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.