S is for "soft"
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
39 weeks, 2 days pregnant
5 DAYS TO GO!
Well, I ended up keeping the appointment they said I “wouldn’t keep.”
When the appointment began, I saw a different medical student this time. He was fine, but not as nice as Cute Medical Student. This one will be dubbed Slick Medical Student, as he had a very strange, greasy gelled-back hairstyle.
Anyway, Slick Medical Student did my blood pressure, fundal height, and the baby’s heartbeat. Then he asked if I wanted Dr. L to do a cervical exam.
UM … YES PLEASE!
So I changed into a gown, and soon he returned with Dr. L. She said she’d been disappointed that she hadn’t seen me come into the delivery room when she was on duty over the weekend. I explained that I’d tried REALLY HARD. Our baby is destined to be born in June, I guess!
Soon I was lying back on the examining table, getting checked out. I’m not sure exactly what happened down there, since my gigantic belly blocked my view, but I think it was just a one-or-two-finger dealy. Didn’t hurt at all — just felt pressure-y — which was a relief, since I’d been envisioning horrible instruments or something. Dr. L said it’s the same way they check your cervix when you’re in labour.
Unfortunately, I was not dialated. But my cervix was “soft” and the baby’s head was “right there,” so I’m happy there is at least something positive happening down there. I was worried I would have to hear that my cervix was still hard, which would have been very depressing.
For preggo newbies, here’s the translation: your cervix progresses from hard to soft as part of the birthing process. As it softens, it thins. This can happen slowly over the course of weeks or in just a few hours — which means it’s impossible to predict when you’ll go into labour. Annoying, right?
So I booked an appointment for next Tuesday, as usual. At that point, I will be one day late, so Dr. L says she hopes I don’t make that appointment. ME, TOO!
However, if I do go past my due date by one week, she says I can decide to keep waiting (and have them monitor the baby more regularly), or book an induction. Hmmm, I wonder which one I will choose? Oh, right — INDUCE ME, FOR THE LOVE OF GOD!
One week late would be Monday, June 14. But since I only see Dr. L on Tuesdays, it would be Tuesday, June 15 before I’d get to book it — and then would hopefully get induced on Wednesday or Thursday. So the latest I will have this baby, God-willing, is maybe June 16, 17 or 18.
OK, back to thinking positively! It’s going to be sooner than that, I hope. Dr. L says that walking and having sex (she actually says “romance,” because she is more dignified than me) can help speed things along, so that’s what I’ll be doing!
Here are the rest of the details from the appointment:
- Pee: Fine. No protein, no sugar.
- Weight: Up one pound. FML.
- Blood pressure: 118 over 78
- Baby’s heartbeat: Loud and clear, but lower than usual (146)
- Baby’s position: His head is “right there”
- Fundal height: 40 cm
- Mommy’s mood: Impatience x 10,000,000
False labour’s a bitch
Monday, May 31, 2010
39 weeks, 1 day pregnant
6 DAYS TO GO!
Still here, still pregnant.
Yesterday I woke up and was determined to walk the baby out of me. After my hours and hours and hours of Googling ways to kick-start labour, it looked like walking was the #1 answer.
So I dragged Darling Husband to the mall, and we walked around for at least two hours. It was working, because I started feeling contractions every once in a while, woohoo!
I was so motivated from that that I insisted we go to a nearby shopping/business park so I could continue walking. We wandered through Home Depot and a million other big-box stores, and I was feeling the contractions every 20-30 minutes. It was SO exciting, because it was hard to walk and it really hurt during some moments.
We had dinner out at Mom’s, and I had a couple of really painful ones at the table. I was ready to head to the hospital, but Darling Husband said they should be closer together before we did anything like that. He was right, of course, so I agreed to wait.
We left right after dinner and came home, and took Little Dog on a long walk. My back was killing me at that point, but I wasn’t sure if it was labour back pain or just too-much-walking back pain. So we went home and sat on the couch to watch some TV, but unfortunately the contractions slowly went away. Noooooooooo!
I handled it calmly was extremely upset, because I had been so sure that it was the real thing. Feeling them stop entirely was just confirmation that the baby was not going to arrive while Dr. L was working in the delivery unit, and that was sad. I went to sleep hoping my water would break in the middle of the night or something, but … nope.
I’ve felt a few twinges so far this morning, but nothing like yesterday’s contractions. So it’s back to walking like a maniac. Lovely friend C and her baby boy have agreed to join me in doing laps around the mall, so we’ll be heading out shortly.
Fingers crossed!
Welcome to Week 40
Sunday, May 30, 2010
39 weeks pregnant — now in Week 40!
7 DAYS TO GO!
So in case you haven’t guessed by this post, the baby did not arrive in Week 39. The baby was not eight days early (like my delusional rationale suggested he would be). I did not get to deliver during Dr. L’s Saturday shift. But there’s always today! Dr. L is working today! C’mon, baby!
OK, all pleading aside, here is the current situation:
- Thursday: I started having a lot of pelvic pressure (and started the killer walking regime)
- Friday: I had some pretty significant contractions and back pain (not enough that I thought it was really “time,” though), and cramps for the rest of the day
- Yesterday: I had more cramps, more mild contractions, more back pain, and more pelvic pressure — with the occasional shooting/twinge pelvic pain
- Today: I felt some more kinda-significant contractions this morning, and then they just faded into the more usual Braxton Hicks ones.
Oh, and I’ve also been having less blog-worthy (i.e. disgusting) symptoms for the past few days. If you’re really curious, it’s been this and this.
Ew, right? Anyway, here’s what happening with Baby Boy this week (in what we hope will be the final week before we get to meet him):
Baby’s size: Probably close to eight (or 18) pounds (as the doctor said, “This is probably not a seven-pound baby!”), measuring 21 inches. I’ve heard a lot of stories of first babies (first boy babies) being close to 10 lbs., so that wouldn’t surprise me.
Development: Fully-cooked and probably getting bored in there. Come out, come out, and Mommy will give you an educational toy!
Appearance: Adorable, I’m sure. Come out so I can see you!!!
Weekly re-cap
(May 23 – May 29)
Symptoms: Swollen feet/ankles and fingers, leg pain, major trouble sleeping, Braxton Hicks contractions, not much appetite, pelvic pressure, cramps.
Body changes: Belly looks the same, but I’m probably scowling more.
Belly button: In for keeps.
Stretch marks: Yes. Very annoying how they snuck in at the last minute.
Baby movement: Definitely has slowed down considerably this week. It starts to worry me sometimes, but when I do the kick-counts, he passes.
What’s new? I have been driving myself crazy Googling “early labor signs” and “labor cramping” and anything else you can think imagine. I can’t stop myself!
Baby preparations: Made nine million bran muffins and nine million pancakes, and froze everything in single-serving baggies. No motivation to make dinner-food. Too much work.
Cravings: Do I have to eat? Sigh. Then “cereal” is my answer. Quick, convenient, nourishing cereal.
High point: Attending a family dinner at Best Friend’s parents’ place last night. After a week of isolation and discomfort and flat-out crazy obsessing over when this baby is arriving, it was a welcome relief to get out and do something and get my mind off it. Distraction is key, I have learned, so I hope I can keep finding distractions until the big day (whenever that might be).
Low point: Learning that I tested positive for Group B Strep, and then worrying like crazy that it will affect Baby Boy. I’m feeling better about it now, after learning that several people I know also tested positive (and had no problems), but it was really upsetting at first.
H is for "hopeful"
Saturday, May 29, 2010
38 weeks, 6 days pregnant
8 DAYS TO GO!
Current possible labour symptoms: Cramps, back pain
Woke up this morning feel very disheartened.
After spending yesterday afternoon and evening walking until my legs fell off, I was so HOPEFUL that labour would start last night.
And because I had those really painful contractions/back pain yesterday morning, and I was so HOPEFUL they would develop into something.
And because today is the eight-days-early mark, and I was so HOPEFUL that I would also have my baby eight days early, like my fellow-H1N1-injectee friend.
And because Dr. L is only working in the delivery unit today and tomorrow, and I was so HOPEFUL she would be the one to deliver this baby.
I know that it’s stupid to have my hopes up when I’m not even due for another eight (EIGHT!) days, but I can’t help it. I am just one of those people who get sky-high hopes and then feels very, very sad when something does not pan out.
Other reasons I think this waiting game is feeling way longer than it should:
- Darling Husband has been working doubles for the past few days, so I literally have not seen him
- I’ve been stuck here without the car, starved for contact with the outside world
- Everyone has jobs (a.k.a. No time to spend with the pregnant shut-in)
- I’ve been watching episode after episode of Secret Life of the American Teenager and Make it or Break It — yes, I’m 12
- I have read all of my 30-odd library books
- I am not sleeping well, so the days/nights seem much longer
- I’m tired of cleaning up my craft messes, so I have stopped crafting
I think I need some serious distractions, or else I will be driven completely crazy before my due date even arrives!
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Heather's Handmade Life 