Deep in the Thick of It

We're deep into the sixth month of pregnancy at 24 weeks this week.  That's a mere 16 weeks to go!  This pregnancy has flown by.  It's true when they say that time flies faster as you get older.  I imagine when I'm 60, I will be mid-blink and turn 70, haha!  I think my belly finally popped, though most days I still feel like I look more fat than pregnant!

This week we had a monthly prenatal appointment, but we ended up seeing a different doctor.  (My usual doc was on vacation - lucky him!)  The doctor we saw was actually the doctor who delivered Gabriel by c-section 3.5 years ago!  He was excited to meet Gabe, though I'm not sure the feeling was entirely mutual, as Gabe was more interested in playing his monkey fix-it game on my phone, ha!

Skip this paragraph if you're not interested in the ins & outs of birthing children...  The doc and I had a nice long chat about whether a repeat c-section or an attempt at a vaginal delivery was a better choice for this pregnancy (resulting in a "do what you're comfortable with, and we'll see what baby does" generalization).  There are advantages and risks to both approaches to this birth, believe it or not.  I'm leaning more towards wanting to attempt a vaginal birth even though there is very slight risk of uterine rupture (but faster recovery), as the risks for future pregnancies increase with a repeat c-section (plus it's major surgery and has a lengthier recovery).  I still hold the stance that my babies are not to be taken out before 'fully cooked' at 40 weeks, unless baby decides to come out on his/her own or there is a problem necessitating earlier action.  So, I'm hoping for going into spontaneous labor prior to 40 weeks, with a scheduled repeat c-section sometime after that if needed.

You can pick back up reading here, if you skipped the last paragraph!  At the appointment, baby was doing a good job moving around (not that anyone but me would know yet) and his/her heartbeat was strong and fast.  I didn't get to count or record it, because I was too busy watching Gabriel's face light up when he heard his sibling's heartbeat!  He thinks it's the coolest thing!

Swollen fingers and feet have been the theme these last couple of weeks.  My wedding ring has been retired to the jewelry cabinet because it no longer fits!  My engagement ring is off being repaired for a few weeks, which I guess is good timing, ha!  So my finger feels a little naked and I've been putting larger sized rings on it when I go out so at least I attempt to look married and knocked up ::wink wink::  Otherwise, everything is pretty good and the summer is flying by waaaaaayyy too quickly.