38 weeks - check-up

from scarymommy 

another doc's appointment today, the last before the c-section next week. wasn't expecting to have to go through a CTG for about 20 minutes - reminded me of the many times i had to get strapped with monitors during the induction process last time and all through labour because of the epidural and oxytocin drip. having to lie down and not move gets boring after awhile even though one gets to hear the reassuring horse galloping heartbeat of baby that goes really fast when he moves. from what i saw from the CTG print-out, contractions are zilch. not surprising ... given that doc was expecting that i would have to be induced again this time if we were going for a natural delivery.

group b strep test came back negative (hurray!).

piled on another 0.5kg in a week with 80% of it apparently going to baby who is now estimated at 3.3kg. this is really the stage where i don't think i can get any heavier or bigger. not waddling or anything (thank goodness!), but feeling like every movement i make requires a lot of energy. can't imagine how i managed to carry another 6-7kg around when pregnant with h!

also there are times when baby moves and it sends an electric shock-like "zing" around my pelvic area and sometimes my legs. never had such weird sensations previously! 

we got to see baby cover his face with his tiny hands, and doc took extra time (since it's probably the last time we see baby on the ultrasound machine) to label his features. there were jokes about how it was all up to interpretation like modern art ... i wasn't really amused but the guys in the room were, so ok.

asked a bit more about the c-section procedure at the visit today - spine doc cleared me for a spinal which means i will be awake. after baby gets yanked out and tagged (apparently there's some new  technology where a unique tag is tagged on to the mum and baby so that we don't run into a baby mix-up), the hubby will get to go with the baby and nurses/paediatrician to the nursery while i stay on and get stitched up. wurh, no baby to snuggle until much later! but at least it addresses the hubby's top of mind concern that there's no chance of a baby mix-up! :p

next time we see the doc will be in the hospital already. what a reality check on how close we are to having our family grow to 4. trying to savour the remaining days of having an only child!