The swelling gets comical

I forgot to mention on the last post that at my latest pregnancy symptom is swelling in my hands and feet. The swelling has been bad enough in my hands to prevent me from wearing my wedding set for a while. This past weekend it started getting so bad that it feels like I have arthritis. Dr. Chwe said I should wear wrist splints to bed as if I have carpal tunnel. I rip them off in my sleep, though, because they are so uncomfortable. I have a new respect for people with arthritis. This is not so fun.

The swelling in my feet has reached new levels as well. Today, I wore black boots with a little heel to work to save my pant hem from getting wet as it was pouring down rain when I left the house. When I got to work, I took off the boots because they felt tight. When I tried to put them back on a little later, there was no getting into them. Whoops! Fortunately I had some tennis shoes in my closet. I looked very odd wearing my dress shirt (see above), slacks, and ratty tennis shoes. Oh, well!

Speaking of shirts, I have outgrown many, many of the maternity shirts I have borrowed. Thank goodness for Mom buying me three dress shirts for work for my showers! They are a staple since the are longer and cover up the ever-expanding belly!

In other news, we attended the "Preparing for your Newborn" class on Tuesday. Most of the information wasn't new, but some was helpful. The best part was watching the videos about what happens to Baby right after birth. In the other classes, we had talked extensively about delivery, but not so much about the testing/clean up done to Baby. So, we are little more prepared for that. (Although I did break down and write a short birth plan to have in my file, which Dr. Chwe approved on Monday that includes putting Baby on my chest/abdomen immediately after delivery and any immediate tests/clean up can be done right there.) Much of the other information just made us feel prepared as we had already taken care of those things: stocking up on diapers, washing Baby's clothes and bedding, preparing the bassinet, getting bath and diaper stuff stocked, etc. We also learned how to take Baby's temperature, give her a sponge bath, and swaddle her. And, importantly, we learned one nurse we would not like to have! I know, that's terrible!

It has just occurred to me this week how a big baby, like I have been hoping for, will be difficult to deliver. (I've been reading real natural birth stories on theBump.) My wish for a ten pound baby, like myself, has changed to a wish for a healthy baby who I can get out safely! What a wimp I am!!