Week 37: Full Term Y'all

We hit 37 weeks, or FULL TERM, on Saturday!  Meaning Baby Girl can be born any day now (bring it on), the doctor would not do anything to delay the labor. We are still mentally preparing ourselves that BGC is going to be late, just in case.  Let's face it.  I couldn't get out the door on time in the morning even if my ass was on fire.  I take each "symptom" with a grain of salt and plan for the long haul.

How are you feeling Kate?  Well thanks for asking.  I waffle.  (mmmm, waffles)  I go back and forth between feeling the weight of a 7+ lb baby (+ 1.5lb placenta + 5lbs of amniotic fluid) sittin' on my lady junks.  

And then, sometimes, I get these random bursts of energy where  I can actually blow dry my hair without sitting on top of the toilet because I feel like this.

Also, remember last week when we mentioned that my midwife was concerned of my tachycardia (I was having random moments of racing HR- 120-130 where someone who is pregnant should be

between 80-90)?  Well I went to the cardiologist last week and she performed an EKG.  My blood pressure was normal and the tests all went well and we think it really comes back to pumping blood for two, being a little psychosomatic and that I'm in my 9th month of pregnancy and even getting off the couch requires the same back and forth rocking it takes to get my car out of the snow.  She offered an echocardiogram and a test where I would wear this little pack for a week that monitors my heart rate.  There's a little button I can press when I have racing moment and it would tag it.  I'm thinking it's overkill, but were going to ask our midwife for her opinion and then go on from there.

I also mentioned that I researched some natural ways to induce labor.  I've started using Evening Primrose Oil (sounds like a horrible hipster band) which is supposed to help ripen the cervix and shorten labor.  I also started taking Red Raspberry Leaf capsules which also help with labor.  Other

things we found are eating pineapple- the enzyme bromelain is thought to ripen the cervix and bring on labor.  I hate pineapple so I went, ignorantly, into a Vitamin Shoppe and bought the enzyme in capsule form straight up.  Also, the woman at the store asked what all these things were for and I felt like I was buying things to start a meth lab.  I have been adding cayenne pepper to anything and everything and Meg has down acupressure massage to my feet while I apply pressure to the points in my hand.  I mostly do these during meetings at work and probably look like this.

Other (ridiculous) things we found on the interwebs...

• Blowing up balloons: the theory is that the build-up of abdominal pressure encourages labor to start.
• Watch a weepy film and have a good cry.
• Wear your best underwear (will ensure that your waters break in them).

We also had our weekly check-in this morning and ultrasound.  I want to first say I love our midwife.  I covered all the natural things we were doing and she was totally on board.  I began to tell her that I realized that I felt the heart palpitations were probably tied to the anxiety I feel about labor.  Not the physical pain, but that I don't trust my body.  My body hasn't been besties with me for most of my life- infections, surgeries, weight struggs, etc..  And I'm fearful, despite the fact I've had a very smooth pregnancy, that it will betray me.  






She immediately said that she wanted to help with that and said that if I haven't gone into labor at 39

weeks she will sweep my membranes to help kick things into gear.  Stripping membranes, sometimes called membrane sweeping, is a method used to try to start labor. The health care provider puts their finger into the cervix -- the mouth of the uterus -- and uses the finger to gently separate the bag of water from the side of the uterus near the cervix.  She mentioned that she was trying to think of anything with me that she could use as a reason to induce as the baby is ready (and so am I- my body is the final deciding factor of getting this party started), but everything has gone so well there's no excuse!  I am at ease that she said this- for many reasons.  And we KNOW BGC knows her internally decided eviction notice is November 2.  But should that date pass we are counting down to 39 when she can swiffer the crap out of me.  #ew

BONUS FEATURE!
During another successful BPP (Biophysical Profile) they were able to get a little shot of the side of BGC's face!

Week 36: These Boobs Were Made For Nursin'

Everything you've read about side effects during the last weeks of pregnancy is true. They just happen to each person at their own pace.  For me, they all started the morning I hit week 36.

Visual of trying to induce labor

Once you reach week 36 everything is pretty much cooked (digestive system lags, but it takes being out of the womb nursing to fix that) and she is just adding chunk to her trunk for the next 3-4 weeks (or less).  As we approach the 37th week (aka full term tipping point) I've started researching ways to encourage labor.  I'm not going to list them as there are people who read this blog and I have to look them in the eye at some point.

BGC

But I know it's best to let her cook another week (according to my friend and nurse-by-text Emily my next goal is week 38) or so and, as we all know, Baby Girl has complete control over this midnight train to epidural.





I got ridiculously excited when I was looking ahead in "Your Pregnancy Week-By-Week" and I realized I have some symptoms this week that they say don't usually start until week 38...so maybe things are moving along faster than usual (?!?!). Shut up and let me have this one.  For those that follow this blog for "science" purposes, those symptoms would be: the appearance of colostrum, lightening (the baby dropping lower in my pelvis) and her movements getting less sharp as baby chunker is running out of room to move.

Yesterday I had my weekly midwife check-in and the first of my weekly ultrasounds.  Baby Girl sounds great and our midwife gave me the talk about who to call when we start feeling consistent contractions, where to go and what to expect!  Things are getting real.  I also have Group B Strep (a not-very-serious thing for me, but a potentially serious thing for baby) so they would like me to come to the hospital a little on the early side so they'll have at least 4 hours to get Penicillin in my system before labor, that way Baby Girl won't be affected.

While in the midwife's office I was sitting on the exam table and I felt my heart rate rise.  I used an app on my phone and my heart rate was 120 without an previous physical activity.  I've mentioned to various medical professionals that I've experience this rapid heart rate a couple of times, but nobody has seemed too concerned. It seems to be a common occurrence in the third trimester.  I mentioned it to our midwife and she took my pulse.  It was still elevated so they are referring me to a cardiologist to have an EKG for random abnormal arrhythmia- no need to panic.It's just a precaution.  We'll keep you updated.




Later that day we had our first weekly BPP (Biophysical Profile) ultrasound which little girl passed with flying colors!  The doctor asked if I had any questions and I asked if he could make me 40 weeks pregnant.  He said in his lovely thick Greek accent, "Noooooooooooo.  You be patient and wait."

Week 35: Pregnant Women, Put Down the Google

The above is what the final stretch of pregnancy feels like.

I have become the most paranoid, tummy watching, iPhone fetal Doppler app using crazy pregnant woman.  I have hid the crazy from Meg as she is a bit of a worrier, but my crazy cup runneth over.  I know I shouldn't say this as my job depends on this tool, but Google is the devil. Also, who's brilliant idea was it to create message boards for other crazy pregnant women to pour their crazy into only feeding the fire?  If BGC hasn't moved for an hour my mind automatically thinks the umbilical cord is wrapped around her neck.  But sooner or later she kicks me in my rib and the crazy subsides.  Be aware.  This is all normal.

Getting out of bed...

Tuesday we had a visit with our midwife Jenn and had our 9 month (!!!) measurement ultrasound.  Other than the pain in my diaphragm/ribs (Jenn chalks this up to my uterus stretching into my rib area), inability to sleep or lie on my back (the weight of the baby compresses an artery causing nausea/dizziness) and normal pregnancy heart palpitations, all is well with my weight and blood pressure.



Also, Jenn gave us some "labor prep" talks such as packing the hospital bag, how to check in, when family should actually come to the hospital, etc and I can't tell you how awesome that feels! We're almost there!  We also had a fetal measurement and BPP (Biophysical Profile)- which she passed. We will be having these on a weekly basis starting next week as it is a precaution for overweight women- no worries team, it's just a precaution!  She's also weighing in at 6lb 4oz. Give or take a pound. Yeah.  I know.  As Meg and I were laying bed last night she looked at me and said, "This could happen any time!  LIKE TOMORROW!"  Let's just have BGC hang in there until 37 weeks and then she can come anytime.

November 1 little girl.  November 1.

Week 32: It's a Big Damn Deal

So here we are at week 32 (almost 33!).  Why is that so important you ask?  Well if you look at my Google search history- please don't, it'll just be awkward for both of us- you'll see I asked that same question.  Everyone has been telling me to make it to 32 weeks and you're in a "safe zone".

Counting down to 32 weeks

The morning of hitting 32 weeks I expected *something*, which is crazy I know, but really what does 32 weeks means?

1. It means that, if BGC should be born today, she would have 95% of survival with all organs developed, she just needs to store up some fat.  I'm happy to donate.

2. Surfactant has formed in the lungs- this is a substance that lines the inside of the lungs to help them not stick to each other when they expand and contract to breathe outside of the womb. #science

She is also gaining 1/2lb a week so she's, most likely, approaching 5lbs.  Also measuring between 17-19 inches long she is running out of room in the womb <heh.  But that hasn't stopped BGC from doing this at 3am>>>>

She is quite the mover and, don't get me wrong, I'd rather have her move than not, but I have noticed it is slowing down and is now more rolling and arching.  It kind of looks like a bowling ball moving under a sheet.  That's best I've got as Meg gets grossed out when she looks at it.  But don't worry- she still does it frequently between 2-5am.

I am also now having trouble bending over even the slightest.  Drying my legs after a shower is basically me waving a towel at them like sending smoke signals.  Sitting up to eat is rough as the more you eat and drink the less good it feels to bend in anyway so you end up getting whatever food you can get.

We are now at the point we will be seeing our midwife weekly until BGC is born.  They also informed us that starting at 36 weeks we will have weekly ultrasounds so they can perform BPPs (Biophysical Profile).  This is something that isn't typical for most pregnancies- it is because I'm a larger woman and *sometimes* that can cause complications and my doctors don't foresee anything, but it'll be reassuring to see her every week!  Only a couple more weeks left!

With that we're gonna leave you with a bad joke until our next post...

Two cows are standing next to each other in a field.  Daisy says to Dolly, "I was artificially inseminated this morning."  "I don't believe you," says Dolly.  "It's true!  No Bull!" exclaims Daisy.

Pregnancy. Period.

31 Weeks: Chillin' Out Maxin' Relaxin' All Cool

My transition into the home stretch of being pregnant

So here we are at 31 weeks.  I'm gonna be honest.  As soon as I hit 30 weeks everything started to hurt.  I woke up one night and it felt like someone was stabbing me in the ribs and, as it turns out, somebody is! Then I went to stand up one day and I thought I had just jumped on the banana seat of my bike wrong.  After some googling (DEVIL!) and chats/visit with my OB, prognosis: No UTI (most common thing to happen to women during pregnancy), the rib pain was due to my uterus growing/BGC pushing and kicking which is causing inflammation to my rib

What you think relaxin should feel like
v. what it makes you feel like

cartilage and the "I just went on a 20 mile bike ride down a gravel hill" feeling was due to the pressure of the baby (she's head down) and the hormone relaxin.  Sounds like it should be magical right?  No.  Relaxin is a hormone that helps certain parts of your body to grow and stretch in preparation for labor.  I'll leave it at that.

We had an ultrasound this morning and BGC is measuring in the 56% percentile and a couple of days ahead!

  She weighs 4lbs 1oz and likes to throw her weight around- which is a good thing. 

They also performed a BPP, or, Biophyiscal Profile.  It measures the health of the baby through body movements, muscle tone (flexing the arms and legs), breathing movements (the baby's ability to move her chest muscles and diaphragm), and the amount of amniotic fluid surrounding her.  BGC got an 8 out of 8! #harvardmaterial 

We have our next, and (probably) final, ultrasound is in a month.

We saw also saw our favorite person, Nurse Judy, today!  I've lost 4lbs (don't hate me) and all mom vitals are good!  If you remember from a previous post, our doctor options were thinning as our top 2 were leaving the practice.  After our birthing class and some long talks with new friends we have decided to change to a midwife!  More on that later.

How Ya' Feelin' Kate Corner

I want our baby to be born in the best possible time for her health, but I'm gonna be honest.  I'm ready.  I would like to not have a rotating wardrobe of 4 outfits because even maternity shirts aren't long enough for my torso of fury.

I want a deli sandwich.  I want an adult beverage.  And I want to see this little nugget who performs excerpts from the musical triumph "Stomp" nightly.  I will say though that when she is born I will miss the excuse to eat anything I feel a craving for.  I'm also very hormonal and have been prone to random acts of maternal feelings as well as toddler-like meltdowns.  So, sorry to everyone I encounter!





Up Next: BABY GIRL CURTIS NURSERY COMPLETION!