35 Weeks

I'm 35 weeks pregnant.

On Thursday, I went to my weekly appointment and my second non-stress test.  This is where they hook up baby to a heart monitor and check her movement and her heart rate.  They also did an ultrasound to determine size and position of the baby.  Right before I went there, she started really bearing down...I thought she was turning...it was really painful.

They did the ultrasound and I get a little freaked out when the tech told me there was a lot of fluid and too much "tissue" to get a good look.  The baby measured at six pound and thirteen ounces...give or take a pound.  That's over a pound of the average kid at this point.  The size didn't shock me, but the other things she said got me so worked up my blood pressure sky rocketed.  The nurse hooked me up to the machine to test the baby and promised she'd get the doctor in as soon as possible to talk to me.  He told me the amount of fluid was consistent with the size of the kid, which made me feel better.  With her size, I expressed concern about the possibility of a c-section.  He then told me that with my blood pressure issues, that they wouldn't let me get past my 39th week.  That was news to me.  I had asked the other doctor if they ever induce for size and he said no.  I guess in retrospect, I didn't ask about the blood pressure being a factor.

(And by the way, she is in position.  My first kid to do so in a timely matter.  Abbey didn't switch back until the day of!)

I had mixed feelings.  I do like that induction is easier to plan, but her size may mean a c-section.  They will be doing an ultrasound the 38th week to determine her size and see which direction to go.  I'm thinking ten pounds is the mark.  Also, she won't get a Memorial Day birthday :) or be born on Todd's father's birthday (the 29th).  This isn't a huge deal, but it's a little bit of a let down.  

So she passed the non-stress test with flying colors (with me poking her to get her moving...she is up all night but naps in the afternoon).  I  then got a shot for pertussis, which I had previously declined but the doctor told me it covered the baby post natal, so I did.  I left feeling better, but I had a lot to digest.

That night, my body showed some signs I was headed to labor, which freaked me out a little.  I wasn't ready!  Good thing I had gone out earlier that week and gotten most of what I need for her.  But mentally, it was little scary!

I don't like a c-section for a couple of reasons.  The epidural I had for Adam didn't work.  And it's the same kind of medication.  I am also freaked out at the thought of not being able to feel my body at all.  And recovering from surgery is harder than from labor.

I am uncomfortable most of the time.  Can't sit too long.  Can't walk too long.  Can't stand too long and of course, I can't really lie down.  I pee all the time.  And she bears down sometimes and it hurts, something I didn't have with the other kids.  My back is an acne/itchy hive nightmare and my hands go numb constantly...making it hard to type.  My lungs are compressed and when she pushed them, it's hard to catch a breathe.

After I had Abbey, I said I couldn't imagine never being pregnant again.  I'm OK with that now!  I am starting to get a little scared of the labor part.  But it is still cool when she's moving and my stomach looks like an alien :)

Adam calls her Ellie.  Ellie in my Belly.  He named her a few weeks ago, out of the blue.