Experiments in Life

This week’s stats:

I gained 0 lb over the past week (total pregnancy gain 13 lbs)
Blood pressure is good after 45 min. or so
Heart rate was 130s
Measuring at ? cm
The baby is in the head-down position
Cervix: a ‘good’ 4 cm dilated
Effacement: 80%
Station: 0
Contraction Pattern: good

That’s right folks, I’m finally having contractions. Even at this exact moment I am contracting. Turns out that I’ve been having them for quite a while, I just didn’t realize it. However, I seem to be doing poorly at keeping up with the timing of them. Oh well, I’m sure Jon will be happy to help me out with that if it means he gets to hold his baby girl soon

Today was a very interesting doctor’s appt. There was much excitement to be had. Here is today’s story…

We got there early and were pleasantly surprised when they called us back relatively quickly. They asked the usual questions and did the usual routine. Since I had reported slower fetal movments the last couple of visits, they wanted to check the amniotic fluid and due a stress test (both of which are common procedures once you are overdue I think). Anyway, while the nurse was taking my blood pressure, she was surprised when it shot up to 140/60, which is high for me. She was concerned about it so I knew we were definitely going to do the stress test. Of course, her concern only got me more worried. During the ultrasound, the doctor said there was plenty of amniotic fluid and was ready for me to move to a normal room so she could check my cervix and get the heartbeat.

Well, I asked her about the blood pressure and she was surprised at how high it was. Like I said, it was high for me. Throughout the entire pregnancy, I’ve been very consistent with 112/60 or so. So, they hooked me up to the fetal heart monitor for 20 min. or so. During that time, my doctor was called away to deliver a baby. The nurse checked on me several times but the baby really hadn’t woken up yet since the heart rate was still in the 130s. She made me drink a juice box, which I remember being way better as a kid. They’re pretty gross now

Anyway, the nurse practicioner then came in to check on me and asked me if I was having contractions. I told her no and she looked at the monitor and said yes I was. I was really shocked. At this point, they don’t feel like what I thought they would. I didn’t even know I was having them! She then gave me another juice box to drink because they were so small. I was unhappy at best. Of course, by this time, I had to go to the bathroom again. No sooner did I tell Jon about it that the nurse came back and said she still wasn’t waking up. So she started pushing on my belly to wake her up. I told her I had to go again and she said sorry and left. It didn’t really help me any

By this point, the doctor had returned and she came in to check on things. She took me off the monitor and told me that I was in a good contraction pattern. I had one at 5 min, then 2 min. later, followed by 3 min. then 6 min. I was kind of all over, but I was having them. She asked if I felt them and I told her I just felt crampy. She seemed kind of surprised but didn’t think anything of it. So, she checked me and stretched my cervix again and said this may well send me into labor. We also discussed my blood pressure. If it was high the next couple of times, I would have the choice of doing bloodwork and going home or going to the hospital, being induced and having the bloodwork done there. We were so close to having Emily today, but the blood pressure came down so I was sent on my way.

We also discussed how things would go this weekend. If I make it to Sunday, we are to go to the hospital at 6 or 6:30 to check-in. She would come and break my water and give me a couple of hours to see if that triggers full labor. If not, then I would be put on pitocin for an hour or two and then taken off to see if that triggers labor. If not, then back on the pitocin. We are all hoping that she will either come before then, or the water breaking will do it.

Come Monday, we will have our baby in our arms at long last. It’s been a relatively easy pregnancy and I’ve enjoyed it for the most part, but we are so ready to wrap our arms around the little person who has already wrapped herself around our hearts.

We can’t wait to meet you Emily and hope to see you soon. We love you so much already.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, June 6th, 2007 at 12:58 pm and is filed under Family Matters. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.