Week 40 - Due Date is Here

What's up with baby in week 40: well, like the majority of women, it looks like I won't be delivering on my exact due date, which is today April 27. We've been to the antepartum testing room at the hospital twice to have a non-stress test to make sure the baby is doing well. She is doing awesome...maybe she is too happy just hanging out in the womb. I have plenty of amniotic fluid and she is getting plenty of what she needs from the placenta. Her heart rate is right where it should be.

What's up with mom: My parents arrived a few days ago and we've spent the last few days shopping for those last minute must haves before the baby comes (you know....must haves like a new summer handbag). I have been having some stronger contractions and bouts of more frequent contractions, but nothing even close to real labor. This morning during the non-stress test I didn't even have one contraction. The plan is to see what happens over the weekend and then I'll be back in the hospital on Monday morning to have another non-stress test and then meet with my doctor.

I am ready to have the baby. Not in the sense that my pregnancy is unbearable. I actually feel pretty good for being full term. I have been sleeping through most nights without too much trouble. I am ready to have the baby so I can meet her and begin to experience parenting. I am not looking forward to going through the labor and delivery however. Especially now that it's my due date and nothing seems to be happening, I am beginning to worry about what happens if my body doesn't want to cooperate for a natural delivery, and what happens if I need to have a C-section.

Week 39 - Tour of Labor and Delivery

What's up with baby in week 39: our doctor did an ultrasound again this week and guessed that the baby weighs about 7lb 11oz! I hope she doesn't plan on getting any bigger. Our doctor estimates that she could put on as much as four more ounces a week. All her organ systems are fully developed and ready to go. The last organs to mature are the lungs. She is still active and moves around but with what feels like much more restricted movement.

What's up with mom: I am about as big as I will (and want to) get. I have put on about 30-35 pounds. I feel really good at this point in the pregnancy. Symptoms I've been dealing with in the last trimester include some bouts with swollen feet and ankles, usually getting worse as the work week progressed and then going away over the weekend. I have also had some heartburn but not bad enough to keep me from sleeping normally with just one pillow under my head. I certainly feel large and have a hard time navigating around the big belly to put on shoes and socks. I walk much slower these days and get tired and winded easily, but that hasn't stopped me from attending a few parties and doing some shopping.

This past Saturday, my husband and I went in to tour the Labor and Delivery facilities at our hospital. They had been busy the last few days and all of the postpartum rooms were full. We were able to view two different versions of the labor and birthing rooms. I was glad to see that their was plenty of space, each has a private bathroom and a living room area for my husband and guests. I was also glad to learn that once our baby is born, she is placed immediately on my stomach so we can say hi, and then taken only a few feet away to get weighed and cleaned up a bit before being brought right back to me so I can hold and feed her. Only after I'm ready, is she taken to the nursery for her bath, and I will get taken to the postpartum room where we'll stay for about 2-3 days.

I'm happy to note that yesterday was my last day at work and now I'm on leave. I have really great co-workers who had a shower for me last week. Yesterday, I went to lunch with some of my closer girlfriends from the office. They got the baby some very cute outfits and got me a gift certificate to my salon. I look forward to getting a haircut and manicure before having the baby (if she stays put next week and doesn't decide to come early). I look forward to bringing the baby in to meet them a few months after she is born.

Week 38 - Winding Down Work

What's up with baby in week 38: as the baby settles down into the pelvis, she can put pressure on nerves that feel like a little electrical buzz down the legs and in the pelvic area. I think I felt this twice last night, it was like a very small electric shock down the back of my right leg. Luckily it wasn't a lasting feeling like a pinched nerve. My doctor estimated that my baby weighs as much as 7 lbs at this point!

What's up with mom: I have begun counting down the days I have left in the office before I start my maternity leave. As of today, I have only 4 days left. I've been starting to experience "pregnancy brain" so it's harder to concentrate and remember everything as easily as I used to. My co-workers threw me a baby shower yesterday. It was great. They were very generous, so the baby has even more new outfits to look forward to! I am looking forward to a few days of rest after I go on leave and before the baby comes. While I don't want her to be late, I also don't want her to come too early and cut into my last few days of "vacation time."

My most recent visit to the Doctor was uneventful. I am still 1 cm dilated. I am 50% effaced. The doctor says that everything measures good and that the baby's heartbeat sounds perfect. I dropped off the insurance and FMLA forms for him to fill out. Also, my husband and I are taking a tour of the Labor and Delivery area at the hospital this Saturday, so we have just a few more things to accomplish before we're ready for baby.

Week 37 - Why I Missed My Dr. Appt.

What's up with baby in week 37: she is practicing her breathing and still gets the hiccups. I can feel her moving, but as she gets larger each week, the variety of movements seems to have reduced. I get feet in the ribs and what I think might be stretching (at least that's what happens to my abdomen) as she pushes her butt out one way and her feet out the other. It's pretty amazing to think that the life that has been forming inside me will be a real baby, out in the world in just a few weeks.

What's up with mom: so I missed my doctor appointment this week. I'm at the point in the pregnancy where I go in every week, and originally I was supposed to go on Wednesday. But then something came up at work, so I rescheduled it for Thursday. And then I found out a friend of mine got us tickets to see the Oprah show. I figured that was a good enough reason to skip the doctor. I called the office and at first the nurse didn't really want to let me out of the appointment, so I had to be honest with her. "But I just got tickets to see Oprah! Isn't that one of the best excuses you've ever heard?" She conceded that yes, it was a pretty good excuse...I heard someone else in the background saying, "Girl, you go to Oprah!" So I did. They office re-booked me for Monday. Unfortunately, Oprah wasn't giving away cars or even miracle bra's today. The show was live, which was interesting. The topic was autism, which was informative but sad. Oprah interviewed parents of autistic kids and it turns out that there is very little medically know about the cause and treatment for autism. They didn't take many questions or comments from the audience during the show, so I doubt I made it onto TV, but it was neat to be there to see Oprah in person and see what goes on during a live broadcast.