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The Third Baby

September 30th, 2008

I had an appointment with my midwife (Erin) yesterday.  She says my belly is measuring at 34 cm.  (And, for those who don’t know or have never had babies, usually you can judge when the baby is going to get here by the number of centimeters from the top of the uterus to the pubic bone; this number is supposed to correlate with how far along you are.  Meaning, I’m supposed to be 34 weeks along.)  But, if you’ll look at the calendar, I’m only ’supposed’ to hit 33 weeks tomorrow… my ticker says I hit 33 weeks on Saturday, only based on my ultrasound results.

So I asked Erin about how much stock she takes into measurements, ultrasounds, and the “old wives’ tales”.  I was curious to know if she had any predictions about when a mom would go into labor.  She said she doesn’t have a crystal ball, fair enough, and she also said that this was my third baby.  (Before you give the obvious “duh”, here’s why she said this.)  Erin said that when she did her midwifery internship, she would come into the room of a mom in labor and sometimes the (main) attending midwife would give her some sort of sign, letting her know that this was the mom’s third baby.  When Erin would see that sign, she and all the other interns would know to throw everything out the window, that whatever was on this mom’s chart for the previous two pregnancies would probably not be seen for this one.

I think it’s pretty funny how on many different levels this is true for this pregnancy -

I have had 2 dreams that this baby is going to be a boy.  And, my friend Amanda just had a hilarious dream that she was present for my home birth (and if you know Amanda, you’ll know how much that would freak her out…).  She dreamed that her Aunt Connie delivered my baby, after me having just a little stomach pain, and Aunt Connie pulled the baby out from between my legs via a Ziploc freezer bag to announce “Congratulations, it’s a boy!” and then Amanda woke up in a cold sweat.

I have felt so ‘different’ during this pregnancy, which is why I originally thought I was having a boy. I haven’t gained as much weight, I am carrying the baby not too high and not too low (which is great, so I can manhandle the other two!), and I feel like I look better than I did previously.  (Be sure and remind me of this in about 6 weeks when I complain about my swollen ankles, ok?) 

I keep attributing feeling good to this time of year, but really, I just feel much more relaxed and calm than I did when pregnant with the other two.  The weather has been absolutely beautiful lately, so I’m able to wake up and go outside to enjoy God’s beautiful creation.  Plus, I feel much more rested, much more prepared, and much less stressed.  (That’s also because I’ve released some responsibilities that were cluttering my life and not allowing me to focus on God and my family.)

But, this could just be because God promises us that no two babies are alike!

“For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother’s womb.

¹⁴ I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.

¹⁵ My frame was not hidden from you
when I was made in the secret place.
When I was woven together in the depths of the earth,

¹⁶ your eyes saw my unformed body.
All the days ordained for me
were written in your book
before one of them came to be.”  - Psalm 139:13-16 (NIV)

This is definitely true; no matter what “flavor” this baby is (as Maria says), I know he/she will be different from big brother and big sister.  I am so excited to meet her (I’ll keep calling it a “her” until delivery date..) and I can’t wait to hold her in my arms.

Entry Filed under: Carlee, Faith, Family