Our appointment with the pediatrician went well. She was able to answer the few questions I asked and even some that I didn't ask, but should have. I think we will be very happy with her.
Thursday we had our 36 week doctor's appointment. Our doc was out with the flu, so we saw a different doc in the practice. I was really impressed that she seemed to have looked over my chart before coming in to meet me...she knew my weeks gestation, my age... I thought that was great! She said that she noticed that I didn't have a Non-Stress Test (NST) or an Amniotic Fluid Index (AFI) scheduled for that day. She said that it is usually at 36 weeks that they begin these 2 tests on all AMA (advanced maternal age) Mom's. I said he had mentioned doing it at 37 weeks, but not for this appointment. She said that if Ron and I had time to stay she would like to do them. So we stayed.
First, the NST... They took us back to a testing room, and strapped 2 belts onto my belly. One was to monitor any contractions I may have, the other was to monitor the baby's heartrate. She had me sit in a big, ugly, white leather chair. It may have been ugly, but it was the most comfortable chair EVER!!!! Then she gave me a button to push (looks like a button you give a patient in the hospital when they are allowed morphine for pain...but no morphine here). I am supposed to push the button everytime I feel Atticus move. She said that since it is non-stress, all they do is monitor his heart when I am at rest to make sure that as he moves and is active that his heartrate increases. They want to see an increase 3 times...The test lasts a minimum of 20 minutes (with co-operative babies) or can go on and on trying different tricks to get baby to move. Well, Mr. Wiggle Worm Atticus was being exceptionally active and we had no problem getting 3 good heartrate increase tracings in 20 minutes! In fact, I think we could have been done in 12 or 13!! The whole time they are performing the test, you sit back and listen to baby's heartbeat and all his movements and kicks. It was pretty cool!
Next was the AFI. This was another ultrasound! It was a great surprise to get another look at our little man when we really weren't expecting it. She measured the areas of amniotic fluid and said that our index was 15.1. They want to see the numbers between 6 and 20, so both the ultrasound tech and the doctor said our numbers looked great! While she was doing her thing, the tech showed us some movements that he was making. She said that what we were seeing is him practicing his breathing. She said that is a great sign, that you don't see this when babies are in distress because they have to concentrate so hard on making their heart beat, they can't do both. So that was awesome news! While we were watching his face, he kept moving his hands up to his mouth while he was practicing swallowing...then he would stick his tongue out at us! It was really funny to watch! The only other thing that the ultrasound tech told us is that Atticus is face up right now. However, he does have 3 weeks and 4 days left to flip over the right way! All in all, we had a really great appointment! We go to the doctor again on this coming Thursday. Since Ron is out of town, Mom is going to try to go with me.
Today was my last baby shower. Mary and Mom threw this one for me at Mary and Dad's house. It was really, really nice! It was a Cubs themed party, so we had Cubs cake, plates and napkins. Here are just a couple of the wonderful gifts we got...they are Cubs themed so I thought it would be fun to share!
The diaper cake that Mom made:
The toybox that Dad and Mary got for Atticus:
A shirt from Sarah, Eric, & Zoe (not Cubs, but I can't wait to show Ron):
Sarah took a picture of Mom, Mary, me and Carole, I'll post that after I get it from her. Another very special gift we received, is that Mary started scrapbooking this blog so that we would always have it. It is really beautiful and very special. A way that we will always have to remember the 9 months leading up to the moment Atticus is born. It was a beautiful day, and we are very lucky to have such wonderful friends and family. We appreciate everything everyone has done for us and we love you all. Ron leaves on Monday to go to Florida to be the best man in our friends Dave and Shellie's wedding. He will be gone until Friday night, so Mr. Atticus is on strict instructions that he needs to stay put a little while longer. I'm not too worried about it. It gives me a chance this week to get a lot of things done around the house!
