We're coming up on thirty weeks now! We grow more excited to meet this little guy every day!
Everything has checked out fine during my regularly scheduled OBGYN visits, but since this pregnancy is considered high risk, we're starting some new tests that will be done every couple of weeks for the remainder of the pregnancy.
Some doctors will suggest that you have these tests, just to stay on the safe side. My insurance covers them, so I say, bring them on!
The first test is simple. It's a fetal growth scan, and it's exactly how it sounds. They do a quick (literally five minutes, much to our disappointment) ultrasound scan to measure the baby's weight. We had our first scan today and learned Wyatt is nearly four pounds! It's amazing how much different a baby looks at thirty weeks as opposed to the earlier"extraterrestrial" versions. Don't get me wrong, ultrasounds can be quite otherworldly (to put it nicely) at all stages of pregnancy... as you can see from the photo above (a front view of Wyatt's face) they still look like aliens in the third trimester. Now they're bigger, lovable little aliens that make your heart melt.
The second test is a called a non stress test. Non and stress are the key words. It's easy and won't hurt you or the baby at all. They put a belt monitor on your belly to measure the baby's heart rate and to measure if there are any contractions happening in there. They record for twenty to thirty minutes any fluctuations in movement and heart rate. They also stimulate the baby by putting a buzzer against your belly to get him or her moving, especially if the baby is sleeping. Again, much like charting growth, the purpose of this test is to make sure the baby is on track and reacting like it's supposed to.
Chances are, if the little one is in the proper growth range and is reacting normally to outside stimuli, all is well in babytown.
You doctor might skip these tests all together (depending how concerned he or she is with the Lyme). I think I'm due for 2 more growth scans before delivery, and I will go in for the non stress test every two weeks.
Personally, though I know all is well based on intuition and the fact that this kid already has a black belt in karate (he kicks like you would not believe!), I enjoy the bonding time with the little one--getting to see him and track his movements. I also appreciate that my doctor is extra cautious rather than passive. I've had enough unconcerned doctors to last a lifetime, and this change is a breath of fresh air.
