thirty-six weeks

written January 24th

Well, I thought this week was starting to go pretty well.  Annnd then I went to my doctor's appointment.  I'm sure everything is fine and I'm stressing myself out for nothing, but...

Let's rewind a bit.  Earlier this week I had a sudden onset headache and was feeling a little nauseous.  I took my prescription headache medicine, and laid down for a good half hour or more, but no relief.  I never made Christopher check my blood pressure, but ended up taking another pill right at the six hour mark so I could go to sleep.  I've woken up with a headache in the middle of the night the last couple of nights, but am blaming it on the fact that I'm staying up too late.

So today I had my 36 week check-up.  My mom came up and hung out with Ryann so really it should have been an easy breezy appointment.  The nurse weighed me (according to their scale I lost a pound over the last two weeks, meh).  Then checked my blood pressure.  144/88.  Well shit.  She said she was going to finish up her initial stuff, and then leave me to lay on my left side for five minutes and see where we were at.

She attempted a finger prick to check for anemia, but apparently my stupid hands were too cool.  She kept have to try and warm them with her hands to get the blood to come out and fill the little teeny tiny tube.  I swear it took like three minutes.  I went and peed in a cup, came back and laid down.  She came back in five minutes later, and thankfully when she check my blood pressure it was down to 116/62.  Not too shabby at all.

Then my doctor came in.  "So, your blood pressure is a bit high.  But it did come down nicely, so that is good."  "Oh good."  "But there is a trace of protein in your urine.  Have you been drinking enough water?"  "Um, well, I think I drink a little over 2 liters a day.  Is that enough?"  "Oh, yeah, that is enough.  Well shoot.  I thought maybe I could chalk the blood pressure up to a fluke, or the protein up to lack of water, but you're kind of shooting down all my options."

Noooo!  Of course then I spilled the beans about my headache episodes, and she was even less convinced that it wasn't all related.  Because my pressure came down relatively quickly and easily she isn't giving me any restrictions as of now.  But she said if I have any more serious headaches that I need to call, or have Chris check my blood pressure.  And if I see anything over 140/90 that I need to call.  And if my blood pressure is still high next week or there is any protein in my urine we will run some labs and "have some decisions to make."

Not going to lie, I'm freaking out.  I think I've said to Chris at least 10 times tonight already that I'm not ready.  That I want at least two more weeks.  Three would be great.  My induction is set for 6am on February 15th and I would LOVE to make it to that date.  Obviously if it is safer for baby girl to be out than in, I'm all for it, but I WANT MORE TIME.

Needless to say, I'll be packing my hospital bag this weekend, and doing my best to finish up as many items on my to-do list as I can.

Oh, also at the appointment when she went to find the heartbeat, it took her a lot longer than usual.  Not like five minutes or anything, probably maybe just over a minute.  But Elsie's heartbeat has been in the same place for WEEKS.  And now it is on the other side.  For a brief second I freaked thinking she had flipped to breech, but my doctor is still pretty confident that she is head down.  So that is good at least.    

how far along:  36 weeks (compare to 36 weeks with Ryann)

size of baby:  according to the bump a honeydew, between 17.2-18.7 inches long and weighing somewhere between 4.2-5.8 pounds.  Elsie's kidneys and liver should be ready to go, her lungs are nearly there, and circulation and immune systems should be ready to go as well.

weight gain:  17.4 pounds.  Somehow, according to my scale I am down 2.6 pounds this week.  Lately I've been craving more fruit and not really wanting much to do with carbs, so I'm guessing it is mostly water weight or something.  Who knows.  I'm betting my weight is just going to fluctuate here on out unless I give into my junk cravings (which I'm tempted to do, only a little bit left to indulge with limited guilt!).

maternity clothes:  See the belly above.  What else would you put on?

symptoms:  Headaches.  Stupid freaking restless legs.  Really awesome punches to the cervix.

exercise:  Seven walking workouts totaling 17.6 miles.  Didn't realize I walked that much this week!

cravings/aversions:  Strawberries, salads, fruit... along with doughnuts and cookies :o).

movement:  I can finally say this little girl has slowed down a bit.  She is still fairly active, and the movements more often than not are painful, but she isn't as crazy as often.  But it is still insane to watch my belly move.

sleep:  Besides the fact that I have been staying up a little too late, sleep has been alright this week.  I still dread getting in bed and trying to fall asleep because of the restless legs, but I'm not up for hours in the middle of the night.

gender:  Girl.  Although I'm back to paranoid that they were wrong and a little baby boy is going to pop out.

looking forward to:  My baby shower that my bestie is throwing this weekend!  She really is the best.

worries:  That I'm going to develop pre-e and have to birth this babe in like a week.  And how the heck we'll live through an entire call month with a newborn.  And just pretty much everything.

what's different this time:  Surprisingly I think I'm sleeping better.

milestones:  Three weeks or less to go!

best moment this week:  Ahem, there is no longer a toilet in the nursery.  That is amazing.  The dresser is all painted (just need to decide on pulls, get some drawer liner and fill that thing up!).  The rug is down in the nursery.  Our bathroom reno is near complete (just need a shower door and a mirror).  Christopher and our friend Kyle hung a new light in the nursery.  Got to hang out with a friend I haven't seen in a while.  Christopher's aunt brought over the baby blanket she made for Elsie, and I am OBSESSED with it.  So really, yes, minus today's doctor's appointment?  A pretty darn good week.