We've been asked more and more what the Pickle's name will be. And the answer is, we simply don't know at this point. We have a pretty good idea... sort of... but we aren't going to make a final decision until we've met him. Some names just don't match some people and we don't want to give him a name that we will feel like it's the wrong name once he's here. So he will be the pickle until he arrives.

My blood pressure: 130/78
Baby's Heart Rate: 138-143
Fundal Height: 33.5 cm

So far, so good. My blood pressure is staying right where it should be. The babies heartrate is where it should be and goes up when the midwife is poking at him to check it (this is what should happen). The fundal height is supposed to be 1 cm for each week of pregnancy so 33.5 cm at 34 weeks is right on track. I have gained 5 lbs from my last appointment. Five pounds in two weeks is a lot, but I was wearing jeans and tennis shoes this week and not lightweight shoes and a sleeveless knee length dress. Two weeks ago I had lost three pounds from the previous appointment so net gain in the last month is 2 pounds. Since I should average half a pound a week, I am right on track. I have gained 8 lbs. total, and have about 6 weeks to go. As of the last estimate, the baby will be about 7.5 to 8 lbs, so I am right on track.

I have had a bit more back pain, but the hip pain has disappeared. The physical therapy, especially time in the pool, seems to be helping. I have had some swelling in my ankles on and off, but no cankles. My hands a really swollen every morning, but once I am up and move them a bit the swelling goes away. This was not uncommon in the past with my arthritis anyway, so it is no great concern.

My midwife has said that I should start doing kick counts. For those of you unfamiliar with this, I will explain. Basically this is a technique that is now being used to monitor fetal activity levels and well being. You pick a time of day when the baby is normally active (All babies have times of day when they sleep and when they are active. Trying to do kick counts when a baby would normally be sleeping is just setting yourself up for undo panic.). The first time you feel a kick, you record the time and then count kicks until you have felt 10. If there are 10 kicks in 2 hours, the baby is moving appropriately. If there are less than 10 kicks in 2 hours, you should drink some juice, eat some food, or walk around and try again. If this does not improve the movement, you should contact your doctor/midwife. I have done these occasionally on my own and usually it take only about 15-20 minutes (sometimes less) to get 10 kicks. Also it is not necessarily a kick, but any movement which is good, because I have no idea how you would determine a kick versus a punch. So I will start doing these once or twice a day, probably after lunch and before bed. That is when he is most active.

We have a baby shower on Thursday and our lamaze class on Saturday and Sunday. I will try to post something about both of those events next week.

See all the pics in the photo album

I had my 32 week appointment and ultrasound to monitor growth today.

Blood pressure: 132/78
Weight: Lost 3 lbs.
Baby×?Ts heartrate: 145 bpm
Baby×?Ts weight est.: 4 lbs 2 oz
Baby×?Ts head size: ~34w 2d
Baby×?Ts overall size: ~32w 4d

The ultrasound technician said that everything looked good. The fluid levels are good. The heart, kidneys, bladder, and stomach all look good and appear to be functioning normally. I was a bit surprised that the head measured 2 weeks ahead when everything else seems to be right on track. This is a little scary to me as I have to push that head out. This better just be a strange growth pattern and not a consistent thing.

My midwife was not too concerned about the weight loss. I think it is more like I did not gain anything. I wore jeans and a sweater with tennis shoes last appointment. I wore a short, sleeveless, lightweight dress and loafers (which are lighter than the tennis shoes) this time. I think the clothing difference account for most of that 3 lbs. This puts me back to 3-4 lbs over my prepregnancy weight.

My PT seems to have helped my hip quite a bit. Well that and falling on the stairs and pounding my knees into the ground. The fall was not that hard, but I have had little or no hip and back pain since I fell on Friday. Maybe something was just a little out of place and it got jarred back into position.

Update on me and the baby.

Friday I saw my rhuematologist and started physical therapy for my back and hip pain. My rhuematologist said she though everything was going well. She did not see any signs of major inflammation. She wants to see me back in 6 weeks. She did tell methat due to my loose ligaments, and floppy heart valve, it is very likely that i will dialate very quickly. This is news I shared with my midwife today (will get to that in a bit).

After that appointment I went to therapy. The therapist who evaluated me said that she did not think I needed a brace because my pelvis was not shifting around at all. She feels that I have inflammation in the joint from my arthritis and need to strengthen my core muscles and pelvic floor. She gave me a few exercises to do at home, but there is not much I can do because I can't lay on my stomach (obviously) and I should not lay on my back for any period of time. She has also had me start aquatic therapy 2 days a week. I starte that on Monday. The therapist that I am working with in the pool is 27 weeks pregnant so we have something in common to talk about while I am there.

So far the therapy seems to be helping me. My back and hip feel much better. They are still a bit sore, but getting better.

Today, I had my 30 week appointment. Everything seems to be going well. My blood pressure was 138/70. My heartrate is also a bit elevated. It has been between 88 and 100. My second glucose test was 96 (the first was 94). I have gained 8 pounds in the last month. I have finally passed my prepregnancy weight. I am now 6 pounds above it. My midwife said that normally she would tell a patient to be a bit cautious about gaining that much again, but in my case she is not concerned. Even if I gain that much each month for the rest of the pregnancy, I will still be within the allowable weight gain for my pregnancy.

I mentioned to her that my rhuematologist said that I would probably dialate quickly. She said that normally she does not do internal exams, but with that knowledge, she would like to consider starting them around 36 weeks. That way we will know if I am dialated at all before I go into labor and will know how quickly to get out the door to the hospital (especially since it is about 20 minutes away).

I think that is everything.