Here is an update on my 40 week appointment this morning. This was an e-mail that I sent to our parents:
My doctor appointment went very well this morning. Highlights include:
- My weight was up one pound. Last week it was down one pound so pretty much I've held steady for the past 2 weeks.
- My blood pressure was slightly elevated (128/88). They get concerned at 130/90 so I'm borderline right now. Since my weight held steady and there was no protein in my urine, they aren't concerned about toxemia right now. I've been weighing myself daily and haven't had too much fluctuation. I will continue to monitor my weight and will be sure to get seen by a doctor if anything out of the ordinary happens.
- Since I am now 40 weeks or full term by the doctors due date of 9/2/04, the monitoring of me gets a little more intense until I deliver. I have an ultrasound scheduled for Wednesday 9/8/04 at 8:10am to check the amniotic fluid levels. Fluid levels normally start diminishing as you go further past your due date. This is okay until the levels fall to a point where the umbilical cord can get compressed. So, they'll monitor for that next week. I also have a non-stress test (NST) scheduled for Thursday morning at 8:40am along with my regular OB appointment. During the NST, they monitor me and the baby for 1/2 hour. During this test they are checking for the baby's response to any contractions I have. They want to make sure that the baby is handling them okay.
- The baby did a big flip yesterday and so this morning it took a little while to find her heartbeat. Her back is usually down on my right side but today it was on my left. She's still head down which is good. I wasn't concerned when it was taking a while to find her heartbeat because I had just felt her move on my drive to the clinic. Stinker. :)
- Lastly, I was checked and was found to be 2cm dilated (only 8 more to go!) :) and the baby is still way down low. All those Braxton-Hicks contractions I've had this week have finally been doing something! During my exam, my doctor stripped my membranes as well. This has been known to bring on labor in some women within a couple days. Of course for others, it does nothing. So, we'll see what happens!
Of course, this will be the time that she comes since we have a wedding to go to tomorrow night, Kris has a football game this weekend (and then he doesn't again until the 25th) and both my mom and sister are going out of town this weekend. It would make sense that the baby would come now so everyone's plans are out the window! I guess will see if Murphy's Law holds!