38 Weeks - Waitin'

Just had another check-up to check progress and go over ultrasound results. The doctor said I am now 2 centimeters dilated, still 70% effaced, and the baby's head is at -3 station - still pretty high up there. Not much progress, but sometimes childbirth is not a gradual thing...hopefully I'll be like my mom and have a four hour labor from first contraction to baby!

As far as the baby's weight, the doctor didn't seem too concerned. Fortunately, the doctors I see share my philosophy- the less intervention, the better. They won't induce until I'm 41 weeks, as they like to avoid it because inductions usually result in more C-sections, which they also like to avoid. So I feel way better knowing they aren't going to force this baby out of me any time soon, but we would like him to come on his own within the next week or two (and she's really hoping before or around my due date.) So she gave me lots of pointers on how to get the labor going, such as walking, long showers, etc. etc.

She also made me feel good about my weight gain, which I was concerned about, as there was a part of me that felt like I had made my baby so chubby! But she reassured me that my weight gain was great (35 pounds, right on track) and, much to my surprise, I hadn't gained any in the past few weeks. I guess when your fingers and toes look like sausages and your ankles disappear you start to wonder...

So, we continue to wait. I am definitely trying to enjoy these last few days of pregnancy. I am going to miss it a lot, but hopefully God will enable us to travel this amazing road again! I also want to enjoy having this little boy all to myself - he is going to be so showered with love and attention when he gets out, I think I might miss him! But I wouldn't have it any other way.

Next appointment is a week from today. Let's hope I miss it :)

37 Weeks - BIG BABY!

My wonderful and amazing parents are FINALLY here! At my 37 week appointment, which they got to attend, the doctor measured my fundal height (my uterus, for those of you who don't know that ... and, obviously, it's a totally normal thing for many of you NOT to know that!) and normally the numbers coincide with what you week you are in. For instance, I was 37 weeks, so my height should have been at 37. As soon as she measured, the doctor looked at me with an astonished look on her face and simply exclaimed, "BIG BABY!" My fundal height was measuring 41! That's FOUR WEEKS ahead of schedule. Luckily, my mom was there to explain that big babies ran in the family (nine, ten, and almost eleven pounds to be sort of exact ... the nine pounder being myself) so the doctor, I believe, spared me the lecture about my diet and we happily chalked it up to genetics. Hold on, gimme a sec as I wipe the spilled ice cream off me. Dr. McKnight quickly wrote me a prescription for an ultrasound so that we could get an estimate on just how big this baby really is.

The next day, my mom, dad, and I (as well as the awesome new video camera we got for precious moments like these) went to the ultrasound and got to see our little guy! Damn, I am still too used to saying "little"...we really can't call him that anymore. The ultrasound technician measured his body parts, and everything was measuring right at 37-38 weeks, except for (for those of you who recall the post I wrote at 18 weeks, you may be able to take a guess) .... HIS BELLY! Belly was 41 weeks!! Oh boy...genetics at their finest. His beer belly has made an appearance 21 years early. After the measurements were taken, the estimated fetal weight was..... drum roll, please.... 8 pounds 2 ounces! BIG BABY!

Seeing the little chunker in 3d was amazing. I needed that ultrasound, as I have been so caught up in the anxiety of becoming a mommy, the impending labor, getting the house ready, dealing with aches and pains, and the instant I saw our boy, all of that just went away, and pure love replaced all doubt. It doesn't matter anymore that my feet hurt the moment I step off the bed in the morning. It doesn't matter that the house isn't spotless. All that matters is getting him here safely, holding him in my arms, and kissing the crap out of all fifteen pounds of him.

Please feel free to watch the video Grandpa Schoville expertly filmed of the little fatty. Technology truly is amazing these days.

Also, I see the doctor again next week, so maybe we will have more of a game plan about delivering this chunky monkey. The doctor did already say she won't induce me early, and that's fine with me. Ideally, he will just come on his own soon, but God already has a plan on how he will make his entrance, and I'm just try to go with it, whatever "it" is!

More next week ...

36 Weeks - No progress

Hello, everyone!
I had another appointment today and haven't made any progress in the past couple of weeks. Still one centimeter, Baby Boy's heartbeat is strong, and he is still head down!
My parents come into town this week! So excited to have them here, but I am a little scared they will get bored twiddling their thumbs with me in anticipation. Plus, I hear I'm a bit emotional nowadays. I think I'm gonna owe them after this!
I'm so excited to meet our little guy. I am getting a bit nervous about the delivery and about being a mom, in general. Frankly, I just don't feel like all the research about taking care of an infant is really registering with me. I'm gonna just have to do it to learn it, I think. As for the labor part, I just keep putting my trust in God for a safe and healthy delivery for me and baby boy. I had an angel hanging on (what was then) the spare bedroom's door while we were trying to conceive our little one (and all throughout the pregnancy) and now it's in my hospital bag to hopefully keep blessing us on this miraculous journey. As always, prayers are very much appreciated!
OH, and I MUST brag about my amazing husband. Jimmy's really picking up my slack around the house, always asking what he can do to help, and just being that rock that I need right now while the hormones are crazy! I couldn't ask for a better husband, and I just can't wait for him to be not only my spouse, but the father of my child. I am already so in love with our family, and it's only going to get better.
Jimmy - Thanks for making me laugh so hard every day that I literally almost pee my maternity pants ("What is....") and for being so helpful, understanding, and positive!! I love you!!!

33 Weeks - It's starting!

At 33 weeks, I went in for a check-up, and wouldn't you know, the little guy's heart rate was high AGAIN. This time, the doctor (a different one), said pretty much right away, "Looks like someone just woke up." So she listened to him for awhile, and not only could you see my belly squirming, you could hear him squirming on the doppler. After a minute or two, she got his heart rate back down in the normal range, and she concluded that he is just one of those babies that gets a little "excited" when he is unexpectedly woken up. Grreeeaaatt...sounds like another guy I know .... ;)

After I told her about the contractions I'd been having, she checked me and I was dilated one centimeter and am already 70% effaced, and the little guy is still head down. Sounds like my body has started preparing for the journey of labor!