Just a quick update from a medical standpoint: I went to the doctor's on Wednesday for my weekly check-up. As usual everything is just about the same and fine for me - my weight stayed the same, my blood pressure is fine, and I'm not having any issues with my kidneys being able to filter my blood. The baby's heart rate was exactly where it should be (140s-150s) and he/she continues to be in the right position with his/her head down. She also continues to say that she thinks the baby "isn't very big", but I have no idea what scale she is making that assumption on. Finally, the doctor did an exam for the first time to see if I am progressing at all yet.
There are three things that the doctor measures to determine when it's time for a baby to be born (when it's time to push!). The first is the one that everyone is probably most familiar with - dilation. The cervix goes from 0-10cm dilated in the course of labor. You need to be at 10cm to start pushing. The second is cervical effacement or thinning. Throughout pregnancy the cervix should be thick and it gradually becomes thinner in preparation for labor; it is measured from 0-100% effacement. The third parameter is called the baby's "station". This measurement explains where the baby's head is in relation to the mom's pelvis. It is generally measured as -2 through +2. -2 means the baby is still above the pelvis, 0 means the baby is settled right into the pelvis, and +2 means the baby is descended towards the cervix. From my first exam, the doctor said I am 1cm dilated, 80% effaced, and a -2 station. According to her, this is a good start.
Now that I am on maternity leave with nothing to do, my posts will probably be more frequent, so check back often for updates!
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