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38 Weeks

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I had my 38 week appointment yesterday, meeting with Dr. Skrypzak, one of Dr. Williams colleagues at her practice. My weight gain over the course of this pregnancy is nearly identical to my pregnancy with Nathan at just over 30 pounds. Blood pressure was low, per usual and hearing baby's heartbeat, however briefly, is always the highlight of these visits. The doctor did estimate that Baby is about 7 pounds right now, as was Nathan when he was born at 38 weeks gestation. Baby is still moving regularly, though with much less room than before. As a result, those stretches seem to max out any extra space I can offer and are sometimes uncomfortable.

Like my own OB, Dr. Skrypzack didn't see a need to perform a cervical check. While these checks are common at this stage in pregnancy nationwide, recent opinion has shifted to argue that cervical checks don't accurately inform a patient or care provider about baby's potential arrival and often result in cramping, bleeding or other undesired complications for the expectant mother. I'm fine without that uncomfortableness!

I was given final reminders about our plans for Baby's arrival, scheduled for early morning on October 2nd. While we are fortunate to have an end date in mind, I can't help but feel a little twinge of disappointment each morning that Baby hasn't arrived yet. I imagine this impatient feeling is common. :)

In the last week, I have decided that it's best to avoid the front office as much as possible. We have many talented and dedicated secretaries who I truly count on to do my job and I'm thankful for them. But every trip to make copies or check my mail seems to include opinions about baby's position or how I'm walking or how tired I evidently look. One secretary seems to have some kind of radar set up and even if I'm nowhere near her door, she's suddenly behind me, making remarks on the fact that I'm still here or how big I am. I try to gently remind her that I wasn't working this late in pregnancy with Nathan so she didn't see me near the end, while reminding myself that I've gained an average amount of weight and I feel good about myself generally. I know they are all just excited for me and I appreciate their support and interest. It's just hard to feel like my own person around there right now. Oh well. At least one of the secretaries provides chocolate. I can put up with their opinions in the name of a morsel of chocolate, right? Only three more days of work...

Coming Up:

  • As mentioned in the previous update, I have a ladies brunch on Saturday to celebrate our newest addition, as well as recent or soon to be additions for other women from church.
  • My last day of work will be Tuesday, October 2nd (still no sub in place)
  • Baby's arrival on October 2nd! Crazy! In less than a week, we'll have another baby!

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