38 week appointment

Just got back from our 38 week appointment (I am 37 wks 4 days today). Still just a fingertip dilated, 50% effaced, -2 station. Baby hasn't dropped yet and besides some cramping and annoying Braxton Hicks, there hasn't been much action! Trying to remind myself that I have 2 more weeks and that I can start getting impatient then. : ) Korey and I have been watching a childbirth DVD called Laugh and Learn About Childbirth. It's broken down into little 20 or 30 minute "classes" so we've been trying to watch one every night. Since we didn't take any childbirth classes at the hospital, this has been very helpful and the lady who teaches it is actually pretty funny and entertaining.

Yesterday I organized and cleaned for 6 hours (not sure if it was "nesting," I was really just making myself finally get things done). The nursery is finished. Michelle has to finish painting the tree mural over the baby's crib and Korey is putting our rocker/glider together today. I love how everything came together and I'm proud to say that most everything was borrowed/given to us/refurbished from Goodwill. We enjoyed "going green" by using eco-friendly paint, bamboo blinds, organic sheets, and recycled furniture and art pieces! I will post pics a little later.

37 weeks

So week 37 has begun and I am starting to feel not so great. I am crampy and nauseous every day now and I feel like this baby is just running out of room. My ribs are so sore by the end of the day from my little soccer player's strong feet. I put an ice pack on my right side last night because they were just burning. Not to mention the stabbing pains I have been getting in my upper right back for the last 2-3 weeks (doctor thinks baby is just laying on a nerve, the pain goes away when I get up and walk around so I do that a couple times a night during bathroom breaks.) And my feet swelled up at the concert last Friday and have yet to recover. There are my honest complaints... 3 more weeks of this? Poor Korey. :) At our appointment last Friday my cervix hadn't changed much and the nurse practioner (doctor was out of town) said that while my cervix was softening, baby was still high and has not dropped into my pelvis yet. They hooked me up to a monitor for 20 minutes and I had 3 contractions but nothing to get excited about. Baby looked great and we have another appointment on Friday... Pray for some progress... We are ready to meet this little one.

Dave Concert

Baby's first Dave concert!

We went to the Dave Matthews Band concert Friday night in Noblesville. It was a great concert and even though we cut out before the last couple songs (my ankles had become unrecognizable), I am glad I stuck it out and went! We have been to 12 Dave concerts together over the last 7 years and love camping out for the Friday/Saturday shows at Verizon and Riverbend every summer. I slept in the back of the car on an air mattress Friday night and it wasn't too bad except for the climbing in and out to go to the bathroom all night. We left early Saturday morning. One night of camping is enough at 9 months pregnant. : )

Getting a little anxious...

Korey and I had our 36 week appointment on Friday. Everything looked good, baby is measuring fine and my doctor said I was a fingertip dilated and the baby's head was down low. I don't feel like he/she has dropped yet, I can't eat or breathe and the baby is definately up in my ribs still. Not a lot of complaints. Just the usual fun of being almost 9 months pregnant... sharp back pains, indigestion, lack of sleep (I cannot get comfortable and about 10 minutes after I do I have to go to the bathroom. Ha). Not knowing when this little one is going to make an appearance makes me anxious. I'm a planner and I don't love surprises (if it weren't for Korey, we'd be buying pink or blue right now!). It's weird to think that the baby may not come for another month or he/she may be here in a week or two! Everyday is a countdown. : ) And we still have lots to do! (How many times have I written that in a post?) I went back to work last week. I was really happy to see everyone and enjoy doing my job again. Though it was a little tough being on my feet for such a long period. I had to keep telling myself to slow down and take breaks which isn't always easy on an OB unit! (Or any hospital unit really). I work a few more shifts next week and then I may take it easy until the baby arrives. Korey's been working construction with my dad all day Monday-Thursday and we are going to have a LOT of unpacking to do after next Friday when I move out of my Indy apartment. I'm so scared of coming home from the hospital to BOXES everywhere. Hopefully nesting will set in soon and kick my exhausted butt into gear. : )

Updates - 34 weeks

Baby’s senses are continuing to improve -- when light peeks in through your (extremely) stretched belly, those tiny eyelids and irises blink and dilate. And, baby can now recognize and react to simple songs… time to start practicing your lullabies! Growth (at least inside your womb) is starting to slow, and you may notice baby descend into your pelvis at the end of this month.

I am 34 weeks pregnant this week. Last weeks appointment went well, fetal fibronectin test was negative again. I'm still taking medication to stop contractions but they've slowed down a little this week (probably because I've been resting a lot more than usual). We are continuing work on the apartment and nursery. Besides some normal aches and pains I think I am lucky to be feeling as well as I do, and I already think I will really miss being pregnant. My belly is big and baby has been moving a lot. He/she gets the hiccups at least twice a day and I love it. Korey's parents and grandparents bought us the stroller/car seat and we are both really excited about it. Korey set it up a couple days ago and it is sitting in the nursery. I started doing baby laundry this week, I feel better that we are checking things off the list as we get closer to the baby's arrival. (But the list is still long!)

The baby shower had to be moved to Sunday, August 9th at the Hillindale Club House. Invitations are coming and I really hope to see everyone there! Our baby registry is finally finished, you can click on the link on the right to access it. Let me know if you have any problems or questions. : )

Being a first time mom is frustrating!

Korey and I went to see the doctor yesterday because I had a rough weekend with contractions/back pain. I was taking my medicine to stop them every 4 hours and they were more intense than usual. I didn't know if they were just really uncomfortable Braxton Hicks or what was going on. After being up most of the night Sunday we called the doctor and went in for a check. They hooked me up and while I had some contractions on the monitor, they were not regular or timeable. My cervix hasn't changed much which is good news and since the fetal fibronectin test I took a week and a half ago was negative, they told me to go home and take it easy this week (no work again). I'll get another fetal fibronectin on Friday. Since I've never experienced "real" labor contractions before it's been frustrating trying to figure out what's going on and when I should call or not call. But it seems like everything is alright and this baby is just kicking my butt a little bit. : )

Also, a head's up for everyone: We are planning the baby shower for the second Saturday in August (the 8th). We'll be sending out invitations soon, sorry for the late notice. Hope to see everyone there, more details to come!

Sneak Peek of Baby Padgett