Monthly Archives: January 2010
40 Week Dr Appointment
It was the appointment I hoped I’d never have to go to. 3 days past my due date, I had both a non-stress test (NST) & regular OB appointment.
NST
They set me up in a chair, hooked up two monitors to my belly and gave me juice to keep the baby moving. One monitor was to measure his heartbeat and the other was to measure contractions.
The goal was to measure his heartbeat during movement. If his heartbeat increases during movement, it is a good sign. Within a minute he was already moving and his heartbeat spiked accordingly. Within the first 10 minutes his heartrate spiked appropriately 3 or 4 times. They kept me on the machine for another 20 minutes but he ended up sleeping by the end of it.
The second monitor that measures contractions? It recorded a flat line…my uterus is doing nothing.
Appointment
Weight: down a pound, yay!
Blood Pressure: 120/70
Heartbeat: 150 range
Fundal Height: 40 (he hasn’t stopped growing!)
Labor Progress: NONE!!
Next Appointment: Thursday for another NST and to check for any progress
Next we discussed induction. He said we could go ahead & schedule for 10 days past my due date (next Monday) or we could wait until after my appointment on Thursday. My appointment on Thursday is currently scheduled with another OB because mine is not in the office. So I opted to just schedule it right away today since I wouldn’t be seeing him on Thursday.
Induction: Scheduled to start Sunday the 24th. They will start by trying to dialate me overnight & then start pitocin (to stimulate contactions) on Monday morning. If all goes well, Brody will be born on January 25th.
I’m still holding out hope that Brody will come before Monday. Inductions are not always the easiest and often can lead to C-Sections. I’ve heard about many successful inductions and many that didn’t go very well. Ideally, i’d like my body to do what it needs to do on it’s own.
However, based on my progress so far, I am not holding my breath. And at the very least, I know I will only be pregnant for one more week.
40 Weeks
It’s officially my due date. That wonderful date that everyone asks about for 9 months. The day is finally here, but my child is not. So here is my weekly recap. Hopefully it will be my last!
Weekly Checklist
How far along? 40 Weeks
Total weight gain/loss: 38ish lbs (at this point I really couldn’t care less)
Maternity Clothes: When I actually get out of my pjs…I still have some maternity clothes that fit.
Sleep: Every other night.
Food Cravings: Nothing in particular, but I haven’t been eating well at all. My theory is that I’ll be in weight loss mode after Brody is here, so I might as well splurge now. (I know it’s not healthy…but tell that to a 40 week hormonal pregnant woman.
What I am looking forward to: I doubt I even need to answer this. I want to meet my baby!!
Weekly wisdom: Next time I am pregnant, I’m going to ask my doctor to lie to me. Tell me my due date is at least one week later than it really is. Then I’m going to remind myself for 9 months, that a baby comes when it’s ready to matter how many old wives tales you try to induce. So sit patiently and wait for him. We’ll see if that really works with the next one.
Milestones: Reaching my due date. Also, working my last day until April. I will be taking vacation until my maternity leave kicks in when Brody is born. Hopefully he comes sooner than later, so I can save some of that vacation to spend with him!
Reflecting back on pregnancy
Since all I can do these days is think about how I can’t wait for my little guy to get here, I thought I would write down some of my thoughts about pregnancy and what I will or won’t miss. Honestly, I don’t think I will miss being pregnant. Many women tell me I will, but it’s hard to imagine wanting Brody to be inside instead of outside in my arms.
What I think I might miss:
-Being warm. I have never had “hot flashes” or times where I’m sweating when everyone else is fine, but I believe this is because pre-pregnant Kellie is ALWAYS cold. In the last few months, I’ve noticed that I’m never cold. Even when Jason is cold, I am comfortable. It’s nice.
-Feeling Brody kick. This is one thing that I don’t really think I’ll miss when I’m holding him in my arms. However, I do think I’ll miss it a lot when I go back to work. It is nice that I can be sitting in a meeting and all of a sudden Brody decides to have a dance party. It makes me smile. When I’m at work after he’s born, I know I will miss him greatly.
-Sending Jason out for ice cream. I know Jason will agree that I have been very tolerable in the sense that I haven’t sent him out for cravings very often. But there have been those few occasions where I am craving custard & he’s willingly run out & got some for me. He’s always been a very attentive husband, but I can’t justify sending him out for my every whim once the baby is here.
-Feeling confident. Today I know how to be a good wife, I know how to be a good doggie-mommy, I know how to take care of our house. I am good at my job and know how to be a financial analyst. I know I will be a good mom, but there is a lot that I will have to learn. Whenever I start something new (new job at work, move to a new city etc) I always go through an adjustment phase. I know there will be days where I cry & say I have no idea what I’m doing! But I’m up for the challenge.
What I think I won’t miss:
-Pregnancy pains: Backaches, hip pain, pelvic pain, naseau, sleeplessness.
-Answering 20 questions: When are you due? How are you feeling? Boy or girl? Are you ready for him yet? Have you picked a name?
-Restricting what I eat. Since I plan to breastfeed, I still may have to limit certain food items. But I am pretty sure deli meat won’t be one of them & I can finally have subs again!
-Having a huge stomach. However, I think this will also be something I miss. When you’re pregnant, it’s cute to have a belly. After pregnancy, I’m going to have some weight to work off and I’ll probably just feel fat.
39 Week Appointment
Still no progress but at least this time I was mentally prepared for it. Nothing really seemed to change in the last week, so I was pretty sure that is what he would say.
Weight: + 2.5lbs (I really should be eating better but at this point, I just don’t care – thus I’m gaining weight)
Blood Pressure: 114/68
Heartbeat: 145
Fundal Height: 38
Labor Progress: Nada
Questions: What do we do next?
Starting next Monday (3 days past my due date), I’ll start doing a “Non-Stress Test” where they’ll monitor how the baby’s heartbeat reacts as he’s moving. If he is still reacting well inside, then they won’t try to induce sooner. Then we’ll do one again on Thursday and if he’s still not here & I am still not dialated, then the night of the 24th I will go in to start my induction process.
He did try reassuring me that the majority of women that go overdue end up delivering in the first week after the due date. I’m still hoping Brody understands that Mommy likes to be on time, and he’ll show up by Friday! 🙂
39 Weeks
Sleep: I wish.
What I am looking forward to: holding Brody. He’s the light at the end of this tunnel.
The many perspectives of how a pregnant woman should look…
Once I started showing enough to stop getting those awkard “is she pregnant or fat?” looks from co-workers/strangers, I’ve received a variety of comments about my size.
Now that I’m a week away from my due date & completely HUGE (or not huge, just pregnant, as Jason reminds me), I’ve continued to receive even more comments. The part that makes me laugh, is how varied they are.
I’ve heard a lot of: “you’re so big, there is no way you’re going to make it to your due date!”
But I also hear a lot of: “there’s no way you’re due in a week, you don’t look big enough!!”
All I know is that I feel like I’m due in a week. 🙂
And as a reminder to everyone out there, when you see a pregnant woman, ask her when she is due, the best thing you can say “you look great!”
38 Week Appointment — Unsucessful
Yesterday was our 38 week appointment. I was truly hoping for good news that I was at least somewhat progressing towards labor. But no luck! We may be ready for him, but he’s not ready.
Weight: + 1/2lb
Blood Pressure: 115/70
Heartbeat: 150ish? It was up to 175 at one point and then lowered down. Doc called it a “spike” which apparently is very healthy.
Fundal Height: This is where it gets interesting…last week it was 38.5, this week it was 37! He shrunk!?! So obviously we asked about it. He officially dropped. So now that he’s lower in my pelvis, my stomach doesn’t measure as big. Dropping is typical 2-4 weeks prior to labor for first time moms.
Labor Progress: None…zip…zero. Still effaced (he didn’t give me a number) but not dialated at all.
Questions:
I’ve started having pelvic pain that feels like my bone is going to break in half and every step I take hurts. The only relief is sitting down, but the longer I sit, the more it hurts when I get up. So obviously I asked him about it. His reponse, “yep, that’s normal!” He then explained that as my hips are expanding my pelvic bones are seperating & it can even feel like the pubic bone is split in half.
Unfortunately, hearing “it’s normal and no there isn’t really anything you can do about it” when you’re in pain & miserable, isn’t very helpful. But I guess it goes with the territory.
38 Weeks
How far along? 38Weeks
Total weight gain/loss: 34 lbs
Maternity Clothes: Yes, plus I have a new found love for Jason’s clothes…
Food Cravings: I’ve starting eating more spicy foods this week. On the off chance that it will help bring along Brody sooner.
What I miss: Being able to tie my shoes painlessly.
Weekly wisdom: I was reminded in Church today that God always has a plan & even though I can’t see the future, I should be patient. So I am patiently waiting for my son to arrive knowing that at least we are healthly and I’m lucky to be pregnant.
Milestones: Having crazy pregnancy dreams. I’ve started dreaming i’m in labor, or that the baby is already here. Or unfortunately one dream that Jason was having an affair & I’m going to have to raise the baby by myself. (No worries — we’re happily married, but apparently my subconscious is a little hormonal)