Getting Induced (Again) Today!

Put a fork in me because I'm done... or at least I feel that way, not sure about the baby. He/she seems quite content. I've been surprisingly laid back about this whole thing... I won't be pregnant forever, right? Although I can't believe I'm almost two weeks late. Anyway, we leave in about five minutes... I'll either have the baby today or tomorrow. Can't wait to meet this baby!

Blogspot is blocked from the Chinese government so I can't give updates when I'm at the hospital, we have a VPN that works at home which is why I'm able to blog right now.. I'll post some pictures and a baby announcement as soon as I get a chance... Keep checking and wish me luck!

41 Weeks and 1 Day... Update

41 Weeks and Going Strong!

Before and After...

What a Difference 21 Weeks Make

I never thought I'd make it to 41 weeks but I did... Still waiting, feeling okay. I'm still experiencing those painful Braxton Hicks Contractions but they come and go.

I saw the doctor today and still nothing is happening... I'm not dilated at all and the baby still hasn't dropped. I had another NST and the baby is doing great. Dr. Afnan got the paperwork organized for my possible induction on Friday. I say 'possible" because we're still holding out hope that all of this will happen naturally... Wishful thinking?

The plan if there's no baby Tebo soon... I'll go in Friday morning at 8:30 am and they'll put a prostaglandin in around 9 am to ripen the cervix and hopefully get things started. That stays in for 24 hours. If nothing happens within those 24 hours, then I'll get some pitocin which will hopefully do the trick. If that doesn't work, I may have to get a c-section, or, surprisingly I could go home. I can't imagine it coming to a c-section. That seems crazy but nothing so far is going as planned!

Keeping my fingers crossed!

40 Weeks and 5 Days... Update

We saw Dr. Afnan again today to see how the baby is doing and talk about what the next steps are... Since me and baby are healthy, we're going to continue to wait and see how things happen naturally. If nothing happens by Friday (January 21st, 41 Weeks and 4 Days) then we'll induce. That'll give Travis and I the weekend so he won't need to worry about sub plans.

Next up, if I don't have the baby, I'll see the doctor this Tuesday for another NST.

I have a hunch things are happening... today I've been getting pretty painful Braxtin Hicks contractions... Having one right now... Ouch.

40 Weeks and 3 Days... Update

I saw Dr. Afnan today... Love this guy!

I did another Non-Stress Test (NST) and everything went great and the baby is healthy. Yay! The monitor detected some contractions but I still cant feel anything. Not sure if that's good or bad. It does make me feel better that SOMETHING is happening. I also got an ultrasound to check the aminiotic fluid and that's normal too. I loved watching the baby move around. I wanted to ask what the sex was but resisted. That's some serious restraint. The baby weighs over 8 pounds, but the best part... the baby was sucking on his index finger. The ultrasound technician and I had a good laugh at that and she let me watch for a little while. It's so weird knowing that I have a human baby in my belly just hanging out in there...

If the baby doesn't come within the next day then we'll see the doctor on Saturday and consult about what to do next... I'll be 41 weeks on Monday.

Funny Chinese Signs

I saw this at a Chinese Sea World in Qingdao

"Special Use for the Old, Lonely, and Single"

Ouch, that's harsh

They forgot the 't' in Peanuts

"Fried Dry Fish with Peanus" Ha!

Bruce Willis, the driver

Found this ad at the grocery store.

Really disturbing stuffed animal.

I saw this in the play area at our clubhouse.

No one has seen it since last summer.

Ready for Baby!

The Crib

Baby will sleep in our room for awhile...

Wardrobe and Baby Changing Station

I know, this needs some color!

Can't wait to spruce it up with blue or pink.

40 Weeks... Induced but Nothing...

40 Weeks Pregnant

At the Hospital... Waiting...

Creepy Lop-Sided Belly!

Monday marked my 40th week of pregnancy, so I went to see my doctor to make sure everything is okay... I'm seeing a new one, Dr. Afnan, he wears bow ties everyday which I find a little odd but he's super nice, gentle, good listener, but most important- I trust him.

I shared with Dr. Afnan that I wasn't feeling the baby move as much so they gave me a Non-Stress-Test (NST). basically, they hook you up to some monitors to hear the baby's heartbeat and I press a button every time it moves and the machine graphs all of this. Holy cow the baby was moving during that! However, the heartbeat slowed down (they call them decelerations) four different times. There were two times that it was significant because it went from 140 to 90 beats. To play it safe, the doctor wanted to induce me that day. I was a little bummed and totally not prepared, but whatever is best for the baby. I was admitted around 11:30 am and they put a prostaglandin in to ripen my cervix. The machine said that I was having contractions but I didn't really feel them, but more importantly, no decelerations from the baby... I kept myself busy with the iTouch- thank gawd I brought that with me because there's wireless! Around 4 pm, I felt something a little stronger but those went away. Travis arrived around 6 pm and we hung out, watched an episode of Glee, and went to bed early... just waiting for something to happen...

The next morning, I felt just fine and really wanted to leave. The midwives mentioned giving me pitocin (drug that simulates Oxytocin, which brings-on contractions) but I was very clear that I didn't want that. To be honest, I was scared. I heard horror stories about how painful that can make your contractions, especially if they give you too much. Plus, if it doesn't work then they have to cut you open and get the baby out. That all seems really overwhelming... Luckily, our doctor agreed and we did another NST Tuesday morning and everything was fine. After they took the prostaglandin out, they observed me. I wasn't dilated at all (maybe a finger-tip), so we went home. I really missed Gabby and she was SO HAPPY to see us. I swear she just grew-up a little that day I missed. She said, 'I want the baby out now!" I couldn't agree with her more.

I go see the doctor tomorrow, unless of course I go into labor, and I'll do another NST and see how the baby is doing and if I dilated at all... Of course, I'll keep everyone updated.

I ovulated late the month I conceived and Gabby was six days late... so it looks as though we may have a couple of days, but who really knows.

Send my some positive labor vibes****