22 Weeks

It is not a aurprise to start off this blog post in saying that it has been quite busy. What else is new in the Ditzel Household really?!?! I went up to Raleigh last weekend for my Dad’s Work Party. It was quite a lot of work but I had a good time meeting everyone he worked with. I drove back home on Sunday afternoon because Joe and I had our first Birth Center class on Monday. I am not a fan of making that 5 hour drive by myself. But I managed and made it home just in time to snuggle into bed with Joe. (oh I forgot to mention that Joe surprised me by starting the priming in the kitchen… what a great husband!)

Monday morning Joe and I drove to Savannah for our class. We got there early due to the fact that I knew ahead of time that I needed to chart myself. We had missed the 1^st class (due to the transfer to the Center).  But I was give some inside information of what I was supposed to do so I wanted to make sure I got there in time and not be too overwhelmed (since that seems to me by middle name lately). So the routine when we arrive is for me to sign in, collect urine sample, weigh myself, and take my blood pressure. So right off the bat I was quite beside myself. Of course Joe was little to no help so it was up to me to navigate my way through this strange ritual. I did manage but I couldn’t figure out why my blood pressure was so high (probably due to my stress level…) After we mark all this down in out chart we go in to see the midwife. We go over any questions or concerns and then she does a uterus measurement and then we listen to the baby… heart beat was in the 150s.  I mentioned to Nancy (the midwife) that my blood pressure was abnormally high so she took the measurement herself. We learned that its best for me to have the midwife take the blood pressure and not the wrist thing because it just does not agree with me apparently. My BP was normal so that makes me feel good.

So after all that we go into the class and wait for the rest of the class to arrive. This class was on Parenting and Newborn Care.  Joe and I really enjoyed it. We learned quite a few things in this 2 hour period! I have a list of what the baby/newborn will need and I am happy to announce that we don’t need as much as we thought. Most of the stuff it stuff we already have… here is the list:

• Clothing
• Undershirts or Onsies
• Gowns and/or Footed Coveralls
• Receiving Blankets (only a few really… she said we don’t need dozens. 100% cotton is the best)
• Diapers (but not too many newborn because they grow out of them so fast; if they even fit at birth weight)
• Hygiene and Health
• Baby Shampoo
• Soft Washcloths and Towels (the washcloths that we own are perfect and soft so we don’t need new ones; bonus)
• Rubbing Alcohol and Cotton Balls (for cord care)
• Thermometer
• Blunt-tip nail clippers, file or scissor.
• Furnishings
• A safe place to sleep (we got the crib already but its not up yet!!)
• Bedding
• A car seat

Everything else past this is just extra… at least for the first few weeks/months. So this was good to hear. We had a lot of fun listening and learning from all the class members. Next class is Breastfeeding so you know Joe will be quite attentive hehehe!

We have also learned that we should plan ahead to help ease Joe and I into parenthood. We will be happy to accept some extra hands to help us out once the baby is born. Over the next few months I am sure we will be working out a schedule for visitors. Since ‘overwhelmed’ seems to be the word of the trimester it is no big shock that we will plan out some visitors. Lucky for us we still have plenty of time to work this all out.

So here is what is going on with the baby this week:

At 11 inches (the length of a spaghetti squash) and almost 1 pound, our baby is starting to look like a miniature newborn. His lips, eyelids, and eyebrows are becoming more distinct, and he's even developing tiny tooth buds beneath his gums. His eyes have formed, but his irises (the colored part of the eye) still lack pigment. If we could see inside my womb, we'd be able to spot the fine hair (lanugo) that covers his body and the deep wrinkles on his skin, which he'll sport until he adds a padding of fat to fill them in. Inside his belly, his pancreas — essential for the production of some important hormones — is developing steadily.

Don't forget, we find out the baby's gender on Sunday!!

Any last guesses?