38 Weeks

Well we have reached 38 weeks and still no baby, and we were so worried we wouldn't reach 34 weeks. I think little Abigail enjoys being in my belly and doesn't want to come out. I went to the dr. on Thursday and I'm 3.5 cm dilated with a paperthin cervix and her head has moved even lower. We went ahead and scheduled an induction for 4/8 so we will definitely have a little baby by then. My feet are still swelling, the right foot more than the left, it looks like an elephant foot and I can only fit into 1 pair of shoes.

A big thank you to Momma Jo and Pop for taking me to lunch today and helping me organize Abigail's room, I think everything is ready, if she would just get here.

Another Week

I had a Dr. appt yesterday and she is surprised little Abigail is still hanging on since my cervix is paper thin, I'm still 3cm dilated, so she stripped my membranes. See below information about the membranes:

As you probably know, the bag of waters is inside the uterus, and the bag is composed of membranes. The membranes tend to cling to the wall of the uterus until after the baby is born and the placenta is expelled. As the cervix begins to soften and open (dilate) at the end of pregnancy, the part of the membranes that was over the cervical opening can be felt through the opening when a vaginal exam is done. "Stripping the membranes" is done by inserting a finger between the membranes and the wall of the uterus to loosen the membranes from the wall. Sometimes, this stimulation of the uterine wall can help to start labor. Sometimes, the loosening of the membranes allows more water to collect in front of the baby which puts more pressure on the cervix and perhaps labor is stimulated that way. The procedure can be a little uncomfortable for some women. If the woman is truly near delivery, she often gets a contraction as a result of the procedure.

She said if Abigail hasn't come by next Thursday we will schedule an induction date just in case for April 8th. At this point I feel like I'm going to be pregnant forever!

Almost 36 Weeks

I went to a weekly Dr. Appt yesterday and I am still 90% effaced and now I am 3 cm dilated. Dr. Riseling also felt my belly to try to estimate little Abigail's weight and she said she is a good size baby and estimates 6-6.5lbs right now! I told her it must have been all the oreos I ate on bedrest. I also showed her my legs/feet that have started to swell, but she said its only mild/moderate and since my blood pressure is fine its perfectly normal. Dr. Riseling would like me to make it another week and since my contractions have been very mild this is possible, however she said she would be surprised if I lasted another 2 weeks (although it's possible, but unlikely).

BACK TO WORK!

I had a FABULOUS Dr. Appt today. Dr. Riseling said that things look good and since my contractions are infrequent with minor discomfort I can go back to work this Monday 3/10!!!!!! I'm so excited.
Since nothing has really changed from last Thursday she decided to wait to check my cervix until next Thursday. I will also be checked for Group B Strep Infection at the next appt. This is a common infection in pregnant women so they check for this at week 36 and if it's a positive result they give me antibiotics during delivery so its not passed to the baby. At this point we just wait for REAL contractions to start then we go to the hospital to have a baby. Hooray!