Week 33

Hi all!

Just thought I'd post a little update on Baby#4. Seth and I were reflecting on how different each of our deliveries has been thus far. Eden, delivered by a midwife at a hospital in the US with minimal medical intervention, in the US. Isaaq was delivered by local midwife in East Africa in an adequate and simple hospital in East Africa (and was thankfully seemingly our least complicated delivery thus far), Atira delivered by planned C-section by a specialized OB-GYN accompanied by a number of equally specialized doctors and nurses in a highly advanced facility in the US. And now, our plans are to deliver #4 at an advanced hospital in Nairobi, Kenya. Goodness gracious.

We just went in for a check-up this week. Each check-up generally consists of two visits, the first part always includes the normal prenatal check-up stuff like review of health condition, checks for edema (water retention), weight (only here they cheer you on when you've gained weight, as most women's problem here is that they don't gain enough weight during pregnancy), and blood pressure (nothing makes my blood pressure go up like getting my blood pressure taken). Then I usually get to do the famous urine sample and get my blood drawn (yuck) and often an ultrasound. Then when the test results are in I get to come in for a second visit with my doctor, to review my results and see if there is any point of concern.

At our previous ultrasound we accidentally found out that we'll be welcoming a little boy into our family in December by God's grace. Somehow in the midst of an Arabic speaking ultrasound technician, an Arabic/Somali speaking technician's assistant and me Somali/English speaking patient, it didn't get communicated that we didn't want to find out the gender, and read it on the ultrasound review record, which was written in English.

Isaaq was happy to learn that he would be having a little brother, though I think he was secretly hoping for a ninja turtle.

So, our check-up this week went well. Baby is looking very healthy, head down (hopefully he stays there), and is good and active. Thus far he loves listening to music, and is startled whenever his big sister (Atira) screams, poor little guy. Overall, I'm feeling pretty good. Doing prenantal pilates has substantially helped with lower back pain. I've reached the point of pregnancy where your brain doesn't function quite normally and what you think is a good and effective idea, probably isn't. Like, for example, I was quite warm the other day, and I became quite convinced that if I shaved my head I would be much cooler. Thankfully, the day cooled down (or I cooled down) and I forgot about shaving my head. Another recent irrational thought was in relation to my bulging belly and my undergarments not quite fitting like they usually do (duh). So I became quite convinced that I would be feeling more comfortable if I just burned them (not while I was wearing them). Thankfully, as I thought things through I became concerned that maybe the fumes of the burning cloth would be unpleasant and again, make me uncomfortable. So I didn't. Maybe I'm the only pregnant woman who thinks these weird things.

Seth and I are working through our normally exhaustive process of narrowing down our list of names for the little guy. The good thing is that by the time we reached a decision, we REALLY like the name. The downside is that it takes a LONG time to get there. I'm working on updating my labor and delivery playlist so we can be surrounded by some sweet worship while we labor to bring #4 into this world. I would love any suggestions for songs/artists! Love to all!