OB visit at 35 weeks
Today my weight was at 187. Mind you I’ve noticed that the scales in the docs office are different from the scales in Laura’s office so it’s hard to know for sure what my current weight is. I bet a few pounds of it are all the fluid retention in my feet and legs (yes, it’s moved up above my knees now). My blood pressure was a little high but not enough to be concerned. So I will continue to keep an eye on my face and make sure it doesn’t start to get swollen (sign of preclampsia).
My cervix is 30% effaced and I’m dilated 1 cm, which is an improvement on last week when I was 25% effaced and no dilation. Dilation refers to the opening of the cervix, while effacement refers to the “ripening” (thinning and softening) of the cervix. Dilation is measured in centimeters, from 0 to 10. The cervix is fully open and you are able to push when it is dilated to 10 centimeters. Dilation often begins days or weeks before labor actually begins. The cervix prepares for birth by softening and thining. Effacement is measured in percent and when it is 100% effaced it is completely thinned out for vaginal delivery.
Next week I go in to see the OB on Tuesday, go to the Perinatal Clinic for a Non-Stress Test on Wednesday and then see the OB again on Friday. Mom arrives on Saturday so the boys can come any time after that!
I also found out more about how things work with the twin labor and delivery. I will be laboring in a regular labor room and can have as many people there or visiting as I would like. This is good because I know of at least 5 people who hope to be there! However, when it’s time for the delivery I’ll move to a cesearean suite (suite = fancy name for operating room) and only be allowed to have one person present. This is incase something happens and they have to quickly move into cesearean mode. They also will have double the number of hospital people there: extra nurses, an extra OB, neonatal docs, an anesthesiologist, etc.
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Comments
I gave birth at Seton too, and I chose to just have my husband with me besides doctor and nurses, and when it was time for me to push, there were suddenly a lot of them in there. It seems a little like it would be weird having so many strangers around me in that moment, but it actually felt neat to be surrounded by all these women, all there for me and the baby, helping in whatever way they could. It made me feel really supported then.
I dunno why I felt compelled to share that, but there you go.
So exciting! You’ll be meeting your boys soon! Good luck with the L&D–I wish you a quick and easy labor!