Where is Baby?

So I have tried to convince myself all along that I would be late so I wouldn't feel let down to not have a baby by the due date.  Well all was going fine until TODAY.  Jason and I were supposed to be the 3rd couple in our Bradley group to have a baby and the couple that was due 2 weeks behind us just had their baby.  Which deserves a HUGE congratulations to them and their beautiful baby girl!  The good news is that the Bradley method is really paying off with 3/4 couples making it all natural!  So this should be a big boost for Jason and I, but that also means the pressure is on.  We were going to bring the score to 75% and now we are at the rear to bring it in for 100%.  

While I know that 4 couples is a small sample size I can't help but think that since the average timing of when a baby is born is 41 1/7th weeks and we have had one baby that was 4 days late, one baby 8 days early, and now 1 baby 2 weeks early, I would have to be really LATE to make that average work.  I am now very eager to see what the doctor says at my Thursday appointment; hopefully he will say "any day now," and not "see you next week."  I know that even they don't know when the baby will be born and it’s in God's hands, which is great, but the thought of going the dreaded 2 weeks past the due date and having to be induced is NOT appealing.  

So although the 4 mile walk on Sunday didn't bring Baby W out, I am going to see if mowing the lawn and cleaning the house will work!  I'll keep you posted.

39 Weeks

Fetal development in pregnancy week 39:fetus in ninth month Whether you give birth tomorrow or next week, it's pretty much all the same for your baby, who is now truly R-E-A-D-Y to face the big bright world outside of your womb. Speaking of wombs, your body is priming up for the big moment and hopefully, you're as prepared mentally as you can be. Your baby is well stocked up on fat, all their organs have put on the finishing touches. Here's hoping your child is already in the birthing position and basically just "hanging out" waiting for that elusive moment when all sysytems synchronize in your body to trigger the labor process.

Baby Jason

Becky sent me these cute pictures of Jason at a day old and a week old.  We shall see if Baby W resembles Jason.

FOUO Update

I did start to run a slight fever again around 9pm Saturday evening, but since taking 1 Tylenol at 9:30pm I have been FEVER free!  Which is great because I was really starting to get worried.  Of course I was ready to get moving yesterday and do some things around the house that were neglected on Friday and Saturday, but Jason made me continue to "rest and relax."  I was so happy to get up this morning and be somebody!  So I am happily at work, fever free, and feeling good.  As you all know, it was very difficult for me to just "laze" around the house for 3 days, but luckily my husband loves to vege out so he was good company.

Fetal development in pregnancy week 38:fetus in ninth month As you know, you've arrived at the final leg of your pregnancy journey, and if you're still carrying your little love around, they've just about reached their birth weight (somewhere between 6 to 8 pounds is average depending on whether they're a boy or girl). There really isn't a lot to report on baby this week, so lets do a quick recount of where we're at: all internal organ systems are pretty much ready for the outside world, they've got their meconium stockpile building up (their first black baby poo), lots of healthy baby fat, a rapidly developing brain (that'll keep growing with them for years to come), and they've more or less reached official baby status-- all they need to do is "head out" and say hello to the rest of the world and especially their ready-to-pop momma.

Fever Of Unknown Origni (FOUO)

So we have had our first little hiccup in this pregnancy.  While at work on Thursday I noticed that I was pretty chili, but when I asked my office mates they claimed that they were chili as well.  As the day progressed I noticed that I was having chili' and my face was looking flushed.  At 2:30 I decided that I should go home and take my temperature.  Sure enough when I got home I had a temperature of 100 something (can't remember exactly).  I called the dr.'s office and thought that a nurse would call me right back.  2 hours later Jason came  home and I had fallen asleep and no one called me back.  I called the Dr.'s office again and they said that all the nurses were busy.  It was 4:45pm and I told Jason that I wanted to try and make it up to the Dr.'s office before 5pm.  My temperature was steadily increasing and while I know that Tylenol is "approved," I also know that no drugs are better so I wanted the Dr. to tell me to take Tylenol before taking it.  We arrived at the Dr.'s office just in the nick of time and saw a nurse at first and then we got to see our Dr.  He said that he wouldn't be concerned if I was running a temperature because of a virus, but he was concerned that I wasn't having any other symptoms.  He checked the babies heart beat and the tenderness of my belly and everything checked out. He told me to go home, take Tylenol, rest and relax and call in the morning to report how I was feeling.  He said that he suspected I had a virus and would have more symptoms the next day and this would make him feel better because then he would know the source of the temperature.  He said if my temperature got over 101 then we should head to St. Joseph's for a full work up just to make sure everything was fine.

We came home, took Tylenol and that made the fever go down.  I woke up several times during the night with the chill's and the fever had returned, always going away with Tylenol.  The last dose of Tylenol I had was at 4am and I woke up feeling good, no symptoms of a virus and no temperature.  I called the Dr.'s office to report that I didn't have any signs of a virus and my temperature was gone as of 4am.  Unfortunately, at noon I had the chills again and my fever had returned.  I took more Tylenol and that reduced the fever, but I was concerned that the source of the fever was still there so I called the Dr.'s office to give a new report.  After the nurse talked to Dr. Sanders she asked us to come in for a non-stress test.  Dr. Sanders wanted to do some precautionary tests before the weekend.  The non-stress test is the same "strip" they run in the hospital to monitor the baby’s heart beat and to see if you are having contractions.  The baby’s heart beat was slightly elevated, but nothing to be alarmed about because it is common for a baby’s heart beat to be increased when mother isn't feeling well.  He also took a blood and urine sample.  He also did an ultra sound just to make sure my bag of waters had not ruptured.  The concern he has is that the infection is in/around the baby which would not be good and would mean immediate removal of baby (aka. C-section).  What he found and measured on the ultra sound all looked good so he said he said we had 3 options:
1) continue to take Tylenol as directed and if you start to feel worse go to the hospital for a full work up
2) go ahead and go into the hospital and get a full work up
3) baby is full term so if we are really worried he can go ahead an induce, but this will most likely lead to a c-section because I will be closely monitored and any slight unusual circumstance will lead to a C-section.  He said that he knew this is not what we wanted and he did not think this was necessary.  He said of course the goal is Healthy Baby no matter what, and we agree.

Since the doctor seemed confident with us not going into the hospital and said that he would call us with the results from the lab work we decided to go home for more rest and relaxation.  We heard from Dr. Sanders at 9pm and he said that the blood and urine test (he was looking for bacteria) all looked normal and there was nothing alarming.  He said to continue to watch it and as long as I am getting better instead of worse he wasn't concerned.  He said we should go back to the Dr.'s office on Monday just to check-in.

Last night I went to bed without a fever, but did wake up during the night with the chills, but me temperature never got over 99 so we just took one Tylenol tablet instead of 2.  Since taking that dose of Tylenol at 2am I have not had a temperature and it’s now 7:15pm, I hope this means that I will feel better tomorrow and all the worry is gone.  

Please keep our family in your prayers for a reduction of fever and a healthy baby and birth.  Baby W should be making his/her appearance any day now!

Dr's Appointment

Yesterday we had a Dr.'s appointment and I am still 1/2 centimeter dilated, but 50% softening and the doctor said the head is way down.  He predicts that the baby will be born right around the due date.  There were 2 couples ahead of us in our Bradley class and the second couple had their baby on Monday (8 days early).  They successfully made it all natural!  So we are next in line which means this baby really is coming soon.  We have started to pack our bags, but have found it is hard to know what we will want in the hospital.  

So far I have had a really blessed pregnancy and it's still good, but I have started to swell a little bit.  My blood pressure was still great and they said my weight gain was good, but man I didnt like those numbers (water retention and swelling made me increase more than 1 pound in a week), but I am taking this to be a sign that the baby is almost here!  

It won't be long before we find out whether we have a girl or boy baby W.  For those of you who got in on the baby betting and chose close to the due date, things are looking good for you!

 Belly at 37 weeks, thanks to Aunt Melinda!

Weekend

 We had an eventful weekend!  My weekend started at 11:40am (thank to my boss who let me have the afternoon off and even a little more).  When I got home Jason wasn't ready so Jason's granparents (on his dads side) took Byron and I to lunch.  We ate OH so yummy pizza at Mr. G's in downtown Bryan.  We weren't about to try and eat anywhere near the University since the 9am graduation had already been let out.  After pizza we went to Jason's graduation!!  YES 2 degrees down and 1 to go!   After graduation the supporting clan (Jason's grandparents, both sides, Aunt Melinda, Cousin's Casey and Tyler, Parents, sister Rachael, and brothers Nathan and Byron) came back to our house for the full, detailed tour and our course beer.  We celebrated Jason's graduation with dinner at Madden's which was very tasty.   We wrapped up the graduation celebration on Saturday morning with brunch at our house and another round of slip 'n slid (see previous post).  Jason's parents and sister stayed Saturday night so we dove into a project.  The 5 of us worked for a day and a half and got the kitchen chair's recovered.  They look great!  I will post pictures soon.

August 7, 2008 at the Wilkes House

 

Fetal development in pregnancy week 37:fetus in ninth month It’s the calm before the storm. Changes in your baby's weight have leveled off with only a few ounces of fat added this week. At this point your baby should weigh in at around 7 lbs and 20 inches (with boys somewhat heavier and longer than girls). Happily, as far as internal organs go, they are now developed enough to function in the outside world although the oh-so-important immune system is still developing and will continue to do so after birth. With a large boost of antibodies provided by breast milk when nursing begins. Fighting infection and staying healthy should be well within their physical capacity when your little fighter is born.

Weekend Fun

 

This weekend we were in Fort Worth at the Wilkes lake house for a family reunion

Monday we had our 36 4/7 weeks appointment!  The doctor said that the baby is lodged and in the correct position for birth!  I was 1/2 a centimeter dilated and slightly effaced.  Blood pressure was still great!

Fetal development in pregnancy week 36:fetus in ninth month The countdown continues… and in fetal developments: most of the bones (soft skull aside) in their little body are now completely hardened, providing a solid structure from which they can now make their grand debut into the world. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, we are structurally ready for a secure launch. In physical fitness news: their muscle tone has also improved over these past few weeks, and you’ll definitely be impressed by their steel-like Ulnar grasp (a newborn reflex that occurs if you lay your finger in their palm). And in genital development: if you’re having a girl, her labia are now fully developed. Finally, in the fluids/excretion department: the amniotic fluid-to-baby ratio has fallen over these past weeks, although they’re still swallowing fluid (building up even more meconium for that historic first poop), and some vernix caseosa. They will be more than ready to swallow and digest milk after birth. Just in case you didn’t get it quite yet: you’ve got yourself an adorable and hungry 6.5 lbs 20 inch baby—are you ready?