doctor visits/miscellaneous updates

1/26/10 Appointment
I haven't been very good about updating on my doctors appointments lately. Last week I had a routine appointment pushed up because I had been having some headaches with blurry vision. Those two things are symptoms of preeclampsia - a serious pregnancy condition that can be fatal to both mother and baby and the only cure for it is to deliver the baby. Other signs are puffy hands and face, elevated blood pressure, rapid weight gain and protein in your urine. Because of my headaches with blurred vision they wanted to get me in and test my blood pressure and urine - thus my routine appointment was pushed forward a few days. (At this practice they do not test a pregnant woman's urine at each appointment - in Gilbert they did) My blood pressure was great and there wasn't any protein in my urine sample. I am not puffy or swollen and my weight gain has been steady. All of this was great great news! The doctor and I discussed my previous migraines and decided that the headaches and blurred vision were probably just my pregnancy version of a migraine that didn't fully progress. Good news! I'd rather have migraines than preeclampsia!

I measured slightly ahead at 34 weeks (was 32 weeks at the appointment), Carter is still head down and his heartbeat sounded great! He was estimated at 4.5 lbs.

2/2/10 Appointment
Because of the headaches/blurry vision they wanted to see me again in a week to retest my blood pressure and what not. Tuesday night Joe and I went back to the doctor and everything came back normal again! We met Dr Ray and we both REALLY liked her. She was our favorite doctor so far - from both Gilbert and Flagstaff. She was super friendly and really spent some time talking with us - from everything about labor and delivery, my next appointments, their practice, concerns, etc. Carter is still head down, butt in my right ribs, and his heartbeat sounds great! Dr Ray estimated him to be about 5 lbs. I am still measuring slightly ahead at 34 weeks.

I'll go back again in two weeks and have my group b strep test. After that appointment I'll be doing weekly appointments as I will be a month from Carter's due date! I still cannot believe how fast this pregnancy is going! I'm 33 weeks now and if he comes early, like I think he will, we could have a baby in a matter of weeks!

Hospital Tour
We also did our hospital tour last Friday. They ask that you come in between 32 and 34 weeks to preregister and tour the labor and delivery rooms as well as the postpartum area. We spent some time going through medical history, my pregnancy, insurance stuff, etc. All the nitty gritty details on our pasts they now have! We also discussed what my preferences were in regards to labor and delivery, what the processes are, where the baby sleeps, etc.

Seeing the delivery room was a little surreal. It was weird to think that the next time I would be there I would be in labor and Carter would be born! Of course Joe made sure to keep the mood light and asked the nurse if confetti and balloons fell from a panel in the ceiling. If anything I know I can count on him to keep the mood upbeat!

We didn't know how much time we would be spending in the hospital but were told that if everything goes well we'll only be there for one over night. This was fine by me! Get me in and get me out and back to my house and the comforts of my own stuff! Don't get me wrong the hospital was nice enough but not a place I'd like to spend a lot of time.

Also at this hospital there isn't a nursery per say. Not like you see on tv or in the movies where there is this large room with babies lined up and a big glass window for people to view them. At Flagstaff Medical Center if everything is going well with myself and Carter we will all share a room. Also dads are allowed 24 hours a day and are not considered a "visitor". There is a little pull out for Joe to sleep on. So given all goes well the three of us will all be in the same room!

Aside from all of that everything is going really well! Some days I'm ready to be done being pregnant - but it really depends on the day! Some days I describe myself as a walking whale, and others I feel completely fine. Still loving prenatal yoga. I sleep SOOOO much better after yoga! Carter's room is now painted and we're making serious progress up there! Other than all of the above nothing else to report!