34 Week Update

I went to the doctor on Thursday (33 weeks 6 days) and everything was great!  My blood pressure has been steadily normal the entire pregnancy, but Christmas did me in and I had some high blood pressure issues at my visit on Dec. 27th.  Since then I have been praying that it would go back down because I really don’t want to have to go on bed rest or anything.  I’d like to be able to work as long as I can so that I can stay out with Caroline for as long as I’m planning to.  (Actually, let’s be honest – if I had $1,000,000 I would GLADLY go on bed rest for the rest of the time and then stay out with Caroline as long as I need to.  BUT, we all live in the real world.)  Well this past Thursday my blood pressure was back down to 120/80 and I really was excited!  Caroline’s little heart was just beating away at 155 beats per minute and my fundal height was right on at 34 cm.  Everything is going swimmingly and I hope it does for the next 6 weeks!  The doctor did ask me if I had any questions and I told her I had begun swelling in my feet (I’m lucky that I haven’t started before now!) and that I feel like my pelvic bone is going to break in half.  I’m having this pain that runs from hip bone to hip bone and throughout my nether regions and when I told her about she just kind of laughed and told me that it was all part of the game.  That it was completely normal and is just my body getting ready for what is coming.  So, looks like I’ll be walking funny for the next six weeks while everything stretches out!!

We completed our third birthing class last Monday and they finally discussed all of the medicinal options you have for delivery.  Up to this point everyone had been going natural in the movies and situations and I was starting to feel judged a little bit because I was planning on using an epidural.  The teacher asked who was planning to use an epidural and half the women raised their hands.  The other half said they would just see how it went.  Then the teacher told us that no matter how it happened, as long as the end result was a happy, healthy baby and a happy, healthy mom, it didn’t matter.  I was really glad to hear her say that.  Tomorrow we go in for a make up session and we get to tour the hospital!  Then Monday night we’ll meet for our final session (CRAZY!!) and we’ll go over infant care.  I think it has been a great class and a great time for Ja and I to spend together.  I’m going to be a little bit sad it’s over!  Next month, though, we have a couple of breastfeeding classes, so that will keep us busy!!

Thursday was also a big day for Leslie.  She went to the doctor in the morning (she was 38 weeks 6 days) and when they checked her she was already 3 cm dilated and 50% effaced!  They have the induction scheduled for February 3rd (which would be awesome because that was Gramps’ birthday!) just in case he doesn’t come before then.  So I think everyone is sitting around holding their breath a little bit and waiting for Baby Jack to come out and see us!!!