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!