1st Weekly OB Visit

Just another quick and easy visit today. No internal exam. The baby is doing well, the fluid level is good, and everything is on track for the August 3rd due date. He says the earliest he can induce me would be on July 28th. I plan to wait until the 3rd, and have an induction scheduled for the morning of the 4th in the event that she doesn't arrive on her own. That way Ryan and Meg can see her.

My weight is evening out. I'm back to 164. I'm having lots of little contractions, so my body is getting ready. We're less than a month away from a brand new baby girl!

36 Weeks

4 Weeks to Go!!

Our baby is just over 18.6 inches long and weighs about 6 pounds. She's gaining an ounce a day now! Her little lungs are the only thing left to develop and they are almost done. I think she's ready to come out. She's been squirmy the past few days and I think is getting frustrated with how little room there is for her in my belly.

The girls at work think the baby has dropped some, I haven't really noticed. My shoes are just harder to tie because I can't bend over that far without tipping over.

I keep getting the Braxton-Hicks contractions at work when I'm walking around a lot. Mostly they just feel like little cramps that go away after a few seconds. I had a big one that hurt like heck for about 10 or 15 seconds today, but then nothing else for a few hours, so I wasn't worried.

The Ogden baby shower is this coming Saturday, Kelly and I are both really excited to see all the cute baby stuff and to be able to really start putting her room together. I'm going to get to see a lot of my family that I haven't seen in over a year and some of my friends that I haven't seen in months too. I wish Ryan and Megan could be there, but we'll get to see them a few weeks later, so that will suffice.

9 Month OB Visit

Today's appointment was really quick. Dr. Hartman got called for an emergency C-section, so my appointment went as follows:

"Hi, you're feeling good?"

"Yup."

"Good."

A quick measuring of the belly.

"Growth is right on track."

Followed by a quick ultrasound.

"The baby is head down, fluid level is good, and there's her heartbeat. Need anything else?"

"Don't think so."

"Okay, we're down to weekly appointments now. We're going to do a routine bacterial culture next time. See you in a week."

"Okay."

Whoever the girl was that needed the emergency c-section sure needed him a lot more than I did, so I don't feel bad about the short visit. I had a few questions, but nothing pressing, so I'm not worried about waiting a week to get them answered.

I'm gaining weight again. I'm up to 166 lbs. That's up 26 pounds from the lowest point during the pregnancy, and up 16 from my pre-pregnancy weight. The nurse didn't say anything about my blood pressure, so I'm assuming its normal. I got my paperwork to send into Ogden Regional for early registration to make things go quicker for when the actual day comes. The rooms look really nice. Supposedly they have a jacuzzi tub and a sleeper couch in each room. Here's hoping!

Our Chair

This is the awesome glider rocker that Grandma Sonia and Grandpa Tom got us as an early baby shower gift. I absolutely love it! Kelly wanted to put it in the baby's room, but I told him it was going to stay in the front room until the baby came so I could sit in it to watch TV. It's something of a challenge to get him out of it sometimes.

35 Weeks

5 Weeks to Go!

Mei Mei is 5.5 pounds this week and just over 18 inches long. It doesn't feel like my belly can possibly stretch out anymore, but I know it's going to. I thought I was getting away without any stretch marks, but no such luck. Kelly found a couple a few days ago. They're just on the bottom of my belly where I can't see.

Her hearing has completely finished developing and she's packing fat onto her arms and legs this week. She's learned to blink and is still trying to fine tune sleeping with her eyes closed and keeping them open when she's awake. Babies born now are unlikely to have any long term complications, but will need to stay in an incubator for a week or two. Stay put for a few more weeks, baby! (despite that fact that I'd love to be done now...)

My once a week appointments are going to be starting now. I don't think I have to do an internal exam this week, but next week there's no escaping it. I've heard that it hurts and I'm not looking forward to that. These are the appointments that I wanted a woman doctor for, but I'm stuck now.

My varying baby books and calendars are telling me to get a bag packed and are talking nonstop about labor and delivery. I can't bring myself to even bother to pack a bag yet because it's still so far away and pretty unlikely that our daughter is going anywhere yet. Kelly packed a bag about a week ago and keeps it in his truck. We'll probably put the base for the car seat in the car soon, but keep the actual car seat inside so the sun doesn't fade it. When I do pack a bag, I'm just going to put it with the car seat, cuz we're not going anywhere without that.

34 Weeks

6 Weeks to go!

Our baby is about 5 pounds and should be measuring up at 17.75 inches long. All major organs are functional, although her lungs still need a little more time to develop.

I've been in a ridiculous amount of pain for the past several days. Best as I can figure, it's just round ligament pain. I've called my doctor and he says it sounds like normal pregnant misery. Problem is, this normal misery is making me miss work because I can't stand up straight, walk, or even sit without hurting to the point of tears. I tried taking Tylenol, but it barely even touches the pain. The baby is fine, she's still moving around like normal and kicking where it hurts the most. I just don't know what to do. Lowe's is going to work with me and put me inside at a computer for the rest of the time till the baby comes, but if I can't get there or function when I do, they can't help.

8.5 Month OB Visit

Everything is going well. She's still head down, the amniotic fluid level is fine, and my blood pressure is still good. I dropped a few pounds from the last visit because I've been throwing up so much. Again. Dr. Hartman prescribed Nexium or Prilosec for me. He thinks the nausea is from heartburn. I'm more inclined to think that it's from my sinuses being congested for the past month, and it's just post nasal drip.

I asked if he thought it would be okay if I had the baby induced during the first week of August (my due date) and he said it should be fine, barring any complications or unexpected issues.

So, Ryan and Meg, you should get to see my baby and Mom, Aunt Belinda doesn't have to go to DC. Most likely.