36 Week Update

Just a quick update to say that things have been going very smoothly, considering I'm now in the home stretch. :) My appointments have been uneventful...

The stats from my 28-week visit (September 3) were as follows:
Hgb - 11.9
Glucose - 92
Weight - 187 lbs
BP - 108/80
FHT's - 148 bpm
Fundal Height - 30 cm

Most visits, the baby's heart-rate is 130's or 140's. I was gaining weight pretty steadily at a pound/week, then lost a pound over a 2-week period (which didn't concern the midwife at all, because my fundal height had increased and baby was moving).

At my last visit (October 15; 34+ weeks), my fundal height was only 33 cm (after being at or slightly above my gestational week all along), but it might have been because I was seeing Victoria for the first time, and she may just measure slightly differently than the others? We'll see what it is at this next appointment (scheduled for Monday, October 27). After this one, I'll be going weekly! (Weight at my last appointment was 191, up 25 pounds since my first OB visit.)

I started taking Dr. Christopher Birth Prep Formula pills at 34 weeks and had my first cup of "Third Trimester Tea" (red raspberry leaf and some other things) yesterday at 35 weeks, 5 days. I'll be adding Evening Primrose Oil (orally) starting tomorrow/36 weeks.

Symptoms-wise, I've been tired and not sleeping well (sleeping lightly/waking often, sometimes hard to get comfortable). I don't have to get up and use the bathroom every single night, although one trip during the night is getting more common than it used to be.
Heartburn has only happened a few times and is easily and effectively treated with generic Tums. I had a lot of diarrhea the other night, which Mom and Dad thought might be due to the Dr. Christopher pills, but I think it was more related to some questionable cantaloupe I had eaten earlier that day. I'll keep an eye on that though, as I increase the dosage of Dr. Christopher pills each week.
Throwing up has also made a come-back in the 3rd trimester... It doesn't happen often (maybe an average of 1-2 times every two weeks), but it almost always happens first thing in the morning and there seems to be a correlation with my being extra tired (after shorter-than-usual nights or worse-than-usual sleep).
I have some short stretch marks on my upper thighs and, just this morning, noticed that I might have some small ones starting on the underside of my belly. I also do seem to be having increased discharge, compared to normal.
I've been watching/feeling for braxton-hicks contractions - especially after taking the Dr. Christopher birth prep pills and after the red raspberry leaf tea - but I can't tell for sure if/when I'm having them. I will notice tightening/hard belly sometimes, but I can't tell if it's baby's position stretching me taut or a BH contraction. Certainly nothing with any kind of pattern or distinct start-climax-end to it.

Baby had a crazy-busy activity day (SO much kicking and movement!!) the day we took Rose to the airport for her trip to France (October 20 - I was 35w2d). Since then, movement has been back to its normal frequency or maybe a little less frequent, which is not surprising since the baby's probably running out of room in there. :)

I'll be 36 weeks tomorrow! That's pretty hard to believe! (On the other hand, I can't imagine getting even bigger for the next 4-6 weeks. :-O) We still have some getting-ready to do before I'll feel completely ready for Baby... We have our "last before baby" date night this Saturday (reservations at 715 in Lawrence :)). John is going to clean our cars this weekend and probably install the carseat bases. I need to cut out and sew the baptismal gown! My baby shower is scheduled for Friday, November 7 (38 weeks)... Once that has come and gone, I'll know what's left to get (nursing pads? baby thermometer?) before baby comes. I'll get those things, wash anything from the shower that we know we'll keep (might hold off on washing gender-specific, tags-still-on clothes in case I need to return them), finish setting up the baby's dresser, pack the hospital bag and hopefully be ready at that point! I really hope the baby comes on his/her due date (Friday, November 21), partly because of the feast day (the Presentation of Our Lady) and partly because that would give John that weekend to spend with us - without missing work - and then he'd only have to work 3 days before having a 4-day weekend for Thanksgiving. We'll see what happens though!