Week 24, Day 7 (Midwife visit update)

It was time to brave the cold snap and venture out to see the midwife for this month's check-up.

All good: BP was 122 over 60, weight was up 1.1kgs on last month (but bear in mind kidlet has put on 300 grams all by himself in the last month, and I've had a hard two weeks of the flu). I'm looking washed out and in need of rest, but what else is new ;-)

I brought Robyn up to speed on the Braxton-Hicks contractions, the spotting episode, and the worries those two caused me when they coincided. Robyn agrees that it's probably nothing to worry about, but worth noting in case anything escalates. We also discussed how the nicotine patches aggravated the baby (making him into a frenetic party animal), and also agreed that this weekend's plan to go cold turkey is a much better idea. She's very pleased with the progress of the pregnancy thus far, and the fundus (the top of the uterus) is actually closer to the 26 week measurement than the 24th, which confirms the likelihood that we've got a big healthy baby on board.

I tried to control my tickle-ability to let her have a good push & prod and it was a bit easier to manage now that we've moved above the naval area!! Then came the heartbeat measurement, and again Baby demonstrated his loathing of anything that comes with sound waves.

We kinda figured he had a strong dislike to sound waves with his earlier reactions to the ultrasounds and heart beat monitor, but today he removed all doubt.

Robyn placed the monitor on my belly and SLAM!!! Within a second or two he kicked out at the sensor, hitting it with immediate ease and disdain.

Robyn then moved the sensor to another part of the belly, saying "well if that's his feet up there, his chest will be down here".. and WALLOP!!! Baby swiveled around and let fly with that foot again.

Having made his point twice, he then went into a high sulk and actually moved himself as far away from the sensor as he could (but we tracked him down and got the measurements anyway). Robyn had to wriggle the sensor a bit to keep track of him as he avoided it, but after a while he gave in and lay still long enough to get the necessary measurements.

His heart rate is nice and steady, and changes as expected when he's being active.

Most babies don't notice or mind sound waves, but apparently every so often you get one who doesn't like it. Trust my child to be one of the opinionated ones!!! Does this mean he's got his father's incredible hearing, or his mother's aversion to whines and vibrations?

We next see Robyn on the 21st (just before my birthday, LOL, and two days after our first antenatal class), when I get bled and tested again. They'll be checking for iron levels, antibodies that might signify some separation of the placenta & allergy to baby's blood type, and of course diabetes and signs of pre-eclampsia. Nothing at all so far to indicate any of these are likely, but it's better to test and be reassured than to miss an early warning sign.

Robyn gave me the choice of letting her take my blood, or going in to a clinic for it. I chose her, because considering she's got my baby's life in her hands, I already trust her enough to allow her to stick a nasty needly thing in me. As my mate June used to say, "If this is the worst thing that ever happens to you, you've got off light".

I've always liked that saying - it puts life's little dramas into a rather tidy perspective :-)

Wooohooo.. 25 weeks tomorrow!! How exciting is THAT!!