36w7d better measurements

Last time the measurements were small and they didn't give me a print out of them.

31w7d everything was fine: 

• BPD was 8.01 cm (32w2d).
• AC was 28.03 cm (32w3d).
• FL was 6.52 (33w5d).
• FHR was 142 bpm.
• EFW was 2052 gr.

At 34w7d the head was small: 

• BPD was 33 weeks.
• AC was 34 weeks.
• FL was 35w6d. 
• EFW was 2400 gr.

This meant that in 3 weeks, the head had only grown about 6d, the abdomen 1w6d, and the leg 2w2d.

Now at 36w7d the measurements are a bit better:

• BPD is 8.77 cm (35w4d).
• AC is 31.39 cm (35w3d).
• FL is 7.14 cm (36w4d). 
• EFW is 2776 gr.

The head is 1w3d behind, the abdomen is 1w4d behind, and the FL is 3d behind. However, the head has grown 2w4d, the abdomen has grown 1w3d, and the leg has grown 5d. I'm glad that head has grown what it should have grown, which is 2 weeks.

This appointment
I had called nurse Mary to ask about my blood and urine results, because they hadn't texted me so that meant bad news. She said all my numbers were a bit off. My cholesterol was a bit high. I had a bit of protein in my urine. My sodium was a bit low (I'm really not sure how. I thought it would be high). I'm also a bit anemic (despite taking iron pills). But they were only one or two points off and didn't seem to worry, so that was good. Today they gave me my results and the only thing they mentioned was that I was a bit anemic. So I'm in the clear.

They did a NST (non-stress test) and that was normal. They said I had one minor contraction and the baby was moving fine. I've been feeling lots of Braxton Hicks this time around. I didn't have any with my daughter.

Surprisingly, they told me to come back in 2 weeks. Usually after 36 weeks you have weekly visits. But I'm not complaining. As long as the baby is moving, everything should be ok. No need for me to go more often.

Money

• Today I paid 195,830 
• Doctor's visit: 32,260. 
• Ultrasound 100,000. 
• NST 63,570.
• Tricare (my insurance) paid 195,830. Out of pocket was 0.

More info
For more info, you can see how much this has cost, I also have a summary of dates, as well as my Rx protocol.

34w7d measuring small

I know that at this point ultrasound measurements can be off by as much as 4 weeks. However, the baby has pretty much always measured exact for dates or a bit ahead. And if the baby was behind, it was just by a little bit. Today the measurements were far behind. Usually they print off the paper with the measurements, but this time they just told me. They didn't mention the days, just the weeks. I tried to look at the screen, but the only days I could make out were for the FL. The BPD and AC ran off the screen. I was also told to get some final tests done, so they did blood and urine tests and will do the NST (non-stress test) next time.

31w7d everything was fine: 

• BPD was 8.01 cm (32w2d).
• AC was 28.03 cm (32w3d).
• FL was 6.52 (33w5d).
• FHR was 142 bpm.
• EFW was 2052 gr.

At 34w7d the head is now small: 

• BPD is 33 weeks.
• AC is 34 weeks.
• FL is 35w6d. 
• EFW is 2400 gr.

This means that in 3 weeks, the head has only grown about 6d, the abdomen 1w6d, and the leg 2w2d. The small head is worrying. I know that I have a small head, but for it to be normal last time and only have grown 6 days worth in 21 days is kind of scary. Googling doesn't help either. I'm just hoping the next ultrasound will be ok.

Money

• Today I paid 409,080.
• Doctor's visit: 32,266. 
• Blood and Urine tests: 276,814. 
• Ultrasound 100,000. 
• Tricare (my insurance) paid 409,080. Out of pocket was 0.

More info
For more info, you can see how much this has cost, I also have a summary of dates, as well as my Rx protocol.

34w6d midwife came to check out my house

As I mentioned before, I'm having a home birth with a midwife and doula. They came and checked out my house. We have two bath tubs, but honestly, I don't think I'll be spending much time in them. Not because I wouldn't love a water birth, but because it will be winter and Korean bathrooms aren't heated. Because, why would you heat a room where you get cold and wet? We have space heaters, but water and electricity don't mix, so I'm just afraid of what could happen.

Jinny, my doula, showed me how to do belly lifts from Spinning Babies in order to help the baby get in the right position. She also gave me a shopping list of things I should have in the house as well as the birth certificate we will fill out. I also have a birthing box of things to help me out during my labor.

My Birth Box
These are things that I think may help me during labor. I also have a box of items that my midwife told me to prepare for my home birth. Below are just the comfort items that I want to put in.

I also have a list on the wall of emergency numbers to call which include my hospital, the Korean medical emergecy number, my neighbor, my husband, some of his co-workers, his work, my midwife, and my doula. I also have our address in English and Korean and our building and door codes. I've given a copy to my midwife and neighbor, as well as my husband. But in a worse case scenario, if I go into labor and people need to be called ASAP, I can just point to that list.

• Lip balm: your lips can get dry very easily
• Hair tie
• Head massager
• Massage oils
• Lemon and peppermint candy: to help with nausea or to suck on after vomiting
• Water bottle with straw: it's hard to hold a bottle and tip it up to drink while you're in labor
• Rice sock: sock filled with rice that you stick in the microwave for about 30-60 seconds. It's kind of like a hot water bottle except it easily stays where you put it.
• Rebozo: long scarf that can help during labor. Discussed in Spinning Babies. 
• Wooden spoon: used to tighten the rebozo for the hip squeeze.
• Birthing ball
• Spray bottle with water: for cooling me down during labor
• Eye mask: to keep out the light
• Knee high wool socks
• Tunic and PJ pants 
• Sports bra: so I don't have to photoshop any photos

What's not in the box
Since I'm having a home birth I don't have to worry about packing a suitcase for the hospital. My clothes and the baby's clothes will be right there for after birth. Same with toiletries. I don't have to worry about food since our kitchen is right here. As for music, I'm not sure if I'll want any, but my laptop is also right here. Same goes for cell phones and chargers. I made a birth box because these are things that I think I might want and if I want them, I'm going to want them now. 

I put in clothes that I want to labor in and know that chances are I'm going to be almost completely naked since labor is a work-out and I'm sure my midwife will crank the heat up Hopefully I'll be in a sports bra and have the long wool socks on but we will see.

More info
This is not part of staying pregnant, so I'm not including this in my fee breakdown. For more info, you can see how much this has cost, I also have a summary of dates, as well as my Rx protocol.

31w7d offered the TDaP

I'm really liking these short appointments. I'm one day away from 32 weeks, which is a milestone. Once I hit 35 weeks, it will be safe to birth at home. I've heard that ultrasounds aren't the best for babies during pregnancy, but at the same time, given my history, I want to know that everything is ok. They just did a regular ultrasound.

Stats

• BPD was 8.01 cm (32w2d).
• AC was 28.03 cm (32w3d).
• FL was 6.52 (33w5d).
• FHR was 142 bpm.
• EFW was 2052 gr.

This appointment
Then after I sat down, the doctor and translator kept talking and not telling me anything. I thought something was wrong. The doctor pushed a pamphlet with TDaP written on the front. I just said I'm not going to get the shot and he smiled. I think they're getting used to me opting out of things. I opted out of pap smear in the beginning, but still did the titers testing and STD testing. But I opted out of the gestational diabetes test as well.

To be fair, I've also done a lot of other things, such as taken a high dosage of steroids at the beginning, IVIG (which is experimental), intralipids, and tests (HSG, thyroid, and NK cells). I think I have a really good doctor. I'm allowed to make my own choices, including where I'll give birth (at home).

Money

• Today I paid 131,260.
• Doctor's visit: 32,260. 
• Ultrasound 99,000.
• Tricare (my insurance) is paid 131,260.
• Out of pocket was 0.

More info
For more info, you can see how much this has cost, I also have a summary of dates, as well as my Rx protocol.

30w1d visiting the midwife

I am not giving birth at a hospital. I don't like all the tests and interventions they do. I don't like the environment. I don't like how they don't give you the full details and use abstract words like "high" and "low". I don't like how they actively manage birth instead of use an expectant management view. 

My daughter was born at Kim Ok Jin (Rosa) Agitanseun Natural Birth Center (김옥진조산원) in Ansan. (Now they're in Hwaseong). I know that had I been at the hospital I would have ended up with an "emergency" C-section and spent 3-5 days in the hospital. As it was I had a vaginal birth and walked out of the clinic 8 hours later, totally fine.

As someone who's involved in the birthing field as a childbirth educator, postpartum doula, breastfeeding educator, and La Leche League Leader, I know that hospitals aren't right for me. That's my personal opinion about what works for me. What works for you may be different.

Although at first I thought about having Rosa as my midwife again, I decided to go with Danica at Mamas' Birth Center in Hannam. Danica is younger and has less experience, but Rosa is moving towards retirement. If you have NHI, Danica is about half the price as Rosa. I don't, so they're about the same. They both do home births as well. Rosa is a little old fashioned and I thought my husband would feel more comfortable around Danica since it will be his first baby. Danica also works directly with a few doulas. One of them, Jinny, speaks English very well and has  been to over 300 births. I also knew them a bit more than I knew Rosa since they had participated in birth fairs with me.

I went alone since my husband was working. I was asked some basic questions about my daughter's birth as well as this pregnancy. I was also given handouts about diet (Brewer) and talking to the baby in the womb and only thinking positively and surrounding yourself with beauty (Taegyo).

After that, Danica palpated my belly and found out what position the baby. You can also do the same with the Belly Mapping Guide from Spinning Babies. She then used a doppler, not an ultrasound to listen to the heartbeat. The whole procedure was much less invasive than a hospital. The hospital uses an ultrasound to see what position the baby is in and hear the heartbeat. But she used her hands and a hand-held doppler. She also showed me some exercises I could do to get the baby in the right position. Again, from Spinning Babies. The founder, Gail Tully believes it's the mom's job to dilate and the baby's job to rotate.

She'll be coming to my house in a few weeks to check out what I have and also give me a shopping list for the home birth.

Total cost: since this is not a part of staying pregnant, but part of giving birth, I'm not including this information. For more info, you can see how much this has cost, I also have a summary of dates, as well as my Rx protocol.