34 WEEKS DOWN - 34 DAYS TO GO

Making his 34 week debut...Baby Seaman at his finest. A full on face view looking straight at us. They don't get any better than that. This was the latest ultrasound photo from my 34 week OB appointment this morning. As usual, he was in there moving all around just as I feel him doing each day. His heartbeat was nice and strong and his size was measuring right at 34 weeks (which must have plateaued out because he is measuring right on target now rather then bigger than normal as he was at my last visit).

With 34 days to go, I had lots of questions for my OB this morning. It's amazing how much I've forgotten or just plane blocked out from my last two pregnancies. So much has changed since my delivery with Kenidi 7 years ago. The main thing I was concerned about was the fact that I am having to get a "spinal" with this c-section rather than an epidural as I had with both of my other c-sections. I've heard from some people that spinals are a bit scary because they numb you further up into your chest and down making it feel as though you can't breathe. I read somewhere where one gal literally couldn't swallow on her own so they were having to suction her mouth out for her during the process. That didn't sound fun to me. Therefore, I questioned the doc on why the spinal over the epidural. She assured me it was just a deeper and quicker working anesthesia. She said it wears off faster and just makes more sense for c-sections now days. I asked her about the horrific spinal headaches I hear about after having spinals done and she said they are rare but if that happens, they do a patch on the area and correct it so that the headache subsides. I just know I don't want to be laying down flat for 8 hours following my delivery. I also let her know that I don't handle pain medication and/or nausea medication very well. I hate feeling groggy and doped up - resulting in me sleeping off and on the whole first day following the c-section. Then, I don't like the medication that they give me for nausea either. Most times it never works and I end up dry heaving over a bed pan while holding the 500 stitches across my abdomen taunt and safe with a pillow because it's so painful to get sick after a Cesarean. The first day after my c-sections are never fun. Truthfully, the first day just downright sucks. When you want to be visiting with your family and friends (visitors in the room) as well as cuddling with your newborn, I can't because I'm either puking or sleeping. It drives me crazy! I'm praying the OB gets the combination of meds right and that I can enjoy this process more than the last two. And she said if all goes well, I should be up and walking about 8-12 hours after the surgery and also able to take a shower with help the very next morning. Keep your fingers crossed for me that all of this stands true.

I'm swollen up - more than I'd prefer and my blood pressure was a tinge high when they took it today. No signs of pre-eclampsia though - just the typical "end of the road" pregnancy symptoms. They told me to watch my blood pressure at home and call them right away if it got any worse. I truly believe it was just a bit high because I had to run to keep up with the nurse that walked me all the way back to the OB room from the ultrasound room. Like my husband, she walked at the pace of a marathon and I was really huffing and puffing by the time I got to the room and she took my blood pressure. I knew it was going to be high because I could feel my heart beating out of my chest while she was taking the reading. She took it twice and it had come down to 132/80 the 2nd time so it was definitely calming down the longer I sat there and caught my breath. I have a blood pressure cuff here at home though and will be monitoring it closely in the coming days. My OB didn't seem concerned in the least.

Oh and guess what...Baby Seaman decided he would try to cooperate and has now turned head down and ready to go. No more transverse or sideways laying kiddo. YAY! Although this makes no difference because I'm having a c-section anyway, it still helps me comfort wise and takes a bit of the pain away now that he is where he should be. I asked the OB what would happen if my water broke and I happened to go into labor before my December 2nd c-section date. I curiously questioned her on whether she'd still do a c-section in that case or whether we could try and go for a VBAC. No chance. C-section it is - no matter when I go into labor. BLAH!

The really cool news is that I am now on weekly visits to the OB and I also found out that I'll be getting a weekly ultrasound each time I go all the way up until delivery day. How crazy is that. This heart stuff with me has really caused them to keep a close eye on the pregnancy thus resulting in lots and lots of ultrasounds which makes me a happy girl. I love seeing that little man on the screen - even if he is kicking at my belly button which in turn makes me feel like I could go thru the roof. Belly buttons are sensitive anyway - let alone when your skin is beyond stretched out and he is in there tap tap tappin' away.

Well, I'm off to go edit some images from the family beach session I did in Bonita Springs last night. Praying the ugly black snake that was hiding and waiting for us in the sea oats on the beach isn't showing his sneaky serpent face in any of the images. Guess that is why we should follow instructions and stay out of the sea oats, eh? That works for me. Seeing him in there pretty much cured me of trampling thru those from here on out. And yes, if I could have gotten my car on the beach, I would have run him over - fo' sho'! Unfortunately that wasn't an option though. Aside from the family session, I have some awesome shots to share with you guys from the senior sessions I did this past weekend. I hope to get those up and posted real soon too. I had a blast during that senior shoot out and couldn't be more thrilled with the images that came from it all.

Hope all of you are having a wonderful hump day. Enjoy your evening. XOXO, Ang