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Wow, I am coming into the home stretch, the last trimester. I have about 6 weeks left. It's exciting yet nerve wrecking at the same time. I mean shoot, I've done this twice before, it should be no big deal right?
Oh but on the contrary, I'm actually a little more nervous this time around. It's been almost 8 years since I gave birth to my youngest son.
So today marked the first of my twice a week fetal non-stress testing that I will be doing until delivery.
What is a Fetal Non-Stress Test? Non-stress testing (NST) simply involves monitoring a developing baby's heart rate over time. The monitor has two belts that go around the mother's waist-one registers any contractions she may have, the other tracks the fetal heart rate. These are graphed on paper or on a computer screen. Often, you can see the graph as it is being made. Usually, the NST is not uncomfortable, although it may get tiresome to stay in one position for 20 minutes or so (in fact, it's not unusual for these tests to run as long as an hour).
Why do I have to do it? Basically at my 20 week ultrasound (the one where I found out I was having a boy!), the results showed that my baby's kidney's were measuring larger than they should be and my baby was measuring larger than his gestational age. They then changed my due date to May 5 from May 19. So they sent me in for a follow up ultrasound with the high risk doctors.
That next ultrasound was at 27 weeks. His kidneys were still measuring larger, the baby was still measuring larger than his gestational age and on top of that I had more amniotic fluid in my uterus than I should be having.
They thought that it may be linked to gestational diabetes. So I was sent to take a blood test for any infections that may be causing these problems. I was also sent to take a 3 hour glucose tolerance test to check for gestational diabetes. They also wanted me to come in for yet another follow up ultrasound. They told me that if he keeps growing too big I may have to end up getting a C-Section.
I went to the high risk doctors for a follow up ultrasound at 31 weeks. His kidneys were still measuring larger, but the baby is now measuring what he is supposed to be for his gestational age. Meaning that my due date is back to what is used to be, May 19.
They also ruled out gestational diabetes as my test results came back normal and the blood tests showed no signs of any infections.
So basically, they think the amount of amniotic fluid has a lot to do with his kidneys. His kidneys at the moment are not functioning properly. I forgot what the condition is called as I lost the material that was given to me by the doctor.
There is a very high percentage that it should clear up by the time he is born or shortly after he is born. Everything else looks normal and they are taking precautions by having me come in twice a week for the Fetal Non-Stress Test.
I was very worried these last few months, but as time passed by and the doctors were finding things to be normal, I'm not as worried as I was initially. He has a healthy heart rate. And according to the first Fetal Non-Stress Test I took today, everything looked good! The amount of amniotic fluid has also gone down. Still a little higher than what they would like, but nonetheless getting better.
Now let's just hope this kidney thing he has resolves itself soon. Only time will tell.
Other than that, he is a very very very active baby. I actually busted out my camera to catch the few seconds of him jumping around in my stomach. Before I put the video there, here's a picture of the baby's position at 33 weeks. Now whenever he starts moving or kicking I always try to picture what it is that is jabbing me in my lungs or my ribs. LOL. Is it his elbow, his leg or his foot?
Picture from Babycenter.com
He starts moving at :14 and again at :29. This is the best that I got on camera. He actually moves a whole heck of a lot more than that.
Sometimes the boys and I will sit there and watch it and marvel at it. He gets hyper active mainly when I'm laying down watching TV or about to go to sleep. I've gotten used to his sleeping schedule as of now, but I know for sure that will all change once he's actually here.
So hopefully you enjoy the video! =)
And I leave you with another baby bump picture.
Baby Bump at 34 Weeks
Don't mind the makeup less face. Had a lot of things to do today and didn't get a chance to put on the makeup.
He'll be here before I know it! Baby shower is coming up soon, too, this weekend. Yay! Gotta get into that "nesting" mode and start cleaning up the house and preparing all of his things for when he comes home!
17 comments:
oh wow. that is awesome. i've never seen a baby kick before. i never thought it was THAT visible too. hehe (:
awww *hugs* thanks for sharing your pregnancy journey! I pray he comes out super healthy!!!! :)
@TinaMarie Yeah I don't remember it being that visible with my other two. I am learning so much this time around!
@askmewhats Thank you Nikki! I appreciate your thoughts and your prayers!
WOW! I've never seen a baby get so excited to come out like that before hehe I didn't think it was possible to see the kicking of the baby o_O I don't know why I thought that though haha but that was a cool footage!!!
aww.. that's so cool! doesn't it hurt when he kicks? or is it just a nudge?
wow! two of my friends have had babies, but they had their baby showers before anyone could really see the baby kicking (they could definitely feel it though)...that's amazing! and sort of odd at the same time :)
that is soooo cool that you actually got that on camera!
he's gonna be a mover and a shaker :)
@Sanny Yeah it's pretty awesome. When he starts moving, I automatically look down at my stomach just to watch it. It trips me out every single time.
@lindah Sometimes it hurts. It depends on my position. Like when I'm laying down, it doesn't hurt but it does feel weird, like he wants to come out through my stomach. But when I'm in a sitting position, it hurts like crazy because he tends to kick my ribs.
@mayaari I'm hoping he's awake and active at my baby shower this weekend because I'd think that'll be so cool for my guests to see it and feel it.
@killacam He moves so much and all the time, I'm pretty sure I'd catch him on cam any time. LOL. I've never seen a baby so active myself.
girl I totally know what you are going through. My baby bump is far more active than my last one. But hey what dont we have in common.LMAO!
@IsaLeiese - Where are pictures of your baby bump? Oh and wouldn't that be a trip if we gave birth the same day? We'll be twittering after every contraction! LOL!
awww! i miss being able to see/feel the babies move inside of me!
i hope he's healthy and that you have a healthy, QUICK delivery =]
WOW!! so cool to see him moving like that!
Best of luck to you hun!
You look fantastic at 34 weeks! I wished I looked like you at 34...I think I much bigger than you, and paying for it now...still lugging it around these past few months.
I know, the camera never captures the exact moments you want, when in reality, the baby bump moves way more than that. But I totally see the baby moving lots...ah, I still remember!
Keep it up, mommy....homestretch!
So exciting!!! You are such a cute pregnant woman. =)
thats amazing. I;m glad u caught that on camera so precious.
J.Rose, thanks for sharing!!!!!! I remember being amazed when my lil sisters would kick when they were still in my mom....
I am praying for you and your baby........I am sure everything will turn out just fine!!!!!!
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