Week 38

Week 38 Appointment was 3/25/11

Baby's Heartbeat= 160 bpm

Weight gain = 38 pounds

Belly Measurement = 36 cm (less than last week because the baby has dropped)

Dilation = Same as last week, so about a centimeter

Baby's head (station) = lower than last week

Effaced = Same as last week, so 90%

I'm pretty much the same as last week except the baby has dropped even lower. Dr. Ezell said my cervix is very soft, almost totally effaced, and the baby's head is very low. The only thing that is not happening is the dilation at this point, but the other 3 things are a good sign of when I'll go into labor, so really it's any day, any time. This exam was very painful, more than last week. Ezell said it is because the baby's head has dropped even more, and my cervix is posterior so to reach my cervix he really had to reach far and go past the baby's head. In fact he said he couldn't even reach my cervix and stopped trying because he could see how much pain I was in. This is the exact same thing Karmella's doctor said at 38 weeks! A posterior cervix means it is behind the baby's head. Contractions will bring it down to anterior, which means lined up with the baby's head so he can come on out!

My next appointment is next Tuesday, if Cruz doesn't come before then. I am so uncomfortable; I am ready for him to come any day. All of my sub plans and work at school is done, so I am okay with him coming any day now!

I have been wondering what actually causes contractions and did a little Googling and found it interesting that what happens is the baby sends signals to my brain when he's ready, which in turn releases prostaglandins and other hormones which stimulates the contractions. So, baby pretty much makes the decision and tells mama when he is ready.