Yes, that's right in TWO weeks. How crazy is this? I go in now every two weeks for a month or six or something, then I go EVERY week. I can't really see the point. I show up, they see the baby is still in my belly, determine that yes, I am indeed pregnant and have not given birth. Is there something more to it? I guess I'll find out as we go along.
Today's visit was interesting with a few items of note. One is that I was told I've gained a little more weight than is ideal. I laughed at this. I don't think I have gained too much, I think that seeing my afternoon weight vs. my previous history of morning weights is showing that I packed on a couple extra pounds. I gain an average of 5 pounds or more over the course of the day. My morning weight is around 154 and my afternoon or late evening weight is around 159. This afternoon I think I weighed in at 158. No wonder they think I'm a Fatty McFatty. Baby's heart rate is good at 140 beats, though the doc was laughing a bit because the swooshing noise of the placenta was getting in the way. Blood pressure has increased now to 110/72.
I'm still measuring right in centimeters for my weeks, and this visit she was squishing my belly as if she was feeling for his head placement. Which she was! She said it is still a bit early to feel and confirm, but she's pretty positive she had a good hold of his head and he's facing down already. From what I've read there is still time for him to turn around and around, before he has to settle into a good position for birth. I could have sworn he was laying sideways from the movements I feel but the doc said there is no chance now at his size that he's laying that way. It's pretty cool that they can feel where he is.
I expressed my worries about giving birth in a hospital and the interventions that are often times used. She set me at ease, reassuring me that they prefer intermittent monitoring (she said continuous monitoring leads to an increase in cesareans, which I've also read but was surprised to hear her admitting to). They use a program called MoreOB, which all the staff participate in, that ensures better quality of care for patients. In speaking with the nurses I've met so far, I can totally believe in this. I am reassured every time I visit the hospital that they are a small, tight knit group of people who are doing what is best for woman vs. what is fastest and easiest for hospital procedure.
One last thing - she readjusted our due date to Dec. 31st again. Her reasoning for this was that the early ultrasound (11 weeks) used for dating, if it was out by even a millimeter, would change the date by many days. Since we are very certain of my last menstrual period date and the conception date, she is happier to have me at Dec. 31st. Her reasoning? If I go overdue, this gives me an additional 4 days before they start panicking and talking about induction. She is encouraging me to avoid induction and have this baby the good old fashioned way. She even went so far as to ask me how I felt about a home birth, since in her opinion we have some great midwives in our area. What an amazing doctor! I'm sad that I will not have her for future visits or the birth. I hope that Dr. Lawson will inspire the same trust and confidence in me when I see her...in two weeks!
In other news, we have finished painting Calvin's room and it looks great! Sean is hoping to get to the floor this Sunday after Matthew's birthday party. We have 10 weeks, in theory, left to get it all done, but it will need to be ready sooner than that so I can get all the baby stuff in there and put away. I prefer to not have to be doing it all the week I'm due, especially since I'm trying to hold out until January for giving birth. No extra exercise until the evening of Dec 31 for me. I can't believe how close it is. Get ready world - we are bringing you a new baby.