midwife visit and contraction update

12/11/08

Last night I had strong contractions that were pretty regular and I was not able to get much sleep. I was really starting to think that I was going to have this baby today. I finally got up around four, and took a long hot shower. After getting out of the shower, George gave me a great back massage, and my contractions slowed way down. I was having lots of back pressure all night, and that has continued on throughout the day. I lost some more of my mucous during the night, and this time it was also bloody. I have continued to have contractions all day, they have just not been as regular as last night, but let me tell you, they have not been pleasant. : )

My mother in law came over this morning to watch Owen so that we didn't have to take him to my appointment. This was such a big help for us. When I arrived, I got hooked up to the monitor for another nonstress test. I am normally hooked up for about 20 minutes, but this time I was on there for more like 35 minutes since Beth was over at the hospital delivering a baby. Once Beth got back to the office, she said that the baby looked great. I told her I thought my amniotic fluid level was still up since my belly felt taught again like it had before the level dropped down a few days ago. She thought my belly looked fuller as well. We decided that if I was still pregnant on Monday that I would have another ultrasound to check the fluid level, and another nonstress test. I am starting to feel like I am in that office everyday. Tomorrow is a full moon, and many people swear that helps throw women into labor. I guess we will see!

Due Date (40 weeks)

12/10/08

I can't believe I am 40 weeks today! This pregnancy has really flown by, all except the past week or so. I am really ready to meet this little one, but am sad at the same time, that being pregnant is almost over. After all of the pregnancy misfortunes I have had in the past, I am so blessed to be where I am today, a mother to a beautiful, smart, lovable 18 month old, and soon to be the mother to yet another miracle. Will it be a girl or a boy? When will he/she be welcomed into the world by two loving parents? Will it be this week, or next? Will I have an easier labor this time around? Will this baby be healthy? How will Owen act around his new sibling? So many questions that I can't wait to find out the answers to. These are due date belly pictures. I am sure you will be happy to know, I am not going to be taking post baby belly pictures.

Mucous Plug

12/10/08

I never lost my mucous plug before being induced with Owen (I am sure because I was 0 cm dilated), and I figured I would have already lost it by now, since I am 3.5cm, so I was surprised when it came out this morning. I even showed it to George, and he said, "thanks, but you really could have just told me." I have heard of many people loosing their mucous plug weeks before they actually have the baby, and then my friend Holly said she lost hers the night before her son was born. Bring on the contractions!!!!!

Unexpected Hospital Visit

12/9/08


This morning the baby was not moving around much at all, so I called Beth and she wanted me to go to the hospital right away. At the hospital I got hooked up to the monitor to do another nonstress test. They were monitoring the baby's heart rate as well as movement, and contractions. The heart rate looked great, and would accelerate when he/she moved, which is what it is supposed to do. I talked to Beth, and she said I could go ahead and be induced, or have another biophysical profile. We opted to have the biophysical profile (BPP) done, see what the fluid level was, and then go from there. The baby performed well during the BPP, and did all the things he/she was supposed to do, flexion and extenstion of the neck, arm or leg, 3 big body movements, good hearbeat, and practice breathing. She then checked my amniotic fluid level, and thankfully it was up from yesterday. It is now 8.1, up from 6 yesterday. I guess the 80 ounces (literally) of water I drank this morning before going to the hospital paid off! The ultrasound tech called Beth to let her know the results. Beth said since everything looked great, she would see us back in the office on Thursday. We have an appointment for 9:10am. Hopefully I will see her at the hospital pushing this baby out before then, but you just never know. George has really been encouraging me to drink more water to help with the amniotic fluid level. I told him if I drank anymore than I already am, I might as well just park myself on the toilet all day.

39 weeks 5 days

12/8/08

We had an ultrasound today as well as an appointment with Beth. The ultrasound showed that my amniotic fluid level is getting close to the danger zone. Beth said if it is less than 5 that would mean immediate induction. If it were 5-6 then we could wait a couple of days and recheck it. The normal level is 10 or above. Well my level was 6, so we were given two options. One, we could come back on Wednesday for another ultrasound, nonstress test, and fluid level check, and if the level is lower we would be induced. Two, schedule to be induced within the next couple of days. We chose to wait it out and scheduled another ultrasound for 9:45am on Wednesday. We will see Beth after the scan, and have the nonstress test done as well. I have not been having pelvic checks done, but I wanted to know so that if I have to be induced, I know my options. Well, I was 3.5cm, 90% effaced, and the baby is -1 station. She said my cervix was very soft and would be favorable for a much easier induction than what I dealt with last time. I had to work almost 2 days to get 3cm last time, so it would have to go faster this time around. : ) While she did the exam, she stripped my membranes in hopes that it would help to jump start labor on its own. I have been very crampy ever since, so hopefully it is doing something. I would really like to go into labor on my own. We have our childcare arranged for tonight should anything happen. I guess we will see what the night holds!

Ohhh no, a visit to the ER!

12/8/08

We had a wild weekend. On Saturday morning, Owen was still not acting himself, and we being very cranky. He had not had a fever since Wednesday, but I guess the lack of sleep, and his teeth still coming in was having an effect on him. I was cleaning up some things in one of the extra bedrooms, and George was in the living room when I heard a loud thud followed by screaming. Anyone will kiddo's can tell when their child is really hurt, or if they are doing a fake cry, well this one was for real. I got up from the floor as fast as I could (which is not that fast these days) and went in to see what was going on. George had already picked him up, and I asked what happened. George said Owen either fell off the kitchen table, or one of the chairs. By this time Owen was not crying anymore, but his face was extremely red, all except for his lips and nose which were white as could be. I took him from George and tried to get him to stand up so I could assess him. I wanted to check to see how well he was breathing, and to see if he had any broken bones, or bleeding. When I tried to stand him, he was like a limp noodle. His chin was now down to his chest. I lifted up his head, and it just flopped right back down to his chest. His lips and nose remained very white. He was still breathing, but very shallow. His eyes were closed, and he was not responding to anything I did to him. Finally after about 4 minutes of this, he finally became more responsive. My little monkey scared me! He was still not acting normal, so I told George we were taking him to the ER just to make sure everything was okay. By the time we got signed in, Owen was pretty much back to normal except for being a little pale. George took him for a walk in the waiting area. Owen got running, tripped over his shoes, and fell down, hitting his head AGAIN! This time he got a little knot and bruise immediately on his forehead. His lips and nose got pale again, but not near like they were after the initial injury. He was also way more responsive this time. What a day! He has fallen a hundred times, but these were the only times he had the crazy lack of color in this lips and nose. By the time we saw the doctor, Owen was completely back to himself, and the doctor didn't think we needed to do any further testing. Thank God everything was fine! Owen sure didn't learn his lesson, the very next day, he was back up on the kitchen chair trying to climb up onto the table. How is he (and George and I) ever going to make it through these toddler years?

Saturday night when I was laying in bed recapping the events of the week, I was really wondering if I was ever going to get back my sweet, little Owen. He had been cranky or sick for over a week now, and I just wanted it to be over! Thankfully I woke up on Sunday only to find that my precious little Owen had returned and left the cranky Owen behind. He finally woke up at his normal time, ate all his meals, had a great nap, laughed, played, and smiled! I really missed him, and was so glad to have him back!

I am now 39 weeks and 5 days pregnant! I wanted to post a couple of comparison pictures. It is hard to tell just how big I have gotten until I look back at some of the early pictures. The picture on the left was taken at 15 weeks and 5 days, and the picture on the right was taken at 39 weeks and 1 day. What a transformation!

38weeks 6 days

12/2/08

The baby's waiting to greet the world! He continues to build a layer of fat to help control his body temperature after birth, but it's likely he already measures about 20 inches and weighs a bit over 7 pounds, a mini watermelon. (Boys tend to be slightly heavier than girls.) The outer layers of his skin are sloughing off as new skin forms underneath.

I had another appointment with Beth, our midwife, yesterday. I forgot to ask last week if my Group B Strep test came back negative or positive, so I asked for sure this week, and thankfully it was negative. That means no antibiotics for me during labor!! My blood pressure was good 110/58, urine fine, and I gained 2 pounds. That is 34 pounds total. I am so ready to shed 15 pounds all in one day! Once again, I did not have an internal exam. The heartbeat sounded great, and my uterus was measuring right on target. We discussed the course of action should I not be in labor by next week. I was really all prepared to go 42 weeks again this time, but with my friend having a full term still born baby recently, it has made me really scared and nervous. I told Beth that I wanted to have an ultrasound of the baby, and a nonstress test. During the ultrasound, they will check the fluid level, check the baby's breathing, movement, and heartbeat. During the nonstress test, they will hook me up to a monitor that measures the baby's heartbeat, and my contractions. It monitors the baby's heartbeat over the course of 20 minutes. If the baby's heartbeat is fluctuating all around, this shows that the placenta is still functioning well, and giving the baby plenty of oxygen. This may all be overkill since I will just be 40 weeks, but I just want to make sure everything is still okay in there. My ultrasound is next Monday, followed by another appointment with Beth.


Owen has been running a temperature for the past couple of days. He also has a slight rash on his belly, arms, and legs, which he had at his 18 month check up last week, and his doctor asked if he had been sick recently. At the time he was not acting sick, but now he has just been whiny. He is also getting all four canine teeth in, so I am sure that is part of it. Yesterday his temperature only got to 100.3, but this morning it was 101.5. I am not so sure I should be taking care of him at this point. I don't want to be getting sick right before delivery. I gave him some Tylenol, and he really just wants to lay all over me, spreading his germs for sure.

I had my last lia sophia meeting last night, and I have no more hours at the hospital, so I am now officially on rest mode waiting for this baby to come. : )

I wonder, will these be my last big belly photos? I am going to miss my big pregnant belly once it is gone. Do you think it can really get any bigger????