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Ninth Prenatal Checkup/Exam: 06/15/01 | ||
Today, 06/15/01, I had my Ninth Prenatal Checkup/Exam. It was a slightly different visit than the others. My appt. time was for 10 am. I figured I wouldn't be taken in until around 1 pm or so. But...they called me in for vitals at 10 till 10. What shocked me even more was that I saw the Doctor at 10 after 10. I was shocked, as I usually have to wait at least an hour to see anyone. It was typical at the end because it took 2, yes 2, hours to get checked out. Any ways... I gained 2 pounds and I don't know how because this diet has me starving most of the time. My pulse was 113 this time. They didn't take my temperature. I think they forgot and I wasn't thinking about it at the time they were taking my vitals. I had a female Doctor and it wasn't the same one as last time, thank God. This Doctor was very nice, spoke English and explained everything to me that needed to be. She answered all my questions and didn't rush me at all. She looked at my log book for my sugar counts each day and said that my sugar levels are great on this diet. There were a few exceptions where the numbers were in the 150's and 170's but she said I am doing well. She asked me if I am having any problems and I told her yes and explained: Last Thursday, June 7, I was supposed to go in for an appt. Well, Houston was flooded (due to Tropical Storm Allison) and there was no way that I was getting downtown. If I even could have gotten there, I wouldn't have been able to come back home for the water. Any ways, around 4 - 4:30 am (when I normally get up for my pee break), I was having lower back pain and menstrual cramps. This time the cramps were in the middle of my stomach, not on the sides like they were the 2 times before. Since I couldn't go to the appt., I was just hoping that my water wouldn't break and that I would be ok. Well, I was fine. Then on Monday, June 11, my Husband and I went and saw the movie Swordfish and throughout the whole movie, I was having bad, and I mean BAD cramps all throughout my stomach area. They were no joke. On a scale of 1-10 I would say these were about an 8 1/2. I just about jumped out of my seat every time one hit, But, since they weren't too close together, I thought that it just might be gas pains and hoped they would go away. They lasted up until about 30 min's after we got home from the movie and then went away. Also, in the mornings I have been waking up with small noticeable pains but nothing severe. So..after I told her about that, I asked if she could do an internal exam...which I HATE but I wanted to know if I was dilated. She told me that she was going to do an internal exam any ways because she has to do a culture for Group B Strep. I will tell more about that in a minute. Before the internal exam, she measured my fundal height and it is at 33 1/2. She said I am measuring little again but she also said that after 35 weeks, the tape measurement isn't accurate anymore. The baby has dropped considerably and it is way low. After she measured me, she listened to the baby's heartbeat and said it is normal. Then to the internal exam. She told me that my Cervix is closed but it is soft. She said my Cervix is getting ready for delivery. I asked if the cramps were normal and she said yes. She said that what I was feeling were certainly contractions and that is a good thing. I told her that these were severe but didn't do anything to the Cervix so when the real ones come, I can't imagine how they are going to feel. She laughed and was excited that I had felt contractions because she said that most women don't feel them until they are getting ready to deliver. She also told me that if I were to go into labor from here on out, they would not stop me because I am over 35 weeks. I also mentioned that I am feeling some major pressure down there and she said that is normal as well. I asked her which way the baby was lying so she felt and the baby's head is very low and exactly where it is supposed to be. The back and butt are facing my left side and the legs are facing the right. It always gets me in my right rib cage so I knew its feet were up there. The Group B Strep culture is done mainly on pregnant women. It is a bacteria that can cause Pneumonia and/or Meningitis in the baby when it is delivered. She said that all pregnant women have bacteria down below and if one is diagnosed with Group B Strep, it isn't a big deal. Now, if it is unfound and/or untreated, it can cause problems but that's why they test for it. She said that if someone has Group B Strep, when her water breaks, they will give her antibiotics (during delivery) to keep the bacteria from getting to the baby. Hopefully I don't have this bacteria but we will see. She told me to continue the 1700 calorie diet because my sugar levels are doing well. She also told me that if I get contractions 2-5 minutes apart, if the water breaks, bleeding occurs or if there is a major decrease in the baby's movement, to come in immediately. Then I was done. This was a smooth and very satisfying appt. I was impressed, all except for the 2 hour check out time but it could have been worse...I could have been there all day. I do believe that the baby will be here within 2 weeks. He/she has dropped big time and I am feeling these contractions and the Cervix is soft. Of course, these things can occur weeks before one delivers but it sounds like it is getting closer for me to deliver. Of course, I could be wrong but it is just a feeling. I never agreed with my Doctor's due date of July 16. I think the due date should be July 5. When I first found out I was pregnant, before seeing a Doctor, I calculated my date and it was July 5. I wasn't exactly sure about my last menstrual cycle date but the Doctor made up the July 16 date by an 8 week ultrasound. The ultrasound I had when I was 20 something weeks also said that my due date is July 5. So, I guess only time will tell but I just have a gut feeling I will have a little one sooner than they think. How am I feeling and how is my body changing? I have MAJOR stretch marks now. They are everywhere. I still have that rash on my back and it is creeping up on my neck again. I can sometimes feel tingling in my breasts, I guess they are getting prepared for birth as well. I am not having any kind of back pain or anything like that and that is awesome. I get tired more easily than ever now and my feet are more swollen than ever as well. I am a little edgy and can turn moods faster than one can blink an eye. I was that way before I got pregnant but it takes less time now. I feel lots of pressure and make more trips to the bathroom but this is due to the baby being so low. My belly is sore most of the time and my ribs bother me from being kicked to death. That's ok though, I am glad the baby is still very active. I am excited and can't wait for the little one to get here!!! My next appt. is on June 26. That's when the next update will be. Hope to see ya then! | ||
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