36 weeks U.B. check-up (OR 1/5th of the way to babydom!)

In stark contrast to my appointment of disappointments last week, this week everything was coming up roses for U.B. and myself. Thanks to my new pregnancy snacks of bacon and whole milk, I've gained 3 lbs in the last week. Complimentary to this news was that U.B.'s house now measures a healthy and respectable 35 cm, up from the normal but slightly worrisome 31 cm it was a week ago. My practitioner and I feel incredibly reassured knowing that my baby really is getting big and fat in there, and as I blog I am toasting our growth accomplishments with an embarrasingly large bag of M&Ms.

Other numbers...whereas my blood pressure was slightly elevated last week, this week it stayed about the same, at 132/70. U.B.'s heart rate was around 150 bpm. The blood is obviously flowing well in both of our bodies.

Today was Invasive Visit day, where I got to be internally roughed-up examined for the purpose of collecting some routine cultures in preparation for delivery. While she was down there, my N.P. took an incredibly painful look at how my cervix was doing. Turns out the cervix-monster is totally doing her part, and has already dilated 2 cm and effaced 50% of the way. The N.P. said this level of dilation doesn't really mean U.B. is in a hurry to get here at all, but that it is extremely encouraging that my cervix is starting to ripen on its own. Now it just needs to figure out how to "ripen" 8 more cm and then we have a baby, yes?