33 Weeks - Tiny Scare

Hey, all.

So I went in for just a regular check-up today, and when my doctor got the heartbeat, she made a weird face, and commented that it was very high. 192, to be exact, which is about 40 bpm faster than his normal, and out of the "normal range". She was a bit surprised, but thought that it might have been due to 1.) the fact that he was moving all over the place and 2.) I hadn't had any water yet (it's a long drive and when I drink a normal amount of water, the average bathroom break is every twenty minutes or so, so you can understand why I limit myself on these hour and a half long drives). She wasn't overly concerned, but wanted me to go to the hospital (to my high-risk doctor) to get monitored just to make sure things were okay.

Okay, so trying to stay as calm as possible (because if my heartrate goes up, so does you-know-who's) and taking my doctor's advice of drinking lots of water immediately, I drove the five minutes to the hospital and was hooked up on the monitor that reads the heart rate and contractions (called a Non-stress test, the same external monitoring used during labor.) Little Boy's heartrate was FINE, right back around 150 where it belongs. Whew! Guess he was just keeping my doctor on her toes, and I'm glad she was (maybe overly?) cautious.

So about three nights ago, I had some significant contractions that weren't painful but that were occurring frequently enough that I SHOULD have called the dr according the "Labor Instructions" sheet I was given. But I never did call that night, but promised I would the next day if they were still occurring (they weren't, at least not as often or as strongly). I told my regular doctor this today and she said if I have six an hour to call immediately. Well, in the 20 minutes I was strapped in at the hospital, I had at least ten! When I finished the test (or when HE finished, and passed with flying colors:) I saw the amazing Dr. Poggi (whom I try to convince every time I see her that she is an angel sent from Heaven...you remember her...the Dr. from L.A. who sounds like a VERY smart "Valley Girl") and she stated the obvious - that I was definitely having more than six contractions in an hour. So as I wait for her to check me to see if I am dialated, I am preparing myself for the worst - news that I am already 2 or 3 centimeters dialated, and I need to get people to Virginia STAT (most importantly, Jimmy!). Luckily, I was not dialated at all (or as Poggi put it, "Your cervix didn't get the memo." Did you do the accent?) Another WHEW! She said to keep an eye on the contractions. Ummm, okay? Not quite sure what that means ... I'm obviously getting A LOT of them, so does that mean anything? Is he going to come early? How will I know when they are dialating contractions? (thanks to my two wonderfully honest and succinct mothers - I'll "just know":) My conclusion: I have no idea what to expect, but hopefully they are right, and my body will let me know (and with a little more warning than just a head popping out while I'm watching Jeopardy or something).

Because I was scheduled to see Poggi next week anyway for a growth ultrasound, she said we could do "one-stop shopping" today and go ahead with it. So I got to see the little one who is causing all this drama, and he is perfect. Yippee!!! Everything is measuring great - he's already 5 pounds 12 ounces! (Figure a half a pound more a week, do the math, and we've got a little chunker!) I am measuring around 34 weeks. He's always been about a week ahead, and now with these contractions, I'm starting to think he'll be here sooner than later... just "Mother's Instinct." And Jimmy has had that feeling for awhile now, too. My doctor said that at 37 weeks, they'll deliver (I mean, seriously, three more weeks!!!!!) but the longer he stays in there to fatten up, the better. (Tell that to my... nevermind.) Seriously, though, I really do hope he stays put for a few more weeks. The lungs develop last, and they grow stronger and more functional with each day. I'd hate to have him early and have him suffer by being hooked up to breathing machines in the NICU. That would break my heart. I'm thinking 38 weeks is a perfect time for his first breath :) Oh, and he is head down and "locked" so hopefully he will stay that way so we can decrease our chances of a C-section (thought, honestly, I really don't care ... I just want what's best for him!)

Funny little tid-bit - apparently, the office is witnessing a baby boom right now - babies are up 30%! Poggi noticed how many 18-weekers they had, so her and her nurse got out the calendar, flipped back, and guess what was going on at the time? If you are from the area, do you recall a succession of blizzards? Poggi calls them her "Snowmageddon Babies." The ways people try to stay warm :)

Anyway, as always, please continue prayers and good thoughts. We'd like our little guy to cook for at least another three weeks so he can come out with a waaaaaailllllllling scream letting us know he's okay! :) And thanks so much for all your support - we are so thrilled to be parents-in-the-making.

Pic to come! He's so chubby and cute already!

33 Weeks - I'm still pregnant!

Yes, I realize it's been FIFTEEN weeks since I last posted anything on my pregnancy, but, I swear, it's not because I'm bored with it, having complications, not feeling pregnant, or any other reason you may think I may use to justify my absence. The truth is, despite what my absence may lead you to believe, I've been completely obsessed with this unseen baby. In fact, the reason I've had trouble typing my blog is because I only lift my head and eyes away from my growing and shape-shifting abdomen to eat every once in awhile and make the half-hourly trip to the WC. That's it. The rest of the time - eyes down, hands on belly, heart melting.

This pregnancy has been AMAZING. I think there are two types of pregnant women out there - those that really dislike being pregnant, and those that love it, and I have fallen into the second category (and I can say that confidently now that I'm well into my third trimester!) So to give you a glimpse into what I have been experiencing, I'll make a list (who doesn't like to make lists?) of the wonderful going-ons. Though some of them may seem like "cons", they are merely the facts of my experience (and though I love pregnancy, I'm not a saint, and I reserve the right to complain every once in awhile).

Wonderful happenings:

1. Movement - this is by far my most favorite thing about carrying a baby. My favorite TV shows, time for reading, chores around the house, etc. have all been replaced by my favorite new pasttime - watching my belly for entertainment. And now that I am this far along, it's fun to play, "Guess that body part!" and "Tickle" and "Tag" and all other weird one-sided games I have made up for myself and the unknowing participant, Baby Boy (who, by the way, I'm convinced is growing 18 arms and legs). If you could seriously observe me for one day, you'd think I was nuts. But I don't care - I'm having so much fun playing with him already!
2. Getting huge - I've always wanted a pregnant belly, and because of the stares and extra helpful/nice things strangers do, I can say it's officially large (official meaning it's no longer just my opinion.)
3. Daydreaming about being a mommy. Now that I'm just weeks away, it's getting real, folks!I can now envision this happening. And the biggest desire I have right now is to hold him. He's quite large in there, so I know he is huggable, but I must be patient and let him get just a bit chunkier.
4. Growing closer with Jimmy. Already, I'm so amazed at what a great dad he is. Seriously, I'm pretty sure he's gonna be award-winning. And it's just been so fun sharing this experience together. At first, it was a little awkward, as I asked, "Um, so do you like wanna talk/read/sing to my belly?" or "Feel here...feel that? No? Okay, what about now? No? Okay, what about now... no? What's wrong with you?! ... No, I can't stop breathing!!!" But now, I swear the boy starts going crazy when he hears his daddy's voice. And the kid's gonna love the fathers of Soul, because that's what his daddy loves to sing to him. (ughh...hang on ...continue to number 5 to see reason for delay). Okay, so it's totally inappropriate to sing Marvin Gaye's "Let's get it on" and Al Green's "Let's Stay Together" to a fetus, but it's feel good music to Jimmy, and well, please don't ask me to justify it - it's weird, I know, but just happened to be the music of choice, and it still melts my heart when he sings it. :) Anyway, I'm just so excited to start this chapter with Jimmy, and I think I'm gonna fall in love with him all over again...this whole other dimension to our relationship is starting to develop, and I'm pretty excited for it to continue.
5. Braxton Hicks contractions. To be discussed now as I have one at this very moment. Okay, maybe this is gonna be one of the points about which you ask, especially if you've experienced them before, why it's included in a list entited, "Wonderful happenings." I guess the positive spin is that they are my body's way of "practicing" the miracle of labor. That being said, yes, they are extremely annoying and uncomfortable.
6. Lack of sleep. Positive - I'm getting used to what life will be like for, um, the next 10 years? Oh, and I have the luxury of napping any time I want thanks to not having children already and being unemployed. More power to those who work and chase around kids in their third trimester!
7. No energy. I was kind of hoping the first trimester would be the only time in which I was drop-dead exhausted. Now I can't decide which trimester is worse. Even on the rare occassions where I get ten hours of sleep, I still could use a nap in the middle of the day, or I still just stare at the laundry basket of unfolded clothes as I lay on my bed. Every minute chore is a triathalon. And apparently I'm supposed to be in "Nesting Mode" right now. What's that? Is it when the mommy bird finds the nearest nest (because she's too tired to build her own) and just lays in it for days? Okay, sure, I'm nesting. Oh, Positive - ummmmm, I get to just sit on the couch and play more games with my belly?
8. Plugged ear - for those of you that know me really, really well, you know I have had a plethora of ear problems, from ruptures, to tubes, to weeds growing in them. Add pregnancy to the mix, and my right ear has replaced hearing with ringing once again. This time, I can't do anything about it. No meds, no vacuums, nothing. So for the next couple of months, expect to tell me a really great story or your biggest secret, only for me to reply with, "What?" Pro - well, I'll just say this, you know how you sometimes just want to tune people out? Yeah... Con - I'm pretty sure I am the loudest, most off-key singer in church these days.
9. Indigestion/Heartburn - I remember hearing nightmares about this from pregnant women, and up until a couple week's ago, I thought I had escaped it's wrath. Nope, just add me to the list of victims. Pro - I still eat whatever I damn well please. Tums rock.
10. Near-fainting - A day at the beach... sounds lovely, right? Unless you are seven months pregnant, that is. All was great until the walk to the car after being in the sun for two hours. Now I'm scared to go on what used to be my 40 minute-walk outside. Pro - being taken care of - not in the selfish, spoiled kind of way, but in the way in which you are reminded that people do care and want to look out after you.
11. Constant worrying. This, I've heard, starts here and ends ... well, never. Pro - I'm just so happy I have a little one to worry over, and also a husband who can help remind me when I am being way too overprotective.

Okay, so yeah, I may have prefaced this list by giving you a false notion that it was going to be about all the wonderful things about pregnancy. Don't worry, I HAVE noticed the negatives. And, yes, as a former Reading teacher required to teach children what a Main Idea is, it does bug me that the title and content aren't really appropriate for one another. But, I mean, really, there is ONE pro about being pregnant - creating a human being! So while the list may include more not-so-wonderful happenings, it's quality of the pros versus the quanity of the cons in this scenario. The pros will always win.

Final thoughts: I'm so excited for our little guy to be here in a few weeks. But I am worried about something - I've had him all to myself for the past eight months, and I feel like we have such a strong bond already! Now I have to share him?! Jimmy is only hoping that I will be exhausted so that he can pry him out of my arms. ;) I will try to update again before the little man arrives, but in case I don't, please send lots of good thought and prayers our way. We really appreciate it, as we want to have a healthy and safe delivery for both Mommy and Baby, and emotional strength for Daddy ;)

Til next time!