Week 28 – October 5, 2010
Your Body: Woohoo! You have hit the third trimester mark, so add another notch to your belt (both figuratively and literally). At this point, you'll likely visit your doctor and or midwife every two weeks. Then, at 36 weeks, you'll switch to weekly visits. Depending on your risk factors, your practitioner may recommend repeating blood tests for HIV and syphilis now, as well as doing cultures for chlamydia and gonorrhea, to be certain of your status before delivery. And if the blood work done at your first prenatal visit showed that you're Rh negative, you'll get an injection of Rh immunoglobulin to prevent your body from developing antibodies that could attack your baby's blood. (If your baby is Rh positive, you'll receive another shot of Rh immunoglobulin after you give birth). Around this time, some women feel an unpleasant "creepy-crawly" sensation in their lower legs and an irresistible urge to move them while trying to relax or sleep. If this sensation is at least temporarily relieved when you move, you may have what's known as restless legs syndrome (RLS). No one knows for sure what causes RLS, but it's relatively common among expectant mothers. Try stretching or massaging your legs, and cut down on caffeine, which can make the symptoms worse. Ask your caregiver if you should try iron supplements, which can sometimes relieve RLS. Your uterus now extends well above your navel. As the baby gets bigger and stronger this month, you may be experiencing leg cramps and mild swelling of ankles and feet, difficulty sleeping, shortness of breath, lower abdominal achiness, clumsiness, or scattered Braxton Hicks contractions (hardening and relaxing of the uterus, like a rehearsal for labor). You may also be urinating more frequently again as the uterus continues to push on your bladder. Even if your partner is planning on being with you in the delivery room, you might want to consider hiring a doula - a professional labor assistant who provides support, but not medical aid, for the mother and her partner. Studies show that doulas can shorten a woman's labor and reduce the likelihood of needing pain medication, forceps or vacuum deliveries, or worse: a cesarean section. While it's good news that your baby is settling into the right position for childbirth (since you're now entering the third trimester), the potentially painful news is his head — plus the weight of your uterus — may now be sitting on your sciatic nerve, which runs through the lower part of your back, buttocks, and legs. This common condition (called sciatica) can cause sharp, shooting pain and/or tingling or numbness, starting in your rear end and radiating down the backs of your legs. The best thing to do for sciatica (and the rest of your week 28 aches and woes)? Take it easy — and hope your baby changes position sooner rather than later. Some simple ways to relieve this type of pain include: a heating pad, simple muscle stretching, and even bed rest.
Your Baby: As the Big Day nears, your baby is getting ready to go towards the light at the end of the tunnel. Other highlights this week: Your baby's eyes are partially open now and can blink. Truly superior babies can actually wink. (OK, there is no way to prove that, but it's fun to imagine, no?) Your baby can also now become a shiny, happy person as it has begun having rapid eye movement (Get it? REM? Shiny, happy person? We'll be here all week.) The eyes have color now, too. It may not be the color your baby ultimately ends up with, especially if they're light gray or blue. The eyes typically don't settle on a final hue until nine months after baby is born. So when your mother-in-law says that the baby has her eyes, you can politely inform her that they'll most likely change soon. Sorry. Your baby is settling into the proper position for birth, with the head facing downward (toward your body's nearest exit!). Your babe is downright chubby compared to a few weeks ago: about 15 inches long, about the length of an amusement park cinnamon-sugar-coated churro (yum!), and weighs 2 to 3 pounds.
"So, how's baby looking in there?" asked Cameron as she laid on the exam table.
"Well," said Dr. Stevens as he maneuvered the ultrasound wand over Cameron's ever-growing baby bump. "Everything looks really good so far." Putting away the wand, he handed Cameron a towel. As Chase helped her to sit up, Stevens got out his chart. "Allison, way back when I took the first blood test, it was to test your Rh factor. Unfortunately, it came back negative. So what I'm going to do is give you a shot of immunoglobulin now. The last thing we want is a sick baby on our hands."
"Will she need one after the baby's born?" asked Chase.
"If the baby's blood is positive, then yes." No sooner was Stevens done giving Cameron the injection, he proceeded in giving out some instructions. "Okay, from this point on out, I'll be seeing you every couple of weeks. Then once you hit week 36, it'll be every week."
"Okay then, thanks Dr," acknowledged Chase as he and Cameron left to go back to work.
"Oh for crying out loud," groaned House loudly as he stepped into the lounge part of his office. "Either you're working on your exercises or you're actually giving birth," he asked Cameron as she laid on the floor, propped up on a couple of pillows while Chase helped her to stretch her legs.
"Neither," said Foreman, who was sitting as he watched.
"I've got RLS right now, so the only thing I wanted to do was stretch my legs, but I didn't feel up to walking all over the place."
"So you decided to stretch out on my office floor?"
"Wouldn't be the first time," remarked Chase as he carefully placed his wife's leg on the floor. "How are you feeling now honey?"
"Better," she told him as he helped her to sit up. "Hopefully they won't be coming back for a while."
"Well, let's hope they don't then," agreed Foreman as he bent down to help Chase lift Cameron back to her feet.
"In the mean time, no more of that on my floor," said House as Cameron sat down again. "It might give off the wrong impression."
"For who? You?" asked Chase, sitting next to his wife.
"I think it just did," remarked House. "Anyway, in other hospital news," he went on as everyone tuned back in to the case at hand, the moment long forgotten.
After Diagnostics had been cleared out for the evening, Chase and Cameron had one last thing to do on their birth plan before submitting it to Dr. Stevens.
"Hey Cuddy, you got a minute?" asked Cameron as she poked her head in the door.
"For you, any day," replied Cuddy as she watched Cameron and Chase walk in to her office. "Have a seat on the couch. Do you guys want anything before heading out?"
"No thanks," said Cameron. All of a sudden, she saw what appeared to be a small body emerge from the other side of the desk. "Whose that little munchkin behind your desk?"
"I'll give you one guess," said Cuddy. "Rachel, look whose here." A moment later, Rachel came toddling over to Cameron, who was nearest to her.
"Hey you," exclaimed Cameron as she gave Rachel a hug and a kiss on the head.
"Hi baby!" cried Rachel as she patted Cameron's belly. "Baby kicked me!"
"Yes it did. The baby likes you already," she explained as Rachel went over to Chase, who pulled her onto his lap.
"So, what can I do for you two?" asked Cuddy as she sat down.
"Well, since the baby is due in a couple of months, Chase and I have to come up with a birth plan. Now, we have been given the option of having a midwife and or a doula with us."
"And you came to me because…?"
"We were wondering if you would be our doula for when Allison is in labor," asked Chase.
"Are you guys sure this is what you want?"
"Absolutely," smiled Cameron. "You have been with Robert and I practically from the start. You have even given us Rachel's old clothes for this baby. The least that we can do is to ask you to do this, to help Robert and I bring our baby into the world."
"Well, I've thought about it," said Cuddy a moment later. "And I believe that the two of you could not have chosen a more better person capable of the task at hand."
"So you'll do it then?" asked Chase as he scooted closer to Cameron after placing Rachel on the couch next to him.
"Absolutely," agreed Cuddy. Standing up with Cameron and Chase, she gave Cameron a hug before patting her belly.
"This baby is so lucky to have you as an aunt, Dr. Cuddy," remarked Chase as they all laughed.
"Well, thank you very much," smiled Cuddy as Rachel came over and pulled on her mama's skirt. "And you," she said lifting Rachel into her arms. "You will get to have a play mate before you know it." When the couple decided to say their good-byes, they both gave Cuddy another hug before leaving. Sitting down in the car, both let out sighs of relief.
"Well, that's one less thing to worry about now," exclaimed Chase as he reached over and grabbed his wife's hand. "With Cuddy helping, this delivery will be a piece of cake."
A/N: I know I said I was going to update no later than yesterday, but something totally unexpected occurred last night, and I was unable to finish for said reason. I'm almost done with catching up, so just bear with me a little while longer. Enjoy & RR!
