New Years Eve

Well, it's New Year's Eve, and it is my due date today. Unless my water breaks suddenly this afternoon and I have a very quick labour, it looks like baby Silver is going to go overdue and be born in 2012. It's starting to drive me a bit crazy everyone asking if the baby has arrived yet or when the baby is coming. I don't know.

I guess this is when we start bringing in all the techniques that are supposed to induce labour. It's kind of funny because they are much like some of the things I've tried before to bring on Aunt Flo. The other night we went out for spicy dinner at a Thai restaurant, followed by a post dinner "treat" *wink wink*.  Yesterday I went for a swim and a really long walk. This morning I went grocery shopping and lifted a bunch of heavy bags. Babies are like AF, they will come when they decide it's time. None of those methods really do anything unless labour is already underway.

So, to pass the time here's some cute little comics that I couldn't resist posting:

 

39 weeks 6 days

It looks like baby Silver is quite happy on the inside for the time being.

I had my appointment yesterday at the hospital and everything is still looking fine with my blood pressure, urine, and meausrements. They did a non-stress test just because I was at the hospital and it was available. The baby was fast asleep at the beginning, but then woke up and did everything he/she was supposed to do after I drank some apple juice. The doctor got called back to the OR, so didn't get a chance to do an internal exam today. I would suspect things are about the same as last week because I have only had minimal cramping now and again since then. I do feel more pressure down there though, and walking around is getting less comfortable.

I also got my hospital intake completed with the nurse.  It was like a firing line of 1000 questions. Of course she asked about how my due date was calculated. "is Dec 31st based on ultrasound or your last menstrual period date?" "Neither, it is based on my IVF dates." Obviously confused, she checked off the ticky box for LMP date, and then asked what the date of my last period was.  I told her that wouldn't be accurate because they manipulate all of that with hormones, but if she'd like to put down something on the paper March 26th would line up well with my EDD. "Oh, well you know people can be quite out with their dates when they have irregular cycles" she muttered. I corrected her that actually my EDD is more accurate than either of those methods because it is based on when the eggs were retreived from my body and fertilized in the lab. I guess I should have just told her my dates were based on my ultrasounds. Sigh... at least my doctor gets it.

My next appointment is in another week if I don't go into labour before then. The eviction (induction) date would be Jan 10th if it comes to that (I hope not).

Made It!

Well I made it past Christmas still pregnant! Whew! It was a really nice celebration this year with both my brother and sister home from various parts of the world. We even managed to get my grandmother up into the house with her wheelchair. She is so smitten with my baby bump. Now it's just cruise along until this little person decides the time is right.

A Little Closer

Another OB appointment today. I reported the response I had to last week's internal exam and he promised to be very gentle today so to hopefully avoid triggering labour right before Christmas. A much more comfortable check revealed that I am now 2cm dilated and the baby's head is sitting another cm. closer to the centre stage exit. My belly measurement is actually slightly smaller confirming that the baby is dropping down into my pelvis. My weight was up marginally and my BP remains at a nice constant 120/70. The Dr's office is closed next week, but he will see me up at the hospital next Thursday for a quick check if I haven't gone into labour yet by then.

I mentioned something last night at my yoga class about hoping the baby would hold off until after Christmas, and the woman next to me started telling me that's why she had planned when they started trying so that they would avoid being due at Christmas time. She was glad she did because they got pregnant on that first month. She was, insinuating that if I'd planned better I could have avoided this predicament. Well, I guess if we'd conceived our baby on the first try back in 2008, that would have been the case. 36 tries later including multiple surgeries and multiple fertility treatments, the last thing on my mind was the due date. LOL, if only she knew how lucky we are to have the opportunity to have a child at all.

So, on that note, I'm fine with having this baby whenever he/she decides it's the right time. It could be the most memorable Christmas yet. Christmas also overlaps with Hanukkah this year, so it's also kind of fun to think of our miracle baby as we light the candles on the menorah each night. Hanukkah translates to "a miracle happened here" because oil that was supposed to just be enough to last only 1 day, lasted for 8 days.

Starting to Dilate...

Just quick update from my OB appointment today. He did an internal exam and said my cervix was soft and a little bit dilated today -just one finger's width, but he could feel the baby's head and amniotic sac when he stuck his finger inside (not the most comfortable feeling!). The head is starting to engage in my pelvis to ready itself for the big exit. He said this was quite appropriate for being almost 38 weeks. It might still be 2-3 weeks yet, but I should have my bag packed and be ready in case it's sooner.

My Crazy Dreams

I had a dream last night that I gave birth with the assistance of one of the orthopaedic surgeons at the hospital. All the obsteticians were busy or away for the holidays, and since orthopedics falls just after obstetrics in the alphabet, he was the next on the list. 

He showed up wearing a tool belt and carrying power tools!  He tried to be reassuring by telling me if my pelvis fractured during the delivery he would be the right man for the repair job. LOL.

Luckily it all went well and I didn't need much in the way of interventions to help the baby out. It was an 8 lb. healthy baby girl.

Embracing Change

Wow, 9 months sure went fast!  I've been thinking and reflecting a lot lately as my pregnancy is drawing to a close.

There will be plenty of things I'll miss about being pregnant:
-having a good excuse to take a nap or put my feet up when I feel tired
-getting treated extra special
-prenatal yoga
-not having my period every month
-hormonal stability
-feeling my baby on the inside
-new and hand-me-down maternity clothes
-eating whenever I want to
-my husband's intrigue with my bodily changes, and talking to my tummy
-dates and dinners out as a couple
-imagining what features our baby will have
-my glowing skin and shiny thick mop of hair
-feeling warm in thin layer of clothes in the winter
-the extra buoyancy in the pool, and how great it feels to be gravity free in the water
-appointments with my obstetrician
-ultrasounds and heart rate checks of the baby
-quiet time to myself

Then there are a few things I've missed and I'm looking forward to again:
-wine, oh how I've missed you.
-soft cheeses and deli treats
-lying on my tummy and flat on my back comfortably
-snore free sleep with a normal number of pillows
-sex in a variety of positions
-using my mountain bike, skis, and climbing gear
-fitting into my regular clothes again
-average sized breasts
-breathing with a full lung capacity
-absence of heartburn
-my innie belly button
-abs
-wearing my wedding rings
-ankle bones and foot arches
-being able to see my bikini line
-cutting my toenails and shaving my legs
-being able to fit behind the steering wheel to drive and fully twist to shoulder check


There are also all the new things to be discovered and learned:
-the experience of labour and giving birth
-meeting baby Silver and discovering his/her own unique patterns and personality traits
-breastfeeding
-how to function on minimal sleep
-coping with hormonal upheaval
-baby care (diapering, dressing, washing)
-play and learning
-watching growth and development unfold
-worrying about the baby's well being and whether I'm a good mom
-baby groups and classes
-having something in common to talk about with other moms
-???? yet to be determined

All good things must eventually come to an end. Change is what keeps life interesting. I'm really looking forward to embracing this next life stage of being a mom -something I've dreamed about and wished for since I was a young girl. When I compare the middle list with the last one, it really pales in comparison. Wine cheese and pregnancy ailments compared to the joys and challenges of parenting a new little life. What an amazing opportunity, and how lucky are we to be able to experience it.

Not Even Close

I had my OB visit today and he figures I'm nowhere near close to going into labour. He is guesstimating early January.

That's fine with me. I still have a lot to get done, and it would be nice to get through the holidays before the baby makes an appearance. It also gives DH permission to make a trip to Vancouver overnight this weekend which I was feeling nervous about.

We also finally figured out why my OB always seems to get tricked when he feels the baby's position and then the heartbeat is on the opposite side of what he expects. Remember my good old fibroid pals -well, with my uterus full size, they are now palpable from the outside and one feels like a baby's bum and the other one a little foot.  Luckily they haven't grown significantly and don't cause me any discomfort.  At least there is no mistaking the baby's head -which is starting to drop into my pelvis.

Blood pressure is holding at 110/70, and I'm the same weight as last week and I'm now measuring 36cm. My group B strep came back negative and urine is still clear of any proteins. All very boring and straight forward.

Back again in another week.

36 weeks

This week marks another big milestone. I am officially done work! Yippee. My body was really ready to be done. Now to get everything done that I'd like to do before baby Silver makes an appearance. I've had to give up driving my car, but still squeak into the van with the steering wheel set horizontally just above my tummy (school bus style). I'm just using it to make small trips in town for those last minute necessities.

My last OB appointment went well. He thinks the mild cramping I've been getting is just normal uterus stretching for this stage of the pregnancy as the baby rapidly puts on weight. The cramping could go on for 2 weeks or up to 6, but if it becomes intense or more frequent to go up to the hospital for a check. While there are no other signs I will go into labour immanently, nobody really can predict when it will start.  He said if I did at this point they wouldn't try to stop it. The baby is fully equipped to thrive on the outside now, just doesn't have all the chub a full term one would.

He did my GBS swab and felt the baby's position -the head is firmly down in my pelvis and likely to stay there from here on in. He doesn't usually start cervix checks until 38 weeks with first time moms. He said it doesn't really tell him much this early, because some people can walk around 2cm dilated for weeks while others are tightly closed until they begin labour. I'm up 2kg since 3 weeks ago, my blood pressure was 110/70 and fundal height 35cm, so trucking right along. I'm on weekly visits for the rest of this month.

My bump is now more of a large protrusion. It's sticking straight out the front and still fairly high. From the side I look very pregnant, but from front on I could pass for chubby. Maybe this explains why some people are surprised I'm still walking around and doing things while so heavily pregnant while others are shocked to hear that I'm due at the end of the month because I look too small to be that close (or the odd person doesn't even realize that I'm pregnant?!?!). I guess it all depends on what angle I present myself at.  Here's the latest bump pics so you can see for yourself: