Amazing what a few weeks can do. After back surgery, Jeff is doing much, much better. It was definitely the right call to get it done, even if the “after back surgery” process is a bit challenging. He still has some numbness, but no more back pain and in a week he will be able to lift 30lbs, so baby, hold off for one more week.

Making the House Baby-Accessible
The house has really come together, it’s not what I would call finished, but is livable and I no longer have people coming and going all day working on stuff. We got most of it all put together, nothing on the walls yet and small finish work left, but that can come over time.

We got the nursery mostly put together, the crib is up and the bedding on, my recliner is assembled and I washed most of the baby clothes and sheets. I think we are pretty much there. Jeff just has to get the car seat installed in the car, but at least we finally got the car seat! I still don’t know how to wear the Baby Bjorn or the sling, but figure I can figure that out once I don’t have this bulging belly in my way.

I have to say, we got really lucky, the weekend after we finished most of the work, got the outside painted just before winter hit. I have been enjoying being able to get into the house through the garage without using a ramp--it will be nice once the baby arrives and definitely make getting around much easier.

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Two Weeks to Go, Mom and Baby are Doing Great
As far as the baby goes, all is really well. It amazes me how lucky and easy this pregnancy has been. Here I am two weeks from my due date and still able to pretty much do everything I always do, just a little slower.

It’s funny to transfer into the car, I have to stop and rest midway through and when I lift my chair in, I take a break after I put my wheels in to build up the strength and stamina to lift the chair frame in over me. It will be strangely easy to transfer after the baby, I think I’ve gotten used to this extra 20+ lbs in my belly.

Advice from My Paraplegic Girfriends – What about Breastfeeding?
Some girlfriends here in Salt Lake City had a shower for me last week. It was fun to see everyone. We ended up having it here in the house, so it was a great deadline for the contractors and us to get it all put together.

Since we don’t know if we are having a boy or a girl, I was a little nervous about the lack of baby clothes I had, but my friends all took care of that and we got lots of adorable gender-neutral baby clothes. So I don’t have to worry for a few weeks, we should be set with sleepers and onesies.

I’ve been reading up on breastfeeding and we got a breastpump. I really do hope I will be able to breastfeed as I know how important it is for the baby’s health and also for the bonding between mom and baby. I have talked to a few other paraplegic friends of mine and each had a different experience.

One had an incredibly difficult time and ended up stopping after not much success, but others didn’t have much trouble and were quite successful. From what I have read and learned, it really is an individual thing, but the most important part is patience and realizing that it’s something both the baby and mom have to learn.

It’s funny, you would think breastfeeding would be something that was instinctual and natural, but from what I’ve discovered, it really is a learned process. Just wish me luck, because I would really like to be able to successfully breastfeed.

Disability Pregnancy Test: We Passed Our Childbirth Classes!
We finished our childbirth classes. I have to say, our last class was the most helpful as it dealt with once the baby is here and how to dress, swaddle, change diapers, etc… It was really helpful for both Jeff and me to practice, even if it was just on a toy baby, better than nothing. It was cute to watch Jeff and the other soon-to-be dads learning how to change diapers and dress the babies. It made all of this really real. But we also realized this would be a lot easier for Jeff after back surgery, so again glad we made the decision to move forward with the back surgery decision.

Both Jeff and I left class realizing that this baby was coming and soon and our lives were about to change, in more ways than we can imagine. I got kind of scared, but mostly really excited.

Canine Companions: New Role as Diaper Changers?
I’ve been working with Leibe, my black lab Canine Companion, and teaching him some commands to help me with the baby. He is pretty amazing, he can open the fridge and get the bottle and bring it to me. He can differentiate between the bottle and other things in the fridge or on the floor. I really think he will be a huge help once the baby comes, at least another set of hands, which will always be welcome.

Right now I’m working on teaching him to get the diaper, so he can help me when I am changing the baby. It would be great if I could teach him to change the diaper, I think we’d have a whole new career path for Canine Companions!!

It does amaze me how much they can learn and how they want to help. I’m quite excited to see how both of our dogs take to the new baby. I’ve been trying to expose them to the baby, showing them my belly and saying, “see the baby, gentle.” We’ll see what happens, but I know they will be great, they are both terrific dogs. My only concern is they are going to be so fascinated with the new baby they will always want to see and check it out.

Inducing Labor to Avoid Autonomic Dysreflexia
The doctor finally gave us a little info on his plan for the birth. Once my cervix is “ripe”, he wants to induce me so as to limit the risk of me going into Autonomic Dysreflexia (AD). From what he told us, most SCI female cervixes don’t have the same structural integrity as an able-bodied woman’s cervix. A challenge with a disability pregnancy, but one that can be managed.

For those who aren’t familiar with autonomic dysreflexia, a sudden increase in blood pressure, it’s a very serious medical emergency that can be life-threatening. If left untreated, autonomic dysreflexia can lead to stroke or death. This is one of the reasons pregnancy with an SCI is considered a high-risk pregnancy.

What that means is that once my cervix starts to dilate, it could go very fast, unlike many first-time pregnant able-bodied women. The dilating of the cervix and the whole labor process could very easily trigger AD, which could be life-threatening for me and the baby. So, in hopes of staving off that risk, he wants to induce me and have more control over the whole process.

I will also need an epidural to reduce the risk of AD as well. But, what I have learned is that you just can’t induce just any cervix, it has to be favorable or “ripe” in order to take the induction. My doctor checked my cervix this week and I wasn’t quite ready to be induced (my cervix was effacing but not dilating yet), so we’ll wait a week and check again.

What all this means is that next week we could get a date when I’ll go in and have this baby! I’ll be sure to post as soon as I have any more info! In the meantime, happy holidays to everyone and thanks for all your support. If any of you have thoughts, info, ideas to assist us through this new adventure, please do share.

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Check out Muffy's previous pregnancy blog, Disability and Pregnancy, Part 12 - Week 35.

Follow-up on Muffy's pregnancy in Disability and Pregnancy, Part 14 - Week 39 ½.

For more information on Muffy, visit Muffy's Disaboom member profile.