34 Weeks (Posted One Week Late)

34 Weeks
Originally uploaded by Jenmomma

Sorry to subject you to the belly, but it seemed like it would get some attention, because, seriously, it's hard to miss.

I guess it's only been 2 or 3 weeks since my last baby update, but it feels like a lot has happened and I hope to have some more stuff to post about next week, so I wanted to get this one out there.

First of all, I'm still having "contractions" fairly regularly. I'm just trying to keep off my feet at home and not do anything overly strenuous. I'm only timing them if I feel like they are happening a lot or are painful, but I'm pretty sure none of it's actual "labor" so we haven't went back to the hospital.

I had a 34 week doctor appointment last Friday (a week ago). She mentioned my trip to L&D, but didn't really suggest I change anything, she just said he may just not want to stay in there the whole time. I gained 3 pounds in that two weeks. Currently up to 26 pounds. I don't know how some women stop gaining the last month, that's when I seem to put it all on. She measured me and said I'm measuring 2 weeks ahead, so at 34 weeks, my belly measured 36 weeks. She also gave me a Rx for a 36 week ultrasound to check the size again. We've already had to reschedule it, but as of now, I go on Monday for the ultrasound and will see the doctor again on Wednesday. I did ask her about induction (are there certain days she does it, when can we expect, etc.). She said we'd likely do it either May 14, 15, or 16, unless we get unexpected news at the ultrasound and look like we're going to have an extremely large baby in which we may discuss pushing that another week sooner, but there would be additional concerns to that too.

Now that I have an "end date" I feel like I can really start to finalize plans. Mom has a flight scheduled to arrive the afternoon of 5/14 and with everyone else coming in, my first choice would be to do it on Friday, 5/16, so that's what I am going to request when we get to that point. Regardless, I told work that unless he decides to come sooner, May 14 will be my last day of work.

I'm feeling more calm about getting stuff completed. Work is starting to pull together. I've been staying late 1-2 nights a week and have been marking more off of my list than I've been putting on. I only have one major project that would cause problems if I didn't finish before I leave. I have more open items too, but everything else, I think someone else could pick up fairly easily. I did bring the big project home this weekend and I may work on it Sunday night after Grace goes to bed to at least get me started. Hopefully, I can finish it next week.

My stuff to do at home has all been started, but not finished. Tonight I am going to start packing my hospital bags. I have a list, but need to start putting things into the bags, so I can see if there's anything I need to buy. I have the "call list" about 75% done. I have all the people written down, I just need to decide when they should be called in the process and who should call them and then need to tell anyone that I've assigned to spread the word. I also need to finalize my announcement list and get to Danialle and Chadd (they are designing and sending my inviitations as a gift). I keep a list of addresses in a Word doc that can be printed on mailing labels, so I just need to look through my list from Christmas and update it for the baby. Today, I got my bottles (that we never got to use with Grace) back from Samara. I'm washing them tonight and will have them all in the cabinet by tomorrow. I plan on getting an extra key to hide this weekend and then the only major thing will be installing the car seat bases.

Last night, I read through the final month or so of my pregnancy with Grace (on my blog) and it definately seems like I feel farther along than I did with her. Some examples:
- At 34 weeks I mentioned Grace running out of room and making my belly change shape and that if I pushed on her feet when she poked them out, I could feel her butt move on the other side. Luke's been making my belly change shape for weeks and I've been able to pick out body parts, including shoulders, butt, feet, and hands for weeks too.
- At 35 weeks, I mention waddling and starting to feel increased "pressure" below. Luke is just so much lower, that I've been feeling the pressure for weeks too. I mention getting full faster. Not so much this time, I think he just sits lower, so my stomach still has room for a full meal. Also, I said my belly button was still technically "in." Mine actually popped this time. Probably about 3 or 4 weeks ago.
- At 36 weeks I had gained 28 pounds. Since I was 26 pounds at 34 weeks, looks like I might catch up with the Grace weight gain after all. At my 36 week appointment with Grace I was 1cm dialated and 60% effaced. My "36 week" appointment this time is on Wednesday, I'm really curious with all the contraction activity if I've started dialiting yet. We know at 32 weeks (3 weeks ago) I had not started.
- Also around 36 weeks I posted about feeling really "blah" and "icky" and sounds like completely uncomfortable. I feel like that about 50% of the time right now. I will have a good day and then the next day, I can't get comfortable sitting, standing, or anything and I get grouchy and just want to bite the head off of the next person that tells me there's no way that I have 5 weeks left. Usually that happens like this: Stranger: When are you due? Me: May 24th, 5 more weeks! Stranger: "Oh" (with an I feel so bad for you look), "I don't think so!", "Are you sure there's only one?", etc.
-

So, anyway, if we use 5/16 as my expected induction date, in just 4 weeks I should be a Mom again. I only have 3 complete weeks of work left. I still wouldn't be shocked if I go into labor before the 16th, but at least I have an end date and I think this week will go very quickly. Tomorrow, Grace and I are going to a co-worker's daughter's 1st birthday party after church. Monday, I have a morning meeting/conference call and my ultrasound at 3 pm. Wednesday, I have my 36 week appointment at 8:30 a.m. and then at 2:45 p.m. I have an appointment with Dr. L to do a quick cancer checkup (had the breast ultrasound last week and all looked good). Next Saturday, Grace has a "Sibling Class" at the hospital and I'll be 36 weeks pregnant.

Still hoping this last month flies by. As I'll now be having weekly doctor appointments with internal's, I'll try to update weekly. I really like being able to look back for details.