38 Weeks - let the waiting begin...

Last Friday was my 38 week check up. Having a short cervix is no longer a problem in this pregnancy, and we are no longer worried about being in pre-term labor! My Doctor said that if I am still pregnant at my next checkup, which is this coming Friday, she'd strip my membranes. She said most of the time, labor starts within 24-48 hours after that happens and BOY do we want that to happen!

If I hadn't gone into pre-term labor at 28 weeks, and spend 9 weeks on bed rest, I really don't think that waiting another 2 weeks would be a big deal. Its the fact that every Doctor, nurse and specialist thought it would be a miracle if I made it to 32 weeks, then to 34 weeks...so I had it in my head that I was going to have a pre-mature baby. Every day was a milestone and every week was a miracle! So that's why I'm a little anxious and antsy to get labor started. I think it's normal at 38 weeks for any woman to want to get the big show on it's way.

Don't be fooled - my smile is forced...

I officially started maternity leave today. I am really hoping the baby comes this week so I can spend as much time as possible with him before I go back to work. I probably could have worked another week or so, but I have all of my duties covered and honestly, my mind just wasn't in the game. I was so uncomfortable sitting at my desk, the A/C didn't work (in my office only - everyone else complained about how cold they were), and my clothes were getting to the point where I was wearing the same pair of jeans every day - and those were starting to get uncomfortable.  I refuse to wear sweats to work.

So far I have kept myself busy with my monitoring appointment and running some household errands. The baby is usually cooperative during monitoring, but today he dozed off, so one of the nurses came in and buzzed him. She literally took a little buzzer and shocked my belly! He perked right up and started behaving himself.

Another Monday...another non-stress test...

I decided that I can get a lot accomplished this week and use this time wisely to wash all of the baby clothes and get everything in order for his big debut. The nursery is all set up and I think it's rather cute, if I do say so myself... We tried to steer clear of anything that was too 'babyish.' I know, it's a baby's room and why not - but I just couldn't bring myself to do it.

Other than that - it's a waiting game... Taylor and I are ready for this baby to come and to meet our son!

Saturday night, I thought we were going to end up at the hospital. I was having really painful contractions mixed with Braxton hicks...I timed them for about 2 hours and they were about 5 minutes apart. As soon as I started getting ready to pack up my makeup and put some last minute items into a hospital bag, the contractions stopped.
I fell asleep and woke up the next morning with a couple really strong contractions and then NOTHING. Nothing happened all day, and I didn't have a single contraction last night. Usually I get a lot of contractions in the early evening and through the night - but I have found that if I don't drink enough water, and I'm talking at least 3 24oz bottles of water a day (for me, someone who is NOT a water drinker - that's a lot!),  that it brings on false contractions. Also - a full bladder can cause contractions.

Fun Facts

Weight Gain: Between 30-35 lbs. I'm at the high end of my 'target' weight gain and I totally blame bed rest and the entire series of LOST. My wedding ring still slides on and off with ease, so no puffy fingers here. Also - no puffy feet or cankles. I really can't complain.

Belly Button: It is flat as a pancake! No outtie here.

Stretch Marks: None! My Doctor said If I was going to get them, they would have shown up long before now. I thank my good mother for her fantastic genes. I also rubbed my belly down with bio-oil religiously morning and night.

Cravings: Nothing too crazy - yesterday I HAD to have some Cheetos...and some mini powdered donuts... but that's not crazy, right?

37 Weeks - officially off bed rest!

My last post, I was so excited to make it to 36 weeks....now I am at 37 weeks and considered full-term! It is wonderful news! No longer are we worried about having a pre-mature baby. Now we are playing the "waiting game." Someone mentioned to me that pregnancy lasts 8 months and 10 years. That is exactly how I'm feeling at this time! Taylor and I went swimming a few times over the weekend and it felt amazing to take the pressure off of my back. Being in the pool is amazing, but when you're almost 9 months pregnant, and you get that feeling of weightlessness, its even more amazing.

Isn't it amazing how much you can change? 

At my 37 week appointment, I was about 90% effaced and still only 2.5 cm dilated. I have my next Dr. appt this Friday, so hopefully there will be some change! I have been experiencing BH contractions and also some more intense and painful ones, but not frequently enough to start timing them, but there is definitely a difference in the intensity.
I have 17 more days left until my due date. I can totally do that! This is also my last week of working in the office. I know I am risking the chance of missing some of my maternity leave with my little one, but hopefully this babe comes within the next 10 days!

36 weeks - could be days, could be weeks

I know I could potentially have 6 weeks left - yes 6 weeks and let's hope that I don't go to 42 weeks, but I really am ready to have this baby!

My last Dr.'s appt, I was 35 1/2 weeks and dilated to a 2.5. I asked her if that was normal, she said it wasn't normal for someone with their first baby. So...perhaps this baby will come early? Apparently I'm the anomaly since a lot of the Doctors and Nurses are all surprised to see I'm still pregnant every time they see me. "Great job 'holding him in'" they'd say. Like I'm just keeping my legs crossed hoping the baby doesn't fall out...

Dr. said it could be days, it could be weeks...then she said she'd see me at my 37 week appt. Hmmph! So I'm kind of hoping I'll get there, I'll be dilated past a 4 and she'll say "go eat a Big-Mac since it'll be your last meal for a while and meet you at the hospital!" Here's hoping, right?

Bags are packed & baby's room is all ready for him. Car seat is installed... we are ready to go!

Yeah - check it out! What a difference 1 week makes, right? I think the baby has "dropped" at least that's what people tell me. The little fatty definitely put on some weight in the last 7 days. 

I had a baby shower over the weekend and it was so great! I know I was adamant about NOT wanting a shower, but I'm so glad I had one. I got to see family and friends I hadn't seen in years! It was totally worth it. Plus, it was a classy affair and I think everyone had a really great time. I gotta thank my mother in law and my mom for really pulling everything off. It was perfect. 

Sleeping still hasn't been too bad. I kind of barricade myself in with pillows and I have only been getting up 1-2 nights to use the restroom. The hard part about sleeping is when I roll over and I have a hard time rolling back. 

Still having contractions all day every day. They're frequent, but they're not painful.  I am still being monitored 2x a week for my non-stress tests and each time, the baby passes with flying colors! He's already an over-acheiver. 

I don't know if this is a result of '9th month pregnancy' or not, but now I'm thinking about different names for the baby, even though my husband and I finally settled on one. Hmmm... 

Well - that's about it for now, my fun facts have stayed pretty much the same: 

Weight gain: around 30 lbs

Belly button: flat as can be and not an outie!

Cravings: apparently anything anyone suggests to me I HAVE TO HAVE immediately. Most recently it was mini powdered donuts from 7-11. 

35 Weeks - Home stretch!

So I made it to 35 weeks! I went to see my Dr. at 33 1/2 weeks and I have not dilated any further, I'm still at 1.5 cm and 80% effaced. Same as 28 weeks. That is great news, I haven't changed at all! So my bed rest has been working - even though I haven't been on "total" bed rest. My Dr. "ok'd" my routine, so I am feeling great about that! I have been keeping off my feet as much as possible, I haven't been going to the gym or walking my dog, but I have been able to go to work,  to the grocery store and run a few errands without going totally crazy. Oh, and I finished the entire series of LOST and I really enjoyed it - I think It really helped me with this whole process.

35 Weeks on the dot!

I am still experiencing BH contractions every day. I get them so often I have stopped keeping track. I am waiting to start to feel the really painful ones and that's when I'll know we're in business. Our hospital bags are packed since we can really go at any time, so we are ready!

Taylor has totally started his "nesting" phase. He has wanted to clean everything, which I appreciate because I'm not supposed to be cleaning! Today was a great day though, we finally hung pictures in the  baby's room and we mopped floors and did a dozen loads of laundry...it feels good to get the house all clean and ready for baby.

Crazy how much you can change (and stretch) in just 5 weeks!

I am still getting monitored twice a week and those appointments always go really well. They test my amniotic fluid, monitor the baby's heartbeat and also monitor my contractions and the baby's movements. I am usually in and out within an hour, but sometimes the baby doesn't cooperate and they have to wait until his heart rate steadies before I can go.

Fun Facts

Weight Gain: I have stopped keeping track. I have gained around 30 lbs and feel ok with that. I wish it wasn't as much, but I just have to remember that it's still within a healthy range. I am really looking forward to getting back in the gym. I have to tell myself that I haven't gotten fat, I've just gotten soft.

Cravings: nothing too crazy, there is nothing that I feel like I have HAD to have.

Belly Button: is flat as a board. I don't have an outie, and I figure if I don't have one by now, it's not going to happen.

Things I'm looking forward to: Sleeping on my back, sleeping on my stomach, bending over and touching my toes (not that I could do that before, but I have decided to start stretching after all this is over just so I can do it), and running 5 miles just because it feels good.