The Waiting Game

We expected Baby 3 aka "poor nameless blob" to be easy... we were old pros after all, right?  So surprise that this would be the child who caused the most nausea, sciatica that would make her Mommy sleep on heating pads and grimace at random times, the cystic fibrosis scare (for which I'm a carrier it seems)... so leave it to this child to continue her trend when Daddy went out of state  - the only time apart during the whole pregnancy and very rare to even be needed for a work trip.

The standard 36 week (at the very hour when Daddy was getting on a plane) revealed an abnormal heart rhythm when the doctor listened with the doppler - dilated at a 3 by the way. Although reassurances were made that this was very common, it was planned to see a maternal-fetal doctor asap for further heart eval.  The next day at work, I listened to the heartbeat with a doppler in the morning and everything was fine -  when the ob clinic called and had found me an appointment in 30 minutes, I wasn't very concerned because heart had sounded good and would be (practically) impossible to be there... told the ob clinic it was ok to wait... I got in trouble for this with my coworkers!  Then we listened again, and the heart was irregular again... let's just say Mommy started worrying... and when there wasn't going to be a MFM appointment until the following week, the ob told me to go to labor and delivery for assessment... without Daddy...  So Aunt Gaye stepped in to baby sit, I drove to the hospital... worrying Nanny who drove (with Tracy and Pa) to meet me at the hospital so I didn't have to be alone.... long story (and hospital bill) short, heart still sounded abnormal, nurse said it was very common, ultrasound looked good (Aunt Tracy got to go!), and I was home by 10... planning to follow up the next week for a repeat of the same ultrasound with the specialist.

At the ob appointment (37 weeks) the following week, her heart rate was back to normal. The follow up appointment with the specialist the following week went good, and Daddy go to say hi to the baby at 36 weeks... seems babies look a lot different at this stage of pregnancy that early.  Got to see all the hair on the little head and some cute little lips.  There was no further question of a possible misdiagnosed baby girl as we were reassured she was 100% girl.  I continued working and started having slight contractions... A little nervous going to Katy at 37.5 weeks as I was sure that baby girl was coming at any time... even telling Nanny that we might be just dropping off the kids to turn back around to the hospital.  But we stayed, nothing happened, and got some last pregnancy pictures - I do like to think that Greg was puffing out his stomach!

The following Monday would end up being my last day of work - contractions, discomfort getting worse, and lots of pressure... nervous... feeling dizzy, nauseous, and apparently pale as my coworkers kept telling me.  This led to my friend Michelle driving me to the hospital to have the contractions monitored, be told I hadn't dilated any more, and eventually sent home - to be reminded that inducing doesn't happen until 39 weeks unless water had broken... a rule new since the last child.  Did I mention I told them I was "done" working? The kids would stay with Nanny and Pa after this hospital visit because surely it would be easier than them coming back later that night to pick them up again, right?

Back home Tuesday with Greg thinking we were having a baby any time, out walking even trying to get things going... contractions were mild in hind-sight... there but fluctuating.  Cleaning and staying very active without result.  Mom and Dad got to town on Tuesday night... Wednesday (the 38 week mark) Greg went back to work, more projects and cleaning with the parents, and feeling silly that the kids weren't at home without good reason.  I finally called the ob on call early evening worried that my water was leaking since the morning... not wanting to be silly and like with Meghan (as I stayed at home 8 hours after my water broke!)... anyways, back to the hospital (after eating at Mamacita's of course) for monitoring to be told nothing had changed and my water was fine. Ug!  Thursday, we met Nanny at Bass Pro Shop to get the kids; we had fun looking at the fish and "so much wa-er" (Coop's favorite).

And then Friday...