Excuse my lack of makeup, my swollen body and my clothes that don’t actually fit…
How far along? It’s D-Day!
Total weight gain? I actually lost another .5 lb. this week, putting me at a total of 34 lbs. gained. I’m not sure how I’m losing weight since I’ve demolished a whole package of Halloween Oreos this week, but I’m told it’s normal.
Maternity clothes? I am officially on maternity leave, so I don’t wear anything other than yoga pants and flip flops. Although, my lack of warm clothing proved to be an issue when going to my doctor’s appointment yesterday… SINCE IT SNOWED IN INDIANAPOLIS.
Stretch marks? Uggggh.
Sleep? Oh, you know. Still poppin’ Tums like it’s my job.
Best moment this week: Since my sister, Grace, was in town for a whopping 20 hours this weekend, my whole family came over on Sunday for pizza and the Colts game. While I realize they would have rather been visiting me and Baby C in the hospital, we still had a good time. 🙂
Also, I feel like I should publicly apologize to #teamsunday. Sorry guys, Baby C rules the roost.
Miss anything? I just miss being comfortable. I’m trying to enjoy my last days of being pregnant, but that’s really hard to do when you can’t sit, stand or lay. I guess I’ll just bounce on my exercise ball until little miss princess decides to arrive.
Movement: All the time. 🙂
Food cravings: Nothing specific, really.
Anything make you queasy or sick? I’m pretty sure my stomach is in my throat anyway, so at this point even my prenatal vitamin is making me sick. :/
Labor signs?: The section you have all been waiting on! At my doctor’s appointment yesterday, I was almost 2 cm. dilated. Meaning, none of my natural labor-inducing tactics over the last week have worked (see: pedicures, spicy food, walking, bouncing, pineapple, full moon, etc.). Stupid myths. So, now there is a new plan…
My blood pressure was a little high on my first reading yesterday (but perfect on my second), so I will be going back to the doctor tomorrow just to make sure I’m not developing preeclampsia. If my blood pressure is high again on Friday, I’ll be sent to the labor & delivery floor that day. If my blood pressure is normal, and Baby C stays put over the weekend, the doctors have recommended that I schedule an induction.
Now, induction (pitocin) with no epidural scares me. My doctor completely understood, and personally took my films to anesthesiology to get another opinion on my behalf. The Head of Anesthesiology reviewed my spinal x-rays, and even though he also has concerns about scar tissue in my lower back, he has determined that he feels confident enough to attempt an epidural if I should need it. He also feels that he could place a spinal if I should need a c-section (actually, he is more confident about this approach), which would allow Courtny to be in the operating room during birth. There is no guarantee that either will work for me, so a c-section under general anesthesia is the last resort.
The key word in the above paragraph is “he,” meaning the Head of Anesthesiology. For that reason, I have been scheduled for a vaginal induction when he will be working so that the best available can personally attend to my pain management needs. So, Courtny and I will be going in on Tuesday evening to meet our baby girl at some time on Wednesday, Oct. 30. That is, unless Baby C has other plans.
This means…there will be no 41 Week update. 🙂
Symptoms: Everything.
Belly button in or out? Out.
Wedding rings on or off? On.
Happy or moody? Incredibly happy. There is a light at the end of the tunnel, I’m on maternity leave, and our daughter could literally arrive at any time. 🙂
Looking forward to: I’m totally looking forward to contractions (haha, I’m kidding… kind of).
Official countdown: 0 days.
Induction countdown: 5 days.
Hey!! I’m so excited for you!!! Congratulations!!! Hope she comes out perfect and everything goes smoothly.
Love you!!
Olivia Schuh (I can say that now!!!)
So happy for you…. We pray that you have an easy time during the delivery. The last few days are the hardest of course, but soon those days will be a distant memory. It is truly a miracle that we can, as women, withstand this awesome journey. We just want a beautiful baby and our old bodies back! Love from the Texas Younts.
I hope it works out for you to have Courtny present if Baby C arrives via c-section. My daughter arrived emergency c-section under general anesthesia and it took 24 hours before I could make sense of conversations — I respond horribly to anesthesia. But since you’ve had extensive surgeries in the past, you could respond differently. I’d never had an IV until I checked into labor and delivery! No matter what happens, the end goal is the same — a healthy, happy little family.