Week 38 Update & Appointment

Ahh ... week 38 ... and more of the same old waiting game. We had our doctor's appointment today and there's some progress to report, but not much. I'm 50% effaced but no dilation yet. Her heart rate was 138 and everything's holding steady with me, including the weight gain, which still stands at 25 pounds! My doctor wants to see me again on Monday to do a fetal growth sonogram and check Brianna's weight, as well as see if there's been any additional progress. Considering I had contractions off and on all night last night, I'm hoping that by Monday, there's a little more to report in terms of when she might be making her arrival.

Here's what baby-gaga.com has to say about Week 38 for Brianna:

As you know, you've arrived at the final leg of your pregnancy journey, and if you're still carrying your little love around, they've just about reached their birth weight (somewhere between 6 to 8 pounds is average depending on whether they're a boy or girl). There really isn't a lot to report on baby this week, so lets do a quick recount of where we're at: all internal organ systems are pretty much ready for the outside world, they've got their meconium stockpile building up (their first black baby poo), lots of healthy baby fat, a rapidly developing brain (that'll keep growing with them for years to come), and they've more or less reached official baby status-- all they need to do is "head out" and say hello to the rest of the world and especially their ready-to-pop momma.

Everyone's been asking if we're ready and I think we're as ready as we're going to be. I will say that all the waiting is making us both more nervous and anxious. We go from thinking we're ready to having conversations about all the things we're going to miss once she arrives to sitting in her nursery just talking about her while ohhing and ahhing over things like how small her diapers and clothes are. There will be lots of new things to enjoy about her being here but as with any major life change, it will be a big adjustment for both of us. It was one thing 9 months ago to dream of life with a baby, its a completely different reality now. There are things I'll miss about being pregnant, like feeling her with me all day and marveling at how she moves but I have to say, I'm ready to meet my daughter and start being a mom.

Here's the latest belly picture ... I'll post an update on Monday once we have our next check-up!
Love you all,
Lucretia