Doctor appointment today, and surprise...still at 1 cm. I guess Ethan just isn't in a hurry to get out. But I've got news for him...his eviction notice may come sooner than he thinks!
The doctor wants to do another ultrasound tomorrow to check his weight. If he's over 8 lbs, they are going to induce me next week. That way I'll have a better chance of not having to get a c section.
Wow...next week...hard to believe it may be time already. This has been a wonderful journey..but its gone so fast! I'll post more tomorrow when I know more. For now, a little about week 38:
Your baby continues to grow this week and weighs about 6.8 pounds. His crown-to-rump length is still about 14 inches and total length is around 21 inches. Most women do not grow any larger during the last few weeks of their pregnancy. From the top of your uterus to your bellybutton is about 6.5 to 7 inches. You may be very uncomfortable now-you are almost there!
Just before real labor contractions start, you might notice false labor contractions. These should not be confused with Braxton-Hicks contractions. False labor contractions can be as strong as real labor contractions, but do not get closer and may go away if you get up to walk around. Contractions help dilate the cervix and encourage your water to break. Your baby could be born any day now, but only 5% of mothers deliver on their actual due date!
Over the last few weeks of pregnancy, your baby has been building up waste materials in the intestines. This waste material is known as meconium and is greenish-black in color. Meconium is made up of cells that your baby has shed, lanugo and other substances. Meconium is the first waste that your baby will pass after birth. However, sometimes babies pass meconium before delivery and are delivered with greenish-black waste covering their body. Special care must be taken when a baby passes meconium in the womb.
If your baby is a boy, his testes should have descended into his scrotum by this time. When your baby boy is born, both of his testes should be in place. Approximately 1% of babies are born with undescended testes. Because an undescended testis can cause infertility issues and increase the risks of testicular cancer, your baby's doctor will examine both testes after birth.
The baby's skull is not fully solid as the five bony plates, known as fontanels (little fountains), are still separate and can be pushed together. Birth may mold and elongate the fetal head, a safety precaution to reduce the skull's diameter for an easier birth, without damaging the fetal brain. After delivery, the baby's head returns to a rounded shape. Eyes have no tear ducts yet, they appear a few weeks after birth.
Monday, October 15, 2007
Monday, October 8, 2007
Status Quo
A most disappointing day.
Went to the doctor, and I'm still dilated just 1 cm. She said I may have thinned out a little more, but "nothing to write home about." I was really hoping to have progressed more.
Don't get me wrong, it's like I said before, I love being pregnant. It's wonderful. But I'm getting tired.
And not just because of lack of sleep. I know I have a lot more of that to look forward to, and that's fine. But I'm tired of hurting. I'm tired of not being able to do things that I could normally do. I hate getting worn out so easy. I feel so weak. And the heartburn. I've been dealing with it so long, and it only gets worse. I have it if I'm hungry. I have it after I eat. I have it while I try to sleep. And nothing helps. Tagament stopped working. Tums used to do the trick, but I eat so much Tums that I think I'm at serious risk for a kidney stone from all the calcium. But even Tums have lost their punch. So I'm going to try Pepsid. But I'm not hopeful at this point.
I know I shouldn't be complaining, since I've had it so easy until recently. I'm just tired, that's all.
Went to the doctor, and I'm still dilated just 1 cm. She said I may have thinned out a little more, but "nothing to write home about." I was really hoping to have progressed more.
Don't get me wrong, it's like I said before, I love being pregnant. It's wonderful. But I'm getting tired.
And not just because of lack of sleep. I know I have a lot more of that to look forward to, and that's fine. But I'm tired of hurting. I'm tired of not being able to do things that I could normally do. I hate getting worn out so easy. I feel so weak. And the heartburn. I've been dealing with it so long, and it only gets worse. I have it if I'm hungry. I have it after I eat. I have it while I try to sleep. And nothing helps. Tagament stopped working. Tums used to do the trick, but I eat so much Tums that I think I'm at serious risk for a kidney stone from all the calcium. But even Tums have lost their punch. So I'm going to try Pepsid. But I'm not hopeful at this point.
I know I shouldn't be complaining, since I've had it so easy until recently. I'm just tired, that's all.
Sunday, October 7, 2007
Heartburn!
Well, here I am, at 3am with a bucket of ice cream in front of me. Praying that this might work. Losing sleep again because of heartburn. I've gotten pretty used to the heartburn, but sometimes its just worse than others. Like tonight. I've taken more than my day's worth of Tums just this evening. When that doesn't work, usually a glass of milk or some ice cream will. I've already tried the milk. So now I'm trying the ice cream. It's really my last resort. If this doesn't work, I don't know what I'll do.
I sleep all propped up, which has helped. But I think I made my mistake by eating when I got home from work tonight. I had a small dinner earlier tonight, so by the time I got home from work, I was pretty hungry again. I know better than to eat late. But I did it anyway. So now I'm paying for it. I should have just went to bed hungry.
My other discomforts are starting to add up now too. I guess I had to start being uncomfortable at some point, I've been so lucky so far. My back hurts pretty much all the time. Sometimes its mid-back, sometimes lower back, now that he's dropped. The most interesting pain of all is the cervical pain. I read that it is caused by his head hitting the cervix but the cervix not giving way. Sometimes I can actually feel him turn his head...and WHOA, that is a weird feeling. At first I described it as a tickle and a little hurt at the same time. Now it just hurts, its definately gotten more forceful.
I also get some cramps from time to time. Mostly when I'm walking around, and it is in my butt (left cheek usually) and runs down my thigh. I read that this is because he's sitting on the sciatic nerve...which can cause all manner of strange cramps.
Then I alternate between bursts of energy (nesting probably) and being absolutely wiped out.
I think yesterday I had some Braxton Hicks contractions. I keep wondering if I am going to be completely oblivious of early labor. Especially if its back labor, since my back hurts all the time anyway. Everything I read says it feels like menstrual cramps. But I never got cramps, so I don't know what that feels like! You'd think it would be common sense, and of course when they are getting stronger I will recognize it, but the early ones...who knows? I could miss those all together, I fear.
I'm starting to get kinda anxious about labor. Both in the sense that I'm nervous about it and that I'm ready to be done. I love being pregnant actually, don't get me wrong. It's been amazing. And its not just because I'm starting to be uncomfortable. I'm just ready to hold him, to see what he's like, to play with him...all of that.
I'm sure that time will come soon enough...let's just hope it's not another 3 weeks...
I sleep all propped up, which has helped. But I think I made my mistake by eating when I got home from work tonight. I had a small dinner earlier tonight, so by the time I got home from work, I was pretty hungry again. I know better than to eat late. But I did it anyway. So now I'm paying for it. I should have just went to bed hungry.
My other discomforts are starting to add up now too. I guess I had to start being uncomfortable at some point, I've been so lucky so far. My back hurts pretty much all the time. Sometimes its mid-back, sometimes lower back, now that he's dropped. The most interesting pain of all is the cervical pain. I read that it is caused by his head hitting the cervix but the cervix not giving way. Sometimes I can actually feel him turn his head...and WHOA, that is a weird feeling. At first I described it as a tickle and a little hurt at the same time. Now it just hurts, its definately gotten more forceful.
I also get some cramps from time to time. Mostly when I'm walking around, and it is in my butt (left cheek usually) and runs down my thigh. I read that this is because he's sitting on the sciatic nerve...which can cause all manner of strange cramps.
Then I alternate between bursts of energy (nesting probably) and being absolutely wiped out.
I think yesterday I had some Braxton Hicks contractions. I keep wondering if I am going to be completely oblivious of early labor. Especially if its back labor, since my back hurts all the time anyway. Everything I read says it feels like menstrual cramps. But I never got cramps, so I don't know what that feels like! You'd think it would be common sense, and of course when they are getting stronger I will recognize it, but the early ones...who knows? I could miss those all together, I fear.
I'm starting to get kinda anxious about labor. Both in the sense that I'm nervous about it and that I'm ready to be done. I love being pregnant actually, don't get me wrong. It's been amazing. And its not just because I'm starting to be uncomfortable. I'm just ready to hold him, to see what he's like, to play with him...all of that.
I'm sure that time will come soon enough...let's just hope it's not another 3 weeks...
Monday, October 1, 2007
The countdown begins...
Went to the doctor today, got a lovely cervical exam. I told my mom that I know now why she sent a nurse flying across the room when she was in labor with me. There is nothing pleasant about this exam.
But anyway, the news is good. I am 50% effaced (thinned) and I am 1 cm dilated. Here is an explanation:
Cervix thins and shortens. The cervix begins to thin and shorten during prelabour (known as 'effacement'). The cervix is normally 3- 5cm thick. It needs to become paper-thin before it can dilate past 3 cms.
The thinning and shortening of the cervix is measured by the caregiver in terms of percentages. A thick, or 'uneffaced' cervix (0%) indicates that the cervix is unripe, feeling long and thick to touch. When the cervix is paper-thin, or 'fully effaced' (100%) it has been mostly pulled up into the lower segment of the uterine wall, allowing it then to dilate more than 3 cms.
Cervix opens. When the cervix is opening up (or dilating) it is measured by the caregiver in centimetres. A completely open cervix is approximately 10cm (The width of your baby's head). The cervix can be closed or up to 2 - 3 centimetres dilated before the strong labour begins.
The opening, thinning and pulling up of the cervix tends to happen simultaneously. The cervix cannot open beyond approximately 3 to 4cm until it has thinned or 'effaced' to 100 %. And the cervix can not thin and shorten (efface) without starting to open (dilate). A thick or very thin cervix up to 3 to 4cm dilation is usually classified as the prelabour stage of labour.
Also, she said that even though the ultrasound measured him 6lbs, 10oz, that often the ultrasound measures a little bigger than true size. So she thinks there is a very good chance that I'll be able to have him naturally. She said that aggressive weight gain from now on would be 1/2 lb a week. So if he's closer to 6 lbs, then we're looking at an 8 or 8.5 lb baby. So we'll see how things progress from here.
Other than that, Steve's mom came over and helped him put the crib and changing table together. His room is finally starting to look like a baby room! Tomorrow when I have more energy, I'll do a little more in there.
Other than that, I can definatly tell he's dropped. My back pain went from mid back to lower back, and there is constant pressure in my lower regions. The doc said during the exam she could feel his head, so he's definatly "getting into position". Things have actually felt different today since the exam, which really makes no sense...but I've just felt more pressure and pain since this morning.
I guess I have no room to complain. I've had an easy pregnancy up until now. At some point I'd have to pay my dues. I guess that time is now.
But anyway, the news is good. I am 50% effaced (thinned) and I am 1 cm dilated. Here is an explanation:
Cervix thins and shortens. The cervix begins to thin and shorten during prelabour (known as 'effacement'). The cervix is normally 3- 5cm thick. It needs to become paper-thin before it can dilate past 3 cms.
The thinning and shortening of the cervix is measured by the caregiver in terms of percentages. A thick, or 'uneffaced' cervix (0%) indicates that the cervix is unripe, feeling long and thick to touch. When the cervix is paper-thin, or 'fully effaced' (100%) it has been mostly pulled up into the lower segment of the uterine wall, allowing it then to dilate more than 3 cms.
Cervix opens. When the cervix is opening up (or dilating) it is measured by the caregiver in centimetres. A completely open cervix is approximately 10cm (The width of your baby's head). The cervix can be closed or up to 2 - 3 centimetres dilated before the strong labour begins.
The opening, thinning and pulling up of the cervix tends to happen simultaneously. The cervix cannot open beyond approximately 3 to 4cm until it has thinned or 'effaced' to 100 %. And the cervix can not thin and shorten (efface) without starting to open (dilate). A thick or very thin cervix up to 3 to 4cm dilation is usually classified as the prelabour stage of labour.
Also, she said that even though the ultrasound measured him 6lbs, 10oz, that often the ultrasound measures a little bigger than true size. So she thinks there is a very good chance that I'll be able to have him naturally. She said that aggressive weight gain from now on would be 1/2 lb a week. So if he's closer to 6 lbs, then we're looking at an 8 or 8.5 lb baby. So we'll see how things progress from here.
Other than that, Steve's mom came over and helped him put the crib and changing table together. His room is finally starting to look like a baby room! Tomorrow when I have more energy, I'll do a little more in there.
Other than that, I can definatly tell he's dropped. My back pain went from mid back to lower back, and there is constant pressure in my lower regions. The doc said during the exam she could feel his head, so he's definatly "getting into position". Things have actually felt different today since the exam, which really makes no sense...but I've just felt more pressure and pain since this morning.
I guess I have no room to complain. I've had an easy pregnancy up until now. At some point I'd have to pay my dues. I guess that time is now.
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