Third BPP and NST (39w2d)

Whoops - I forgot to report on last week's BPP, NST and OB appointments - No news is good news, so all was well!

Today's update is that Murtle didn't pass the NST portion of the BPP. I was on that monitor for 40 minutes. Everything else looked fine, though. They really shouldn't do these NSTs first thing in the morning b/c Murtle is never really active then...AND they did that part first this time - usually it takes the ultrasound to get her going. Plus, she tired herself out over the weekend! So, I'm not too worried about it b/c she did start to move during the ultrasound and I know she'll be moving later today. My next OB appointment is tomorrow - they better not raise the topic of induction!! However, one of my FT friends just brought everything back into perspective for me again by telling me, "[i]nducement, schimducement...ain't nothin' but a thing! Eyes on the Prize, baby! She's about her make her DEBUT!!!" She's absolutely right!

Some other tidbits from last week:

My husband and I met with two of the doulas / doulas-in-training from JHU last Thursday. They were AWESOME and made me (and my husband, too, I believe) feel better about what's ahead. I think they will be a tremendous support, yet without getting in the way or not respecting our wishes if things change during the laboring.

Also, during last week's 38 week check-up, my OB (Dr. Edwards - my favorite one in the practice)said I was her favorite patient because I am always so chipper and happy. What in the world do I have to not be happy about? I had a smooth PG, I feel great, and I realize how incredibly blessed and fortunate I am that I got PG in the first place! Murtle dropped (went from 36 cms to 32 cms last week), yet I wasn't dilated (I didn't think I was, anyway - she's going to listen to her momma and come late, ha ha).

Finally, my husband and I attended an infant care class on Saturday (a 4-hour class, mind you). I'm glad we went because I felt pretty clueless about what to do once the baby is actually here, but now at least have a better sense as to how to take care of a brand new little person!

First Bio-Physical Profile (BPP) / Non-Stress Test (NST) (37w2)

I had the first of once weekly bio-physical profiles done today. Since my husband and I agree that Murtle will come when she's ready, we want to let nature run it's course and not let anyone induce me unless it's medically necessary. Therefore, my OB wants me to have these weekly tests done to make sure she continues to thrive. The nurse measured the fluid level and checked on the health of the placenta (which she said was "not old" - hooray!). She also watched Murtle do some breathing exercises (which she passed with flying colors). The nurse then hooked me up to a doppler machine that tested Murtle's heartbeat and reactivity (and contractions on my part, which I don't think I had any) and she did fine with that. Therefore, Murtle got her first 10/10 - A+! She's off to a good start!

As a side note, I loved and was so glad I had the nurse who ran my test today. Since she taught herself how to do the 3D / 4D ultrasounds (the techs are the ones who do the full-fledged ultrasounds and take the pictures), she throws some of those pictures in as a bonus at the end of the BPP. We had not been able to get any more pictures of Murtle during the last two growth ultrasounds because of her positioning. However, I found it interesting that this nurse was able to get some of the best shots I have ever seen (especially considering Murtle was in the same position today as she has was during the last growth ultrasound). Granted, it took a while to get Murtle into the right position, but she eventually obliged by moving her arm after I had switched my position, as well. And boy does she look like a chunky monkey now! My husband and I think she has my nose (although my husband's family is convinced that she has his nose) and I think she has his lips and eyes. She's also got some really chubby cheeks (which she's doomed to have because both my husband and I have chubby ones - a guy had actually nicknamed "Chippy" in high school because of my "chipmunk cheeks"). Who would have thought that she was in the 15th percentile for growth not too very long ago...I may have to switch back to drinking skim milk now - Now I'm afraid she's going to be too big!

Follow-Up Growth Ultrasound (36w2d) and 11th OB Appointment (37w1d)

I had my follow-up growth ultrasound last Wednesday (at 36 weeks 2 days) and my 11th OB appointment today (at 37 weeks 1 day). Both appointments went just fine. Murtle measured about 6 pounds last week and was sprouting a full head of hair. :) I've gained about 13 total pounds as of today. Things are on track - I have my first NST and BPP tomorrow back at the MFM's office tomorrow - hopefully that will show that everything is progressing fine and that Murtle is continuing to thrive and grow.

My husband and I finished a lot of our baby preparation items this past weekend, too! The nursery is basically finished, too - yay! While I still hope that she makes it until her due date, if she were to come any earlier, I would feel ok with what we've accomplished so far. I'm getting excited to meet our new baby girl!

10th OB Appointment (36w0d)

I had my 36 week OB appointment this morning. And wow - these appointments really seem to be happening pretty quickly now. I think I am getting closer to being ready for Murtle's arrival, but I need for her to be about a week late since I'm going to be working up until the Friday before my due date and it would be great if I could have a full week at home making the last minute preparations without having to worry about work.

I got to meet with Dr. Edwards again today. I must say that she has become one of my favorite OBs in the practice and I hope that she ends up delivering Murtle. I gained another full pound since Wednesday (making it a total of about 12 pounds of pregnancy weight). Although Dr. Edwards told me that she still wants to see me put on some more weight, she was highly pleased that it seems that Murtle has caught up growth-wise since she advised me to start eating more ice cream, as she's convinced that it helps with growth issues. I tend to believe that and switching to 2% milk actually helped. My blood pressure checked out fine and I assume the urine sample was A-OK, too. Dr. Edwards did not do a cervix check today since I just had it done last week. She said that it is pretty likely that I could go over my due date considering there has been no action going on down there yet and because this will be my first child. She told me that since I do not wish to be induced a week before or by my due date (which recommend because of my "advanced maternal age"), then she wants me to also go to the specialists' office for weekly visits from her on out so they can monitor the health of the placenta (since it could start to break down soon), the fluid levels and just make sure Murtle is still growing and thriving.

We also went over a checklist of items in preparation of Murtle's arrival (e.g., reminding me that I will need to get the anti-biotics during labor because of my GBS, labor signs (contractions every five minutes that last a minute each), where to go when it's time to go to the hospital, and birth control after delivery (ha!...as if I need to worry about that). She asked me if we had a name yet, so I told her our in-utero name - she got a kick out of that, especially when I told her that when I told Dr. Penn what the name was, I was afraid that he was going to refer me to social services immediately for pre-emotional abuse, ha ha.

I also talked to a representative from the Johns Hopkins' School of Nursing's Birth Companions Program today. One of my Fertile Thoughts friends told me about the program and I decided to get some more information on it, especially since I am considering a natural birth. DH thought this could be a good resource / support for us, especially since it won't cost anything. The program offers free student nurse doula services to any woman in the Baltimore metropolitan area. After speaking with the representative, I agreed to meet with two students (they work in pairs to ensure someone will be available at time of delivery) for an initial visit to get some more information and to see if this service would be useful for Murtle's delivery. Here's the link to the program for anyone who is interested:

nursing.jhu.edu/practice/bc/about.aspx

9th OB Appointment (35w2d)

I had my 35 week check-up today and first internal cervix check with Dr. Marcus Penn (the final, yet senior OB in the practice, who I had yet to meet). I liked him - he was very friendly, seemed to have a good sense of humor, and took a good amount of time to answer my questions. I gained FOUR pounds since my last appointment on May 6th! However, all is well - my cervix is closed and Dr. Penn could tell that Murtle's head was down! I figured she was positioned feet down based on where I was feeling the majority of her movements (in my lower regions as opposed to up near my ribcage). But darn it - wouldn't you know that Dr. Penn was about to also do the Group B Strep test until I told him that I already tested positive for it and that he had already told me that he was going to put me on anti-biotics at delivery time. I am really not a fan of these large group practices anymore.

Also, my husband and I got to meet with our potential new pediatrician today, Dr. Andre Gvozden of Gvozden Pediatrics. Dr. Gvozden and his staff seemed very nice and friendly and my husband and I liked that the practice consists of just him (as the pediatrician), his wife Cathy (as the pediatric nurse practitioner) and another pediatric nurse practitioner. He also has great credentials (been in practice for over 20 years; training was at the Children's Hospital National Medical Center, Johns Hopkins Hospital and Sinai Hospital; has additional expertise in dermatology and attention disorders; is currently on staff at Anne Arundel Medical Center and Johns Hopkins Hospital; and is an associate professor of pediatrics at the University of Maryland).

We also liked that he does not take transfer patients - his new patients consist of the newborns he meets when they are at the hospital and then he follows their health throughout their youth.

The only issue we may have to consider is that he is very pro vaccination, which is something I was still a bit on the fence about. I am not opposed to vaccines, just the schedule and amount. However, Dr. Gvozden did a good job of allaying our concerns about the alleged vaccine - autism link. We will probably end up going with his practice because I do feel as though he looks out for the best interests of all of his patients and that we can trust him to provide good, quality care.

8th OB Appointment (33w3d) and Non-Stress Test

I had my 8th OB appointment and NST this morning at my OB's Annapolis office. Today's OB, Dr. Margaret Keith (very nice doctor, but she seemed so young), was satisfied with the results of the NST test and even told me that future ones are no longer necessary since my MFM reported that everything from my follow-up growth ultrasound was A-OK.

As for the check-up itself, I learned that I'm holding steady at a 7 pound weight gain. Dr. Keith told me that she would like to see me put on more weight, but I believe Murtle is growing just fine since I've been feeling her move pretty regularly and since my uterus measured 32 cms. Plus, it's hard to gain weight when I just really do not have much of an appetite for anything and since I continue to experience fleeting moments of nausea. Dr. Keith wrote a referral for me to have one more follow-up growth ultrasound with the MFM in two or three weeks. I didn't object, of course! Maybe we'll get some good pictures of Murtle next time. We didn't get any pictures last time because she was facing my spine and the technician could not get a good view of her face.

Oh, and it's a good thing I'm up on my medical issues because I do not have much faith in my OB's practice. I understand how things can fall through the cracks because you never see the same doctor very often since it's a rotating group practice, but why should I as the patient have to remind them of things? I asked Dr. Keith how my TSH was and she said it should have been tested when I had my glucose screening done. She checked my record and learned that it actually had not been checked then, so she set me up to have it tested today. She then told me that I will have the Group B Strep (GBS) test done at my next appointment in two weeks. I told her that I didn't think I needed that since they found that I already had it and she said, "oh, you're right." This lack of attention to detail makes me nervous, but encourages me to simply be more vigilant about my care.