41-week check-up (yes, folks, i'm still pregnant)

We didn't think we'd still be waiting at this point, but since we are, we went to our 41-week check-up with Dr. Whiteside today.


Since I am overdue, they immediately hooked me up with a Non-Stress Test. This monitored the baby's heartbeat as well as any contractions I was having to see how Baby D. was responding. We watched for 30 minutes as the heartbeat fluctuated from 129 up to 183, depending on how much movement there was. That was good, they said! They wanted to make sure that there was no stress on the baby and that the baby was moving as expected. Baby D. passed with flying colors!


After another internal exam, they determined that I was 4cm dilated (as opposed to 3-4cm last week) and still 80% effaced. Dr. Whiteside said that they would not let me go past 42 weeks, which is good.


I am taking the next two days off from work, just to rest and see if anything happens. We will keep everyone posted.


On an aside, I am starting to wonder if they mis-calculated my due date. I read that the average pregnancy lasts 280 days and today is approximately day 278... so maybe I'm not really late at all??? Wouldn't that be something? :)

four days late...

Those of you who know me well, know that I hate being late (even a minute) for anything! Plus, Brandon and I both like to be in control of situations and we are quickly learning that with babies...well, I guess that's just not possible.


Here we sit, four days after our due date with nary a contraction. We've tried all of the "home remedies" that have been suggested to us to no avail. We know we must be patient, but it's getting difficult for both Brandon and me to sit around, waiting for the most dramatic and important event of our lives to commence. When we least expect it, it will happen, I am sure.


My doctor said that 90% of babies arrive within one week of their due dates. So, we have today, Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday for that to happen. If I make it to my appointment Wednesday at lunch time, they will schedule an induction. I am going to ask if they can do it Thursday. Why not?


I shudder at the thought of going back to work tomorrow. I am starting to feel like everyone's science experiment. *sigh* But I don't want to waste any more vacation or personal days. Plus, it makes the time go faster.


I never did get that "burst of energy/nesting instinct" that everyone said I would get a day or two before...so I decided, at Brandon's suggestion, to fake it by cleaning out my closet. This was much-needed and it looks a whole lot nicer.


Until there is more exciting news to post (i.e. our child's eventual birth), I've included some pictures of my belly from yesterday. This is hopefully as big as it gets, folks!

Until next time,

Mama & Baby D.

just noting...

I am officially one day late. I know it's common with first babies (I was two weeks late, for goodness sake) but I still thought I'd be having some kind of "action" by now.

Planning on going home, bouncing on my exercise ball, eating pineapple and drinking red raspberry tea. Can't hurt, right? (Well, maybe the bouncing part...)

I am also taking a personal day tomorrow so tonight would be PERFECT. (You hear that, Baby Davis?) Plus, one of my favorite docs is on call.

Until next time...

40-week check-up (please, God, don't let there be a 41)

I had my weekly appointment with Dr. Whiteside today at 11:45 and we went in feeling VERY positive about the progress that we thought we were making, seeing as how I had a few contractions, I was already 3-4 cm. dilated, and especially after what Dr. Delo did to me last week!

The assistant, Andrea, said that if I was 5-6 cm. this week I would go straight to the hospital --have faith, she said! We were pumped!!

Dr. W. came right in, got down to business (while Andrea held my hand in support on the other side) and announced "You're still 3-4 cm., 80% effaced..." My heart deflated like a balloon. No progress -- at all??? I was so disappointed, and knew Brandon would feel the same.

I asked her about induction and she said that if I made it to my appointment next Wednesday (which she doesn't think I will), they will schedule an induction at that point. She said that I am looking "so ready" and that the baby's head is "so close"...

*Sigh*

Guess Baby D. will come out when Baby D. is ready, huh?

P.S. Almost forgot to mention that Brandon and I stopped for some Taco Bell afterward in an attempt that the "spicy food" theory works! We'll see...

my pregnancy this week -- due date edition!

It's hard to say for sure how big your baby will be, but the average newborn weighs about 7 1/2 pounds (a small pumpkin) and is about 20 inches long. His skull bones are not yet fused, which allows them to overlap a bit if it's a snug fit through the birth canal during labor. This so-called "molding" is the reason your baby's noggin may look a little conehead-ish after birth. Rest assured — it's normal and temporary.

...and waiting...

Still no news and my due date is tomorrow. Here's hoping that Baby D. doesn't make us wait TOO much longer!

still waiting...

After Thursday's appointment, we really thought something was going to happen this weekend. It's Sunday afternoon and still nothing. Thank goodness it's a long weekend and I am off tomorrow!

Friday night, we thought we were going to the hospital when I had four contractions: one at 6:22, another at 6:35...one more at 7:20 and another at 7:30 (in the Target parking lot). But nothing since! (BTW, if the four that I had were any indication of how labor's going to be...please say a prayer for me. I didn't cry or anything, but OH MY...they were not fun!)

So, no Valentine's baby for us but we did go to the mall and walk a few laps to try to get things "moving" last night. We are just going to go about our business today and continue to wait. Why do I have the feeling I might have to work on Tuesday? Boo to that...

Wait...what just happened?!?!

If you are squeamish, you may not want to read further…just know that we could have a baby by the weekend!

Just got back from the doctor’s office for another internal exam. This one was extra interesting because during the exam the doctor (Dr. Delo, who is wonderful) asks me “Do you want me to strip your membranes?” I must’ve looked at her like a deer caught in headlights, because I stuttered and didn’t know what to say… To which she responded “I’m just going to do it.”

For those of you not familiar with the procedure, here is the definition:

Stripping the membranes is where a health care provider will separate your bag of water from the cervix, it is not intended to break your water, however, it may. It may also cause infection, and may be painful for some. The reason that we tell people that we are stripping their membranes is to "get things going" in regards to labor. This little technique is usually done during a vaginal exam at the end of pregnancy, with or without the knowledge or consent of the woman. Stripping the membranes, we are told, is supposed to stimulate production of prostiglandins in the cervix and bring on contractions. I have heard doctors tell my clients after stripping their membranes they will have the baby in two days. While this may appear to work for some, at term it's all a guessing game. There is no scientific work to date that can back up the routine procedure of stripping membranes.

And yes, it felt as lovely as it sounds.

Baby’s heartbeat was 141. My blood pressure was up and I lost a pound, both of which are signs of impending labor. Unreal!

my pregnancy - 39 weeks

Your baby's waiting to greet the world! He continues to build a layer of fat to help control his body temperature after birth, but it's likely he already measures about 20 inches and weighs a bit over 7 pounds, a mini watermelon. (Boys tend to be slightly heavier than girls.) The outer layers of his skin are sloughing off as new skin forms underneath.

I knew this week would be a watermelon because there simply aren't any other fruits or vegetables left that match my size! Our baby FEELS like a watermelon, too...a watermelon that desperately wants OUT! We'll see if we make it to next week...

Brandon convinced me to take a sick day today so I could get some rest. He's so smart. It felt great to sleep in until noon! I will need the energy to make it through the rest of the week. Oh yeah, and also for labor... :)

super bowl xliii

I almost forgot...in the midst of "Baby Watch 2009", the Steelers went to (and WON) Super Bowl XLIII against the Arizona Cardinals in Tampa, Florida. We all watched with excitement (and a bit of stress during that fourth quarter) from Brandon's parents' house in Imperial.

We had quite a spread of local food -- Isaly's chipped-chopped ham BBQ's with Isaly's sauce, Brandon's Dad's famous ribs with Big Ben's BBQ sauch, Primanti's sandwiches, Sarris candies, pierogies, cabbage & noodles, Eat'n Park Smiley cookies...and a host of other appetizers I can't even remember. All I remember was eating ALL DAY LONG! For dessert, we had Klondikes, Clark Bars and Steel City Chocolate Peanut Butter ice cream. There was even local beer for the beer drinkers.

Here is Brandon with his Terrible Towel before the game! It brought us luck in 2006 and again this year. (We won the first quarter on a block pool that we split with Kara & Tom - $500 bucks, baby! That is going to the diaper fund.)

We tried to get the kids to pose on the couch. These were the best we could do, because they were all excited about the Steelers, too!

Carly tickling (or tackling) John!

Colin was ready, in his new Willie Parker jersey... Colin actually got us rallied in the last 2 minutes of the game by starting a Terrible Towel wave which led to our victory!

And I brought the Giant Eagle cupcake cake, which was a huge hit!

Chris & Chuck, during halftime, I believe...

To my surprise, I didn't take any pictures of Kara & Tom, Brandon's parents or my parents, who were all there. So I apologize for that. It was a great night, especially because we were all together and won one for the OTHER thumb! Take that, Arizona! :)

38-week checkup with dr. whiteside!

Just got back from my 38-week checkup and we are making progress!

Ready for this?

I am 2 centimeters dilated, 80% effaced and the baby’s head is at “zero station” (for those of you who know what that means). She said (several times) "the head is right there, it's RIGHT there"!

She told me to go ahead and make an appointment for next week, but I may not need it.

AAAAAHH!

Additionally, the heartbeat was 146 and I didn't gain any weight this week. She said that I was "all baby" which is fine by me.

Until next time...
The "Lady in Waiting" (someone actually called me that at Giant Eagle on Saturday)

three hours later...

...I am back from the doctor's with a clean bill of health.

My appointment with Dr. Delo was supposed to be at 11:00 but it was after 11:30 when I was finally seen. By noon, I was given a referral slip for another venous doppler and despite the fact that I had lunch plans with two former co-workers, they needed me to go to Magee immediately. So, I cancelled lunch and made my way to Oakland.

After going through Registration and then sitting in the Radiology Department's waiting room for at least 30 more minutes, I was taken back and they performed the test. Very similar to the test I had done in December for my left knee, but this time a med student and the Radiology Tech did it together so it took a little longer and they didn't let me watch the screen.

All's well that ends well, I suppose. Now if I could only get it to stop hurting... My official 38-week checkup is tomorrow with Dr. Whiteside (even though they told me I could skip it if I wanted) so I'll see if she has any suggestions.

Until next time...

Jennifer & Baby D. :)

my pregnancy -- 38 weeks! (we're getting close, people!!)

Your baby has really plumped up. She weighs about 6.8 pounds and she's over 19 1/2 inches long (like a leek). She has a firm grasp, which you'll soon be able to test when you hold her hand for the first time! Her organs have matured and are ready for life outside the womb.Wondering what color your baby's eyes will be? You may not be able to tell right away. If she's born with brown eyes, they'll likely stay brown. If she's born with steel gray or dark blue eyes, they may stay gray or blue or turn green, hazel, or brown by the time she's 9 months old. That's because a child's irises (the colored part of the eye) may gain more pigment in the months after she's born, but they usually won't get "lighter" or more blue. (Green, hazel, and brown eyes have more pigment than gray or blue eyes.)

In other news, we took our last Childbirth class last night and got the insurance paperwork signed. Now we will get money back, which is great. I am glad we made the effort because it was a good refresher on everything we forgot since our last class in December. And...it was a LOT more difficult to get down on the floor and in all of those crazy positions because of my big belly and all the pain in my legs. :( At one point, Brandon and I got to slow dance, so that was nice.

Speaking of leg pain, I have had a pain in my calf muscle since Monday so I am going to get that checked out this morning. I read last night in my pregnancy books that blood clots can occur in 1-2/100 pregnancies (especially in women over 30) so I'm a little scared. Better to get it checked than not, right?