38 Weeks and Counting!

Here I am at about 38 1/2 weeks, before we went to the Halloween party at church.



Everyone loved the t-shirt. The only thing better would have been if the jack-o-lantern's face had been directly on my belly.



I am now 38 weeks, five days, which compared to my due date, is the day that I delivered Gavin, nine days before he was due. It's SO not going to happen this time... I had an appointment this morning, the doctor said that I was dilated 1-2 cm, she could barely fit two fingers in, she also dug around trying to strip my membranes (not exactly comfy), which she said should help bring on some harder contractions. I went for a walk this morning and it seemed as if the contractions were harder, but nothing like when I was in labor. I plan to go for another walk in a little bit, hopefully this baby will come soon. My friend who was due three days before me already had hers last Saturday... hopefully my time will come soon!

37 weeks

I'm now just over 37 weeks and having doctor's appointments every week. There were pretty much no changes this week with my body (except for gaining a bunch of weight, oops), although she didn't do a pelvic exam to know for sure. She gave me the option of doing one next week. What I didn't mention to her was that pretty much until the day I delivered Gavin I didn't have any major changes that I remember. I don't remember losing my mucus plug or spotting or anything...and I delivered him within about 12 1/2 hours of starting labor. Labor started on its own and my water broke on its own while I was having the epidural. I pushed for only about 25 minutes as well. I hope that things go as smoothly this time. Keep your fingers crossed for me. :-D My next appointment is in a little over a week, since I am scheduling only the week before it's hard to find an appointment day/time that is good since Gavin is in preschool and doing the class at the Nature Center. Philip is hoping for a Halloween baby. Please just don't come late little guy!

36 weeks and counting

I am actually going to be 37 weeks tomorrow, but I have been so slow in doing entries this past week, sorry. This picture was from last Saturday, at the end of a LONG day. I had such a busy weekend with my friend in town, the reunion, and the bridal shower. It's all good, though, I'd rather be busy than have time dragging on at this point in pregnancy.

This is my last previa update before delivery, I have been given the green light for a regular delivery! So now I get to play the waiting/guessing game that most parents to be get to play at the end of every pregnancy. I had sort of been looking forward to having it scheduled (and not to mention no labor), but it's a trade off because the recovery is supposed to be quicker with a regular birth. My doctor also wants me to walk more or do squats because it will help push the head down and insure that the placenta doesn't tear. The baby is currently almost six pounds. As of last week he was between 5lb 12oz or 5lb 14oz.

Here I am at about 36 weeks now on the left and about 35 on the right with Gavin. I think it's pretty darn even belly-wise. I'm going to try to take a picture a week until the end because since Gavin was a little bit before his due date, I didn't get a picture at my biggest with Gavin.

Previa Update

Well, on Monday morning I went to see my doctor. She said that I still have a low lying placenta and wants me to get one last ultrasound next week at 36 weeks. She touched on delivery options briefly saying that some women in my situation choose to try to deliver naturally (as opposed to the c-section) and the placenta tears, (which is bad because it takes away blood from the baby), and they still end up with an emergency c-section. If, after this last ultrasound, the doctor thinks that there is any possibility of it tearing and us doing a c-section anyway, I am going to tell her I want to schedule a c-section from the start. I would hate to labor for hours and then have a c-section on top of that. I will discuss the options with her again in a week and a half on Oct. 12 after I have had the ultrasound next week on Oct. 7. So, I am still going to be playing the waiting game for just a little while longer...

Baby Shower Time!

On Saturday, my three local sisters-in-law threw me a very nice shower! Thanks again for doing that for me, ladies!



There was a light brunch with yummy muffins, quiche, and more! They all pitched in on the terrific food! Jessica provided the place to have it.





Here I am with the three of them: Staci, Jessica, and Natalie! Wonderful job, ladies!





Natalie did the games.













Staci did invitations that were so cute and went out to buy the group gift of g-diapers. They are diapers with a cloth cover and a flushable (also compostable or 100% biodegradable) liner.



Thanks everyone for coming and for the great gifts! I got a lot of useful things including the diapers, long sleeved/winter outfits in small sizes (since Gavin was born in summer), even baby wash/shampoo, and more!

Previa/Baby Update

This morning I had my 34 week ultrasound. The tech told me from the ultrasound on the outside that the placenta was 2.5 cm away from the cervix, but when she did an internal, she said that it was showing that it is 4 cm away from the cervix. Not sure what the results mean yet for delivery, my doctor will tell me at my appointment this Monday. The tech also confirmed that the baby is a boy, and head down already. His estimated weight is 4 lbs, 11 oz. I'm not sure what the norm is for a baby at this stage in pregnancy, but it is good to know that he is getting pretty big (as big as some babies are when they come out, although I am sure that he will probably be at least seven pounds by delivery, if not more.) The tech also give us a couple of sonograms of his face, but he didn't want to take his hands down from his face and he looks kind of freaky...

Hospital Tour

Last night Philip and I took the OB hospital tour at the hospital where I will deliver, since it is a different one than where I delivered Gavin. The rooms are VERY similar to those where I delivered at the last hospital (except there is a recliner in each labor/delivery/recovery room for dad to sit/sleep in), and almost all of the rules are the same except dad can stay overnight if you aren't sharing a postpartum room. It would have been convenient last time since we had no other kids at home, but I doubt we'll be doing it this time since Gavin is at home and we are going to probably have to switch off babysitters during the daytime so that Philip can be with me and the baby at least some of the day.

When we came home from the tour, this is how I found Gavin:



I thought that it was hilarious! I don't know if it was intentional or not, but he did have his nose peeking out!

32 weeks and counting!

When Philip was taking pictures of me, Gavin wanted to get in on it. He was showing off Thomas.



Here I am at 32 weeks on the left now, and 31 weeks with Gavin. Looks pretty darn close to the same size to me! So glad that my belly evened out with last time. I have my 34 week ultrasound to check on my previa in a week and a half. Will update then! It's kind of fun that I get so many ultrasounds, I get to see the baby more and the insurance pays everything but a $15 copay.

Pregnancy/Previa Update

I had my appointment with my doctor and the official results from the ultrasound. She said that I still have marginal previa, which means that the placenta is still covering the opening to the cervix a little bit. What this means for me and the baby: another ultrasound at 34 weeks to check to see if it has corrected itself. If it still hasn't, then I will have another one at 36 weeks. My doctor told me if it still hasn't gotten out of the way by then, it usually won't, so she will schedule me for a c-section at that time. I have kind of warmed up to the idea of a having one: no labor, picking birthdate, baby doesn't get cone head from being pushed out, but the recovery still doesn't sound like fun. A couple people who have had c-sections, though, tell me it's not that bad. We will see what happens. Only time will tell.

Colin

I haven't mentioned it before, but we are going to name our baby Colin. I was working hard to tell Gavin that his brother is in my tummy and that he is Colin this morning. I kept pointing to my belly and saying "Colin" or "brother." Gavin was kind of saying Colin a little bit, but then he took off his shorts and held up his shirt, pointed to his belly and said very clearly, "Colin." Apparently he thought that I was trying to teach him what his tummy was called!

28 weeks and counting...

I mentioned it in an earlier post, but I am now at 28 weeks, officially in the third trimester with (hopefully) 12 weeks or less to go! I have my next doctor's appointment this Tuesday. My ultrasound results will be discussed. I'll keep you posted!

I think I have pretty much evened out with last pregnancy, although I am a week further along in this picture than the one on the right. Anyone is paying really close attention may notice I am wearing a slightly different outfit now, the other green shirt was seeming smaller to me this time around (maybe I'm just used to the longer shirts now that the styles of two and half years ago have changed or that it has shrunk since I wore is so much, even when I wasn't pregnant), and the jeans I wore for 1 1/2 pregnancies finally had a knee that gave out, so I had to buy some new jeans (oh, darn it all, hehehe, they are cuter now than before anyway). :-D



Looking at these pictures, I feel the rest of me is not as skinny as before. I am trying to keep in mind all I eat now I'm going to have to work off one of these days...

Pregnancy Update

Today I had my ultrasound to check on the positioning of my placenta to see if the previa had corrected itself yet or not. The tech did a lot of measuring and whatnot and then finally got down to looking directly at the placenta to see its position in regards to the cervix. She pointed out the head and the opening and the blood vessels in my placenta. She said that before it was covering the whole cervix, but this time it is still low, but I could clearly see it wasn't covering the opening. It is still low so my doctor will probably order another ultrasound, but we will see what she has to say when I see her again this coming Tuesday.

I showed the sonogram of his brother to Gavin and told him it was his brother. He said "Brother." I also told him his brother's name, and he repeated it as well. He also asked, "Where brother?" and Aunt Staci was there and she and I both told him that brother was in my tummy, pointing to the bump and telling him he was inside. So cute.

Philip was unable to attend the ultrasound because he's having a crazy week at work, so I tried taking pictures of the sonogram using the macro function. Sorry they are a bit blurry with a little bit of glare since they are shiny, I did my best.

Once again blogger thinks it's smarter than me...



There is no doubt that it's a boy!!!





Here is another 3D shot. The baby looks less skeletal than the last shot at 20 weeks. He has more fat now than before. It was hard to try to get in focus, sorry it's a blurry, but you get the idea.

Glad I asked

Several weeks ago I had my ultrasound and the tech had mentioned that my placenta was covering the birth canal. When I went to my appointment a few days later, I completely forgot to ask until after I left the office and the doctor had said that everything looked fine. Today was my next OB appointment, I told myself I had to BE SURE to ask about it this time. When I did, the doctor gave me a weird look and looked at my chart. Upon closer examination of the results, she said, yes, they did check that I had placenta previa, but that the doctor who checked the results didn't make a note in the usual place. So, she called the ultrasound place and they rechecked the results and the doctor called me to tell me that yes, I have "complete" placenta previa, meaning that the exit is entirely blocked currently. So, what this means for me is another ultrasound at 28 weeks to make sure that the exit is cleared. If not, I haven't asked what exactly that means for me, but usually the placenta has cleared the area by 28 weeks. My sister told me that she thought that the only alternative if it doesn't is a c-section, but I haven't done any research online or confirmed that with my doctor. Check out what dictionary.com has to say about it. Sounds like a fun time!

I have now checked web md and it says that placenta previa is a reason to schedule a c-section, let's just hope that it doesn't come to that. Having to recover from surgery when I have a newborn baby to take care of (and let's not forget his 2 1/2 year old brother running around) doesn't sound like fun.

24 Weeks!

Only approximately 16 more weeks to go! (Hopefully no more, but less by a week or two would be nice.)

It seems my belly is probably evening out with last pregnancy now.

On the left is me at about 24 weeks now and the right is me at about 23 weeks with Gavin. I think I may be slightly bigger than before, but not much.

20 weeks

Today makes me at 21 weeks, so I just barely past the half way point of this pregnancy. Everyone keeps asking me if we are going to try for a girl since we are having a boy, and my response to that is, you are talking to the woman who is only half way through her pregnancy. Talk to me again sometime after I'm done with this one, probably when this one is a year old at least!

Me at about 20 weeks with this pregnancy (green), and 19 weeks with Gavin (red).

Ultrasound time!

Yesterday morning Philip and I went to have my ultrasound on the new baby. The ultrasound tech said that everything looks healthy that she can see, but right now the placenta is low and covering the birth canal. That means I get another ultrasound later on to make sure that it has moved. Not sure what they will do if it hasn't moved. I'll discuss that with my doctor when we go over the results next week at my appointment.

She switched the ultrasound to 3D so that we could get a better look at the baby's face.



Here is a profile view of the baby with the arm up and hand in the face.



Here are the legs (you can see the bones in them) and guess what, in the middle is his boyhood! Gavin gets a little brother! Any suggestions on boy names?

Well checks and school!

Gavin and I had our well checks pretty close together, his for his second birthday and mine for little brother/sister.

Gavin is now 30 pounds and 35 1/2 inches tall! He was in the 75th percentile on both accounts (he is nicely proportioned) he also received two shots (not so fun) and some Thomas stickers. Oh, and Gavin is now big/healthy enough to go to regular milk instead of whole milk, yay, one less thing for my shopping list! Gavin's doctor also just enrolled her daughter, who will be two in August, in the Japanese preschool where we want Gavin to go! We need to find out if there are any more spots available! Ideally Gavin will begin about September (so he has time to adjust to preschool before the baby comes in November). Gavin's doctor is also expecting her second child, due only about two weeks after our baby!

My appointment was quick, once I got into a room. The doctor found the heartbeat and told me to schedule my ultrasound! We have it scheduled now for one week from today, so if baby is cooperating, we'll know then if it's a boy or a girl!

School is going a little better than I expected, I am currently at about 90%, the past couple of quizzes I missed more than I would like, but that is probably because I didn't read the chapters... So, for the remaining quizzes, I'm going to read more again, since the first few quizzes where I did read, I got a couple of perfects or only missed one point. My written assignments have gone well, I have gotten 14/15 points. I just have to hang on for another week, and I'll be done with my class, yay!

16 Weeks

Here I am at about 16 weeks in green now and about 15 weeks in red with Gavin. Definitely a difference the second time around!

Baby Update

Just had an appointment yesterday; heard the baby's heartbeat for the first time! The doctor said it that it was LOUD! I took that as a good thing. I think I've only gained about 10 pounds or so (I don't really remember what weight I started out at, hee, hee, hee!) I refused the blood test to detect Downs Syndrome and Neural Tube Defects because I wouldn't do anything about it anyway and it would only give me more to worry about. Not really much else to report. I have my next appointment on June 1st and she should be discussing an ultrasound appointment with me since I'll be at 18 weeks and they usually happen around 20 weeks. That should be exciting!

Belly Update

Here I am at 12 weeks, 3 days and again at 8 weeks, 3 days. Not much progress in the belly area in the past four weeks; I guess I just popped out a little sooner than last time...hopefully it doesn't mean that I will get bigger overall... we'll see...





I have a standard appointment this Monday. It will probably include my weight (but who's counting, right?) and listening to the heartbeat with a doppler! That will be awesome, we haven't heard the heartbeat yet, although we have seen it on the ultrasound! She might even start talking about scheduling me for another ultrasound, there is one usually around 20 weeks, but sometimes they are scheduled sooner. A friend of mine said that if I am anxious to know if it's a boy or a girl there is a place that she knows of where it is only $20 and it includes a DVD so maybe I'll do that; you can tell the gender visually at something like 15 weeks. Will keep you updated!