35 Weeks

David and I were "officially" 35 weeks pregnant yesterday, so Carly and I ventured off to the doctor this morning for my check up. I was happy with my weight (2.5 pounds gained in 3 weeks), my blood pressure was normal, and our little boy's heartbeat was 152 beats per minute once he stopped twisting enough for the doppler to register it. (I know the nurse was getting frustrated during this portion. We could hear the heart and knew things were fine, but he kept moving away so the hand held device wouldn't show her a digital reading.) My uterus/belly also measured 35 centimeters which is right on track for being 35 weeks pregnant.

During this visit I was also cultured for Strep B. (I tested positive for this with Carly and needed antibiotics during delivery as a precaution.) I was offered to push this culture back a week, but requested to go ahead and have it done just so we would know sooner than later if a similar precaution needed to be made this time. During this portion of my visit, the doctor also went ahead and checked to see if I was making any progress with the Braxton Hicks contractions that I've been having irregularly for a while. It turns out these pesky little things are doing their "job." I am 1 centimeter dilated, 60% thinned out, and the head is currently in a -3 station. (I need to progress to 10 centimeters and +4 stationing of the head.) The doctor's comment was that we were progressing nicely and everything seems to be right on track. So, please do not start stressing that our little boy will be making an appearance soon. I know of moms who have been in similar situations that needed to be induced days after their due date and moms who delivered within 12 hours of being more closed up than this. This is just a tracking system for the doctors and some reassurance that the discomfort I'm feeling now with Braxton Hicks contractions is helping to shorten how much will need to happen to my physically during labor and delivery. Although, I am very curious as to how things will progress in the next 7 days. My goal is only that I don't stall out, I want some change - no matter how small it may be (but that is because Carly's labor turned into more of a mental game rather than a physical game for me).