[HopeWishWait]

First of all......My ticker moved to the last box It's getting so close now!!

Second yay. DH is in Nuclear Power School for the Navy and he's gone from 6 am to 4 pm every day, Monday through Friday. Previously he also had to do an additional 20 hours per week of studying at the school..so basically I never saw him. We found out today that he only has to do 12 extra hours a week now!!! Which means he actually gets to see his son!! I'm very very very excited about that!

Now for the questions. At what number of weeks did you start getting your cervix checked at appointments? I had one last week and I was 35 weeks even but they didn't check me...Is that normal?

Also, does the amount of time your baby is in your room after delivery vary by hospital? Can you request to have them in there more? Is there a limit? How much time did your little one spend with you?

[Emma&Jack's Momma]

Yayaya for spending more time with Nick!!!

I was checked weekly starting at 37 weeks. She striped my membranes (upon my request) at my 39 week checkup...As far as Emma in my room, she was in there pretty much all the time, expect when she was getting stuff done to her. She was in the nursery from about midnight to 4 that night but they had to bring her back because there "weren't enough nurses on staff to keep her in the nursery during an emergency Csection" I was ok with it - but would have enjoyed the last night of sleep! But yea, I think it probably differs from hospital to hospital - and also from mommy to mommy!

So glad the daddy will be around more now! I can't believe how close you are to delivery.

[**Jenn**]

Yay for dh being able to be around more!!!

As far as getting checked goes, it differs from caregiver to caregiver. I was checked starting at 35 weeks with Liam but didn't get checked til my episode of false labor with Loch at 39 weeks.

I only had Liam in a hospital but with him he rarely left my sight. He was only gone to be bathed after the first couple hours and then again the next day to be circumcised. He stayed with me the rest of the time. There was no way I was going to let him out of my sight if I didn't have to. But I could have requested he stay in the nursery if I wanted to.

[soImarriedAnerd]

YEAH!!!!!!
My midwife says she starts checks at 40 weeks (depends on your provider). Baby in room is also a hospital thing...most I know of you have can have baby in the room all day/night with you but 1 hour in the morning for doctors rounds (and if you want doctor to come to room to do their checks--they can, its just an easier thing for them to check all at once in the nursery)

[LisanAndy]

YAY for all the good news!!

-I started getting my cervix checked at my 37 week appt with Taylor. I was 2 centimeters and 80% effaced when I got induced 5 days past my due date.
-As far as baby being in the room, I just kinda went with what they wanted. They laid her on my tummy after she was born for a few seconds, took her to the warmer and did their thing. About 20 mins later they brought her back all wrapped up and I had her for about an hour or so and then Andy followed the nurses and Taylor off to the nursery for her first bath and everything while I had a bite to eat and had a visit from family. They brought her back about 90 mins later

YEY for last box!!! They don't do internal checks here until you are 40 weeks. I guess they'd check if you felt things were progressing to labour prior to that. But otherwise they wait until you are overdue.

[greeneyes]

Most of that stuff is based on your preference. My OB starts internal checks at 37 weeks, but I told him not to bother with it. I'll have my first internal when my birthing time begins. As for baby staying in the room, again, your preference. It's YOUR baby so you can tell them if you want 100% rooming in or not. The hospital that I'll be birthing at has some stupid protocol that says the baby needs to be in the nursery for at least two hours every day - I just had baby's pediatrician write up orders stating baby could stay in the room at all times if that is what I request (which I will).

[IamMom]

Yipee for the yays. By the way, my DH was in the navy and went to power school...he was a nuke on a submarine

I can't be of much help on the first question - I was only checked once at 35 weeks b/c my blood pressure went up and he wanted to induce me a week later and wanted to see if my body was doing anything (it was I was 2 cm!)

As for time with baby - I had Harrison in the room at all times except at night I had them take him to the nursey - however, they brought him down every couple hours for feeding and then took him back...this was my choice - I had the option of having him 100% of the time. Of course they had to take him for various check - circumcision, jaundice, etc. etc. They also took him for his pics but we got to go too. It's really your choice I think at most hospitals!

[*JenJen*]

I've not had a baby, but I asked my doc these questions out of curiosity earlier this year. Here they start exams at 36 or 37 weeks, per patient request. Baby is in room always with mother, except for circumcision, essentially. There is not a nursery in our hospital.

[*Anna*]

Congrats for your DH!!! Yah!!!

And I've told my midwife I want no internal exams til I go into labor naturally- or if I'm overdue at 41 weeks. And I will have baby in room with us the whole time- they'll do her bath in our room- after we've had an hour to bond and nurse with her . And they'll do all her measuring and such and she'll sleep in our room- but I'm hoping to go home about 10 hrs after the birth- they let us stay for up to 24 hrs.

I'm sure each practice is different and its all up to what you want and prefer! All I know is once our baby is born I don't want her leaving our sight!!!

[Mars]

Congrats on moving to the last box and on DH's shorter hours!!

As for the cervix checks, my birthing centre doesn't give them unless labour has started or you're overdue.