39 week update!

I had an appointment yesterday, the day started off interesting enough…with contractions, just the regular contractions I’ve been having. Anywho, I didn’t have the patience to deal with it at work, so I called in. Around 10:00 the contractions got really strong, my appointment was at 1, and I decided these were strong enough that I probably shouldn’t drive myself to the appointment, so I called my sister to see if she could take me, cuz she’s sometimes in the West Des Moines area around lunch time…luckily she was able to take me, I was still having contractions by the time we go to the doctor. I get examined, and I’ve progressed…not as much as I wanted to hear…but still it’s progress. I’m almost 2cm dialated and I’ve thinned out a lot more, not sure what that means exactly..I was 50% effaced and I’ve thinned more, she just didn’t specify an actual percentage. She also guessed that he is 8.5 pounds, to which my heart literally sunk and everyday that passes it scares me more, lol. Granted she could be off..but still, scary when you technically still have 2 weeks to go before they’d induce labor. She said the contractions I was having could be on to something and suggested I do some walking and asked what the pain was on a scale from 1-10, 10 being the most pain I’ve ever been in, I said a 3-4..she said once they’re a 6-7 and 10 min apart, get to the hospital. Of course, once you anticipate labor to approach, contractions basically stop…that’s just how it works. My sister and I went to the mall walked for an hour or 2, I was still having contractions, but they seemed to die down once we stopped walking. Then later in the evening I had dinner with my in-laws to celebrate my b’day..I was having contractions but they were more on a 2-3 pain level…I was pretty sure labor was far in site again, so I went to bed around 11. At 1:50 in the AM I wake up to another level 3ish contraction, rude awakening I’d say! I continued to have 2 more within the half hour and it made me restless, so around 2:20 I get up and start walking laps in our living room. From 2-4 I was wide awake, around 4 I finally dozed off on the couch in the living room, from 4-6 I woke up off and on between contractions…basically I didn’t get any sleep. I called into work again today, they were about 7 min. apart when I woke up, but still not strong enough. I was getting very very frustrated and on the verge of a breakdown, I called the doctor to see what I should do…for some reason hoping he’d give me the magical answer of “get to the hospital we’ll just induce you” knowing that was unlikely and really not the best solution. Needless to say the doctor was a total jerk, he said get to the hospital and I said that I wasn’t sure they were strong enough and I didn’t want to get sent home, he said “I can’t tell you what your cervix is doing over the phone” real nice, I’m thinking. Well of course I get off the phone, anticipate the contractions to get stronger so we can go to the hospital…but nothing. I decide to take a bath and then the contractions basically went away completely. Since I already had the day off, I went to get a pedicure and then did some laps at the mall again.

I’m still here, still pregnant. Contractions are back to a pain level of 1-2. Labor doesn’t seem to be close in site…but maybe I’ll get what I wished and that is to NOT have the baby on my b’day, lol. So now I’m hoping for Sunday or Monday. Either way I have until Wed (my due date) when I’ll have my next appointment, and inducement may be discussed and definitely considered in fear of having a 10 pound baby.

Doctor update – 38 weeks

Just got back from my 38 week checkup. Doctor appointments are weekly now, my next one is scheduled for 8/20 when I’ll be 39 weeks. They didn’t do much today, tested my urine, checked my blood pressure, listened to the baby’s heartbeat, meausured my uterus and checked my cervix. Urine was good, Blood pressure was normal, baby’s heartrate was good (140 bpm), uterus is on schedule and amount of fluid is normal. I’m still 1.5cm dialated and 50% effaced, so no progress since the last time I was checked. She immediately noticed how low he was and recognized that I was probably feeling a ton of pressure. She said once I go into labor she doesn’t think it will take to long for things to get going, which is good for me…but bad if we can’t get to the hospital right away…shouldn’t be too much of a problem the hospital is about 12 minutes from West Des Moines, which is where I spend all my time. I also asked if they induce labor and what point that is that they do, and she said that they won’t let me go past 41 weeks, which basically means we’ll have our baby before September 3rd. But she also mentioned, she doesn’t think I’ll make it that far because he’s so low, a few strong contractions and I’ll be good to go.

So now it’s still just the waiting game, my gut tells me there is at least another week…which I’m completely ok with as long as he’s not a HUGE baby! Judging by birth weight of Josh and I, I don’t think he’ll be quite 9 pounds even if he makes it to 40 weeks, I guess around 8 or 8.5 pounds if we go all the way to 40 weeks.

Just another checkup – 34 Weeks

Yesterday I was having some stronger contractions, they went away after I laid down so I figured it wasn’t anything to be concerned about. I went to see the doctor today for my regular 3 week checkup. Of course I was just in and out as usual, seems like they make it as quick as possible. My weight has managed to stay the same, which is strange to me considering the fact that they say you gain the most weight in your 3rd trimester. But as long as they aren’t concerned, I’m not concerned and I guess it just means I have less weight to lose later on.

They don’t really give me a weight estimate or anything when I go, but when I look online it says at 34 weeks he’s roughly 19 inches long and right around 5 pounds, that of course can be off by a pound or 2. He is still pretty active, and the doctor said he’s actually what they call transverse right now, he’s kind of sideways, neither head up nor down. He isn’t concerned until about 37 weeks, and if he’s not in the right position by then, we’ll try and move him. Everything else is looking great, he told me to keep cool and drink lots of fluids.

Yesterday and the day before was gorgeous out, we even kept our windows open, but the humidity is back. It’s been a very strange summer, a strange year in general when it comes to weather. But I have to say I’m pretty fortunate that the humidity is off and on, by now, in mid-july it’s usually constant umbearable humidity.

Next appointment is set for August 4th, I was a little shocked that it’s 3 weeks out, I’ll be 37 weeks pregnant and considered full term, so by then…it could happen at anytime.

Oh and I was given 3 circumstances in which I need to get to the hospital. That was if I have any bleeding what-so-ever, contractions that are 4-5 minutes apart, and if my water breaks. Any other concerns call the doctors office first and they’ll advise where to go from there.

“Your body is preparing for labor” 32 weeks

Ok, for my first post on the new family blog I will update you all on the pregnancy. I wish I would have thought about doing this much earlier than I am now…but I planned on doing this after the baby was born, why not start now. I have a feeling this particular post will be long to mostly fill you in.

So far, all 32 weeks have gone extremely well, my mother was blessed with 3 healthy pregnancies and labors. I hope to be that lucky. We haven’t run into any complications, there was a point where I took the gestational diabetes test, didn’t pass…had to go for another longer test in which I passed but was borderline. The doctor has told me that at this point changing my diet will not help or hurt anything therefore I’ve basically been eating for 2 still =)

I’ve gained a whopping 20 pounds, which continues to fluxuate up and down this week, you may find it odd that someone in their third trimester would lose weight, but I found a way. I was concerned, Josh was concerned so I made a call to the doctors office yesterday for them to tell me, this is normal and that my body is preparing for birth…she didn’t exactly explain what that meant, but basically any complaint, concern or happening will from now on have the excuse of “your body is preparing for birth”.

My maternity clothes no longer fit, I emphasize the maternity because I don’t understand who the designers of certain maternity clothes are, but they must not be pregnant nor have ever been pregnant. I have yet to find a comfortable pair of maternity jeans, I have 1pair of white capris that I like best, but can’t wear everyday and should probably wear sparingly considering that my clumsiness is only building up as we progress, white and pregnancy just don’t mix well. My belly is peaking out of the bottom of my maternity shirts, which has lead me to my last resort…Josh’s t-shirts and summer dresses. Don’t mistake the summer dresses as “she still looks so cute” and “I can’t believe you still work hard to look good” believe me, there is no working hard to look good, you get what you get at this point and whatever fits is what I wear.

We spent the month of June preparing the house and purchasing necessities for the arrival, I had my first baby shower just 2 weeks ago in which we were blessed with almost everything that was needed. We spent this past weekend moving a bunch of furniture from room to room, bringing in new couches and making much more space in our living area, which I sure will find it’s way to be filled coming soon in the next few months.

I continue to work full-time and plan to up until I go into labor (god-willing that won’t actually be at work!) Unless of course the doctor insists on bed-rest for any reason, fingers crossed that will not happen. As of now I plan on taking a for sure 8 weeks of maternity leave, in my mind that is not nearly enough time so I would love to do 10, if not 12…but financially we’re just not sure if that will be able to happen. Ideally I’d rather stay home and not return to work, but again financially it’s just not the right time.

Our next doctors visit will take place on July 14th, I’ll be a whopping 34 weeks pregnant and hope to bring back great news and baby progress.