37 Week Appointment

This week I waited 45 minutes before seeing the doctor. I'm hoping this isn't a trend!

I'm "definitely a fingertip" dilated and 50 - 60% effaced.

A fingertip dilated which is 1 centimeter will have a completely different meaning between someone with a small hand and someone with a larger hand.

Effacement is the process by which the cervix prepares for delivery. After the baby has engaged in the pelvis, it gradually drops closer to the cervix; the cervix gradually softens, shortens and becomes thinner. Effacement is measured in percentages. For example, your health care provider may tell you that you are effaced 50%, which means you are half way to being completely effaced. When you are 100% effaced or completely effaced, your cervix is paper-thin and labor is right around the corner.

I haven't gained any weight since my 30 week appointment. He reassured me that it's totally normal as long as your belly is measuring right.

I was told that things should start "happening" in the next few weeks! Stay tuned!

Another Ballgame!

I think he might come out asking for peanuts and crackerjacks!

Ballgame at 25 weeks...
Ballgame at 30 weeks
And again today at 36 weeks and 4 days...

36 Weeks!

Only 4 weeks to go! Our doctor's appointment went really well this morning. (The only bad thing was that I didn't see the doctor until about an hour after my scheduled appointment! I thought Aunt B. was going to fall asleep in the waiting room!)

As of this morning, his head is down and I'm "almost a fingertip" dilated! The nurse told me she wouldn't think labor would start anytime soon, but that you just never know! I go back next Thursday for my 37 week appointment.

Here's my belly at 36 weeks...
WARNING....Naked belly coming up......

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Lots of veins...but no stretchmarks!! (Knock on wood!!)

I graduated!

I graduated from Breastfeeding Basics last night. I even got a diploma! The jury is still out on whether this is going to work for our family, but I'm definitely glad I attended the class. The instructor was very knowledgeable on up-to-date breastfeeding info. She told me that my gallbladder surgery shouldn't cause any problems if I'm still breastfeeding at that time.

The best thing I found out is that the snack stand near the blue elevators sells Ben & Jerry's! I'll be getting some of that after he's born!

36 week appointment tomorrow! We've got a very busy weekend ahead of us!

Married...Again...

My wedding rings became too tight a few weeks ago. I can still get them on, but my finger starts to throb and I start freaking out that they'll never come off. I decided that I needed to have something to make me feel "married." So here it is... My $20 wedding ring from Dillard's! Jay could have saved so much money the first time around!
The night before the ring purchase, I was locked in Famous Footwear during a tornado warning. Here's Grandma S. and Aunt B. waiting out the storm...Going into labor would have made it a total "made for tv movie!"

I think I started feeling Braxton Hicks contractions this weekend. The top of my stomach gets really tight and I feel slight pain in my lower stomach and back. I'm anxious to see what the doctor has to say on Friday!

Preview of me as a pregnant bridesmaid... Keep your fingers crossed that it still fits in three days! (I wonder if I can talk the wedding photographer into cutting my head out of all the pictures!!) I have a Breastfeeding 101 class tonight at the hospital. More on that tomorrow...