36 Weeks

My Appointment Stats

Blood Pressure: 102/60
Total Weight Gained: 35--yikes! (although none gained between last appt and this one)
Dilated: 2 cm
Effaced: 50%
Baby's Position: Head down and in the right position, although his body is slightly to the side instead of completely vertical

I can't believe I'm at the point where I'll be visiting my doctor weekly. This is around the time that everything started happening when I was pregnant with Cash. My blood pressure had spiked, and I was put on bed rest for two weeks until I delivered him at 38 weeks exactly. So far, this pregnancy has been very different. My blood pressure has been completely normal all the way through. I was having protein spillage problems with Cash, and I've had none of that this time. This pregnancy has been almost completely "textbook". It feels kind of strange that everything seems to be just sailing along without any issues to watch out for. Such a blessing!

Almost every time I went to my doctor's appointment in my pregnancy with Cash, I would be sick beforehand. Like, literally sick. Like, throwing up. I was so nervous about my blood pressure, and what they were going to tell me. This time around, I have been much more calm, which could be why my blood pressure has never spiked. I'm excited to go and see the progress I've made, and even how much weight I've gained. I'm thankful that I can laugh about all the extra "lbs" that I've put on this time. Its kind of comical to me, although my ankles are a different story. I never had any swelling with Cash, so watching my formerly normal ankles slowly morph into an extension of my calf has been less than thrilling. Yes, ladies and gentleman, I have cankles. And fat feet.

At today's appointment, I was flying solo. Colt had an impromptu gig that he had to take, so Sharon generously devoted her lunch break to watching Cash for me. The 36 week visit is the one where they do cultures to test for a few STDs that I can't spell and Group B. I hope I pass...fingers crossed. Just kidding. I wish there was a waiver I could sign saying, "I don't have any STDs, nor does my husband, and we are completely faithful to each other. Promise." It doesn't work that way. When I laid down on the table, I told the doctor that I felt like he might be diagonal. She said at first glance, it looked that that might be true, and if she suspected it was after my pelvic exam that she would schedule me for another ultrasound. I was secretly hoping she would schedule me for one. I wasn't particularly worried about him being diagonal because I knew he still has time to turn if he needs to. Upon further inspection, she said he wasn't diagonal, but his body was slightly to the side instead of being straight up and down. She said this was normal, and I didn't need the ultrasound. Rats! She said I was 2cm dilated, 50% effaced, and that she could "feel the sutures in his head". That is still so strange to me. Obviously I know that I am carrying a baby, and I can feel him move and kick inside of my belly, but to know that she could feel the top of his head makes it so much more real.

I am scheduled to come back next Tuesday for my 37 week visit. I continue to feel the same feelings that I've expressed in previous posts. Some days I am so ready for Beckett to be born, whether because I'm very uncomfortable, and "over" being pregnant, or because I'm so excited to see him and see him with Cash. Some days I feel overwhelmed by the prospect of adding a newborn to the mix. Everything seems to be going in super speed now that I'm just about full term. To add to the anxiety, Cash has began waking anywhere from one to four times a night with what I suspect is night terrors. Basically he is throwing a full on tantrum in his sleep. If Colt goes in there to try and comfort him, he becomes violent. Hitting, kicking, arching his back, scratching etc. At first we thought he was just throwing a horrible tantrum, but upon further research, we now think its night terrors. I can remember living in our first house in Pinellas Park (so I was about 2 or 3) and having night terrors. I know it sounds unlikely that I actually remember this, but I can remember it vividly, with details, that's how scary they were. I had a phobia of taking naps for years because I was worried I would have a bad dream, or be visited by "the bad dream man". Ask my sister, I would talk about the "bad dream man" for several years after that. When I come into Cash's room during one of the episodes, he calms down upon hearing my voice, and me holding him, but I have to hold him until he goes back to sleep, which can take anywhere from 10 minutes to 2 hours. Last night I was in his room from 5am-6:30am. Many experts say to let your child work the night terror out themselves, but I can't do that in good conscience knowing how horrible they were for me. I pray every night that they will pass quickly for him. For now, I have tried to get him down for two naps a day instead of one, and cut out all sugar before bedtime which they say is supposed to help. My side of the family has a long history of sleepwalking, night terrors, etc. I hope he isn't cursed with this. That is something that has definitely been on my mind this week. How am I going to get any sleep if I have a newborn that is nursing every 2-4 hours, and a toddler that is waking up several times a night with night terrors. Thankfully I have a AMAZINGLY supportive husband who wakes up with Cash all the time (even when he knows he is going to be clawed to death during one of Cash's episodes) and lets me sleep while he feeds Cash breakfast on the days that he has off, and a mother and mother-in-law both within walking distance, who Cash absolutely adores. I know God won't give me anything I can't handle.

I am very excited to see Beckett. In all my dreams, he looks a lot like Cash except with more hair, and he is bigger than Cash was. Cash was always measuring "big" by about three weeks at every ultrasound. So far, Beckett seems to be measuring normal size. Only time will tell. I also can't wait to see what day he'll decide to come on. So many "unknowns" make pregnancy so exciting. Its hard to believe that this belly that has been causing me so much discomfort at times will be so missed a few months after I give birth. The day that I had Cash, I remember saying to my mother, "How do people want to do that so many times (give birth)?!?" Sure enough, after a few months passed I started daydreaming about being pregnant again. Even now, this far into the pregnancy, with full blown backaches, leg cramps, tossing and turning nights, etc. etc. etc. I still like the belly for the most part. That is, except when I'm trying to shave my legs or paint my toenails. :)

So there it is! My 36 week update! Thanks for reading!