36-37? Week Appointment

During the little bouts of sleep I got to experience between Rocko’s crazy barking outside and my waking up to pee, I had a dream that I’d gone to the doctor and she (although my doctor’s a he) exclaimed while giving me a pelvic exam, “You’re at 2 centimeter’s dilated, Miss Yajaira!”

I sit up quickly (this confirmed that I was dreaming since there’s NO WAY I’d actually be able to get up that fast from a laying position in my current state) and say, “Oh my gosh! Will she stay in there till Sunday? Sunday’s my baby shower!”

The nurse looks at me sadly and says, “Oh no, Miss. I don’t think so!”

This was on my mind all morning up until my actual appointment at 9:15. I even told Mario and Mary about it.

After dropping Mario off at John’s workplace to pick up the Sentra (John’d borrowed it to get to work since it was freezing this morning) and then having some quick breakfast (Honey Bunches of Oats cereal) I left to my appointment. I forgot to change my shoes; I was wearing black spongey flip flops instead of changing into my black flats or socks and Adidas and my feet were frozen. Didn’t feel any better once I got to the office where it felt as cold inside as it was outside.

They called me in pretty fast today. I was so surprised. I got there at 9:06 and I was in by 9:20–to the vitals room anyway.

I gained a pound; I now weigh 135.5 since Friday (when I was 134.6), my blood pressure was fine but once again they had to prick my finger to check for high glucose since it was high in my urine. My sugar was at 115, which is good, but the doctor was concerned with my numbers from Friday, which were 160–too high for me. I told him about the waffles and syrup and coffee I had but he said even then it shouldn’t be that high. He thinks I “may have become a little diabetic.” I asked him if it was possible, since my 1hr Glucose Test came back diabetes-free. He said that yes, it was totally possible. Great! At least there’s only 3 weeks left. He didn’t say I had to change my diet or take any meds, so that’s cool.

I sat in Room 3, the sono room I’m usually in and waited to be seen. I was shaking with cold again. Erica, the nurse, peeks her head in and says, “I have good news and bad news: The bad news is you need to be checked “down there”, so you need to strip from the waist down…which means you’re going to get colder. The good news is you’re 36 weeks!” That last part is not true–I’m 37 darn weeks!

I already knew about the pelvic exam so I obeyed and stripped down. The floor was cold, the examination table was frigid, even with the “sterile” paper and plastic napkin on it that I’d be sitting on. I tried to wrap myself as best as possible with the long, white paper “blanket” they’d given me but of course that didn’t work out. There was an annoying draft blowing on my backside :(.

I tried reading my book again to get my mind off of my chattering teeth and finally, after 15 terrible minutes, Dr. C. came in.

He did a sono first, lectured me about possibly being mildly diabetic, and started pressing on my tummy. Alaethia does not like being poked at or bothered. I should know: that’s how I get her to start moving at night to do my Kick Counts :P. She immediately started squiggling around, which hurt like hell since I was lying flat on my back.

He performs an ultrasound to check her measurements. She’s growing well, thank goodness, and weighs approximately 6 lbs. right now :). I asked him if she still had room and water in there (Jaylen didn’t around this time, which is why they induced) and he said she had plenty of fluid and as for space, he said she’d stretch me out more if she needed to. I wasn’t too happy about that last part–I have enough “new” stretch marks, thank you!

I completely forgot to take my camera with me this time, so I didn’t get any pictures of her. Her head is huge though, and so is her abdomen! Her head’s wedged really deep in my pelvis now, which I can literally feel with every step I take!

After the U.S. came the dreadful pelvic exam. He kept telling me to relax but 1), I was freezing still and 2), I’m not too fond of having another man’s fingers shoved up there, thankyouverymuch. I loathe pelvic exams!

I told them about the dream I had and he said, “Well, let’s see!” I felt a twinge of pain and lots of pressure so I yelped, “Ouch!” and he replied, “Sorry, sorry! I’m trying to move her head so I can get a good measurement of your cervix.”

I think, Move her head?!

“Her head? She’s that low already that it’s right there?!” He says, “Yup!” and then, “Aha…you’re at about 1 1/2 to 2 centimeters.”

Remembering the dream I ask, “Will she stay in there till Sunday? Sunday’s my baby shower!” and he says, “Oh, yes. She can be in there for weeks.” WHEW!

I go back next Wednesday. I asked about my vision changing and if I should get new glasses and he said yes, it happens to a lot of pregnant women but that I should wait a few weeks till after she’s born to get a new prescription. He said sometimes womens’ vision even gets better (but unfortunately for me, that’s not the case). I’ll have to avoid driving at night if I can help it, since it’s then that I can’t see too well.

So I’m really nervous. I can’t believe she’s so low already and that I’ve actually dilated more than a centimeter. Who knows, maybe labor won’t take forever this time like it did with the boys. I just hope and pray I can get an epidural and if anything, at least make it to the hospital. There’d be nothing worse than giving birth in my truck and only being in the company of my brother *shudder*. He’d pass out before I would.