Poly what????

This morning was my weekly doctor's appointment. I'll be 39 weeks tomorrow (close enough, right?).

I am still 1cm dilated, 80% effaced but now at a -2 station (baby's head is lower this week)!! I'll take that bit of progress :)

They measured my belly and for the second time in 3 weeks, they said I'm measuring large. The number of centimeters is supposed to be around the # of weeks you are. So instead of being 39 cm, my measurement was 44 cm. This time they sent me up to triage for an ultrasound and to check Sabrina's weight/size.

Eventually I was led into a room where they hooked me up to a fetal heart monitor and a contraction monitor (just strapped to the outside of my belly). This is what they call an NST or Non-Stress Test. I was able to listen to Sabrina's heart beats for about 30-45 minutes before a medical student came in to talk about my medical history (like it's not already all spelled out in the chart she was holding). But it is after all a teaching hospital. So we get through all that and then the "real MD" on staff comes in and we begin the ultrasound. First she measured pockets of fluid (one in each "quadrant") and somehow totalled them up and said it's above the normal range, a condition called polyhydramnios. It occurs in 10% of women who have gestational diabetes (not me!) and in women carrying multiples (again, not me). I liken it to it to Sabrina's "swimming pool" being bigger than that of her peers! She also measured the circumference of the abdomen and head and those measured around the 40 week mark.

They ruled out the "bad" causes for it (like her not breathing/swallowing the fluid like she's supposed to, etc. They know she IS swallowing it because they could see the "bubble" of fluid in her little tummy). So they'll keep an eye on me via bi-weekly NST's and once-a-week fetal measurement sessions using an ultrasound until such time as I deliver.

I'm not too concerned about it at this point, since I know it's not causing Sabrina any issues. There a few risks associated with the condition, like an increased risk for umbilical cord prolapse or placental abruption, but since I am now armed with the knowledge and symptoms, I will hopefully be able to recognize either condition using my honorary medical degree from my previous work with NIH :)

In summation, the doc could not come up with any identifiable cause for it; except to say that the so-called normal ranges are based upon women who may not have, ahem, the same "frame" as I do (this, according to the medical student anyway).

I asked if this was something for which they would induce early... no! So if I don't go into labor on my own, I'm still looking at delivering at week 41 with an induction, which would be scheduled at my week 40 appointment next Tuesday 7/29 (my due date).

Two neat things happened today though...

1. For the first time, I have confirmation that it is indeed a girl in there. It was only on the 3rd or 4th ultrasound around week 24 that they could finally tell I was having a girl and the doc was only able to see for fleeting moment (she was 75% sure it was a girl). And ever since then, when I've asked a doctor to confirm it, they weren't able to tell, etc. Well, today the doctor had a clear view and even volunteered the info without my having to ask! Definitely a testicle-free zone :)

2. The doctor showed me on the ultrasound that Sabrina has hair on her head! You could tell there were some fuzzy wuzzies present... that was really cool to see!