Well, we all survived...Grace, those who watched her, and me, while I have my three baby appointments per week. I do bring her with me to the AFI appointments because they are generally short, but I have helpers for my NST appointments. Thanks to those who have helped me with Grace!!!
I'll be 35 weeks along tomorrow. I have seen all the midwives in the practice, and they all seem to be saying the same thing: The baby is happy and healthy, I look fine, women with large babies often have a lot of fluid, and that's probably what's happening here. So that's good news, and we're thankful. The midwife I saw today is the one who delivered Grace, and she asked me not to have a baby that weighs more than ten pounds this time, please. :)
On the day of my AFI, my sonographer was very tight-lipped except that she told me she could see the baby's hair swishing around and that she thought this baby would have a full head of hair. I thought that was pretty neat!
All in all, we are thankful, and also prayerful that this baby is truly doing fine and is delivered safely. In about a week, I'll get my strep test and start being checked for "progress." If this baby is like the other two, I'll show lots of progress but not have the baby for quite awhile. We'll see. Oh, also, I'm no longer allowed to travel anywhere, so I guess it's time to start nesting!
November 19, 2010
November 18, 2010
November 17, 2010
Not Because We Look Alike...
because I really don't think we do. But, this is a dress that my mom saved from when I was little, and Grace is big enough to wear it. Here I am in January 1977, age 25 months. Ahead of Grace in the hair department, and also in the chipping a tooth department. I think she and I have the same color hair, but that's about it.
And here is Grace in November 2010, age 19 months, wearing my dress. Thanks for saving it, Mom!
And here is Grace in November 2010, age 19 months, wearing my dress. Thanks for saving it, Mom!
November 13, 2010
Family Day
On Thursday, in honor of Veteran's Day, Jonathan and Jeff both had the day off, and entrance to national parks was free. I was a little concerned that it might be a crowded day, but thankfully, I was wrong. We spent a beautiful and chilly day at one of our favorite places in the world.
Family
Here are my siblings and our kids. Left to right:
Jeff, Grace, me, Apple Baby, Jonathan, Ryan, Darcy, Amanda, Mary Ann, Corinne, niece or nephew in the oven, Todd.
November 12, 2010
34 Weeks...
and all is well, so far. I had my two NSTs and one AFI this week because of polyhydramnios (that's what my amniotic fluid issue is called) and met with the midwife (a different one in the same practice this time.) It's always interesting to hear another opinion.
The NSTs looked good and the AFI held steady. (I did a better job of getting the baby to wake up and jump around today.) She mentioned that sometimes in women with polyhydramnios, your body can "decide" that you are big enough and your water can break early because of that. She said that I'm far enough along that if my water did break, I should come to the hospital and they wouldn't likely try to stop me from delivering or need to give the baby steroids to develop the lungs. (Umbilical cord prolapse, placental abruption, and postpartum bleeding are risks for women with polyhydramnios. All this information is good and everything, but sometimes it's too much and just provides more things to worry about that I can't control.) She looked at all the percentiles from the measurements of the baby's different parts at the level 2 ultrasound. She said that the head was very big (no surprise there) but that the abdomen is not as big, and she'd be much more concerned if the abdomen was disproportionately large compared to the head. Apparently, that's common in babies exposed to gestational diabetes, which can cause polyhydramnios, and it gives them a higher risk of getting stuck during birth.
I am still really nervous about getting this baby out safely and that it might be too big, so I appreciate your prayers for the baby's safe delivery.
So, I made it through my first week of three appointments. This midwife recommended that we stick with the plan of NSTs and AFIs, and I'm grateful to have care for Grace taken care of for the NSTs for the next two weeks (which puts us through Thanksgiving...can't believe it's that time already!) Thanks to all my helpers, and I'll keep you posted!
The NSTs looked good and the AFI held steady. (I did a better job of getting the baby to wake up and jump around today.) She mentioned that sometimes in women with polyhydramnios, your body can "decide" that you are big enough and your water can break early because of that. She said that I'm far enough along that if my water did break, I should come to the hospital and they wouldn't likely try to stop me from delivering or need to give the baby steroids to develop the lungs. (Umbilical cord prolapse, placental abruption, and postpartum bleeding are risks for women with polyhydramnios. All this information is good and everything, but sometimes it's too much and just provides more things to worry about that I can't control.) She looked at all the percentiles from the measurements of the baby's different parts at the level 2 ultrasound. She said that the head was very big (no surprise there) but that the abdomen is not as big, and she'd be much more concerned if the abdomen was disproportionately large compared to the head. Apparently, that's common in babies exposed to gestational diabetes, which can cause polyhydramnios, and it gives them a higher risk of getting stuck during birth.
I am still really nervous about getting this baby out safely and that it might be too big, so I appreciate your prayers for the baby's safe delivery.
So, I made it through my first week of three appointments. This midwife recommended that we stick with the plan of NSTs and AFIs, and I'm grateful to have care for Grace taken care of for the NSTs for the next two weeks (which puts us through Thanksgiving...can't believe it's that time already!) Thanks to all my helpers, and I'll keep you posted!
New Pillows
Jonathan's tummy bug gave us the mandatory opportunity to replace his mattress and pillow. I decided to get a pillow for Grace, too. Here they are, snuggling up with the new pillows in the living room.
November 10, 2010
November 7, 2010
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