Update on The Boy

We had a little excitement last week that we could have done without. I was having some painless contractions Wednesday morning, which I really wouldn't have worried about but I also had an achy back and the MFM doc said my cervix, while still long and closed, is funneling already. With me, better safe than sorry, so I checked in for a stint in Labor and Delivery. They hooked me up to the monitors and did a fetal fibronectin test. The "contractions" weren't even registering on the monitor and the ffn test came back negative, so I was sent home with orders to "take it easy". I'm sure they giggled when I left and put my folder in the "crazy" pile. They know I'll be back. :D

So ... A funneling cervix is not a good thing BUT it is still 4-5 cm long. You worry at 2.5. Picture, if you so desire, a 5 cm cylinder. At the top, you have a 1cm funnel going down into it. Imagine there's a baby's head headed down that funnel and you've just pictured my cervix and, well, what happens during birth.

Next ... The fetal fibronectin test, in case you're wondering, is a swab test that can predict pre-term labor. Fetal fibronectin is a chemical in a substance that acts as a glue between the amniotic sac and the walls of the uterus. If it is detected in ... where the baby comes out ... You are pretty likely to go into labor within the next two weeks. A negative result is actually more helpful in determining that you will NOT go into pre-term labor for 2 weeks. A little peace of mind for us.

So being a couch potato is my life now. I went to Dr. P today (she's the OB) and instead of releasing me from couch arrest, she said I really need to do a whole lot of nothing until I'm at least 30 weeks. Yeah, I'm 26 weeks today so that takes me all the way to April. She explained it to me in terms I would understand. The difference between a little boy being born at 26 weeks and 30 weeks is "survival". Guess I'll be sitting on my ass as much as possible. Can't argue with that.

And how possible is that when poor Megan and Emily are going stir crazy and are watching so much TV they don't even care anymore?! At least they have school twice a week.

So that's where we are today. I see Dr. P again next Friday and she'll probably do another FFN test. I see Dr. Z again the week after that. He's the MFM who does all the sonograms. Then, I'm back with Dr. P the week after that. Still doing my weekly shots too. Too late to rethink this whole thing ... But I would probably do it all over again even knowing what I know now. Can't wait to meet this little guy - SOMETIME in MAY!!

Kid, listen to your mother!

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