Borderline

So if it's not my fluid its my hormones! I have been to my weekly NST and AFI monitoring, and the good news I got this week is that I didn't have more fluid then I had last time, I was still regular but high. After she did the measuring of the fluid I lay there and listen to the baby's heart beat. Like always baby was very active and so I got to lay there longer till it settled down. I would say in total I was listening for 30 minutes. Well within the first 20 minutes I had 4 contractions. I had no idea I had, had any let a lone four! Thankfully I already had a doctor's appointment set up for later in the afternoon, but I did get a little nervous when the nurse said I might have to go upstairs to the hospital for a further check up. Luckily that turned out not to be the case.

Once I managed to give my parents a little scare with the text message of a quick run down of the appointment, and give Erik the feeling of a "dry run" I calmed down a bit and went to work. Then it was time for our other doctors appointment...

Since I have been having contractions our Midwife, Paloma, wanted to take a culture to see if I had a high level of the stress hormone. If it turns out to be a high level there is a possibility of going into early labor, as early 2 weeks! I was also told to rest and relax, since my cervix is soft, but still closed. So I will follow the doctors orders, but hope that the results come back and I can continue to go to the gym and not be stuck on bed rest. Here's hoping!

That's a cute looking baby!

Well last week I had to have another detailed ultrasound. The doctor wanted to do another measurement and look at the baby a little more. I was very relived to hear everything is fine with our baby and that I was still doing good. Here's what I was told was going on...

I have about 1.5cm of too much Amniotic fluid, which like I said in our previous blog, can be something or could be nothing. In our case, as far as they can see, it is nothing. The ultra sound tech tried to explain to me in simple terms: Your uterus is like a balloon and it can only hold some much. You have a great looking uterus (a compliment I'd NEVER thought I'd hear), but there is just a little too much inside it. This only means, from what we can see, that you may get more uncomfortable from here on out. Oh and your probably are going to make a bigger mess when your water breaks!

So maybe those weren't her exact words but this is what I took from it. I was told from here on out to take it a bit easier, so I guess that means no more marathons! I can continue to go to the gym, walk and be mobile but I just need to pay attention to how I am feeling and my breathing.

The only thing I wanted to know was that our baby is healthy, and it is so we are happy.

We got some pretty amazing photos taken in 4D (take that Hollywood) and it's pretty cool to see an actual face.

So here's what I get to look forward to in the next 7 weeks... Weekly visits to Sutter Perinatal Care for fluid checks, fetal heart rate monitoring and contraction monitoring. So every week I just have to lay down have some belts strapped on my belly and listen to our baby's heart rate. It's rough but I think I will manage relaxing for that hour. I also need to count kicks, which I find interesting since I have an avid kick boxer inside me, but doctors orders.

Only 7 weeks to go till D Day (delivery day)! I have to admit I am getting a little more nervous about giving birth, and it's not so much the actually birth part, it's all the needles that will possibly be used. I am pro drugs but the idea of all the needles that go along with it freak me out. So we'll see! Erik and I have a safety word so if I say it in during labor and there's still time he knows to get the drugs. We have also completed our child birth/ breastfeeding/ child care classes! Everyone in the class is having boys, and it was just us and another couple who are waiting to find out. I joked and said "we better have girls! we got to even out the playing field!" But it will be in no time at all until we find out what we are having! and we can't wait to meet him or her!

when is too much fluid a bad thing?

Well about a month ago we went to my appointment, and when the doctor measured me I measured larger then I should according to how many weeks I was. Two weeks later I went back and again measured large for how many weeks I was. Typically if your 28 weeks you should measure between 26-30cm, I was measuring at 33cm. So under the direction of the doctor I scheduled what is called a 2nd Opinion Ultra Sound. This is where they do all the measurements again and make sure everything looks okay. It took us almost 2 weeks to get an appointment and trust me, I was not dealing with this very well. We had NO idea what any of this meant! The doctors weren't saying much, and that was not helping me relax.

Once we were finally able to go get the ultra sound there were a lot of emotions going through me in the waiting room. I was really excited to see our little baby again, since the last time the little nugget was only 17weeks. But I was preparing myself for the worse. I had no idea what they were going to find, or what they would see. Prepare for the worse but pray for the best.

The ultra sound went well, and everything looked good. The weight was 3lbs 15oz, and was told it was not a big baby and that everything matched up with our original due date. The doctor took a look at the baby's neck and throat to make sure that there were no abnormalities or any blockage of the throat. Everything was good! so after a release of the breath I was holding we went home feeling much better.

Today I had my 2 week appointment, and again I measured big. this time I am 31.5 weeks and measured at 36.5cm. So again I have to go for another ultra sound AND take the Diabetes test again. If I continue to measure large I will be on weekly ultra sounds. I just am at a loss for words at this point.

I have eaten healthy through out the entire pregnancy, expect the couple of random trips to get a scoop of ice cream. We exercise weekly and I don't do anything that would put our baby at risk! so I don't understand why this is happening. There is NOTHING I can do to change how much fluid is being accumulated. We have talked to friends who had the same thing and their baby's were fine, but you can't help and wonder if your baby will be the same. I try not to look up too much online, mainly because the sites always put the worse case scenarios, and that will not help me relax. So I will listen to the doctor and relax and pay attention to the movements, and don't worry.

I am so lucky to have Erik with me during this whole thing. We have fallen more in love with each other, and he has been the rock I need when I feel over whelmed. I couldn't and wouldn't want to imagine this time with out him, he helps keep me balanced. When we first had to go through the 2nd ultra sound he held my hand tightly and never once made me feel silly for my random crying outburst that I have been having these past few weeks.

I will keep everyone informed after the appointment Friday!

Hope everyone is well!