37 Week OB Appt

Today was a big day for Kyle and me. He took the afternoon off of work so that he could come to the doctor with me, and I'm so glad he was able to come. First, I had to go to a prenatal testing appt to do a non-stress test on the baby and to have a quick ultrasound to check Evie's position and amniotic fluid levels. The non-stress test was uneventful, which is good. Evie's heartrate stayed on a good pattern, and I showed two very small contractions during the 20 minute time frame. Yay! Next, the nurse confirmed what Kyle and I had been hoping for all week. Our little bambino turned head down! Next, she checked the fluid levels, and said that I measured at 8.6 cm, which is just slightly lower than what they'd like. Doctors prefer that you stay within the 10-20 cm. range. The nurse assured me that I don't need to worry because doctors don't really get concerned until you drop under 5 cms. Plus, since I'm full term, an induction wouldn't be dangerous anyway.

Next, I had to meet with pre-op, despite that fact that I now know that I won't be having a scheduled c-section. It's hospital policy that all women meet with pre-op so that they can prepare for epidurals or spinals. After all, birth can be so unpredictable.

Lastly, I met with Dr. Hamilton, my OB. She checked me and told me that my cervix was still high, tight, and closed. UGH! She halfway joked that Evie just isn't getting the memo that it's time to come out. Because my c-section is off the table now, we had a discussion about how long we were comfortable letting me go until she had to intervene anyway, and we settled on Wednesday 9/28 at 10 am. If I have showed no progress at that point, it will be a c-section anyway. If I have showed some progress, she will be able to give me pitocin to try to get my contractions moving well enough to progress labor.

Honestly, I have mixed feeling about today. Obviously, I'm thrilled about the possibility of having the unmedicated vaginal birth that I've always wanted. However, I'm slightly concerned about complications arising from my low fluid levels. I'm also more and more scared of stillbirth risks as I get further along in my pregnancy. I think I'm just feeling the anxiety about having come so far down this healing road. I'm scared that the rug is going to be pulled out from under me at any moment. On the car ride home, I tried to remind myself of something that I need to hold closely to my heart. The pregnancy has been absolutely filled with challlenges of all sorts - and God has beat every single one! I have to stop limiting Him in my mind.

Be in prayer for my family and me as we take this journey together. We are so close to holding Evie in our arms! God willing, sooner rather than later...

36 Week Baby Checkup

Last Tuesday, I had what I thought would be a routine 36 week baby appt. I was also told that I would have one last ultrasound to confirm that Evie was still breech. The appointment itself was fairly uneventful. The OB checked me and said that I still had no cervical dilation or effacement. She also told me that I had tested positive for group beta strep, which is very common in pregnancies. GBS is something that all women have, although it only manifests in a cyclical way throughout life. I remember that I was negative for Nile.

After my appt, I went in for the ultrasound, and I got the shock of my life. The little bump that I was SURE was Evie's head turned out to be her precious little bottom. She was in the process of trying to do the impossible - turn head down. Yay! Because of this change, my OB told me that I needed to have another ultrasound in a week to check for any change. If she is able to turn head down, everything that we thought we knew would change.

I was in absolute shock! Of course, I was thrilled at the possibility that I would have a shot at the vaginal birth that I had always wanted. Still, I was very worried that I would get my hopes up too high, only to hear that she couldn't complete the turn. The waiting game begins...

Evie's Diaper Shower

Because Evie is our second baby (and because we're reusing a lot of Nile's old things), I thought it might be neat to have a diaper and wipe shower. My awesome friend Daphne helped plan everything, and my equally awesome friend Traci made the cake.

We had a great time. I had been worried that people would ignore my wishes about primarily receiving diapers and wipes, but I had nothing to worry about. We got soooooo many diapers! Evie is set! I can't wait to actually diaper that cute little baby butt :)