Hopefully the last Pregnancy Update

10 MORE DAYS!!

Yesterday, October 18, 2011, I had another doctor's appointment. I had it on Tuesday because my doctor is going out of town from Wednesday until Sunday. When I got checked she said that I am 4 cm dilated and 70% effaced and still at a -1. I was kind of bummed because I was hoping that I was farther along than that so, when she asked if I wanted my membranes stripped I said yes! That was probably the most painful thing that I've experienced during this whole pregnancy. She told me to watch for contractions and if they were happening consistently, or felt different than what I had already been feeling then I should go to the hospital. So, I went home feeling a little uncomfortable but very hopeful that this would help move things along.

Then, at about 6:30pm I started feeling some contractions but they weren't very consistent so I didn't really think anything of it. I had to go to a play for class at 7:30 so I went to that, and during the first half, 7:30-8:30, I marked dots on my hand for every contraction that I had. By 8:30 I had 13 dots on my hand. So, when Jordan came to pick me up I told him that I wanted to go home and shower and see what happens. During my shower and while I was getting ready I was still feeling contractions so we packed up the car and headed to wal-mart to walk around for a while and see what happened. We took about 3 laps around wal-mart and they continued so we headed over to the hospital.

We checked into the hospital at 10:00pm. I told them what I had been experiencing and so they had me change into the hospital rob, have my blood pressure checked (which was high), and started to monitor my contractions and the babies heart rate. I had my cervix checked and was at 4 cm dilated and 90% effaced which was good. The nurse told me to walk around for an hour and if I had dilated 1 cm in that hour I could stay otherwise they wanted me to go home and see what happened from there. Needless to say my cervix didn't dilate enough so they had me stick around for a while longer to make sure everything was still ok before they sent us home. My blood pressure was still elevated but by 12:00pm they sent us home, and told us to come back when the contractions got closer together (2-3minutes apart), and strong enough that I wasn't able to talk through them. So we left, went home, and went straight to bed.

Trying to sleep last night was an absolute joke, I kept tossing and turning but every way I laid I felt a pain or contraction. Finally I did get to sleep but it felt like right as I went to sleep my alarm went off to get up and make Jordan's lunch. When I woke up I think I had lost my mucus plug and so hopefully baby will be here within the next couple of days!

We already have a poll going on when people think she will arrive. The guesses range anywhere from the 20th (Judy) to the 25th (my mom) so we'll see when she wants to make her grand entrance :)

Another Pregnancy Update

Yesterday, Thursday October 13 I had another doctor's appointment. When I got there they tested my blood pressure, which was a little high so they had to retest it and it came back normal the second time which was good :) After that I went in to get checked by the doctor. She told me that I am dilated to a 3+, I am 70% effaced, and I baby went from being at a -2 last week to a -1 this week. She also asked me if I wanted to have my membranes stripped and I told her no. I just want this baby to come when she's good and ready, and as naturally as possible.

My doctor also told me that she is going to be out of town for about 5 days next week. I don't really know how I feel about that but I guess it's something I'll have to get over if the baby does decide to come during that time. I have never met the doctor that is going to be covering for her but, I have heard great things about him so that's a plus.

My next doctors appointment is next Tuesday the 18th right before my doctor leaves. I am kind of nervous about that appointment and excited too because I could be farther along than I am now, but if I am that will mean that I have to deliver with a different doctor.

Jordan is so ready for this little girl to be here so he can kiss and love on her. I on the other hand am perfectly content with her not showing up until her due date or even a little after :) We have her nursery pretty close to being done(I'll post pictures on my next post) and we've got all of the hospital bags all packed and ready to go. The only pregnancy symptoms that are bothering me at this point are a little bit of heartburn and my hands going numb every once in a while. Other than that I haven't really been having any problems or pains that I can't handle.

Pregnancy Update

Yesterday, Thursday October 6, 2011, I had my first weekly doctors appointment. While there I took a urine test, a strep B culture, and was checked to see if I was dilated. Surprisingly I am dilated to 3cm! The doctor was a little shocked that I am that far considering that I haven't really been feeling any contractions. The doctor told me that she is head down and in good birthing position. She also said that the baby could be here in as little as 2 weeks! Even though I am 37 weeks along, which is technically considered full term, that is both scary and exciting all at the same time. I know we're ready for her but, it is going to be such a drastic change in our lives and is going to take some time to get used to. I think Jordan is more excited than I am because he wants her to be her today but, I think I can wait a lot longer than that.

I did order her first halloween costume, a little ladybug costume, because I just have a feeling that she's going to be here in time for halloween. But, like everyone says, she'll get here when she's good and ready.

I also was able to have a little baby shower luncheon with the wonderful ladies that I work with this week. We went to Olive Garden for lunch and I got some fabulous gifts such as a bumbo and tray, purple crochet blanket, birp cloths and a car seat canopy. I am so grateful for all they do for me, and I am really going to miss all of them when the baby comes and I become a full time mommy.

According to thebump.com I am full-term (yay!) baby is gaining about 1/2 ounce a day and getting her first sticky poop (called meconium) ready. She's also brushing up on skills for the outside world: blinking, sucking, inhaling, exhaling, and gripping (it's getting strong!).