My not so “non” stress test

I went in to the doctor’s office yesterday for a non-stress test on baby Aubree. This test for those of you that don’t know is to monitor the baby’s heartbeat and the hope is that within 20-30 minutes there are 2-3 heart rate increases that go along with kicks/movement of the baby. Aubree was kicking and squirming right up until I sat down and got strapped in. Then she slept. The entire time! Because of my history with loss I was sent right over to labor and delivery for a biophysical profile. This is an ultrasound that rates the baby on criteria such as amniotic fluid level, practicing of breathing, kicks, and tone. Anyway, she passed that test easily (thank goodness). I was eventually sent home with a strawberry-banana smoothie and a promise to head over to the doctor’s office again today for another non-stress test. Of course the worry wart that I am was mildly stressed out over the whole ordeal. It also brought back some Orion memories. He didn’t do so well on the biophysical profile ultrasounds. Anyway, I went today to the doctor’s office armed with a Jamba Juice and candy bars (candy bars were my back up plan). She had an active morning already, so I was nervous about the napping again, but that smoothie helped…so much so that she didn’t stay still long (and I saved the candy bars for later). She kept moving away from the heart monitor, so I really had to press that thing against her. Thankfully we passed and were out of the office forty minutes later. Hurray. I was so dreading another trip to Labor and Delivery!

My belly is getting quite large (as it should) and just last week I had my first two belly rubs in one afternoon. Thankfully they were both women I know and not total strangers at the grocery store. I’m also happy to report that I do not have high blood pressure (yet). I’m managing to keep it down which makes me happy since that’s what put me on bedrest with Orion. I’d be stoked if things continued on this track until my c-section date! I have five weeks to go!!!