Only in France...

...do they give you a menu of what will be served at the maternity for the weeks you're likely to give birth! crazy isn't it - but pretty nice too:) so that you can highlight food you don't like or are allergic to before entering the maternity. I had my first maternity class last Friday and that was one of the most entertaining topics...the main other useful thing I learned: here they consider premature any baby born before 36 weeks--funny because in the US it's 37 weeks. That means for me that baby has to hang in there until at least June 27 - I've got that date on my radar now! before that for me it would mean giving birth in Limoges instead of Saint Junien which wouldn't be so great, not to mention it wouldn't be good for baby. July 4 would be ok (and we'd be celebrating the US national holiday) but the top would be on or before July 11. Of course Lucian said "it's going to be July 14!" which will be pretty funny too but I'm still hoping for an Aug 1 birth date -- just because i'd like her to have her own birth month (as opposed to the same as mine) and because the date would be like 08/01/08 but of course it's silly and unlikely at this point. She'll just decide to come when she wants too, but please after June 27 little one!

Status quo

I saw the doctor yesterday and nothing has changed on the cervix side -- what a relief! I was pretty anxious especially given we spent Saturday afternoon at Ikea and I was completely worn out at the end of it (not exactly what the doctor recommended). On top of it the little one had been kicking down a lot right in the doctor's waiting room. But we're ok so far! I just have to keep taking it easy, mainly laying down with my feet propped up which is how i work now with my laptop appropriately in my lap. That works...I've started to feel those contractions the doctor had been asking me about, every once in a while, only when up on my feet. According to the midwife between 10 to 15 contractions a day is ok. I don't think i'm near that range except maybe that Saturday at ikea, i pushed it a little. So from now on I don't go anywhere that requires more than a 30 minute drive and I'm going to take it EASY -- that's the operating word.

29 week update on the little one

She's growing a lot -- all the women in my yoga class yesterday went "oh wow!" (ou la la!) when seeing my protruding belly. And she's preparing for the D day, already!! a little early I know...my doc apointment was last week and he was able to feel the baby's head meaning that she's already head down with her back to the front of my belly and feet dangling up there, mainly to the left. That means there's a lot of pressure on the cervix already and isn't ideal according to the doc. I sort of freaked out after the apointment but since then been reading about other babies positioned early (i'm 29 weeks) and still going full term. I really hope she's going to hang in there a bit longer! i'm working on talking to her and bringing her up through yoga and relaxation so we'll see...I go to the doc on Monday again to check up on things. Fingers and toes crossed:) Otherwise weight is still on check, not one pound/kilo since last apointment which is amazing considering the belly growth. But I'm now dealing with more fatigue and annoying heart burns in the middle of the night, thank god i got a good sirup which seems to work. The other upsetting thing was that the doc told me we couldn't take this last little trip (we were hoping to go to Normandie with my parents visit other family and see the beach) but I have to avoid car trips. A little strange I think given he told me i could still walk and i would have thought walking was bumpier than car driving but what the hay! I'll do what's best for the little one and take it easy.