It was a fairly routine check-up. Weight, urine stick (check for protein and glucose), blood pressure check, quick questions if I have any swelling, any contractions, or any other symptoms and then it's up on the table for hearing the baby's heartbeat (down to 130 now) and taking the fundal height measurement (30 inches!!) When I asked Peggy about the drop in the baby's heartbeat she said this was perfectly normal and actually quite common that babies' heartbeats slowed toward the end of pregnancy. Peggy assured us that it meant the heart was getting stronger and so didn't have to beat as fast. She palpated my belly and thought that Sophie's head was still down but this time she thought the head was to the left (not the right). Next appointment is in two more weeks.
Tuesday was a big day because we also started our childbirth education classes. These are a required set of classes that the Birth Center wants you to take for four weeks. Our classes are being led by one of the nurses from the Birth Center, Sarah, who seems very nice. Oddly enough, our first class was held at the Radnor Township Building in the police call room because the Birth Center basement is being fixed from a flood. So, in the midst of discussions about creating serene environments for labor and watching a movie about the stages of labor, we heard the police calls on the radio and the security doors locking and unlocking. It was a bit surreal but supposedly we're back at the Birth Center for next week's class. But, we talked about the stages of labor, reasons you have to go to the hospital (induction, usually due to being post your due dates significantly, Pregnancy Induced Hypertension, and Premature Rupture of Membranes), and we also started to talk a little about pain management. Sarah even led us in a brief relaxation excercise which was quite nice - though quite challenging to really fully relax given the police calls going off in the background.
Another update is that we were considering doing another 3D/4D ultrasound. We just are so anxious to meet Sophie and to see her again and I thought if we have an opportunity to see her in utero (and get more photos and even a video this time) let's do it! We even had an appointment for this Saturday scheduled but then I heard somewhere that these non-medical ultrasounds are really not recommended for safety reasons so we looked into it further. The FDA has not regulated them at all and in fact there are some studies indicating potential damages to the baby. Under medical circumstances, the benefits outweight the possible risks but really, we just decided it's not worth it to put her at risk because we're being greedy and want to see her again or have a "memento" of her in the womb. Sure, it'd be fun. Sure, we would have a great keepsake but if there were any possibility of causing her neurological damage, it simply isn't worth it. We will all get to see her soon enough!
Finally, Jim and I had a "babymoon" where we took ourselves up to New York for the weekend two weekends ago. Jim had given me a gift certificate to see a Broadway show for my birthday in 2006 and it had to be used this year so we saw Wicked on broadway and treated ourselves to stay the weekend so we wouldn't have to drive back. (We were up in NY in Dec. and had to drive up and back in the same day and night and it was really not fun for either of us). We got to see an amazing broadway show which we both loved, we spent some good quality time hanging out with our friends Dan, Cathy, and their son Will and we got some nice time to just relax and enjoy what may be one of our last weekends away alone for a long time.
The stage of Wicked.
Jim and I after the show!
We also got Sophia some really cute clothes at this store called Lucky Wang recomended by Dan and Cathy. Here is an outfit we got her. Isn't it cute?
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