Zoey Check Up...Getting Close! (36w5d)

Today I had another check up for Ms. Zoey...the first of my weekly check ups for this last month of pregnancy. I have been having a lot of Braxton Hicks contractions for a week now (which I never had with Brodie). Also, I started drinking Red Raspberry Leaf Tea 10 days ago to help strengthen my uterus (3 cups a day) and taking Evening Primrose Oil pills 2x a day to help slowly soften the cervix. Needless to say, I was quite interested to see if anything was happening in the progression department yet and I got my answer today. :)

It was an appointment packed with a lot of things in a short amount of time (including the oh so lovely GBS swab and a check), but luckily I wrote down all the stats before I forgot. Here they are:

-Gained 3 pounds, putting me at +23lbs total
-Blood pressure was good (I'm assuming since they didn't comment on it)
-Fundal measurement was 39 (standard 2.5 weeks ahead that I normally am)
-Zoey has a great heart rate
-Zoey is still high
AND (exciting news at least for me)...


-I'm 1.5 cm dilated already!!!!!
-I'm 50% effaced already!!!!
-Cervix is very soft

The doctor was planning to order an ultrasound for me before he checked me but after the check and seeing that I'm progressing so much already he is holding off. In his words, "I guess I am not going to have to worry about the baby being too big, since who knows if you will make it in here next week." Now, I don't know how serious he was about that last statement of me not lasting another week but I'm going to go ahead and pack my hospital bag this weekend just in case. Sunday I'm full term! WOOT! She will be here before we know it.

Lastly, here is me this past Sunday at 36 weeks pregnant-