2 months old

Chase had his 2 month check-up.  He now weighs 11 lbs 11 1/2 oz and measures 23 3/4 inches long.  He is doing everything a 2-month-old should be doing and still perfect!

1 month old

Chase went to the doctor for his 1 month check-up.  He now weighs 10 lbs 1/2 oz and measures 22 3/4 inches long.  He got a shot, but only cried for a minute.  He is absolutely perfect!

Chase Joseph Ruble's arrival

Chase Joseph Ruble arrived on August 9, 2010 at 9:05pm.  He weighed 8 lbs 2 oz and measured 21.5 inches long. 

I actually began having contractions on Friday morning (August 6) while at work.  These contractions continued irregularly all weekend.  Finally, on Monday morning (August 9) at 1am, they were intense and regular enough for me to get up and start counting them.  At 6am, we decided it was time to go to the hospital.  I continued having contractions every 3-5 minutes, but was slow to dilate.  I was able to have epidural before the pain was very severe, and I felt nothing after that.  It was amazing! Then, the doctor started Pitocin to try to get labor to progress, but Chase did not tolerate that well.  His heart rate kept dropping when it was started, so he decided to do a c-section.  At this point, it was just a routine c-section for fetal intolerance to labor.  Once we got the operating room, his heart rate remained low for several minutes turning it into an emergent c-section.  They began cutting before Cory was able to make it in the room.  (They make the dads stay out of the OR until they are sure the mother is able to stay awake for the procedure.  Dads aren;t allowed if the mother requires general anesthesia).  Fortunately, Cory made it into the room before Chase was delivered.

 

39 weeks and counting...

Another doctor visit today.  I am currently dilated 1 cm and 70% effaced.  I haven't felt any contractions at this point.  I am scheduled to be induced on Friday, August 13, but hopefully I will go on my own before then.  They just don't want me to go more than a week past my due date.  Everything is still checking out good.  We are anxiously awaiting for him to make his arrival. 

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.