About That Test & Taking It Easy

I just might fall asleep before I finish this.  I meant to write yesterday.  Really, I did.  But no did do and now today is almost through (listen to me wax poetic).

Anyway, so yesterday we went in for a non-stress test.  Weston came with me.  They put two monitors on my belly and through those they monitored the heartbeat, her movements and any contractions I had.  They were looking to make sure the baby's heart rate increases with movements and contractions instead of dropping.   That was basically it.  Little babe had the hiccups for a little bit.  That was cute.  She was sleepy and not moving around much, so it was hard for them to get a good reading.  They wanted her to wake up and move around.  It was completely opposite from the ultrasound the day before when they wanted her to chill and hold still and she was moving a ton.  What they did record they said looked good.

While I was getting the non-stress test, the midwife and Weston and I talked more about the ultrasound from the day before.  Basically my amniotic fluid measured 7 cm which is low normal.  5-25 centimeters is normal.  The cord is not delivering all of the nutrients the baby needs, obviously, which is why she is small.  I read on the internet last night that one of the purposes of the amniotic fluid is to support the umbilical cord from being compressed.  I wonder if me having not so much fluid is causing the low blood flow in the cord.  I am going to ask that the next time that I go in.

The midwife said that the baby is in a "less than optimal" environment right now, so we will need to keep monitoring maybe twice a week, and if things start looking better for baby outside rather than inside where she is now they may need to intervene.  Talking about all of that made my nerves go wacko and I started shaking and getting all jittery as I was getting the test done.  I was afraid that it would effect the results, but I don't think that it did - pretty sure that it didn't.  It just made me have crazy convulsion-like shakes and everything in my stomach turn to acid.

The midwife told me that I needed to rest more, lay on my left side, and drink a lot.  I've been trying to, but man do I feel like a lazy bum.  But I also feel that I really need the rest and can totally feel the difference after laying down even for a little bit.  And how ironic is it that the weather is just turning nice and I have a million things that I want to/need to do and was just getting going on?  Yeah, pretty ironic indeed.  BUT, of course, what is more important, a healthy baby or getting things done?  Yeah, no doubt on the answer there.  That makes it easy.

I will go back in on Monday for another non-stress test and another ultrasound.  That will be my 5th ultrasound this pregnancy.  I have only had 6 appointments - 2 with the other midwife place, 1 "OB shopper" visit, 1 normal checkup, and then my appointments last Thursday and Friday.  It sounds like I will make up for it now, though, going in twice a week.

*

So here are some of the things that I observed today as I chilled on my backside resting and drinking water.

First from the front porch:

Hanging basket on the front porch - an orange can-can

Feet up on the porch swing.

I gave Jiles a bag of gold fish and a push, and went and sat back on the porch swing.
That didn't last very long.

Weston cutting the posts.

Grandma feeding the horses in the front pasture.

Biker boys.  I think the biker girl was in a tree.
Notice Spencer's fat feet.  He thought it was cool to wear like 10 pairs of socks and no shoes as he rode the Marsha Brady bike.
I did not think that it was cool and told him so just after I took this picture.

I need to finish painting the trim on the hen house.

The flowers that sit on the front porch are waiting for a pot.

The creek is still raging, but lower.

 And then later.  Same day, similar situation, different porch (and different shoes):

Kick up the feet.  

Biker ride by.
This boy is obsessed with his bike.

Spencer watches Grandpa plow the garden spot.

Spencer drools as he watches Weston rototill a flower bed.
Spencer mowed the lawn yesterday.
We (ston) need (s) to weed eat.

Monkey girl.
I wonder where she got that from.

Jiles escapes through the grass.

  And lastly, a 34-week prego shot.  (This one I did not take from sitting on my backside.):

Am I still awake?  Barely.  It's a new day (after midnight).  I'd better go and hit the hay.

Good night