I had my 40 week appointment today and low and behold, I’m still “high and tight” as my doctor would say. The baby seems happy though. His head is still down and he has a good and steady heart beat of 130-140 bpm. My blood pressure is good and there is no sign of hyperplasmia or any other problem. Still, my doctor doesn’t not think it is safe for the baby to stay in me after one more week. She will be gone until next Wednesday, so if I go into labor before then, her on call doctor will deliver Kanan. As a back up plan in the likely event that Kanan does not make his grand entrance by then, she has me scheduled for a NST (a non-stress test) to see how the baby is doing next Tuesday. And then next Wednesday night (9pm), I will go in for in for Cervidil (to soften my cervix) before they induce me the next morning (Thursday). So that means the baby will be here sometime between now and the 15th! Hopefully, I will not have to be induced and the baby will come before then. But my doctor doesn’t think it is safe for the baby or me to go past a week overdue. The chances of the baby passing his first stool increases, as well as my placenta not working properly. The chances of still birth increases and then of course comes the possibility that the baby will begin to get huge–thus increasing my chances of tearing or needing an episiodomy or suction cups or something else drastic. I’m a little scared of the cervidil process because if I need that, it shows that my body is just not ready for labor and I’m scared that it will foreshadow a long, dragged out, painful labor, but waiting longer seems like it might not be such a safe idea either.

In the meantime, I’ll keep walking and using my birthing ball. I walked to the pier and back a couple of days ago with Bandito (the black Corgy). He was such a good dog. He walked at my slow pace because I basically had to waddle the whole way down to the beach. He waited for me outside of The Dairy Queen as I bought a large Butterfinger Blizzard and we sat outside on the sidewalk meeting passing pedestrians who had something to say about either him, my belly, or their own stories about their dogs or pregnancies. This week, I’ll take Smoky (the blonde) but I just can’t take them both because then they get competative and my 40+ week pregnant self can’t handle the pull.
I also just spent 50 bucks on art supplies to decorate my belly cast this week. I started doing the background paint already and will work on some details tonight while Mike is at his EMT class. My mother went with me to find the art supplies this weekend. She was so sweet by coming down to cheer me up and keep me company since Mike has been swamped with work and it hasn’t helped me cope with this wait. Its definitely affecting me along with the hormones and anxiety about the upcoming labor. We went shopping and ate out and saw a movie. She even spent the night! Thanks Mama!! But Mike’s partner will be back this Saturday and Mike will be able to take all of next week off so that will really be helpful!

In other pregnancy news, I have lost 2 lbs since last weeks appointment, which I am very excited about because I was getting too close to the total weight I wanted to have gained by the delivery day. I think most of the weight I lost last week was water weight because at last week’s appointment, I could barely close my hands they were so swollen and I had like two chins and couldn’t even see my collar bones. I think I’m back to one chin, and my collar bones are visible although barely and yes, I can make a fist. Funny though, last night I was kneeling down folding baby clothes for maybe 4 minutes tops, and my feet started hurting. I looked down and my feet were dark purple…..I jumped up and immediately, the blood started flowing back up to where it needed to be. So regardless, my weight is definitely affecting my circulation.
I’ll try and tame it down with some soft khaki pants and light blue beanie, but that is the best I can do. Mike is ecstatic and has his own dark blue pirate skull and crossbones shirt washed and ready for that special day too.
Well we have two weeks until Kanan is due to arrive. I’m finally off of work so I can put my feet up (when I’m not nesting like mad!). My 38 week check up shows no progress so far at the signs of labor, so I just might have to figure out more things to do as I wait. One of which, has been finishing up Kanan’s room. Click