Yesterday we went to visit our a Dr. I’ll get into that further down but first let me share some fun facts about my baby girl.
She is estimated to be around 4 1/2 lbs. But in weeks she is still measuring a bit smaller than her due date. No problem there. She may just be a tiny baby, or she may pack on the lbs like her big brother did in the last remaining weeks. He was 8lbs 8oz. Lets hope she is just a smaller baby for my sake! Oh how excited we are to meet her!
She is head down. Which is awesome! Please stay there baby girl. “No flips, just headstands like we talked about!” But she hasn’t dropped at all. Which kinda surprised me. One of the reasons I was suspecting early labor impending ( other than that disgusting mess we won’t talk about), was that I was so sure she had dropped down lower, in second/third pregnancies this happens just before labor starts. So it looks like we are in for the normal wait- which for now is ok with me. I’d rather her be safe, healthy, and strong than to be freed from the bowling ball around my middle. Miss C remains undilated, aren’t you all happy you know that now! I couldn’t be happier with how this aren’t progressing. Nothing scares me more than a premi baby, especially here in Brazil, where I don’t know what to expect. I have gained a total of 18lbs so far. How did I do that? I am still smaller than I was with Bella Bell, but 6 lbs heavier than I was with Caleb. Strange.
So the Dr. visit.
This isn’t my first time being pregnant overseas. For most of my pregnancy with Caleb I was in Paraguay and seen by a Paraguayn Dr. Which basically meant every month or so I would go in for an ultrasound, the dr. would review the pictures, give me a thumbs up ( after making sure that I was indeed taking my prenatals) and then she would send me on my way. I was never physically examined, and only had the initial labs done. Peice of cake.
I think that I was expecting a happy medium between the USA and Paraguay. But instead I think that I am finding that the way a baby is born here, is much more intense than in the USA. ( more on that for a different post) But this could be because I have had normal pregnancies in the USA, I was not high risk, and I delivered with midwifes in a beautiful birthing center. My perception, I realize is limited to my own experiences.
Anyways it turns out we can’t afford the fancy dr. in the big city, with the big fancy hospital. Too bad, since I really really liked the hospital. But I could do without that dr. anyways. Her personality was kind, and you could tell that she was very intelligent but she was a bit too rough for me. To put it bluntly, it was the most shocking, and painful physical examination that I have ever experienced before. I almost asked for an epidural right then and there! Michael was with me ( as my trusty translator), and he said that even he was shocked with how gentle she was not. Horrifying to say the least.
When we found out the prices, we left without asking any of the questions we had, since we knew we would have to look elsewhere. I was ( and am still) a bit discouraged. When we first began talking about having a third baby, our departure date was far enough away that we would be able to have the baby in USA. As time went on, and we weren’t pregnant, we prayed about having a baby here in Brazil instead. I was comforted in being told that giving birth in Brazil is like giving birth in the USA. Not much different.
Not exactly true. But I still remember the peace God gave both Michael and I when we asked him for another child. I even in the midst of being disappointed, cling to that. I know that God is with us, and I know in the end it will be ok. But right now, in a weird way, I feel like I am mourning what I can’t have here.
So far, giving up so much of my USA lifestyle, has been easy. I would consider myself fairly adaptable to new situations, and the things I really really miss, I know that they won’t be gone forever. ( independence, friends, etc) As for material wants: Starbucks, Chipoltle, and Target will make it here one day right?
Anyways, giving up my ideal birth for my third baby. Not so easy.
Notice that I said MY ideal. I don’t think that either country has the better way of doing things. Both countries are advanced in medical care, and I know that what I am feeling has to do with preferences, not what is safest. What I have a hard time adjusting to may seem petty to some. And I admit, that when lil bean is here, I too may think that I was over emotional for no reason. BUT the feelings are real. And I am trying my best to sift through it all.
Early next week I am going to see a new Dr. and visit a new hospital. This Dr. happens to be male- I’ve never had a male OB- BUT he has got to be a bit more sensitive than the Dr. I saw last night! I have actually seen him deliver 2 babies before! Weird story. Ask me about it sometime. My friend at church thinks very highly of him, and enjoyed her experience at the hospital. It is much much cheaper going through this Dr. I am praying that it will work out.
One of the highlights of all of this is that we get to have not one, but TWO more ultrasounds done. Just the way they do things here. I am excited- I’d never pass up an opportunity to see my baby girl !
And now totally unrelated. Some new pics of my babes and their friend JV.
Avery just looked at the pictures of Caleb and said, “He looks so much older, I hardly recognized him!”