Week #37 & Doctor Appointment #13

Doctor Appointment:
I ended up seeing Dr. Fredeen today, instead of Dr. Cosio as I had originally assumed. I found out that the kid's back was on my left side, while his little feet were on my right; although, I did already know that. My uterus is still around the same size, so it's hard to say whether or not the baby has dropped just from that. The kid's heartrate is the same as last week as well: 150 bpm.

When asked if I had been informed about doing a membrane sweep, I said yes - and that I would like it done. So, the first one was done on Tuesday! The doctor was fairly surprised to discover that I was already 50% effaced (meaning my cervix had thinned out 50%) and that I was already slightly dilated. I don't know how much, though. I should have asked for a number. He also said that my uterus was as anterior as it was going to be. In his opinion, he doubts that I'll go past my due date. While babies are notorious for picking and choosing their own delivery dates, he was leaning more towards on time, which is what I had been thinking too. Needless to say, I was ecstatic after hearing that bit of news. :)

My Opinion:
I still need to:

1. Wash K's stuff.
2. Wash bedding for spare bed in nursery. 
3. Pack a bag for K, myself, and Kevin.
4. Make sure the car seat fits.
5. Pre-register at hospital.
6. Finish the nursery: put up blinds, curtains, and storage hangers.
7. Organize K's drawers and closet.
8. Other stuff that I haven't thought of yet.

I put my nesting to good use over this past weekend and did some serious damage to my coursework - I even managed to write my midterm, so now I only have half of my program left. The midterm showed me that while my notes are good, they aren't as organized as I would like them to be, so I may have to do some rearranging.

I finally made it to Walmart to search for some compression socks; however, I didn't find them. Instead, I found some knee-high tights that are supposed to do the same thing. They're ok, but I still have to wear shoes. With laced-up laces to prevent the fluids from pooling in my feet. Lame.
I find that I've been waking 2-3 times during the night to go to the bathroom, which sucks, but I know that it isn't as often as some women (haha). I also find that everytime the kid kicks or moves especially hard that I'm wondering if it was a contraction. I've read/heard that I'll "know" that it's a contraction when I feel one; however, until that time comes, I'm going to be curious.

It's really odd to think of my due date in terms of being in X number of days or weeks now, instead of months. And even odder to add, "but it may be sooner."

I'm fairly certain that I've been having Braxton Hicks contractions off and on since Monday. What do they feel like? Well, you know how your stomach muscles feel after doing situps or sucking in your stomach or throwing up? Sort of fatigued, but you don't notice it until later that night? That's how they feel. I don't feel the actual contraction itself, but I feel the aftereffects - the muscles that are tired from working. I feel like the kid has been super active lately too, which is weird since I thought they were supposed to slow down more once I got this far, but I guess he's the exception.

Development:
This week the kid should weigh around 2.859 kg (6.3 lbs) and be about 48.6 cm (19.13 inches) long. My uterus should now be about 16-17 cm above my belly button and 37 cm above my pubic bone. And my weight gain should be about 25-35 lbs (yeah, right).

This week he's building up his strength and should even turn turn towards the light when he's exposed to one. His bones aren't completely ossified yet, which is good for flexibility during labour, and his growth should actually start to slow down now.

I can't wait for this to be over.