After the 39 Week Doctor Appointment...

Feeling a little, um let's say, discouraged. *sigh*

I know it is not the due date today, but we are only a week away and the doctor said there has been progression since the last "check" at 36 weeks, but I am not really dilated. I am about 3/4 the way effaced - which is good, but also neither are perfect predictors of when I will deliver.

On the good side - everything still looks good. Heartbeat was about 140 today! I am measuring only 37 weeks, so according to the doctor is a good thing because that means he is engaging more into the pelvic region (hence all the pressure I am feeling).

My sister did remind me the other day that I typically go to my due date - actually OVER!!!
We will see...until week 40.

38 weeks...

I cannot believe I forgot to update last Wednesday! Technically, today we are 39 weeks into this pregnancy and still have NO baby to show for it! Well we have a baby, but he's turned into a large watermelon!!!

Last week's appointment was boring - no cervix check, but that was because I was not feeling many contractions. What's a girl to do? Of course I've read about all the ways to induce labor and nothing is guaranteed so why put yourself through a drink of castor oil? Not me!
Besides, my intended parents were still in France so I definitley need to bake Little A until January 8th when they'll both be in the United States.

Little A's heartbeat was in the 130s. I am not sure what I was measuring, I didn't ask - I feel gigantice! Everything the nurse tested on me was fine; although my blood pressure seemed a little high for me: 129/77. No worries from the nurse or doctor though!

My doctor reminded me again of three things: Go to the hospital if my water breaks; if my contractions are close together (5 minutes); and go to the hospital if I am not feeling Little A move around.

Until next week, right?

Nope...so that night, after my appointment I became very ill. I believe I had food poisoning!!! A sudden onset of puking and y'know, the other! My thought while puking was, "I am going to puke so profusely that my water is going to break!" HA HA

Then on Thursday I couldn't eat or drink hardly anything. Three pieces of toast and a little bit of sprite got me through the day - and A LOT of sleeping. I had chills all day long too. I was definitely dehydrated, but tried to keep as much fluid going in me that was coming out.

By Friday, I was feeling better, but not 100% until Saturday. I never called my doctor - I thought if I would've continued to feel bad on Friday I would have, but things turned around. Besides who wants to be put on bed rest in a hospital? Not me!

I am back to work this week, teaching my high school kiddos. Many of them were excited to see me return yesterday, because they were unsure if I would be here or not. I plan to make it through Friday, but will not return on Monday, January 9.

Today is the 39 week appointment. Let's see if anything has progressed and what my doctor thinks will happen!

Here's to Little A's approaching arrival :)

37 Weeks...

The past week has flown by - we've been really busy with our oldest child, Nathan, returning from the Air Force and celebrating one family Christmas.

Little A continues to wiggle around and kick me suddenly. I hope that I'll be able to see the outline of his foot before he makes his debut.

We had another check-up today. It's weekly now, but the nurse and doctor continue to test the same things: BP - 117/72; heart rate 83 (mine); weight gained 1.4 lbs (holiday cookies); tummy measurement: 37 cm; Little A's heart rate 130s.

Dr. V is predicting Little A will weigh in the 8 lb range :) This makes me happy because my first two children were 9+ pounders, but my last was only 8 lbs 5 oz and she was much easier to deliver. Of course he said this could quickly change, let's hope not!

One of my derby sisters is a photographer and I had her take some belly shots for me. I've always wanted pictures taken during pregnancy but never had the opportunity. She took them about a week ago and we had so much fun! The pictures will definitely be cherished by me.

28 Days until D-Day!!!

Just back from my 36-week doctor appointment. Here's the lowdown:

Total weight gain: 32 lbs (none since the 34 week appointment)

Blood pressure: 117/77 - yay!

My heart rate: 93 bpm (asked the nurse if this was normal and she said, "Yes," - I was just curious since my heart rate is usually much lower)

Little A's heart rate: 150 bpm (active guy this morning!)

Tummy measurement: 36 cm - right on!!!

Cervix: no dilation yet - which is good :) We don't want Little A to arrive before his parents!

Urine test: a little sugar again (same at 34 weeks). Dr. V asked what I ate this morning - just Raisin Bran, not a vanilla shake like the last time. He looked at my other blood work I had done a few weeks ago, and has decided he's not concerned with a little bit of sugar.


We talked about my last delivery and looked at the calendar again to see when January 11th falls. Dr. V is not predicting Little A's arrival before 39 weeks for sure, but just in case he gave me his personal cell phone number. How nice is that!!!

He continued by reminding me if I do have multiple contractions that are close together and painful...to go to the hospital. Then, he reminded me if my water breaks or starts to leak, or even if I think it could be...to go to the hospital. So, at this point if anything does start to happen...to go to the hospital and be sure. Since we are 4 weeks away from D-Day, he would not stop labor. Little A would be strong enough to survive outside his room/womb.

From here on out, I'll be visiting with Dr. V every week. Basically we'll go through all the routine checks and then in 2 or 3 weeks he'll check my cervix again to see if we're any closer to delivery.

Until next time...

32 Weeks!

Yesterday was our 32-week mark, so excited! I had the doctor appointment and everything is looking good. Blood pressure was low, only gained 1 lb (secretly so happy), urine tests were clear, and Little A's heartbeat was 130 bpm. During the heartbeat exam, Dr.V was kicked by Little A! It was so cute :) Little A really doesn't seem to like it when I lay on my back, so he is always moving when I do this - and Dr. V put the monitor on my belly and wallop! Little A got him good!

Dr. V did prescribe different antibiotics for me. I have been fighting bronchitis this week and the first one wasn't helping. After taking two pills after my appointment, I am already noticing the difference.

There weren't any surprise tests this time. I was thankful for that but in 4 weeks we will do a culture test and check my cervix to see if there's any "action" going on. Since this will be my fourth child to deliver, I am curious as to what the outcome will be as we get closer to D-day.

The next appointment: November 30th

Clogged Up

It's Little A again. I'm starting to feel bad for Ms. Goldilocks. She wasn't sleeping much before, because I like to roll around in the middle of the night and bounce on her bladder. But now, now she's got a head cold too! Poor thing. She has been sleeping on the couch for the past couple of nights in hopes to get better rest. This way she sits up. I didn't realize she was sleeping there until last night, so I decided to be as cooperative as I could last night and rest too. I kept my kicking, punching, and rolling around to a minimum. I think she slept better but I know she still feels icky today.

Hopefully with the weekend approaching she'll get more rest and get to feeling better.

Now to me...did you know that I am over 3 pounds now? And that I am almost 17 inches long? Yes, so that means I don't have much room in the home I am currently in. I keep trying to wiggle around, but sometimes my silly legs get in the way and I can't flip over! When this happens I just kick, kick, kick!!!

I overheard Ms. Goldilocks talking to someone yesterday. She said, "Only 9 more weeks!" Wait! What? What does that mean? 9 more weeks until what? I am so confused. I really like my room - it's nice and warm and I have this wet stuff to drink everyday. She does talk about the "daddies" - I know she just means, "my daddies" - I can't wait to meet them! I bet they have a nice room for me too.

Goodnight...time to rest

Time Flies

Here we are...week 30 starts tomorrow!

I am not sure how we got this far so quickly, but I am getting more and more excited for Little A's arrival. He's coming into the world filled with love and joy - his parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles. He'll definitely be spoiled.

Last week, (10/26/11) I saw my doctor for the first time in 5 weeks. Nurse T went through the routine again - urine test, blood pressure (105/68), weight ---YIKES---Little A isn't so little anymore. Well, maybe it's me who isn't so little; let's just say we have officially hit the 30 pound mark in this pregnancy and I still have the holidays to get through.

Dr. V came into the room and talked about how I was feeling. I told him about all the heartburn I have; yes, I even have heartburn after eating a banana. I think Dr. V was surprised by this but it is the honest truth. Of course the old wives tale says, "A lot of heartburn in pregnancy means a lot of hair at birth." In Little A's case - he better come out a monkey! Just kidding...

Dr. V measured my uterus - we're at 31 weeks, which doesn't mean Little A will debut two weeks early, but we'll be closely monitoring my growth. Dr. V asked me if this was going to be my last pregnancy. I said, "Well since I am getting older..." He just laughed! Then, I told him the only way I would be pregnant again is for my IPs.

Then Nurse T came in and said my glucose was a little elevated! What?!? Dr. V wasn't worried, but asked me what I had for lunch. Oops! Wasn't I suppose to eat that vanilla shake? MMM...maybe I'll go get another one now.

Finally, at the end of the appointment he reminded me that it was time for my RhoGam injection. This is an injection to help me form antibodies against the baby since I am Rh Negative. Nurse T made an appointment for me on the 27th, but before I could go to that - I had to give blood (which was totally unexpected for this appointment). Thankfully, the nurse who drew my blood WAS NOT the same one as last week! This was my "normal" blood nurse. It was quick and painless with no bruising.

The appoinment was over, everything is moving along smoothly and I'll be back on November 16th (32 weeks). Then at 34, 36, 37, 38, 39, & 40 (baby due!!!)