36 weeks = head of romaine lettuce!

I can not believe that I've made it this far! 

I've read so many statistics and stories of preterm labor (which still technically I'm preterm until next week). Mentally, I feel like now that I'm 36 weeks, I'm going to go into labor at any minute! 

I just wish it would hurry up and be Friday so that I knew what was happening inside my uterus!! I hate not knowing and hate waiting. 

I just hope that since I'm this far along, they won't have to spend any/a lot of time in the NICU and that she is ok. 

NST today, my blood pressure was elevated again. The nurse took it three times in a half hour, average being 136/89. The doctor on call wasn't too concerned so I didn't have to do any bloodwork. Just return on Friday. The babies were both reactive on the monitor and did fine. 

While I was in the waiting room, there was a baby born. The babys grandmother and aunt were there and crying. Too cute.. 

We met with the doctor scheduled to do my March 13 csection this morning. He was nice, trying to crack jokes also very serious. He did ask me how did I draw the short straw when it came to him doing my csection. I found that funny. My blood pressure was 140/80... Ugh. And my weight is up to 36lbs gained. Bill asked him if I'll make it to 3/13 and he said pregnancy is too unpredictable to guess. I have the BPP and NST this afternoon where I'll get my blood pressure checked again. 

BPP revealed low amniotic fluid surrounding the baby girl which goes along with what the doctor said last week about the placenta maybe not providing adequate nutrition. The amniotic fluid is ingested by the baby and urinated back out and the process starts again. So low fluid corresponds with low nutrient input and low urine output (from what I read online). The doctor felt it fine to see me next week so it wasn't too concerning today apparently. 

NST was normal. 

If I had to guess... We could meet our babies on 2/28/14. :-)

Does photo make my bump look big? Lol

35 weeks

It's my birthday and I'm 35 weeks today!

The NST was normal yesterday, the nurse said I was the easiest patient all day. 

The babies are the size of.... Honeydew melon!! 

I tried some "sleepy time tea" last night hoping to not wake up while sleeping. Did it work? NO! I woke up more. :-) I had a few nights of "comfortable" sleeping this weekend and now I'm back to "torture" sleeping. The babies are sticking out my sides that I have to sleep on, it feels like lying on a brick.. Only to roll over and be lying on another brick. Oh well. It'll be over soon, I know. Then I'll be recovering from surgery. I just want to be comfortable again! 

I'm off to a NST now.. 

34 week ultrasound

We had a busy morning on Friday at South Shore Hospital for our monthly ultrasound and NST. The ultrasound for the most part was normal. Because of the positions of the babies, the technician had a difficult time getting the appropriate measurements. They're currently breech and transverse again.  I had to roll over on my sides and twist and turn, it was an uncomfortable appointment. We didn't get any more ultrasound photos, I think the babies are too big for the probe to get any real images.

The baby boy measures 5lbs 13oz and the baby girl measures 4lbs exactly. Due to the large size difference and the fact that she is so small and in the 12% and he is in the 51%, the doctor is slightly concerned. He would like me to return this Friday for a BPP (Biophysical profile) to check the 5 parameters: breathing, mobility, muscle tone, heart rate and amniotic fluid. I will then return in 2 weeks on 2/28/14 for another growth scan. If at this time, there isn't much improvement in her weight or she is "dropping off the growth scale", delivery would be indicated sooner.

34 weeks, the babies are the size of cantaloupes! 

My nonstress test was normal today. My blood pressure was normal and I didn't hear about my bloodwork so it must be normal. I hit 34 weeks tomorrow! :-)

33 weeks pregnant and in a dress!!

I had my 34ish week appointment today. She was having trouble finding both heartbeats again because we weren't 100% sure of their positions so she did a quick ultrasound. Both babies are now transverse again! They're lying with their heads on the left and body and legs to the right. Ouch!! She felt the lumps that are their heads :-)

She is happy to see I'm moving along and almost at 34 weeks. After 34 weeks, a babies lungs are more mature and I don't any supplemental steroid injections. She said 35 weeks is even better and less chance of having to have them go to the NICU. 

However, my blood pressure was the highest it's been at 140/80 so I had repeat bloodwork for preeclampsia.. She will only call if its abnormal. If my blood pressure remains high, delivering sooner is a possibility. 

Busy week with more appointments, nonstress test tomorrow and on Friday, an ultrasound and nonstress test. I have an appointment for next Thursday with the doctor that is scheduled to do the csection. 

I went to my regular nonstress test (NST) yesterday at the hospital.

I mentioned to the nurse that on Thursday night, I had a few contractions. Contractions are normal to have but if I have more than 5 an hour, I'm supposed to call my doctor and see if I need to go to the hospital to be monitored. I had maybe three on Thursday night in one hour, I laid down and went to bed soon after.

While I was having the NST, I had some more contractions on the monitor which I didn't really feel. So.. a midwife came in to talk to me and had me do a FFN test which is a fetal fibronectin test. This test is to see if I have chance to be in labor or if I don't. It's a swab that checks for protein released by the placenta that acts like a "glue" for the fetus to tell when labor could occur. My test came back negative which meant that I have a 97% chance of not going into labor or delivering in the next 10-14 days. While I was there, she also wanted to check my cervix... turns out I am 1 1/2 centimeters dilated and 50% effaced. This isn't really indicative of anything as she said people have be 1 cm dilated for a month or two and not be in or going into labor. She said I didn't have to be on bed rest yet. Dilation and Effacement Photo

So for now, I just watch and go back if the contractions happen again. I return on Tuesday anyway for another NST and Monday for my ob appointment. 

I have a feeling this will not my last trip to the hospital before my due date.. I guess it really is happening quick now! I have about 8 more shifts at work until my "quit date", ending the week of March 1. 

33 weeks photo!

33 Weeks

Pineapples!!! Wow.. 

39 more days at the most until we meet our babies. I woke up in a panic last night thinking of how much/little time is left before our lives are turned upside down. I'm hoping to never have that feeling again! Stress test was fine yesterday, I'll be going back on Tuesdays and Fridays.