Hey everyone, and welcome to week #37 of Baby Watch or as I like to call it “dry run” week. First off I have a correction to make from last weeks update. I have been told the new test they are doing twice a week is called a “NON-stress test” rather then “stress test“. Other things I have been told this week include “You better start paying better attention to me” and “if you touch me one more time I will break your finger“. Glad we got that cleared up.
On to our eventful week. On Monday we went into the doctors for the “NON-stress test” (NST) and a ultrasound to check the amniotic fluid (AFI). The NST went just fine. They warp a couple of bands around Erin’s belly and it monitors the babies heartbeat, any contractions Erin might have, and also the movement of the baby. Since our appointment was in the morning the baby was still sleeping and not moving all that much. But as you may have guessed they have a solution for that and it comes in the form of a loud, vibrating contraption they put on Erin’s belly near the babies head and “zap” it. This woke the baby up and in the process almost kicked its feet right through Erin’s lungs. But it worked, and as I said the test went great and everyone was very happy with the results.
Next up was the Amniotic Fluid Index (AFI) check. This is where they use the ultrasound to measure the four pockets of amniotic fluid around the baby. If you remember from last week we had this done during our last ultrasound and they determined the fluid was on the low end of the normal range. Well this time around it was even lower still. The normal range for this test is between 8-18 centimeters. Last week we were at an 9.4 (low end of normal), but this week it was at 6.1. This concerned the doctors enough to send Erin to the hospital to get IV fluids and be monitored. Why the IV fluids you might ask? Well apparently the amniotic fluid is made up primary of urine from the baby. So by pumping Erin full of fluids, the baby gets lots of fluids, and hopefully responds by making lots and lots of urine. Thereby increasing the amount of amniotic fluid.
So Tuesday morning they did another AFI with the ultrasound (see new pictures here) the hospital and found her to be at 8.5. Back into the normal range, but just barely. At that point her doctor decided that one more night in the hospital with the IV fluids was probably the best plan. So we did that and this morning got another AFI check. All the while everyone was expecting the fluid amount to increase just as it had done after the first night. Erin was going to the bathroom every two hours, so the baby must be as well right? Apparently not because her AFI was back down to 6.5. In talking with the doctor they decided that while this is not ideal, there are no other indications that anything is wrong with the baby. As such they were not willing to induce labor or do a C-Section at this time. Had there been other indicators that the baby was in distress, or that Erin was any where near going into labor this could have been a very different baby update. But instead they sent us home and plan to monitor the AFI, baby, and Erin closely through our office visits. They did say however that should the fluid continue to drop (below 5 being the new magic number) they would start making plans to speed things along.
So there we have it. Our dry run at the hospital. While we are both disappointed our little trip didn’t result in anything more positive then a IV and some crappy hospital food, I did learn a few things. First off it takes me exactly14 minutes to drive (at normals speeds) from our front door to he hospital. From there I can make it to and from either of the two main entrances of the hospital and the birth center with my eyes closed. I know where the cafeteria is, where the ice maker and water is, and most important (according to Erin) where they keep the ice cream. We also have a much better idea of what we should pack and what can probably stay home. The last thing I leaned was that not one single piece of furniture in that place is in any way, shape, or form comfortable. Not sure if this is by design as payback for the Dads but after 48 hours of sitting there, my butt hurts.
Here is what the baby site has to say for week #37~
Baby’s Growth and Development When You’re 37 Weeks Pregnant
- When you’re 37 weeks pregnant, you have a reason to celebrate. Your baby is considered full-term. These are a few changes she experiences:
- Your baby’s weight gain slows considerably, but she’s got just a little more room to grow.
- Essential fat (aka baby fat) will continue to form. This will round her out and help her stay warm after birth.
- If you have an ultrasound during the 3rd trimester, the technician might measure the head, stomach, and femur to estimate your baby’s weight.
- She weighs more than 6 pounds.
Two things that stand out to me in the above. First off “weighs more then 6 pounds“. Yes that is technically correct, but more correct in our case would be “weighs more then 8 pounds“. During our little visit the hospital the ultrasound they did showed the baby at 8 pounds, 4 ounces. WOW! Second they say that 37 weeks is considered “full-term“. Again technically correct, but our doctors office feels very strongly that they need to do everything they can to keep the baby in until 38 weeks. It might not sound like that much, but the further development of the lungs they get in that last week is very important.
So that is it, week #37 in the bag. I have a gut feeling the big show is right around the corner so stay tuned!
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