This morning I had my 32 week visit. Technically I don’t turn 32 weeks until tomorrow but since we’ll be in Hawaii all next week they let me come in a day early 🙂
This time around I did NOT stress about drinking a ton of water…after my accident incident last time I decided to take the water instructions a little less literally. I only drank 16 oz instead of 32. I still had to pee, but was comfortable and the ultrasound tech said my bladder was plenty full!
Zach and Kye both came with me to the appointment and we got to go to this really awesome room. It was HUGE. A lady who I hadn’t ever met before did the ultrasound and she was very nice. At this far along I didn’t expect any decent pictures, but they are pretty good!
He or she kept opening that mouth for us over and over!
You can kinda see the hands here
facing us, you can tell the eye is open!
facing forward with lips open
We weren’t overly nervous about the whole cleft lip thing but did ask her about it just to make sure that everything is fine. We got MEGA lucky because Blitzen happened to move in a way where we could really see the lips and nose!!! It was obvious, even to me, that everything was normal and perfect. The ultrasound tech just confirmed it when we asked!
some big lips on this kid 😉
We looked at all the vital organs and they all looked good. All the measurements looked great. Even saw some fuzz hair! She avoided the gender specific area but we were still able to see the legs and feet. It was so comforting to see that everything is perfect!!!
Kye did pretty well for the appointment. He wanted to sit with me again (like he did during the 4D ultrasound) and was very loving again as well. I think the whole thing kinda makes him nervous. The tech lady was great with him and had him take a turn on the table too! She let him see his heart and hear the beat which he enjoyed 🙂 It was sweet of her to make him feel special.
After the ultrasound, and hearing that everything was fine, Zach went ahead and left with Kye so I could focus during the rest of the appointment. This was my first one without Stacy (she had her sweet baby girl on Monday!) and I saw Teresa Johnson. She let me come back to her office which I really liked. So much more comfortable than those exam rooms! Right away she told me that my blood pressure looks great, as does my weight gain. She said that Blitzen is weighing 4lb 10 oz, which is an entire pound more than the average weight for this age!!! He or she is in the 76th percentile for size and she asked me how big Kye was when he was born. I told her he was 7lb 6 oz and born a week early, she said I need to expect a bigger baby this time around (which I already have been!). The heart rate was 132, so low!!! Healthy, just lower than I’m used to. Also Blitzen is head-down so hopefully it’ll stay that way!
She told me that my blood type is O+ which I’ve never known before! Good random knowledge right? 😉 Teresa also asked if I’ve signed my epidural paper work yet so I told her that I wasn’t planning to sign it as I have a birth plan in place. I am glad I printed it out this morning to take with me as she asked to look it over. Right off the bat she said I should bring a birthing ball with me as she’ll totally let me use that (score), she said I can stay at home for as long as I can tolerate it as long as when my water breaks it’s clear and I’m feeling movement. She also said she would not do an episiotomy unless it was absolutely necessary. It was nice to feel like she’s completely on board with everything! She also said she’ll be available around my due date so she should be able to be there.
We talked about my yeast infection issues and she said one of the dr there recommends getting probiotcs from First America Drugs here in town then opening the capsule and mixing it with plain yogurt (no sugar) and inserting it with a syringe or applicator every day for 2 weeks. If I have another one during the rest of my pregnancy, I’ll probably try this method as it’s more natural than the prescription stuff!
I mentioned my lower back pain, which I knew was normal, and she said I can lay on the ground and put my feet on the couch and it should help. She also gave me some exercises to do and they are all the stuff we already do with the Bradley Method 😉 She said it’s best for me to sleep on my side (left is best, but either is better than the back) and that the pressure/braxton hicks I’m feeling are normal at this point in pregnancy. She said if I feel them though that I need to lay down right away! Oops!
We discussed Hawaii and she said I need to get up and walk at least every hour. Looks like I’ll be setting the alarm on my phone! She also said to take 81 mg of aspirin daily to help prevent my blood from thinning (just kidding…it’s actually to KEEP my blood thin!). Staying hydrated is THE key thing to avoiding swelling as is lots of rest. So I just need to keep doing that 🙂
Overall I was pleased with how the appointment went. Of course it was different since it wasn’t with Stacy and it was a little awkward for me meeting with someone where there isn’t already a bond there. But I’m SO thankful she’s fully on my side with the natural childbirth thing. My plan is to see Vicki at my next visit then Marie and choose after that visit who will be the best one for my situation and see them the rest of the way through. Max I only have 6 appointments left, I think it’ll be more like 4 but we’ll see 🙂
Here’s what went on during Kye’s 32 week visit – he was actually weighing right at about the same as Blitzen! Maybe Blitzen’s not so big after all! Big time different heart rates though!
It’s CRAZY to think that the next time we see our baby we will be HOLDING him or her in our arms! Can’t wait!!!
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Two things: I was thinking the same thing! That kid looks like he/she has big lips! LOL! And about the Braxton Hicks. I don't know if you got them last time, I think you told me you didn't, but my doctor told me (and I read) that you do the opposite of what you were doing when they started to get them to calm down. If you were sitting down and resting then you get up and walk a little and they'll stop, if you were up and about then sit down and rest until they stop. I found that it worked, I had BH from my second trimester on and they were annoying! Can't wait to see pics of that baby (girl) !!! 🙂
I'm not even gonna lie: that pic of the baby facing forward w/ his/her big ole lips open is FREAKY! HA! Seriously, if this baby is a boy, he's going to have the most voluptuous lips EVER for a boy 🙂 (so, as i've been saying, i'm thinking GIRL!)I'm so excited for you! Have a GREAT trip. Treat it like a 'babymoon' 🙂
All great news! I feel confident now that you will have a much better birthing experience than last time! It's awesome you know EXACTLY what you do and don't want. Most people have no clue, even after the first one. Theresa sounds great! As far as O blood type goes I think that means that you can give blood to ANYONE who needs it with any blood type? Don't quote me on that though. Sounds like everyone is on the same page and will do all they can to help make this experience pleasant for you and Blitzen! And don't forget your compression socks for Hawaii! You lucky dog, you!