Thursday, October 29, 2009

37 Week Belly Pic (...it's a long one!)

I went in for my routine 37 week checkup on Tuesday (I'm loving this every week appointment thing!) and there's no more action going on down there than last week. Everything looked good except that my growth has slowed a lot in the last few weeks. The doctor couldn't tell if it was because the baby had dropped, or if her growth really had slowed. So she sent me downstairs for an ultrasound. (Yipee!)

They got me right in because we have a friend that works in the high-risk OB's office where they do the ultrasounds. It helps to calm your nerves when the technician is a friendly face! Plus Chris wasn't with me at this appointment, because I thought I'd be in and out in 20 minutes.

The ultrasound went well and we got some cute profile pictures of the baby, and the whole thing on DVD to show to Chris since he missed it (thanks, Janeal!). We tried again to get a 4-D picture but the stubborn little thing always has her hand up by her face! (I have a feeling she's gonna hate me when I try to swaddle it down later.)

When the doctor came in to verify everything on the scan, he noticed a little bit of fluid around her heart. He double checked the blood flow rates in her brain, liver, umbilical cord, etc and said everything looked normal. If we hadn't had a scan that day, we probably never would have known or cared that the fluid was present, but he sent me to have a non-stress test just to make sure the baby's movement and heart rate were good. (And I get to have one every week from now on!)

I went across the hall and hopped up on the cushy bed for the non-stress test. Why did no one tell me that's where all the comfy beds are? Seriously. Suzy hooked me up to the machines and showed me the baby's heart rate and the contraction monitor. As she was hooking up the monitors she felt my stomach and said, "Oh, you have sort of a tight stomach." As soon as the monitor popped up on the screen, she could see why. On the scale from 0 to 100, my uterus is constantly at 25, so I'm basically having tightening in my uterus at all times (she called it "fluttering").

Fantastic. No wonder I'm so uncomfortable!

Until this point, I wasn't entirely sure I knew what a contraction felt like. After Suzy left the room I was laying there on the bed staring at the ceiling by myself. I started to feel my stomach get tight right by my belly button. It started to spread and get tighter and tighter, and my back started to hurt. I looked over at the monitor and saw that it was climbing straight up!


{The proof that I now know what a contraction feels like.}

I watched it climb and climb and I started thinking to myself, "Oh my gosh, I'm having a contraction! Maybe I should be using my breathing techniques!" So I started breathing, but it hurt so bad I began looking around the room in panic for someone to yell at. I almost wanted to yell for the nurse! Then finally it peaked and started to lessen.

When Suzy came back in the room I told her "I just had a big contraction!" She looked at the monitor and said "You did! Good girl, those are the ones we like!"

So now, like it or not, I know what a contraction feels like.



Pregnancy Statistics

How far along? 37w1d
Gender: Girl
Current Cravings: Apples dipped in caramel.
Weight gain: +30 lbs
Worst moment this week: Going to an appointment without Chris.
Best moment this week: Getting to see the Bambina again!
Funniest moment this week: I put on my one-piece footed sleeper (it still fits!), clipped on one of the Bambina's binkies, put my hair in pigtails and went to the Spencer Halloween party as a baby.
Belly button in or out: Out.
Labor signs: 50% effaced, baby's at a -2 station.
What I miss: Being able to bend my fingers and wrists. I feel like I have arthritis!
What I'm looking forward to: Getting to see the Bambina every week during the NST with my appointments from now til showtime.


{The Bambina's cute little profile! Please don't let that head get any bigger.}

{The cute little arm that's always by her face.}

5 comments:

Melissa Henning said...

I love reading about your weekly doctor visits. Glad everything is going well with you! I can't believe it's almost time!

The Martin Family said...

Cute post! I am so excited for you!!! Gotta love those contractions.

Unknown said...

You are so close! Don't you love all the tests they like to run? I had to do a non-stress test one too and saw my contractions. I always hated when people told me I didn't know what a real contraction felt like-they hurt and I knew it! I should have taken a picture as proof like you did!

Seth and Sarah said...

Boo for contractions, but I suppose the end result is well worth it, right? Right. You are so darling...can't wait to meet her!

Nurse Heidi said...

You're making good progress! A few warm up contractions are good practice :). I haven't called Charity yet to officially RSVP but I definitely plan on coming next week.