Progress. (If That's What You Want To Call It)

So yesterday was another lovely appointment with the doctor. No major news except to say that I am a ½cm dilated. That also explains the name of this post, because some will think of it as progress. As for me, I like to think of 3cm as progress. (This is my impatient self speaking). He also took the culture so that they can test for the Group B Strep. Other than that it was a typical appointment - normal blood pressure, still no weight gain, blood sugars are still looking good, she decided to cooperate with the NST so I only had to stay hooked up to the machine for about half an hour and my amniotic fluid levels are still great.

On another note, life is generally good. Last week I had a really tough time with Braxton-Hicks contractions but have been doing pretty good since. Most days are pretty good but my energy levels are way down lately especially on Sundays when I have to get up early and go to church. Now that I think of it, I have no idea how I have managed to gain no weight at all because aside from watching TV on the couch and playing on the computer, I really don't want to do much else. Fortunately I have plenty of people giving me pep talks, telling me that it's within reach. But honestly to me it seems like an eternity away, again, my impatient self speaking.

Well that's all for now, I'll keep you guys updated if there is ever anything to update. Until next time...

Slightly Overdue

I named this post slightly overdue because it is just that, I've been saying for the past several days that I would post an entry but never got around to it until now. But I'm sure the lack of having anything to say contributed to my lack of posting. Our lives have been pretty uneventful these past several weeks and I have really just immersed myself in finishing the Y's room (which is actually done, I just need to go clean up my mess). When I'm completely done I will definitely post pictures. The other night I discovered B sitting in her room rocking in the chair, probably imagining what it'll be like once she arrives. I must admit that I have done this myself.

As for doctor appointments, they've been going well for the most part. We have done the NSTs for the past 3 weeks and she only really cooperated for the first one. I told my doctor that was because he was on vacation that week and we saw another doctor. The only thing is that when she doesn't cooperate I end up having to sit there for an hour or so before the doctor gives up and has to do an ultrasound where he has to watch her do certain specific movements, which can take a while as well. The good thing is that every week he does a fluid scan to monitor my amniotic fluid so I get to see her each week. Other than that, there's not much else to tell.

Settling In, Calming Worries and NSTs

Where should I start?!?! I guess by saying it's been a long week but everything has successfully been put in its place with the exception of a few pictures that I still need to hang. I am really actually looking forward to getting all those things hung because after that I will start on Y's room. All of the larger furniture items have officially been purchased and with the exception of the mattress and changing table combo, which is due to arrive at the beginning of next week, everything else is piled in her room waiting for me to attack it and start working on it. We are really settling in quite nicely in the new apartment and liking it a lot, especially all the extra room.

On to other topics...I've had numerous people tell me that I do not look as far along as I am (32 weeks). I frequently get asked if the baby is really small and once I was even asked if I had miscarried. So I am going to take this opportunity to calm all worries. No, our baby is not small, according to the doctor she is the right size for her gestational age. This is a huge relief to us considering gestational diabetics can have abnormally large babies. As for me not looking like I'm 32 weeks pregnant: at today's doctor appointment I asked the doctor if I was measuring small and in fact I am measuring at 33 weeks instead of 32 weeks. All I know to tell you is that I'm a tall girl and not small by any means, so maybe that affects how big my bump appears to everyone else. As for me and B, we get to see all the details, and take our word for it, I'm HUGE!!! haha

Today, I sat through my first NST (non-stress test). Basically they strap these two elastic, Velcro belts to me. One around the abdomen and another just below the boobs. Each belt has a monitor attached, the lower monitor measures the fetal heart rate while the upper monitor measures the contractions. Basically they want to see how the baby's heart rate reacts to her movements. She should have a higher heart rate when she is moving and a lower heart rate when she is resting. They monitor the baby for about 30 minutes and I'll be doing this every week up until I deliver. As of today everything looked fine and we're just hoping it stays that way!