Tummy Tuesday 37 Weeks

Sylvia had another check up today with another ultrasound to check amniotic fluid levels and all's well with momma and baby. In the holding pattern and just waiting on her to decide it's time to come out. The fluid level dropped slightly but still on the low side of normal which earns her another repeat ultrasound next week. No real reason for concern yet, but something to keep an eye on. Ideal levels are between 10-12 and mine were 8 last week and 7.75 this week. If they drop to 5 then they will induce. 

I'd really prefer her to come between the 27th and 31st OR hang out until the 12th or later. Margaret's Birthday is on the 4th and I'd prefer their birthdays be as far apart as possible. Yes, the 31st is not very far away from the 4th, but it is in another month so it feels farther away. I don't want their sister's birthday to over shadow either one of their birthday's. We are taking family walks every night and doing labor inducing stretches to try to coax her out by the end of the month, but if she doesn't I may just put myself on bed rest until the 12th :) 

Sylvia slept through most of the ultrasound, but the tech need to wake her up to check something so she "stimulated" her. HILARIOUS! I think we've got another feisty one on our hands. She furrowed her eyebrows and crinkled her forehead all up. She got MAD, and it was AWESOME. Although I am sure we are in for payback. Pretty cool to see a little glimpse of her personality.

 

Sleeping on the left and her mad face on the right.

At 37 weeks and 5 days Sylvia is now around 19 inches long and 7.5 pounds (approximately the size of a baby) although they didn't take any official measurements today. And considering I'm 2 weeks from due date I feel great. Little swollen and definitely have the pregnancy waddle now but no real complaints. The weather has cooled off, so I'm not miserably hot anymore and since she had dropped I haven't has nearly they heartburn or trouble breathing, although I do go to the bathroom about every hour. 

Tummy Tuesday 36 Weeks

36 weeks and 5 days. On Thursday I will be 37 weeks which is considered "term" (technically "early-term" until 39 weeks- but still TERM) Here we are at the very end. Bitter sweet. I love being pregnant- there is just nothing else like it, but I also can.not.wait to meet the newest member of our family!

Got all her hand-me down laundry washed, dried and folded this weekend. Just need to get her dresser in the "nursery" and fill it up. Also realized I have plenty of PJ's in Newborn and 6m size but only 3 in 3m size?? and I only have ONE burp cloth. How is that even possible?

Last Wednesday was my first weekly appointment. At one day shy of 36 weeks I was already progressing "quite a bit" at 3cm and 50% effaced. She said with most women she would say that means baby will be coming early, but with me it really means nothing. My body just progresses more and sooner than most before actual labor starts. This is apparently why I deliver so quickly too.  Sylvia is also already head down- Yay! 

She squeezed on my belly and took a few measurements and estimated that Sylvia already weighs 6.5-7lbs. Right on track to be a 8-9lb baby depending on when she comes. But who knows how accurate that exactly is?

My next weekly appointment was actually this morning and not much has changed. Still holding steady, but my belly measured slightly smaller than it did last week which is a little concerning.
 It could most likely mean 2 things: 

1- Low amniotic fluid 

2- Baby girl is dropping lower 

Doctor said it is most likely the second because of all the pressure I have been having, but still wanted to do an ultrasound to check the fluid levels. Ultrasound showed a perfectly healthy 6 pound 15 ounce baby girl. Fluid level is on the low side of normal so we will repeat the ultrasound next week to compare levels. Doc says no reason for concern, just precautionary.  

We talked again about induction at both appointments. Still not crazy about the idea, but also not crazy about the possibility of delivering her the mini van either. The typical day she would recommend for someone in my situation is Monday the 5th, but since that is labor day (how's that for ironic?) we would have to bump it to Wednesday the 7th (I could do it any day after the 1st but she would not be the one to deliver and if I am inducing I want MY doctor to do it, not some doctor I have never seen before). If the whole point of induction is to be in a sterile, controlled environment during labor then what is ONE day before my due date going to matter? Ideally I would pick the 31st but that is 38weeks and 6 days and insurance will not pay for an induction before 39weeks 0 days (the very NEXT DAY) unless "medically necessary". Guess we will wait until closer to time to make that decision. Fingers crossed I just go into labor naturally sometime between the 27th and 31st and Chase is home with me to take me straight to the hospital. Here's to wishful thinking.....

Tummy Tuesday 35 Weeks

I feel like she is really sticking on out there now!

Week 35 was definitely a productive week.

Hospital pre-registration- check

Merged our closets to make room for Sylvia- check

Get baby stuff out of the attic- check

Start a list of needed baby items- check

Wash carseat cover- check

Gifts for Sylvia to bring big sisters- check

Bought momma new Hospital clothes (read: Pajamas)- check

Not sure it is really "nesting" since I'm not doing it because it's fun and I want to- at this point it is a necessity. She is coming, and soon! I am due a month from YESTERDAY. We are under month away.

At just over 5 pounds and 18 inches long, Sylvia is pretty snug in there- like a 5lb sack of potatoes sticking off my front side. She doesn't do many flips anymore- It's just kicks on the top left of my tummy, booty bump on the top right side and I assume her head in near my right hip because that's where I feel her hiccups. Her basic physical development is complete. She'll spent the next few weeks just putting on weight.

And over all I am still feeling great. Don't get my wrong, I feel 8 months pregnant (read: hot and huge) but not uncomfortable. Pressure seems to have ease up a little this week. I'm a bit anxious to go to my first weekly appointment tomorrow and see if there is any progression yet. 

I had some kind of sinus funk or summer cold this week. About 4 days into symptoms I had a mini panic attack that I didn't know what the symptoms of Zika virus were. AHHH! Was is upper respiratory stuff?!?! I am a horrible mother.... How could I not thought to get it checked out??? Turns out NONE of the symptoms I have are symptoms of Zika, WHEW! 

Tummy Tuesday 34 Weeks

Woah, she is really beginning to poke on out there! 

Sylvia is  now pushing 5 pounds and around 17 inches long. Her skin is more like that of a newborn's now and no longer see through. Her lungs are still maturing and although she would still be considered pre-mature for another 2 weeks and 2 days (37 Weeks) babies born after 34 weeks typically have no long term health issues. Right now, she is just packing on the fat which will help her regulate her body temperature once she is outside the womb. 

Speaking of body temperature. Holy Cow!! Who turned the heat on? I can not seem to cool off these days. I am hot All.The.Time. Being outside is down right torture when it is 95+.  I get all sweaty and sticky; my thighs start chafing, and it's already hard to breathe before you add this Memphis humidity- being outside makes cranky. 

Sylvia is still VERY active these days. I am constantly getting round house kicks that rainbow over the top of my belly button. Mary Claire got to watch and feel my stomach roll the other night as we read our night time story.  It was sweet to watch Mary Claire's face light up every time she felt her baby sister move. Sylvia also gets the hiccups multiple times a day which I feel in my right hip- Both high kicks and low hiccups are signs that she is already head down which is great news since she is quickly running out of room to make large movements. 

Over-all I am still feeling good, I'm not uncomfortable, or hurting but I am starting to feel a lot of more pressure. She must be dropping lower or stretching her hands out or something because I feel like she weighs 10 pounds.  Next week I have my first weekly appointment and first check so I am a excited to see if all of this pressure is sign of progression or just part of carrying a 3rd baby.