36 and 37 Week Ultrasounds

37 Weeks Pregnant!

Last Monday was my 36 week check-up with Dr. Poonsak (remember that name from 8 months ago? He was our fertility doctor!). We were at the hospital all day because he wanted to do all the tests we had missed the previous 8 months. At the end of the exam he said he was pleased with how good every thing was, considering how many problems could have been missed in China. I, of course, was also very happy to hear that.

We solved the gender mystery... as you can see, it's clearly a girl!

You can also see her adorable little toes! (below) She was moving a lot during the ultrasound, so it took the technician a few tries to listen to the heart-beat and measure everything... but he got it all done and Dr. Poonsak was quick to tell us how big she! Her tummy measured one week ahead of schedule and her femur bone measured more than two weeks ahead of her gestational age! She is already so much like her daddy!!!!

Today we went back for the 37 week ultrasound (I'm FULL TERM!!!) and we got the results back from all the blood work and tests last week. My blood sugar level is under control (yay! Bring on the ice cream.) but I'm anemic and have low levels of protein. So I'm taking iron supplements and eating steak for lunch now haha.

He checked her heart beat and said it seemed a little slow... so after our tour of the natural birthing center and recovery room (wow, it's a sweet set-up) he put me on a continual external monitor for a non-stress test. Scott snapped a picture of the contraption:

It lets you hear the heart beat, and also prints out a graph of how many beats per minute to give the doctor a good idea if she is under any stress. I also had a clicker in my hand and had to push the button every time she moved.

This "smile" on my face (below) is so.completely.unbelievably. fake. It is the opposite of how I was feeling. I was close to tears during the whole tour of the birthing center and worrying about my sweet baby girl and why her heart beat was slow. But Scott continued to tell me "it's above 130 now" "hey, it's up to 140!" "see, her heart beat is just fine!"

Dr. Poonsak looked over the graph after 30 minutes and gave us the A-0k that everything was fine! All that worry for nothing! Praise the Lord for a big, healthy baby!