WEEK 39

I am 39 weeks pregnant (1 week to go)!!! BabyBunny weighs a bit over 3200 grams (a mini watermelon), and measures about 50.5 cm (head to heel).

LittleBunny continues to build a layer of fat to help control her body temperature after birth. /BabyCenter/

My official EDD (by the Dating Scan) is TODAY, but BabyBunny shows no sign of wanting to meet us. Although she is busy tunneling her way down into my pelvis!

The waiting is almost over! The countdown begins. I miss my bump already, and I can't wait to meet our bundle of joy at the same time! Nervous about the birth and excited about the new family member and about the role what is comes with it.

Generally feeling well. The sleep is still good, although sleeping less and less as less sleep seems to be adequate. Still no need for napping during the day. Not sleepy, not tired. Appetite is still good, preference for fresh, crunchy, juicy, raw fruit and vegetables. The 5-a-day now more like an 8-a-day. Walking still feels good once I get the rhythm.

Hospital visit

38+6 today and another scheduled hospital visit this morning. After queuing up 45 minutes to get my chart the midwife/nurse check-up came immediately. Urine is clean, no sugar, no protein (surprisingly, the sample was somewhat cloudy this morning). Blood pressure is okay (120/76). Weight: 68.5 kg (gained around 16 kg from the start but all you can see it is my bump and a bit of water with swollen feet).

Another 45-50 minutes at the doctor's door. What I like about these 'waiting outside'-s that there is no chit-chat among 'mum-to-be'-s asking about this and that. Everyone is quietly reading something in a book or in a magazine or on a mobile phone.

BabyBunny looked happy on the mini scan, and in all probability that she is happy there because no sign of wanting to come out and meet us. My (Dating Scan) EDD is tomorrow!! The doctor said that they will see me next week and if there is still no happening I will be scheduled for an induction on the following Monday (which is the 25th). Oh, boy, I do hope that Bunny don't want to wait that long. The 19th would be nice. It is my father's birthday. Bunny would be a lovely birthday present for him. I know he would not love anything better.

I asked the doctor about the vaginal swab taken two weeks ago. The result shows 'Light growth of Candida sp.' She said this is very common and asked me if I am using the Canesten (Clotrimazole Anti-Fungal) cream as she told me to. Well, she told me on Wed and I got it on Fri and used it only on Sat once but(!) I stopped using panty-liners around the clock the day I come home from her visit and the itching and whitening is gone since. No need to use then, she said. BTW, on the swab result there was a hand written note: Pt. called no answer. Well, there was no call for sure!

I handed over my updated Birth Plan so my chart is up-to-date.

First Appointment and Dating Scan

13+0 today and I had my First Appointment at the chosen hospital (it is in 20-25 minutes walking distance).

First I was seen by a midwife where we sat in a little room with a computer and she was asking questions and taking notes about medical conditions, family history. DH wasn't allowed to come in (he was sent out and told to wait outside) as it is a private and highly confidential conversation, the midwife said. Well, what could be more confidential than a husband and a wife having a baby?!? Together. Two makes a baby not one.

From my LMP the midwife calculated my (new) EDD: 22.06.2012. She said my GP made a mistake and I am 12+6 today not 13+0.

Then I was sent to have blood test done. My weight is 52.5 kg (as many scales, as many different measuring), MBI 19.8, blood pressure: 120/80.

Finally the Dating Scan. The scan put me on 14+0 and gave me a new EDD: 14.06.2012. BabyBunny is a week (or 8 days in that matter) ahead. The sonographer said that I miscalculated my ovulation and I conceived much earlier than I thought. Well, I maybe miscalculated my ovulation but with the scheduled (and recorded) Baby Dance I know exactly that it is not possible to conceive a week earlier. Simple reason no sperm, no conception.

So what to do now? Jump a week ahead and skip a week or stay with my LMP dates? I think I will stick to my LMP schedule and count as I am 13+0 today.

GP for confirmation

We went to the GP this morning. No, not to the previous one, I have chosen a new one, a younger, a more sympathetic one. She could be around my age.

She wanted to sign me to a different hospital because all her patients go there but I said the old one from my January pregnancy will do. They know my history. I hope for an earlier scan around week 8.

I showed the supplements what I took in pre-conception (Pregnacare and MorDHA) and what I am taking now (Prenatal Nutrients from Solgar and MumOmega). No vitamin C or Prebio7 this time, I was afraid to take. She said no extra vitamin C but she gave a green light to the probiotics.

I also asked about herbal teas. She said that camomile and peppermint are OK. When I asked about exercise she said no need for it. I was surprised as all I hear how positive to exercise during pregnancy for mummy and baby alike.

I peed in a container. She checked it but did not say a thing about it so I presume all is good. I am officially pregnant!

Today's measures were weight: 54.5 kg, blood pressure: 134/80 (systolic/diastolic). She did not measure my BMI. My new EDD: 21/06/2012. 21st of June just days away from my BD ;-))

What are the symptoms? Some breast pain and since yesterday morning lost appetite and all day lasting mild nausea.

My original EDD...

...is today, 11th of October. How do I feel about this? I am still angry. Angry to my GP for that flu jab and angry to myself for letting it happen. With a categoric NO I could have a baby by now. But who is to blame nobody knows.

The confirmation

I was smiling over the week and the weekend, being happy and light. Today I went to the GP for my pregnancy confirmation. Same GP as for the smear test. She asked my LMP, measured my blood pressure (116/60 - systolic/diastolic), listened to my chest. She asked me to pee in a little container but my bladder was empty so I just showed her the two positive tests. I also showed her the supplements I take: Prenatal Nutrients (Solgar), Mum Omega pregnancy (Equazen), vitamin-C 500 mg (Sona) and Prebio7 probiotics. She said that the probiotics are fine, wasn't sure about the Omega-3-6, but definitely said to stop the vitamin-C, immediately! She didn't say why though. She didn't make any statement about the prenatal vitamin formula.

She put my EDD (Estimated Date of Delivery), i.e. my due date on the 11th of October (I calculated the 12th - subtract 3 months and add 7 days to your LMP). She wrote a letter for me to take to the hospital of my choice. Well, it was her choice really. When I asked which one to pick as I have 3 approximately in the same distance from where I live, she chose the University Hospital for Women & Infants. The care is good, she said. When she asked about how would we (DH was there too) proceed if there is any problem with the baby, would we want to terminate the pregnancy in bad outcome, we said yes. So she wrote another letter to take with me to the prenatal diagnosis clinic, for a blood test and Nuchal thickness scan, around week 12.

There was another choice to make, whatever I want to go private, semi-private or public. She said if I choose private, semi-private it will cost me, a lot, but the service basically the same and even in private the bed, the care, the same obstetrician cannot be guaranteed as it operates on a first come first serve. I chose public (going combined care) and Midwifery Led Unit. Midwifery because I want a natural birth as possible. I dare not take a home birth but no needles, no cuts, no drugs, please.

Finally I got a flu jab. First she presented it as a choice, a highly recommended one. I said we will think about it and come back if I want to have it. She said we have 5 minutes to decide! She pushed us hard so we gave in.