Today I am 37 weeks and considered FULL TERM!!! The doctors told me this week that it should now be safe for Caroline to come whenever she wants. They wanted her to stay put until now to make sure her lungs are fully developed (one of the last things to develop fully). This is particularly important because of her heart defect. The cardiologist specifically said, "The heart we can deal with, heart and lungs now that's another story." This waiting has been hard on us. We've had to balance our fears of loosing Caroline in utero to our fears of having her here too soon. Those fears coupled with normal holy crap I'm gonna have a kid fears were not a good combination. I actually hit my breaking point earlier this week. During weeks 35 and 36 I was crying at least once a day. Some nights crying myself to sleep. We are just so close and yet it feels so far away. I asked my doctor at my 35 week appointment if I could start coming in twice a week to help lower my anxiety. She has been offering extra appointments all pregnancy long and I finally took her up on the offer. I'm just worried I'm going to miss something. I ended up going three times this past week. On Tuesday I felt like Caroline wasn't moving around as much. They had warned me that this was going to happen but when you've been through what we've been through...less movement scares that crap out of you. She was moving but just less. I called the doctor and they had me come in to see my nurse practitioner (My doctor had the afternoon off). They were amazing. They reassured me that I did the right thing by calling. They were excited that everything looked normal. My doctor even stopped by on her way to Target to check on me! They were texting each other updates that I felt more movements and that the heartbeat looked great. Their care for us is amazing. We are so lucky to have such amazing doctors and nurses. I've been doing MUCH better since then.
Philip and I have been spending our last couple of weekends going on dates. We went to a museum last weekend and a nice dinner this weekend. We've also been giving the dog lots of loving because his life is about to change too! Oh man he has no idea. It should be interesting to see how he handles Caroline's arrival. We have been practicing self control, "baby", and "off" with him. I will update you as to how he handles the transition once she gets here.
This week (my doctor has approved this) my plan is to induce labor naturally. I have an appointment at the hospital for medical inducement early next week. I would however like her to come more natural. It is weird knowing ahead of time what day you will be delivering a baby. I just feels weird to plan something like this. Sooooooooo I'm going to attempt to walk this baby out! I've been avoiding tons of walking until now because I get cramps and fake contractions. Well bring them on! I want all those fake pains to become real labor pains. Zach is going really love having a stay at home mommy this week with how often he is going to get walked! I may have to make a lemon dessert too. Evidently in Charlottesville there is a cupcake place that has a lemon cupcake that some women swear induced labor. Well I'm not driving to Charlottesville but I am willing to eat some lemon dessert...ya know if I'm forced to eat dessert and all ;)
Please pray for patience for us during the next week and for a safe complication free delivery next week. It would be really really really really really really really nice to have an uncomplicated delivery after everything else we've been through.
Next week I will be holding my sweet baby girl. It doesn't seem real. Man life is going to change.
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| Happy St. Patrick's Day! |
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| 36 weeks |
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| 37 weeks |
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| Happy 4th Birthday Zach! |
Love,
Megan
I forgot to include that the doctors think that as of Thursday she weighs about 6 lbs. The doctor also commented that she has tons and tons of hair and little fat rolls have started. We could see the fat rolls on the ultrasound. They were adorable :)
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