37 Weeks and counting

I’ve had quite a few appointments in the last two days. Yesterday I had non-stress test at the hospital and a visit with my OB at my clinic. I’ve been having contractions but they aren’t amounting to anything other than making me tired and uncomfortable. I’m still 70% effaced but completely undilated. I just keep waiting for some other signs of impending labor. I can honestly say that I am completely done with being pregnant. Today we had another ultrasound to check the baby’s growth. She doing absolutely perfectly. Right where she should be. The only thing is that she is so low in my pelvis they couldn’t even get an accurate head measurement. In the specs department, she’s currently around 7 pounds and filling up my entire not that big abdomen to absolute capacity. But she’s healthy and seemingly happy in her very confined space. I just need to convince her she’d be happier out here with us.
After my ultrasound I had to go to my OB again today to check my blood pressure which has been really randomly showing as elevated whenever I’m up and about, then calms to normal when I am at rest. It’s just been happening enough they wanted to check on it again today. It was the same old same old, but they just continue to keep an eye on it. But after the appointment they told me to go home and try to take it easy.

So we continue to wait… She’s gotta come out sometime.

Another perfect shot:

Pregnancy captured

This Saturday Bryan and I had some maternity photos taken to commemorate the pregnancy. My friend Colleen did a lovely job, these are just the first of them, she is doing some touching up and cropping before passing them on, so eventually there will be more but till then, these give us a taste.

Four weeks left, or….

Last week I noticed the baby had dropped quite a bit.  When I went to the doctor I also got to discover that my cervix is 70% effaced and she is at station -2 in my pelvis. What does this mean? That means that per the doctor the timeframe for baby arrival is very likely moved up.. a bit. So we just get a few more things in the bag and make sure that we have everything that we need to have a baby in the house.

Even though I got to have a bit more breathing room for about two seconds, then baby discovered that she had a LOT more leg room and decided to use it, and then I firmly believe has had another growth spurt so that she can be absolutely ginormous when she comes out. We are a litttle nervous and excited, but mainly we just want our little girl to come on out and meet us.

Holy moly that’s a lot of appointments!

This week I moved fully to the every week stage of OB appointments, on top of that I have an hour long appointment before each one that is a nonstress test for the baby. Conveniently it’s at the hospital where I will go to give birth which in my eyes is a nice introduction to the facility and the staff. Speaking from today’s first visit I would have to say it’s going to be a great experience. Their staff has been kind, courteous, and so friendly. I am in the last month, this is both exciting and terrifying. There honestly isn’t that much left to do other than wait, which I need to remind myself should be comforting. Tomorrow we run and get shelving for the babies room, cause I have a plan. There will be organizing and that always makes me happy.

I am trying to come to grips with the fact that very soon instead of there being a baby in my belly, she’ll be on my hip, so to speak.. The idea of it is so big, and wonderful.. I almost can’t stand it.

Our baby shower, captured and thrown by Angel

Gallery of the shower here!

Password for the gallery is jenga

It was a lovely perfect tea party surrounded by friends.

34 Weeks

This is Bryan posting; Jen asked me to do an update for her.

Jen is very tired. The baby is pushing on her stomach and lungs, and thus she’s short of breath and the throwing up has come back. Her belly is very lumpy as the baby shifts around and sticks out one part or another. Yesterday she said, “I just want to put it down for a while and take a nap…” There was pouting.

Everything looks great and healthy, though, but her doctor is having her come in every week for a monitoring session to make sure there’s nothing wrong — legacy of the genetic warning flag way back when that hasn’t had any other consequences, but they still want to keep an eye on it. The baby has lots of hiccups and apparently likes dancing the Twist — upside down and on a very very small dance floor.

I still have to make sheets for the crib and cradle, but otherwise the nursery/office is ready, and we have baby wipes and diapers bought and stored. Honestly, if the baby came tomorrow we’d be okay (not that we want that to happen — baby may be more or less done but we want her to put on a little more weight first).

33 Weeks!

Not a terribly exciting update, but there is some info. We had what is likely the last ultrasound. Baby is doing fabulous, she’s almost 5 pounds and healthy and active.

32 weeks and 8 to go!

Don’t make me bonk you with my belly.. I will.

Sure, I’ll get right on that for….. zzzzzzz

So I am a little tired lately. Actually a little more like, “Wow I’m exhausted, I could just lay my head on my desk and sleep with absolutely no problem at all at this very second.” People are gaping at me with how much larger I have gotten in just the last couple of weeks. I can’t believe how little time is left, it feels like it is passing so quickly that I am really afraid that there is going to be something really important that I am forgetting to do.

I am really shocked that I am as unafraid of the ‘process’ as I am. Bryan and I at our birthing class got to see a video of a birth, that while I was a bit, ‘Wow.’ It wasn’t in this truly frightened way. It just seemed, big, and amazing, and on the other end… accomplish-able. I walked away with a feeling of, I can do that. I feel more amazed looking down on myself on a daily basis and realizing that my daughter is the one in there kicking me. Even with as much work that pregnancy is, I’ve gotten this far, and healthily, and with both of us in one piece. Just getting to this stage of the game feels like a real accomplishment. She feels strong, and healthy, and so close to being here. The baby feels more and more like this little person in there, that I am really looking forward to meeting.

On the less idyllic side of things, good golly I would love my back to not be killing me. I know that women with a lot higher end, actually fully working back parts are in pain at this stage too. But to be completely honest I am not enjoying the company of their misery. I’m all, me me me, MY back hurts. Too bad for all those other pregnant ladies out there. Ow.

Pregnancy, not for the weak.