Doctor Update - 39 1/2 Weeks

I went to the doctor today for another cervix check. I am 1 1/2 cm dilated, 50% effaced and +2 fetal position. Basically that means the baby could come today or it could come in a week. The baby's heartbeat was strong at 150bpm. I am measuring just shy of 40 weeks so she guessed the baby is around 7 1/2 pounds. The baby has dropped a little more and she could feel the head. She did a pretty thorough exam (ouch) which she said might help trigger labor.

Although I did not see my doctor today, we talked about induction. I really do not want to be induced! They will let me wait until next weekend before they want to induce me which is a week past my due date. My doctor is on call on Monday so maybe that is the day the baby will decide to make an appearance.

Tonight is eggplant parm at Scalini's so we will see if the myth is true. I am also going to walk several times today, climb up and down stairs, drink raspberry leaf tea and try acupressure on my hands, feet, calves and back. Fortunately, I am not that uncomfortable so I can stand to wait a few more days if I have to. I am just anxious to meet the little one. Apparently, he/she does not feel the same way about meeting all of us!

Baby Poll

At one of my baby showers, everyone wrote down their birth date prediction. It looks like the top 3 have already come and gone. Sarah picked an early date since the last 2 girls in our office that had babies both went into labor 3 weeks early. I was not so lucky. I am hoping for September 30th so go Valerie!

Feel free to comment with your prediction and I will add it to the post.

Sarah:  Boy - September 15
Katy:  Boy - September 25 - 7lbs 5oz
Camille:  Boy - September 27 - 7lbs 4oz
Carla:  Boy - September 28
Betsy:  Boy - September 29 - 8lbs 2oz
Valerie:  Girl - September 30 - 6lbs 10oz
Brandy:  Boy - October 1 - 7lbs 2oz
Heather:  Boy - October 1 - 8lbs 3oz
Sara:  Boy - October 2 - 7lbs 10oz
Emily C:  Boy - October 3 - 7lbs 2oz
Pam:  Boy - October 3 - 9lbs 4oz
Gene:  Boy - October 4 - 9lbs 3oz
Tracey:  Boy - October 4 - 7lbs 12oz
Renee:  Boy - October 5 - 8 lbs 13oz
Janice:  Boy - October 5 - 7lbs 3oz
Brantley:  Boy - October 5 - 7lbs 8oz

All my Bags are Packed

I am so ready to go!

I think I have everything packed that I might need at the hospital. Erik is finishing up packing his bag. And we have a list of the few last minute items to grab such as chargers and the laptop. Now all we need are some contractions!

Got Cankles?

I do!

Around Tuesday afternoon I noticed that my feet were starting to swell. They were a little puffy that night but it went away by the morning. Then mid-day on Wednesday, they starting swelling again. This is what they looked like around 6pm. Last night was much worse. I could feel the liquid in the tops and sides of my feet when I walked. Yuck! I am glad it is going down after I sleep but it is so ugly. I have been wearing pants and long dresses to cover them up. This doesn't help in the 90+ degree fall heat!

Nursery

I have been meaning to post some pictures of the nursery. We still need to find a small bookshelf for the corner to the right of the crib. For now, we just have the baby toys and books in baskets. But everything else is pretty much ready...now all we need is the baby!

The crib with the bumpers and crib skirt my Mom made for us.

Close up of the bumpers.

 

Curtains my Mom made, recliner with pillow my Mom made, end table with lamp & CD player/clock.

 

Dresser with lion nightlight, elephant humidifier and canvas art that I still need to hang up.

Tracey painted these amazing canvas pictures for us from the fabric patterns.

They are so adorable!

The combo and hutch with changing pad, baskets filled with baby essentials and cute elephant piggy bank.

Early Baby?

Everyone at my office is convinced that I am going to have this baby early. We had two other pregnant women here, one due in May and one due in June. Our receptionist planned their baby showers a few weeks before their due dates. Both of them were 3 weeks early and delivered just before the office shower. Well, my shower is scheduled for next Tuesday so everyone is on their toes.

I keep telling them I will not be that lucky. I am going to be the miserably large pregnant women waddling around a week after this baby is due. I am going to try all of the old wives tales to help this baby along but I am pretty sure they won't work.

• Walk 2-3 miles every day (Bert loves this one!)
• Eat Eggplant Parmigiana at Scalini's
• Spicy food (Not sure my stomach can handle it)
• Tropical fruit
• Drink raspberry leaf tea
• Nipple stimulation (My Mom's teacher friends suggested this one!)
• Achilles massage (My yoga teacher said there are pressure points in the foot that induce labor)
• And then there is sex (sorry Mom, but they say it works)

I have also tried talking to the Lentil. I told him/her that Thursday, September 30th would be a great day to arrive into this world. My prediction from the beginning was Tuesday, September 28th but I want to go to yoga Wednesday night. So the plan is to go to yoga and get all relaxed. Have a nice dinner with Erik. Get a decent night of sleep if that is possible. Wake up to contractions before Erik leaves for school. Labor at home for a while and then head to the hospital. Such a perfect plan that I am sure won't happen in any way, shape or form like I just described it. It is always fun to dream!

Doctor Update - 37 weeks

I went to the doctor today and was finally able to see my doctor. The past 2 appointments I have had with her she has been at the hospital delivering babies. It was great to talk to her because she just makes me feel very comfortable. I am normally a tense person but I am strangely calm about labor. I am not sure why that is but I hope it stays that way. Since I just went the doctor on Friday, not much has changed. My Group B Strep culture did come back negative so I won't require an IV during delivery.

My next appointment is Monday and they will do the first cervix check. I am so glad I am scheduled to see my doctor again. The nurse said that is best since she has the smallest hands! I hope they have good news for me. Knowing my luck, I won't be dilated or effaced even the tiniest bit.

The past two weeks my dreams about the baby have been a girl. I think my mind is playing tricks on me although the heartbeat was fast today around 160 bpm. Only a few more weeks until we find out!

Hospital Tour

Erik and I had a very busy day yesterday. We met with our pastor and several other couples to discuss the baptism of the baby. It was great to go over the theology and methodology of baptism in the Lutheran Church. Plus, we really like our Pastor and it is always nice to meet with him. He is so down to earth and I feel like he really understands us. We are going to schedule a date on the church calendar for the baptism in mid-November.

It was a big day for Bert also since it was his birthday! We don't know his actual birthday since he was a rescue so we picked September 12th. I can't believe our little fur ball is a year old or I guess seven years old. For a special birthday treat, we took him to PetsMart to get groomed. Our black dog is now gray again. It is so strange how the layers of his fur are different colors. He was a good boy so Daddy bought him some treats and 2 new toys!

I played our first ALTA match of the fall season. My partner and I won in two sets which was a good thing because it was hot! Our opponents were quite upset that they lost to such a large pregnant lady. It just makes me want to keep playing more. I am going to play again next Sunday and then we will see how things go at the doctor. If I am starting to progress, I will regretfully have to quit playing.

After my tennis match, Erik and I headed to Northside for our hospital tour. I did not have time to change so I was quite stinky. The tour lady said she was jealous because she had to miss tennis today. She was proud of me for playing. See Mom, it is not a bad thing - even the nurse said so! The tour was great and I know it was good for Erik to understand everything for the big day. They did not seem very busy in labor & delivery so perhaps Sunday is a good day.