Midwife's Report @ 38 Weeks

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This was the second of my weekly appointments and the second appointment that Jesse was able to join me. (The first one he was at was around 13 weeks when we first got to hear the heartbeat!) This was also the appointment where I got to meet Paula--the last of the midwives in the group for me to meet.

Everything seems to be still going well. My weight is up to 147--a gain of a pound in the last week. My fundal measurment is also still growing--up to 36 cm. Beta's heartbeat was in the low 150's and is still sounding healthy and strong. So reassuring to hear it each time!

My due date is still a couple of weeks out, but at least I have had the mindset from the beginning that I expect to go late, so we took the time to ask more about their procedures after the due date passes. We were told that they order a session of fetal monitoring to make sure the baby doesn't seem to be in any stress. That means I get to go sit for a half-hour or so attached to a monitor for the baby's heartbeat and a monitor for contractions. They also order another sonogram to ensure that the amniotic fluid levels are still good and there aren't other problems. If labor hasn't started naturally, they'll want to induce at 41 weeks and 4 days. That's around August 13 for me.

We've arrived at the conclusion that somewhere between August 6 and August 10 would be an ideal window for Beta's arrival. With an August 6 arrival, both our parents would be able to arrive by the 10th or so (maybe a bit earlier for my parents)--relatively shortly after we get home from the birthing inn. As long as Beta arrives by the 10th or so, my sister and her fiance will be able to meet Beta while they are in the area, but leaving on the 11th.