Baby is coming!!

A lot has happened in the last 48 hours and my mind is all over the place so this may be a bit of a spastic post! I'm going to try and put together a more logical post with important info tomorrow :-)

I had my 39 week appointment on Thursday. Baby's heart rate and growth were great, but my BP was no bueno. I was 50% effaced and 0 cm dilated. Although my BP wasn't outrageously high, it was high enough that the doctor doesn't feel comfortable overlooking it anymore. My BP was high in the first trimester, and then it leveled out wonderfully in the second trimester. Starting at my 38 week appointment it was on the rise again.

The doctor had me go get some blood work done and give a urine specimen to check the protein levels in my urine. She gave me paperwork about inductions and told me she was passing along my file to the scheduler, and although I knew this was real, I didn't totally take it seriously. Can't explain it.

She told me she would call me shortly and let me know if I needed to do a 24 hour collection. Well, within about an hour she called and said I did need to go ahead with that.

Keep in mind I'm at work at this point, so I'm thinking great...my second to last day at work and I have to walk around here with a jug of my own pee. Wonderful last impression. But I also thought it was ridiculous to go home. Soooo picture me carrying this box around the office (to disguise my "supplies) with me anytime I had to use the restroom.....yep, for real.

I got a couple "Aww packing up your stuff?" to which I replied..."uhhh not exactly." Hahha.

Fast forward to Friday, my last day of work....I had to leave at noon to drop off my 24 hour "collection" to the hospital. I dropped it off, went and got a pedicure and then came home to try and nap because I was truly exhausted, had a headache and a little bit of cramping. I never got a call from the hospital so I assumed that meant they would just call me early next week and we'd set up something for her due date or that I didn't need to be induced at all.

Around 10am this morning, I was just sitting down to watch Pretty Little Liars after the Comcast repair guy left and I was thinking of a few errands I would run, then the phone rang and it was the hospital. A super peppy doctor informed me that "we have you scheduled for Monday morning!" I said "Oh wow, okay." Then she told me all the details about when to arrive etc. MONDAY. MONDAY. As in less than 48 hours from the time of that phone call. HOLY. CRAP.

Since that call my mind has been racing. I need to do this, I need to do that. OMG. What does one do in their last 36 hours before being induced?!? We're going to have a baby within a few days. There goes my plan to have the next week off work to relax ;-)

So for the rest of the weekend (Tim is at work until 5pm today), I'm going to do a final cleanup of the house, pick up a few things from the store (could be one of the last times I don't have to tote baby with me...ahh!), relax (yeah...right) and think about what life will be like this time next week (picture me eating a subway sandwich, sushi and a margarita....haha).

Baby and I will be home for Easter (score!!) Hmm, maybe I'll put in an order to the Honey Baked Ham Company now....

Nope, not sick. Just pregnant....

Who doesn't love a stuffy nose?!  Everyone has a sexy voice when they are congested, right? Not so much.

The good news, I'm not sick - I'm just pregnant. And thankfully, last I checked pregnancy isn't contagious. The super scientific name for this condition is "rhinitis of pregnancy." Haha. I've read that in many women it starts as early as 8 weeks in and lasts the whollllllllle pregnancy, so I guess I won't whine if I only have to deal with it for the next three months. Okay, I won't whine TOO much. Three months sounds like a long time.

Apparently, higher amounts of estrogen during pregnancy can contribute to swelling in the mucous membranes lining the nose and even cause you to make more mucus. Plus, the amount of blood in your body increases during pregnancy, which can cause swelling in the tiny blood vessels in the lining of your nose and congestion in the surrounding tissue. Man, GROWING A CHILD really does play games with your whole body.

Truthfully, it's not bothersome...just noticeable (more so in the morning). Oh, and there are the occasional (very) mild nose bleeds. It could be worse!

Forgetfulness

Wait what was I going to write this post about? I have become that forgetful pregnant lady. I was always hesitant to believe people when they said they got "pregnancy brain" but I'm here to confirm it's real and it sucks. Big time.

I feel so scatterbrained. I forget everything - where I saved work files, what I went to the store for, what I just read, paying bills, whether or not I replied to an email or text....you name it. I mean, I even forget to do things I LIKE DOING. What the heck. Talk about frustrating! I've also noticed that I get distracted more easily which really doesn't help the situation.

Writing down to-do lists helps (if I remember where I put that paper....). Good news is that things should return to normal shortly after having the baby. Thanks hormones...so generous.

Meanwhile, I apologize for my wishy-washy-ness. I've gotta get back to that list....I know there is something I was going to do....

First Trimester Sickness

I spent the entire first trimester sick as could be. I was either puking or sleeping. Okay just kidding. Thank. goodness.

Not to be that annoying girl, but I really didn't have it bad. No vomiting! Haha.

Erin 1 Morning Sickness 0.

I did have some nausea in the evening for a couple weeks, but it basically felt like motion sickness; not pleasant...but manageable nonetheless. My solution was to just sleep through it. Yes, fatigue was definitely present. There were some days I would get home at 600pm and be down for the night be 630pm. No joke.

Trying to keep it PG for the blog but there were definitely breast issues. Holy boobs Batman...I bow down to all you big chested ladies (says the girl who can't handle her B cup)  These suckers get in the way AND they are painful!!

Ahh and my pregnancy "glow" during the first trimester came in the form of oily skin and acne....so if that's what they mean about the glow, then yep, check off that box.

Bloating was a blast, for sure. Now here's a sexy image for you...I'd wake up looking 6 weeks pregnant and go to bed looking 6 months pregnant. The elastic band on my beloved sweatpants got a workout.

What else...my vision worsened. You've been warned...be a passenger in my vehicle at your own risk. But in all seriousness, I've heard this is fairly common and your vision should return to "normal" after the baby arrives. Thanks hormones.

Truth be told, all of those issues I just listed were few and far between for the most part. Or the fact that I'm writing this 5 weeks after the fact has blurred my memory :-p

But really, some days the lack of symptoms actually worried me. There are so many sad stories out there it's hard not to worry. Me and Tim are just so very thankful for this healthy pregnancy <3