Waiting

Today we begin the 38th week. We saw Dr. Polon this morning. The baby’s heart rate was in the 140s, the fundus measured 38 centimeters, my BP was the usual 98/60, and my weight is up to 30 pounds gained. It feels like 25 are the baby and 5 are from swelling. (Swimming at my gym seems to help. I look absolutely ridiculous in my bikini, but at this point I just don’t care!)

Dr. P felt the baby’s position again. He said, “You have a good sized baby in there my dear. I would say he or she is about 7½ pounds right now.” Drew and I exchanged a glance that said, “Yikes!” That’s what size I was hoping for at birth! But since I was nearly 9 pounds and Drew was nearly 10, we should probably be more realistic about the size of baby we’re going to have. The good news is he or she is healthy and thriving, and God is not going to give me more than I can handle.

Dr. P says my cervix is still closed and toward the back. It needs to move forward and begin opening before labor can begin. This was not surprising news since I have had no signs of prelabor. He did say that my cervix is beginning to thin and the baby’s head has also “dropped”. We are taking that to mean the baby is starting to think about venturing out to meet us. Dr. P said, “If you were relaxing in a warm Jacuzzi, would you want to come out early?” We guess not.

Since we have exactly 2 weeks until the due date and starting to feel anxious, we asked Dr. P how far overdue he would let the baby go. He said no longer than 41 weeks because then the risks for the baby begin to outweigh the risks of labor induction. I have had a feeling all along that the baby would not come until the weekend after my due date, or 40½ weeks. We will see, but I very much hope that the baby decides to come sometime in the next 3 weeks so I can avoid having to be induced. Not only does it sound more painful, but I would have to labor the entire time at the hospital – not something I want to do.

Meanwhile, our parents are all very excited. They are trying to guess the sex, name and arrival date of the baby, and this has become quite amusing. Drew’s parents believe we are having a boy. So do our brothers, and I think Dad & Lyn are also leaning toward a boy. My mom is holding steadfast to her dream of a granddaughter, and I’m not sure what Rob thinks. We have received many name suggestions from our parents, and even our friends’ parents – Susannah, Bridget, Emma, Owen, Tate, among countless others. Although Drew and I have not minded not knowing the sex of our baby one little bit, it has certainly been driving our parents crazy which, while it wasn’t the intention, has been kind of fun.

When are you coming out little baby? We are ready to meet you.