Before I get into this week's update I'm going to give a recap of the news we received during our 36 week appointment with our midwife on Monday. Sorry it's so long, but I got really emotional about this and just wanted to get it all out at once.

I thought it was going to be like any other appointment, but we got a bit of a surprise and just one more thing to plan for when going into labor. I tested positive for Group Beta Strep. Saying that sounds a little scary if you don't know what it means, but I had already researched this issue before seeing my midwife so the fact that I tested positive was still surprising, but at least I knew what it was and what precautions would have to be taken during labor. Basically GBS is a bacteria that most adults already have swimming around in their intestinal tracts and only becomes an issue during a few specific times--like when a woman is pregnant and the bacteria is present anywhere near the birth canal. This means I have to be given antibiotics through an IV during labor so there is less of a risk of the baby being affected (while most adults have GBS, babies aren't born with it and don't have the immune system to withstand exposure at birth). While an IV wasn't in my birth plan, I am getting used to the idea of knowing I won't be constantly tied to a drug administering machine; I will have a hep-lock, which will stay in my arm but I only need to be hooked up once every 4 hours that I am in labor to get a dose of the antibiotic and then it can be disconnected. So it doesn't seem all that bad, but I am still a little worried about the cascade of interventions that COULD occur. As soon as my water breaks, I am put on a timer. In general, the longer a woman goes without delivering the baby after her water breaks, the higher there is for a chance of bacteria build-up or infection that could affect the baby during delivery. Once admitted, most facilities allow a woman to go 24 hours after their water has broken before entering active labor (progressive dilating and effacing of the cervix due to labor contractions). In my case, being GBS+, I am only given 12 hours. Meaning, if dilation doesn't progress with increasing contractions in 12 hours, I will most likely need medical intervention to induce labor. There are several methods to try, but what I'm most afraid of is being given Pitocin, which is what my midwife said could be a possibility. I have read and heard so many horror stories about this drug, most of which end up with an epidural or an emergency c-section, all of which I would do anything to avoid. For a lot of women, Pitocin forces labor contractions that are extremely painful and very close together, making them almost unbearable, which is why more women opt for an epidural at that point. I couldn't help but cry as my midwife was delivering us this information. I know not everything goes as planned, but I had the perfect birthing time and delivery mapped out in my head and I felt like it was all being crushed in that moment. I'm trying to remain optimistic and hope that this is just a bump in the road, rather than being driven off a cliff. I am very hopeful that an IV antibiotic is all I will need because I really want to enjoy the experience and be fully present without any drugs during my birthing time.

Other info from the appointment-- My little munchkin is measuring at 34 weeks, so she is a bit small, but nothing to be concerned about. She is still head down, but is face up, which will make for some interesting back pain if she stays that way when I go into labor. However, I've researched some techniques (google: Spinning Babies), and there are some exercises I can do to help her flip over naturally before birth. My midwife also suggested doing some cat stretches (kind of a yoga technique, and also mentioned on Spinning Babies) to help with the pelvic pain from my ligaments loosening and baby descending in preparation for birth. My red blood cell count will be tested one more time next week to see if my new supplement is helping restore my iron levels. I really hope so because if not, I probably won't be able to donate baby's cord blood and it increases my risk for a higher than normal blood loss during delivery. *Fingers crossed on this one!*

And of course, what we've all been waiting for.... hehe:

Little Roo is the length of a head of romaine lettuce!