35 Weeks and a NST

Today we saw Dr. Weiss and had a non-stress test (NST) for the first time.  The nurse took us to a little room with a comfy chair and hooked me up to the machine with a sensor on my belly.  We sat there for around 15 minutes and listened to his heart and watched the machine plot it out on a little graph.  The nurse said to expect it to go up and down often and that's just what it did.  When he was still it was around 145 and when he moved it jumped up to around 155.  The nurse came in and declared it was, "text-book perfect"!  Then she took us to the other room with the sonogram machine and when Dr. Weiss came in he also said how perfect it was.  Proud parents indeed.  He looked over Isaac and measured fluid and said he looks great, see you in a week!  We think he said we'll probably schedule induction around 39 weeks assuming all goes well up to then.  A week early is fine with me, although I'm scared to let him go!  We keep going each week so he can see if it is better to keep him "cooking" or get him out.  He didn't measure his size this time but said he'll do a growth scan next week.  

A lot of people ask me if I'll need to have a C-section because of Isaac's CDH.  Surprisingly, the answer seems to be no.  Unless he suddenly decides to turn breach or isn't dealing with the labor well, he'll be born naturally.  From the Cherubs website: 

"Unless there is a medical need to have an ultrasound because of other complications involving your health or your baby's health, there is no reason to have a C-Section because the baby has CDH.  Vaginal delivery actually helps the baby's lungs because it stimulates surfactant (the secretions that line the lungs)." 

I think instead of "ultrasound", they meant to write "C-section" but that explains it pretty well.  Here's a really long but interesting article about the history and science of surfactant:  http://www.fasebj.org/content/18/13/1624e.full

We're so happy that despite the diagnosis, Isaac is doing so well.  Next week we see Dr. Weiss and Dr. Ryder again and I'll be excited to make it to 36 weeks!  Thank you all for your thoughts and prayers as we get closer to D-day, we sure need it.