36 Weeks & Counting

My 36 week appointment was today. It was good and embarrassing and a little disappointing...

While most of the doctors in Women's Health are female, I had met one male doctor, an older, grandfatherly type doctor. Having him was fine when I did, because there was no inspection of my "no-no spots"...but they went and snuck another male doctor in, a much younger male doctor, and I had him today of all days! Today was my wonderful Strep-B test! For anyone who doesn't know, the Strep-B test involves two swabs, one vaginal and one anal swab. They are checking for the infection because, while it doesn't hurt Mommy, it can make the baby very, very sick if it's not treated. If I am positive (which I'll find out next week) I'll just have to have antibiotics during labor...no biggie!

But...I have never, ever had a male down there poking around other than my husband! So for me to have some strange doctor come in and shake my hand and then go "Now let me invade your most intimate parts with a q-tip!" (he didn't actually SAY that, but it FELT that way!) almost sent me into a panic! I was so tempted to go "You know what, we can do this another time! Like when I'm seeing a female doctor!" Michael, who knows my feelings about male doctors and anything below my waist, just sat there looking amused and smug. This is a look he wears quite frequently lately where all this baby stuff is involved...I suppose he can afford to look smug, since the baby is not coming out of any part of HIM. I know I should get used to it. After all, it could be a male delivering me, and some of the maternity nurses are male...but since I'm not in labor, it's still something I'm pretty self-conscious and shy about. (Everyone says I won't care while I'm in labor...We'll see. I'm pretty private about such things. I even have a hard time asking my husband to help me trim up down there, and we're MARRIED!)

I had hoped, since he'd be down there poking around anyways, that he'd at least check to see if I was dilated at all...but no such luck! I was so bummed out, but he said since I'm not having any regular contractions that I am aware of, it was pointless. I know it's an every day thing for him, but it didn't seem pointless to me...But I'm not the M.D. either. He had also said that they wouldn't see me back until 38 weeks...at which point I almost cried! What, so I'm never going to have weekly appointments? When I went to make my appointment though, the nurse said that they would want to see me every week at this point, so she made my appointment for next week instead of 2 weeks, which made me happy again. She said he had done that before, but that here the other doctors would want me to be coming in ever week. (I am assuming he's new here. I know different places have different policies on that kind of stuff.) So, from now on I will be having weekly appointments until the baby arrives! So, a little disappointment followed by some good news too! I like that...it's balanced!

The baby's heartbeat is still steady in the 150s, though Baby likes to hide from the monitor! I have actually lost a pound and a half in the last 3 weeks, which isn't concerning the doctors so I guess it shouldn't concern me...but it puts me back down under my pre-pregnancy weight again. Still, we know the baby is growing. The doctor poked around on my tummy, and said that the baby is head down (which is right where it should be at this point) and he's guessing about 6 and a half pounds! Since babies usually gain about a half a pound a week at this point, he's guessing I'll have about an 8 and a half pound baby! I of course looked at my stomach in a near panic and ordered my child to stop growing this instant, while the doctor looked amused and Michael giggled and looked smug again. (He really did giggle too...he is enjoying all this way too much at the moment, and I'm wondering if he'll feel differently when it's actually time. Stupid boys have it too easy!)

EIGHT AND A HALF POUNDS?!!! (Of course, doctors guesses can be wrong, especially when they are doing it by feel...so I could have a smaller baby...or a larger one...I suppose it's to be expected though, since I was 8lbs 7oz. Baby is taking after Mommy. Bad, bad baby!)

That's about it. Nothing super exciting! I was violated with a q-tip in ways I don't even want to think about, I'm losing weight still, baby is gaining weight still and Michael is being far too smug about the entire situation. All good news, and I'll be back NEXT Wednesday to find out if I'm dilating at all. (Unless, of course, the baby decides to come before then. I still say, whenever baby is 100% ready and healthy, they can come! I want to meet my little one!!!)

Thanks for Reading!