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Pregnancy Update: Week 37 January 11, 2004
Hey! This was a very busy week for us with lots going on in the pregnancy, so this is kind of a long update. Perhaps most exciting is that Geralyn went to one of her routine doctor's visits earlier this week and they did another ultrasound to check up on things. Not only has the baby "lightened" by moving into an upside-down position in preparation for delivery, but the sonogram tells us for sure that she is indeed a she. Whew!
And while we're on the topic, what is it with sonogram technicians having such interesting (and sometimes crude; let's not forget the whole "twat" incident) words for that tell-tale area between baby's legs? This time around, the tech asked Geralyn if she could "see the baby's hamburger". Like baby had somehow gotten a Burker King takeout order delivered in there. Sure it kind of looks like a hamburger if you think about it, but then you'd really be thinking about it too much. I'd think that these people could discuss human anatomy without resorting to vulgarity or similes involving foodstuffs.
At any rate, here's the picture from the sonogram (click it for a bigger version). See if you can find the hamburger --I sure can't.
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The other big event was that we went through a marathon class on labor and delivery, which stretched across most of both Saturday and Sunday. We trekked over to another hospital, carrying pillows, blankets, and a gallon of apprehension with us. The latter was with us because we knew that the class was supposed to be no holds barred and that it would, at some point, involve THE VIDEO.
It was rumored that THE VIDEO spared no detail and obscured no part of the birthing process, shoving its unblinking electronic eye into the very heart (or crotch, in this case) of the process. And as promised, THE VIDEO was one of the first things that we tackled Saturday morning. In a darkened room ten couples squinted at a 25-inch television set that beamed forth the glorious, gruesome spectacle of life.
I witnessed bulbous, furry little heads squeezing through tiny holes like blobs of screaming toothpaste. I saw one woman reach down to pat the emerging baby between her legs, then cry with hysterical joy as the rest of its head popped out. For a second before the baby's shoulders and body followed, they resembled a single, two-headed creature like what you might read about in a H.P. Lovecraft story.
Going in, I didn't know how I would handle THE VIDEO. During the spectacle I glanced around the room to see several of the other fathers-to-be hanging their head down between their knees to avoid the whole thing. Once the beautiful gore of childbirth started, though, I couldn't look away except to glance at Geralyn and whisper "That ...is ...AWEsome!" Even when the placenta was delivered, looking like a hunk of raw meat, I only flinched a little.
On the whole, the class was pretty good. We did some breathing exercises that seemed silly outside of an actual delivery, but Ger and I walked away feeling like we were reasonably educated on the matter (the half dozen books we've read helped as well). I can't promise complete calm during the actual labor and delivery, but I don't think I'll flip out. And I know Geralyn is going to do great.
To close things out, the picture of Geralyn for week #37 is below. It was actually taken yesterday.
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Comments
Posted by Geralyn on January 12, 2004 3:39 PM:
Another pregnanacy observation - the closer I get to my due date, the more I seem to be plagued with increasing absentmindedness. For example, while checking out at the grocery store today, I was very careful to toss my coupon organizer in one of the grocery bags, but managed to walk out of the store while leaving my purse stting on the counter. Luckily, the nice bag boy ran after me with it. I was very grateful and embarrassed, although I wouldn't have gotten far without it! I hope this, like the swollen feet, will go away after delivery!
Posted by Hellchick on January 12, 2004 10:49 PM:
Regarding sonogram pictures: I can never find the damn baby in those things, nevermind the genitalia. When someone shows me a sonogram, all I can say is, "Um...well...let's see now...I see...is that, uh, is that Africa? I don't know, looks like Florida, maybe the butterfly from a Rorshach test? I don't know, I got nothin'."
And Geralyn, I once heard a comedian say that it's odd that God would choose a human woman to carry a baby safely into this life because you lose all coordination, you become a total clutz, your vision actually gets worse (a friend of mine said this has happened and her doctor confirms that it's usual) and it's a wonder the baby makes it safely into the world at all!
Posted by Jamie on January 13, 2004 6:48 AM:
Heh. If I were a sonogram tech, I wouldn't be able to keep myself from cracking jokes like that. "Congratulations. You're having a baby Southeast Asia!"
Posted by Matt on January 17, 2004 9:29 AM:
Reading about your journey with the pregnancy class and THE VIDEO, just makes me chuckle and remeber when Sue & I took the class before Marty was born and saw THE VIDEO. Although for us, THE VIDEO wasn't all the shocking as Sue had been watching the "Birth Day" program on the satellite seemingly nonstop since she had gotten pregnant. Geralyn - Trust me, your absentmindedness is completely normal, Sue calls this "Pregnant Brain" and it still seemingly hangs around for a while after the birth as well. Best of luck to you both on the upcoming Event, it is truly the most spectacular thing I have ever been a part of and will change you both forever.