Friday, January 28, 2011
Sunday, January 16, 2011
Week 38
Baby Mussetter is still the size of a watermelon. The last bits of vernix caseosa (the white goo keeping his skin moist) and lanugo (downy hair) are slowly shedding into my amniotic fluid. His head is about the same circumference as his abdomen, and his head could be covered in an inch or so of hair (according to thebump.com).
On Sunday morning, I ended up at the hospital because I was having contractions. I tried calling my doctor but he never called back - come to find out he wasn't getting the pages from the after-hours answering service. I finally called over to Labor and Delivery at the hospital and talked to a nurse and she said I could just come in since I hadn't heard anything from the doctor. I had been very crampy all day on Saturday and about midnight I started having regular contractions - about every 4 minutes - so I figured I better go to the hospital. When we arrived at the hospital, I was having contractions every 2 minutes.
Most of the contractions were "irritable" contractions, but I was having some "real" contractions. The "irritable" contractions would only last for about 40 seconds and the "real" contractions lasted over a minute. The nurse said that my body is trying to figure out if it wants to go into labor or not. I hadn't dilated anymore (still at 1 cm), so they sent me home. The doctor gave me a Percocet for the kidney pain and he said it would also help with the "irritable" contractions. The nurse told me that I would eventually start having more and more of those "real" contractions and when I had those every 3-4 minutes, it probably meant I was in labor.
I had an appointment on Wednesday (since the winter storm closed the office on Monday). I was still at 1 cm dilated and 80% effaced, so there wasn't any change. Sometimes when they are trying to induce labor, they will 'strip your membranes,' but my membranes (bag of water) have already separated from my uterus, which I suppose is a good sign that labor will happen soon!
However, there was a high level of protein in my urine, which is an indication of preeclampsia - which can be very dangerous during pregnancy. So, I have to do a 24-hour urine test so they can see if the protein levels change. Dr. Miller told me if I started having really bad headaches I needed to call the office, because there is a danger of having seizures with preeclampsia. Dr. Miller wanted me to come back on Friday for a fetal non-stress test, where they would hook me up to the monitors and measure Brayden's movements and heart rate. And depending on the results of the fetal non-stress test and the 24-hour urine test, I might have to be induced.
On Friday I had an appointment with Dr. Miller for the fetal non-stress test and to discuss the results of my 24-hour urine test. I do NOT have preeclampsia! They hooked me up to the monitor (for the fetal non-stress test) and Brayden is perfectly fine. I am beginning to think that he will never come out on his own! Because I do not have preeclampsia and Brayden is doing so well, they will NOT be inducing me anytime soon.
Dr. Miller said that there is a chance that my kidney pain will not go away after Brayden is born. He said that hopefully it will, but there is still a chance that it won't. I, for one, hope that it goes away!!! I am somewhere between 1 and 2 cm dilated and still about 80% effaced. Brayden's head is very low - so he is in a good position for delivery!!! I go back next Friday - one day before my due date - for another appointment. That is unless Brayden decides to come earlier!!!
Here are this week's baby bump pictures:
Love ya!
I had an appointment on Wednesday (since the winter storm closed the office on Monday). I was still at 1 cm dilated and 80% effaced, so there wasn't any change. Sometimes when they are trying to induce labor, they will 'strip your membranes,' but my membranes (bag of water) have already separated from my uterus, which I suppose is a good sign that labor will happen soon!
However, there was a high level of protein in my urine, which is an indication of preeclampsia - which can be very dangerous during pregnancy. So, I have to do a 24-hour urine test so they can see if the protein levels change. Dr. Miller told me if I started having really bad headaches I needed to call the office, because there is a danger of having seizures with preeclampsia. Dr. Miller wanted me to come back on Friday for a fetal non-stress test, where they would hook me up to the monitors and measure Brayden's movements and heart rate. And depending on the results of the fetal non-stress test and the 24-hour urine test, I might have to be induced.
On Friday I had an appointment with Dr. Miller for the fetal non-stress test and to discuss the results of my 24-hour urine test. I do NOT have preeclampsia! They hooked me up to the monitor (for the fetal non-stress test) and Brayden is perfectly fine. I am beginning to think that he will never come out on his own! Because I do not have preeclampsia and Brayden is doing so well, they will NOT be inducing me anytime soon.
Here are this week's baby bump pictures:
Love ya!
Monday, January 10, 2011
I Love Craigslist
On Friday, Jason and I went to Target to get the cradle swing for Brayden that I wanted because it was being discontinued and there was only 1 left. I am thankful that I brought Jason with me because he made me realize that the cradle swing was just TOO big for our house. I really wanted the cradle swing to match the bouncy seat that I have, but there was just no way that the cradle swing was going to fit in our house. We looked at a Graco swing that Target had, but I didn't really like the pattern. So I figured I would look online and try to find something else.
Here is the swing that I wanted:
First of all, I didn't realize how stressful it would be to pick out baby gear! There are literally hundreds of choices and everyone has their opinion on what is best! I didn't really want to spend a lot of money on a swing because Brayden isn't even here yet and I have no idea if he will even like the swing. My luck, I would spend $100+ and he would hate the swing and scream the entire time! So, I was really torn on whether or not I even needed a swing. So, I decided to look on Craigslist to see what was available. And let me just say...
We have gotten a lot of things for Brayden off of Craigslist - including the crib, changing table, glider and ottoman, and high chair. I really have no problem getting used things, we have saved a ton of money by getting things off of Craigslist and from consignment sales.
I ended up finding a Graco swing on Craigslist for $55.00! It was in wonderful condition! You really couldn't even tell that it had been used. I am not 100% in love with the pattern (called Deco) but I am sure I will survive! The swing isn't a cradle swing - meaning it only swings head to toe, instead of side to side - but it is A LOT smaller than the cradle swing we looked at, and hopefully Brayden won't care! Plus, I saved a lot of money and I won't feel as guilty if he hates the swing!
Here is the "new to us" swing from Craigslist:
Love ya!
Here is the swing that I wanted:
I ended up finding a Graco swing on Craigslist for $55.00! It was in wonderful condition! You really couldn't even tell that it had been used. I am not 100% in love with the pattern (called Deco) but I am sure I will survive! The swing isn't a cradle swing - meaning it only swings head to toe, instead of side to side - but it is A LOT smaller than the cradle swing we looked at, and hopefully Brayden won't care! Plus, I saved a lot of money and I won't feel as guilty if he hates the swing!
Here is the "new to us" swing from Craigslist:
Love ya!
Thursday, January 6, 2011
Week 37
Baby Mussetter is now the size of a watermelon! He is FINALLY considered full-term, so he is ready to come out at any time!!! He is gaining about 1/2 ounce a day and getting his first sticky poop (called meconium) ready. He's also brushing up on skills for the outside world: blinking, sucking, inhaling, exhaling, and gripping (according to thebump.com).
I had an appointment on Monday with Dr. Miller. Brayden's heartrate was in the 140's and I was still about 80% effaced. Dr. Miller said that my kidney pain would not go away until Brayden comes out, and there isn't much that I can do for the pain, other than take the pain medicine. I really try to only take the pain medicine at night so that I can sleep. I spend most of the day laying in the bathtub or laying on the heating pad to try and help ease the pain. It is NO fun! I guess I will always have to tell Brayden that he was a huge pain in my kidney! HaHa! I still hadn't dilated, so Dr. Miller helped me out a little and got me to 1 cm. I know I will miss feeling Brayden's kicks and squirms inside of me, but I am SO ready to hold him and give him tons of kisses!!! I know he will come out when he is ready and I CANNOT wait!!!
Here are this week's baby bump pictures:
Love ya!
Here are this week's baby bump pictures:
Love ya!
Saturday, January 1, 2011
Week 36
Baby Mussetter is still about the size of a honeydew melon. His skin is getting smooth and soft, his gums are rigid, his liver and kidneys are in working order, and his circulation and immune system are basically good to go. His lungs are the only organs that still need to fully mature, but every day he gets a little closer to breathing on his own (according to thebump.com).
This week has been CRAZY! I had an appointment on Monday with one of the midwives, Beverly, at my doctor's office. I had been having contractions over the weekend, so I was anxious to see if I had dilated any. Well, no such luck, but my cervix had thinned out to 80% and Brayden was at a 0 station in my pelvis - which means he is on his way out! Beverly said that if I would have been dilated any she would have put me on bed rest because there is a HUGE difference between a baby born at 36 weeks and a baby born at 37 weeks. She said I wanted a baby that could eat and breathe by himself and there would be a chance that at 36 weeks his lungs would not be fully matured. Even though she didn't put me on bed rest, she did tell me to "take it easy."
I went to work on Tuesday, but I ended up leaving at noon because I was having contractions and I didn't feel well. I had contractions throughout the night on Tuesday, so Wednesday morning I went to the doctor's office. I saw Dr. Warren, because she was the on-call doctor. I still hadn't dilated any, but she put me on bed rest anyways. She told me I could get up to go to the bathroom or take a bath or fix something to eat, like a sandwich or a bowl of cereal. Oh joy! So after my appointment I went home and laid down. At about 11am I started having sharp pains on my right side. I took some Tylenol and put a heat pad on my side, but that didn't help with the pain. So, I called back to the doctor's office and Dr. Warren said she wanted me to go to Labor and Delivery at the hospital to be monitored, so they could see what was going on.
At the hospital they hooked me up to the monitors and I was having contractions about every 7 minutes, but because they weren't changing my cervix they weren't too concerned. Dr. Warren said it sounded like I might have a kidney stone or some sort of kidney, bladder, or urinary tract infection. So they tested my urine for an infection and hooked me up to IV fluids. Dr. Warren also wanted an ultrasound of my kidney and of the baby to see how much he weighed. The ultrasound also showed that Brayden weighs about 7 lbs. 5 oz. (give or take a pound) and he measures at 38 weeks. He is going to be a big boy!!! The ultrasound showed that my right kidney was enlarged, but there were no kidney stones. Apparently, the enlarged kidney (hydronephrosis) is very common in pregnancy because the baby presses down on the ureters which lead from the kidney to the bladder. There isn't much they can do for the hydronephrosis except for have me drink lots of water. There were no signs of a kidney, bladder, or urinary tract infection, so Dr. Warren just thinks I got really dehydrated. She wanted me to stay overnight at the hospital, so they could keep an eye on my contractions and I could get some more IV fluids. Luckily Jason went to Quizno's at got me something to eat for dinner, because this is what they were serving at the hospital:
They gave me some medicine for the kidney pain and a sleeping pill, so that I could rest. But, I still couldn't rest because I was hurting so much in my kidney. I finally got a shot of Demerol and that put me to sleep. :) The worst part about being in the hospital was having to get up to go to the bathroom because I would have to call the nurses in to unhook me from the monitors and unplug the IV machine. Eventually I just started unhooking myself so I didn't have to bother them.
On Thursday morning, Dr. Warren came in to check on me and tell me I could go home but to drink a lot of water and to stay in the bed. The only other thing that they could do for the hydronephrosis is to do an IVP, which is where they inject dye into your veins and then use an x-ray to look at my kidney. She said they would only do that as a last resort, because the radiation is bad for the baby. She said that they would "consider" inducing me at 39 weeks if I was still uncomfortable.
I spent the rest of the day on Thursday in pain. About the only thing that helped was to lay in the warm bathtub. Thank goodness we have a well, because if not we would have a VERY HIGH water bill from the number of baths I had to take! I ended up back at the doctor's office on Friday afternoon because I was still in so much pain in my kidney. Dr. Miller is treating me for a urinary tract infection because there was blood and leukocytes (white blood cells) in my urine. So, now I am on an antibiotic, some sort of medicine that numbs your urinary tract, and pain medicine. I personally don't think that my kidney pain is from a UTI, I think it is from the hydronephrosis - but, what do I know. I had an appointment scheduled for Monday so Dr. Miller told me to keep that appointment, but if I am feeling better I can reschedule it for Friday. Hopefully I will start feeling better soon!!!
Here are this week's baby bump pictures:
Love ya!
I went to work on Tuesday, but I ended up leaving at noon because I was having contractions and I didn't feel well. I had contractions throughout the night on Tuesday, so Wednesday morning I went to the doctor's office. I saw Dr. Warren, because she was the on-call doctor. I still hadn't dilated any, but she put me on bed rest anyways. She told me I could get up to go to the bathroom or take a bath or fix something to eat, like a sandwich or a bowl of cereal. Oh joy! So after my appointment I went home and laid down. At about 11am I started having sharp pains on my right side. I took some Tylenol and put a heat pad on my side, but that didn't help with the pain. So, I called back to the doctor's office and Dr. Warren said she wanted me to go to Labor and Delivery at the hospital to be monitored, so they could see what was going on.
At the hospital they hooked me up to the monitors and I was having contractions about every 7 minutes, but because they weren't changing my cervix they weren't too concerned. Dr. Warren said it sounded like I might have a kidney stone or some sort of kidney, bladder, or urinary tract infection. So they tested my urine for an infection and hooked me up to IV fluids. Dr. Warren also wanted an ultrasound of my kidney and of the baby to see how much he weighed. The ultrasound also showed that Brayden weighs about 7 lbs. 5 oz. (give or take a pound) and he measures at 38 weeks. He is going to be a big boy!!! The ultrasound showed that my right kidney was enlarged, but there were no kidney stones. Apparently, the enlarged kidney (hydronephrosis) is very common in pregnancy because the baby presses down on the ureters which lead from the kidney to the bladder. There isn't much they can do for the hydronephrosis except for have me drink lots of water. There were no signs of a kidney, bladder, or urinary tract infection, so Dr. Warren just thinks I got really dehydrated. She wanted me to stay overnight at the hospital, so they could keep an eye on my contractions and I could get some more IV fluids. Luckily Jason went to Quizno's at got me something to eat for dinner, because this is what they were serving at the hospital:
On Thursday morning, Dr. Warren came in to check on me and tell me I could go home but to drink a lot of water and to stay in the bed. The only other thing that they could do for the hydronephrosis is to do an IVP, which is where they inject dye into your veins and then use an x-ray to look at my kidney. She said they would only do that as a last resort, because the radiation is bad for the baby. She said that they would "consider" inducing me at 39 weeks if I was still uncomfortable.
I spent the rest of the day on Thursday in pain. About the only thing that helped was to lay in the warm bathtub. Thank goodness we have a well, because if not we would have a VERY HIGH water bill from the number of baths I had to take! I ended up back at the doctor's office on Friday afternoon because I was still in so much pain in my kidney. Dr. Miller is treating me for a urinary tract infection because there was blood and leukocytes (white blood cells) in my urine. So, now I am on an antibiotic, some sort of medicine that numbs your urinary tract, and pain medicine. I personally don't think that my kidney pain is from a UTI, I think it is from the hydronephrosis - but, what do I know. I had an appointment scheduled for Monday so Dr. Miller told me to keep that appointment, but if I am feeling better I can reschedule it for Friday. Hopefully I will start feeling better soon!!!
Here are this week's baby bump pictures:
Love ya!
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