FULL TERM!

At 37 weeks a baby is considered full term!  Baby girl, you can come whenever you want...preferably sooner than later :o)

It's been a crazy month, for sure.  I guess I'll start with the most recent news and work backwards.

I was diagnosed with pre-eclampsia at my 35 week appointment.  I've since had countless blood draws and other lab tests, as well as bi-weekly NSTs at the hospital.  Because of this, my doctor insisted that I start my maternity leave two weeks before I expected.  So, as of August 31, I'm an official stay-at-home pregnant girl :o)  Work has been so great about everything.  As of now, I am fortunate that I will be off until January 2011!

Back to the NSTs...on my last day of work, this past Monday, I had a scheduled NST for 5PM.  I went straight from work, checked in at the Admitting desk (which, by the way, you have to do EVERY SINGLE TIME...what a waste of time), and headed up to Labor & Delivery for what was supposed to be a 45 minute monitoring session.  45 minutes turned into 2 hours....which turned into 3....at which point I called Jon to let him know that I would be missing the delicious dinner he was planning to cook.  Carly has a significant drop in her heart rate for a period of time and the doctor was not happy.  So....I was officially staying overnight.  They said that they had to keep me for a minimum of 24 hours after the decelerations.  The worst part?  I hadn't eaten since 1PM...and they said that I could not have anything but clear liquids because it was possible that I'd have to be delivered if it happened again.  I was STARVING!

My wonderful hubby packed me a bag (which I really had already planned to do THAT NIGHT!)...and came down and joined me for a very unrestful evening in the hospital.

The night was filled with interruptions from the nurses to check my temperature (!?)  The hospital bed was the absolute most uncomfortable thing in the entire world.  I am seriously dreading my stay after delivery.  Not to mention the beds had to of been designed for super skinny people.  So small.

Jon left around 7:30AM to go home to feed the pup and eat breakfast, while I stayed in that darn bed, waiting to hear if I could eat something myself.  Finally at almost 11AM I got to have some breakfast.

The doctor came in a bit later and told me that I would be staying until at least 6PM, at which point I could go home if Carly continued to behave, which she did, until a little after noon.

She had another deceleration.  I was then given two options.  I would have to stay for 24 more hours, or get hooked up to an Oxytocin drip to induce labor contractions, just to see how Carly's heart rate reacts to labor.  If she did not have any decelerations and handled the contractions well I could go home.  I opted for the Oxytocin.

Jon and my mom came to the hospital to sit with me while I was hooked up because I was little nervous.  Nervous for nothing!  It was so easy.  Most of my Braxton Hicks contractions have been stronger.  Carly did great and I was finally able to go home around 8PM Tuesday night.  At this point I was 1cm dilated and 60% effaced :o)  The doctor is estimating that Carly is approximately the 50th percentile and about 6 1/2-7lbs.  Perfectly average....I'll take it!

The doctor requested that I return to the hospital on Wednesday for another NST.  I scheduled my appointment for 6:30PM.  Jon joined me because I told him it would be a fast appointment, I was sure of it!

This time Carly was apparently have a party in my belly and kept her heart rate a little too elevated.  After the doctor gave the okay, 2 1/2 hours later (!!) we finally got to leave....and eat dinner :o)  I got nervous again that I'd have to stay and starve!

My 37 week appointment was yesterday and everything looked perfect.  My blood pressure is actually improved.  I've got to go back for another NST on Saturday, and Monday, and Thursday....and then I'm hoping that she decides to come!  I have a feeling that she'll be here sometime this week.  Wishful thinking, probably :o)

Anyway, here's the belly @ 37 weeks!

I think I'm ready to celebrate your birthday baby girl!