My Big Boy!

So today was my last doctor's appointment until the big day. I am due tomorrow...but my baby boy is thinking otherwise. He is not ready to meet the world yet and I THINK I have come to grips with that...it also helps that no matter what, I KNOW he will be here by the 21st which is only a week away, I am slowly starting to feel like there is a light at the end of the tunnel (no pun intended).

My doctors appointment was very eventful today, I was checked and surprise...no dialation or effacement...which honestly did shock me today as other things have been taking place with my body that I could have sworn would lead to dialation...but nope! I also have noticed a decrease in Rykken's activity so the doctor performed a sonogram to make sure he isn't wrapped up in the umbilical cord and to measure his weight and head circumference more accurately. Everything looked really good according to the doctor, he is not wrapped up in the umbilical cord, he is still head down and you could even see all of his hair on the sonogram. She measured his limbs and tummy to get a more accurate weight estimate and he is weighing 8lbs 1oz! She didn't tell me what the head circumference measured at...I don't think I want to know...and who can blame me! After measuring his head and taking as good a look at my pelvis as she could on the sonogram, she thinks he should fit through nicely, but obviously only time will tell. After the sonogram she went ahead and performed a stress test on him. Basically they hook you up to a fetal monitor just like they do when you are in the hospital and they monitor the babies heart rate and movement in relation to contractions. I had 3-4 contractions in 20 minutes, and he reacted great to all of them. He had no change in heart rate when I was having a contraction so it means he is tolerating them just fine. So basically....the consenus is that he is not stressed out, he is not hog tied in the umbilical cord, his head shouldn't be too big to start moving down into my pelvis, and he is just getting big with less room to move around resulting in decreased activity. He is perfect! They looked for every scenario to be able to help me out a little and go ahead and induce earlier and found no reason. It is still better to give him until the 20th to see if he will come naturally, but as of the 20th if he is not here...they are going to drag him out! He has no choice! So I will check into labor and delivery the afternoon of the 20th and they will begin trying to soften my cervix overnight with a gel and an IV with something that will aid in the softening process (as of right now, I am un-induceable because my cervix is still hard). Then the next morning or whenever my cervix becomes soft they will start the poticin and break my water...and then hopefully this baby will be here not to far after that. The late afternoon or night of the 21st hopefully! The only down side to this whole induction thing is that I am going to be in the hospital for a VERY long time before the actual labor process even starts! Probably about twelve hours just getting to an induceable state, and then who knows how long it will take after they actually get labor started. All I can say is bring it on, I am ready!

Update

Just a quick update:

I paid the doctor a visit yesterday and unfortunately there has been no change. I am due next wednesday and there is still no dialation or effacement. It's really discouraging. Here I am a week from my due date and I feel now, more than ever, hopeless. I would feel so much better if my body showed just the smallest sign that something was happening...that my body was at least working towards something....but nothing. I know they say things can change so fast and one minute you can have no labor symptoms and the next you can be in active labor, but its just hard to think positively about it right now. My entire pregnancy I was so worried about him coming early....never dreaming that he more than likely will be overdue. Since there has been no change and no sign that I will be going into active labor anytime soon, I have been scheduled for an overnight induction starting the night of the 20th and then delivering the 21st. So the doctor is giving me a week past my due date to see if I will go into labor naturally, but she won't allow me to go past a week...thank goodness. So after nine months of looking forward and waiting for August 13th, now I have to wait for another week. IT'S HORRIBLE! Please pray that I will go into labor naturally closer to my due date than the 20th. I just don't know how I am going to make it another two weeks. For any of you that are currently expecting or have had babies you know how hard it is to have patience to just make it to your due date, let alone be told more than likely you will deliver a week late. I am just ready to have my baby boy here and I'm tired of waiting.

Is it August 13th Yet?

I can already tell that Rykken is not going to be anything like me when it comes to personality. I have an inkling that he is going to be a very laid back and calm baby. Nothing like his more up-tight and go getter momma (yes I am not afraid to admit that I am up-tight at times). Why you ask....do I feel that my little man is laid back? Because folks...HE IS CONTINUALLY ASSURING ME THAT HE WILL BE TAKING HIS SWEET TIME TO MAKE HIS APPEARANCE! I went to the doctor yesterday....way pumped up about getting checked to see if I was dilated, just knowing that I had at least dilated a smidge maybe. WRONG! Not only is there no dialation or effacement...this little booger hasn't even headed into my pelvis yet. He is still "floating", which means his head hasn't locked into my pelvis....well Rykken, you sure had me FOOLED! Turns out all the pelvis pain I thought I was having from him dropping is actually just still ligament pain from him growing. Ha! So to say the least I was a little disappointed that we won't be getting this party started anytime soon...but the amazing news is that I will be having a full term baby (babies are considered full term after 37 weeks)...which is relieving that a lot of complications that are associated with preemies are hopefully eliminated. On another note...I got a weight estimate on Rykken....are you ready....he is already estimated at 6.5 pounds. Doesn't sound so big right...well according to the doctor he will continue to gain 1/2 pound a week and I have three weeks left...so...yep...add it up...thats right...he is estimated to be close to eight pounds upon delivery. Wow! I know...he is going to be a big healthy boy! I shouldn't have laughed at Danny when he said be prepared because he was a big baby when he was born. So start praying for me now. It's going to be an adventure!

Rykken's Development: It’s the calm before the storm. Changes in your baby's weight have leveled off with only a few ounces of fat added this week. At this point your baby should weigh in at around 7 lbs and 20 inches (with boys somewhat heavier and longer than girls). Happily, as far as internal organs go, they are now developed enough to function in the outside world although the oh-so-important immune system is still developing and will continue to do so after birth. With a large boost of antibodies provided by breast milk when nursing begins. Fighting infection and staying healthy should be well within their physical capacity when your little fighter is born.

Seriously....Really....I still have 4 weeks?

AHHHH! Thats all I want to do...is scream and throw a big fat fit! Between the anxiety of having to give birth very soon, the fear of him not being healthy, the anticipation of seeing what he looks like, and the hip, pelvic, and back pain of carrying this big boy around, I am ready to lose it! I am relieved that I have reached the long awaited ninth month...but its only the first day and that means 29 more days...still! My pregnancy has gone by so fast but now I feel like I am in a rut and it seems like last month was really two months long and I know that my ninth month will feel even longer. Especially with the fact that I am working nine hour days and will continue to until Rykken makes his appearance. I am very physically and emotionally exhausted and I am just ready for him to be here. I think there are certain things about being pregnant that I will miss...like feeling him move and his little hiccups and the comfort of knowing he is safe and sound and with me all the time. But I am definitely ready to have him out...for my poor bodies sake....and I know everyone else is so excited that soon I have to share him. I had someone tell me recently who has an eight month old, that she can't remember what it felt like when her baby moved when she was pregnant. She said almost immeaditely after her birth that she just couldn't remember. I don't want to forget what it feels like to be pregnant...that makes me really sad to not be able to remember what it felt like when Rykken was moving around. On a lighter note...I had a doctor's appointment last Tuesday...the doctor wasn't there, she had to run to the hospital to do a c-section but I saw the nurse and everything is good. His heart rate is in the 140's and I am still measuring right on time. I have to wait until my next appointment to get a weight estimate on Rykken. I am very anxious to see approx. how much he is weighing in at. At my next appointment they will start checking me every week to see if I am dilated or effaced. I am hoping I go in and they check me and send me to the hospital....I doubt it will happen...but I can hope! I will be 37 weeks at my next appointment and he will no longer be considered a preemie so....it sounds like a great idea to me! I still have not given Rykken a middle name....anyone who wants to throw ideas out there...please feel free! I definitely need help. Some of my considerations are: Zackary, Alexander, Lee, Hudson, Jamieson and Jon. So please comment and let me know your favorites or if you have one different from those above.

I will keep you posted on Rykken's arrival schedule!

Rykken's Progress: At this point, your little grower is almost busting out of the womb size-wise, which make their restricted attempts to move much challenging. Of course, your stubborn little sucker is still trying to move around as if they weren’t in a cramped space. And the accumulation of baby fat deposits are starting to level off so your little butter ball will be padded and warm when they head out of their super snug little home.