38 week check-up

I did go to the doctor last week, but had nothing to report so skipped the blog post.  I went back again today.  Everything is still checking perfectly.  I have a total weight gain of 23 pounds, which is great.  My goal was between 25-35 pounds.  The doctor checked my cervix.  I am dilated a finger tip (less than 1cm) and 60% effaced (thinning out).  I have not felt any contractions, but he said I may start to have some.  The baby is at -2 station, so he is moving into the pelvic cavity, but still pretty high.  I still feel like he sits at the top of my belly and tries to climb my ribs.  He is head down like he is supposed to be.  There is no way to predict when labor will start, but they do not like anyone to go more than a week overdue.  If it doesn't come naturally, I will be induced at a week after my due date.  Nothing scheduled at this point, but it is a possibility.

I still feel good, but I finally am starting to get uncomfortable.  I have started to have some back pain and sciatica, but have been able to manage it pretty well.  The baby is very active (which is good), but he is starting to kick very hard.  I feel like my belly is so big it gets in the way, and I ripped another pair of pants this week when I bent over.  I feel tired all of the time now, and it seems any little activity makes it worse.  Seems like a lot of complaining, but I am glad I made it to this point before I have had any problems.  I am still loving it.  I am planning to work up until the day he decides to arrive and then get to take more time off with him before I go back to work. 

I think we finally have everything we need for him so we are ready in that aspect.  It has been fun for me to watch Cory put baby things together and learn how to work them.  :-) We are a little nervous at this point, but getting very excited for him to arrive. 

I go back to the doctor next week.  They will check my cervix again at that appointment.

36 week check-up

Another routine check-up today.  Everything is still checking perfectly.  It took the nurse a while to find the heartbeat again, but it is only because he moves so much.  He doesn't like to be picked on, I guess. 

The doctor also checked my cervix and it is not dilated at all.  He also checked the baby's position.  He is head down like he should be, but not down in the pelvic cavity yet.  So I guess that means we will be waiting a while before he arrives.  That is fine with me so we have more time to get everything together. :-)

Now I start going in every week now until the baby comes. 

34 week check-up

I went for another routine check-up today.  Everything is still perfect, so we are lucky to have nothing to report.  The baby was moving a lot again so she had some trouble trying to listen to his heartbeat.  I don't think he likes to have it done.  She found it in one place where she tried to listen, and then he rolled over far enough she had to find it on the other side.  :-) It made me laugh. 

I was very lucky to have my first baby shower this past weekend.  Thanks to Jessica, Melanie, and Alyssia for having it for me.  We had a lot of fun and got a lot of very cute stuff!  I have 3 more to come, so I look forward to more fun! 

I am still feeling great and loving pregnancy! I love feeling the baby move.  I feel like the he is surely out of room by now, but it seems like my belly gets a little bigger every day!  He is most active at night, so I am just a little afraid I am getting him on the wrong schedule with me working night shift.  I hope we can transition him to a normal schedule after he arrives. 

I go back to see the doctor again in 2 weeks for another check-up. 

32 weeks

We are now at 32 weeks and I went for another check-up today.  Another uneventful visit, but I know that is a good thing.  Everything is still perfect.  Mt blood pressure, the baby's heartbeat and my belly measurement.  I gained another 2 pounds, which is exaclty what they are expecting.  I go back for another check-up in 2 weeks. 

Less than 8 weeks left at this point, we are getting both excited and a little nervous.  I am still feeling good with the exception of being hot all of the time.  Other than that I am loving being pregnant.  The baby is very active, and I love to sit and feel him move.  A lot of time I can even see my belly moving around, which makes me laugh.  I am also getting excited about my baby showers coming up soon.  I know they will be a lot of fun!

30 week check-up

A very uneventful appointment.  The doctor told me I was perfect! I'll try not to let that go to my head.... But the baby's heartbeat was good, my blood pressure was great, and my belly is measuring perfect.  I have gained a total of 15 pounds at this point, which is also great.  From this point on, I am expected to gain 1 pound per week.  I go back again in 2 weeks for my next check-up. 

28 week appointment

Another check-up today.  I think it is a good thing that there is not much to report.  Everything is still measuring well.  It took the nurse a while to find the heartbeat because he kept kicking the doppler.  I guess he did not like being poked on.  I haven't gained any more weight so still at a total of 10 pounds. 

Cory and I have been working to get the baby's room ready.  We finally have everything cleaned out except for a few things left in the closet.  We put the crib together over the past weekend, so we are starting to get prepared.

We have not decided on a name yet.  I have started a list of names I like, but am having trouble narrowing it down much.  It is so hard knowing he will be stuck with whatever name we give him for the rest of his life.  Such a difficult decision to make.

It seems like the time is starting to go faster and faster.  I now have to start going in for check-ups every 2 weeks. 

25 week appointment

Another routine appointment today.  Measured my belly and listened to the baby's heart rate.  Everything still checking out well.  I am finally gaining weight.  I am embarrassed to say I gained 10 lbs in the last month, but the doctor thinks I was probably just catching up.  I actually went all month without being sick, so I had a good appetite.  To have only a 10 lbs weight gain at this point is pretty good. 

I feel the baby move a lot now, which is reassuring.  Sometimes I still use the doppler at work to listen to the heartbeat, though. :-)

My next appointment is in 3 weeks.  Another routine check with the third trimester labs which includes the sugar test.