38 Week Appointment!

On Thursday I went in for my 38 week appointment. I ended up getting another ultrasound to check on my amniotic fluid level (fluid that surrounds baby Taylor) and check on a few other things. Since Monday I have noticed that she has slowed her movement way down so the Dr wanted to check on her to make sure things are ok. Everything checked out great, the fluid levels were fine, she was moving around great, and at this point she is weighing in at seven and a half pounds.

Currently I am 3-4cm dilated, 80% effaced, -2 station, and Taylor is in the head down position. I am measuring one week ahead at 39 weeks and 2 days.

With all that my OB really wants me to focus on the number of times Taylor kicks after I eat to make sure she kicks at least six times. If she does not I am to call her office ASAP. If I notice her kicking six times this next week after every meal, but it is harder for me to feel her and I am really having to work on her to get her kicking six times within the hour then we will be inducing on October 14th after my appointment at 10am. We wont know until we go into the appointment on Thursday.

At this point Taylor is big enough to do very well outside, we do not want to risk that we are missing something on the ultrasound that is causing her to slow down so much. She could have the cord pressed against something, her cord could be tied in a knot, there are a number of things that could be wrong that we just cant see on ultrasound and that we wont know until she is born.

So my next appointment is on Thursday October 14th at 10am. I will at that point be 39 weeks and 2 days along. If I go into that appointment with any concerns or her movement slows down then I will be sent straight up to labor and delivery. As of Thursday October 7th I was 3-4cm dilated and 80% effaced. Taylor is at a -2 station and head down so induction would be favorable at this point.

If I go in on Thursday the 14th and she is kicking/moving great, and all other test come back good then we will wait until next Thursday October 21st before inducing. On the 21st I will be 40 weeks and 2 days pregnant. At this point I choose not to go past 40 weeks and 2 days with the increase risk of still birth and other complications. If she comes on her own that would be great, but if we get to 40 weeks and 2 days I will induce.

So what all this means is that we could either be holding baby Taylor this Thursday the 14th or at the latest Thursday October 21st! Very exciting!