OB Visits - Week 37 - 12/27 and 12/30

I think I was just getting a little anxious when I felt a few aches and pains this week. I decided to go in a few days earlier than my appointment date and find out if I had progressed at all from 4cm. Turns out I really hadn't and so the Dr. sent me home and told me to wait for contractions. He said it could be any minute, or I could go another 2 weeks. Ugh! I didn't want to hear that but if I wasn't in labor, I wasn't in labor! My original appointment was 3 days later and I never cancelled it so on that day I decided to go in and check my progress again. SO glad I did! At this appointment the Dr. now examined that I was 5cm. She told me she would put me in a hospital bed right now but that it was slammed in the triage and there weren't any beds available. That freaked me out because to me it meant I SHOULD be in the hospital but because it was busy, I couldn't be. She told me she could admit me to a different hospital in Tampa if I wanted to go. But I am really comfortable at St. Joe's and didn't want to do that. So her instructions were to just go home and wait for true contractions. Well, I made it up in my mind that I wasn't going to just wait. So I went home, called Chris, called my friend Kelli who was "on call" to watch Olive, cleaned the house, packed the rest of my bags and then we proceeded to the hospital. I knew they wouldn't turn me away at 5 cm, in active labor or not, and I knew my Dr. said I could go if I wanted to so we did! A. I didn't want to suddenly progress into 10cm labor since I was already halfway dilated and B. I KNEW Edie was bigger than Olive and that she was physically ready to be born. A mom just knows these things :)

Where are my contractions? - Dr. Visit 12/21

Ok, so I'm sure I'll be sorry I asked that question in a very short while, but I went to my almost-37-week visit today and I am already almost 4cm dilated and 80% effaced but because I am not having contractions I do not get to go to the hospital yet! That's a little scary to me because I just don't want to get in a situation where I can't make it to the hospital in time for my nice epidural. I've read things that say I could stay at this point for 2 or 3 more weeks, or she could come tonight, but I am 98% sure Edie will come within the next few days. Yay! Dr. says to lay low right now and pretty much decrease all extra activity because he doesn't want her to come for at least a few days since she would be fairly early and probably need time in the NICU. Very excited but also nervous for all that labor has to offer of course ;) Please keep us in your prayers and I'll keep everyone posted on my progress.

Edie Banner - 12/16

One last finishing touch to the nursery!

Week 36 Visit - 12/14 - She's ready to go!

Definitely surprised by the outcome of this visit today. Dr. Bray said I am 50% effaced and 1 cm dilated already. The baby is engaged in the head down position and is estimated to be 6 lbs! Last time I heard this same news at 36 weeks, Olive came 4 days later! We'll see. But she believes I will go into labor any day and definitely by 38 weeks at the latest. I am really excited about this news and would love it if we got to meet Edie before the New Year. Now my job is to just pack my bags and wait for the contractions! She wants me to monitor them closely as she expects me to dilate faster since this is my second pregnancy. Olive and I may be taking more walks over the next few days to speed things up :) Keep us in your prayers!

Nursery is Finished!

Thanks to the help of Mom and Chris, the nursery is now finished. Lots of cute things for baby Edie to look at. We decided not to paint the walls since we are just renting but it turned out really pretty despite that. Can't wait to show her! (Olive loves it already)

Week 34 Visit - 12/1

At this visit, Dr. Perkins guessed at the baby's position based on how my belly felt. She said Edie is lying oblique (see picture).
This might explain why I feel lots of movement on my side. It isn't the ideal position for delivery but I technically have 6 weeks left for her to turn. She says she's headed in the right direction so let's pray she gets there soon! I have also been throwing up quite a few times within the last week which Dr. Perkins explains is just part of the uterus pushing up on my stomach. She said to eat more frequent, smaller meals (which I have not been doing) so hopefully that helps. Her heartrate was fast today btwn 150 and 160 but she was moving during the whole examination so that might explain why. I am measuring 34 cm with blood pressure of 100 over 60 which is "very normal." Thankful for another great checkup! Next appointment at 36 weeks will include a cervical examination and a Strep B test. Getting down to the wire!

Week 32 OB Visit - Nov 19th

Routine visit today to make sure everything is on track and thankfully it is :) Blood pressure was 120 over 70, belly measuring 32 cm and baby's heart rate is between 143 and 151. Olive said, "Baby Edie!" when the doctor was measuring my belly. She's so cute. I'm pretty sure she understands I have her sister in my belly at this point. Have gained less weight than with Olive to my surprise. The doctor also encouraged me to get the flu shot so after my appointment, Olive and I headed over to Walgreens to get that done. Hoping I don't get flu symptoms from it (as I have heard can happen) but that would be better than getting the flu near labor or having the baby get the flu. Have been a little curious about the baby's position because she doesn't seem to sit as low as Olive did at this point but the Dr. told me that it is not until 32 weeks that the baby's head becomes the densest part of the body so they don't worry about the position until 35 to 36 weeks. I did feel her hiccuping very low tonight so she most likely is head-down but I will be anxious to find out for sure in a few weeks! I was also curious to find out if the baby might come early since Olive came at 36 weeks but the Dr. told me it really doesn't matter what happened in previous pregnancies. I wouldn't mind the earlier delivery! But I always pray that she stays in there as long as she needs to to be healthy so if that means I go 40+ weeks, then so be it :) Next appointment is December 1st at 34 weeks. Getting closer!