23 weeks

We had our 5th baby doctor appointment today. I always feel better after a doctor appointment. Maybe I'm reminded that I really am pregnant and it's not a dream! My blood pressure went up a little but they said it's okay since my blood volume has gone up. There's just more for my heart to pump. So far I've only gained 8 pounds so I'm on track to gain 25-30 pounds but I still have 17 weeks so anything is possible. The babies’ heart rate has slowed down a little just as it should. Today it was 150bpm...perfect. This was also the first time we got to measure my "fundal height".  I measured at 23 centimeters so the baby is growing right on schedule (the top of my baby box is about an inch above my belly button!). I am shocked at how high the baby is. I'm only being kicked below my pants line so I guess I thought it was in a different position or smaller than it really is. I'm definitely breech at the moment so hopefully by our next appointment in 4 weeks, the baby will flip around. Not that I'm totally excited to be kicked in the lungs, but I certainly don't want a breech baby that can't be turned resulting in a c-section...scary!! Ann said if the baby was still breech in 4 weeks, I could do some exercises to flip the baby around. For now, I just have to keep doing my pelvic rocks and the baby should take care of the flip on its own; she's not worried at all so I won't be either! We also talked a little bit about labor and delivery. We are bringing our rough draft birth plan to our Bradley class on Tuesday so I told Ann that by our next appointment we would have a pretty good version for her to go through with us. I am so glad we chose a midwife. She will do whatever we want and do everything she can to make our plan possible. We're halfway through our Bradley course and I am more and more convinced everyday that natural childbirth is the only way to go.

I am truly amazed by the miracle of pregnancy and all the things that go with it. The body is an amazing thing. It knows exactly what the baby needs and what it needs to do. How can this be! We were just meant to have babies!

Tomorrow we are going to look at nursery furniture and to start our registry! I think that's how I got through this week...I have been so excited for this part and I can't believe it's finally here. I can't wait to start putting the nursery together. Maybe it will finally hit me that this dream is really happening. :O)