This morning started the first of my weekly check-ups with Stacy. It’s getting THAT close now! They weighed me and now my scale and home and the one at the doctors agree…I’ve gained 31 pounds (that’s 35 to lose so I can lose an extra 4 lbs I had gained before getting pregnant). 31! I guess Zach is right that my stomach grows bigger everyday (tummy pictures to come tomorrow). I reeeeaaaalllllyy wish there was a way for me to not gain anymore as I’ve gained just the right amount at this point, but with four weeks left I’m pretty sure I’ll most likely hit the 40 lb marker 🙁 dang…but what can I really do about it?
Anyway, this was one of those check-ups where Zach being there was so, so important to me. It was my first internal exam but it wasn’t the internal I was expecting! She just used a cotton swab thing to gather some info that will reveal if I have some build-up of bacteria or something. She offered to check my cervix for any dilation but she said it’s pretty uncomfortable. I know I’m not in labor so why check? We’ll start checking when it gets closer! I just know this baby isn’t coming tomorrow or anything so why have them say “you’re 1 cm” when it doesn’t really matter at all.
The cotton swab thing was NOT comfortable. To me it was worse than a yearly exam just because things “down there” are so different now. Zach and I were planning on practicing the relaxing Bradley stuff during the exam but it was over so quickly that I didn’t even have much time to think about it! I did focus on keeping my legs limp (the initial reaction is to clinch up!) and Zach was so sweet, he played with my hair which really did help keep me calm. I think we’ll make an excellent delivery team 🙂
I, again, did not have many questions for Stacy. At this point what DON’T I know about pregnancy? We did discuss rules about making Bradley work with the hospital and she said Zach is allowed to sit behind me on the hospital bed! This is good news as so far we like that position best when it comes time to do some pushing 🙂
We talked a lot about breastfeeding and trying to figure everything out about that with pumping and all and she said next week I can bring in my new breast pump and she’ll help me put it all together (those things are mega confusing!).
The best part of the visit was when I asked her how the baby is positioned. She felt my stomach and said the hard part we feel at the top all the time is Clover’s butt!!! It looks like she/he will have Daddy’s butt for sure because that junk is huge and firm (very unlike Mommy’s). Even better is that she can feel Clover’s head! She even let Zach feel it and YES it is in the perfect position for delivery! Here’s a picture, but Clover is actually more on my right side than my left
We had to do my LAST blood work at this visit as well. I cannot stand needles. At all. It was awful! Luckily Zach was with me and even though my blood pumped sooo slow him being there helped me cope. She said my iron looks good but I have no clue what else they were checking for.
We go again next Wednesday. I have no clue what that exam involves but I’m sure she’ll probably start having to put her hand up there to check out how this baby is doing at some point!!! YUCK!
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Did you just say ZACH FELT THE HEAD?!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! OMG…. ya’ll are much much more brave than I thought I CAN’T WAIT to hear the birth story, please let Zach give his version too!! hahahaha
Getting checked isn’t bad at all. It is no more uncomfortable than any other time a person is down there! Personally, what you had done today is way worse than anything else. You are so close!
omg haha he didn’t put his hand in me and feel the head..he could feel it from the outside!!! hahahahaha no way would he EVER do that! haha it totally reads like he did though!
o jeez…. I was like. dang they really are getting into this, I wonder if Zach will try to catch the baby?? hahaha