Journal

3/5/04 (36w1d): Well my appointment that was supposed to be yesterday got rescheduled to today (they had two births) so I was disappointed (never in my life have I looked forward to dr’s appointments so much!). So Chris cheered me up by taking me to dinner (Panera) and I got a new haircut. Check it out in the belly photo. Here are the stats: weight –1lb. (for a total of 32, so some of that extra weight last week was due to swelling); BP 128-80 (a little high for me but ok); urine, tiniest bit of glucose (but I had just eaten – a candy bar to boot!); Bean’s heartbeat, 145 and fundal height = 38cm. So everything’s on track. The midwife took a sample for Group B Strep; if positive, they’ll give me IV antibiotics at delivery so I don’t pass it to Bean. We attended the water birth class this week and we’re going to try it. Looks like it’s so much easier on both Mom and Baby. Finished touch-ups in the nursery and moving on to the decorative painting. We received a ton of gifts in the mail this week (Thank You!): 2 bureaus, the changing table, a box from Jason & Faith and one from Nana. The shower is Sunday so we’re getting excited for that. Can’t wait to wear my party dress!

3/8/04 (36w4d): The shower was beautiful. We got lots of lovely and generous gifts. It was so nice to have so many of our close friends and beloved family together to celebrate. There were lots of bibs, wash cloths, diapers and wipes – I think they’re trying to tell us something! Check out a couple of photos from the event. Next appointment is Thursday and afterward we’re doing a belly cast!

3/9/04 (36w5d): Having some contractions after work tonight. Got some takeout and went home. Everything subsided by 8pm or so. Just a prelude I guess!

3/12/04 (37w1d): Belly cast was cancelled for this week. Apparently, she was out of supplies, so we rescheduled. The appointment wasn’t all roses either. Here are the stats: weight +4 (total 36); urine, normal, BP 132/80!!; fundal height 40cm; Bean’s heartbeat 138. So the midwife (Sara this time) is concerned about the apparently rising blood pressure (normal for me during pregnancy has been ~120/70). She suggested that if I plan to continue working that I need to rest more when at home. This means no projects involving standing or squatting. So I guess I’ll have to leave the painting to Chris or finish it after Bean gets here – yikes! Also, she’d like me to drink even more water (about 5L/day) to avoid dehydration. She also wasn’t too impressed with my prelabor from Tuesday night – said it was normal and that we could still go full term. One last piece of bad news…the water birth tub is broken and has been for about 2 weeks. Let’s hope it gets fixed before it’s our turn. Having some more contractions tonight but nothing very regular or lasting long at all. Next appointment (and belly cast) is March 16.

3/16/04 (37w5d): OK, I’m beginning to think that the belly cast will never happen! She double booked the slot for tonight so we rescheduled for Saturday morning. I was having lots of regular Braxton Hicks contractions on my way to the doctor’s office today. Here are the stats: urine, normal; weight +4 (for a total of 40!); BP 122/80; fundal height 41cm; Bean’s heartbeat 145bpm; and since I was contraction Sara check my cervix and it’s closed but 20% effaced or thinned. So things are beginning but it could still be weeks before I deliver. We went over my diet and decided to cut out the one glass of juice I drink in the morning but there wasn’t much else that she could find fault with. I’m getting impatient for this baby to arrive. It’s hard to imagine that it could still take 3 weeks. But like Chris says, I should take it one day at a time. Next appointment is March 23.

3/20/04 (38w2d): Had my belly cast done today – finally! Check it out! It was a lot of fun – although kinda gross at the same time. Mom came up and gave me a pedicure and foot massage afterward…not a moment too soon either because my feet were so swollen. Then she cooked us a roast beef dinner – my favorite. Still just waitin’ for Bean to arrive!

3/22/04 (38w4d): Woke up about 1:30 this morning with cramps and lower back pain. Couldn’t sleep very well at all. Did get back to sleep but only for about one hour. Woke up about 5:30 with contractions. Made the decision to stay home from work as the contractions were regular at about 5-7 minutes apart. Got in to be seen at 10am. My cervix hasn’t changed much since last week (~20% effaced); weight, -1lb. (total 39); urine normal; Bean’s heartbeat 138; fundal height 42cm; and BP=122/80. Since I’d been having contractions for so long (~5 hrs by then) Sara decided to put me on the monitor for a Non-Stress Test. Normally it takes 20 minutes but Bean was sleeping for the first 15 so we ended up on the monitor for about 40 minutes. Everything was fine and I found out that the contractions I’m having are at about 25% of the scale. This will be a good benchmark for what’s to come. I feel like now I have a point of reference. Went home disappointed but reassured. As long as the contractions stop, I’ll go back to work tomorrow. Picked up the belly cast at my appointment too. It came out so cool. At home, we began the decorating process. Pictures to follow. Next appointment (if necessary) is March 30th.

3/25/04 (39w0d): Still waiting. Wish it weren’t the case but it’s true. I’m still going to work, trying to keep myself busy with minor chores (things I can do sitting down mostly). Plan to “finish” the birth announcements this weekend so that all I have to do after Bean comes is fill in all the details and close the envelopes – maybe I’ll recruit someone to do that! You can look at this week’s belly photo, but it’s not pretty. Think I’m going to have to start taking them at night or something!

3/30/04 (39w5d): I took today off from work to do some errands and for my birthday. Spent the morning with Michelle and then met my mom at our house for lunch. Had the 40w appointment in the afternoon. Stats: weight +1lb. (total 40, again); urine, normal; fundal height, 42cm; Bean's heartbeat, 140s; BP=140/90. So, Sara was not happy with the elevated blood pressure and we measured it again at the end of the appointment with no change. Cervix has thinned to 50% so that's good. Sara consulted with Dr. Seigil and they sent me over to the Birth Center for some labs and another non-stress test. She also told me to stop working and stay on the couch until Bean arrives. We made our way over to the hospital and complete all the testing (normal results) and got back home about 9:30. Mom stayed here just in case I went into labor. Although I had a bunch of contractions for a few hours, I was able to get sleep. They were probably just a result of the exam. (, but it’s not pretty. Think I’m going to have to start taking them at night or something!

3/31/04 (39w6d): Went to the doctor's office this morning for a blood pressure check. My urine had a small amount of protein in it; weight was -2 (total of 38lbs); BP=130/80. Better. Still stay on the couch and come back Friday. I feel fine really, just concerned about how long I might have to stay on the couch - not much more than a week, I guess but it seems like a long time at this point. Maybe Bean will come sooner. Hope so.