7 Month Update & Stuff

Today was my 7 month check-up. It's been about 4 weeks since the last time I saw my OB so I was anxious to see what he had to say. It's pretty easy to guess the main topic of conversation -- the contractions. I have been having them a lot more frequently, even more so whenever I am on my feet. My OB put me on the contraction monitor again (and I laid there thinking I wouldn't have any contractions OF COURSE because I was being monitored) and he was able to witness at least one in the less than 10 minutes that I was laying there. So, what does that mean? Well, we're at a point in the pregnancy where we want to take additional precautions to halt preterm labor. This is the exact same point in time when I was pregnant with Jake that they diagnosed me in preterm labor. We're doing all of the same stuff this time that we did last time. The only difference is that my cervix is still closed and the stitches are holding in place. Which is a medical miracle we're bound to be thankful for when this is all over.

I received the steroid shot today to speed up the development of the baby's lungs in case he's born prematurely. It's really only most effective for up to a month but if the baby were born between now and 32 weeks, that would be an extemely critical time for his lung development to be as good as it could possibly be. Jake was born at 34 weeks and he had virtually no respiratory problems. I have to go get the other shot tomorrow (you get two over a 24 hour period). And my OB also started me on meds to lessen the contractions. He started me off on the procardia instead of terbutaline. Procardia is approved for use in patients with high blood pressure but it has a pretty well documented secondary use for pregnant women in preterm labor. It basically relaxes the muscles and eases up any contractions. If the contractions keep coming at more than 6 an hour then I will have to go back in and they will likely put me on terbutaline, which is the nasty one that makes you feel like you drank 10 cups of coffee. So far so good... I have only taken one dose of the medicine and I have noticed a decrease in the number of contractions. The worst side effect is headaches, but I can live with that!

Even though I was expecting all of this and second time around, it's a heck of a lot LESS traumatizing, it was still upsetting to get the steroid shot and think about the possiblities of the little guy being born early. Everything fell into perspective really quickly. I do have a good feeling about how all of this will turn out though. I even started my overnight bag for the hospital because I figure if I have that ready to go, he sure as heck will stay in until May!! Last time I didn't have my overnight bag packed and look at what happened (Gretchen was right!). We also need to start planning for scenarios if I go into labor or my water breaks and I am home alone with Jake (because I am sure there is a 95% chance that is what will happen just to make it interesting!!).

I did the glucose test today to see if there are any concerns about gestational diabetes (this is completely routine for this point in the pregnancy). All of the moms out there know -- they make you drink about 8 oz. of really concentrated but non-carbonated orange soda.... in 5 minutes. Then you get your blood drawn an hour later for testing purposes. I haven't gotten the results back yet, but no real concerns there.

Baby's heartbeat remains strong and he is growing well. My uterus has expanded tremendously and is now up against my rib cage which is starting to make things a little uncomfortable. The little guy moves A LOT. More than I remember Jake moving, but maybe I am just more aware of it this time. I gained 4 pounds in the last 4 weeks which is much more on track than the 7 pounds I gained in 2 weeks (but I chalk that up to just catching up!). Total so far, I have gained 22 pounds. Not that I am all that concerned with the weight gain, I just think it's interesting to keep track of how much weight I have gained. I ended up with an extra 35 pounds right before Jake was born.

Oh and the cutest thing of all.... if you ask Jake where his baby brother is, he will lift up my shirt and give my tummy a kiss and lay his head down on it. It's probably the sweetest thing I have ever seen in my whole life.