Yesterday’s regular ob appointment turned into a panicky 2 hour long ordeal.

I’m offering my thanks to the incredible staff there – without Dr. K, Nurse T (whom I introduced to my mother as a huge source of support), and ultrasound whiz E in the back, the day would have been worse.

A one hour ultrasound revealed some awesome shots of our little man.  My mom was fascinated.   We oohed and ahhhed and got to see Marshall’s little arms, legs, belly, head (the head shots creep me out when they reveal the contents of his skull!!), his feet, his toes, his fingers which he uncurled (and may or may not have made the “rock on” hand gesture as he brought his thumb to his mouth), his swallowing and breathing practices, and even the “money shot” (yes that one!)    I won’t share that with you but I will show you proof that all of the heartburn I have gave us this:

Then whammo.  E plugged her numbers in and there was some cause for alarm.   Somehow his head, belly, and leg measurements which had been on track all along were “off.”  Perhaps it’s just the difference in the calibration of the different machines as the high risk docs in Syracuse warned.  Perhaps it’s something more that will “even out once the baby gets here” as Dr. K mentioned.

And we have this other thing going on: we’ve got l-o-w fluid.  Confession: I knew this by the way he moved in the van on the way to my appointment but didn’t want to tell.  People ask if I’m ready for this to be over.  My response is the same: “No, he can stay in ’til college.”

A brief discussion of what is and what isn’t an amniotic fluid leak with Nurse T after we left the ultrasound only led to more questions.  Another confession: I’ve never been in labor.  How would I know???

And I knew it was important when Nurse T didn’t take my vitals before she strapped me in for the nonstress test.   My panic subsided as my mom watched the printout and all the peaks and dips.  Marshall cooperated for a bit and we listened to the staccato whoosh of the placenta and the “three beat” chant of his heart – which, in all of its “specialness,” is familiar music to my ears.

Then he moved away from the monitors but I could still distinguish his faint heartbeat above all the background noise.

Dr K and Nurse T both offered reassurance.  Both had that “worried but not imminent” look.

We have to go back Monday for more.  And I don’t want to.  I’m so tired.

But in the meantime, we’re laying low literally.  My plans for the weekend include a couch with old yellow dog as my footwarmer, a laptop, all the water I can drink, and all the food I can squeeze in.    I’ve got a baby to fatten up in case he decides to arrive sooner vs. later.  According to E’s estimate, he’s weighing 5.6 lbs now.  

Now to figure out what’s for dinner without leaving the couch…