36 weeks and counting!

[rkold]

Today I have the last of my battery of tests pregnant women in the US often go through. It's funny, before I started the process I had such different expectations about those and which I would need to take. The big ones most pregnant women in the US now have are:

Genetic Testing (sometimes before you try to conceive and in our case around week 9) where they take a lot of your blood and look to see what genetic defects you are a carrier of. If you're positive on anything then they look at your spouses blood to try to see what the chances are that anything is truly an issue, before eventually wanting to test the fetus. In our case, I am not a carrier for anything tested for so it was a non-issue.

They also did a Dating Ultrasound to get some idea how far along the fetus was and how it was developing. Ryuchan had a heartbeat so she was on target.

Next up was the Nuchal Translucency which is a diagnostic to give you some idea of chances of Down's Syndrome and the even scarier Trisomy defects. This happens at 13 weeks and involved an ultrasound and a finger prick. Ryuchan passed with flying colors.

Next was the Alpha Fetal Protein Test another diagnostic done around week 17 to look for neural tube defects. It's another one where they take your blood. At the time, I did not know this test is notorious for false positives, particularly in women over 35 ~.~ We still passed though.

My favorite of the tests was The 2nd Stage/Anatomy Ultrasound which is done about 20 weeks and lets you find out the baby's gender. The technicians are making sure everything physically looks good with the baby and as the parent, you get to see lots of images of your little one. Once again we did great, though Ryuchan measured a little tiny with a due date closer to 10/22 or 10/23 than 10/19. I think she is just going to be small. lol

Next was my least favorite test, Gestational Diabetes done around week 28. If you have gestational diabetes it MAY cause problems for the fetus, but also may not. For many people this test is nothing, but with my nausea it was extremely difficult and I nearly puked up the gross tasting artificial super sweet orange liquid. Thankfully I passed this test.

This week is Strep B some sort of Strep virus that likes to live in people's colons and vaginas. If you are positive, you need to take an antibiotic when giving birth. Overall, the consequences are a lot less dire than most of the 20 week or earlier tests.

Along with all those tests, I also have my blood pressure tested each appointment. Other than one high one, I'm around 110/70 most of the time. As well as my urine for protein and sugar, which are both so far not in evidence. I also get to find out my weight gain. Right now it's a little less than 20 pounds from my starting weight. Though with my luck I've gone up again lol I've been trying to exercise more though. I go for several 20 minute walks a day and do 20 mins of prenatal yoga breathing exercises.

If you're wondering why I am sharing so much info now, it's because week 37 (next Tuesday) is the official start of term. i.e. if Ryuchan came today or anytime before next Tuesday she would be a preemie, but starting next Tuesday she would be considered a full term baby.

It just makes me think I probably should have planned my shower for earlier in the summer. lol I'm a little stressed about my shower, but so thankful to muscatlove I'm even more stressed about the Baby Naming since that is going to involve a caterer and a lot more people.

Comments

[wingedgoddess.livejournal.com]

Wow, I don't remember having to do that many different tests with my kids! But then, they had to draw blood to check my thyroid almost every visit, so maybe they just did them at the same time and didn't say anything about it.

I'm sorry the gestational diabetes test made you so sick. Personally, I have the sweet tooth from hell, so when I finished mine, I kinda wanted more. x.x

37 weeks! Almost there! Good luck for a safe birth and a healthy baby! =)

[rkold.livejournal.com]

I think it's because I'm over 35 lol The AFP is not required and some people forgo genetic testing. I think the Nuchal and the 2nd Stage Ultrasound are pretty standard now.

I've not had to have my thyroid checked, other than a lot of puking (as in A LOT) I've been pretty lucky with my health.

I know some people don't have an issue with it, but that one made me sooooooooooooo ill. I came so close to puking up the liquid. I have a sweet tooth, but it needs to be sugar + a fat or protein or I get super nauseous. I had that problem with regular soda on an empty stomach as well. ~.~ (But I can eat chocolate just fine since it is more than just sweet!)

And thanks! I'm really excited and nervous and happy and I feel so lucky! It's funny how much I already love my baby.

[pure-trance.livejournal.com]

At least for the Strep test they just swab you thank goodness.

[pure-trance.livejournal.com]

I had to do all those tests you did and I am 24, I was 23 when I was pregnant. So basically they are just crazy these days!

Well I had to do the diabetes one TWICE because I was/am x lbs. overweight :(.

[akari-sama.livejournal.com]

Wow, they didn't have nearly that many tests when I had Shane. oO I'm glad they're being even more cautious these days.

I'm so excited for you. *hugs* And I'm really glad you're doing well. :)

[rkold.livejournal.com]

Some ob/gyns just make you take every test. The AFP one I would skip in the future.

Luckily, I only had to do diabetes once, though I check my urine each time. At the moment I've gained 15 pounds from my starting weight and 20 pounds from my lowest weight during the pregnancy. I started off heavy, but figure a 15-25 pounds weight gain is safe.

I'm hoping this will make losing the weight along with some extra easier. lol

[rkold.livejournal.com]

Yeah, it was pretty easy, now I just get to wait for the results. I'm not so worried. It's not a huge deal to be positive.

[pure-trance.livejournal.com]

I think they checked mine every time too (urine). I didn't gain much until the end then it went crazy lol. But I also didn't have the sickness issue you do. It's safe, it was just my starting weight that had them in a tiff but I am still not THAT overweight.

I'll tell you one thing I didn't have much of an issue getting back to prepreg weight after Noah although things kind of hang differently now. But it's still not so bad. I just have to work on losing the weight I needed to before I had Noah now.

[rkold.livejournal.com]

Yeah, there are soooooo many tests! I thought for sure I would be stuck with an amnio because I'm over 35, but the newer and much less intrusive Nuchal makes the amnio optional. I was hugely relieved. I'm still not sure how I feel about all the tests and if I were to have a #2 I am not sure I would do them all again. The genetic testing of course would be unnecessary (you can't suddenly become a carrier) but I might skip the AFS and the diabetes one.

I'm so so so so so excited too! *hugs* I feel so lucky! I need to get a picture of me with my new 36 week belly.

Her head has started to descend into my pelvis (she's been head down for a bunch of weeks now) so hopefully I'm target for my due date! :D

[pure-trance.livejournal.com]

Yeah I tested positive and all they did was hook up my IV to a antibiotic drip. If you are positive ask them to bring you an ice pack when they hook you up, since it stung (the antibiotic itself not the IV). The ice helped a lot, and you aren't constantly hooked up to it anyway.

[rkold.livejournal.com]

Yeah, my goal is to be about 10 pounds less than my lowest weight during the pregnancy. I won't be thin, but I think it would be a lot healthier for me and I think I would be happier. I think it is possible since presumably some of my new weight is the baby. lol She's definitely in there since I can see my belly move.

My cousins have had no problem losing their pregnancy weight gain, hopefully I follow suit.

Yeah, I still puke. lol It's not fun. But my weight gain was pretty normal I think. I heard most people gain in months 6-8 and lose or get stable in month 9.

I think they always check urine each week. It's nice because now I get to check it with a dipstick myself so I know right away.

[rkold.livejournal.com]

Yeah, my big concern was that I would be hooked up the entire time and would not be able to move around or have my water birth. But you're not, so I am sure I can manage.

One of my cousins was positive but she gave birth so fast they couldn't get her the antibiotic lol

[pure-trance.livejournal.com]

Yeah I mean I was hooked up the whole time to the IV since I had an epidural, but not the antibiotics in particular, I am sure it won't stop you from being able to walk (worst case scenario I am sure they can give you a wheeled IV stand) or having a water birth.

I am pretty sure I needed the antibiotic like 3 times, or at least 2...it was kind of a blur. I know you don't want to hear about the length of it though so I won't go on, but the main point is that it wasn't so bad.

[pure-trance.livejournal.com]

Yeah baby weight, fluid retention and of course the amniotic fluid will come off almost immediately. Of course fluid retention will take a bit longer. Also breastfeeding is supposed to help you lose weight too so hopefully that adds to it although I can't tell you personally since Noah wasn't breastfed long enough for me to be able to tell.

Yeah that sounds about like how I gained.

I didn't have it every week (although at the end I might have had appointments every week) they did it at my appointments. But I didn't do it myself, the medical assistant did it or the lab did it depending on why I was giving a sample.

[rkold.livejournal.com]

I'm not sure how much fluid retention I have had, but I figure at least 10 pounds of my new weight is the baby and her fluid. I've had next to no swelling with my pregnancy and all my shoes fit the same way as pre-Pregnancy.

I think some people do continue to gain in 9, but it's not uncommon to stabilize or lose. Since my belly is definitely bigger now than at 34, I'm thinking there is more of her and less of me lol

I meant every appointment, I'm just up to the stage where appointments are every week now. Probably because the baby can come any time now.

I use to have a lab do it, but with the Birth Center I get to check it myself which I prefer since then I get the results right away instead of just assuming all is fine since I've not heard one way or another lol

[rkold.livejournal.com]

I am not going to be hooked up to an IV the whole time unless something goes wrong and I have to be moved to the hospital. The Birth Center does not offer epidurals at all.

You need it for ever 8 hours or so of labor you are in. Most of the women in my family have had relatively short labors and so I think there is a good chance I will as well. We also got a lot of tips in our birth class about getting through labor.