Friday, November 28, 2014

33 Weeks

Happy Thanksgiving!  I hope everyone is enjoying a long weekend away from work and that time of year isn't especially hard... I know the holidays can be such a tough, tough time when you are struggling with infertility or loss.  They certainly still serve as a huge trigger for me - this time last year I was 21 weeks pregnant with L and all I could think about was how different the holidays would be for us this year.  I'm thinking of you all and hoping that even if life isn't going as planned right now, you have still found people or things to be thankful for this week... I know I am thankful for all of those who read and comment on this little blog (you! thank you!).  It is so wonderful to not feel so alone.  Thank you!

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Today marks 33 weeks!  Thank you all for your thoughts on getting the non-stress test (NST).  I had my first one on Tuesday of this week.  I'm not sure the name "NST" is fitting in terms of how the first one went!  I was settled into the recliner and strapped to the baby heart rate monitor and the contraction monitor and baby's heart rate was consistently between 130 and 140, which is great.  However, she appeared to be asleep, so I felt very few movements and there were no spikes in her heart rate, which is apparently what they are looking for (movement combined with spikes to show activity).  After an hour and a can of juice (which did no good), we called it and I had an ultrasound.  I wasn't worried that something terrible was happening, but I didn't feel great about the test and it was just unnerving.  I found myself getting a little panicky and thinking "This is it. I'm going to be admitted to the hospital right now."

Everything was fine.  Once we started the ultrasound, she started moving around and all of the measurements are right on schedule so there was no cause for concern.  Apparently I am to eat a meal before I come in for my next NST so this doesn't happen again.

So, baby looks great (and so baby-like at this point), although she has flipped back over and is again in breech position, which I am hoping she'll resolve in the next few weeks.  I had been feeling this movements very low in my pelvis, which now makes sense... she's kicking me with her tiny feet.

We didn't "schedule" the induction, but my OB is on call on the 26th through 28th of December, so we'll likely start on the 26th.  It seems crazy, but that is one month away.  We just need to hang on and stay healthy for one more month.

33 weeks! It looks like her tiny nose is pressed up against a window.
And those lips!  I cannot wait to meet her.


13 comments:

  1. Glad that the stressful non-stress test and ultrasound showed baby is OK! I hope you mostly enjoy the next few weeks. The 26th of December is my birthday, hehe! Everyone says they are sorry for me for having that birthday, but really, it's a good birthday.

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    1. Thanks, me too! I'm glad to hear your perspective on this birthday. If one more person tells me what a terrible time this is to have a baby I might lose my temper. People, it is too late! And I had no control over it from the outset. I'm just so thankful to be pregnant. I am sure we can still make it a special day to celebrate.

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  2. So glad everything continues to go well. One more month! Right around the corner. Stay strong.

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    1. Thanks... one more month indeed! It is hard to believe.

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    2. Also, I can't seem to see your blog now. Totally understand if you are going private and don't want to share with random people like me anymore, but I'd love to keep up with how you are doing. Please let me know how I can follow if you want me to.

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  3. Her lips!! Swoon. So sweet. My kids were back and forth breechy babes. Mary didn't flip (and stay put) until close to 36 weeks!

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    1. Caroline, thanks for sharing that. I'm really hoping she flips back over! Every time I feel movement I try to figure out what part it might be and whether her feet are now in my rib cage. Too bad I have absolutely no idea!

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  4. Hello :) I've followed your blog over the past few months- I came across it when you commented on a friend's blog who, so sadly, lost her child shortly after birth. I wanted to pass along that A) positive thoughts & love are being sent your way! Your posts are so insightful, honest & filled with love! & B) I had several (several!) ultrasounds & a few NSTs with my 6mo old bc she always seemed to be sleeping during scans! Pretty unnerving, but she was born in complete health & continues to be a sweet, healthy, laid-back, "easy" baby- much more laid-back than her sweet older sister, who was so very active (bouncing off the uterine walls practically!) during each of her ultrasounds! SO fingers crossed that your baby is simply foreshadowing her sugary sweet, easy, laid-back temperament :)

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    1. Ivy, thank you so much for reading and for commenting. It means a lot to me. The ultrasounds and NSTs can be unnerving, right? I went in expecting to feel good afterward and it was the complete opposite. Let's hope you are right and this is foreshadowing her laid-back demeanor. And thanks so much or commenting.

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  5. Your first NST experience sounds much like mine. Glad everything looked good on the ultrasound! I tried eating before but it didn't necessarily help. A friend recently had the opposite problem - she ate chocolate before to get her baby to move, and then baby was overactive and they couldn't get a baseline...
    The ultrasound picture is adorable. One month can fly by so fast! Hoping everything will go smoothly. Keep us updated.

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    1. Ha ha - I just got a good laugh about the overactive baby. Apparently we can't win! My next one is at a different time of day so perhaps that will help?

      You are right about a month flying by... here's hoping it does, particularly in the midst of the holidays.

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  6. Your NST experience sounds scary! I'm so happy all was good with the ultrasound and all is going well with you and baby girl! So close now! I'm so thankful for you and this community of bloggers too!

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    1. It was not the experience I was hoping for! Hopefully this week will be better. So close now, indeed... both of us!!!

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