Update - New Due Date :)

We went back in this morning, to get stripped again, and monitored. We sat and talked with Sherry for some time, about what lies ahead for us. She mentioned that we should get a biophysical profile, and we talked about the possibility that we are actually 'due today'. So after looking at the previous ultra sounds - specifically the first one - she agreed that we could actually be due today. We had our first ultrasound at 9w+6days, but the ultra sound put us at 8weeks + 5 days. Usually, if a first trimester ultra sound is more that 7 days off, they will change the due date. So, since we are 'overdue' and over 41 weeks, she felt good about changing our due date to today, Nov 30th, based on that first ultrasound. (Somehow, Nate and I knew this was going to become an issue. We had talked about this early on! I'm just glad that it really wasn't an 'issue'. And Sherry wouldn't do anything she was uncomfortable with!) Nate and I both agree, that this also 'buys' a little time with the doctors... So they are pressuring us to induce!

She checked me again, and I was the same - a stretchy 5. And then we had another NST. The baby still looked good, so we will go back on Friday to have another NST. If we do not have the baby over the weekend, we go in on Tuesday for a biophysical profile. At that point, I will be 40 + 6 based on the first u/s - or 42 weeks based on LMP - so we know the docs are going to want it done.

Keep your fingers crossed that we have the baby by Tuesday!!

41 Week - Appointment

Well, we weren't in labor Sunday night... obviously or I would be posting pictures of the baby!!! My contractions puttered out, again, that night. We even left and went to Meijer and walked from 10-11pm!

So our appointment was at 8:45 this morning. My B/P was alittle high - it was 128/82 - which, even though is normal for most people, is high for me. I also had protein in my urine, which could be a sign that I need to deliver soon. She said with me being 41 weeks, she would really like to get things going. So she checked me, and I was a 'stretchy 4' which is such an improvement over last week! So that was exciting, because at least the contractions are doing something!! We decided to have her strip my membranes, and really stir things up - which made me about jump off the table! Holy cow - was that horrible!! I had another Nonstress Test - which was good, but not excellent. The baby was sleeping, so she had to keep trying to wake it up, to get some better accelerations. The baby had accels, just not alot, and not for very long.

We decided to come back at 2 - to do it all over again! I had some contractions in between the appointments, but none of them were really strong. I was really crampy, but they just didn't feel very strong.

We went back at 2 and started with our NST - which was so much better! The baby was much more awake, and had great accelerations! She was much, much happier about the results! So then when she checked me, I was a stretchy 5!! She stripped me again... and said 'I'll see you later tonight!'

So since then, I have definitely been contracting - not really consistently though - and not too strong. As long as they are 'doing something', I don't even care at this point! Nate and I got a couple hours of sleep (Thanks to Grammy J for being down here and helping with Tyler!!!) and so I feel rested up for a long night ahead...

Worse case scenario, we go back to see Sherry at 8:45 in the morning, and do it all over again...

40 Weeks and 5 days... Update

Today we are 5 days overdue. While I have continued to try to "get things going" - not a whole had changed until this afternoon.

Since we had such wonderful weather this morning, after we woke up, I figured I would go somewhere and walk today. So we went to Meijer this afternoon, and I walked for a bit, while Nate grocery shopped. And then after we got home, I didn't feel like it was enough, so I decided to go to Menards and walk. So since about 3:45 pm - my contractions have been about 4-6 mins apart. Once I was done walking, I went home and laid down, (about 5pm) just to see if they would putter out again. They didn't, so I got in the shower and we decided that we should maybe give our parents a 'heads up'.

We decided to time them from 6-7pm, and I had 14 contractions in that hour! (pretty consistently 4 mins apart) - so I am hoping that this isn't just another evening of 'false labor'!!

Everyone keep your fingers crossed that this is really 'it' and hopefully we will get to meet Baby Hiestand soon!!!

Happy 40 Weeks!

Well, I woke up this morning, and thought... while I am happy that the baby made it 40 weeks, I am also so surprised!! I have truly had a week of crazy contractions. Even though most of them were braxton hicks, I had a TON of true contractions. On Thursday I again, went hours having contractions 10-15 mins apart, and then nothing... and again on Saturday, and again yesterday. There have been multiple nights where the contractions wake me up (and Nate) and then nothing... and the last few days have been filled with uncomfortable, crampy, have to "concentrate through" contractions... and basically they have all done nothing! lol

We had our 40 week appointment this morning. It started with the nonstress test. The baby looked good. The first half of the test the baby was pretty chilled out and I didn't have any contractions. Then at the end, the baby livened up, and I had a pretty 'big' contraction. His/her heart rate pretty much stayed between 120's to 140's.

Then Sherry checked me, and she said that I really haven't changed much. We discussed 'stirring things up' or letting things go on their own. We all agreed that since I hadn't progressed at all, it was better to just let things happen on their own. We also expressed our concerns with waiting until next week to 'get things going'. With the holidays this weekend, and her being off on Mondays, we won't be able to go back in until next Tues. Next Tues I will be 41 weeks, and while I am not concerned about it, I know that the doctors get a little 'squirrely' about being 41 weeks. She didn't seem concerned at all, and she really does believe I will go in the next day or two.

I am at the point where if I don't go tonight, I would like to wait until Friday evening! lol I am being totally selfish and would really like to go shopping on Friday! hahahaha

No, really, I don't really care when we go, I just hope I realize it when I do! I told Sherry today that with all the contractions I have been having, I hope I know when it's really time. That probably sounds crazy, but this time has been so completely different than with Tyler, I really wonder...

So since the appointment, I have again, been contracting and cramping all day. I went hours where they were 10 mins apart, and then they spread back out. I went and got my 'go into labor pedicure/foot massage' at 5pm and they started back up consistently, and now they are still about every 10-12. So, I guess, again, we will wait and see...

39 Week Appointment

I was supposed to see the NP today (since Sherry is out of the office all week) but her little girl was sick, so I actually saw one of the doctor's in the practice. The baby's heart rate was 140's, still, and I measured at 37 1/2 weeks.

When she checked me, she said that she would call me a 'tight 3', so between 2 and 3, so more like a 2 1/2 (were her exact words, lol) So... hmmmm... not much different. She did say that my cervix was very, very soft. (which I already knew from last week) and she said I am still posterior. She made a bigger deal about me being posterior, then Sherry did last week. So because of that, after she was done, I said, you think I'm going to 40 weeks, don't you? And she smiled, and said, yeah, probably. But you just never know... your water could break or you could just go anytime!

Since she is a Doctor of Osteopathy, I was curious to see if she had any other "getting labor started" advice, that I hadn't heard of, or thought of. She said, "Nope, just lots of sex. Go home and make your husband happy!" So I said, alright... if that's what the doctor is ordering! :)

So now I am mentally back to going the full 40 weeks. Whew... I was tired of wondering if it was going to be today, or tonight, or tomorrow... I'm sure it will be on Thanksgiving. Just to make Maggie's mom happy :)

Weekend Update

So Friday night, Nate and I talked and decided that while yes, at 37 +4 weeks was a bit too early to have the baby, after this weekend, I was going to 'get things going'. I would absolutely hate to take it easy, and do the bare minimum, and then 1 of 2 things will happen: 1) I go over or 2) I will have this crazy long, horrific 2nd pregnancy labor because I have been taking it easy, and trying to slow things down! LOL Although I am perfectly fine with going over, then we always run the risk over going 'too far over' (by doctor's standards) and dealing with the thought of them wanting to induce... yuck.

So... I have decided to start drinking my red raspberry tea, and on Monday morning, I will start my 2-a-day walks. I was going to start my 'old wives tales' menus for dinners, beginning Monday night, but I think I'll wait until Thursday now... and get Nate through 1 more shift at work :) Or maybe we'll do italian on Tues., mexican on Thursday, and our hot-fried-and spicy on Friday... which is what did it for Tyler! Hmmm... that sounds like a good plan! :)

Sherry is off this week (just out of the office, not out of town!) so I will be seeing the NP tomorrow. I am assuming she will want to check me. I'll post tomorrow with any updates...

38 Week Appointment

We went in to see Sherry today, and it was pretty funny because she came in and said, "I did not think you would make it until today!" And we said, I know, we didn't either!!

She did her usual, measured the baby and listened to it's heart beat. He/she still sounded good. (Sounded 130-140's) She asked how I was feeling and I told her ok. Still have some random strong contractions, but tons of my normal Braxton Hicks. She said to continue to take it easy... the longer the baby stays in, the better. She wanted to check me and I agreed as long as she could do it 'gently' and not stir things up!! LOL! So she did.

I am 2 cm dilated, 80% effaced, and my cervix is still posterior, but very, very soft. She seems to think we will have the baby in the next week.

I am really hoping it is not Thursday or Friday - but I know Mother Nature likes to do things her way, so whatever happens, happens!! We would actually really like to make it until at least next Monday, so we will see!!

Still Pregnant :) Update

Just wanted to update...

Yesterday (Sunday) when we talked to Sherry - I asked her what she thinks as far as "trying" to get things going, or whether she thinks I need to relax, and let things come on their own. She said even though we are 37 +5, she would prefer us to take it easy, and let things come on their own. Who knows if a day or two matters, but it could... so back to no heavy lifting, (which includes Tyler), no unnecessary stairs, no walks, and just relax... She is fairly confident we will go on our own, but no need to rush it.

So since Nate works today, Joyce decided to stay to help me with Tyler (so I can avoid the stairs, and not lift him up and down all day).

Last night I had a few contractions that woke me up, and this morning I am back to having some back pain...

I will update tomorrow after our weekly appointment. I am interested to see what she has to say...

37 weeks + 5 days

I swear Tyler knows there is a baby inside of there!!

So yesterday was a pretty interesting/exciting day. My back had starting 'hurting' about 4 days ago - just feeling a little crampy and uncomfortable. Nothing different than what happened a week or so before we had Tyler. So yesterday, when Nate got home from the firehouse, we had planned for him to finish up his truck (changing the ball joints and tie rod ends) and I would have my typical day with Tyler :)

I ran a couple errands during his first nap, and had 5 contractions while I was gone (which was a bit over an hour). I thought I better take it easy when I got home, but once monkey wakes up, that's not always easy to do... My back 'cramps' really kicked in, and would NOT go away. I was in the middle of feeding Tyler his snack before his 2nd nap, and got to the point that I knew there was no way I could get him down for a nap by myself. So with the combination of how much pain I was in, with the thought of being in labor two weeks early, combined with the fact that Nate's truck was in pieces in the garage, combined with feeling of not being able to take care of Tyler on my own, mixed with so many other feelings and hormones, I went out in the garage to get help from Nate, in tears. After that, things got a little crazy for a moment.

Nate took over with Ty until my mom could get here. Bless her heart - she was on the way out the door to have an evening with the girls... I went upstairs to lay down and try to relax. At that point we started timing them, just to see where they were. They were consistently 10 - 12 min. apart. My sister and the boys stopped by to pick up something Mags had dropped off for her, and to help out in any way. She went to the store for us, thank goodness, which desperately needed to be done! And, Nate got back out in the garage to get his truck put back together. Nate's mom got on the road to come down, so if I went into hard labor later in the evening or overnight, she would already be here and settled. So at the end of the evening... everyone came together to help out! We are truly blessed to have such a supportive and caring family! Thank you all for being in our lives and being there for us!!

We ate dinner and my contractions stayed consistent. 10-12 min apart, but not real strong. Then around 9:30 or so, they started to putter out. Once Joyce got here, we all went to bed. I got a typical night's sleep (up 3 or 4 times), until about 4:45 and then had some pretty strong contractions for a couple hours, then back to normal...

I guess we will just see what today brings...

We Are Officially Full Term!

37 week update

Today we had our 37 week appointment. The baby's heart rate was in the 130's and sounded great. I told Sherry that I thought the baby had dropped. I have started getting that wonderful nerve pain shooting down the front/mid part of my thighs, that happened when I was pregnant with Tyler, after he dropped. Sherry said it looked like I had more 'room' up top, and sure enough, the baby's head is down, and has definitely dropped! She seems to think I'm going to go early, but then again, she thought that with Tyler, too (and we were 3 days late)! So I am not going to hold my breath... but it would be nice to go, maybe, 1 week early! ;) I couldn't remember when I dropped with Tyler, so I had to look it up... and it wasn't until 39 weeks - so maybe...!

Despite the new nerve pain, I am still feeling pretty good. My contractions seem to have changed the last couple of days. I have a lot more pressure down low, and I am starting to cramp in my lower back. So if that means I'm going to have back labor again, I'm NOT very excited!!!

I measured my self a couple of days ago, and I am 2" bigger around, than I was when I delivered Tyler! At this point, I have officially gained 2 more lbs than I did before - and I have 3 more weeks - so I don't think that is too bad!! Especially considering that with Tyler I craved steak and fruit, and with this baby I could eat cake and doughnuts for every meal... lol (If Nate would only let me ;)

We are finally getting some things done around the house. Nothing like waiting til the last minute!! The baby's room has been painted - but we are still doing the 'finishing touches'. The crib is almost put together, and the dresser was delivered today! We still need to go look at curtain rods and I have to start painting the circles on the walls. Hopefully I can get to that later this week!

We are having our maternity pictures taken tomorrow, and Nate brought up last night that we should probably get the bag for the hospital packed... hmmmm... yeah, he is probably right!!