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We saw the doctor this morning for our weekly checkup. I had a bunch of bloodwork done last week and it all checked out fine. Our doctor was very happy with the results. My blood pressure seems to be a bit high again, and I keep seeing stars, so he put me on some low level medication to try and keep it under control. Next week, on the 5th, he’ll check to see how it’s doing and if it has gotten any worse he will want to induce me the following week, on the 11th. Otherwise, we will wait yet another week and I’ll be induced on the 18th. This is assuming that I don’t go into labor on my own before then. It is probably possible, but there are no signs yet that I will. The 18th is the target date, and the latest he’ll let me go. He thinks it is the best possible time for the boys to be born. That is in 2 weeks and four days and in my 38th week of pregnancy, nearly full term for a singleton!! I’ll be counting down; I can make it but I am having a hard time now. Both of the boys are still head down and everything looked great in the ultrasound. We’re almost there!
Outside of Les Ombres.
Out of the house and wearing something other than pajamas!! What an effort!!
Yesterday was our 2nd wedding anniversary and we celebrated it at Les Ombres, a restaurant atop Le musée du quai Branly. Before dinner, we drove around the city for a while and happened to find this amazing early 19th century botanical garden enclosed in ornate glass and steel buildings modeled after the Crystal Palace. The main building was open and nobody was there and inside was a tropical garden full of palm trees and exotic plants and koi ponds weaving though it. It was so beautiful and well maintained. We spent about an hour there before heading to the restaurant. We had a fantastic dinner and I was feeling great despite my current size.
A veiw of the tower from our table.
Bertram and our server at the table. A veiw of the glass ceiling.
We saw the midwife again this morning and my blood pressure was normal and there were no signs of hypertension or pre-eclampsia so there is nothing to worry about. I am still told to rest a lot but dont have severe restrictions. We went over some light excersizes and some breathing techniques for relaxation in preperation for the birth. Our next appointment with her is Sept. 3rd. She said that after September 9th, the boys could come safely at any time.
We saw the doctor this morning and the boys via ultrasound. The one on my right side was head up, feet down last time we looked and he has turned around again. Now both boys are head down. The doctor was very happy to see that. I had a feeling he had turned around because one day there was a lot of movement on his side and then after that, I could feel little feet kicking my ribs again. I was hoping that he had turned around.
I have begun to have some more unpleasent symptoms including swelling, rapid weight gain, (4lbs. per week) a strange feeling in my joints and seeing stars in my eyes. He wasn’t worried about any of the symptoms except the stars. It turns out that my blood pressure is too high and needs to be closely monitored for the rest of the pregnancy. I was also told to lay down all the time and basically not to leave to house anymore for the next month except to see the doctors. (!) This will be a challenge. I will be seeing him every week until delivery and if my blood pressure worsens, the babies may have to come sooner than planned. He thinks it will be ok though and that we can still expect to deliver around the 15th, in 4 weeks.
I just got up from a nap before I took this picture so my eyes are still a bit puffy but I guess they pale in comparison to my BELLY! I am actually almost at 33 weeks but that technically doesn’t start until Sunday. Can you tell I’m counting down now? I don’t really have any clothes left that cover my enormous belly, pregnancy clothes dont even work anymore. The tank top that I have on in the picture is extra big and extra long and used to go all the way past my hips.! I still have one outfit left but it is on its last days of coverage. Soon, the world will just have to see some skin. Someone needs to make maternity clothes for really pregnant women. The maternity clothes stopped working at 5 months. I guess even the designers dont want to face the reality of it.
Everything is going very well still. I have to spend most of my time horizontal, waiting, but it shouldn’t be much longer anymore. I saw my midwife last Monday with Bertram and that went well. She doesn’t speak a word of English so I am the bilingual one this time. Bertram helps a lot too. She is very experienced and smart so I feel good working with her. She has also worked with my doctor very closely for 20 years so that is an obvious comfort for all. She calmly addressed my fears and told me what to do when labor starts. Next Monday, she’ll teach me some breathing techniques and go through the entire birthing process with me so I know what to expect and am not (or at least less) afraid. She is my private coach and teacher for everything and she’ll be there first when I go to the hospital to get it all ready for me. Tuesday, I have another doctors appointment and sometime this week, I’ll be meeting the anesthesiologist. Lots of appointments.
I can feel how large the boys are now, probably more than 4 pounds each, plus all their living equiptment. They are very active and have strong movements. I think space is really tight for them now. We will all be happy when our bodies are liberated. We are ready for them here, their new stuff lays dorment until their arrival.
