Prenatal Exam: Ultrasound

I went in for an ultrasound this morning.

His estimated weight is 7 lbs 14 oz (+- 18 oz) so he could be 6 lbs 12 oz to 9 lbs even. I'm hoping he's more toward the lower end!!

They checked the amniotic fluid level and it was "mildly low" (6.5 cm -- normal is 8+, under 5 is too low). So now I am on "moderate bedrest" and must drink LOTS of fluids and go in for EFM (electronic fetal monitoring) tomorrow. And if the fluid level doesn't go up by next Monday, I will be induced.

I didn't get a picture because he was pretty squished in there. I couldn't really make out anything other than the heart beating!

Hopefully, the bedrest and fluids will work OR he will come before Monday. Pray for us and a healthy baby!

Prenatal Exam: 40 weeks

Had another appointment today. Today's the due date, so maybe this will be the last one. We'll see......

Weight gain: I lost 1.2 lbs
Fundal height: 36.5 cm (higher than last time, but the midwife still thought it was small ... more below)
Heartbeat: I'm not sure. Robert got to check it, but the student nurse was holding it and she didn't tell me what it was.
Position: Hopefully hiding back inside!

The midwife ordered an ultrasound because he feels small to her and I measured small. Rebecca and Sky were never bothered by my measurements so I think she's just being cautious. I go in on Wednesday to check the amniotic fluid level and to see how big they think he is. I'm not worried - I figure, this is probably what happens when you're not seeing the same person all the time. Maybe he'll even decide to come before Wednesday. Who knows! : )

Prenatal Exam: 39 weeks

Another appointment today ... I'm actually getting tired of going in there!

Weight gain: Thankfully, only 1.4 lbs
Fundal height: 35 cm - I was worried because it's going down, but she said it's because he's dropping more into my pelvis and the amniotic fluid naturally decreases as you get closer to your due date
Heartbeat: right at 140 bpm
Position: head down - I don't think he could move into any other position right now!

I had an exam today and I'm starting to dilate (only 1 1/2 cm though) but she said that's normal for 39 weeks. She thinks he will probably be born right around the due date (next Monday). -- I'm hoping it's before my appointment, but we'll see! I'm anxious, excited, and getting (a little) impatient! : )

The Room is Ready

We finally got the crib today. Robert helped me put it together. I'm so excited that everything is in place. I just hope he comes soon!!!

Here's the view from the door:

Left side of the room:

Right side (The bag and box are stuff that needs to be donated and sent to my niece. The mirror is placed in such a way {not planned} that when you stand in the hallway, you can see the crucifix from above the bed in our room in his room!):

I love the crib. I was frustrated with it at first, but now I have come to appreciate it (with Robert's help). I can't wait to see him in it! "Bene, if you can read this, we're ready for you!"

Prenatal Exam: 38 weeks

Had my 38 week appointment today. And I learned that my favorite midwife had her baby on Saturday ... so hopefully Bene will come soon!!! : )

She palpated to feel his weight this time (I asked her to) and she thinks he's about right at 7 lbs. I was getting "worried" (not too much though) that he was huge b/c whenever I feel him, he feels so big!

Weight gain: Finally, only 1.2 lbs! I'm slowing back down again ... I was getting a little worried that I'd gain a lot of weight this month!!!!
Fundal height: about 36.5 cm. She said the measurements taper off near the end and you don't really get any bigger.
Heartbeat: 160 - A lot higher than normal, but still "in the normal range". She took it right after she felt to see how big he was, so I think that upset him.
Position: Head down - and she said it feels like he's dropping down into my pelvis! Yea!! He's getting ready!

After my next visit (Monday) I should know how dilated I am ... but I'm still going back and forth on whether I want to know because I don't want to get excited/discouraged since it doesn't tell you when you're going into labor. Especially since I really want him to be here!!

2010 Goals Update for May

It's been five months since I made my goals. And I feel I'm doing pretty well in some areas (like parenting) but completely horrible in others (like everything else...) I guess it shows where my priorities have been this year! I deleted the goals that I have accomplished and posted about in previous "goal" posts. Here's my progress:

Parenting:
** I've been done with the reading list for a while but my midwife suggested a couple books at my last appointment, so I'm going to be reading the one I just bought yesterday - Ina May's Guide to Childbirth.
** Stick with my current "goals" for labor and delivery (My midwife looked over my birth plan (more in the appt. post) and Robert and I have been discussing what his "job" will be in the delivery room, so I feel pretty prepared and ready right now.)
** Remember to take vitamins EVERY day (I think I've missed a few since Robert's been home.)
** Stick with the budget when it comes to buying (I thought we were done with this goal ... but apparently not. We've spent like $400 since last month. But most of that was the crib I just purchased.)
** Attend Le Leche League meetings every month (I went to the May meeting. I will probably go this month and then skip next month since Robert should be at home then.)

Homemaking:
** Get back into menu planning and cooking our meals - instead of eating out (We spent a few hundred dollars on eating out in the two weeks after Robert got home ... even though I had meals planned. - This is the only reason to look forward to deployment -- we can't spend so much money then!)
** Follow my daily chore list (Well, I haven't been doing well with accomplishing something every day, but the house does stay clean, so I guess that's all the counts.)
** When the "nesting" comes - make sure I take criticism and suggestion from Robert well!!! (I'm doing pretty well with this. I think Robert understands that I have to have things a certain way, b/c he didn't fuss with me at all when I was putting in the car seat or putting together the toy storage shelf or deciding how the room should be arranged.)

Spiritual:
** Try to focus my mind more toward God in my daily activities instead of just on Sunday (I've really been struggling with this. I don't know how to do it, exactly .... so I'm kind of at a roadblock for now.)
** Set a prayer time - even if it's just once per week (Definitely haven't been doing this either. But I have read a few pages in my pregnancy prayer book. So I hope that counts. )
** Start reading the Bible - again... (I have not worked on this at all. I did a little bit with Bible study, but now that it's over, the Bible seems to have found its way back on the bookshelf!)

Personal:
** Finish scrapbook pages (I still haven't bought the scrapbook paper. I have a feeling this isn't going to get done before the baby comes ... which means it may never get done!)
** STICK TO THE BUDGET (Well, we don't spend over our monthly income. We're just not saving as much as I'd like. So I guess we're actually doing okay with this goal.)

Prenatal Exam: 37 weeks

It hasn't been very long since my last appointment. But I'm SO ready to see him. The midwife (and my mom ... in the same day) said that I should start talking to Bene and telling him that I'm ready for him to come out! : ) Maybe I'll try that and see how it works! So now for the appointment rundown...

Weight gain: Another 3 lbs! In a WEEK! So obviously I kept on the weight from last week, and added some more to it. I think it's from all the eating out ....
Fundal height: 36 cm (still the same ... but it's only been 5 days since my last appointment)
Heartbeat: 140s -- Back up a little from last week but still looking good.
Position: Still head down. He's being very good for his mommy! But he hasn't dropped yet. I discussed that with this midwife (a different one from my last appointment) and she said that it's not the outside measurement that counts, it's the inside "hole". She got out a pelvis model and a baby to show me exactly what it looks like.

This was my last appointment with this particular midwife. She's pregnant (about a week or two ahead of me) so she's not going to be working for very much longer. We talked for so long though! She read through my birth plan - and she only made about three notes - and didn't discount anything I had on there!! I was "excited" about that because I was worried that my "plan" was too stringent or that some things weren't possible, but she said it looked good after making the little changes (one thing was just re-wording). She also recommended two books to read. I couldn't remember one of the titles when I went to the book store, so I only bought one, but I'm already about 30 pages into it.

I'm so disappointed she's leaving because she's been my favorite midwife so far and I really feel comfortable with her. But, there was no guarantee she would deliver the baby anyway, even if she was still working, so I have to be flexible!