39 Weeks +1 Day

09.04.08
39 weeks + 1 days

We went to the doctor today. I was pretty sure they were closed when I pulled up in the parking lot. I was shocked when I walked in the door and there is no one waiting. It was like entering a new world. It was just the aligning of the planets, actually one doctor had a hospital emergency and her appointments had to be canceled and the other doctor was off which only left the PA and her patients. It's the same routine every time, weight - which I have put on some pounds but I can deduct some for the wallet, clothing and shoes, LA has lost some weight; blood pressure - LA had a new person (young girl) ask her all the questions (baby moving...etc) and take her blood pressure and it was high which was shocking to LA since it hasn't been a problem so far. The girl took it again and it was 145/100 but LA didn't have a good feeling for her knowing exactly what she was doing - the cuff was low. Anyway, being pregnant and having high blood pressure is not good. When the PA comes in she tells us that she is going to check her bp again to see what's going on after she checks everything out. She did a few tests on LA's feet to make sure they were not twitching which would be a result of high blood pressure and the swelling in her feet. The PA wasn't too concerned but since it was the first reading that was abnormal she wanted cover all the bases. She told LA that if her bp was high when she checked it that she could put her on bed rest (which initially sounds good but translates into 23 hours and 40 minutes in the bed - 20 minutes for a shower) or possibly a visit for 24 hours to the hospital to monitor her bp; back to the bp in a minute. The GOOD news from the examination - baby is dropping (not very fast, I told LA to keep pressure on the baby's butt to help speed this process up). She measured 38cm which is down from 39-40cm. The baby is -2 (LA was a -3 last week) - this is the scale for where the baby's in the pelvis, it's a scale from -4 to +4 at 0 the baby in the pelvis - "engaged". I think you can start pushing at +2, maybe (if I am wrong does it really matter or would you even know?). LA is 2cm dilated and 40% effaced (see links to terms in early August post). While she was checking LA out I am pretty sure that she was trying to make LA have a baby. She said it would be uncomfortable and it looked uncomfortable. No commitment on a date but I am thinking Baby Carter will be here sometime after next Wednesday and before the 17th. Which takes us to our next minor concern, Dr K is on call the next two weekends. So we want to have a Monday - Thursday baby. We are sure she is capable but we would be more comfortable with Dr. Mc. So after the PA checked LA out, she had LA lay on her left side for 10 minutes and relax and think happy thoughts (her great husband...etc). During this time, I remembered our birthing class and how I could help LA relax with the techniques we learned. I sprang into action and started telling her comforting thoughts and found where all her stress was - not in the neck, shoulders or back but once again it was in her backside. For some reason all her stress goes there. Actually, it worked just like it did in the birthing class. She told me to stop bothering her and to get away, as we were both laughing. So the PA walked in at about that point and was like how nice, he's giving you a back rub. We started laughing again. Anyway, she took LA's bp and it was down (or never was high) to 120/78 which is fine/normal. But just because it was fine they want to make sure nothing is going on so LA gets to go for blood work and take a jug to urinate into for the weekend - just precautionary measures.

So what is up for the next 6 days?

*LA is on light duty (which isn't anything new, just kidding)
*If no baby before next Wednesday
*Ultrasound Appointment on Wednesday to check the baby's fluids; pretty sure the baby will be waving back at that point
*Non Stress check (make sure baby is not under any stress, how about the parents?)
*Doctor's Appointment afterwards
*Schedule induction (were not going to 42 weeks for anyone that was thinking it was a possibility)