38 weeks

Well, our wireless Internet is acting funny, so I'm not going to be able to post any pictures right now, but I thought I should update since a lot has happened in the past week.

Last Monday, 3/2 we had a doctor's appointment and my blood pressure was pretty high. Dr. Adkins was concerned that it could be pre-eclampsia, and if it was, we would need to induce. He sent me to the hospital for a non-stress test, lab work, and a 24 hour urine collection to test for protein in my urine. All the tests came back relatively normal, except for the urine test which came back borderline. Apparently there is always some protein in the urine and normal numbers are below 150. Mine came back with a number of 200. Dr. Adkins said that number is high enough for some doctors to induce, but after talking with his colleagues, he decided to wait at least one more week before inducing if possible. He asked that I take at home blood pressure readings and send them to him daily and to inform him of any headaches, blurred vision, or unusual swelling. He also sent me in for a bio-physical for the baby. It is basically an ultra sound in which the baby has to have gross movement, muscles extensions, and breathe a certain amount of times within a half hour. It also checks the amniotic fluid and baby's heartbeat. Our baby got 8 out of 8 on the test (already takes after mom!) and is looking terrific. She's still a girl.

This Monday, 3/9 we had another appointment. My at home readings have been on the higher side of normal, but much lower than when my BP is taken at the doctor's office or hospital. So, of course, my BP was high again at the appointment. Dr. Adkins decided to send me in for another round of the same tests (non-stress test, blood work, and 24 hour urine collection) to make sure that I'm remaining stable. As of today, the blood work and stress test have come back looking great. We're just waiting on the urine test, which I turned in today. Also at my appointment on Monday, Dr. Adkins did a pelvic exam in which he found that I'm about 60% effaced. This is great news because it makes me a good candidate for Cervidil which they will use before Pitocin to help soften and dilate my cervix. Sometimes, the Cervidil is enough to get labor started and Pitocin won't have to be used. So, we'll find out more later this week and hopefully I'll be able to go into labor on my own before it gets to the point where we have to induce.

I have 13 more days until my due date and am getting excited to meet our little baby girl. Aleks is just getting over the flu, so I feel better about her coming now that he's healthy. So, once we get our Internet figured out, I'll post the pictures of me at 38 weeks and Aleks on his deathbed. We still haven't decided on a name...