However the most significant difference is how our little girl has been showing signs she just wants to come early! With Strummer I was told I would go early, b/c I was always measuring 3-4 weeks ahead at each appointment. So due to him being SO LARGE I had multiple ultrasounds and I had to a stress-test to make sure he was doing okie-dokie. During these stress-tests at the end of the pregnancy, I apparently was having small contractions, but never felt them. Plus, they didn't do anything to help the process of getting my body ready to deliver. So to our surprise, he wasn't early, he was late! And mostly likely would have been more than 4 days late if I wasn't induced. So, w/him, I never had significant contractions and he never dropped. So I really never felt any type of extra pain. This time around has been a lot different!
Lets just say the 3rd trimester has been....interesting. Starting at week 28 I had my first visit to the hospital. I started to have a small bit of spotting and cramping and so I was told by my doctor to come to the hospital to get things checked out. Thankfully the spotting didn't last very long and after I was hooked up to the monitors, I found out I was having contractions! So after being there for awhile, I was able to go home when the contractions went from coming every 5 min to every 15-20 min. They had me take a prescription to help keep things calmed down, 'cause clearly, a baby coming that early would not be a good thing! Fast-forward another month or so and things were just fine! Then I come down w/the flu! PS - having the flu when you're 33 weeks is not a good thing. So since my first visit I have been back a few more times. I can say I've been acclimated w/the Boone Hospital, the nurse staff and the Birth Center!
I ended having another ultrasound last week after my appointment just b/c Dr. Parsons wanted to check the fluid and such to make sure everything is still on track. The u/s tech said everything looked pretty normal! Hurray! She also said all her measurements were running a little bit ahead. So, that's a plus. She also said Edyn has a nice round head and she's ready to go. As in, she's already head down, she was laying on her stomach, tucked in a ball and in the position to exit! She was also at an estimated weight of 5 lb-9 oz at 34 1/2 weeks. Of course, sometimes they aren't completely accurate w/the weight. But at least I know she's probably over 5-1/2 lbs. So may even be more. W/Strummer on the day I went in and was induced, they said he was a little over 8 lbs, and was 8-14! The tech thought if I went to 40 weeks Edyn would be a nice 7-1/2 lbs!
I'm thankful I haven't had to have extended hospital stays or have to be on bed rest! (I was just on bed rest for one day during my week 28 visit)
However, since the contractions started back up at 34 weeks, I'm off the medication and I've already started dilating, she may be making her entrance b/f March 25th. As Dr. Parsons said at my appointment, 'as long as she stays put for another 10 days' so, as long I make it til week 36 then we are good to go! I'm glad to know she's over 5 lbs and now everything is all developed, she is now just 'packing on the pounds'. So I'm hoping to make it to week 37 and if I go til my due date, I think everyone would be surprised, but it's not in my hands! It's in God's hands! :o)

