Full Term

Baby Wallis has officially made it to full term, as defined by the doctors. She is at 37 complete weeks of gestation. Three more weeks to go until her due date. This week has been physically difficult. While I was still feeling pretty decent at 35 weeks, that's not really the case anymore. I am an achy, grouchy, insomniac now. It hurts to lie down for long periods, sit for long periods, and stand for short periods. Such is life carrying around 30+ extra pounds and a full-size baby on your front. But, the end is near. And at the end is a hopefully healthy full-term newborn. I no longer worry about her having to go the NICU. At my last appointment with the MFM when I was at 32 weeks, he told me that three babies were born at 24 weeks gestation at Seton hospital that week. I almost cried, my heart just broke for those families. That could have been us. But instead by many strokes of luck or the grace of god, we are just waiting on our fully cooked baby girl to arrive.

It is amazing how quickly I went from thinking daily that I hoped she would stay in even just one more week to now thinking every day that this could be the day with a slight relief at the thought. I really do hope she makes it until 39 weeks for her sake, but it is hard to think about continuing on two more weeks at this point.

The cerclage was removed today. It wasn't comfortable but it wasn't terrible. We also had an ultrasound and Wallis was very active. The sonographer could not get good measurements because the baby's head was so far down (a good thing) and she was so wiggly (also good). She guessed the baby was a little over 6.5 pounds but didn't think that was probably too accurate because her measurements weren't reliable. The MFM did an exam after removing the cerclage. Already 3 cm dilated, 75% effaced, and -1 station. So it could really be any day. Or it could be weeks. No way to guess. Either way, it is good news because we will be starting labor from a fairly advanced point. Hopefully it will be a quick labor. I was induced with Wyatt (meaning on pitocin during labor) but I started at 3 cm when they started the pitocin and was at 10 cm within four hours, so there is definitely hope that this one could go fast as well, though it will not involve pitocin, so who knows.

Anyway, baby is doing well, I am hanging in there and really hoping we are done with 112 degree days. And we are waiting. Just waiting for Wallis, our last chance miracle baby, who could arrive any day now. Oh, and I get to go swimming since the cerclage is out. Deep Eddy here we come.