Happy Due Date to Me!
Happy Due Date to Me!
Happy Due Date, baby's still inside!
Happy Due Date to Me!
I had my 40 week appointment today and I am still not dilated. This baby is ultra comfortable. I thought for sure things had started to progress. Yesterday, I had so much energy and I was feeling some contractions. I thought I had hit that whole nesting thing and I would go into labor, but no such luck. My blood pressure was 120/60. This is fantastic! I am too calm and collected! :) I had to make an appointment for Monday. If the baby is still inside, they will decide to get things moving on Tuesday. My doctor will be on call at the hospital then. Tuesday, is May 20, the day my mom predicted the baby would be born. I still feel this surreal feeling like this is really not going to happen. I know that it will, but it just seems so far away. I am still really comfortable. I don't feel like I can't stand being pregnant anymore. I am very thankful for that. I keep apologizing to David that nothing has happened, but I don't have any control over when my body goes into labor. I just know that he is more impatient than I am. I think I keep thinking about labor and delivery and I am okay waiting until that unpredictable/scary time. I would like her to magically appear outside of the womb, but this is a fantasy that will never happen. I am sure I will be fine. It's all a little overwhelming. I know it will all be worth it once I meet our daughter. I did get Cold Stone ice cream tonight. I have to make sure I have my ice cream fix, especially on this special occasion, my due date. So, Happy Due Date to Me! :)
I found a little piece of my journal from last year on my computer. We tried for a baby for quite awhile, so here's what I wrote on Mother's Day last year.
May 13, 2007
Today is Mother’s Day.
I am praying for you little one. I want you to come at exactly the right time God wants you to. He has been preparing your Daddy and I to be your parents. I want to know when you are going to arrive and when you are going to make your presence in our home. I want to hold you and comfort your cries. You will have a furry older brother. His name is Noah. He is still a puppy right now. He is seven months old. I will dream about you tonight. Daddy had a dream about you last night. He is really excited about you. He can’t wait for your arrival. God is holding you right now and soon you will be sent to us. I’m praying for you. You are the desire of my heart.
Apparently, I am a very grumpy pregnant woman in the morning. I think it's because I don't sleep well at night. Unfortunately, David has to deal with me. He is so sweet. He just wants to shower me with kisses and hugs before he goes to work and I just moan. Poor guy. I also find myself crying when I watch sappy commercials. With Mother's Day on Sunday, I am bombarded with so many sweet moments. Ahh!
Darn, and I wanted a Cinco de Mayo baby! Just kidding! The doctor said everything looked good. I was so nervous. My blood pressure was good and I only had a little protein in my urine. Nothing has happened down south since last Thursday's doctor's visit, so our little one is very comfortable in her mommy's tummy. I'm feeling good and I'm glad I will be able to finish a few more things before the baby comes. I just need to take it easy. :) Yeah! Praise God! I was also glad I didn't have to go to the hospital because I got to have salmon on the grill with mashed potatoes for dinner tonight. Yum!:)
Yesterday, I went to the doctor for my 38 week appointment at 4:30. It was time for my internal exam and I was not looking forward to this. When I got to my appointment, David was waiting for me in the waiting room. I was pleasantly surprised. I gave my urine sample, was weighed, and headed to exam room 6. The nurse came in and took my blood pressure. It was really high, 150/100. She told me to lay on my side. I thought my blood pressure was high because I came in rushed. The traffic was bad. The doctor came in and examined me. It wasn't too bad. My cervix was still closed and I was 70% effaced. He then told me that my blood pressure was too high and there was protein in my urine. He was concerned about preeclampsia or toxemia. He wanted to send me over to St. Jude's Labor and Delivery to be monitored for about three hours. He said if the labs came back with negative results, I would have to be induced. He said, I could go home and get my bag and then go to the hospital.
Whoa! I was not expecting this. I was so glad David was there with me. I cried a little bit. I did not feel ready to go to the hospital. On the way home, I called my family and friends and asked them to pray. David called Pastor Greg and the church administrator to put it on the prayer email. As soon as I got home, I started packing my bag. Yeah, I was not packed yet. Whoops! After getting my bag ready, we headed for the hospital. Barb was there to meet us in the waiting room. She was such a great encouragement, hung out with us in the room, and prayed for us before she left. What a good friend!
The nurses gave me a room and asked me for another urine sample. I was then hooked up to a baby heartbeat monitor and a blood pressure cuff. Another nurse came in to take my blood. After answering lots of questions, I was feeling a little more relaxed. Although, my heart rate and the baby's were still pretty high. The nurse accidentally put in my height as six foot, instead of five feet six inches. This was funny! She couldn't get the computer to backspace to fix it. I will just have to let the anesthesiologist know that I am not that tall, or my epidural will numb me up to my chest! It was nice to hear the baby's heart beat for more than 5 seconds, like at the doctor's office. She got the hiccups while she was being monitored and we could hear this. The nurse said this was good because it means her diaphragm is working well. Who knew?! She does get the hiccups a lot.
David asked if our birthing class instructor was working the night shift. Come to find out, she was and they put her on my case as my nurse. Her name is Cathy and she is a great. She came in my room and brought me pillows and had me lay on my side. My blood pressure continued to drop. She brought me some apple juice, cranberry juice, and water. It was really nice to have someone familiar helping us. At about 8:10 my labs came back and Dr. Gray (a doctor from my medical group) came in to tell me I could go home. Yes!
I need to be on bed rest, keep my feet up, and drink plenty of fluids. The doctor told me I couldn't do dishes or take the trash out!:) Cathy gave me a pitcher that is a pint and I have to drink at least three of these a day. I made an appointment for Monday and if I still have protein or blood pressure issues, they may decide to induce. I have to keep taking my blood pressure, and monitor my headaches, any blurred vision, or swelling. The baby is term and would be fine, but I would like things to progress more naturally, if they can.
On our way home, we picked up some dinner, and stopped at church to thank our church family for their prayers. We gave them an update and they prayed for me again. I feel so blessed.
I am thankful I am at home. I know I need to take better care of myself. I know I didn't drink or eat enough yesterday. David is at home taking care of me. I am so thankful that he is so calm. He was convinced that we would be going home last night. I wasn't so sure.
God will have this baby come when He wants her to. I am so glad He is in control. I am also thankful for the peace He gave me when I felt overwhelmed by circumstances.
It is the first day of May! I am very excited because I get to meet my daughter this month. There is no way she will be born in June. So, this is it!!! Yeah!
Forgetfulness and pregnancy from www.whattoexpect.com
What it is: Pregnancy-induced brain fog, a true (and truly
frustrating) hallmark of pregnancy. You may forget appointments, what
you just walked into the store for, where you left your purse, whether
you turned off the stove — and maybe, your phone number.
What causes it:
As usual in pregnancy, it's just your hormones having some fun, this
time at the expense of your memory. And believe it or not, your
brain-cell volume actually decreases during the third trimester of
pregnancy (which could explain why you can't remember what you just
read about in that last paragraph). Not to worry, your brain will plump
back up a few months after delivery.
What you need to know about it:
First of all, pregnancy forgetfulness is completely normal — and
extremely common. It's also temporary — you'll have total recall again
long before you start to have your "senior moments." And try not to be
too hard on yourself, as stress will only cloud your brain even more.
I've had more moments of forgetting lately. Ahh! I go to look for something/anything and I automatically open the refrigerator. Half the time, the item I am looking for is not even a food item, but I can't remember! Two weeks ago I was at my mom's house and I had just used the restroom because we were going to go shopping. We were checking the doors to make sure they were locked, when my mom said, "Is it raining?" "Raining?" She said, "Yeah, I hear water." She walked down the hallway and realized it was water running from the faucet. I forgot to turn the water off after I washed my hands. Ahh! Last week, I made dinner on the stove and David put the leftovers away afterward. The next morning we realized that the burner on the stove was on low all night. Thankfully, we didn't have a fire on our hands, although I don't know if this one is really my fault or if this one is David's. I normally always turn the stove off, though. So, I am guessing the blame falls on me. Oh, well. Hopefully, my brain will come back some day. If not, I will be opening the refrigerator a lot more, for no reason.
I went to the doctor on Thursday. He is so quick. Everything still looks good. Good blood pressure, I've still only gained 9 pounds, good baby measurements, and the head is down. Next week, I have to be checked inside, yuck! Although I am aware that is how the baby gets out, in most cases. He said we are nearing the finish line. I think I am still not fully comprehending that a baby is about to come any day now. 37 weeks is considered full term. My house looks like a mini Babies-R-Us. After my baby shower last weekend, we decided to put together anything and everything that needed to be assembled. Now it is all around the perimeter of our living room. I get so excited that my baby will get to use all these wonderful things. I was practicing with the stroller. I didn't run into anything, yet. David is kind of worried since I am not very good with the grocery store cart. Ha! Ha! I think I will be okay.
Here is a new picture of my belly.
