31/32 Weeks

Statistics:
32 Weeks 4 Days
Starting Weight: 135
Current Weight: 168
Issues: Nothing to complain about!

I'm sorry it's taken me so long to write another post. I guess I'm getting lazy. This post will be full of news since it seems like quite a bit has gone on the last two weeks. Where should I start?

We got Payslie's nursery officially set up. I still have to hang the window valance and get a shelf for the wall, but other than that it looks great. The furniture is just beautiful and I am so happy with the bedding set we chose for her. She already has a FULL closet of clothing. It was a little bittersweet pulling out everything we received for Brooke. I set aside a few things that were specifically for Brooke and that made me feel better. I spent New Years Day doing a ton of laundry. Even though we already had so much stuff from Brooke's baby shower, people (primarily my mom and my mother-in-law) have gotten Payslie a lot of new outfits and I had a whole load of laundry in just new clothing alone. Thank you to all of you who have gotten her gifts.

So why don't I have pictures up of the nursery? Well, my lovely camera decided to die on me on Christmas day. I took it to get repaired and they told me it would cost $130. It's only a $150 camera, so I said "No thanks." Needless to say we will be getting a new camera soon and when I do get it, I will post pictures.

I have started my bi-weekly monitoring and weekly doctor appointments. I found out at my appointment last week (Jan. 7) that my doctor has my due date as February 23. Since my doc is out on vacation, I was seeing the Nurse Practitioner. I told her that there was no way that could be my due date as Payslie consistently measured a March 5 due date in my early ultrasounds (which is what they use to date the pregnancy). Today at my doctor appointment, I found the culprit. For those of you who may not be familiar with how due dates are determined, it is 40 weeks from the first day of a woman's last menstrual cycle. So even though this may be TMI, mine was May 29. Well, the doctor has May 19. Bingo! That would explain her having my due date as 10 days earlier than it is. The Nurse Practitioner told me I can hash it out w/the doc when I see her next week.

So since my doc has informed the hospital that my due date is Feb. 23 and they won't change it until she calls it in differently, the non-stress testing department thinks I am 34 weeks pregnant. My high risk doctor ordered non-stress tests twice a week starting at 34 weeks with an ultrasound once a week to check my amniotic fluid levels, placenta, etc. I guess I should explain what a non-stress test is. Basically, they put me in a little recliner in a room and hook me up to two monitors, one to measure the baby's heartbeat, and another to monitor any contractions, for approximately 20 minutes. They like the baby to be active because they are looking for her heartrate to go up when she moves around. If it goes down while moving, it could possibly indicate stress a.k.a. something isn't right. I had my first NST last Monday and she did great. I had another one this morning and she passed with flying colors again. She was SO active during the test today. I think it was because I ate an orange half an hour before the appointment. Anyways, you could see the monitors moving on my belly and when she moves, it makes a scratching noise on the heartrate monitor. It was very reassuring.

After my NST, they took me into ultrasound. I asked the tech what she would be looking for and she explained that she would be checking my fluid levels, my placenta, and just a few normal things on the baby's vitals. I asked her if she could check for the cord around the neck, to which she at first responded that they really don't do that because if it is, there's nothing they can do about it and the mother usually panics. I then told her that I know it's perfectly normal if it's once around the neck, but my first baby died because it was 3 times around her neck. She totally understood why I was asking about the cord and told me that she would definitely check for me because of what happened to Brooke. Praise God! It's not around her neck at all. It is just floating behind her head. That was just so reassuring (on top of everything else looking great).

After she got all of the measurements and info she needed, she turned the screen to me and showed me my little girl. She is in a funny position, but at the time I will call it footling breech. Her head was facing down towards my right hip with her back going across the top of my uterus. Her butt is on the left side of my hips and she loves to tap dance her feet along my bladder and cervix. I keep praying that God will let her know that as much as she thinks her feet are supposed to come out first, that's not how it's supposed to be and she will get her little head there instead. :)

I go back to the hospital for another NST on Thursday. From now until delivery, I will be having a NST every Monday and Thursday. My next growth ultrasound is January 26. I am so far very pleased with the medical care I am receiving. God has answered so many prayers for me. :)

I still haven't set a delivery date. I will discuss it more with my doctor at my next appointment next Thursday. I am leaning towards scheduling a repeat c-section at 39 weeks (one week before my due date). At this point her lungs should be developed and I would not have to have an amniocentisis. My doc said that if she did the c-section at 38 weeks, she would want to do an amnio to check her lung development. I am really not comfortable with that procedure, so that is why I'm still thinking about it. I honestly don't like picking a date and I keep praying that she will get into the proper birthing position and that the Lord will make the decision for me (meaning that I hope I go into labor on my own prior to 39 weeks). We will see what happens.

So that's the update for now. I'm sorry it has taken so long. Thank you again for your continued prayers.