"Unplugged"

****WARNING******************************
I feel obligated to give the TMI warning...
continue at your own risk.......
********************************************
So I am still progressing... how do I know?

Well, tonight I lost my mucus plug. Interesting to say the least when you weren't expecting it. I was still having some bleeding from Monday's (wait that was just yesterday) exam of the cervix. That's also weird since you spend your whole pregnancy knowing you shouldn't see any blood.

I should have known something was up. The last few times I went to the restroom last night were different down there and then...SURPRISE, what the hell is this huge goober?

I didn't know a lot about mucus plugs so after telling Clay what had just transpired, it was time to consult Dr. Google. He wondered what it meant. All I could say at first was that it meant my body was progressing and continuing to prepare for the big show.

According to numerous sites (and everything on the internet is true, right?) you shouldn't be worried about losing the plug as long as you are 36 weeks gestation. Well, I was 35 weeks and 6 days and like 21 hours (since it was like 9pm) which is close enough for me. The articles also mention that labor is not imminent immediately but it is definitely LOOMING. The time estimates, since there is no EXACT science about when you will go into labor, say labor is usually within 1 to 2 weeks. (Here's hoping for the within 1 week mark.) I did also ask a few friends (to remain nameless for their protection) about their pregnancies and mucus plugs. One didn't recall losing hers (which Dr. Google said is actually common since you can lose it slowly over a few days instead of one big goober) and the other two both lost theirs within ONE week of deliver. ONE week people! OMG! So it appears Little Bean isn't going to be staying in utero until mid to late Jan. I'm expecting a Dec baby or a very early Jan one. Good thing our bag for the hospital is packed and ready and the car seat is in the car. Now I just have to prepare Clay for an "early arrival" and comfort and convince him that everything will be okay if Little Bean comes early. Babies come when babies come and you can't control it.

Just a little lesson about the mucus plug that I found interesting...the mucus accumulated early in pregnancy and has been a beneficial protective barrier against infection between the outside world and Little Bean. The plug is lost as the cervix dilates and effaces (thins) and the plug is no longer large enough to remain in place. Therefore, I bet I'm more than 2cm or 50% effaced now ;o)

On a completely different note, I was talking to Mel about it (sorry you don't remain nameless Mel). She made a funny comment. What feels like a long time ago, I wrote this post about synced up cycles. Well yesterday Melissa had surgery on her nose and nasal cavities to eliminate built up mucus from her sinuses. She put two and two together and said we were synced again. We were now both mucus free... ha! Too funny Mel!!!

Now the waiting game and the anxious nervousness about Little Bean's pending arrival is just enhanced. I can't wait to hold my baby and see his/her sweet little face.

36 week appointment

Today we were scheduled for our 36 week appointment. We are actually only 35 weeks and 5 days, but my Dr. is only working today and only a half day, so she was only seeing prenatal patients. Then she isn't working again until around New Year's Eve (when we go again for our 37 week appt. ) However when I got to the parking lot, my cell phone rang and it was the Dr.'s office. They said she had just left for the hospital. She had 3 ladies in labor and they needed to reschedule or I could see a different Dr.

Well being 36 weeks and wanting to get "checked" for the first time as well as get the Strep B thing out of the way, I agreed to see a different Dr. My 11am appt turned into a 1220 appt. The most waiting I had to do yet. We got called back to the room and they made it seem like the other Dr. wouldn't be doing any checking or the test. I was disappointed. But as we waited longer, the nurse came in again and said "Good news, Dr. Dutta is on her way back from the hospital." So, I was given my sheet and I prepared for the appt.

So here are the normal basic stats:
Weight: 208.6 lb
BloodPressure: 112/70
Baby's heartrate: 156bpm
Tummy measurement: 37 cm (measuring ahead again.)

New and EXCITING stats:
2cm dilated
50% effaced
Baby is still head down

What? I was totally expecting to be 0cm dilated and closed up like Fort Knox. However, I must remind myself you can stay at 2cms for WEEKS so it doesn't necessarily mean anything, but it was pleasant news that my body is ready to prepare for labor as we face the weeks ahead.

We did discuss how my fingers are very swollen today, but everything is okay as long as my blood pressure is in check. We also discussed with her some of our "birthing" plan ideas and got her opinion on a few things like the tub, birthing ball, etc. We talked about Pitosin and epidurals. I want to try to go as long as possible without the epidural but I am keeping things very open.

Clay isn't as excited about our progress because he thinks the baby should stay in there until Jan 20 to make sure it's "done cooking" and completely healthy. I keep telling him that the baby will come when the baby is ready to come and things will be fine.

We have class tonight and tomorrow so we are busy this week. With Christmas at the end of the week, next week and our 37 week appointment will be here soon. We take our 36 week pictures this Wed so stay tuned for those too ;o)

Crazy?

Clay told me a funny story the other night on the way home from our childbirth class. His buddy Bill was warning him that I may stay "crazy pregnant" for a few weeks after baby but that I should return to "normal" pre-pregnancy demeanor a few weeks after getting home. Clay added to this that I really haven't gone "crazy pregnant." I'm just my same old self and enjoying every minute of this experience, even the leg cramps and the lower back pain. So I have to ask, does that mean I started out crazy and Clay is just used to it ;o) Just curious.
I was talking about this at work with Liz and another co-worker Justin and we all had a good laugh because I really haven't ever been "normal" so maybe the "crazy" isn't so bad. Justin and I continued our conversation too to say that when you've gone through any wait with infertility that the "crazy" from that experience makes pregnancy look like a cake walk. (Justin and his wife also went to a reproductive endocrinologist for fertility help. His wife has PCOS too, but now they have wonderful twins. ) So I guess my 15+ month wait and walk through infertility to get pregnant helped with my crazy perspective and I'm loving every minute of this blessing.

Poll results and dreaming....

The poll is now closed and I have removed it. Out of the 21 total votes, things were just about split. We had 11 votes for a girl and 10 votes for a boy. I have had several people tell me today that we are having a girl but those people don't read the blog and didn't vote on the poll. I don't remember if Clay and I ever voted or not but it would be about the same. He still votes that we are having a girl. I'm usually unsure but the other night I had my first dream. We had a boy and I delivered it myself at home with Clay sleeping. He was really cute but he wouldn't cry which was weird. Guess we will have to wait a few more weeks to see what baby really is... boy or girl, we want healthy and we will be very happy.

T minus three things....

I wanted to be done with the nursery by Christmas in case Little Bean made his/her arrival early. I am now able to cross that off of my list. Our baby's room is done except for 3 things...
1. The lamp (that I MAY be getting for Christmas *WINK*)
2. The baby's name in letters above the crib (This can't be done yet of course.)
and most importantly....
3. THE BABY ;o) to enjoy the room.

Here are some pictures....

That is the overall picture standing from the door. And here are each of the different walls/areas...



Even the closet is ready for now... everything is pre-washed and put away in the dresser and the closet and I got some storage for the towels, bedding, and blankets in the closet.

One of the sweetest things in the nursery was one of Little Bean's first Christmas presents. It is from his/her Aunt Val, Uncle Scott and cousin Sophia. We got it when we were in TX. Aunt Val made it and it matches the nursery wonderfully. We will cherish it for many years.

So there you have it... we are decorated and ready for Little Bean's arrival, well at least his/her room is ;o)

35 weeks

So Clay asked me last night, "Do you know what tomorrow is?"
I replied, "35 weeks or less than 35 days left until our due date."

Apparently that wasn't the right answer. His answer was that we could count the remaining weeks on ONE hand as he held out his hand with all 5 fingers extended. Isn't that pretty much what I had said too, but in a different way? Well anyways, yes today marks week 35 and we are moving right along. We have 5 weeks to make it to full term and I'm sure they will just fly by like the last 35 have.

For all of our baby updates.....
On BC this week it compares the little one to honeydew melon tipping the scales at 5.25 lbs. Little Bean should be about 18 inches long and just continues to grow. However, they indicate that its getting "snug" in the womb with not much room to move about. There is also more BABY in there than fluid at this point. Little Bean's kidneys are fully developed now and his/her liver is starting to process some waste products. most of the basic physical development is complete and we will spend the next few weeks in womb putting on the weight. (Boy I think they say that every week. I'm sure I'll be putting on the weight these next weeks too. HA!)

As far as things on my end, they are still good. I take Tums at night for the extra calcium and I think it is helping a bit for the leg cramps. I have had a couple really good sleeping nights this week and have GREATLY enjoyed those. It is getting harder to do stairs and keep my breath and tying my shoes feels like a chore some mornings. I did stop wearing my wedding ring as my water retention has increased and it was becoming difficult to take it off during the day. We have been taking our classes at the hospital and found we are nerds. We like all the information, especially Clay. I think its just cause he doesn't have a lot of past experience with babies and wants to feel as confident and educated as he can going in. Most of my stuff, I have learned from friends and my SIL but its a good recap of all the information out there.

We go back to the doctor on Monday for our 36 week appointment and I am very excited. NO I am NOT excited about the rectal culture for Group B Strep but because I know its coming I won't be overly surprised. I am excited that we will actually be getting checked for the first time to see if I'm dilating or effacing yet. I don't expect much but it will be a new experience.

Given I want to be mostly ready by the 36 week mark, we are hoping to do a few baby things this weekend. We have a shelf to hang in the nursery, some laundry to pre-wash, a carseat to install, and a hospital bag to start packing.

We are getting so close now. I am getting really anxious and excited to meet our little one and find out if Little Bean is a he or a she. The poll ends today and the votes are really almost tied. Clay still thinks we are having a girl and I just go back and forth. Time will only tell.....