Week 37

Belly! We are getting closer! I had my doctor's visit last Thursday and found out a few good things:

• I am negative for the Strep B bacteria, which is a relief because it means Baby Mo will not need to be treated after birth for any related bacterial infection. I will also not be hooked up to an IV during delivery, which is also a relief. After looking further into the implications of Strep B, I found out that not all newborns with positive Strep B moms need to be treated because it is not a given that they will get the bacterial infection from the mother, so it's good to know that even if I had been positive, there's still a good chance that Baby Mo would have been fine.
• I am progressing toward delivery, although in a pretty gradual, but consistent, way. My cervix is softening still and now also thinning. It will eventually change positions from an angle that points toward the back of my hips to a position that points more downward and forward, but it has not started that change yet. Baby Mo has also descended further into my pelvis. She's around a -3 position. The positions are measured from a -5, the highest, to a +5, head is crowning. It's typical for the cervix to soften, thin, and move forward before labor really starts, and many babies move down in the cervix before labor as well, often as low as -2 or -1. The baby typically won't rotate into position and tuck the chin to prepare for labor or descend past -1 until dilation starts, which requires all the initial changes to take place first (cervix softening, thinning, and moving forward). So, we still have some time.
• We reviewed our birth plan with our doctor, and she's on board, with some minor adjustments. We'll be sending that on to the hospital this week, and my records have already been sent along.

We also interviewed pediatricians this week and found two different offices that we like. One is closer to home, which will probably be why we choose them, but they are both great. The doctor who is further away will be attending at Baby Mo's birth because she has association with our hospital where we'll be delivering, so even if we don't end up with her, I feel good about who will be taking care of her the first few days after she's born.

We also FINALLY started the baby room over the weekend. As soon as we have it put together, we'll post photos. It may not be completely finished until after Baby Mo arrives, but we'll have it pretty close before she gets here. Can't wait!