Today was my 37 week appointment! I cannot believe how close the delivery potentially is. My husband and I had a conversation tonight about projects we still want to accomplish and order of importance. In my mind, I am delivering within a week of my due date on either side, but as many nurses pointed out today, it would not be a surprise for it to happen any day.
On my drive up to the office, I stopped by a dear friend's home. She had made a fabric mask for myself and my husband. I was really touched that she had done that and it meant that I did not have to hold medical paper over my face for the entire time I was at the midwife's office. I followed her text instructions and grabbed the masks then rang her bell as I left. She popped out of her house for a couple of minutes so we could chat, 30 feet apart from each other. It was so good to see her! I miss seeing friends right now.
I made it to the office with a few minutes to spare. Like last week, I was greeted at the door and whisked back to be weighed in less than a minute. Because I had an ultrasound first, I was seated in an empty examination room for a few minutes while the ultrasound tech prepared for me. It was obviously not an OB room, but more of a GYN room. There were lots of posters about STDs, a container of condoms with instructions on how to use a condom, and information about what to do when you want to get pregnant.
The tech grabbed me and I excitedly went to her room. I will miss her examination table. For some strange reason, whenever she raises or lowers the exam table, it makes a noise like an air raid siren. As we got started on the ultrasound, I because so excited to have this baby! She is big and fully developed. Her head is 9.5 cm. I am okay with it not getting bigger. All her other measurements are also perfect. She was practicing breathing and her heart looked perfect. She is head down and managed to have a foot up to her mouth. I received three adorable pictures of my miracle baby. The coolest part of all is that I could see her hair! Not ever having an ultrasound this late, I did not even think about the possibility of seeing hair.
My 20 minutes of bliss ended and I was taken into a regular exam room. I was surprised when my midwife was a little late coming in. She has never been in the room more than a few minutes after I was brought back.
The exam was very fast. She measured me, listened to the heartbeat, and then asked about the ultrasound. When I told her that the current estimated weight was 7 lbs 5 oz, she laughed. "I thought your baby was tiny! That's why I had the ultrasound ordered. You are carrying this baby extremely well. It sounds like she is doing wonderfully." With an encouragement to go straight to the hospital if my water broke or I had regular contractions, the appointment ended.
As I checked out with the receptionist, she was the third person in the office to remind me that I could deliver any day now. "If I don't see you again, good luck! You will be great." It changed my mindset from still being laid back about the due date to realizing I should probably prepare a little faster.
07 April, 2020
06 April, 2020
OB Appointment 36 Weeks, 2 Days
Between my 35 week and 36 week appointments, I received yet another phone call with announcements. As they began to tell me what the changes were, I could not imagine what else they would be able to alter. Would I have to change into a sterile gown before entering the office? Would I need to wear a gas mask?
Thankfully, the only change was that the office was moving back to their former building. (I still have no idea why.) I was told I would enter in a side door and was not to go in the main entrance.
I pulled up on March 31 just before 1:15 to a sparsely populated parking lot. The side entrance was thankfully clearly marked. I opened the door to a small room with one patient who was in the process of being called back, a folding table with the receptionist and her computer, and a nurse ready to grab me. I was immediately asked for my name and date of birth before the door closed behind me. As I told the receptionist my information, the nurse grabbed my chart and guided me to a scale in the hallway. After my weight was noted, I was handed disposable medical paper (the kind a dentist uses for your bib during a dental exam) and asked to keep my nose and mouth covered the entire time I was in the building.
Once I got back to the examination room, everything else felt normal except for the fact that everyone was wearing masks and seemed slightly hurried. They were a finely tuned clock and I was out in ten minutes! The midwife said everything still looks and sounds great, but she ordered an ultrasound for next week. When I was reading my chart after the appointment, I noticed that under the associated diagnosis for the ultrasound order was listed, "small for dates infant." I have gone back and forth on what I feel about that. The midwife said everything seemed fine and I trust her. My husband reminded me not to borrow trouble. Maybe we just have a petite baby on our hands, but with the height genes she is receiving from my husband and myself, she probably will not be a short woman.
The other news is that my strep B test came back negative. I had completely forgotten about the test with all the craziness happening in the medical world right now, but I was very thankful to hear that I am negative.
Thankfully, the only change was that the office was moving back to their former building. (I still have no idea why.) I was told I would enter in a side door and was not to go in the main entrance.
I pulled up on March 31 just before 1:15 to a sparsely populated parking lot. The side entrance was thankfully clearly marked. I opened the door to a small room with one patient who was in the process of being called back, a folding table with the receptionist and her computer, and a nurse ready to grab me. I was immediately asked for my name and date of birth before the door closed behind me. As I told the receptionist my information, the nurse grabbed my chart and guided me to a scale in the hallway. After my weight was noted, I was handed disposable medical paper (the kind a dentist uses for your bib during a dental exam) and asked to keep my nose and mouth covered the entire time I was in the building.
Once I got back to the examination room, everything else felt normal except for the fact that everyone was wearing masks and seemed slightly hurried. They were a finely tuned clock and I was out in ten minutes! The midwife said everything still looks and sounds great, but she ordered an ultrasound for next week. When I was reading my chart after the appointment, I noticed that under the associated diagnosis for the ultrasound order was listed, "small for dates infant." I have gone back and forth on what I feel about that. The midwife said everything seemed fine and I trust her. My husband reminded me not to borrow trouble. Maybe we just have a petite baby on our hands, but with the height genes she is receiving from my husband and myself, she probably will not be a short woman.
The other news is that my strep B test came back negative. I had completely forgotten about the test with all the craziness happening in the medical world right now, but I was very thankful to hear that I am negative.
27 March, 2020
OB Appointment 35 Weeks, 2 Days
This was my first appointment after the COVID-19 scare. At my last appointment at 33 weeks (which I did not write about), both the nurse and midwife seemed sick of the idea of the virus. Just two weeks later, it was crazy how differently it was treated. In the two weeks between the appointments, I received several phone calls from my midwife's office to tell me about changes.
Call #1: I was told that I could only have one person accompany me and they had to be older than 18. The darling nurse who called to tell me said she would be sad not to see my daughter anymore.
Call #2: I was told that I could not have anyone accompany me to future appointments.
Call #3: I was told that the entire office was changing locations and I still had to come by myself.
Tuesday arrived and I was happy that the new office location was 10 minutes closer to my home. Shortly before I left, an AC repairman dropped by to check out our unit. The scent of cigarettes filled our home as he and his wife entered. I mentally made a note to remind my husband to open all the windows once they left.
This was my first drive up to the office completely by myself. I enjoyed the quiet solo 50 minutes in the car. The new location was very different than the old familiar, standalone office. I arrived at a three story medical pavilion with a rather empty parking lot. As I approached the building, there were large signs everywhere by the door. It was easy for me to find out I was not supposed to use the regular doors, but instead use the automatic rotating door. I got inside and was immediately stopped by two nurses. Behind them sat who I assume was security. (If I made a break for the elevators without talking to the nurses, would he have tackled me to the ground?) One of the nurses took my temperature while the other went through a list of around 20 question asking about my health and travel recently. (Good thing we canceled our trip to NYC last week.)
After I met with both nurses' approval, I was instructed to take the right elevator. The right elevator only went to the second floor (OB area) and the left elevator went to the third floor (people not at that pavilion for a well check).
I arrived on the second floor and found an empty waiting room with some familiar faces behind the check-in desk. We joked about the level of security to enter the building and I grabbed a paper about current hospital restrictions.
The previous day, I had read about these restrictions. My husband's response to everything was, "They'd better feed you well." The restrictions thankfully do not change much of what we had planned. I am bummed that once my husband leaves to go stay with our toddler, he cannot come back until I am discharged.
I was called back to meet with my midwife by the regular nurse. We chatted a bit and then she left for the midwife to come in for my regular appointment and for my group B strep test. My midwife seemed slightly frazzled with the new environment. Baby's heartbeat sounds great and I am measuring right on track. The midwife did say, while feeling my belly, that she might order an ultrasound next time. I was a little thrown by that comment that I forgot to ask why. The midwife did ask how large my daughter was when she was born and was happy when I told her 7lb 7oz. I did tell my midwife that at the beginning of the pregnancy, I was constantly measuring around 2 weeks ahead. The midwife responded that I was measuring just fine now.
Right before I left, the midwife mentioned that I looked like I was slightly opened when she did the test, but we both looked at each other and I said, "but that doesn't mean much." She nodded in agreement.
I am now officially on weekly appointments!
Call #1: I was told that I could only have one person accompany me and they had to be older than 18. The darling nurse who called to tell me said she would be sad not to see my daughter anymore.
Call #2: I was told that I could not have anyone accompany me to future appointments.
Call #3: I was told that the entire office was changing locations and I still had to come by myself.
Tuesday arrived and I was happy that the new office location was 10 minutes closer to my home. Shortly before I left, an AC repairman dropped by to check out our unit. The scent of cigarettes filled our home as he and his wife entered. I mentally made a note to remind my husband to open all the windows once they left.
This was my first drive up to the office completely by myself. I enjoyed the quiet solo 50 minutes in the car. The new location was very different than the old familiar, standalone office. I arrived at a three story medical pavilion with a rather empty parking lot. As I approached the building, there were large signs everywhere by the door. It was easy for me to find out I was not supposed to use the regular doors, but instead use the automatic rotating door. I got inside and was immediately stopped by two nurses. Behind them sat who I assume was security. (If I made a break for the elevators without talking to the nurses, would he have tackled me to the ground?) One of the nurses took my temperature while the other went through a list of around 20 question asking about my health and travel recently. (Good thing we canceled our trip to NYC last week.)
After I met with both nurses' approval, I was instructed to take the right elevator. The right elevator only went to the second floor (OB area) and the left elevator went to the third floor (people not at that pavilion for a well check).
I arrived on the second floor and found an empty waiting room with some familiar faces behind the check-in desk. We joked about the level of security to enter the building and I grabbed a paper about current hospital restrictions.
The previous day, I had read about these restrictions. My husband's response to everything was, "They'd better feed you well." The restrictions thankfully do not change much of what we had planned. I am bummed that once my husband leaves to go stay with our toddler, he cannot come back until I am discharged.
I was called back to meet with my midwife by the regular nurse. We chatted a bit and then she left for the midwife to come in for my regular appointment and for my group B strep test. My midwife seemed slightly frazzled with the new environment. Baby's heartbeat sounds great and I am measuring right on track. The midwife did say, while feeling my belly, that she might order an ultrasound next time. I was a little thrown by that comment that I forgot to ask why. The midwife did ask how large my daughter was when she was born and was happy when I told her 7lb 7oz. I did tell my midwife that at the beginning of the pregnancy, I was constantly measuring around 2 weeks ahead. The midwife responded that I was measuring just fine now.
Right before I left, the midwife mentioned that I looked like I was slightly opened when she did the test, but we both looked at each other and I said, "but that doesn't mean much." She nodded in agreement.
I am now officially on weekly appointments!
22 February, 2020
OB Appointment 29 Weeks, 5 Days
We had a pretty normal appointment with my midwife on Valentine's Day. We were running one minute late and as I rushed into the waiting room, I almost stopped in my tracks. There were no other patients in the room. This is a shock because the waiting room is not only for the two OBs and one midwife, but it also serves as a waiting room for a pediatrics clinic and family practices clinic. It was not surprising that I only sat down for one minute before we were called back.
We went back and chatted with the midwife. The appointment went well, but we had a slight disagreement about one point. We are planning a short trip to visit my father when I am 34 weeks pregnant. I called the clinic before we booked our flight to have them verify that they would be comfortable with a trip at 34 weeks. The nurse I talked to assured me that at 34 weeks, it would not be a big deal and I should just make sure I walk around once or twice while on the plane.
The midwife said she does not usually suggest traveling farther away than 3-4 hours once you reach 30 weeks. Maybe at some point, I will provide feedback that the nurses should talk to the providers about this subject.
The best part of the day came later with the biggest pregnancy moment I have had in my life. We stopped at a grocery store on the way home to do our shopping for the week. We sat in the car for a couple minutes to finish a conversation before getting out. As I opened my door and moved my body in the direction of the door to exit the vehicle, I found I could not move. I struggled for a few seconds, wondering if the hood to my coat was caught on the chair somehow. Once I realized that my coat was not caught on anything, I panicked for a couple more seconds, worried that I was getting so pregnant that I could not move with ease anymore. After a total of around five seconds, I remembered that I had not unbuckled my seat belt yet. I laughed as I walked the span from the car to the store.
We went back and chatted with the midwife. The appointment went well, but we had a slight disagreement about one point. We are planning a short trip to visit my father when I am 34 weeks pregnant. I called the clinic before we booked our flight to have them verify that they would be comfortable with a trip at 34 weeks. The nurse I talked to assured me that at 34 weeks, it would not be a big deal and I should just make sure I walk around once or twice while on the plane.
The midwife said she does not usually suggest traveling farther away than 3-4 hours once you reach 30 weeks. Maybe at some point, I will provide feedback that the nurses should talk to the providers about this subject.
The best part of the day came later with the biggest pregnancy moment I have had in my life. We stopped at a grocery store on the way home to do our shopping for the week. We sat in the car for a couple minutes to finish a conversation before getting out. As I opened my door and moved my body in the direction of the door to exit the vehicle, I found I could not move. I struggled for a few seconds, wondering if the hood to my coat was caught on the chair somehow. Once I realized that my coat was not caught on anything, I panicked for a couple more seconds, worried that I was getting so pregnant that I could not move with ease anymore. After a total of around five seconds, I remembered that I had not unbuckled my seat belt yet. I laughed as I walked the span from the car to the store.
03 February, 2020
Three Hour Glucose Test
So, you failed your one hour glucose test? Yeah, me too. If I am blessed to be pregnant again, I will not change my glucose test unexpectedly and do it around noon.
My husband and I debated how I would the three hour glucose test several times. Because my clinic is an hour away, doing the test would take a minimum of five hours. He was really dubious about me taking our daughter. When I did the one hour glucose test, I felt very shaky and unwell. He was worried that I would have to entertain or deal with a toddler tantrum while I was in poor health myself. I struggled with the idea of finding someone to watch my daughter for five hours while I was gone. We discussed several options and I finally decided to head up with my daughter early this morning (28 weeks, 1 day). I got her really excited to hang out with me today and I prepped my purse as though I was going on a three hour plane ride with her. I had around a dozen activities for her to do and she was pretty stoked to go to the lab with her mom.
I woke up at 5:30 and gently roused my daughter at 6:15. She immediately jumped up and gave me a big hug and kiss which swiftly calmed my nerves. She was a gem in the car on the way there. She ate her breakfast and made small talk with me. I encouraged her to sleep, but she told me she was not sleepy.
We made it to the lab just before 7:30. Every time I was called back to have my blood drawn, my little girl stared intensely at everything that was going on. She looked intrigued at the glucose drink, but when the phlebotomist told her it was gross, she immediately lost interest. The drink, with double the sugar from last time, was so sweet it made my throat itch.
We hung out in the waiting room the entire time. I was told that I could leave this time if I wanted, but I knew we would not.
We watched the waiting room fill and empty several times. My toddler rotated through the activities and never once was unhappy or upset over anything. Several older patients tried to start a conversation with her, but she was quick to ignore them and inch closer to me.
After I drank the glucose, I felt normal the entire time we were there. I did not feel any negative effects of my blood sugar and did not feel hungry. I have been trying not to read too much into if it was a good thing or a bad thing that I had no negative side effects while we were in the lab.
When I was done, we had a quick lunch and I felt very shaky and light headed so we sat in the car for five minutes until I felt safe driving. As we drove home, I was extremely tired and was even more happy that my toddler was in an agreeable mood.
I am planning on calling my clinic tomorrow afternoon to see what the results of the test are. I am assuming and hoping that the test comes back negative for gestational diabetes. The first test was not completed in favorable circumstances so I hope it was just a fluke. We will see tomorrow!
Update: The following day, I was too anxious to wait until the afternoon to call. Instead, I made the call shortly after their office opened in the morning. The sweet nurse took quite a while to look up my information. After she tried entering in my birthday a couple times and had me spell my last name over and over, she finally typed in my social. "I've talked to you dozens of times! I know you are a patient. I am not sure why I cannot look up your info." She gave me the disclosure that a doctor had not looked at the results, but she said she saw no yellow or red numbers. She said it looked like I passed with flying colors. When the results were uploaded to my patient portal, I was quick to examine the results for myself. None of my numbers were even close to the upper standard range. I am kicking myself for scheduling the one hour test when I was not ready for it, but am very thankful that I was able to check and make sure that the baby and I are both healthy.
My husband and I debated how I would the three hour glucose test several times. Because my clinic is an hour away, doing the test would take a minimum of five hours. He was really dubious about me taking our daughter. When I did the one hour glucose test, I felt very shaky and unwell. He was worried that I would have to entertain or deal with a toddler tantrum while I was in poor health myself. I struggled with the idea of finding someone to watch my daughter for five hours while I was gone. We discussed several options and I finally decided to head up with my daughter early this morning (28 weeks, 1 day). I got her really excited to hang out with me today and I prepped my purse as though I was going on a three hour plane ride with her. I had around a dozen activities for her to do and she was pretty stoked to go to the lab with her mom.
I woke up at 5:30 and gently roused my daughter at 6:15. She immediately jumped up and gave me a big hug and kiss which swiftly calmed my nerves. She was a gem in the car on the way there. She ate her breakfast and made small talk with me. I encouraged her to sleep, but she told me she was not sleepy.
We made it to the lab just before 7:30. Every time I was called back to have my blood drawn, my little girl stared intensely at everything that was going on. She looked intrigued at the glucose drink, but when the phlebotomist told her it was gross, she immediately lost interest. The drink, with double the sugar from last time, was so sweet it made my throat itch.
We hung out in the waiting room the entire time. I was told that I could leave this time if I wanted, but I knew we would not.
We watched the waiting room fill and empty several times. My toddler rotated through the activities and never once was unhappy or upset over anything. Several older patients tried to start a conversation with her, but she was quick to ignore them and inch closer to me.
After I drank the glucose, I felt normal the entire time we were there. I did not feel any negative effects of my blood sugar and did not feel hungry. I have been trying not to read too much into if it was a good thing or a bad thing that I had no negative side effects while we were in the lab.
When I was done, we had a quick lunch and I felt very shaky and light headed so we sat in the car for five minutes until I felt safe driving. As we drove home, I was extremely tired and was even more happy that my toddler was in an agreeable mood.
I am planning on calling my clinic tomorrow afternoon to see what the results of the test are. I am assuming and hoping that the test comes back negative for gestational diabetes. The first test was not completed in favorable circumstances so I hope it was just a fluke. We will see tomorrow!
Update: The following day, I was too anxious to wait until the afternoon to call. Instead, I made the call shortly after their office opened in the morning. The sweet nurse took quite a while to look up my information. After she tried entering in my birthday a couple times and had me spell my last name over and over, she finally typed in my social. "I've talked to you dozens of times! I know you are a patient. I am not sure why I cannot look up your info." She gave me the disclosure that a doctor had not looked at the results, but she said she saw no yellow or red numbers. She said it looked like I passed with flying colors. When the results were uploaded to my patient portal, I was quick to examine the results for myself. None of my numbers were even close to the upper standard range. I am kicking myself for scheduling the one hour test when I was not ready for it, but am very thankful that I was able to check and make sure that the baby and I are both healthy.
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