I had yet another appointment with the OB today. I'm almost 35 weeks and still feeling great. I do have a whole lot of Braxton-Hicks contractions, but they're very manageable as long as I make sure to drink lots and lots of water. It's hard for me to remember to drink that much sometimes, but I've found that keeping flavored seltzer on hand helps a lot. As a result of being so far into the pregnancy and drinking so much, I rarely feel very hungry anymore either. I remember this feeling from my first pregnancy though and I know it's perfectly normal.
Weight, blood pressure, swelling, heart rate... all good. :)
We were all ready to welcome our little one on June 17th, but learned there had been a change of plans. Turns out I'll be snuggling our little newborn five days earlier than expected. My scheduled c-section has been moved to June 12th which means only two weeks and three more days of being a family of four. That's pretty wild to think about! I feel like there's so much planning to do before then. For some reason, having two and half weeks seems much shorter than having just over three weeks! Because we've been so involved in a job search and traveling, it often feels like time has "gotten away from me". I've not once felt anxious or in a hurry to have this baby.
I'm determined to find at least a few special things to do with my 3- and 4-year olds over the next couple of weeks. I'm not sure I can manage "big field trips", but I'm sure we can fit in some fun and meaningful little things.
My next appointment is one week from Thursday, June 4th. Some time shortly after that, I'll be asking for gender/weight predictions! :) Start thinking...
Will be praying for you! I am 36 weeks along w/ a breech baby! They are thinking of taking baby within the next 2 weeks. I know what you are going through! With nine other blessings here, it seems like not enough time to get ready :-)
ReplyDeleteLook forward to reading your updates, do you know what you are having ?? We don't !
Blessings-
Rachelle
Thrilled that everything is going well! Hang in there. :)
ReplyDeleteHow exciting. That is soon!
ReplyDeleteHow come they changed your date to earlier? My OB teased me with the promise of a 37 week delivery the whole time only to push me back to 38 weeks. I am super anxious to get on with it! I put the baby car seat in today just in case!!!
ReplyDeleteSo how does extra water help with braxton hicks? This is my first time experiencing it and I'm not sure if I feel actual discomfort or if it's just such an abnormal sensation that I have no other way to mentally categorize it.
Hi Jesse,
ReplyDeleteI began reading your blog because I am a NICU nurse and it's always interesting to hear good stories of positive outcomes for micropreemies (because it is EXTREMELY rare to actually have completely positive outcomes as you know). I am curious why you have to have a c-section for this third baby. I read that you had a section with your micropreemie (which by the way - probably was un-true that you "had to" have one then) - but why are they having you have another with this one? Your OB refuses to do a VBAC?
Also, Heather - early contractions (Braxton-Hicks) can be a sign of dehydration. Dehydration is also one of the possible causes of pre-term labor which is why it is extremely important to stay very well hydrated with tons of water when you are pregnant (even though you already go to the bathroom very frequently). It is also VERY dangerous to have a c-section or induction before your baby is term. Even at 37 weeks, babies are still slightly pre-term and can develop major respiratory or infection problems if taken out of the womb unnaturally early. It is best to go into natural labor and have a vaginal delivery if there are no other problems or issues that cause you to need an earlier delivery (PIH, preeclampsia, HELLP syndrome, lupus, Prolonged Rupture Of Membranes - longer than 8 hours, etc). Hope that helps to answer your questions.
Good luck with the delivery of your third baby Jessie!
~Victoria NICU RN