I'm through with work, and there's not much to do at home, so I'm in a hurry-up and wait mode. Here's the update email:
Your baby's waiting to greet the world! She continues to build a layer of fat to help control her body temperature after birth, but it's likely she already measures about 20 inches and weighs a bit over 7 pounds. The outer layers of her skin are sloughing off as new skin forms underneath.
Showing posts with label weekly email. Show all posts
Showing posts with label weekly email. Show all posts
Tuesday, July 24, 2007
Thursday, July 19, 2007
38 Weeks update!
No real changes to report...baby hasn't dropped yet, no dilation. I'm feeling ready, though. Tomorrow's my last day of work, thank goodness! My next checkup is this coming Wednesday the 25th, so hopefully I'll have made some progress by then!
I had an ultrasound on Monday, and they estimated her weight at 7 1/2 pounds, give or take a pound. (Give or take A POUND?!? That's a pretty big difference.) I figure she'll be about 8 1/2 pounds at the most, but I'm still betting on 7 pounds, 13 ounces. Any other guesses?
Here is the update from BabyCenter:
Your baby has really plumped up. She weighs between 6 and 7 1/2 pounds (boys tend to be slightly heavier than girls), and she's nearly 20 inches long. She has a firm grasp, which you'll soon be able to test when you hold her hand for the first time! Her organs have matured and are ready for life outside the womb. Wondering what color your baby's eyes will be? If she's born with brown eyes, they'll likely stay brown. If she's born with steel gray or dark blue eyes, they may stay gray or blue or turn green, hazel, or brown by the time she's 9 months old.
I had an ultrasound on Monday, and they estimated her weight at 7 1/2 pounds, give or take a pound. (Give or take A POUND?!? That's a pretty big difference.) I figure she'll be about 8 1/2 pounds at the most, but I'm still betting on 7 pounds, 13 ounces. Any other guesses?
Here is the update from BabyCenter:
Your baby has really plumped up. She weighs between 6 and 7 1/2 pounds (boys tend to be slightly heavier than girls), and she's nearly 20 inches long. She has a firm grasp, which you'll soon be able to test when you hold her hand for the first time! Her organs have matured and are ready for life outside the womb. Wondering what color your baby's eyes will be? If she's born with brown eyes, they'll likely stay brown. If she's born with steel gray or dark blue eyes, they may stay gray or blue or turn green, hazel, or brown by the time she's 9 months old.
Tuesday, July 10, 2007
Here's what BabyCenter.com has to say this week:
Congratulations! Your baby is full-term! This means that if your baby arrives now, her lungs should be fully mature and ready to adjust to life outside the womb, even though your due date is still three weeks away. She weighs a little over 6 pounds and measures between 19 and 20 inches. Many babies have a full head of hair at birth, with locks from 1/2 inch to 1 1/2 inches long.
Congratulations! Your baby is full-term! This means that if your baby arrives now, her lungs should be fully mature and ready to adjust to life outside the womb, even though your due date is still three weeks away. She weighs a little over 6 pounds and measures between 19 and 20 inches. Many babies have a full head of hair at birth, with locks from 1/2 inch to 1 1/2 inches long.
Tuesday, July 3, 2007
36 Weeks - Less than a month to go!
I started seeing my acupuncturist last week, to get "things" moving. I saw her again today, and next week we'll intensify the treatment. She does some points along my sacrum, mostly, and stimulates the needles just by twirling them. "Intensifying the treatment" means adding the electricity...ZAP! I'll have some buzz-buzzing feelings where the needles are inserted, but it won't hurt (me or the baby).
I have a 36-week check-up on Thursday, and the doctor will do my first cervical exam. This will most likely not be very pleasant, as a woman's cervix is very sensitive. They'll also do a Group B Strep test, to see if I'm a carrier of that bacterial strain. (I'm probably not). If I am, I'll have to take anti-biotics right before labor to make sure I don't pass it on to the little baby.
We had an ultrasound on Monday. Once again, Baby was movin' and shakin' up until they started looking at her! I think she's getting camera shy. They were able to get all of her measurements, listen to the cord and the heart, witness some "practice breathing," and check the placenta with no problem. Before they will let me go, Baby has to show her stuff - she has to demonstrate that she is able to move around (and kick her Mama). She was sound asleep for most of the exam, so I switched positions, we jiggled the belly, Dan talked to Baby...and they had to bust out the noise-maker in the end. This is a little hand-held device that makes a buzzing noise like an alarm clock. The technician holds it up against the belly to wake up Baby. Within a half-second of doing this yesterday, Baby woke up and tried to leap out of me through my belly button. That was definitely a big enough movement to pass the test!
Her size is normal - about 6 pounds, 10 ounces. She's in the 60th percentile. (The 50th percentile is the weight of most babies.) They say you can give or take a pound off that estimate, at this stage. Dan and I agree that there is NO way Baby is 7 pounds 10 ounces right now - I'm simply not THAT big!
So - how much do YOU think Baby will weigh at birth? I'm putting my official guess out there at 7 pounds, 13 ounces. Go ahead - guess. Put it in the "comments" section below. If you're right, you get the satisfacation of knowing you once guessed the weight of a person before you ever laid eyes on her.
By the way - Baby Walsh IS in the head-down position!
Here is the email update for the week:
Your baby is gaining about an ounce a day. She now weighs almost 6 pounds and is a little under 19 inches long. She's shedding most of the downy hair that covered her body, as well as the vernix caseosa, the waxy substance that protected her skin during her nine-month amniotic bath. Next week, your baby will be considered full-term. Most likely she's in a head-down position, but if she isn't, your practitioner may suggest scheduling an external cephalic version, where she'll try to turn your baby by manipulating her from the outside of your belly.
By the way - Baby Walsh IS in the head-down position!
I have a 36-week check-up on Thursday, and the doctor will do my first cervical exam. This will most likely not be very pleasant, as a woman's cervix is very sensitive. They'll also do a Group B Strep test, to see if I'm a carrier of that bacterial strain. (I'm probably not). If I am, I'll have to take anti-biotics right before labor to make sure I don't pass it on to the little baby.
We had an ultrasound on Monday. Once again, Baby was movin' and shakin' up until they started looking at her! I think she's getting camera shy. They were able to get all of her measurements, listen to the cord and the heart, witness some "practice breathing," and check the placenta with no problem. Before they will let me go, Baby has to show her stuff - she has to demonstrate that she is able to move around (and kick her Mama). She was sound asleep for most of the exam, so I switched positions, we jiggled the belly, Dan talked to Baby...and they had to bust out the noise-maker in the end. This is a little hand-held device that makes a buzzing noise like an alarm clock. The technician holds it up against the belly to wake up Baby. Within a half-second of doing this yesterday, Baby woke up and tried to leap out of me through my belly button. That was definitely a big enough movement to pass the test!
Her size is normal - about 6 pounds, 10 ounces. She's in the 60th percentile. (The 50th percentile is the weight of most babies.) They say you can give or take a pound off that estimate, at this stage. Dan and I agree that there is NO way Baby is 7 pounds 10 ounces right now - I'm simply not THAT big!
So - how much do YOU think Baby will weigh at birth? I'm putting my official guess out there at 7 pounds, 13 ounces. Go ahead - guess. Put it in the "comments" section below. If you're right, you get the satisfacation of knowing you once guessed the weight of a person before you ever laid eyes on her.
By the way - Baby Walsh IS in the head-down position!
Here is the email update for the week:
Your baby is gaining about an ounce a day. She now weighs almost 6 pounds and is a little under 19 inches long. She's shedding most of the downy hair that covered her body, as well as the vernix caseosa, the waxy substance that protected her skin during her nine-month amniotic bath. Next week, your baby will be considered full-term. Most likely she's in a head-down position, but if she isn't, your practitioner may suggest scheduling an external cephalic version, where she'll try to turn your baby by manipulating her from the outside of your belly.
By the way - Baby Walsh IS in the head-down position!
Wednesday, June 20, 2007
34 Weeks update
We had our weekly ultrasound on Monday. As usual, it was really cool to see the baby moving and having baby body parts and all that.
The technician switched transducers at one point, and suddenly we saw this:
A 3D image of Baby!
Dan said to the technician, "This will all be on our DVD, right?" She didn't really reply, as we all realized that I had not even given her the DVD to place in the recorder. (Amazingly, that was not my biggest DUH! moment of the day.) We quickly corrected the situation, and she spent a few extra minutes with us so we could have a decent amount of "footage."
It looks really, really, really cool on the DVD. Really.
Dan said he felt like we were cheating a little bit.
I felt complete awe. I've gotten used to looking at the ultrasound images and having to make out each 2D Skeletor part. Looking at these images...was like looking at a photo of our daughter. Surreal doesn't begin to describe it.
Baby weighs about 5 pounds, 10 ounces, according to their estimates. Do you know how they estimate that? A grandparent was inquiring the other day. They measure Baby's head, belly, and a leg. They measure the amniotic fluid. They estimate the size of the uterus based on the number of weeks of gestation - remember? I'm 34 weeks, so from pubic bone to the top of my uterus measures 34 centimeters. Then the computer puts it all together and calculates the approximate weight. She's in the 56th percentile this week. I think that means that about 56% of babies are smaller at this stage, and 44% are larger, but my understanding of percentiles began fading quickly after completing my obligatory Stats & Probability courses for my B.S.
In other news...the small amount of time remaining before the birth of our daughter is starting to dawn on us. We're starting to put together a schedule to finish the nursery and everything else on our To Do list. We're trying to go on more dates - last night we walked across the street to the auditorium to see Patty Griffin perform, and she was amazing as always. We hired a doula this week to attend the birth, and tonight we have a "postpartum" class at the birthing center. Lots to do, enough time to do it, but...the count-down has begun!
Here is the update from BabyCenter.com:
How your baby's growing: Your baby now weighs about 4 3/4 pounds and is almost 18 inches long. Her fat layers — which will help regulate her body temperature once she's born — are filling her out, making her rounder. Her skin is also smoother than ever. Her central nervous system is maturing and her lungs are continuing to mature as well. If you've been nervous about preterm labor, you'll be happy to know that babies born between 34 and 37 weeks who have no other health problems generally do fine. They may need a short stay in the neonatal nursery and may have a few short-term health issues, but in the long run, they usually do as well as full-term babies.
The technician switched transducers at one point, and suddenly we saw this:
A 3D image of Baby!
Dan said to the technician, "This will all be on our DVD, right?" She didn't really reply, as we all realized that I had not even given her the DVD to place in the recorder. (Amazingly, that was not my biggest DUH! moment of the day.) We quickly corrected the situation, and she spent a few extra minutes with us so we could have a decent amount of "footage."
It looks really, really, really cool on the DVD. Really.
Dan said he felt like we were cheating a little bit.
I felt complete awe. I've gotten used to looking at the ultrasound images and having to make out each 2D Skeletor part. Looking at these images...was like looking at a photo of our daughter. Surreal doesn't begin to describe it.
Baby weighs about 5 pounds, 10 ounces, according to their estimates. Do you know how they estimate that? A grandparent was inquiring the other day. They measure Baby's head, belly, and a leg. They measure the amniotic fluid. They estimate the size of the uterus based on the number of weeks of gestation - remember? I'm 34 weeks, so from pubic bone to the top of my uterus measures 34 centimeters. Then the computer puts it all together and calculates the approximate weight. She's in the 56th percentile this week. I think that means that about 56% of babies are smaller at this stage, and 44% are larger, but my understanding of percentiles began fading quickly after completing my obligatory Stats & Probability courses for my B.S.
In other news...the small amount of time remaining before the birth of our daughter is starting to dawn on us. We're starting to put together a schedule to finish the nursery and everything else on our To Do list. We're trying to go on more dates - last night we walked across the street to the auditorium to see Patty Griffin perform, and she was amazing as always. We hired a doula this week to attend the birth, and tonight we have a "postpartum" class at the birthing center. Lots to do, enough time to do it, but...the count-down has begun!
Here is the update from BabyCenter.com:
How your baby's growing: Your baby now weighs about 4 3/4 pounds and is almost 18 inches long. Her fat layers — which will help regulate her body temperature once she's born — are filling her out, making her rounder. Her skin is also smoother than ever. Her central nervous system is maturing and her lungs are continuing to mature as well. If you've been nervous about preterm labor, you'll be happy to know that babies born between 34 and 37 weeks who have no other health problems generally do fine. They may need a short stay in the neonatal nursery and may have a few short-term health issues, but in the long run, they usually do as well as full-term babies.
Tuesday, June 12, 2007
33 Weeks...starting to feel big, hot, and not so comfy...
Hi! Weekly ultrasounds began yesterday. Every 2 weeks they will look at growth, and every week will be a non-stress test of sorts, where they check the amount of amniotic fluid, the position of the baby and placenta, the functionality of the umbilical cord, and look to see the heart beat. Baby also has to move a little each week, so they know she's okay. She was sound asleep in there yesterday, so I switched positions and jiggled and poked and talked to her...but to no avail. The technician busted out a little 'noise-maker,' which makes a horrible (but not too loud) alarm-clock buzzing sound. She pressed it up against my abdomen, where Baby's head is, and woke her right up! She kept covering her face with her hand (probably saying, "STOP LOOKING AT ME, ALREADY!!"), so I don't have a beautiful picture to share this week. Maybe next week she'll be feeling more like a starlet and pose for us.
Here's the update:
This week your baby weighs a little over 4 pounds and measures 17.2 inches. Thanks to her recent weight gain, she's losing that wrinkled alien look. Most of your baby's bones are hardening now, but her skull is still quite pliable. It's actually in separate pieces with spaces in between. This flexible structure allows your baby's head to compress so it can fit through your relatively narrow birth canal. The pressure on the head during birth is so intense that many babies are born with a conehead-like appearance. This is totally harmless, normal, and temporary. Her skull plates won't completely fuse until early adulthood.
Here's the update:
This week your baby weighs a little over 4 pounds and measures 17.2 inches. Thanks to her recent weight gain, she's losing that wrinkled alien look. Most of your baby's bones are hardening now, but her skull is still quite pliable. It's actually in separate pieces with spaces in between. This flexible structure allows your baby's head to compress so it can fit through your relatively narrow birth canal. The pressure on the head during birth is so intense that many babies are born with a conehead-like appearance. This is totally harmless, normal, and temporary. Her skull plates won't completely fuse until early adulthood.
Tuesday, June 5, 2007
Head is down!
We had an ultrasound yesterday, and it was very cool as usual. They did not give us any still photos, so I have nothing visual for you today! I'll be sure to get one next week, as the weekly checkups have begun!
Baby weighs about 4 pounds, 1 ounce (which is the 45th percentile). She's still practice breathing, and doing all of the right stuff. Her head is down, which is a good thing...she's planning her exit strategy like a good girl. Of course, that means her most solid part is pressing on my bladder. We saw her yawn and stretch, we saw her little feet (which are, as we suspected, under my ribs) and her little hands. She has ribs and femurs and vertebrae, and she has fuzzy hair on her head. We think she's awfully cute.
Here's the technical update:
By now, your baby probably weighs almost 4 pounds and is almost 17 inches long. Her fingernails have grown in completely. Some babies have a head of hair already, while others have only peach fuzz. Your baby is taking up a lot of space in your uterus, but those tight quarters shouldn't reduce her activity level.
Baby weighs about 4 pounds, 1 ounce (which is the 45th percentile). She's still practice breathing, and doing all of the right stuff. Her head is down, which is a good thing...she's planning her exit strategy like a good girl. Of course, that means her most solid part is pressing on my bladder. We saw her yawn and stretch, we saw her little feet (which are, as we suspected, under my ribs) and her little hands. She has ribs and femurs and vertebrae, and she has fuzzy hair on her head. We think she's awfully cute.
Here's the technical update:
By now, your baby probably weighs almost 4 pounds and is almost 17 inches long. Her fingernails have grown in completely. Some babies have a head of hair already, while others have only peach fuzz. Your baby is taking up a lot of space in your uterus, but those tight quarters shouldn't reduce her activity level.
Tuesday, May 29, 2007
31 Weeks (2 months left)
We had the Most Delightful Holiday Weekend Ever. You know how all long weekends end with the sentiment "I don't want to go back to work tomorrow," no matter how much you love your job? It usually feels like "I need a vacation from this vacation, I'm so tired, I just can't bear the thought of working tomorrow!" Well, this time, as we fell asleep on Monday night, we both felt the "I don't want to go back" part, but it was more of a "I just want more of this" feeling instead.
We ate a lot of ice cream.
We played with our dog.
We boated and fished.
We played with our family.
Best of all, we lay in the grass on our front lawn, under the maple tree, just taking in the most perfect weather of all time, with Riley at our feet grinning and wagging and resting along with us. It was, to be entirely accurate, delightful.
One of my other favorite activities this weekend was our brunch at Joe's Boathouse in South Portland. (If you've never been, you MUST try them for brunch. Not dinner - dinner's fine, but their brunch is wonderful. If you're a benedict person - definitely ask for a crabmeat benedict, and tell them exactly how you want your egg poached.) My brother and his girlfriend were visiting from Boston, so most of the local family members met there on Sunday morning. I accidentally told one of my brothers the wrong time, so he got there early and got us the best table out on the deck. Not only was the food delicious, the conversation hilarious, and the setting gorgeous, but I was on a "I'm so proud of me" sort of high....
Dan and I rode our bikes there.
That's right. I rode my $5 Goodwill-purchased classic beach cruiser (that means it's old, heavy, and has only one gear) the entire 3.1 miles. I'm going to go ahead and toot my own horn, because I just think it's so cool that I (a non-athletic person) rode the aforementioned bicycle (pretty, but rickety) 6.2 miles round-trip.
Now, I would be proud of this feat normally. I would be bragging about it to people who are more fit than I. I would be grinning ear to ear.
Add to the equation that I'm 7 months pregnant, and my thighs bumped into my belly with every pump on the pedals, that I'm about 25 pounds heavier than usual, that I've got twice as much blood pumping through my body...et cetera, et cetera, et cetera. How proud am I of myself?!? (So proud. My ears hurt from my big grin.)
Mom and George spent the day on Saturday helping me paint the nursery. They did most of the work. (Wow - can my mother ever cut in! Like a pro.) The room is now the perfect lilacy-colored purple, and is almost ready for furniture. The changing table is on order, and we've picked out a crib. I will probably need a chest of drawers, too...we'll see! I'll put pictures up when it's furnished.
Here's the news on baby Vi:
Your baby measures about 16 inches long. She weighs a little over 3 pounds and is headed for another growth spurt. She can turn his head from side to side. Of course, she doesn't yet understand that this movement means "no," but you'll be surprised how quickly she picks up on that and other gestures after she's born. The fat layer she's been accumulating for the last few weeks has caused her arms and legs to fill out nicely.
We have an ultrasound scheduled for June 4th - I'll get those pictures up ASAP.
We ate a lot of ice cream.
We played with our dog.
We boated and fished.
We played with our family.
Best of all, we lay in the grass on our front lawn, under the maple tree, just taking in the most perfect weather of all time, with Riley at our feet grinning and wagging and resting along with us. It was, to be entirely accurate, delightful.
One of my other favorite activities this weekend was our brunch at Joe's Boathouse in South Portland. (If you've never been, you MUST try them for brunch. Not dinner - dinner's fine, but their brunch is wonderful. If you're a benedict person - definitely ask for a crabmeat benedict, and tell them exactly how you want your egg poached.) My brother and his girlfriend were visiting from Boston, so most of the local family members met there on Sunday morning. I accidentally told one of my brothers the wrong time, so he got there early and got us the best table out on the deck. Not only was the food delicious, the conversation hilarious, and the setting gorgeous, but I was on a "I'm so proud of me" sort of high....
Dan and I rode our bikes there.
That's right. I rode my $5 Goodwill-purchased classic beach cruiser (that means it's old, heavy, and has only one gear) the entire 3.1 miles. I'm going to go ahead and toot my own horn, because I just think it's so cool that I (a non-athletic person) rode the aforementioned bicycle (pretty, but rickety) 6.2 miles round-trip.
Now, I would be proud of this feat normally. I would be bragging about it to people who are more fit than I. I would be grinning ear to ear.
Add to the equation that I'm 7 months pregnant, and my thighs bumped into my belly with every pump on the pedals, that I'm about 25 pounds heavier than usual, that I've got twice as much blood pumping through my body...et cetera, et cetera, et cetera. How proud am I of myself?!? (So proud. My ears hurt from my big grin.)
Mom and George spent the day on Saturday helping me paint the nursery. They did most of the work. (Wow - can my mother ever cut in! Like a pro.) The room is now the perfect lilacy-colored purple, and is almost ready for furniture. The changing table is on order, and we've picked out a crib. I will probably need a chest of drawers, too...we'll see! I'll put pictures up when it's furnished.
Here's the news on baby Vi:
Your baby measures about 16 inches long. She weighs a little over 3 pounds and is headed for another growth spurt. She can turn his head from side to side. Of course, she doesn't yet understand that this movement means "no," but you'll be surprised how quickly she picks up on that and other gestures after she's born. The fat layer she's been accumulating for the last few weeks has caused her arms and legs to fill out nicely.
We have an ultrasound scheduled for June 4th - I'll get those pictures up ASAP.
Friday, May 25, 2007
30 week update
Here we are, in the single-digit countdown of weeks remaining...wow! I had a 30-week checkup yesterday, and all is fine! Baby's heart rate was about 155, Mom's blood pressure was normal, and my uterus measures 30 centimeters (I'm still astounded by that coincidence). I gained 4 pounds in the past 4 weeks - still well within the "suggested" weight gain.
Your baby's a bit more than 15 1/2 inches long now, and she weighs almost 3 pounds. A pint and a half of amniotic fluid surrounds her, but that volume will decrease as she gets bigger and fills out your uterus. Your baby is now able to distinguish between light and dark, and she can even follow a light source back and forth. Once she's born, she'll keep her eyes closed for a good part of the day. When she does open them, she'll respond to changes in light but won't be able to see more than a few inches in front of her face. You'll want to hold her close as much as possible so she can get a good look at you.
In other news:
Dan's been riding his bike to work! Not only do I feel better about our carbon footprint :-) but he's really reaping the benefits. He hopped on the scale today and decided it must be broken, because the number was too LOW. How often does that happen to any of us? Good for him.
The nursery is getting the base coat of paint tomorrow! Mom & George will help me turn our pistachio-ice-cream guest room into a magical-lavendar nursery. Then, Mom and I will do some stenciling around the molding for a cute border - butterfiles and dragonflies. Once I have all of the furniture in place I'll post pictures!
Your baby's a bit more than 15 1/2 inches long now, and she weighs almost 3 pounds. A pint and a half of amniotic fluid surrounds her, but that volume will decrease as she gets bigger and fills out your uterus. Your baby is now able to distinguish between light and dark, and she can even follow a light source back and forth. Once she's born, she'll keep her eyes closed for a good part of the day. When she does open them, she'll respond to changes in light but won't be able to see more than a few inches in front of her face. You'll want to hold her close as much as possible so she can get a good look at you.
In other news:
Dan's been riding his bike to work! Not only do I feel better about our carbon footprint :-) but he's really reaping the benefits. He hopped on the scale today and decided it must be broken, because the number was too LOW. How often does that happen to any of us? Good for him.
The nursery is getting the base coat of paint tomorrow! Mom & George will help me turn our pistachio-ice-cream guest room into a magical-lavendar nursery. Then, Mom and I will do some stenciling around the molding for a cute border - butterfiles and dragonflies. Once I have all of the furniture in place I'll post pictures!
Tuesday, May 8, 2007
28 Weeks
This week should be a better, calmer, happier week in the Walsh household! I don't think Dan will be working 60+ hours, I won't be working 40+ hours, and we have a couple of birthdays to celebrate this week!
I would love to post the video of the exam, because she looked RIGHT AT US and BLINKED. This was when she was taking a break from sucking on her big toe.
******************
Plus, we had our 28-week ultrasound yesterday:
She has little fuzzy hair growing on her head.
She is practicing breathing, and drinking. Her little ribs expand every time she takes a "breath."
She has cute little ears and chubby little cheeks - already! Can't you just smell the baby smell?!
I would love to post the video of the exam, because she looked RIGHT AT US and BLINKED. This was when she was taking a break from sucking on her big toe.
According to the measurements, she weighs 2 pounds 12 ounces - she's in the 65th percentile. That means she's a bit chunky already. We'll see how cute that sounds in 11 weeks. Here's this week's BabyCenter.com email:
By this week, your baby weighs a little over 2 pounds and measures about 14.8 inches from the top of her head to her heels. She can open her eyes — which now sport lashes — and she'll turn her head toward a continuous, bright light from the outside. Her fat layers are beginning to form, too, as she gets ready for life outside the womb.
******************
I forgot to post the last ultrasound pictures, from 24 weeks. Here they are, so you can see how much she's grown in just one month. In terms of weight, she has DOUBLED in size. Don't worry...most baby's don't double in size every month...I think...
CRAZIEST BUSIEST WEEK OF OUR LIVES...so far
Last week was so insane at work for both of us, so I didn't have time to post the 27 week update. Here it is:
How your baby's growing: Your baby is really starting to fill up your uterus. This week she weighs almost 2 pounds and is about 14.4 inches long with her legs extended. She can now open and close her eyes, and she sleeps and wakes at regular intervals. She may suck her fingers, and although her lungs are still immature, they would be capable of functioning — with assistance — if she were to be born prematurely. Chalk up any rhythmic movement you may be feeling to a case of baby hiccups, which may be common from now on. Each episode usually lasts only a few moments, and isn't bothersome to her, so enjoy the tickle. With more brain tissue developing, your baby's brain is very active now. Wonder what she's thinking?
How your baby's growing: Your baby is really starting to fill up your uterus. This week she weighs almost 2 pounds and is about 14.4 inches long with her legs extended. She can now open and close her eyes, and she sleeps and wakes at regular intervals. She may suck her fingers, and although her lungs are still immature, they would be capable of functioning — with assistance — if she were to be born prematurely. Chalk up any rhythmic movement you may be feeling to a case of baby hiccups, which may be common from now on. Each episode usually lasts only a few moments, and isn't bothersome to her, so enjoy the tickle. With more brain tissue developing, your baby's brain is very active now. Wonder what she's thinking?
Tuesday, April 24, 2007
26 weeks - 3 months to go!!
It amazed me to look at the calendar yesterday, and acknowledge that, if my doctors want to induce me at 39 weeks, then I have exactly 3 months of this pregnancy remaining. The timeline of this pregnancy has been fascinating to me:
Getting past the 5-week mark was HUGE for me, after two previous losses at that stage.
Feeling nauseous for the first time around 7 weeks, as I was warned, was quite exciting.
Finally NOT feeling nauseous around week 14 was, indeed, magical.
Crossing into the second trimester, having my first craving, and starting to show were pretty cool, too.
Feeling the baby move at 18 weeks.
Crossing the half-way point was exciting.
Discovering that Critter is a she-Critter at 20 weeks...amazing, incredible, surreal, even.
The day my fat-jeans would no longer button closed...acceptable.
I'm approaching the end of the 2nd trimester, and I'm starting to dread not being pregnant. As sick and uncomfortable and scared as I've been, this is, of course, the most magical and unbelievable experience I've ever had. I can't believe that the bulk of my time connected with baby Vi is over...and furthermore, it's so wonderful to know that we get to meet our daughter in such a short while.
I've never been more anxious to make the acquaintance of anyone.
Here is the weekly email update from BabyCenter.com:
Your baby now weighs a little less than 2 pounds and measures about 14 inches. Her weight will more than triple between now and birth as she rapidly puts on baby fat. She'll need that fat to help adjust to colder temperatures outside the womb and as a source of energy and calories in the first days of life. It's not uncommon for newborns, especially those who are breastfed, to lose weight (sometimes as much as 10 percent of their birth weight) in the first week after birth. If you're having a boy, his testicles are beginning to descend into his scrotum — a trip that will take about two to three days.
So, tell me: What do you think Vi will be like? Who will she look like, how much will she weigh, what music will she like, what will be her favorite story, will she be a dog person or a cat person?
Getting past the 5-week mark was HUGE for me, after two previous losses at that stage.
Feeling nauseous for the first time around 7 weeks, as I was warned, was quite exciting.
Finally NOT feeling nauseous around week 14 was, indeed, magical.
Crossing into the second trimester, having my first craving, and starting to show were pretty cool, too.
Feeling the baby move at 18 weeks.
Crossing the half-way point was exciting.
Discovering that Critter is a she-Critter at 20 weeks...amazing, incredible, surreal, even.
The day my fat-jeans would no longer button closed...acceptable.
I'm approaching the end of the 2nd trimester, and I'm starting to dread not being pregnant. As sick and uncomfortable and scared as I've been, this is, of course, the most magical and unbelievable experience I've ever had. I can't believe that the bulk of my time connected with baby Vi is over...and furthermore, it's so wonderful to know that we get to meet our daughter in such a short while.
I've never been more anxious to make the acquaintance of anyone.
Here is the weekly email update from BabyCenter.com:
Your baby now weighs a little less than 2 pounds and measures about 14 inches. Her weight will more than triple between now and birth as she rapidly puts on baby fat. She'll need that fat to help adjust to colder temperatures outside the womb and as a source of energy and calories in the first days of life. It's not uncommon for newborns, especially those who are breastfed, to lose weight (sometimes as much as 10 percent of their birth weight) in the first week after birth. If you're having a boy, his testicles are beginning to descend into his scrotum — a trip that will take about two to three days.
So, tell me: What do you think Vi will be like? Who will she look like, how much will she weigh, what music will she like, what will be her favorite story, will she be a dog person or a cat person?
Tuesday, April 17, 2007
25 weeks!
Baby Vi is moving around more than ever this week! At our 25-week checkup yesterday, we heard her heartbeat again. It's amazing to think how hard that little heart is working! She was moving around so much we could see The Belly bump around, and the heart monitor would squeak loudly each time she changed position. I gained about 3 pounds, and everything is measuring correctly. I'm 25 weeks, so my uterus should be - and is - 25 centimeters from pubic bone to top. Isn't that a neat, natural coincidence? The size of a pregnant woman's uterus almost directly matches the current length of her gestation? That means that my uterus will grow 1 cm a week for the next 14 weeks! Yikes!
So, everything looks good, sounds good, and we're all feeling good!
Here is this week's email from BabyCenter.com:
How your baby's growing: Head to heels, your baby now measures about 13 1/2 inches. Her weight — a pound and a half — doesn't sound like much, but she's beginning to exchange her long, lean look for some baby fat. As she does, her wrinkled skin will begin to smooth out and she'll start to look more and more like a newborn. Her hair is probably recognizable now (in color and texture), although both may change after she's born.
So, everything looks good, sounds good, and we're all feeling good!
Here is this week's email from BabyCenter.com:
How your baby's growing: Head to heels, your baby now measures about 13 1/2 inches. Her weight — a pound and a half — doesn't sound like much, but she's beginning to exchange her long, lean look for some baby fat. As she does, her wrinkled skin will begin to smooth out and she'll start to look more and more like a newborn. Her hair is probably recognizable now (in color and texture), although both may change after she's born.
Tuesday, April 10, 2007
24 Week update - 15 weeks to go!
We had an ultrasound again yesterday. All of her little pieces and parts are still there, in perfect working order. She weighs just over a pound - about one pound, six ounces. Her profile is amazing to see!
The question I get often is, "Is it standard procedure these days to have this many ultrasounds?!?" The norm is to have one ultrasound sometime between weeks 16 and 20, to check for development (how are the organs forming? is the correct size? did they estimate the due date correctly?), birth defects (cleft pallette, Down's Syndrome), to see the location of the placenta and to look at the umbilical cord. And, of course, to see the sex of the baby if possible and requested by the parents. If the pregnancy is high-risk, the mother has a history of miscarriage, or there is another pre-existing condition to render it necessary, more ultrasounds are "required." Because of my genetic mutation (MTHFR-1, for you curious, sciencey folks) I will have monthly "growth scans" via ultrasound until 32 weeks, then I will have weekly scans until delivery. That means I'll have one at 28 weeks, one at 32 weeks, then one a week until 39 weeks...at which point, if I haven't given birth they will induce labor.
The next question I get is "Why will they induce your labor? Is that normal?" The thing is, the placenta can start to function poorly towards the end of gestation. A full term is 40 weeks. That's why some women are forced to have labor induced if they go way past their due date. The placenta issue is especially true for women with MTHFR-1, so it is better for the baby to be delivered just before the due date. They could use any number of techniques to induce labor - pitocin, hormones, etc.
My question to all of you: What induces labor? What stories, old wives tales, anecdotes or alternative medicine methods have you heard of to get the process going? I've heard that exercise, sex, beer, and pedicures can help. I'm going to call my Accupuncturist/Accupressurist for some advice, but I want to hear from all of you! Please use the comments section below to share your ideas, because I really don't want to be hooked up to an IV unless absolutely necessary!!!
Here is the weekly email from BabyCenter.com:
How your baby's growing:
Your baby's growing steadily, gaining about a quarter of a pound since last week, when she was just over a pound. Since she's almost a foot long, that makes a pretty lean figure, but her body is filling out proportionally and she'll soon put on more baby fat. Your baby's skin is thin, translucent, and wrinkled, her brain is growing rapidly, and her taste buds are developing. Her lungs are developing "branches" of the respiratory "tree" and cells that produce surfactant, a substance that helps the air sacs inflate easily.
The question I get often is, "Is it standard procedure these days to have this many ultrasounds?!?" The norm is to have one ultrasound sometime between weeks 16 and 20, to check for development (how are the organs forming? is the correct size? did they estimate the due date correctly?), birth defects (cleft pallette, Down's Syndrome), to see the location of the placenta and to look at the umbilical cord. And, of course, to see the sex of the baby if possible and requested by the parents. If the pregnancy is high-risk, the mother has a history of miscarriage, or there is another pre-existing condition to render it necessary, more ultrasounds are "required." Because of my genetic mutation (MTHFR-1, for you curious, sciencey folks) I will have monthly "growth scans" via ultrasound until 32 weeks, then I will have weekly scans until delivery. That means I'll have one at 28 weeks, one at 32 weeks, then one a week until 39 weeks...at which point, if I haven't given birth they will induce labor.
The next question I get is "Why will they induce your labor? Is that normal?" The thing is, the placenta can start to function poorly towards the end of gestation. A full term is 40 weeks. That's why some women are forced to have labor induced if they go way past their due date. The placenta issue is especially true for women with MTHFR-1, so it is better for the baby to be delivered just before the due date. They could use any number of techniques to induce labor - pitocin, hormones, etc.
My question to all of you: What induces labor? What stories, old wives tales, anecdotes or alternative medicine methods have you heard of to get the process going? I've heard that exercise, sex, beer, and pedicures can help. I'm going to call my Accupuncturist/Accupressurist for some advice, but I want to hear from all of you! Please use the comments section below to share your ideas, because I really don't want to be hooked up to an IV unless absolutely necessary!!!
Here is the weekly email from BabyCenter.com:
How your baby's growing:
Your baby's growing steadily, gaining about a quarter of a pound since last week, when she was just over a pound. Since she's almost a foot long, that makes a pretty lean figure, but her body is filling out proportionally and she'll soon put on more baby fat. Your baby's skin is thin, translucent, and wrinkled, her brain is growing rapidly, and her taste buds are developing. Her lungs are developing "branches" of the respiratory "tree" and cells that produce surfactant, a substance that helps the air sacs inflate easily.
Monday, April 2, 2007
23 Weeks Update!
How your baby's growing: Your baby is more than 11 inches long and weighs just over a pound. His skin is red and wrinkled. Blood vessels in his lungs are developing to prepare him for breathing. He can swallow, but he normally won't pass his first stool (called meconium) until after birth. Loud noises heard often in utero — such as your dog barking or the roar of a vacuum cleaner — probably won't faze your baby when he hears them outside the womb.
We're scheduled for our next ultrasound this coming Monday. I can't wait to see how much she's grown!!
We're scheduled for our next ultrasound this coming Monday. I can't wait to see how much she's grown!!
Thursday, March 29, 2007
22 Week update
A little late in posting this week, but here it is:
How your baby's growing: Your baby now looks like a miniature newborn, checking in at 10.9 inches and almost 1 pound. Her skin will continue to appear wrinkled until she gains enough weight to fill it out, and the fine hair (lanugo) that covers her head and body is now visible. Her lips are becoming more distinct, and the first signs of teeth are appearing as buds beneath her gum line. Her eyes are developed, though the iris (the colored part of the eye) still lacks pigment. Eyelids and eyebrows are in place, and her pancreas, essential for hormone production, is developing steadily.
Me? I'm really, really, really tired. I can't wait to catch up on some rest and get some fresh air this weekend.
Vi? She's not really tired, or so it seems by her constant squirming! I swear, she's swimming laps.
Dan? He's really tired, and stressed. Trying to gear up for his busy season at work with a skeleton crew!
How your baby's growing: Your baby now looks like a miniature newborn, checking in at 10.9 inches and almost 1 pound. Her skin will continue to appear wrinkled until she gains enough weight to fill it out, and the fine hair (lanugo) that covers her head and body is now visible. Her lips are becoming more distinct, and the first signs of teeth are appearing as buds beneath her gum line. Her eyes are developed, though the iris (the colored part of the eye) still lacks pigment. Eyelids and eyebrows are in place, and her pancreas, essential for hormone production, is developing steadily.
Me? I'm really, really, really tired. I can't wait to catch up on some rest and get some fresh air this weekend.
Vi? She's not really tired, or so it seems by her constant squirming! I swear, she's swimming laps.
Dan? He's really tired, and stressed. Trying to gear up for his busy season at work with a skeleton crew!
Tuesday, March 20, 2007
21 Week Update
I am now 21 weeks along. Since I'll be induced around 39 weeks, I have 18 weeks left! That's just over 4 months...time seems to have picked up its pace lately. I'm sure that it won't slow down for many, many years to come...
We had a check-up yesterday, and all is well. I've gained a total of 17 pounds, my blood pressure is still the same, and the baby's heart is thumping away. Her movements are getting more intense - it really feels like I'm being punched by little tiny fists. Hmm...I guess I AM being punched by little tiny fists. (Refer to ultrasound pictures to see just how tiny, and how cute those little fists are.)
Here is the Babycenter.com email:
How your baby's growing: Your baby now weighs about three-quarters of a pound and is approximately 10 1/2 inches long. His eyebrows and eyelids are fully developed. And you can certainly feel him move. He's oblivious to your schedule, though, so don't be surprised if he starts working out just when you're settling down for the night. If you're having a girl, her vagina is formed now, though it will continue to develop until birth.Note: Every baby develops a little differently — even in the womb. Our information is designed to give you a general idea of your baby's development.
How your life's changing:
You're probably feeling pretty comfortable these days. You're not too big yet, and the usual aches and pains associated with early pregnancy are, for the most part, gone. Relax and enjoy it while you can — the third trimester will bring some mild discomfort from carrying a baby who is nearly full-term.
We had a check-up yesterday, and all is well. I've gained a total of 17 pounds, my blood pressure is still the same, and the baby's heart is thumping away. Her movements are getting more intense - it really feels like I'm being punched by little tiny fists. Hmm...I guess I AM being punched by little tiny fists. (Refer to ultrasound pictures to see just how tiny, and how cute those little fists are.)
Here is the Babycenter.com email:
How your baby's growing: Your baby now weighs about three-quarters of a pound and is approximately 10 1/2 inches long. His eyebrows and eyelids are fully developed. And you can certainly feel him move. He's oblivious to your schedule, though, so don't be surprised if he starts working out just when you're settling down for the night. If you're having a girl, her vagina is formed now, though it will continue to develop until birth.Note: Every baby develops a little differently — even in the womb. Our information is designed to give you a general idea of your baby's development.
How your life's changing:
You're probably feeling pretty comfortable these days. You're not too big yet, and the usual aches and pains associated with early pregnancy are, for the most part, gone. Relax and enjoy it while you can — the third trimester will bring some mild discomfort from carrying a baby who is nearly full-term.
Tuesday, March 13, 2007
20 Weeks Update from BabyCenter.com
I'm 20 weeks pregnant:
How your baby's growing:
Your baby weighs about 10 1/2 ounces now. She's also around 6 1/2 inches long from head to bottom, and about 10 inches from head to heel. (For the first 20 weeks, we use measurements taken from the top of the baby's head to her bottom — known as the "crown to rump" measurement. After that, we use measurements from head to toe. This is because a baby's legs are curled up against her torso during the first half of pregnancy and are very hard to measure.)A greasy white substance called vernix caseosa coats her entire body to protect her skin during its long submersion in amniotic fluid. (This slick coating also eases the journey down the birth canal.)Your baby is swallowing more, which is good practice for her digestive system. She's also producing meconium, a black, sticky substance that's the result of cell loss, digestive secretion, and swallowed amniotic fluid. This meconium will accumulate in her bowels, and you'll see it in her first messy diaper (although a few babies pass it in utero or during delivery).
How your life's changing:
You've made it to the halfway mark — Congratulations! The top of your uterus is at the level of your belly button now, and you've likely gained about 10 pounds. Expect to gain an average of about another pound each week from now on. (If you started your pregnancy underweight, you may need to gain a bit more; if you were overweight, perhaps a bit less.) Make sure you're getting enough iron, a mineral that's used primarily to make hemoglobin (the part of your red blood cells that carries oxygen). During pregnancy, your body needs more iron for your developing baby and the placenta, and to keep up with your expanding blood volume. Iron-rich foods include lean red meat, poultry, fish, lentils and other legumes, spinach, and iron-fortified cereals.
You've made it to the halfway mark — Congratulations! The top of your uterus is at the level of your belly button now, and you've likely gained about 10 pounds. Expect to gain an average of about another pound each week from now on. (If you started your pregnancy underweight, you may need to gain a bit more; if you were overweight, perhaps a bit less.) Make sure you're getting enough iron, a mineral that's used primarily to make hemoglobin (the part of your red blood cells that carries oxygen). During pregnancy, your body needs more iron for your developing baby and the placenta, and to keep up with your expanding blood volume. Iron-rich foods include lean red meat, poultry, fish, lentils and other legumes, spinach, and iron-fortified cereals.
All her 2,000 parts...
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So, here she is! Little Baby Girl. What's amazing is how much we could see during the hour-long ultrasound. 10 fingers and 10 toes. 4 perfect heart chambers. A stomach, a bladder, 2 kidneys. Little baby ribs and little baby vertebrae. As the technician tried to take pictures of her heart, Little Baby Girl kept moving her hands all around, casting shadows over her own chest. Seeing her mouth open and close was pretty awesome. All of her pieces and parts are right where they should be.
She weighs about 11 ounces, and measures 7-10 inches in length, head to toe. Right on schedule.
Wednesday, March 7, 2007
19 Weeks Update!
I'm WAY too tired to comment intelligently today...still not sleeping well, because no position works for more than a few hours. So, I'll just leave you with Babycenter.com's weekly message:
Your baby weighs about 8 1/2 ounces, and he measures 6 inches, head to bottom — about the length of a small zucchini. His arms and legs are in the right proportions to each other and the rest of his body now. His kidneys continue to make urine, and the hair on his scalp is sprouting. If your baby is a girl, she has an astonishing six million eggs in her ovaries.
This is a crucial time for sensory development: Your baby's brain is designating specialized areas for smell, taste, hearing, vision, and touch. While you may think your womb is a quiet place, it's far from it and your baby may be able to hear what's going on now. What's he listening to? The main sounds are blood moving through your vessels, digestive noises from your stomach, and your voice. Some women like to talk directly to their babies, but even if you don't, your baby can still hear you as you talk to others. Research shows that he's learning to distinguish your voice from others and he'll soon show a preference for it. Studies have shown that when a pregnant woman speaks, her baby's heart rate will decrease, indicating relaxation. Let Dad get in on the act too — encourage him to talk to your baby.
Your baby weighs about 8 1/2 ounces, and he measures 6 inches, head to bottom — about the length of a small zucchini. His arms and legs are in the right proportions to each other and the rest of his body now. His kidneys continue to make urine, and the hair on his scalp is sprouting. If your baby is a girl, she has an astonishing six million eggs in her ovaries.
This is a crucial time for sensory development: Your baby's brain is designating specialized areas for smell, taste, hearing, vision, and touch. While you may think your womb is a quiet place, it's far from it and your baby may be able to hear what's going on now. What's he listening to? The main sounds are blood moving through your vessels, digestive noises from your stomach, and your voice. Some women like to talk directly to their babies, but even if you don't, your baby can still hear you as you talk to others. Research shows that he's learning to distinguish your voice from others and he'll soon show a preference for it. Studies have shown that when a pregnant woman speaks, her baby's heart rate will decrease, indicating relaxation. Let Dad get in on the act too — encourage him to talk to your baby.
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