Holy Cervix Check, Batman! YOWZA. Why was I not warned of this?
But first things first: I am good, the babies are good. I am still pregnant. 35 weeks this Sunday and since my dr. doesn’t want me to go beyond 38 weeks, it’s close, people.
CLOSE.
And getting closer every day.
Not that I’m starting to freak out or anything..what, me? Freak out?!? HAHAHHAHAHAHAHA (insert disturbing, maniacal laugh here that troubles you greatly…)
Now I was going to write a whole post about gratitude. About how despite my complaining, I’m really and truly unimaginably grateful for how well this pregnancy has gone. And is still going.
But then I thought: Holy Christ! A post like THAT takes some serious brain power and I just don’t have it in me right now.
And besides, why write something thoughtful — nay, even meaningful — when I can continue talking about my pubic hair?!?
Thanks to the pink Conair lady shaver I bought, my privates are doing much better. It was just in time, too.
It was like Summer Camp at Crotch Lake up in there, you know? Shove some Popsicle sticks up there and make some God’s Eyes, kids! There’s plenty of hair for a dozen or so lanyards, so get to it!
Now, keep in mind that I can’t really contort my body to get a good angle for hair removal, nor can I see what’s happening around those parts. And, the whole new shape of the area (like clothes hanging on a line in your backyard, IsweartoGAWD!) made the shaving rather risky. I could not ask BeBop to help out. Unless he awoke one morning with near blindness, I just couldn’t subject him to the horror. But, I did make sure he was home at the time because I had this fear the electric razor would get caught in the thicket and I’d be stuck…how embarrassing if the Fed Ex guy came by with my next Babies ‘R Us delivery and there I was, limping around the house with a pick electric razor tangled up in the lady jungle?!?
Okay, enough about the womanly bits. For now.
My last day of work is today, which? HURRAY! Working until almost 35 weeks was perhaps not the brightest idea ever, but luckily we’re doing pretty good. I have lots of Braxton Hicks where my giant belly gets as hard as granite, but thanks to the delightful cervical check today, it seems everything is still long and closed and not showing any signs of going into labor anytime soon.
I do want to get everything done soon, though. So I can try to relax and not have extra stress when The Big Day comes and I’m rushing off to the hospital. Tops on the list is getting my toes done because once again I’m back to sloth status and I know this will be the last pedicure I get for some time.
We have a couple of things left to do in the babies’ room, and the Pack ‘N Play thing still needs to be set up in our room. We discovered one of the car seats was defective so we need to exchange it (and by ‘we’ I mean BeBop since errand-running is just beyond me these days). And I need to pack my bag and I think that’s about it.
My goal for the next two weeks or so is to relax the best I can, and try in some way to prepare myself for the world turning upside down. In a good way.
I do have two questions for y’all:
1. Where in God’s name do I put the two car seats? I have a small SUV, so only the back seat, no third row action. Do they go side by side and if so, behind the driver or passenger? Or do they go one each side? I’m guessing the ski rack is not the best option but beyond that I can use some help…
2. What else, besides the obvious, should I bring to the hospital? What did you bring that was a life-saver, what did you wish you had? Your breast pump, if you had one? A nursing pillow? Your bong?
Any suggestions would be much appreciated!
Can’t answer any of your questions, but must say I’m chortling so hard about the God’s Eyes that I wouldn’t be able to anyway.
I can’t believe how close you are! It seems like yesterday with all of the IVF shit. And that gives me hope!
Oh my god you are too funny. I can’t believe you’re at the “packing your bag” stage! That is so cool.
I will never tire of your lady-gardening tales. The visual of you/the UPS guy/ and your pink razor is so hilarious.
I know you’re going to be so busy in just a couple weeks, but I definitely look forward to hearing the twin experience described a la Watson! Don’t forget about us!!!
They will have breast pumps at the hospital (though if your hospital is like mine, the nurses may hoard the actual breast pump parts) so no worries in that department. You probably want to bring Lansinoh or some kind of nipple lubricant (olive oil is great, actually, if you can get over smelling like an Italian restaurant) for those initial nipple-gnawing breastfeeding sessions.
I highly recommend bringing a good hand cream–you will be washing or Purelling your hands a lot and that hospital soap is killer on your skin. In fact, if I were doing it again I would just bring my own hand soap, too. A good lip balm, too–hospital air can be very dry, especially in winter months. Comfy socks–and your own slippers, because you don’t want your socks on that grotty hospital floor (eww) but the hospital-provided disposable foam slippers are hard to get in and out of.
Oh, this is random but–pen and paper. To write down all the congratulatory voicemail messages you’ll be getting, and any instructions from doctors/nurses (you’ll be tired and out of it).
35 weeks!!!! Holy cow!!!
Our nursing pillow (the EZ-2-Nurse) was very helpful. I didn’t tandem-nurse the girls much in the hospital, or really for several weeks until they started to get head control, but I used it for all the one-at-a-time nursings. I highly recommend the EZ-2-Nurse — it’s bigger and more supportive than a Boppy, and supportive is good!
Ditto on the pen and paper. Not only will you want to write down instructions, but you’ll need to keep a log of when and for how long each baby nursed, diapers, etc. They will ask you about this, and there is absolutely no way you’ll remember. I also recommend a travel alarm clock for timekeeping.
If you want twin nursing advice, feel free to drop me a line!
Good luck these last few weeks. I too third pen and paper–I wrote a bunch of details about the day my kid arrived and they’re nice to read months later.
I liked having my own flip flops to wear when I could first take a shower. Having my own shampoo and bath gel was nice, too.
We held off on bringing a laptop because we didn’t know if we’d have wireless access. Once we knew we did, Mr. Lyrehca went home and brought ours in so we could check email and do blog updates.
My hospital had the breast pump right at the bed, so I doubt you’ll need to bring one. And take whatever you can take with you–once a box or container or something is opened in the hospital, they can’t use the rest of it for another patient, so the stuff is tossed once you are discharged. I used the mesh disposbible undies for a good six weeks, and washcloths/blankets are still being used today. We got a good stack of diapers to take with us, and if you have to use formula, see if you can take an extra can with you when you leave. You never know.
watson, dear i LOVE you. really. LOVE. but now that the lady parts have been tamed back to reasonable levels…for the LOVE of GOD let us not talk about them with such great imagery. k?
i would bring something lady like to give birth in. there’s some chick on the internet who sells cute hospital gowns. the waiting line, on my blogroll bought one and offers a link.
i am scared/excited/thrilled/worried/a little giggly for you. (i’m sorry…but the thought of watching you trying to feed two babies at once would be fun. hey, you’re pregnant, i’m not i have a license; )
Wow, it’s getting so close for both of us! Very exciting! Perhaps our babies will be very close in age. I will be sending you good thoughts for a safe and easy delivery and time before to tie up loose ends. I’m going to borrow the suggestions in your comments for things to bring to the hospital. As far as car seat placement goes, I’d think one in the middle, one behind the driver so you just go to one side of the car to load/unload, but that is a complete guess.
(delurking)
Since I had my waters break early, I packed the day I went to the hospital. I had to send my hubby back for stuff as I started to need it.
1) Bring your Granny Panties…the mesh ones at the hospital are a joke. I also brought my own pads, as the surfboars at the hospital were a joke as well.
2) Flip Flops for when they let you shower. Ipersonally don’t trust the “environmental Services” people that make $6 an hour to be as anal rentitive as I am cleaning a shower. And coming home with a new fungus on your feet may not be what you had in mind.
3) My own pillow…I am not crazy about plastic pillows at all….
4)cell phone, charger, camera, charger, money for the vending machines (especially if your hubby is anything like mine….tapeworm)
5) The list of folks to call. My hubby ended up calling everyone on my cell phone, including the pharmacy, the doctor’s office (my OB/GYN who just delivered the kids) and the local pizza place.
6) my own hairdryer… unless you are particularly fond of spending an hour to dry your hair…..
just my take on the whole thing….
I have no idea on the car seats….as our little ones are still in special care and the car seat are still boxed in the dining room….
We’ll be thinking about you…..
Kari
If you like a comfortable pillow-take yours from home (with a bright pillow case so they know it is yours and don’t snatch it when they change the sheets when you are in the can). Also, I would highly recommend loose comfortable sweats to come home in…waaay better than trying to zip anything up!
you do need the flip flops to shower, but also because you are going to bleed so much (sorry to be graphic here), and your feet are going to double up after the birth. Don’t buy anything new because of the blood (again). I brought black yoga pants and I am so glad I had them for after the birth. My list would also include: PJs for the hubby, granny underwear, wipes (to refresh yourself), toiletries, giant pads, hazel witch pads (if you are planning for a vaginal delivery), restaurant menus (because hospital food is awful), cell phones and chargers, camera/video recorder, something warm because it can get cold when you are overtired or fed through IV, your favorite snacks and beverages. And you need a nursing bra. Get a strechy one because your boobs are going to change a lot. Good luck with everything!!!
For me, it was my own pillow, a nursing bra, a hairbrush, shampoo and conditioner. I didn’t bother with a robe, towel or anything else I might bleed all over…
My SIL (who had 2 sets of twins after me) said the best thing I told her was to expect to pee endlessly – your body just retains so much water that once you give birth it has a ton to get rid of. After 4 days in the hospital, I came home 35 pounds lighter…
Car seats behind the driver and passenger seats … that’s where the installation guys said they had to be.
Pen and Paper were a must in the hospital. I always wrote down questions to ask the Pedi and OBGYN to I would get everything answered when they came to see me.
the panties and pads in the hospital didn’t bother me so much. I did bring my own pillow.
It’s so close! you guys must be so excited!
You really are getting close! And I have no doubts about your courage after that electric razor story. Hope you enjoy your pedicure.
Bea
An acquaintance we knew had her “first picture of the three of us” snapped in a black maternity top in her hospital room. The black was so slimming. She looked great for a woman who had given birth a mere 24 hours ago. And, trust me, it was not like she was a beauty queen to begin with. So, no, it is not practical, but those pictures will be around, like, FOREVAH.
For the hospital –
1) if you’re going C-section, bring nightgowns. You’ll want them-you won’t be able to stand anything that goes along the waistband. And if you’re going C-section, granny panties are ok, but the mesh panties are the bomb. They’re hideous but they don’t cut on the scar, and that’s what counts.
2) change, snacks (good lord you’ll be needing them, and a lot of them, once the babies are born) and a book. Also, your own digital camera, because you’ll see things hubby won’t when he goes home for the night.
3) Slippers.
4) Cell phone and charger
5) Change of diapers, spare onesies and hats-although some hospitals supply all that, others don’t.
And keep us posted!
Helen (aka Vanessa)
OMG…they are almost here!! Can’t wait to meet them. As for hospital..you might want to consider packing some really comfortable socks–a few pairs, slippers!!! Also, I wished I brough my own toiletries(shampoo, soap) etc.–but since B came so early, we weren’t prepared! Some good reading materials, cell phone and charger!
I have no idea what to bring to the hospital but I think the bong is a great idea! Good luck, I can’t wait to hear how it all goes.
I wish I had brought some snacks. They do feed you breakfast, lunch, dinner but I needed some snacking things. I also wish I had brought my own A.dvil. You might opt for some stronger meds but I did not and they took hours to get me A.dvil.
PS. I am, yet again, in hysterics about you girl parts. I seriously did not even bother when I was that far along and I had a singleton. Good for you and your vaginal vanity. Also, good for you for working this long!
car seats – one on each side. Don’t worry – they’ll fit. I have 2 kids myself and had to do the same (except mine were a year apart)
Things I USED at hospital – both times:
toiletries (makeup, hair stuff, shampoo, blow dryer)
my own slippers
camera, journal, phone book
Yup. That’s about it. I bled like a stuck pig, so I wore their stuff.
Oh, then I put on what I came in with (come on, seriously? ppl wear 6-7 month maternity stuff?) and that was about it.
Good luck!
the main thing i’m glad i had in my hospital bag was a notebook and pen. the hospital gowns are perfect for nursing and frankly easier than any nursing gear i own so i almost wish i’d stolen one. with all the bleeding i never wanted to wear my own clothes anyway, and those sexy mesh panties are actually ridiculously comfortable (i even took a few extra pairs home). i did need J to bring me a sweater to wear home because i was in a tee shirt when i checked in and winter had overtaken when i left, but there will be a time bebop will go home so he can always fetch you something too. slippers and a robe were nice for the one time i wandered out of my room but i honestly could have lived without them. a deck of cards was handy for the many hours waiting for the induction to kick in. J was glad i’d reminded him to bring a bunch of quarters as he made frequent visits to the vending machines. if you have a web enabled cell phone that came in handy too. the hospital grade pump is fabulous, i was very glad to have something that easy to use in the first few days, plus all the nurses are familiar with it so no one has to figure anything new out (mine had the medela symphony which is the hospital grade version of the pump in style i have at home, so it also got me familiar with how to use my own). use theirs, that way cleaning it isn’t your problem.
oh yes, and i brought two pillows from home, by FAR the most important items i had with me.