39 weeks

No real progress from last week. Still about 2+cm and thick. The specialists still want me to induce by 40 weeks. I am going to call my mw tomorrow (since I didn't get to see her today) and just chat with her a little to see what she thinks. I have been having some hard ctrx the last couple of days, and last night, they were regular enough that I stopped and went to do something else to see if they would stop- they slowed, but continued throughout the night. They've stopped today though- well...mostly.
The mw I saw today stripped my membranes again- OUCH! and she said well, it's your third, so you never know- you could be two more weeks, or you could have him tonight.

The u/s was great- he looks really, really good. I feel like he's at least 9 lb, but that's just my guesstimate, so we'll see what happens!

oh and according to them, I've officially gained 24 pounds this pregnancy. With N I gained nearly 50 and with M I gained about 35-40. But this is the most I've ever weighed- I can't wait to get it all off!

Walgreens insanity

I got some insane deals at Walgreens last week. I am trying to remember off the top of my head all of the things, so let's see...

1 L'Oreal Revitalift Anti-Wrinkle Concentrate
1 L'Oreal Revitalift Night Cream
3 Oral B Cross Action Toothbrushes
2 Lysol toilet Cleaners
3 St Ives Elements cleansers
2 Theraflu Warming Relief
1 Maalox Chewable tablets
3 mini pumpkins for candy
1 Halloween goblet
1 Fusion power razor

Spent $31 oop, but $12 was on a gift card from a prescription transfer (free money), so really about $19 out of pocket.
Will get back $16.49 + 10% on wags gift card and $2.99 for Theraflu on MIR.
And... got $19.50 in RR's for future purchases.

So, profit of about...$21.

My experience as a pin cushion

So not really that bad. :) I went to the acupuncturist today and it was interesting. SHe did some work on my sinuses, circulation, and of course, suggesting the baby come on out. I kept asking her what points she was putting needles in, and the only one that hurt was the one that is to open the pelvis. HA! As soon as she put it in, Zachary started squirming around, readjusting his positioning. I lay there for about 30-45 minutes, and then when she removed all of the needles, I stood up and he had already dropped about an inch! Crazy! I've been contracting all day on and off, nothing major or regular...but hopefully it's moving that way!

38 weeks and 2 days

In my pregnancy with Natalya...she was born today! And I'm still pregnant...I'm officially more pregnant now than I've ever been.

38 weeks today

The weird thing to think about is that with Natalya, I was induced at 38 weeks and one day and she was born the following day. Not going to be an issue here though, my bp is perfect, so no hypertension. I have no swelling at all in my feet- no edema. It looks like I am going to be more pregnant this time than ever before! :)

Today's appointments went great- he looks good, measuring great, and the mw stripped my membranes (ouch) and I immediately started having some contractions. She said she thinks he may be over 7 pounds, but he could surprise us b/c he seems to be growing out side-to-side instead of out front. I agree and I think he's at least 8 pounds, probably more. So we'll see. :) He also wasn't too happy with her messing around in there, because he kicked her- twice- while she was stripping. LOL.

I am having some discomfort and contractions from the membrane stripping, but otherwise feel good, so we'll just keep on keeping on and hopefully he'll decide to make an appearance soon. I am still at about 2.5/3 dialation, but am now about 50% effaced from 0% last week, so my body's doing something anyway.

CVS deals for the day

Not too terribly much this week, but a few good deals and only for a buck and a half. :)

I got
2 Funlights (trick-or-treating glow-light thingees)
2 boxes 20-ct Excedrin Express gels Tension Headache
3 boxes Kleenex/lotion
2 twin packs Butler G.U.M. toothbrushes

total out of pocket: $1.50
ECB's earned for future: $9.96

37 weeks +

I had an appt with the maternal fetal specialist today. And another u/s. :) He looks great, and luckily for me, I got to meet with the dr that is the non-worrywart. ;) She said that everything looked perfect, with him and me (blood pressure fine, no protein in my urine, etc) so she didn't see any reason why I'd need to be induced at 39 weeks. She said if I did go past 39 weeks, she would recommend twice weekly monitoring, instead of once, but other than that, me going into labor on my own should be fine. *whew*

And the funny thing? He had his toes in his mouth!!! At first we thought it was his hand but she "focused in" or whatever on the appendage, and it was his foot! Crazy kid!

This afternoon I have a consultation with the accupuncturist, so we'll see how that goes. . . I still plan on going ahead with that, since according to them, it will be better to have him a little early. So I am not opposed to that. As of next Sunday, I will be more pregnant than I have ever been, since I was induced with N and she was born at 38 weeks and two days.

They estimate he's about 7lb 10 oz and his head is measuring over 40 weeks.

Time

Yesterday as she was sitting down to dinner at around 6pm, I halted Natalya:

Me: Natalya- hold it! When's the last time you washed your hands?
Natalya: (without missing a beat) 8:30!
Me: [snickering] well, then it's time to go wash them again.

Why 8:30?? Who knows. :)

37 weeks!!

Holy CRAP!! 37 weeks!

Appts went great today- Z's doing perfect, which we love. :) Nothing interesting from the u/s appt, then onto the mw appt. She had to redo my groupB strep since the lab messed up the last one (she said they were really embarrassed. LOL). So no news there yet. She checked me and I'm "about 2 and a half, but definitely more dialated than last week". She also said she didn't technically strip my membranes, b/c she couldn't reach all the way up there, but she "swished around a little". :) No bleeding or discomfort, so I don't think she did too much.

I am about to go try to make an appt for a 39-week accupcuncture induction. :) We'll see how that goes.

Monday I have an appt with the maternal fetal specialist, another u/s and non-stress test. fun. I will also get to smile and nod when they go on and on about how i will be induced at 39 weeks. I do need to ask them about the heparin- how long after birth I need to wait before I start taking it again, and how long I shold continue taking it after delivery. So at least I can get those q's answered.

I'm SAD! My mw is going to be out of the office the next two weeks, so I may not see her again! I will meet with another mw for the next two appts, then if I make it to 40 weeks, I will meet with Mavis again. She will be available by phone though, so I can certainly call her office. (I have her direct line # hehe)

Meanwhile, all the diapers and clothes are washed and ready. Hospital bags are mostly packed. Z's is packed, and out "after delivery" bag is packed. the labor bag and N's bag are in progress, and I've already got my pillows (including the boppy) in the car. :) Once I get the other bags done, I'm just stuffing them in the car. It's a van. there's room. :) So all I will have to grab will be my daughter, the dogs and the camera, and head out the door. (dogs will be staying with my mom). At this point I am really telling Z that he needs to start things while Doug is at home, I really don't want to have to drive myself to Amanda's (where we'll be hanging out until we check in at the hospital) or have to wait 2+ hours for Doug to get home to drive us.

I've bought N a new pair of pajamas to surprise her with for her stay at grandma's, and I want to pick up a few small things for her to open at the hospital, books and arts things to keep her occupied. Oh, and I have to get the "big sister" shirt. :)

36 weeks already!!

I can't believe I am 36 weeks already!! And they want him here by 39 weeks, which means three weeks if he cooperates! YIPES! I had to have a talk with Doug the other day, he was in denial. ;)

Appts today were good. My grandmother and N went to the u/s appt and we got the BEST 3D pic so far. :) I wish I could show it to you guys. He looks just like N. He is measuring 6lb 13oz and everything measuring between 36 weeks 4 days and 37 weeks 5 days except his big old noggin, measuring 39 weeks 2 days. LOL.

At the mw, everything was good, he was cooperating perfectly while on the monitor, and she checked me, I'm 2 cm (common since I've had two kids) and long and thick, firm still. She said I could start EPO if I want. I also got the name of an accupuncturist and I am going to make an appt for 39 weeks, so if I'm still preggo, I will do that to induce labor. It's supposed to work really well, so I'm all for it. :) She said next week she'll strip my membranes- holding off to let my cervix get a little softer. She also said at 39 weeks, we can talk about castor oil, but honestly, I'm not a fan, and I probably won't do it.

Other than that, I have hit the "wow, I feel really pregnant" stage. :D and I am sick of all the nightmares about losing babies- miscarriages, stillbirth, botched c/sections...I've had them all, and about one a night. I can't wait until he's here and I'm holding him and those stupid dreams stop!!!

35 weeks and all is well

Everything looks great. This is the non-measuring week, so I don't know how his measurements are, but he feels BIG! :)

Next week's appointment will be busy. We're going to start checking my cervix to see how things are going, and if I am dialating at all or effacing. The specialists do not want me going to term and I do not want to be induced, so we're going to do what we can to naturally avoid a pit induction. I will be having my Group B strep test next week (which we hope will be negative) and then maybe stripping my membranes. We will continue to check and strip every week.

I am finally starting to realize that I will be holding a healthy baby at the end of this pregnancy, and it's sort of weird.

CVS Haul

Today was a good CVS day. :) I wish I could take a picture, but since I am hijacking my grandmother's internet...you'll just have to imagine.

Items purchased
1 Softsoap hand pump
2 CoverGirl Clean Foundations
2 Covergirl blush
2 Cascade liquid dishwashing detergent
4 Schick disposable twin packs
4 Betty Crocker warm delights
10 bottles Gold Peak tea
1 Fusion Razor
1 bag Starbucks Breakfast blend coffee beans
1 bag Chai Latte Starbucks truffles

Total spent oop (including ridiculous TN sales tax): $11.76
Total saved: $86.31
ECB's for next week: $11.50