37 week OB appointment

I had my weekly appointment this morning. After over 24 hours of on and off Braxton Hicks and feeling like my hip was dislocating from my leg, we were sure that we were going to go in today and have the doctor tell us that we need to get this show on the road.

The Braxton Hicks barely took breaks all day yesterday and today. I started to hurt so bad because there was no relief from the tension. My belly has been sore all day today.

We got to the appointment and it went really fast. He immediately went to listen for the heartbeat and this little guy wasn't having it. Everytime the doctor would start to count beats, baby boy would squirm or make it hard to hear. You could physically see him kicking and rolling around on my stomach so he knew everything was fine. The doctor literally gave up haha.

The OB asked how much Dave and I were at birth. Both of us were relatively small (I was 6 lbs 4 oz and Dave was 6 lbs 7 oz). They use that to try and make a growth estimate. He was feeling around my belly and goes, "This is definitely bigger than a 6 lbs baby." Haha. We have a healthy boy on our hands. :)

He wouldn't check me because I could be completely not dilated and have the baby tonight or be two centimeters dilated and 75% effaced and stay that way for the next two weeks. There's just no telling so why check? I get that.

Walking out the door though he told me, "You can go into labor any day now. We are ready for you!" I can't believe there is only 19 days until my due date. He really is almost here!

Week 37

Week 37

How far along? 37 weeks 

How are you feeling? Pretty good. I'm sleeping longer stretches, which I think is God's way of giving me a break before going months without really sleeping. 

Baby is the size of a(n): bunch of Swiss chard (it looks like a huge thing of lettuce). He is around 6 1/3 lbs and 19 inches long.

Cravings: Root beer and water. 

Aversions: Nothing I can think of this week.

Testing/appts this week? I have my 37-week appointment on Tuesday. I need to do one more Lamictal trough level before the baby comes, but I'm waiting until next week for that.

Milestones?: it's not really a milestone, but the baby's room is finished with the exception of putting his name above the crib. 

Nursery

This is a panoramic view of our nursery. The rest of the decal still needs to go up, but we are putting his name above the crib so we are waiting to name him and put that up before completely finishing. I think it looks great, though.

I'm going to be 37 weeks tomorrow and I can't believe it. We are soooo ready for him to be here and for me not to be pregnant anymore :)

Week 36

Week 36

How far along? 36 weeks 

How are you feeling? With the exception of my feet swelling and my hips still hurting if I try to do too much, pretty good. Two days ago, I had these weird dizzy/nausea spells for what seemed like no reason. Overall though, I think I'm more comfortable than most pregnant women at this stage.

Baby is the size of a(n): head of romaine lettuce. He's around 6 lbs and 18 1/2 inches long.

Cravings: Milk. Lots and lots of milk. He must be growing.

Aversions: My father-in-law and other family members were drinking eggnog last night. No thanks. Ew.

Testing/appts this week? Tomorrow is my 36-week appointment. After that I go weekly since he could come at any time.

Milestones?: Today, I am official 9 months pregnant. We get to meet out baby boy soon!

Week 35

Week 35

How far along? 35 weeks 

How are you feeling? Oh my lord, the hip pain!  If I lay down or walk for too long, my hip feels like it's going to break off. Also, my allergies have been pretty bad, so I'm cranky.

Baby is the size of a(n): Honeydew melon. Over 18 inches long and 5 1/4 lbs.

Cravings: Nothing really. Although, yesterday, you would've thought I was dehydrated or something. All I wanted was water. And I probably had well over 80 oz.

Aversions: Nothing this week.

Testing/appts this week? No more testing or appts until next Monday (12/23). That'll be my 36-week appointment and after that I go weekly.

Milestones?: Dave and I did more nursery stuff yesterday. We bought a rug for the room and curtains (although, the curtains are going to be exchanged). We also set up the changing pad and Dave might put up the decal today. I'm going to be washing the baby clothes today and putting them away. God forbid he comes early and we have no clothes lol.

Baby Shower #2

I just realized that I never posted about this.

My mom threw my shower at one of my favorite Italian restaurants. She did a star/teddy bear-theme (like our nursery). Everything turned out really, really nice. She even did a banner of my bump pictures (I've been taking weekly bump growth pictures - just not posting them here. I'll post one before the baby is born). The banner started with two really special photos, though: 1) A picture of Dave and me from our wedding, titled, "Where it all began..." 2) A picture of me holding my youngest nephew, around the time we got pregnant, titled, "Pregnant - and doesn't know it, yet!!"

I saw both of these and became a blubbering mess. I instantly started crying and I couldn't stop, haha. It was just so sweet.

The weather was insane. We got a horrible snow storm and roads were being shut down. Only 6 out of 25 people made it. Dave and my brother even came back (so, total 8). My in-laws didn't even make it. I felt so terrible for my mom. She put in so much work and effort and this was completely out of her control. Regardless, the party went on! We played two games. The first was a baby-related word scramble (which was really hard!) and the second was a candy-match game (example: "post-partum mommy physique" Jelly Bellies, haha). Both were really cute and we had a lot of fun. :)

My mom truly did a great job. I had a lot of fun and appreciated everything she worked so hard on. There's tons of people that are excited for Baby Mory and we can't wait until he makes his arrival so we can introduce everyone to him :) I'll post some pictures a bit later, once I have more time.

Blood work results

My Lamictal level came back yesterday. Gary called me to tell me that everything came back normal and to just continue to do what I'm doing. The level came back at a 4.

I'm so happy that throughout this entire pregnancy, we've only had to raise the medicine once. We are in the home stretch and he's doing great.

Just have to get through the next 5.5 weeks to make sure we have a happy, healthy boy :)

34-week Ob appt

We had ridiculous weather today. I have a 45-minute drive to work and the combination of the ice plus falling snow made me nervous enough not to drive.

At 34 weeks, the last thing I need to do is fall because I was trying so hard to get in go work. If they want to be mad at me, they can be mad at me, but I'm not putting myself at risk just because they want me to answer a phone. 

I actually had my 34-week Ob appointment today, but that office is only 2 miles from my house. Everything looks great.

Baby boy's heart beat is 135 and he's thankfully still head down. Moving a bunch. He actually hit the Doppler with his butt! Lol. He seriously doesn't like the Doppler! This particular doctor I've never had, but he took the time to answer a bunch of my questions.

1) The killer pain I've been having in my hip every night - is my utesacral ligament. It is weakened from endometriosis. Turning over or making sudden movements aggravates it.

2) he agrees with the travel restrictions Dr. R has already out me on. He actually wrote me a note saying that if there is inclement weather, like snow, I should stay at home to work. Since I can't be more than an hour from the hospital at all times, work is cutting it extra close. They actually gave me a note saying that I should work from home in weather like this.

3) Everything with me looks good. Weight and BP are normal. He also checked me to see if I was leaking any fluid. Every looks great there. 

Baby boy is happy and healthy. Just hanging out in there. 

Week 34

Week 34

How far along? 34 weeks 

How are you feeling? Pretty good. Mostly tired and a little sore from swollen ankles but other than that, things are going well!

Baby is the size of a(n): Cantaloupe. Estimating 4 3/4 lbs and around 18 inches long.

Cravings: Nothing really.

Aversions: Smells again. No consistency this week to what sets it off.

Testing/appts this week? I'm supposed to have an appointment tomorrow, but the weather is supposed to be terrible. It's supposed to ice over so I don't think I'm going to my appt or work tomorrow. Have I reschedule.

Milestones?: All furniture is in the nursery and the crib is put together! Dave and I started putting away his toys and organizing other shower items too. I also have my second shower today so we will have even more stuff to go through (haha!) Baby boy is getting a lot of love!

Pictures of furniture in the nursery:

Tall dresser:

Changing table/extra storage:

Crib!!:

For those interested, we have the Europa Baby Palisades collection. I love it!!

Blood Work

I went in this morning to get my Lamictal levels checked for the third trimester (I was supposed to do it in November, too, but I forgot - whoops).

I arrived astronomical early so I could be to work on time (the place where I get my blood drawn is on the same road as my office). Somehow, I ended up waiting 45 minutes just to get one vial of blood drawn.

The last at the front desk gave me a hard time because my script expired in November (they only last 6 months), but my doctor gave me all the trough level blood work scripts at once in May for a 9-month pregnancy! I'm going to call them later today and get another one (I'm assuming they'll want one more blood draw before the baby is born).

Once I get the results I'll post them. Hopefully, we won't have to raise the medication this close to delivery. 

I only have 6 weeks left!

Painted nursery picture

Thought I would post a picture of the nursery progress. Here's the paints walls and chair rail we put up:

Week 33

Week 33

How far along? 33 weeks 

How are you feeling? My allergies are acting up so that's uncomfortable. However, whatever is happening in my hips is probably the most painful thing I've ever experienced. Both sides of my hips are expanding to make room for baby and it feels like they are completely detaching. Because of this, my round ligaments are stretching too and it KILLS.

Baby is the size of a(n): Pineapple. He's roughly over 4 lbs and has passed the 17-inch mark more than likely.

Cravings: Nothing really.

Aversions: Strong cologne. Dave and I went to NYC with my step-sister (who is pregnant and due in Feb) and her husband. We were in the elevator and whoever was there before us had on some serious cologne that gave me a headache.

Testing/appts this week? Totally forgot to do my Lamictal level last week, so I'm doing that tomorrow. Next appt is December 9.

Milestones: The nursery is started! Dave and I finally went through the shower gifts from my first shower and organized them. I have to start organizing the linen closet though to make room for baby's bath stuff and the furniture needs to come upstairs.