June 17, 2009

• 36.5 Weeks ... Almost Time?

  It's hard to believe, but as of this Saturday, I'll be 37 weeks ... full-term! Even to my pregnant-as-a-whale self, this pregnancy has simply flown by.

  Today, I had my 36-week (really 36.5 week) appointment with the midwife. Everything checked out well -- fundus measuring right on track, blood pressure at 104/60, weight gain at 24 pounds total (probably won't gain much more from here on out, if my pregnancy with Jack serves as an accurate measure). Baby Surprise's heartbeat also sounded good. Usually, I don't have many questions for my midwife, but today I wanted to know when she thought I might deliver. See, for the past week and a half or so, I've been having two to three Braxton-Hicks contractions (that's "practice" contractions for those of you unfamiliar with the lingo ) an hour, even when I'm well-hydrated and sitting or laying down. I also feel pressure down where the baby's head is. Now, these could just be normal second-time mom (especially second-time mom who only had 15 months between pregnancies!) sensations, or maybe all moms wo have a head-down baby feel this way. With Jack, since he was head-up, his butt never dropped low into my pelvis, so I had no lower pressure. I also had very infrequent Braxton-Hicks contractions. In fact, I had no signs of impending labor with Jack until two or three days before labor began. I've read that the second time around, your body either prepares you for labor earlier with BH contractions, or that you're just more in tune with early labor signs. So, in short, what I've been feeling could mean nothing ... especially since I don't have a history of preterm labor (that's before 37 weeks). But, you all know what a worrier I am. Given that I'm not yet 37 weeks (shy by a few days, but still), and given that my mom's moving in this weekend, I really wouldn't like to deliver early. The main reason is that I don't want there to be any increased chance that Baby Surprise would have to go to the NICU. The secondary reason is that if the baby waits until my mom's all moved in and settled, then no one has to panic or make rushed arrangements for Jack when labor begins, no matter what time of day or night it is. Anyway, so today I peppered the midwife with questions about what happens if a baby is born just shy of 37 weeks, and what she thought my timetable might be.

  Unlike my previous OB, my midwife does not do internal checks at 36 weeks. (She's one of five in the practice; I've seen all five.) The group is of the opinion that unless I'm in labor, it doesn't make much sense to do an internal check, since some women walk around at 1-2 cm dilated for weeks before delivery. And, if I'm not dilated, she doesn't want me to be lulled into a false sense that labor is far away. Made sense to me. However, she did determine that baby's head is engaged in my pelvis, that he's positioned correctly for birth and that given how I've been feeling, she wouldn't be surprised if I went into labor in the next two weeks. Given that, she went ahead and did my GBS swab today, instead of waiting until next week (since it's good for five weeks). She reassured me that she doesn't think it will happen before 37 weeks, since Jack came right on time, and that while second babies tend to come sooner, that doesn't mean coming so soon as to be preterm. She then said that if the baby were to arrive between now and Saturday, he would most likely be just fine, since he's a good size already. They wouldn't do anything to stop my labor if it were to start. She also advised me to guzzle as much water as I could, and spend lots of time laying on my left side. But, she ended the appointment by saying that she was sure she'd see me next week for my usual weekly checkup, so that's a relief.

  So, we'll just wait and see! My bag is all packed, but again, I'd much rather wait it out. As uncomfortable as the BH contractions and the head pressure can be, I don't really mind being pregnant, and I know this is the last time I'll feel a baby wriggling around inside me. So (to a reasonable extent), Baby Surprise can take his sweet time. I'm definitely following the water-drinking advice, upping my usual daily consumption of 64 ounces to 96 ounces, at least. Not sure about the laying down ... that can happen after my mom moves in, but anyone who's been alone with a toddler for 10 hours a day knows the realities of resting while said toddler is awake. I think, though, I will start resting while Jack naps, instead of rushing to do my part-time work or house chores. Today during Jack's nap I baked and froze a lasagna for Johnny's consumption after the baby arrives, revised a draft of something I was writing for work, and folded Jack's clean laundry. Starting tomorrow, I think my number one priority during Jack's naps will be to get some shut-eye myself. I'll make sacrifices to keep the baby baking for a while longer.

  Watch, now that I've said all this, the baby won't come out until 42 weeks. I think that might exceed even my tolerance for pregnancy. Everyone, tell the baby to stay put until this time next week, at least!

  • 12:12 am
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