Well....
I'm still only 2 cm dilated and 80% effaced. However...and end is in sight. With as miserable as I have been and with him being comfortable inducing in week 39...we decided that if we do not have the baby by the weekend, I will be induced on Monday.
****We are scheduled to go in Monday, March 2, 2009 at 6:30 am to be induced****
As miserable as I am, it is still my hope that things will progress naturally before Monday. But it is nice to have an end date.
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Monday, February 23, 2009
Another weekend has passed...
For all of you that check the blog on a regular basis...here is the update:
As of Monday, February 23 @ 4:37 pm...still no baby. We actually almost went to the hospital last night because the contractions increased intensity and were consistent for about 2 hours. At this point we called the hospital, they said I could come in but all they would do would be to check me, monitor me, have me take shower, and then after 2 hours check me again to see if any progress had been made. We decided to wait it out at home for awhile longer. I took a hot shower and the contractions eased up. So needless to say we did not go to the hospital.
Today I woke up with a cold. So on top of everything else I'm feeling...I'm all stuffed up :(. Throughout the day the contractions increased again. My guess it will be a repeat of last night. I will update again after my doctor's appointment tomorrow after work.
As of Monday, February 23 @ 4:37 pm...still no baby. We actually almost went to the hospital last night because the contractions increased intensity and were consistent for about 2 hours. At this point we called the hospital, they said I could come in but all they would do would be to check me, monitor me, have me take shower, and then after 2 hours check me again to see if any progress had been made. We decided to wait it out at home for awhile longer. I took a hot shower and the contractions eased up. So needless to say we did not go to the hospital.
Today I woke up with a cold. So on top of everything else I'm feeling...I'm all stuffed up :(. Throughout the day the contractions increased again. My guess it will be a repeat of last night. I will update again after my doctor's appointment tomorrow after work.
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Dr. Appointment
I had a doctor's appointment last night. By official doctor word I am 2 cm dilated and 80% effaced. So at least these constant Braxton Hicks are doing some good. Yesterday the Braxton Hicks (or maybe they are real contractions) had increased enough that I probably would have went to the hospital if I hadn't had an appointment already scheduled. They weren't painful, but enough to make me stop in my place and what I am doing and make me need to refocus. Teaching yesterday afternoon was rough, but the kids continue to be great about everything!
The biggest question I had for the doctor was how do I know when to come to the hospital??? Typically people go in when their contractions average 5 minutes apart. If I were to have used that as an indicator I would have been in the hospital 10x already! So he said that for me time won't be the determining factor, but intensity. Basically I have to wait until I'm completely buckled over before going to the hospital.
The doctor won't make any predictions but made some comments:
The biggest question I had for the doctor was how do I know when to come to the hospital??? Typically people go in when their contractions average 5 minutes apart. If I were to have used that as an indicator I would have been in the hospital 10x already! So he said that for me time won't be the determining factor, but intensity. Basically I have to wait until I'm completely buckled over before going to the hospital.
The doctor won't make any predictions but made some comments:
- He said that if my "Braxton Hicks" continue to be as strong and frequent and no progress is made by my appointment next Tuesday...he'll consider breaking my water
- He said "See you next Tuesday if I don't see you in the hospital sooner!"
Still a guessing game, but things are moving along...
P.S. Our computer has decided not to work, so updating the blog may be tricky. Right now I'm at my best friend Heather's using her computer. I will give someone my username and password so that an update can be made if the baby comes before I come here again and update my progress.
Sunday, February 15, 2009
Friday, February 13, 2009
As my cousin Cindy says, "Tick Tock Tick Tock"!
Each day I feel like my body is changing. The braxton hicks continue to be a constant...not increasing intensity so much during 1 day but I can tell a difference day to day. Yesterday I started feeling a little cramping and it has continued today. They say that when the contractions are the real thing that you will feel like you have really bad menstrual cramps. Mine aren't bad, but they are now there and uncomfortable. So again...I feel like things are progressing.
The 2 teachers I work with have made predictions that I won't make it through the week next week. 1 of the teacher's predicts I will go Sunday night the other teacher predicts I'll go to my doctor's appointment on Tuesday and they won't let me leave! Who knows!They have a baby shower at work scheduled next Friday but decided to give me my gift today and take pictures of my opening it in case I don't make it till then! I'm so grateful to the staff members I work with...they pooled money together and got me the convertible car seat. It is awesome! It can be rear facing or forward facing and fit kids from 20lbs to 100 lbs!
The 2 teachers I work with have made predictions that I won't make it through the week next week. 1 of the teacher's predicts I will go Sunday night the other teacher predicts I'll go to my doctor's appointment on Tuesday and they won't let me leave! Who knows!They have a baby shower at work scheduled next Friday but decided to give me my gift today and take pictures of my opening it in case I don't make it till then! I'm so grateful to the staff members I work with...they pooled money together and got me the convertible car seat. It is awesome! It can be rear facing or forward facing and fit kids from 20lbs to 100 lbs!
Sunday, February 8, 2009
36 weeks photo
Okay, so it was really hard for me to post this photo today, but I'm am because ever since we started this blog I've updated a pic every 4 weeks. I continue to retain water which makes my face, hands, ankles and calves puffy. I know I'm my hardest critic, especially when I made the mistake of looking back at the first few photos that were posted. Oh well...it is all worth it.
Jason and I had 2 guest passes to the YMCA . Today we went and I swam laps while Jason worked out. The non-compact exercise felt really good on my joints. After swimming I felt so good that I decided to join Jason and went on the elliptical for 3o minutes. Still feeling good after that and stretching, Jason and I went and shot the basketball around for awhile. He'll never admit it, but even being over 8 months prego I still made more shots than he did! (After I adjusted my shot dealing with my big belly!) Anyways, now several hours later (of keeping my feet elevated) I still feel great. I'm hoping to find more people with extra guest passes so we can go again next weekend.
Saturday, February 7, 2009
Week 36...
Today I am officially in my 9th month of pregnancy. It is amazing how quickly it has all gone by. Week 36 was very interesting....
Prior to my last 2 entries I talked about knowing the difference between Braxton Hicks and real contractions. After the evening of us wondering if we would need to go to the hospital or not, the Braxton Hick really never lessened in frequency. From that Wednesday night through the following Sunday (Day of Appleton Baby Shower), my braxton hicks were non-stop and as close together as 2 minutes apart. It was determined by Jason, my parents and myself that we need not worry since they weren't drastically increasing in intensity.
I had mentioned previously to my mom that when I wake up in the morning my face and hands feel swollen. Sunday morning of the shower (my parents spent the night) my mom said she agreed that my face was noticeably swollen. At the shower, Chris (Jason's mom) asked me several times if I was alright, that I had looked like I had been crying. I hadn't been crying, I was just that puffy. We continued to monitor everything...
Sunday night my face ached tremendously. I had a very hard time falling asleep (as a result of course so did Jason). The pain was most comparable to extreme sinus pressure but everywhere on my face except my sinuses. When I told my mom this on Monday after work, she convinced me to call the doctor's office, just in case they would want to see me before my Wednesday appointment.
I explained to the nurse about the pain and swelling. While I had her on the phone I explained how non-stop the braxton hicks were. She told me that she was most concerned about the possibility of high blood pressure and told me she wanted us to go get checked out at the Family Birthing Center. She said that there was no rush, just within the next hour to head to the hospital. She said that is best to be on the safe side.
Jason got home about 10 minutes after I got off the phone with the nurse. He asked "What's up?" I stated, "You need to take me to the hospital". Surprising to me, Jason remained calm which in turn helped me to stay calm. He asked if we should bring the suitcase and I said I didn't think we needed to bring it. So we headed off to the hospital.
At the hospital they hooked me up to 2 monitors. One monitored the baby's heartbeat and the other monitored my contractions. We were there for almost 2 hours. My blood pressure was 126/89, which is high for me, but nothing alarming for them. The contractions were consistently less than 10 minutes apart, but again weren't increasing in intensity. She checked me out and determined that I was "finger tip dilated", which I learned later is actually about 2 cm.
So needless to say the process has started. I went to my scheduled doctor's appointment on Wednesday, again with my list of questions. The baby's head is still down. He told me that I would need to come in every week from here on out. I asked how long the appointments would be at this point because I have stuff after work every night this week (trying to determine if I could come during the day during prep/lunch). He said no big deal, that he was comfortable with me coming in in 2 weeks if need be. So no appointment this week, the next one is early the following week.
We had our final LaMaze class. When I walked in and took off my coat the LaMaze teacher again stated that she thinks the baby has dropped even more...she implied that we'll be going early. Who knows! The baby will come when ready :).
Prior to my last 2 entries I talked about knowing the difference between Braxton Hicks and real contractions. After the evening of us wondering if we would need to go to the hospital or not, the Braxton Hick really never lessened in frequency. From that Wednesday night through the following Sunday (Day of Appleton Baby Shower), my braxton hicks were non-stop and as close together as 2 minutes apart. It was determined by Jason, my parents and myself that we need not worry since they weren't drastically increasing in intensity.
I had mentioned previously to my mom that when I wake up in the morning my face and hands feel swollen. Sunday morning of the shower (my parents spent the night) my mom said she agreed that my face was noticeably swollen. At the shower, Chris (Jason's mom) asked me several times if I was alright, that I had looked like I had been crying. I hadn't been crying, I was just that puffy. We continued to monitor everything...
Sunday night my face ached tremendously. I had a very hard time falling asleep (as a result of course so did Jason). The pain was most comparable to extreme sinus pressure but everywhere on my face except my sinuses. When I told my mom this on Monday after work, she convinced me to call the doctor's office, just in case they would want to see me before my Wednesday appointment.
I explained to the nurse about the pain and swelling. While I had her on the phone I explained how non-stop the braxton hicks were. She told me that she was most concerned about the possibility of high blood pressure and told me she wanted us to go get checked out at the Family Birthing Center. She said that there was no rush, just within the next hour to head to the hospital. She said that is best to be on the safe side.
Jason got home about 10 minutes after I got off the phone with the nurse. He asked "What's up?" I stated, "You need to take me to the hospital". Surprising to me, Jason remained calm which in turn helped me to stay calm. He asked if we should bring the suitcase and I said I didn't think we needed to bring it. So we headed off to the hospital.
At the hospital they hooked me up to 2 monitors. One monitored the baby's heartbeat and the other monitored my contractions. We were there for almost 2 hours. My blood pressure was 126/89, which is high for me, but nothing alarming for them. The contractions were consistently less than 10 minutes apart, but again weren't increasing in intensity. She checked me out and determined that I was "finger tip dilated", which I learned later is actually about 2 cm.
So needless to say the process has started. I went to my scheduled doctor's appointment on Wednesday, again with my list of questions. The baby's head is still down. He told me that I would need to come in every week from here on out. I asked how long the appointments would be at this point because I have stuff after work every night this week (trying to determine if I could come during the day during prep/lunch). He said no big deal, that he was comfortable with me coming in in 2 weeks if need be. So no appointment this week, the next one is early the following week.
We had our final LaMaze class. When I walked in and took off my coat the LaMaze teacher again stated that she thinks the baby has dropped even more...she implied that we'll be going early. Who knows! The baby will come when ready :).
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Father-in-law and Son-in-law Bonding
Over the weekend, Jason and my dad had some bonding time :). Collectively they put together the bassinet, swing, and bouncy seat. They both were very patient, which allowed for their success! Once again, our living room is full of baby equipment...it is becoming more and more a reality that we will soon have an addition to our family!
Baby Shower #3
On Sunday, Jason's mom and sister threw me a wonderful baby shower. All the praying paid off, because it was an excellent travel day for people to get there. Once again, Jason, baby Starke and I were blessed with many great gifts. It was great seeing everyone and we are very grateful for everything!
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