I started a 36-week update but never really got too far. Then, I was going to do one at 37 weeks since they officially call that "full term." Well, time just kept on going, and we had our 38-week check-up on Tuesday and come to find out our little man is not so little. We've known this all along. He's been measuring about 2 weeks ahead since our 20 week ultrasound.
Last Thursday, July 8th, we had our last Level II ultrasound with Dr. Reiter. He estimated Tater was 7lbs 6oz. My doc wanted to develop his own opinion too so that we could take the best course of action. So, my ultrasound this Tuesday showed the Tater man at 8lbs 1oz. We were told they can grow about a 1/2 pound per week, but it looks like Tater thinks he can do better. The downside to him being big already is that as of now, my body hasn't really "progressed" too much. I haven't started dilating yet, but I am about 80% effaced. He's dropped some, at a -2 stage or a little farther, but isn't quite all the way there yet. So, as my doctor talked about, we have two different driving forces here going against each other. One one hand, we have my body and a baby that isn't quite ready to make his debut. On the other hand, we have a fairly big baby that may be pushing my body's limits in terms of being able to deliver normally versus a C-section. He's probably manageable now, but at the rate he's growing, if we went all the way to term that may be a different story.
Anyways, my doc wants to try to speed things up next Wednesday by using prostaglandin gel ("p-gel"). This is different (and supposedly much less painful) than receiving a pitocin drip. I've heard pitocin inductions can be really long and painful. He's not trying to make contractions start since my cervix isn't ready yet. All the gel is trying to do is to get my cervix ready, it doesn't cause contractions like pitocin. If your body isn't ready, then nothing will happen yet. [This is at least Dr. Emily Peters' perception of how this all works.] So, they just apply this gel to your cervix in hopes that it will "ripen" and start to dilate on its own. If it does (they check after about a few hours), then contractions will usually start, they break your water and off you go. If it doesn't, or at least doesn't do much within those few hours, you go home. It's common that you might be back up in the next couple days ready to go. There is no harm in applying the p-gel. It actually will make things easier the next time around. It's doing positive things in there, they just may not be at the speed you would like them to be. I have a feeling after I've gotten my work stuff wrapped up on Friday, I'll be trying all the old wives tales to get labor going. I REALLY don't want to get sent back home. :-)
Week 38 pics
I feel big, but I didn't realize I looked this big!
Who knows, Tater may decide between now and Wednesday that he's changed his mind and is ready to meet us. I've been kind of crampy today, so maybe there's something going on in there. I sure hope so! I know we are both ready to meet this little guy! Keep us in your prayers... it looks like we might have an exciting week ahead! :-)
It's a little late, but here is the Month 9 info:
At week 37, your pregnancy is considered full term, meaning baby is likely to thrive after birth. Baby spends these last weeks in preparation for the outside world… meaning careful refinement of the blink, suck, inhale and exhale. Meconium, which you’ll probably find in the first diaper, is accumulating in the intestines. If (okay, as) you worry about giving birth, consider what it’s like for the little one. During the journey out of your womb, baby will produce more stress hormones than any other time in life.
