NESTING
Nesting is the mother's instinct to create a safe and comfortable environment. Due to working, I wasn't too concern with this in the earlier trimesters, but having now been on maternity leave for a month, and also spending a lot of time at home, I found myself being overly anal about furniture placement, cleanliness, order, and organizing all my paperwork! It has calmed down a bit, but I can't help but keep looking for more ways to make my room cozier! I currently have white lights, and I really would like to buy a few yellow light lamps to give my room a warm glow!
ANXIETY
I have definitely found myself getting more and more anxious as the due date approaches. I shared my concerns with my family and husband, but no one really understood. I was anxious about the language barrier, the unmediated labor process, and then all the unknowns in between and after. I was also anxious because my family could no longer come to Japan due to Covid, and also all the physical changes in my body that I am not used to. Luckily, I am easily able to come up with positives in my life, which does help me calm down, but sometimes I can't help but worry or go down the rabbit hole when I'm sleepy or in pain.
HEARTBURN
The heartburn and lack of appetite has been plaguing me around week 38. Before 38 weeks, it was bad, but recently it has been really horrible. I have a lost of my appetite due to the eternally full feeling and the burning in my throat. I'm always burping, coughing, and hiccuping. I try not to lay down after eating, and I have been eating bananas, which helps a bit. I've also cut down on my eating a lot, and even when I eat, it's small meals. This has caused me to not gain any weight in two weeks, but that's okay. I am also religiously taking over the counter heartburn medication (My OB approved it), and they help a little bit.
URINE
We all know that pregnant women have to use the restroom a lot since the baby is oftentimes resting on the bladder, but during week 38-39, I have been going to the bathroom like every 15 minutes! It's insane, and it's really interrupting my sleep cycle. Also, I have to keep myself well hydrated because of this, so it's a never ending cycle!
GBS (Ｂ群溶血性連鎖球菌)
I was tested for Group B Streptococcus at week 37, and the results were negative! Yay! If you do not know what GBS is, please follow this link here for more information.
PROTEIN
My urnialysis results had been showing that there was protein in my urine. I was getting positives for three weeks straight, and one week, I had shown swelling in my feet. I was worried that I was developing pre-eclampsia. However, I consistently had normal to low blood pressure, so my doctor was not concerned but to ease my anxiety, she ordered a more detailed test. Fortunately, my protein was under the threshold and it isn't something to worry about!
NST
I have been receiving NST since my 37th week of pregnancy. All they do is hook up a heart monitor to my stomach, and I lay their for 30 minutes, and push a button if I feel movement. The doctors and nurses then just monitor to make sure the baby is doing well. It's kind of sad not seeing the baby in an ultrasound, but it's nice to know that everything is okay!
CERVIX CHECK
I get a cervix check every week now, and it's pretty simple and doesn't hurt at all. Unfortunately, I've only been dilated 1 centimeter since week 38.
INDUCE
Since I will most likely go pass my due date, as I was only dilated one centimeter at my last check-up, we discussed what we should do. My doctor said that since I am healthy and the baby is healthy, we will just wait it out for as long as it is safe, and then I'll be induced sometime during my 42nd week of pregnancy. So, most likely you'll hear from me again for weeks 40-42! See you then!
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