natural birth and for it to happen - hopefully - as planned on (around?) August 8, which is next week!!!
Indeed, there's really nothing more we can do at this point but wait. And the hard thing for us - big planners and control freaks that we are - is that only Baby knows when its time will come. After nine long months, after mentally preparing ourselves, building our excitement, acquiring clothes and supplies, re-arranging some furniture, and packing a bag for the hospital, we can do nothing more but wait - and these last days seem to be the longest of these months. We are ready and want the birth to happen now!
We are actually within the window of when labor could begin, so the spontaneity of it all is both exciting and nerve-racking at the same time.
We know a lot of you out there are waiting with us! Feel free to add in the comments what day you think Baby will arrive and whether it's a boy or a girl.
July 30, 2007
July 29, 2007
Miscellaneous Swiss baby info
We have learned a couple of new things about having a baby in Switzerland:
1. When you have a child, your employer has to give you an extra amount in your salary each month (about $200). If you and your spouse are both employed, only 1 employer is required to pay it; this extra money lasts until your child is 18.
2. We will get a one-time 'gift' from the government when the child is born of approximately $800.
3. Health insurance really does seem to cover everything relating to having a baby - I recently heard from a woman that the hospital bill after her child was in the ICU for months amounted to over $100,000 - insurance covered it all.
Moral of the story - it's good to have a child in Switzerland: they seem to promote it! (But they don't necessarily promote marriage before having children - people wait until having a child to get married because a couple with no kids pays a lot more tax.)
1. When you have a child, your employer has to give you an extra amount in your salary each month (about $200). If you and your spouse are both employed, only 1 employer is required to pay it; this extra money lasts until your child is 18.
2. We will get a one-time 'gift' from the government when the child is born of approximately $800.
3. Health insurance really does seem to cover everything relating to having a baby - I recently heard from a woman that the hospital bill after her child was in the ICU for months amounted to over $100,000 - insurance covered it all.
Moral of the story - it's good to have a child in Switzerland: they seem to promote it! (But they don't necessarily promote marriage before having children - people wait until having a child to get married because a couple with no kids pays a lot more tax.)
July 23, 2007
Keep your head down and aim toward August 8!
Well, we think we have successfully passed the hurdle of turning the baby. This morning we had another "controle" - a checkup - but this time with our regular doctor at the clinic where Sarah is due to deliver. We would have had this checkup anyway, regardless of our situation, but our doctor was especially anxious to confirm that Baby has remained in the new position with its head down.
After last Thursday's procedure, we took off for a weekend away in the Alps. Yesterday, Sarah says Baby was moving a lot. She was getting very anxious and nervous that it was moving back to its former upright position.
Before we saw the doctor this morning, the nurse/midwife hooked Sarah up to the machine to monitor Baby's heartbeat and her uterus for contractions, which took about a half hour. The midwife felt Sarah's abdomen and said she felt like Baby's head was down. When the doctor came, she did an ultrasound, which confirmed that, indeed, Baby is still standing on its head. It appears that all of Baby's movements yesterday was merely rotating itself (it basically moved its body to the other side but kept its head down). The doctor said this rotation is normal (again, we have a baby that has its parents' dancing genes; it is now learning more advanced moves) and that it's in the "perfect" position for birth.
So, now that we've made it through that stage, we turn our eyes toward August 8, the original due date. We're relieved that the risk we took in trying this procedure worked and paid off. From here on out, as far as we know, things should proceed as planned. We have another check-up - exactly the same type as today's - next Monday and again on the due date.
Sarah's ultimate goal is to try to have the baby naturally - trying to avoid a C-section. But a secondary goal - one more selfish of Mommy and Daddy - is to have the baby at the clinic, as opposed to the cantonal (state) hospital, where the turning procedure was done last week. Although the hospital is perfectly fine (and as advanced medically as any other place), the clinic is a slight step up in terms of comfort. But in both places, I have also been offered tea and coffee along with Sarah, so they do take care of both Mommy and Daddy well at these places.
All eyes toward August 8! Let the countdown begin!
After last Thursday's procedure, we took off for a weekend away in the Alps. Yesterday, Sarah says Baby was moving a lot. She was getting very anxious and nervous that it was moving back to its former upright position.
Before we saw the doctor this morning, the nurse/midwife hooked Sarah up to the machine to monitor Baby's heartbeat and her uterus for contractions, which took about a half hour. The midwife felt Sarah's abdomen and said she felt like Baby's head was down. When the doctor came, she did an ultrasound, which confirmed that, indeed, Baby is still standing on its head. It appears that all of Baby's movements yesterday was merely rotating itself (it basically moved its body to the other side but kept its head down). The doctor said this rotation is normal (again, we have a baby that has its parents' dancing genes; it is now learning more advanced moves) and that it's in the "perfect" position for birth.
So, now that we've made it through that stage, we turn our eyes toward August 8, the original due date. We're relieved that the risk we took in trying this procedure worked and paid off. From here on out, as far as we know, things should proceed as planned. We have another check-up - exactly the same type as today's - next Monday and again on the due date.
Sarah's ultimate goal is to try to have the baby naturally - trying to avoid a C-section. But a secondary goal - one more selfish of Mommy and Daddy - is to have the baby at the clinic, as opposed to the cantonal (state) hospital, where the turning procedure was done last week. Although the hospital is perfectly fine (and as advanced medically as any other place), the clinic is a slight step up in terms of comfort. But in both places, I have also been offered tea and coffee along with Sarah, so they do take care of both Mommy and Daddy well at these places.
All eyes toward August 8! Let the countdown begin!
July 22, 2007
Turning Baby
A week ago Thursday, we found out that Baby had not decided to turn on its head. So after an agonizing day, we decided to try an external version - basically, a manual turning of the baby by a doctor putting his/her hands on my abdomen and moving the baby around.
Our appointment was for this last Thursday (the 19th) for this procedure. We arrived at the hospital around 7:20 in the morning. It took a while to get into the room and settled. They monitored the baby’s heartbeat and me for contractions and then gave me a drug through a drip to relax my uterus. But then there was a delay – the doctor (not my regular dr. but one with experience in this procedure) had to deliver a baby in another room. So we had to wait. Eventually the doctor came back with another doctor. He did the procedure, and, all told, we think the whole turn lasted less than a minute and a half. He made it look so easy that Stephen thinks he could have done it! He just put a couple of fingers from both hands low on my abdomen, on the baby’s bottom. Then he pushed and turned, and when it was about halfway around, he cupped his hands at the top, around the baby’s head, and continued turning it. Stephen could see a long shape in my belly turning around (I couldn't really see anything)! And then it popped into place, head down!
We stayed in the hospital for another 4 hours and then they checked the baby's heartbeat and position again - it hadn't decided it wanted to turn back (only about 2% change position after such a procedure). This baby is a mover and Friday and most of Saturday it was pretty still. We think the poor thing was disoriented. However, I woke up early this morning (before 4) and the baby was really moving about. Now I am slightly nervous that it managed to re-turn itself back into the breech position. We do have a doctor's appt tomorrow (Monday) am and she will check the position again. If they think it is still possible to turn it, they will try again and induce labor the same day so Baby wouldn't have a chance to re-arrange itself! I suppose I went through this turning thing once so I can do it again, but it would be nice not to. It wasn't painful - just kind of uncomfortable; Baby moving around is often uncomfortable as well so that's nothing new!
Our appointment was for this last Thursday (the 19th) for this procedure. We arrived at the hospital around 7:20 in the morning. It took a while to get into the room and settled. They monitored the baby’s heartbeat and me for contractions and then gave me a drug through a drip to relax my uterus. But then there was a delay – the doctor (not my regular dr. but one with experience in this procedure) had to deliver a baby in another room. So we had to wait. Eventually the doctor came back with another doctor. He did the procedure, and, all told, we think the whole turn lasted less than a minute and a half. He made it look so easy that Stephen thinks he could have done it! He just put a couple of fingers from both hands low on my abdomen, on the baby’s bottom. Then he pushed and turned, and when it was about halfway around, he cupped his hands at the top, around the baby’s head, and continued turning it. Stephen could see a long shape in my belly turning around (I couldn't really see anything)! And then it popped into place, head down!
We stayed in the hospital for another 4 hours and then they checked the baby's heartbeat and position again - it hadn't decided it wanted to turn back (only about 2% change position after such a procedure). This baby is a mover and Friday and most of Saturday it was pretty still. We think the poor thing was disoriented. However, I woke up early this morning (before 4) and the baby was really moving about. Now I am slightly nervous that it managed to re-turn itself back into the breech position. We do have a doctor's appt tomorrow (Monday) am and she will check the position again. If they think it is still possible to turn it, they will try again and induce labor the same day so Baby wouldn't have a chance to re-arrange itself! I suppose I went through this turning thing once so I can do it again, but it would be nice not to. It wasn't painful - just kind of uncomfortable; Baby moving around is often uncomfortable as well so that's nothing new!
July 15, 2007
A Shower and A Visit
Every morning at work, my department gathers for coffee for about 10 minutes. Depending on how much I have to do, if I am in the middle of something or not, etc, I may or may not join them. On Friday, I joined them and when I got down to the end of the hall where we gather, I was surprised - with a baby shower! Since it it summer, many people are on holiday so it was just a small group. There was a pile of gifts though and berry cake and home made Filipino rice cakes (which I thought were very sweet). We have added to our collection of clothes and also received a few toys and practical things. It is unusual here to have a baby shower and if there is one, it is usually held after the birth of the baby. I think the Filipino in my department organized this - such a before-birth custom is common for her as well - and I also think she is pretty excited about this baby, too! I only wish Stephen could have been there as he is more concerned that we are missing out on all of these types of things by living so far from 'home.'
On Saturday, we went to the clinic where we plan to have the baby for a visit of the maternity facilities. We had chosen this clinic without checking out such things, but thought for my piece of mind, especially, it would be good to go and have a first look. They have three delivery rooms that all seemed well equipped though only one has the jacuzzi in it. The baby would be measured, etc. in the same room and only leave the room if it had to be put in an incubator. The operating room for emergency c-sections is right down the hall. The baby can stay in my room with me all the time if I want. They have bassinets on high stands so it would be level with me in the bed. And the area to change and bathe the baby isn't far away. I'm feeling all excited and more comfortable about this now - but Stephen left feeling a little more nervous, I think!
On Saturday, we went to the clinic where we plan to have the baby for a visit of the maternity facilities. We had chosen this clinic without checking out such things, but thought for my piece of mind, especially, it would be good to go and have a first look. They have three delivery rooms that all seemed well equipped though only one has the jacuzzi in it. The baby would be measured, etc. in the same room and only leave the room if it had to be put in an incubator. The operating room for emergency c-sections is right down the hall. The baby can stay in my room with me all the time if I want. They have bassinets on high stands so it would be level with me in the bed. And the area to change and bathe the baby isn't far away. I'm feeling all excited and more comfortable about this now - but Stephen left feeling a little more nervous, I think!
July 12, 2007
Holier water?
Sarah's parents will be coming (from Iowa, most likely) in October to see Baby, and, because it's the end of our time in Geneva (at least that's what we're planning), they will help us pack up and clean our apartment (which needs to be left better than we found it, according to Swiss practices). And since my parents will be coming in August for the birth, we plan to have Baby baptized in October when Sarah's parents are here.
We'll have the baptism at our church on one of the Sundays Sarah's parents are here, and Sarah's father will do the baptism with our pastor (remember that Sarah's father is an ELCA pastor and that he did the vows part at our wedding). I had the idea of getting some water from the Jordan River to use at the baptism. I hadn't thought of this when we were in Israel and Palestine last December (just when we thought we might be pregnant), so when the idea arose, the dilemma of how to obtain some emerged. One of Sarah's coworkers went to Jerusalem a couple months ago for a meeting, but he forgot to get some water from the Jerusalem representative of Sarah's organization who works there. No problem. We just waited until a fellow church member who works for the World Council of Churches went there a few weeks ago. He apparently brought us back a big bottle, which he obtained himself (we haven't gotten it from him yet). While he was at the river, which is on the border of Israel and Jordan (two countries that aren't really friendly with each other), an Orthodox priest he was with put on a sort of robe and went all the way into the river. Our friend wanted to as well, but he thought it was best not to at the time because he was functioning as the WCC general secretary's spokesman. Anyway, we know this bottle contains authentic Jordan River water.
But then today, another fellow coworker of Sarah came back from Jerusalem with another bottle of Jordan River water, although this one was purchased in Jerusalem, so we can't trust its authenticity 100 percent. But they market it well as a Holy Land souvenir, as real "holy" water.
Well, whatever Jordan River water we use, we will probably get water from some other sources too for use in the baptism - Lake Geneva, which is water from the Alps, and perhaps some water from a source or two in the United States. This is already a well-travelled, international baby, mind you, so water from around the world, from places he/she has a connection to through family is what we are thinking of achieving. Yes, I know Baby doesn't really have a connection to the Jordan River, but in a way, all God's chil'un do, don't they?
We'll have the baptism at our church on one of the Sundays Sarah's parents are here, and Sarah's father will do the baptism with our pastor (remember that Sarah's father is an ELCA pastor and that he did the vows part at our wedding). I had the idea of getting some water from the Jordan River to use at the baptism. I hadn't thought of this when we were in Israel and Palestine last December (just when we thought we might be pregnant), so when the idea arose, the dilemma of how to obtain some emerged. One of Sarah's coworkers went to Jerusalem a couple months ago for a meeting, but he forgot to get some water from the Jerusalem representative of Sarah's organization who works there. No problem. We just waited until a fellow church member who works for the World Council of Churches went there a few weeks ago. He apparently brought us back a big bottle, which he obtained himself (we haven't gotten it from him yet). While he was at the river, which is on the border of Israel and Jordan (two countries that aren't really friendly with each other), an Orthodox priest he was with put on a sort of robe and went all the way into the river. Our friend wanted to as well, but he thought it was best not to at the time because he was functioning as the WCC general secretary's spokesman. Anyway, we know this bottle contains authentic Jordan River water.
But then today, another fellow coworker of Sarah came back from Jerusalem with another bottle of Jordan River water, although this one was purchased in Jerusalem, so we can't trust its authenticity 100 percent. But they market it well as a Holy Land souvenir, as real "holy" water.Well, whatever Jordan River water we use, we will probably get water from some other sources too for use in the baptism - Lake Geneva, which is water from the Alps, and perhaps some water from a source or two in the United States. This is already a well-travelled, international baby, mind you, so water from around the world, from places he/she has a connection to through family is what we are thinking of achieving. Yes, I know Baby doesn't really have a connection to the Jordan River, but in a way, all God's chil'un do, don't they?
July 8, 2007
Boy or Girl?
Three women have now told me at work that they think it will be a boy - something to do with how I am carrying the baby. Stephen had a dream that it was a girl and one of his aunt's also believe its a girl. My mom dreamed that we took the baby out and played with it - but she didn't know the sex. I still talk to Baby using both he and she interchangebly - not sure I have had strong feelings one way or the other. Knowing that we WILL know soon is pretty exciting!
July 7, 2007
A month and a day...
We are starting to feel that the end is in sight. Today was the first really warm summer-like day that we have had in weeks. If I was in the sun, I felt pretty hot and uncomfortable. But it isn't humid, so in the shade, I did ok. The forecast is for cooler temps again so who knows how this last month will go.
Last night at the pre-natal class, we went over positions to help the labor and delivery go more smoothly/help the process along. We are to practice them a couple of times a week just to remember what we need to do! Next week is our last class. We also have a doctor's appt next Thursday where we will see what position Baby is in. Stephen and I have different ideas sometimes what the hard parts that poke out are! Baby is still pretty active though it has calmed down some nights which means I am definitely sleeping better.
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