38 Weeks Pregnant: Nesting Instinct, Appointments, My First Ultrasound in 16 Weeks, Non-Stress Test, and the End of an Era

I'm in full on nesting mode around here.

The week has been a blur as I've continued to feel driven to get things done, prepare for the baby's arrival, organize the house, stock up on food and household supplies, and finish packing the hospital bag, a bag for the baby, and food to take (I've been told the rations for mothers are meager and they don't even feed the fathers).

Stock up on tea, stock up on groceries, prepare for the siege.

My husband looked on in confusion at my flurry of activity and told me that I should rest. Well, read on and you'll find out that maybe my body just knew.

Pancake Sunday again. I'm being spoiled by my husband.

I had family over for tea a couple of times, I went for a massage, I went to acupuncture, I had my teeth cleaned at the dentist, I had a chiropractic adjustment, and I stocked up on stuff. My sister gave me a bunch of stuff for the baby from her place and found a crib and a change table for me online, which helped to calm my worries that we did not have what we needed. And I generally freaked out trying to picture what each room, time of day, and activity would be like with something as foreign to me as a baby around. While I had done and acquired basically everything I thought that I needed, my task list kept growing even as I checked things off.

My bed at home has a complicated configuration of pillows, well so does the acupuncture bed.

At acupuncture with the skinless man on the wall.

Waiting for my appointment with Dr. Down.

On Thursday, I was scheduled for an ultrasound and non-stress test at Victoria General Hospital. I was nervous, picturing each worst case scenario, including the fetus being in a breech position, the fetus being in distress, there being something wrong with me, and the day ending with an emergency C-section or induction and me becoming a parent in an expedited fashion.

The weather has been gorgeous in Victoria.

The ultrasound happened first. The fetus is head down. That is a relief because they apparently can't change position at this late stage, so it's stuck there.

The technician pointed to the ultrasound image of the fetus' head with eye sockets staring straight up, its spine to mine (this was the only pictures the technician could really get because of the position of the fetus and you can't take your own pictures there, so I have none). They call this head up position of a fetus the "stargazer."

The two black dots in the middle are the eye sockets, gazing upwards in the :"stargazer" position.

 The name of the position reminds me of that Oscar Wilde quote:

“We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars.” ― Oscar Wilde, Lady Windermere's Fan.

After the ultrasound, it was back to the waiting room to await the non-stress test.

Waiting for my non-stress test at the hospital.

The non-stress test consisted of lying on a bed, propped up for 20 minutes with two different monitors pressed to my belly with elastic straps holding them on. I was given a button to press if I felt fetal movement. I also had an arm band for blood pressure monitoring on. My blood pressure was taken twice from my right arm and found to be on the high side, very strange for me (I usually have low blood pressure. My feet were really swollen that day too. When my blood pressure was taken from the left arm, it was much lower. My pulse was around 60 and the technician asked if I was "one of those yoga people." Nope.

The fetus had several rapid accelerations in heart rate during the monitoring, which is what they want to see. I kept having contractions as I had while getting the ultrasound and the technician could see these in the monitoring strip. She said that the ultrasound was normal. The only thing slightly off was that there was a bit of a high amount of amniotic fluid. This can vary every 24 hours though. The technician said that if my membranes were to rupture at home, I should immediately lie down on my left side and get to the hospital ASAP to reduce the risk of the fetus moving into a bad position in the excess amniotic fluid (such as sticking an arm over its head or getting the cord above its head. She said that they would dip my urine sample, consult with the obstetrician, and call my maternity doctor, Dr. Down, to see what he wants me to do next. Then they would come find us in the waiting room to tell us when my follow up appointment might be, either with an obstetrician or for another non-stress test or both or maybe neither since we were getting so close to the end (38 weeks the next day).

We sat in the waiting room again. We were an hour and a half past the appointment start time by this point. We weren't expecting to be at the hospital so long, but we were also glad it didn't seem that there was an immediate risk of us being held there and me induced. We want the rest of the pregnancy to prepare!

Past noon, about two hours after we arrived, we were told to go get more parking because we'd be there about 1-1.5 hours because I'd be seeing an obstetrician and having a consultation with an anesthesiologist (I have severe psuedocholinesterase deficiency so my maternity doctor requested that I have a consult in case any interventions are required).

We bolted a quick Tim Horton's lunch after we bought more parking and returned to the ward as the technician called me on the phone wondering where I was- gee I wasn’t expecting to spend hours at the hospital in a ward where I can’t eat or drink anything.

We were immediately shown into an exam room. The obstetrician joined us. She said there was only slightly elevated amniotic fluid, but with my blood pressure going elevated there were concerns about waiting for my due date. She said that the fetus is measuring at 7 pounds 6 ounces right now. All a fetus does from weeks 38 onward is put on fat, but they're fully functional by that point. She performed a pelvic exam (a particularly unenjoyable experience when you're already having contractions) and said that my cervix is 3 cm dilated already and the head of the fetus is engaged in the pelvis. She opined that since I'm 38 weeks pregnant the next day, the benefits to waiting were outweighed by the potential risks such as the fetus changing position when my membranes rupture to preeclampsia in me with associated risks like seizure, placental abruption, and potentially death. She said I could wait and see and it might be fine, but I was in a perfect position to be induced now and have the baby this weekend. Either way I should be rechecked  with another non-stress test on Sunday or Monday if I have not been induced yet. I asked her what she'd do if she were me. She is after all the expert. She said she'd be induced.  So that's what we're going to be doing. Well, that is if it doesn't happen naturally before then- the obstetrician did say this was a distinct possibility.

Next we waited for the anesthesiologist. Usually the muscle relaxants that I can't process aren't used anymore in surgery and anesthesia, but it's better that everyone is crystal clear about what I can't have (when I was given one of them during a surgery before my deficiency was known, I was out and unable to breathe on my own for about 12 hours instead of 2, thanks to ventilators though people like me won't die if this happens, but it's pretty scary for everyone that's awake and not particularly good to do).

We were still waiting a couple of hours later and asked a nurse if the anaesthesiologist would be seeing us that afternoon or not. We didn't want to be rude, we know they're very busy, but my feet were continuing to swell and we were both thirsty, hungry, tired, and stressed. She went to page him again. I was brought a ration of a slice of cheese and a tiny packet of digestive biscuits with a cup of apple juice. I really don’t know how they expect a pregnant woman or anyone for that matter to withstand almost six hours without anything to eat or drink. It seems unreasonable. I was grateful that we had had that five minute lunch earlier or I would have been in full on apex predator mode, roaming the ward in search of prey.

The anesthesiologist appeared about 20-30 minutes later and reviewed what might happen if induction happened and I needed pain relief, including the pros and cons of narcotics versus an epidural and what was required if a C-section were to occur. We of course reviewed my pseudocholinesterase deficiency and he said that it was a very good thing for him to know because some drugs that cause me problems are used in C-sections (they usually aren’t used in normal anesthesia anymore). He said that he didn’t need any blood work and that we could leave and the hospital would call us when we were on the list for induction.

My husband and I left the hospital about six hours after we had arrived there and went home in a full on state of shock and panic. There’s nothing like finding out that a major deadline has just been moved up by two weeks or more and there’s nothing that you can do about it. I continued to have cramps and feel nauseous and kind of dizzy.

We decided to go out for dinner at Sen Zushi for one last hurrah. I continued to feel signs of early labour as I devoured the delicious Japanese meal. We returned home and went to bed feeling uncertain about whether I would beat the hospital and go into active labour that night. In any event our hospital bags, food, and the car seat were all in the car and ready to go.

Out to dinner at Sen Zushi. We need to stock up, because we won't be going out for a while . . .

I was very uncomfortable last night, having to go to the washroom every hour, being very thirsty, having cramps, and nausea. In the morning, I didn’t feel as crampy- well that was until I got up and about, then it hit again and it felt worse than the day before. I feel gastric distress, headaches, and dizziness. I’ve still been able to carry on with tidying the house, errands, and generally fretting though, so I guess I’m not in active labour yet.

Dr. Down, my maternity doctor, called me personally today to go over me being on the induction list, what happens if I get bumped, the follow up non-stress test if I am bumped, and what happens if I go into active labour before induction. I appreciate his excellent care, kind manner, and vast knowledge.

My husband and I just keep wondering whether my body will do it itself or whether I’ll be on a Pitocin (artificial oxytocin) IV drip this weekend and having my water broken being induced into labour or whether we’ll be bumped from the list and will not have the induction happen until next week. In any event, it looks like our pregnancy journey is ending and our journey as new parents is about to begin.

38 weeks pregnant.

37 Weeks Pregnant: Acupuncture, Massage Therapy, Maternity Doctor, Lab Tests, and Reaching Full Term

We're enjoying the sunsets at our new place.

Today, I reached 37 weeks pregnant. Of course, all pregnancy sources seem to contradict each other or vary at least slightly, but many seem to agree that once a woman reaches 37 weeks pregnant, the fetus is considered full term (but full term can range up to 42 weeks, after all not all babies have a day planner). I never thought I’d be fortunate enough to reach full term or anywhere near to full term or even get pregnant again after my miscarriage, and having to rely on IVF, so today is huge for my husband and me.

The spring produces such beautiful flowers like peonies.

Last weekend, my husband and I went looking for more “stuff” for the fetus. The mind-boggling array of baby carriers (and cribs, changing tables, strollers, car seats, etc.) on the market is enough to make a new parent’s head spin. And just when you think you’ve thought of everything, the salespeople will throw other suggestions at you. For instance, if you buy an orthodontic soother, then there’s the soother clip to think about . . ..

Baby carriers seem to have an astounding number of buckles and straps.

Monday, I had acupuncture. Lying on my side for the almost one hour of the appointment, with needles sticking out of my lower legs, arms, head, and back, proved to be uncomfortable as my back is getting more and more done with this whole strain and my ribs feel out because something is burrowing into them. At acupuncture at this point they have started to “prepare” my body for labour which involves targeting some specific points that relate to the uterus and cervix.

Tuesday, I went for massage therapy again. My hobbling walk seems to grow a little worse each week as my ligaments stiffen and my body protests a little more loudly at the added weight and off balance nature of my current form. Even rolling over on the massage table from one side to the other is more challenging now. My back, legs, and pelvis are all stiff and sore, but I’m just grateful that I’m pregnant and that the pregnancy so far is going well according to all of my doctors.

Wednesday, I saw my maternity doctor again. I will be seeing him weekly from now on. He says that my blood pressure is good. My fundal height measurement was normalish to slightly big, but he thinks that it’s because the baby has lodged itself into a very high position in my abdomen and is sticking out quite a ways. He said that it looks like the fetus is trying to stand up inside of me. No wonder I’m uncomfortable. The fetal heartbeat was normal. Then the fun stuff happened- not only did I have to have a Strep B swab done (this is done at 35-36 weeks pregnant to determine of the pregnant woman has Strep B and will need an antibiotic shot at the time of childbirth- results are still pending), but I also had to have an exam of my cervix to check that everything is as it should be. He also tried to determine the position of the fetus. He thought that it felt like it was head down, as it should be, but was somewhat disturbed by how high up the fetus seemed to be and how much it was sticking out and did not want to be wrong, therefore, he ordered an ultrasound and non-stress test to make sure that everything looks good and that the fetus is not in breech, that the amniotic fluid is at a good level, etc.. I will be going to this ultrasound next Thursday at the Victoria General Hospital. I have not had an ultrasound since 22 weeks, so it should be quite different this time around I would imagine.

I'm getting sick of giving urine samples (before every maternity doctor appointment).

Waiting for my examination with the maternity doctor.

Today, I had a big batch of blood tests for my thyroid, kidney function, and my lithium level. Everything looks fine. My next tests for these levels will be post birth (and my medications will be changed at that point to prevent toxicity from the lithium and going hyperthyroid with too much thyroid medication post birth).

Waiting for more blood tests.

I spent the rest of the week organizing the house, gardening, preparing hospital bags in case I go into labour early, meeting with a friend for tea, and for lunch with my father. My lovely mother-in-law sent us a box full of receiving blankets and burp cloths that she made of cozy flannelette and some with terry cloth with beautiful stitching, pretty colours, and patterns. She also found more light receiving blankets for us. My husband held up the burp cloths with bewilderment and intimated that he had had no idea what his mother and I had been speaking about on the phone the other day when we were talking about this box of cloth, but now he understood their purpose. It's going to be a steep learning curve for both of us. My husband and I have been chipping away at preparing a room for the thing, but it’s somewhat difficult when different items are showing up from various corners of the world (that we ordered online) and my husband’s work schedule is so demanding (and because we don’t know what we’re doing). It is slowly coming together though.

Other than the sore ligaments, muscles, and skeleton, I’ve been experiencing hiccups of a dyspeptic nature, nausea at times, thirst, fatigue, headaches, rib discomfort and breathlessness, and intermittent Braxton Hicks contractions. It seems that all of this is normal for this stage of pregnancy. The fetus is so strong at this point, I find some of its motions quite startling at times. My husband is amazed by its activities and how big it has become and says that he’s just ready to bring this to a close and meet it. I disagree! Not only would I rather the fetus come closer to its due date for its health reasons, but also, I’m not ready. I still have many lists of things to do, things to buy, and if I’m honest, I’m petrified about whether or not I’ll perform adequately as a parent. Plus, it’s easy for my husband to say that we should just get this show on the road, he doesn’t have to physically go through childbirth . . ..

37 weeks pregnant.