We chose our doula! Hooray for that. Our hope is go through early labor at home and go to the hospital once I’ve progressed enough to avoid too many restrictions or interventions. Believe me, I’m looking forward to an epidural but I don’t want my labor progress or freedom of movement to be hindered by having it too early. Not only do we love our doula, but by all accounts we are lucky to have a very well-respected midwife and a highly capable doctor so I know we will be in good hands no matter what.

Today I had my second non-stress test in two weeks and again everything went really well. They attached some external monitors to my belly and recorded the baby’s heart rate over a period of twenty minutes, looking for a healthy baseline and some accelerations. It was really nice to sit and listen to baby’s heart for such a long time all by myself. And when he gave me a little kick I would both feel it and hear it.

I was happily surprised that my blood pressure was actually 120/70 instead of the usual high 130’s/high 80’s. I ordered a home BP monitor so I can track it myself as my due date gets closer. It would be fantastic for my BP to stabilize before my due date so I’m less likely to be induced.

It was nice to work from home today, I’ve missed that the past few weeks and I’m starting to really need it. Lately around 3 pm my belly begins to feel really tight and heavy. It continues to feel worse until I can get home and lay down. Luckily my maternity leave begins on Dec 24th. It will be a fine Merry Christmas to me and babyfoo!

We met with some doulas today to see if we want to have one attending our birth. I’m not completely decisive one way or the other, but we agree it would be a relief and a luxury to have someone we’re comfortable with, and who is knowledgeable and experienced enough to coach us through delivering our first baby. We’ll have a few more interviews before we decide for sure.

Only four more weeks until I start my maternity leave! Even less since next week is a partial holiday. Which will be great because I feel like I haven’t had *time* to have the urge to nest yet.