Catching Up...

During the month of April, I spent once or twice a week in the doctor's office hooked up to the monitor. This non-stress test (NST) measures the baby's heartbeat and contractions. The position that I am in on the exam table is slightly uncomfortable, and well...after an hour or so...I am very ready be unhooked! On April 24th, I was about 1 centimeter dilated.

Usually, everything looks fine...the heart rate is normal and few, if any, contractions show up. But on Thursday, April 28th, the baby was not happy with the two monitors confining her movements. After 10 minutes or so of normal heart rate, the monitor showed an increased heart rate for the rest of the time.

So, when the doctor came in to examine the paper strip, he was concerned and referred me to the hospital for additional monitoring with a diagnosis of fetal tachycardia. I drove over to the hospital for more monitoring. The nurse hooked me up to the hospital's monitor. Instantly, we could see that the heart rate was within a normal range. My blood pressure and blood sugar was fine. They monitored me for about an hour and a half, and then I was discharged.

Fortunately, I haven't experienced any more of this!

While on the monitor on Friday, May 13th, I started noticing some contractions. That peak on the bottom of the test strip is a contraction. The doctor checked and I was 3 centimeters dilated. This was my last day to work!! WooHoo!!

I have spent the last week here at home, relaxing and dealing with a lot of pelvic pain. I had normal NSTs on Tuesday, May 17th, and Friday, May 20th . I was 3+ centimeters dilated on Friday. So, we scheduled one more NST for Monday, May 23rd, and an induction for Tuesday, May 24th.

So, ready...set...go...almost!!!