OB Appt Update
My OB appointment went well. Blood pressure was 128/50, and baby girl's heartrate was 136. She swatted the doppler really hard when he was trying to get a count and he laughed and asked if she did that often now. I said "anytime something touches my belly and she's active, yup." Fundal height measures right on target. I only gained one pound in the last month, for a total gain of 11 pounds for the pregnancy.
I do have to take the 3-hour glucose tolerance test if I fail the first one, due to maternal health issues (darn me being high risk). My hypoglycemia, previous history of GD, and thyroid cysts mean they want to keep a close eye on any endocrine system issues, plus both the boys were born with jaundice, which apparently is another potential side effect of maternal GD in addition to infant hypoglycemia and large babies.
I did get my April 13th date for my c-section, which according to Dr. Chang's charts puts me at 39 weeks gestation. I asked him what was the latest point he'd deliver early if I went into true labor, since they stopped my labor at 37 weeks with J2 and the meds made me very sick (I couldn't even go to the bathroom by myself due to the shakes it gave me for two friggin weeks). He said up to 34 weeks, they'll do *everything* to stop my labor (no kidding, they'd better!). At 35-36 weeks, it would depend on cervical effacement and dialation, and if my water broke that early, they'd go ahead and c-section. Anything past 37 weeks (aka March 30th) they'd just deliver. With any luck, Miss Lenae will stay put where she's supposed to be until April 13th and it won't matter anyway, but I figured I'd be sure with my original calculations giving me an EDD two weeks earlier than what the OB has on chart now.
I do get to have a spinal anesthetic for the c-section (my preference) as he prefers to only use an epidural for c-sections if the mother has already been in labor and gotten an epidural for the pain. He feels spinals take effect faster and more widely, guaranteeing no "one side numb" issues like an epidural can occasionally effect. That's great, because I still have this horrid aversion to the thought of a tube in my back, which I know is silly since I'm letting them jab a great big needle in there anyway.
My appointment got a wee bit delayed because Dr. Chang had to go next door (his offices are in the hospital itself) to deliver a baby. I asked the nurse if he delivered most of his babies and she said every single one he could. She said the only time he misses a delivery are the two weeks a year he takes on vacation with his family or if he's already delivering one and another delivers at the same time. Doesn't matter day/night/rain/shine, he's proud of his track record of delivering the babies himself. Which is reassuring. I haven't even met his partners (although I'm sure one of them will be assisting in the c-section) but I'd hate to have two unknowns for major surgery like that.
I do have to take the 3-hour glucose tolerance test if I fail the first one, due to maternal health issues (darn me being high risk). My hypoglycemia, previous history of GD, and thyroid cysts mean they want to keep a close eye on any endocrine system issues, plus both the boys were born with jaundice, which apparently is another potential side effect of maternal GD in addition to infant hypoglycemia and large babies.
I did get my April 13th date for my c-section, which according to Dr. Chang's charts puts me at 39 weeks gestation. I asked him what was the latest point he'd deliver early if I went into true labor, since they stopped my labor at 37 weeks with J2 and the meds made me very sick (I couldn't even go to the bathroom by myself due to the shakes it gave me for two friggin weeks). He said up to 34 weeks, they'll do *everything* to stop my labor (no kidding, they'd better!). At 35-36 weeks, it would depend on cervical effacement and dialation, and if my water broke that early, they'd go ahead and c-section. Anything past 37 weeks (aka March 30th) they'd just deliver. With any luck, Miss Lenae will stay put where she's supposed to be until April 13th and it won't matter anyway, but I figured I'd be sure with my original calculations giving me an EDD two weeks earlier than what the OB has on chart now.
I do get to have a spinal anesthetic for the c-section (my preference) as he prefers to only use an epidural for c-sections if the mother has already been in labor and gotten an epidural for the pain. He feels spinals take effect faster and more widely, guaranteeing no "one side numb" issues like an epidural can occasionally effect. That's great, because I still have this horrid aversion to the thought of a tube in my back, which I know is silly since I'm letting them jab a great big needle in there anyway.
My appointment got a wee bit delayed because Dr. Chang had to go next door (his offices are in the hospital itself) to deliver a baby. I asked the nurse if he delivered most of his babies and she said every single one he could. She said the only time he misses a delivery are the two weeks a year he takes on vacation with his family or if he's already delivering one and another delivers at the same time. Doesn't matter day/night/rain/shine, he's proud of his track record of delivering the babies himself. Which is reassuring. I haven't even met his partners (although I'm sure one of them will be assisting in the c-section) but I'd hate to have two unknowns for major surgery like that.