In the Womb: Carm’s Pregnancy Blog

I gained one pound since last week.  Today, my obgyn checked again my cervix if I was already dilating.  Unfortunately, I wasn’t.  Since Im on full term and ready to go anytime, she asked me again if I would like to go for induction of labor this week.  Me and my husband had talked about this and we already set a date, that is on the 25th–my mom-in-law’s bdate.  Learning that its saturday, my obgyn told me its not possible.  How come I asked of course but she told nothing except that she don’t usually deliver baby on Saturday!  I could only choose between 23rd or 24th.  I asked for several times an acceptable reason why we couldn’t do it on the 25th but I just ended nodding to her foolish behavior and explanations to top it off. 

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As the medical assistant took my weight, I grasped for my breath and find out if I gained or not.  Thankfully, my weight still the same and my blood pressure being normal.  The doctor checked my cervix again, found it’s soft, not yet dilated at this time but the baby’s head already engaged and ready to go anytime soon.  Normally, second delivery of babies tend to be different from the first, labor would follow the contractions and cervix dilates fast.  But if for any reason my cervix already dilated next week, my doctor might asked me to go through induction of labor again.  This weekend, she’ll be out of town for conference and will be back on Monday.  Im thinking not to exhaust myself this weekend so I could have the baby next week just in time for thanksgiving.  I am still very excited to see my baby’s face and still praying for her good health. I know that my sleepless nights are getting nearer but one happy thought of having another baby fills my gladness.  I am thankful and overwhelmed with everything.  I’ll see my doctor next monday.

My baby has moved downward in preparation for birth.  I also could feel the changes and it hurts when it moves downward.  The medical assistant and my doctor also took note that it dropped right and the fundal height showed it as well.  I gained two more pounds after a week.  My blood pressure is okay and the result for my Cervical Culture last week was negative.  My doctor checked my cervix this morning and she said that I’ll have an easy labor ahead.  Since this is my second child, my cervix won’t open not until I started laboring which is quite different from the first.  The good news is that my cervix is already soft, ready to give way on my next baby.   They already gave me a copy of my prenatal records to keep on my hospital bag, so anytime that I go labor, I have it handy.

I’ll see her again next week, Monday.  Im getting closer!  Nervous and Excited all at the same time! Please pray for me.  My next entry about baby names.

Early this morning, I went to my eleventh prenatal visit.  As usual, the day starts with few drops of urine sample, weight and blood pressure check.  My weight increased by two pounds which add up to my previous overall weight of 20 pounds since I started the pregnancy.  I might have another 8 pounder baby again like I had on my first or at least 7 which is still pretty big.  I wish it would stop gaining but what can I do, she is really big like her mom and dad, probably tall too.

My ob-gyn did a cervical culture at me this morning.  Its done by inserting an instrument inside the vagina and take sample of cells and mucus from the cervix to check for evidence of sexually transmitted diseases (such as gonorrhea, chlamydia, bacterial vaginosis, yeast, mycoplasma, etc.), its a standard procedure during this time for pregnant women before giving birth.  Then she felt the baby’s head down on the lower right side, which indicates a good and easy labor as she mentioned to me.  That also means that the baby is geared towards the right position and ready to come out anytime next month.  Im really praying and hoping this time it’ll be easier and effortless labor and delivery than the previous, a fantasy any woman would wander.  Next week, she’ll check on my cervix and see if its already started dilating.  She told me that anytime, I could give birth, she has a patient who gave birth at 38 weeks.  Thats barely a couple of weeks from now and she told me I could deliver it anytime between 36 and 38 until 40, and its all fine.  She won’t keep the baby after the due date or else I’ll end up having 10 pounder baby which means, if I won’t go into labor around those dates, I’ll end up again in an Induced labor which I really hate.   

Whatelse do I wish and expect after the delivery, here are things I really ponder these days, my wishful thinking:

• A healthy bouncing baby, girl or boy

• Reasonable weight gain that I can lose easily and sensibly

• Baby sleeping through the night the day I come home from the hospital, lol

• Friends and family assistance during the first few weeks at home, I wish my parents are here  

• Lactation/Feeding specialists when Im having hard time during the first few weeks of my breastfeeding and bottle feeding sessions, I know doulas are expensive but I wish I have one.

• The patience, love and guidance on how to properly take care, comfort and console my new born baby.

• To constantly remind me of realizing that time spend with my children should be of quality and that the love is the most important thing in my kids need.

• Stay happy and have peace of mind.

I didn’t gain for the past two weeks.  From the date of conception until present, I only gained 20 pounds.  I only have few weeks left and Im ready to deliver the baby anytime.  Im scared and excited all at the same time.  I finished my preregistration at the hospital where I delivered my first baby.  When I go into labor at midnight, I have to go straight to ER and any other hours beside that, I should go straight inside the hospital main entrance. 

My doctor got the result for my Iron blood tests and it was okay.  Heartbeat sounds okay and the fundal height seems fine.  She asked me again whats the gender of the baby.  I told her the sonographer saw its a girl but we are confused since it was too early at that time to tell.  I told her my hubs wants to know and confirm the gender so she told me, alright, lets tell the insurance that I wanna know if the baby’s size is right for its age and so the request form was issued.  Im very excited to have the second abdominal ultrasound this coming thursday.  Finally, I’ll be able to tell which color is right for my lil angel.  I’ll be back to see my ob-gyn in one week coz Im very close to delivering the baby. 

Oh, by the way, did I mention that the doctor was so late that I waited for almost one hour, Im wondering if its connected to her attitude this morning, I really wasn’t expecting her to grant me the second ultrasound.  Anyways, I feel we really deserve anything that we’ll keep me and the baby healthy and happy:)

I gained two pounds since my last visit with my Ob-gyn.  I am starting to get back in shape and have rested well for the past couple of weeks.  Im continue monitoring the baby’s kick every night and as far as hearbeat is concerned, its totally stable and normal.  My doctor has given me two option of which hospital to choose from, one where I delivered my first baby and the second one which is smaller and quieter than the first one.  I also have to do blood works to check on my Iron level.  I should have the result in about two weeks to see her as well. 

As my usual visits start with a cup of urine sample, my weight indicates that I didn’t gain for three weeks.  Its been less than a week since we started sleeping at our new house and our body and mind still adjusting with every routine and schedules of every day busy lives.  Retaining my body weight feels unusual but as my doctor measured the fundal height in my tummy, I was relieved to find out that the size is just perfectly normal.  She reiterated my need to slow things down as my baby gets tired too just like my body. 

My usual visit  with my ob-gyn starts with taking some urine sample to test my blood sugar.  After that is checking my weight which unfortunately increased by five pounds in just few weeks.  Then my blood pressure check which is okay and then wait for few minutes until the doctor arrived in a small room.  She would ask me how Im doing, ask me to lie down on the chair and check the fundal height, heartbeat of the baby.  Its been the routine for the past couple of weeks, soon, I’ll be seeing her once in a week.

I asked her if I could do another Ultrasound to check the gender of the baby for the second time just to be sure but she refused.  She said that if I wanna do it, then the insurance won’t cover it since there’s no big fuss in doing so.  Gender checking is not permissible for the insurance to cover the routine.  She also added that ultrasound doesn’t do any good with the baby as far as research is concerned.  She’s the doctor and she can obviously do miracles on my lab tests but she refused.  Now we’re still thinking if we’ll pay it out from our pocket which she mentioned is roughly 150 bucks, if we’re practical enough, we could wait for a couple of months since my due date is nearing.  Its very sad to think that others could have it thru the insurance coverage while we can’t do it just because my doctor doesn’t think its necessary.  Anyway, we’ll see.  But I am so disappointed with her attitude, and you won’t believe it, Im already paid for my co-pay for the doctor’s fee even if Im still a couple of months away from giving birth.  Thats how she secures her money practically with all her patients.  I’ve heard that she’s having hard time to get paid from the insurances and patients, not with me, please! 

Going to my endocrinologist is like going to hell, annoying and incovenient.  Having to drive all the way to her clinic takes me twice as much as the regular time permits.  Why?  I always got lost along the way.  Whewwww!  How funny it is to know that this was my third visit to her and still I got lost.  How come?  Im either pulling out of the free way one exit before my turn or I went far ahead.  Stu*id I know!  Thats why I hate that place!  The only good thing that inspires me to go visit my doctor is that one Michael’s store is just around the corner, its bigger, lots of sale going on and relaxing for me to visit and window shop.  I love to shop for arts and crafts but hardly manage to do it, anyways, it still relaxing.

My endocrinologist still recommend that I should avoid taking any thyroid pills at the moment since I look okay with her and my test results is better than my first visit to her. I also had blood test done and have to go back in October.

I gained three pounds since my last visit to my ob-gyn.  That was barely a month ago.  My doctor told me its fine, as long as she haven’t started screaming at me yet, hehehe.  She must be strict.  I could see how hardworking and dedicated she is in her chosen career. I never had a doubt that I have chosen at least a good doctor. 

My blood pressure is fine, the medical assistant told me, its 110/60.  Its been two days that I had trouble sleeping and thanks God it didn’t affect me at all.  Two nights ago, we were awakened by sudden car alarm in the neigborhood and last night, endless chat with my hubs and daughter, fun and laughter.  Simply the best days of my life– our togetherness.

During my visit, my doctor checked my baby’s heartbeat.  Its overwhelming for its clear sound and regular rhythm.  It looks like everything is fine with her/him inside my womb.  The hard flutter and jerky movements are all but normal for a second pregnancy.  Aches at my right side abdomen is also normal since my belly is beginning to stretch a lil bit larger as my baby also begins to grow bigger. She took my belly’s fundal height.  It is the round upper portion of the uterus, and the height of the fundus refers to the distance between fundus and my pelvic bone.  This might be a routine and accurate way of measuring the growth of my baby.  I can do swimming as form of exercise. I also asked if I could do hair treatment and she said that other doctors would say its okay but with her, she believes hair is also part of the skin and she dont recommend it.  Facial she said is okay so I’ll go ahead and pamper myself one day.  I still feel good about myself.  I haven’t changed a lot except for big belly, few pounds and longer dried hair(awww).  I’ll see her again at the end of the month.