Apologies for the complaining

The Sushi is putting more and more pressure on my cervix and it feels like she is inches away from popping out and flopping around on the floor. I think of the six weeks that remain and just shake my head in disbelief, chuckle and say “there is absolutely no way.” This isn’t because I am so miserable I can’t handle six more weeks (I am pretty miserable) but because I think I’d have to be suspended upside-down the better part of the day to prevent her from coming before her due date. I’m guessing she’ll come in early November.

My next obgyn appointment is on the 19th of October, in ten days. I wonder if he’ll do an internal exam. I’m really curious what’s going on in there. I could be six cm dilated for all I know and it certainly feels like it. I’m not sure how it all works here in Mexico. In France at around six weeks before the due date the doctor begins weekly appointments and he usually does internal exams at those appointments. Dr. Stonehenge does internal exams about every other month leading up to the last month.

The curve in my lower back is now grossly exaggerated and my butt sticks way out--standard for the last few weeks of pregnancy. I’m no different than anyone else. It’s one of those little things you forget about in pregnancy. Naturally I have to waddle now. I walk at about half the speed as I did a month ago, longing to stop each 50 paces to rest but not wanting to draw attention to myself. I arrive everywhere breathless. Again more glamorous stuff you completely forget. It doesn’t help that we’re staying in a huge hotel and I have to walk everywhere!

Sushi ’s main characteristic so far is that she is constantly moving. She’s quite the little dancer, boxing and kicking much more than I ever remember Little S doing. She often wakes me up from a deep sleep with her late night shenanigans and then who can get back to sleep while someone is playing footsie in your loins. Sometimes it’s downright embarrassing because while standing chatting small talk with someone people will look down shocked and say “wow your baby is moving a lot!” It’s weird because it’s such a private thing Seb and I should be sharing, his hand on my stomach, not a remark to be made in the checkout line at the grocery store. It ‘s happened at least three times like this in public. Sushi isn’t shy. She seems to want to be noticed.

I am feeling better. The anemia is still plaguing me a little and probably accounts for my breathlessness and low energy. I know it takes time to get my levels elevated. My sinus infection took a miraculous turn for the better! I won’t get too far into the details but for two days I blew tons of blood from my nose. Then the third day it was all better. Thank god because there is nothing worse than that pain (well, except maybe…nevermind) and I didn’t want to have to suffer through it again without antibiotics. One less thing to worry about.

This weekend I’m going to finish my hospital supply list and start packing mine and the Sushi’s bag. I’ll post my list because someone may have something to add or may find it useful. I’m leaving no stone unturned. I’m bringing more than I’ll ever need. I got a hospital list from my Mexican doctor last visit that had me laughing. It had three things on it for the mother--robe, slippers, toiletries (duh) and about four things for the baby --two outfits, sweaters, booties, hat. I felt like getting them a copy of a French hospital list. It’s often about two pages long. When I had Little S there were even more things added on by my doctor and the midwives in my birthing class. It just kept getting longer and longer. Even with all that I had to send Seb out for things. It’s definitely a time when you want all the comforts of home and over the counter medicine at your fingertips.