The Waiting Game

I am writing this post at 37.5 weeks gestation --- yay!  We made it to full term!

Our babies don't tend to come early --- Benjamin was born on his due date, and Katie was induced three days before her due date (with no indication she was trying to make her way out anytime soon) --- but we've had several friends who have had early births recently, and I am a bit older (35) this time around, so it was always in the back of my mind.  I was quite excited to reach the 37 week mark.

Another reason I was glad to make it 37 weeks, is that at my 35 week appointment, I had high blood pressure - for the first time in my life, ever.  It took about an hour in the doctor's office and four readings for it to go back down to an appropriate level.  The doctor mentioned the possibility of needing to deliver early if it became an issue, so that obviously elevated my concern as well.  But at the 35-week appointment, we agreed that I would take measures to slow down and I would come in the following week to see how things were going.  I began mostly working from home following that appointment and cut down drastically on salt (something I have never paid attention to before), and got a normal BP reading at my 36 week appointment --- as well as lost 5 pounds in water weight and re-discovered my ankles!  I then began working exclusively from home.

At my 37 week appointment, we had a biophysical profile ultrasound --- something I was worried about, because I was afraid they would find *something* that would warrant an early delivery.  When I was 39 weeks pregnant with Katie, they did an ultrasound to check her positioning (because she had been sideways), and while she had turned head down, I had low amniotic fluid levels, which led to the necessity of being induced.  Fortunately, everything looked perfect during this ultrasound!  But my blood pressure was high again (it only took lying on my side for one additional reading to get it back down), so my doctor prescribed *mostly* bedrest, and I began disability leave from work.

So now I am just a couple of days away from my 38 week appointment, and they will complete another ultrasound as well.  While it has been nice to be done working (although I actually did some additional work on my laptop from the easy chair Thursday & Friday last week --- it has been nice to tie up all the loose ends in a relaxed manner), I admit it is hard to actually rest when I think of all the things I could be doing with this free time!  And I am a bit of a worrier, so every headache, etc. makes me think I'm getting pre-eclampsia.

Mark has been WONDERFUL in continuing to work (although this past week, fortunately, he has had a light schedule), doing all of the household tasks, and wrangling the kids so that I can actually rest.  I'm getting quite skilled at playing Wii with Benjamin, although I still don't get the point of his Batman Lego Wii game, which he is rather obsessed with.  And I'm enjoying playing games, stickers, coloring with Katie, etc.  But I think we are both ready for my parents to arrive (tomorrow!) to help entertain the kids and give Mark some relief from all the household chores!  He has a busy week coming up at work, so it would be very difficult for me to continue the bedrest while he is gone --- especially since both kids are home for the week from school.

Once my parents arrive, I'd love to just naturally go into labor and have this baby --- but I'm also prepared to wait it out another few weeks, assuming my blood pressure stays at reasonable levels.  Fortunately they can stay for a few weeks, and assuming that I have an uncomplicated delivery, I'm much less daunted by the idea of taking care of two kids and a newborn than I am trying to be on bedrest with the two we already have.

We are getting rather eager to meet this baby!  We bought a few new things (gender neutral) for the baby, and got out the bassinet this week.  The hospital suitcase is out (although not packed), so we're beginning to make some progress.  A boy and girl name have been picked.  And we're rather eager to find out if this little one is going to be a boy or girl!  For most of the pregnancy, we were very convinced that this was another boy --- but now we're beginning to have doubts!  I'm carrying this one more like Katie at this point (he/she is sideways, but still moving around, so not concerned yet about positioning), and a lot of people are telling me they think it's a girl.  So we'll see! 

Either way, come on out and join us whenever you are ready, baby --- we're ready to meet you!