On Friday, February 14th I went to the hospital for a non-stress test and an amniotic fluid check. This is a standard procedure for the doctors office when a baby is overdue.
When I arrived I was taken back to a room with monitors and a reclining chair. The nurse got me comfortable, lifted up my shirt, and hooked me up to two monitors. One which monitored the baby's heart rate and another to monitor contractions. The nurse said the test could take a minimum of 20 minutes up to 1 hour. During this time they wanted to make sure the baby's heart rate stayed within the normal range but also went up and down appropriately. If I was to have any contractions they also wanted to make sure the baby's heart rate reacting the way it should as well. The non-stress test could not have gone any better. The baby passed with flying colors and so we only had to stay on the monitors for 20 minutes. During the 20 minutes I had 1 contraction.
After the non stress test, the nurse completed an ultrasound to measure my amniotic fluid. To do this they divide the belly up onto 4 quadrants and take measurements of the fluid. Then the computer calculates the fluid. They are looking for no less than 5 and no more that 25. I was at a 9 which she said was very good.
After she took all the measurements, she showed me the baby. This was not the best ultrasound machine I have every seen so it was hard to make out everything. I was able to see the top of her head which is sitting low and down. Her spine and heart beating. Then only quickly and faintly her arms and legs. She is currently laying in a fetal position, head down.
Overall, I felt really good when I left the office. Don't get me wrong, I wish she would have made her entrance into the world days ago but I think seeing her gave me that little lift I needed.
Now....we call on Monday at 3pm to see if our reservation for the induction is good to go!!
Sunday, February 16, 2014
Friday, February 14, 2014
40 Weeks 6 days- Where's Baby???
February 8th past us quickly with no baby. We woke up Saturday and did our normal grocery shopping and cleaning around the house. Based on how I was feeling I was pretty sure this was not going to be the day we met our little girl.
So...we waited...February 9th....February 10th....February 11th and still no baby.
On the night of February 10th I woke up every hour with really strong braxton hicks. It felt as if my stomach was squeezing the baby out but not a real cramping feeling. On the 11th, I woke up to a little bit of cramping (very light) and lots of pressure down below. I also had a doctors appointment the afternoon of the 11th.
As I waited to go back, I started to get very uncomfortable pains in my stomach and for a split second thought I was experiencing contraction unfortunately they were not consistent. I went back and the nurse asked me how I was doing. I completely lost it. The stress of waiting, the cramping, the braxton hicks, the nasty people I had to deal with at the doctors office the week before and people constantly asking where she was was just too much. I was officially done being pregnant. The nurse took my blood pressure and it was really high. She decided to take it again a little bit later.
Thankfully, at this appointment, I was scheduled to see the nurse practicioner. She is so nice and knew exactly what to say to calm me down. My stomach is still measuring larger which is not surprise since I am late and I have beautiful stretch marks to prove it. I was still 1 cm. and 80% effaced. She did comment however that she is really low and wondered how i was still walking. She said this week would be the end and they wouldn't let me go past Monday, February 17th. I was then given a paper about induction. At the end of the appointment she checked my blood pressure again...it was still pretty high so she sent me up to the birthplace for an observation.
I had talked to Nick before my appointment and told him how I was feeling. Thinking this was going to be the day he left work and met me at the hospital. I was shocked when I called to tell him about the observation and he was already there. (This is just one of the many reasons I love him!!) So we met at the admissions office, checked in, and went up to the Birthplace.
The nurse had me change into a gown, give a urine sample, and asked a bunch of questions. I was hooked up to two monitors...one to monitor the baby's heartbeat and one to monitor me or my contractions. I also had my blood pressure taken every 15 minutes. This lasted two hours. At the end of the observation the doctor came in and told me my blood pressure was good and the baby looked great. She also informed me that I was actually experiencing some contractions. Once again these are not the contractions that count. She explained the contractions we are looking for are the ones that take your breath away. Basically what i have experienced half of my life during my periods. She also told me she wanted me to have a non-stress test done this week as well as an amniotic fluid check. After our little consult and signing some papers, I got dressed and Nick and I were on our way.
So....we waited some more....February 12th.....February 13th....and here I sit on February 14th officially 6 days late.
Today, I am going for my non-stress test and amniotic fluid test. If we don't have anything happened in the next 3 days, I will call the Birthplace to see if there is a bed available on Monday, February 17th at 3pm.
I am not completely clear on how this induction is going to work but this is what I do know...
So...we waited...February 9th....February 10th....February 11th and still no baby.
On the night of February 10th I woke up every hour with really strong braxton hicks. It felt as if my stomach was squeezing the baby out but not a real cramping feeling. On the 11th, I woke up to a little bit of cramping (very light) and lots of pressure down below. I also had a doctors appointment the afternoon of the 11th.
As I waited to go back, I started to get very uncomfortable pains in my stomach and for a split second thought I was experiencing contraction unfortunately they were not consistent. I went back and the nurse asked me how I was doing. I completely lost it. The stress of waiting, the cramping, the braxton hicks, the nasty people I had to deal with at the doctors office the week before and people constantly asking where she was was just too much. I was officially done being pregnant. The nurse took my blood pressure and it was really high. She decided to take it again a little bit later.
Thankfully, at this appointment, I was scheduled to see the nurse practicioner. She is so nice and knew exactly what to say to calm me down. My stomach is still measuring larger which is not surprise since I am late and I have beautiful stretch marks to prove it. I was still 1 cm. and 80% effaced. She did comment however that she is really low and wondered how i was still walking. She said this week would be the end and they wouldn't let me go past Monday, February 17th. I was then given a paper about induction. At the end of the appointment she checked my blood pressure again...it was still pretty high so she sent me up to the birthplace for an observation.
I had talked to Nick before my appointment and told him how I was feeling. Thinking this was going to be the day he left work and met me at the hospital. I was shocked when I called to tell him about the observation and he was already there. (This is just one of the many reasons I love him!!) So we met at the admissions office, checked in, and went up to the Birthplace.
The nurse had me change into a gown, give a urine sample, and asked a bunch of questions. I was hooked up to two monitors...one to monitor the baby's heartbeat and one to monitor me or my contractions. I also had my blood pressure taken every 15 minutes. This lasted two hours. At the end of the observation the doctor came in and told me my blood pressure was good and the baby looked great. She also informed me that I was actually experiencing some contractions. Once again these are not the contractions that count. She explained the contractions we are looking for are the ones that take your breath away. Basically what i have experienced half of my life during my periods. She also told me she wanted me to have a non-stress test done this week as well as an amniotic fluid check. After our little consult and signing some papers, I got dressed and Nick and I were on our way.
So....we waited some more....February 12th.....February 13th....and here I sit on February 14th officially 6 days late.
Today, I am going for my non-stress test and amniotic fluid test. If we don't have anything happened in the next 3 days, I will call the Birthplace to see if there is a bed available on Monday, February 17th at 3pm.
I am not completely clear on how this induction is going to work but this is what I do know...
- I am allowed a very bland diet before going in. (ie: toast, water, gingerale, crackers, etc.)
- I will call at 3pm and hopefully they have a bed. If they do I will get to the hospital around 4pm if not they will call me with another date.
- Once I am there, I will be given a drug called Cervidil which is something inserted into the vagina to start cervical ripening.
- It is hard to say how fast the process will be and can vary. Paperwork says it is not unusual for it to take more than one day to establish adequate labor.
Monday, February 10, 2014
Baby Wood Update- Weeks 38 & 39
39 WEEKS
I think my cold has gone away but my belly is still growing. The end of this pregnancy is no joke. I am really struggling at work and ended up taking two half days later in the week. Let's go BABY GIRL!!!
Total weight gain: 156 lb (gained 36 pounds)
Maternity clothes? Yes! - Most of my comfortable clothes are packed in my hospital bag which leaves with me with a total of 5 pants and 3 total shirts I actually fit into. My maternity clothes don't even look right anymore.
Stretch marks? Well, the stretch marks are here to stay. I made it all the way through this pregnancy without anything on my belly and in the last few weeks now have these beautiful spider looking veins and both sides of my stomach.
Belly Button: Just a little bit.
Miss anything: Nothing really.
Food cravings: Chocolate and fruit.
Anything making you queasy or sick: Nothing...Feeling good.
Labor signs: Braxton Hicks & cramps here and there
Third Trimester Symptoms: 4th internal exam- I was still 1cm. dilated and 80% effaced. I met with the one doctor I do not mesh with. She is young and kills me when she does the exam. She also struggles to find the heartbeat every time. I had a few different questions at this particular appointment that I wanted answered.
- How many people can come into the labor and delivery room? 2 people will be given wrist bands
- Does she seem big to you? Yes. An ultrasound would be able to give us more information but would not be 100% accurate. The ultrasound is up to us.
- Can I get a prescription for a breast pump? Yes
- Can I get a note for stop working as of 2/4? Yes (She ended up giving me a note for the 5th and 6th. When I called back for another doctors notes since the baby had not arrived she gave me a very hard time. She ended up refilling out the FMLA paperwork and I started FMLA as of Thursday even though the baby is not here yet.)
Wedding rings on/off: Off
Mood: Feeling good! Getting very excited!!
Best Part of the Week: Celebrated Nick's 35th birthday!!! It felt good spending some time together and getting to go out at least one last time.
Looking forward to: Meeting Little Miss Wood!!!
38 WEEKS
This week was absolutely the worst. It was the first week that I felt too pregnant. I also had to deal with a terrible nose cold. It has been the one and only time in the past nine months I have been sick. Since I didn't feel great, sadly I didn't take a picture.
Total weight gain: I didn't weigh myself this week.
Maternity clothes? Yes! - I think I wore my maternity jeans for the last time this week. This belly has really grown.
Stretch marks? I am very nervous to admit it but I have light veins which have appeared on the left side of my belly button.
Belly Button: Just a little bit.
Miss anything: Anything with Caesar Dressing...wraps, salad, etc.
Food cravings: Chocolate and fruit.
Anything making you queasy or sick: Nothing...Feeling good.
Labor signs: Braxton Hicks.- contractions are getting stronger
Third Trimester Symptoms: 3rd internal exam- no progression
- What can I do if I do not want the delivery doctor to us instruments such as forceps or vacuum? The doctor introduced us to the idea of scheduling a c-section. If we decided to do this they would schedule it for the week of Feb 3rd. Factoid: A c-section is safer for the baby and more invasive for the mother while a vaginal birth is more dangerous for the baby and safer for the mother. (Nick and I decided not to do this. First, Nick was very against doing an abdominal surgery that is not needed. Second, we were both on the fence of the possibility of regretting not having a vaginal birth. I am still against using the instruments and have since decided to write a birth plan of what I want and don't want during the delivery.)
Wedding rings on/off: Off
Mood: Ugh!
Best Part of the Week: Celebrated Nick's 35th birthday!!! It felt good spending some time together and getting to go out at least one last time.
Looking forward to: Meeting Little Miss Wood!!!
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