Bumpdate: 34 Weeks

• Size of baby: About 18.5 inches and about 4.75 lbs. About the size of a pineapple. 
• Symptoms: Back pain, and Sciatica, random throwing up in my mouth. Pain! Pain! Pain! And contractions!!
• Fetal Movement: Well, despite not having enough room, she's been very active. Her new favorite move is burrowing....
• Sleep: It is almost impossible to get to sleep at night, then I just can't get enough. But I've stopped waking up 30+ times a night, now usually once or twice.
• Cravings: I've actually found myself eating less. I really wanted sweet and sour chicken from the new Thai place down the street, but barely ate any of it. I did gorge on some popcorn shrimp from red lobster this week too. Typically something sounds good, but the idea is fleeting.
• Best Moment this Week: I had an ultrasound this week! Because of all the fluid (see below for full update) the picture was a lot clearer, and I was able to watch S suck on her fingers, yawn and rub her face. It was probably as close as I've ever gotten to crying during an ultrasound!
• What I Look Forward To: The relief of not having to worry about when she gets here.  Still applies.

General Baby Update:

Last week at my ultrasound appointment the doctor mentioned that I was measuring small. I wasn't to concerned because the same thing happened with K, and I was feeling so incredibly cramped that there was no doubt S was measuring fine. And this week that was confirmed, S is right on point, and sitting very low, ready to go as soon as the gates open, if you will. The reason I'm feeling so cramped however is an excess of amniotic fluids. I'm right on the cusp of the "uh-oh" zone, and when you reach the uh-oh zone there's a chance of Preterm Labor (PTL). As I have a history of PTL this is a little concerning, but not enough to rush to see the doctor. 

I go in Monday to discuss this and my pain management issues with him. I've been struggling with horrible back pain for most of my pregnancy, the doctor has recommended a support belt and seeing a chiropractor which really helped up until recently.

About two weeks ago I went to the Labor and Delivery department of the local hospital for a non-stress test, as it was noon and S was refusing to move. They woke the little spitfire right up and all was well, but in her jubilation she managed to thoroughly upset my back, as had been happening more and more recently. The nurses were concerned about the stress of me being in so much pain, and how it would effect S, so they sent me immediately to the ER for pain management. There they prescribed me a big needle in my hip full of some heady concoction, and a prescription for an oral version of the stuff. I am not fond of narcotics, but as I've been struggling to get daily tasks done as is, and at the end of my rope emotionally because of it, I figured it should be considered. At my last appointment I discussed the risks with the OB and basically it boiled down to this: I have to do what I have to do to get buy and take care of K too. So I'm taking it as easy as is realistically possible, while also taking very limited doses of a heady narcotic. 

As the back issue isn't directly baby related (it's a previous injury that's being aggravated by S's growth and movement) I had to follow up with a primary care doctor today. She looked over my history, heard out my current symptoms then took a look first at my back then at my belly and declared she'd give me a two week refill because apparently I'm going to go into labor any day now by the looks of things. My OB has consistently been of the opinion that I won't make it much more then 37 weeks. 

With K I went in for an induction at 39 due to high blood pressure. But the only reason I made it to 39 weeks was because I was on bed rest for 30 weeks and I was taking preventative medications. Obviously this time bed rest really isn't an option with K terrorizing the place, and I've very stubbornly refused the medications as it made me absolutely psychotic last time. My blood pressure has been moving up this pregnancy at a pretty consistent pace, and should be reaching the point of concern at 37 weeks, but ironically the narcotic has a side effect of lowering blood pressure. 

Taking all these factors in to account I'd say we have about 2.5 weeks left! Unfortunately I made a promise to myself last night that I would not go into freak out mode until the 1st.... So... if anyone asks I'm not freaking out.