A lot has been going on lately. Last week I had a birthing class to go to, a doctor's appointment, work of course, and packing for the move. I know I updated recently, but it doesn't hurt to update more right?
Birthing Class:
It was pretty informative. Tomo had to translate some things for me but I think I got the basics. They basically went over what labor signs to look out for, when to head to the hospital, what to bring, how to bring it, what to expect during the stay (we stay for a week), and some breastfeeding information. They handed out a booklet of information that I'll have to go over with Tomo sometime.
Afterwards we took a quick hospital tour, which I think I mentioned in the last post. It was just like the pictures in the pamphlet and website. So old-fashioned and cold looking! I felt like I was taking a walk through the past. There's a labor room where I'll labor until the baby's head is about to pop out, then they transfer me to the delivery room and prop me up in one of those chairs with the leg holders that keep the legs open. Looks so scary! There's equipment everywhere and green walls and it looks so much like an operation room....There's also the possibility of 2 women being in labor at the same time, right next to each other, with just a curtain separating the two chairs. Yikes. BUT the rooms where I'll stay for the week seem very nice. They are all private so there's no chance of sharing a room unless the hospital is overcrowded, which they say very rarely happens. The baby gets put in a little compartment attached to the bed so I'll get to be with him day and night if I'd like, which I would. BUT (yes another but) the room that's included in the price we pay doesn't include a shower, just a toilet. If I want a private shower I have to pay extra so we'll see how I feel about that. Oh and we have to pay extra for TV, but I think I can deal with no TV for a week.
Doctor's Appointment:
After the hospital tour I had an appointment with the doctor. Everything is going fine. My stomach is small for how many weeks I am (34 now!) but Jacet is still growing on schedule. That's really the only update I have on that, and it's not really an update because it hasn't changed from last time! My next appointment is in 2-ish weeks so maybe I'll "pop" then...
Moving:
So as many of you know, we're moving because Tomo got transferred. The official move is on Wednesday, so packing has begun! It's hard to pack everything while pregnant but I'm being careful and Tomo's helping of course. Tuesday we'll be going Tokyo to get the key for the apartment and have dinner with Tomo's Block Leader, which means that the packing technically has to be finished by Monday since the movers come Wednesday. Only one day to pack up so much stuff still!
Other Stuff:
Recently my sister had asked me to send her links to Japanese websites of baby things that I wanted and she would try to get something since I'm not having a baby shower. So, because of that request, I made a short "registry" type list at Amazon Japan. Since it's based in Japan, the shipping is cheaper or free and they have English so I think (hope) it'll be easy to buy things. I don't want to sound like a beggar, but I do get jealous seeing all the people in my baby forum having their showers around now! I'm not going to ask everyone to buy me things, the list is more for people who were thinking of buying things anyway or want to buy things. The items are mostly Japanese, but I wrote little descriptions in English on the right hand side :)
Here's the link for the list: http://www.amazon.co.jp/registry/wishlist/33AAEEREEBVP7/ref=cm_wl_act_vv?_encoding=UTF8&reveal=&visitor-view=1
(If the link doesn't work, just copy and paste it into the address bar)
Our new address is on there as well for anyone who would like to know it :)
That's it for now. Stay Tuned!
Sunday, February 24, 2013
Friday, February 15, 2013
Counting Down...
It's been too long since I've updated! I haven't felt the need since not much has changed recently. Nothing too exciting anyway. This coming Tuesday I will be 33 weeks along!A lot has happened the past few weeks so I will update you all on some of that :)
Baby Update:
Jacet is still growing strong. At the last appointment (just about 1.5 weeks ago), he was a little bigger than average, weighing about 4.2 lbs and about 18 inches. He seems to be healthy. His heart is beating strongly, he's kicking me nonstop all day, every day, and moving around just fine. I can't wait to meet him!
It's not a very clear ultrasound picture, but you can see his eye socket and if you look closely you can see his nose in the right frame. His hand is up by his mouth. The left frame shows the ribs and the shading part is his heart I believe. Or maybe his stomach. I don't know!
Me Update:
My belly hasn't grown very much recently. It's only grown about 1 or 2 cm in a month. I was a little worried at first, but since Jacet seems to be growing fine and the doctor hasn't mentioned anything, then I guess I'm fine. I guess I just carry small :) My blood pressure was a little high at the last visit so I was prescribed some Calcium pills which is supposed to help. At least that's what the doctor said. Hopefully it goes down next time!
The first two belly pictures are from 31.5 weeks, the last is from today....about 32.3 weeks. I think most of my weight gain is going to my butt!
We registered at the hospital and have a birthing class this coming and the next Tuesday. It's free and provided by the hospital which is nice. Afterwards is a hospital tour which I'm looking forward to. The pictures in the brochure and website seem so...cold and old-fashioned. I hope that the rooms look more comforting and warm in person since I have to stay there for a week!
Other Stuff:
Now for some more general baby related stuff, as well as some life in Japan stuff.
Tomo had a 2 week vacation so we took advantage of that and did a good amount of stuff.
First we searched for an apartment. We're moving to a city about 30-40 minutes away. It's closer to my job and it's also still close enough to my hospital so I don't have to change doctors, which is awesome. Since the last 2 moves we were too far away to really pick an apartment on our own, we had fun browsing the internet for available places and then going to see them before picking. The apartment we decided on is very nice. It's a 6 floor building and ours is the 4th floor. It's a 3 room apartment: 2 western rooms, 1 Japanese style room. It's very modern. There's an elevator, a lobby, a park nearby. The train station is about a 10 min walk (which is closer than the current 23 minute walk). Basically everything is about a 10 minute walk away, which is totally fine once I want to lose all the pregnancy weight! Anyway, I will be taking pictures once we move at the end of the month!
Second, Tomo went snowboarding with our friend Ryuoh as a sort of last hurrah for the boys before Jacet is here. Ryuoh stayed over and we drove him to his hometown (which is nearby) where we met his mother. She generously gave us a type of Moses(?) basket for the baby!
Tomo's mother and sister then came to visit for the night and next day. They were in Tokyo from Hokkaido to look at apartments since his sister will be moving there for a job. We had a nice dinner with them and then the next day we went shopping for baby! We bought a lot of necessary things and I'm so grateful. It was very exciting as that was the first time we actively went shopping for him. I realized that we still need SO MUCH STUFF. It also made me realize just how close the due date actually is!
A list of things we bought: some onesies/undershirts; a few bibs; bath towels and small face towels; a baby blanket; a baby dress thing that covers his feet to keep him warm; a baby carrier; a car seat; nursing bras and some nursing tops; other maternity stuff for me; slippers for the hospital that I apparently need to bring; PJs for the hospital; a baby bag. I think that's about it. I still need a lot more stuff, but we'll worry about that after moving. Now for pictures!
Tomo really wanted the "America" shirts since Jacet will be half American....
(sorry for the not so very eye appealing line-up of pictures. The blog site is super annoying and doesn't let me put them where I want....)
The next day, Tomo and I took a short 1 night 2 day onsen (hot spring) trip. We stayed in a nice hotel and had a lovely soak in the hot water. It was our last relaxing 'trip' together before we have to start bringing a little baby with us everywhere :)
That's all for now! My next doctor's appointment is on Tuesday but I probably won't update for awhile because nothing much will be changing. Next time will probably be after we move, so look forward to new apartment pictures :)
Baby Update:
Jacet is still growing strong. At the last appointment (just about 1.5 weeks ago), he was a little bigger than average, weighing about 4.2 lbs and about 18 inches. He seems to be healthy. His heart is beating strongly, he's kicking me nonstop all day, every day, and moving around just fine. I can't wait to meet him!
It's not a very clear ultrasound picture, but you can see his eye socket and if you look closely you can see his nose in the right frame. His hand is up by his mouth. The left frame shows the ribs and the shading part is his heart I believe. Or maybe his stomach. I don't know!
Me Update:
My belly hasn't grown very much recently. It's only grown about 1 or 2 cm in a month. I was a little worried at first, but since Jacet seems to be growing fine and the doctor hasn't mentioned anything, then I guess I'm fine. I guess I just carry small :) My blood pressure was a little high at the last visit so I was prescribed some Calcium pills which is supposed to help. At least that's what the doctor said. Hopefully it goes down next time!
We registered at the hospital and have a birthing class this coming and the next Tuesday. It's free and provided by the hospital which is nice. Afterwards is a hospital tour which I'm looking forward to. The pictures in the brochure and website seem so...cold and old-fashioned. I hope that the rooms look more comforting and warm in person since I have to stay there for a week!
Other Stuff:
Now for some more general baby related stuff, as well as some life in Japan stuff.
Tomo had a 2 week vacation so we took advantage of that and did a good amount of stuff.
First we searched for an apartment. We're moving to a city about 30-40 minutes away. It's closer to my job and it's also still close enough to my hospital so I don't have to change doctors, which is awesome. Since the last 2 moves we were too far away to really pick an apartment on our own, we had fun browsing the internet for available places and then going to see them before picking. The apartment we decided on is very nice. It's a 6 floor building and ours is the 4th floor. It's a 3 room apartment: 2 western rooms, 1 Japanese style room. It's very modern. There's an elevator, a lobby, a park nearby. The train station is about a 10 min walk (which is closer than the current 23 minute walk). Basically everything is about a 10 minute walk away, which is totally fine once I want to lose all the pregnancy weight! Anyway, I will be taking pictures once we move at the end of the month!
Tomo's mother and sister then came to visit for the night and next day. They were in Tokyo from Hokkaido to look at apartments since his sister will be moving there for a job. We had a nice dinner with them and then the next day we went shopping for baby! We bought a lot of necessary things and I'm so grateful. It was very exciting as that was the first time we actively went shopping for him. I realized that we still need SO MUCH STUFF. It also made me realize just how close the due date actually is!
A list of things we bought: some onesies/undershirts; a few bibs; bath towels and small face towels; a baby blanket; a baby dress thing that covers his feet to keep him warm; a baby carrier; a car seat; nursing bras and some nursing tops; other maternity stuff for me; slippers for the hospital that I apparently need to bring; PJs for the hospital; a baby bag. I think that's about it. I still need a lot more stuff, but we'll worry about that after moving. Now for pictures!
Tomo really wanted the "America" shirts since Jacet will be half American....
(sorry for the not so very eye appealing line-up of pictures. The blog site is super annoying and doesn't let me put them where I want....)
The next day, Tomo and I took a short 1 night 2 day onsen (hot spring) trip. We stayed in a nice hotel and had a lovely soak in the hot water. It was our last relaxing 'trip' together before we have to start bringing a little baby with us everywhere :)
That's all for now! My next doctor's appointment is on Tuesday but I probably won't update for awhile because nothing much will be changing. Next time will probably be after we move, so look forward to new apartment pictures :)
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