38 Weeks - My Final Pregnancy Post!

This week I've had two appointments which have turned out really well.  My blood pressure is better than it has been for weeks and the non-stress tests (NST) indicate baby is reacting and doing well in there. 

I've been a little worried each time I've gone to the doctor this week that I will be sent back to the hospital (and this time it wouldn't be for a couple of hours) that I've had my hospital bag packed, car seat in the car, and even Barney packed a bag.  We've been ready since Monday to have this baby. 

I'm so relieved and happy to report that this will be my last pregnancy post!  If I don't have the baby over the next few days (which the doctor I had on Monday thought I would and I'm almost 3 centimeters), she'll be here the beginning of next week. 

We are only telling everyone that she's arrived once we're out of the delivery room and have had time to spend together as a family or if you fall into one of the following categories: my parents, B's parents or are a brother/sister to me.  Otherwise, you're just going to have to wait a bit....sorry, Charlie.

Maternity clothes:  still in a mix of maternity and regular. 

Sleep: so hard to get a good nights sleep when dealing with stiffness and constantly having to use the restroom.  Naps are my friend!

Best Moment This Week:  getting told that the baby will be out next week!

Cravings: Root Beer, licorice and pizza.

Gender: GIRL!

What I Look Forward To: next week and the next 11ish weeks off!

Milestones: Baby is the size of a watermelon.  All systems within baby are a go!  Baby has a few last-minute details to take care of such as shedding skin protecting vernix and lanugo and producing more surfactant.which will prevent air sacs in the lungs from sticking to each other when baby begins to breathe.

Have a fabulous weekend!

Weeks 36 and 37

Here's what's been happening the last 2 weeks....

Monday, 6/6: Felt like crap...if you remember from my 35 weeks post, I was to be on the look out for preclampsia symptoms.  I had a head and stomach ache that wouldn't seem to go away.  I ended up going to the doctor to get checked out.  My blood pressure was down but she still wanted to do some labs.

Tuesday, 6/7: Took a sick day off of work to complete the labs the doctor had asked me to do on Monday.  These labs consisted of collecting my pee for 24 hours straight.

Wednesday, 6/8: Took my urine bucket down to the lab and got blood drawn.

Friday, 6/10: Test results were back and I do not have preclampsia (thank god!).  I scored 140 and to be concerned, it has to be up to 300.  My blood pressure is high again (132/100 at start of appt and 150/100 by the end) and the doctor makes me take a reduced schedule at work.  I can only work a max of 4 hours per day, 20 hours per week and they must be from home.  I was really upset at the end of the appointment because I didn't know how taking a reduced schedule would impact my pay and FMLA.  Everything is great though...it almost seems to work out better in the long run for me to only be working 1/2 time.  I'm still super swollen in my feet, ankles and calves.

Tuesday, 6/14: Go to another scheduled appointment and my blood pressure is even higher...somewhere around 159/100.  At this appointment I was 1-2 centimeters dialated.  I'm not getting overly excited about this because I could stay at this level for awhile.  They then put me on the stress monitors to ensure baby is okay in there.  Everything looked great and it even showed a contraction that I had which was extremely tolerable.  The doctor did say that I probably would get induced before my due date because of everything I had going on.  I was told I'd be going to the doctor 2x per week from here on out which wasn't surprising considering that's how much I've been going the last couple of weeks. 

Friday, 6/17:  Another doctor's appointment but this time I got an ultrasound.  Baby is 7 whole pounds and is still a girl!!  She is doing great in there...as great as a baby can do!.  My blood pressure was high yet again...160/104 and 164/104.  The doctor was extremely concerned so she sent us (hubby came to this appointment) over to the hospital to be monitored and to get blood work done.  After over 2 hours of being in the hospital, they sent us on our way.  I have to do another pee catch to make sure it doesn't score over 300.  If it does, I'll have to go in tomorrow to get this baby out.  I have another doctor's appoinment Monday and I was told that they would wait until 38 weeks to induce.  So I'm expecting baby to be out somewhere between 38 and 39 weeks which is somewhere between the 22nd and 29th if she doesn't come on her own.  I've been feeling more contractions - the real ones - but they are far apart and they don't hurt.  I feel alot more pressure with these than I did with the Braxton Hicks contractions.  I still have alot of swelling.

36 Weeks

37 Weeks

Maternity clothes:  still in a mix of maternity and regular.  I no longer wear some of maternity pants because they don't fit with the amount of swelling in my calves.

Sleep: getting harder these days.  It's so hard to get comfortable and when I wake, that part of my body is aching with pain.  It's also hard to get in and out of our bed.

Best Moment This Week: the ultrasound!  We have everything ready for baby.  All her clothes, toys, bottles, bedding, etc is washed up and ready to be used!  I'm in the works of packing my hospital bag.

Cravings: nothing specific.  I get full pretty fast...running out of room in there.

Gender: GIRL!

What I Look Forward To: getting this baby out.  I've had enough with the swelling and high blood pressure and I would really like to meet this baby!

Milestones: Baby is the size of a watermelon.  Baby is full term.  Baby is gaining weight at about a 1/2 a pound a week and fat continues to accumulate.  Baby is practicing everything on the inside that she needs to do on the outside to surviv.!

35 Weeks

Approximately 4 1/2 weeks to go! 

A funny thing happened to me this week and I'm not embarrassed at all to admit or tell you it either.  Every morning, I usually spend 10-15 minutes on the couch watching the news and checking up on what the weather is going to be like for that day.  Wednesday morning was no different (btw, I had already gone to the bathroom before I sat down).  As I sat on my couch, I started getting itchy eyes, nose and ears and then my nose started running (allergies are a real bitch).  I walked to my kitchen to blow my nose and as I did so, I felt a trickle of liquid go down my leg.  My first thought was, "HOLY SHIT, MY WATER JUST BROKE!"  (They tell you in child prep class that only a small percentage of women have their water break on it's own and that it's usually a trickle...not like the flood gates are opening).  Then I realized I had zero pain and it was probably just pee.  That's right, I've come to that point in the pregnancy.  Luckily, I hadn't showered yet for the day.

I'm trying to get everything in line and ready for the baby to be here (I feel sort of like a crazy person and that I should be more prepared than I actually am).  I ordered a case of NB diapers since we only have a few right now as well as ordered the car base for Barney's truck.  FYI for those expectant mommies and/or mommies who still have kiddos in diapers...I ordered through Diapers.com and got 10% off the base and 20% off of diapers for ordering.  That's a savings of around $10.  Also, the 20% off diapers is extended for 3 whole months.  It's a lot cheaper than buying in store and you can get free shipping on orders over $49 (Shipping is super fast...I ordered on Monday which was a holiday and had them by the time I got home Wednesday).  I noticed wipes are more expensive than Target or Walmart so definitely do your research before buying.

This week I've been thinking a lot about Advocare and what I'm going to do once I deliver.  What is Advocare?  Check it out!

I think I'm going to try the cleanse portion of the 24 day challenge and if it works well, I'll do the other 14 day Max portion.  A few of my friends (one of my besties) have had great success with the challenge and what better way to get some of the excess baby weight off since I can't really work out like I would normally in the weeks after having the baby.  I really miss Spark and haven't used it since finding out I was pregnant but can't wait to go back to it and kicking soda out of my life. 

If you have any questions about the products or want to order, please feel free to Facebook or email me or stop by our Advocare website and shop around!  I'll be putting in an order by the 17th of this month so if you would like me to order you a product or two and you live around my area, please let me know.  I'm willing to give you a discount!  End of plug...

Maternity Clothes ~ Still in a mix of maternity and regular clothes.  The non-maternity clothes that I wear make my belly look smaller.  I wish they would make maternity clothes more flattering.  Either way, I'm ready to box my 7 maternity items up and put them away for a long, long time.

Sleep ~ Either I've been way too tired this week or I'm drinking less before bed because I'm waking up less frequently than in the past two weeks. 

Best Moment This Week ~  I started going to the doctor on a weekly basis.  I feel like I can finally start the countdown to the due date since we're less than a month away! 

With that being said, my doctor's appointment was the worst yet as far as new news goes.  I've been complaining awhile about how big my ankles and feet have been swollen.  The doctor I saw yesterday was extremely concerned because I was so swollen in those areas.  My doctor also said that this week my blood pressure is elevated.  She then told me all about preclampsia and the warning signs of it so that I can be on the lookout.  Swelling up and elevated blood pressure are signs of it.  If I get any of the other symptoms such as nausea and vomiting, spots in my eyes/blurred vision or a headache that won't go away, I have to call immediately to be seen.  Also, I'm on orders to keep off my feet and keep them elevated as much as possible.  If you knew me, this is nearly impossible. 

On a better note, I don't have to get the Group B Strep test done.  I say this is better because anytime I don't have to go through an invasive test, I'm happy.  The bad part of why I don't have to get tested is because via my urine samples, they can tell I'm already a carrier for the bacteria.  I'll have to get penicillin during delivery to protect the baby.

Yes, I understand these don't fall into the 'best moment of the week category' but I had to put them somewhere.

I went for a walk on Wednesday and once I got home, I did the weights and cardio portions, Level 1 of the 30 Day Shred.  Just an hour or two later, I was definitely feeling it.  But if I can do that much of a workout at 35 weeks prego, I'll take it.

Cravings ~ I have found a new drink that I love...Snapple Peach Tea (Diet or Regular).  I had a big craving for pizza and breadsticks this week. 

Gender ~ GIRL!

What I look forward to ~ the baby shower being thrown by two fabulous friends this weekend!  I'm very interested in what they have up their sleeves.

Milestones ~   Baby is the size of a honeydew.  Baby is approximately 20 inches long and 5 1/2 pounds.  Baby will continue to pack on the pounds, gaining 1/2 pound a week.  Brain development continues at a rapid pace making baby top heavy.