16 weeks

Here's 16 weeks with Freddie.

Wondering if it's more like 18 weeks or 20 weeks.  I am missing my blonde hair though.  Not sure Chalrie 's skills can keep up with highlights.

This week I've been shopping around for new bras...it's time.  I've also been poking around looking for a dress to wear to Charlie's May graduation when I'll be 34 weeks.  Yikes!

I'm also trying to figure out what I need and what I can live without from the mound of Freddie's baby gear in storage.  There is really very limited space around here and there are a few new items I'm thinking we'll need.

Part Deux Update

At 12 weeks 1 day:

Blood pressure:110/60
Weight gain: +1 (+0 at home)
PD heart rate: no measurement just heard it

Dr. H went over lab results from the first appointment and all looked good.  I really like that he went though each test rather than just giving a blanket thumbs up.  He went through the previous tests we had done at CCRM in 2008 and also drew blood to check whether I am carrier for spinal muscle atrophy and Tay-Sachs.

Prior to the appointment we went to the hospital about 10 blocks away and had the nuchal scan.  I reread through Freddie's scan and knew his measurement was 1.4 at about 13 weeks, with the average being 2.18 at 12 weeks.  Most say the standard for the measurement to be below 3.0 but there is a large percentage of positive down syndrome results if the measurement is above 2.5

Because of our experience at the first ultrasound, I was not surprised when the ultrasound technician told us before she started the only information she'd be able to give us was the measurement of the baby.  She wouldn't even measure the heart rate when Charlie inquired.  She was all business.  Frankly I was surprised she gave us any images.  I think I was able to see the nuchal measurement was 1.8 but I'm not certain.  Part Deux measured ahead one day, 12 weeks 2 days.

It was nice to see the heart beating away and some movement.  Freddie liked seeing the baby he's been kissing in Mama's tummy.  

The nuchal scan images will be reviewed by a doctor and a report will be written for Dr. H.  The technician said Dr. H does not have access to the images.  I am not so impressed by that system of things.  When I spoke with Dr. H he said he'd call on Friday with results but if I don't hear from him to call him. 

Updates when nuchal scan results are in, hopefully Friday.

Next appointment:  January 14th, 11am.

Um Ba-bay Update

Today I went for my hospital preregistration and pre op appointments before meeting with Dr. M. Everyone had something to say about a pregnant woman wearing boots.

Said boots in the waiting room...


And if they only had one iota of an idea of what it is going to take to get them off tonight.

Signed a bunch of consents at the pre op appointment, watched a movie staring pregnant woman in brightly colored spandex obviously filmed in the 80s getting their anesthesia questions answered, and met with an anesthesiologist. That got my blood pressure going. Anesthesia makes me nervous and anesthesia pumped into a catheter hanging out of your back is a bit freaky. So now my fear of child birth may have been trumped but my fear of anesthesia. We'll see when it comes down to it how this will all shake out. But for now, I'm scared.

And I got the skinny on labor and delivery at my preregistration appointment:

• 30 days to add Um Ba-bay to our insurance
• 4 nights in hospital for cesarean
• 2 nights in the hospital for vaginal
• $100 per day copay for hospital stay with a max of $300
• 1 person allowed in operating room if a cesarean delivery
  
• 2 people allowed in delivery room if a vaginal delivery
  
• Delivery will happen on the 3rd floor
• Hospital stay will be in a private room with the boy on 6th floor
  

And then at 26 weeks 6 days I met with Dr. M.

Stats for the visit:

• Blood pressure: 110/70
• Fundal height: 27 cm
• Weight gain: +16 (I'm getting +12 at home, sans cute boots)
• FCS heart rate: 144

Dr. M didn't make me take the boots off, probably because he didn't want to be the one yanking on the boots. He did warn that every appointment from here on out I would have my feet in the stirrups for a cervix check so I should dress appropriately. And the appointments will be every two weeks after this next appointment which is 3 weeks away.

He gave me the news that my I can kiss goodbye the full nights of sleep because the "discomforts" of pregnancy are here for the duration, and then after that it's a whole new world. So, "rest and sleep whenever you can get it."

He thinks the boy is still breech but we won't worry until 34 weeks. And the darling is nestled in the left hand part of the uterus to get far away from the placenta on the right hand side. Kick counting should begin more formally for us in the next few weeks. The contractions are happening, will get stronger, and they'll hurt, but not something to fret over, especially since Dr. M's checking the cervix for any change very regularly now.

Next appointment: December 9th.

Double Take

Is Humpty Dumpty about to get dressed?

Some wide waisted, skinny legged leggings on our bed

Apparently so.


Bye bye, toes.

26 Weeks

Are you bored yet with the biweekly updates and belly pics? Well, we're not. We are completely in awe of this each and every day and figure everyone else has just got to be as well. Not really, but I do like documenting things, and think I'll be happy to have these photos one day. Although I am not sure how much longer I'll be posting the bare white belly photos for the world to see!

Fussing at Charlie in this one

26 weeks...large and in charge is the theme at this milestone. I've been wanting to get things done and have no problem bossing dearest Charles about. And looking at the countdown ticker, we've got less than 100 days of pregnant woman bossing to go!

The Braxton Hicks contractions seem to be more frequent these days. I used to feel them mostly at the end of a long day, but now feel them off and on throughout the day. I hope this extended prelude means most of the work will be done when the boy is ready to come.


Um Babay's activity has slowed a bit from last week, which I worry over. I know he's probably fine but the constant full force pounding from inside is something reassuring and I'd never tire of. But he responds to chocolate and coffee just fine, so I have a brownie, lie on the couch, and calm myself down.

FCS also seems to be confined to the upper part of the uterus directly to the left of my belly button. There is never, ever movement anywhere else. I wonder if he is still breach with his feet tucked up by his head there. (Question noted on my list to bring with me to next week's appointment.)

Other than this bout of crud, I feel pretty good. Tired, but overall great. My only complaint is my back, which, I suppose is to be expected. After all it's as though I've got a Butterball turkey tucked in my pants. After a while the back has got to say "enough." I try not to whine, but hey, I'm pregnant and carrying Charlie's child so he's got to hear something. Sometimes I get the desired response, "Oh, sweetie, lie down. I know it is hard work being pregnant." And then I get "Well, for crying out loud. We've been waiting three years for this. You had to have some idea what this was going to be like." And inside I giggle because I knew after the 27th "Ohhh, my back..." it was bound to come out.

The third trimester is in sight... bring on the waddle.

"Eat! Eat whatever you want."

Mary, Dr. M's nurse, is so sweet. She takes good care of me and always expresses so much concern and excitement.

She called this morning. The glucose screen was normal.

"Eat up and eat well," she said.

24 weeks

I know it is growing, evidenced by the freckle on the inside of my belly button now being on the outside of my belly button!

And for once, I am enjoying the layer of fat on my belly. You see, when FCS gives a kick, the belly jiggle lasts longer than the kick sensation and it's so fun to watch the ripple in the poochy belly fat.


I'm feeling well, especially now that Dr. M gave me the thumbs up after the cervix check. I am hoping the three nights of sound sleep I got this week is a new trend. A full night's sleep makes all the difference. The bathroom trips have picked up once again, so sleeping straight through the night is impossible, but thankfully, I've managed to fall back to sleep without much trouble.

No progress yet on UmBa-bay's room, but we are managing to get upstairs generally more organized and set up for better use. Before taking off for Turkey Day, the painting will be complete and the stacks of gifts and boxes for the holidays will be moved out. So, maybe after Thanksgiving we can spend some time ordering a rug, bedding, and begin getting it ready for the boy.

Um Ba-bay Update

At 23 weeks 5 days:

Blood pressure: 125/70
Weight gain: +12 (I'm wearing winter woolies today being 63 degrees out! The at home, sans clothes, gain is +10)
FCS heart rate: 150s
Fundal height: 23.5

Met with Dr. M this morning. He's always so full of compliments about what a good job I'm doing. He congratulated me for making it to viability, but let me know we want to keep things cooking for at least 10 more weeks. So, at least 34 weeks is the goal, but since we're greedy we're going for the full 40 weeks to let the boy grow as much as possible before he makes his debut.

We chatted for a bit about the contractions I've been feeling and the spotting. He did an internal exam and the cervix is closed and appears to be holding up. The cervix isn't showing any current bleeding and I don't appear to be in active labor. He wants me to monitor the contractions, most likely Braxton Hicks practice contractions, and let him know of any further bleeding. He'll check me again before we leave for NYC the week of Thanksgiving.

Activity is something I should do as I feel able, but as much as I'm tempted, don't push myself. Listen to my body, rest whenever able, and generally begin slowly transitioning into more periods of relaxation.

And the big question Charlie sent me with was presented: "Will I be able to travel in late December/early January?" I explained the trip would be more of a change of scenery for me, no skiing, no hiking. He warned against all the cold weather evils for me, a clumsy southern woman, such as altitude, dehydration, slipping on ice. After a deep breath, and many warnings, he advised, "Travel at your own risk" as I will be on the cusp when travelling is generally not recommended. He thought the biggest issue being I could begin laboring and while it is perfectly fine to happen in Colorado, he will not be there to come off the mountain, hold my hand, and help me through. We'll talk more about it in early December and make a more informed decision then based on how things are looking.

Glucose screen set for November 4th. Next appointment with Dr. M November 19th. And if being nearly 24 weeks hasn't already pushed me into the "we're really having a baby" mode, I set appointments for hospital preregistration and preop clearance in November. We also got a notice from the insurance company that they've approved a hospital stay for me in February.

Unbelievable!

22 weeks

I am now more than half way.


Growing?



A little of what's going on around here, 22 weeks into this baby growing gig:

• I've had some spotting this week. I've tried to put it out if my mind. If it returns Dr. M will also find the return of his hysterical, crazy woman patient that he hasn't seen for nearly 8 weeks. It did push my heart up into my throat and left me unsettled for a while, but I'm calming down.

• I've felt a fluttering wiggle on the inside as Charlie feels it on the outside....at last. I hope to have another of these moments soon. We try it out each night.

• Loving the belly, really I am, but it is beginning to become uncomfortable. And I can't even begin to imagine what it will feel like walking around in 10 weeks or 17 weeks or, dare I say, 19 weeks.
  

• I am not sleeping well. It's part belly, part bladder, part backache and perhaps part worry. So, I'm pooped much of the time.
  

• I thought knowing UmBa-baby was really FCS, III would provide a transition into calling him by name, but how silly was I to think in a house where I am addressed as "Weegie" or "Poobah" or "Poocat" that our boy would actually be called by name.

• We've ordered a stroller, and we've got a breast pump, boppy pillow, baby monitor, baby carrier, a blanket, a couple of books, a few frames, and some Boudreaux's.....all stacked in the crib, in a room scattered with the fruits of my holiday shopping. Every once in a while, I get a bit frantic over the state of the room and our lack of gear and bedding, but Charlie reminds me to calm down....after all we've got 18 more weeks. I know, only 18 more weeks!
  

• As always, life is good. Have I said that lately?
  

20 weeks

Here we are, 20 weeks and counting. Halfway, Dr. M tells me. He let me know we should begin "preparing" because the weeks and appointments will be rolling soon, and little FCS, III will be here before we know it.

Preparing. I think I'm ready to prepare. I've begun to browse websites and catalogs. Maybe he'll write "shopping, twice daily" on a prescription pad for me to hand over to Charlie.

Things on the belly front are looking large...

But I'm thinking not larger than two weeks ago.

The belly is beginning to get in the way. I'm uncomfortable moving around in my new shape, and even sitting doesn't feel right with that bulge. Eating a half loaf of banana bread and 4 peanut butter bars in a day probably doesn't help (I'd never do that and eat McDonald's though!). I'm not complaining. I'm thankful to have it and look forward to watching it grow.

I've also been awaiting quickening. Everyone wants to know if I've felt movement yet. After all, I am halfway there. And maybe, just maybe, there was quickening Tuesday night as I lie awake in bed. I've been waiting for it again, but I think that anterior placenta is to blame. Dr. M said to give it a few more weeks, and start monitoring the duration and frequency of the movement. I'm trying to be patient.

20 weeks more weeks of waiting. 20 weeks.

Um Ba-bay Update

At 19 weeks, 5 days:

Boy's Heart rate: 150s
Fundal height: 20 weeks
Blood pressure: 110/70
Overall weight gain: +7


Saw Dr. M this morning. He said I look "great" and he'd never know I was eating a McDonald's sausage biscuit everyday. (Ok, maybe not every day, but I've definitely had more McDonald's breakfasts since I found out I was pregnant than I've had in the last 5 years combined. )

We chatted for a bit about Dr. L's screening last week. He said he hadn't yet received the report and it wasn't unusual for it not to be available in the system yet for his review, however, if Dr. L had any pressing concerns, he was certain she'd call immediately. We discussed her request for another visit, and he felt she was typically on the conservative end, requesting follow ups with 40% of her patients. He said of those going in again, 90% typically had "nothing" to be concerned about post screening. He's going to look over the report, talk to Dr. L, and most likely leave it up to me as to whether or not we'd like another visit.

Back to Dr. M on October 28 and then the glucose test shortly after that.

To Tres

Home after dinner

Charlie hasn't been very cooperative during my self portrait photo shots.

We celebrated, of course, our boy last night with dinner at Patois. We were giddy with excitement over him. I know we would have had the same feelings had the doctor told us it was a girl, so maybe it just shifted from surreal to real with knowing the sex. Although there still remains a tinge of "is this really going to happen," the joy, excitement, and wonder over a baby are taking hold.

Charlie studies the drink menu to decide what will come
after his Rum Ricky. I feel grown up with San Pellegrino!

We toasted "the third." He'll be Frederick Charles, like his father and grandfather. What we'll call him each day is yet to be determined, but we have a few ideas.

Lump crabmeat and avocado salad with sweet potato chips

Dinner was one of the yummiest we've had in a while...squash, vidallia, and basil soup, duck and andouille gumbo (excellent!), shrimp with artichoke hearts, sprouts, oven-dried tomatoes and a lemon emulsion, a lump crabmeat and avocado salad (unbelievable!), gnocchi with jumbo lump crabmeat, chanterelle mushroom and Parmigiano-Reggiano, and finally paneed rabbit with kale, smothered okra and and spicy tasso.

Happy girl!

Wait, there's dessert as well....Mexican chocolate cheesecake, homemade banana and peanut butter ice cream, and banana cream pie (outstanding!).

"Weapon of Choice"
Disappointed it's blurring, but this tiny sign by NoLa Rising
is tacked to the street pole right outside Patois' door.

We enjoyed Patois and will be back to the tiny restaurant nestled Uptown about 1 mile from our house. It was the perfect setting to celebrate our growing family. We talked about this and that, our upcoming vacation, work, family and friends, as we always do, but we each agreed how content we each were and how lucky we are to live this life.

And then...we went to look at breast pumps. Always an adventure.

"We're not having *a* baby, we're having Um Ba-bay!"

A photo of the monitor! The machine was out of film, so the tech said she'd
print some out from saved files when the film arrives.

Much anticipated ultrasound with MFM doctor was first thing this morning. I don't know if I could have made it a minute longer, with my anxiety running high. Charlie held my hand as we walked through the parking garage and reminded me of our life's mantra (one of them at least), "Everything will be okay. No matter what happens in there."

And everything is okay, with Mama and Um Ba-bay.

Mom's stats: (that's me!)

• Blood pressure: 100/64
• Pulse: 72 (nerves, as I'm used to a pulse near 50)
• Weight change overall: +6
• Cervix: 3.83 cm
• Placenta: edging away from cervix in anterior position

Um Ba-bay's stats:

• Heart rate: 150
• Weight: 10 ounces
• Position: Breech, butt down, legs tucked up
• Heart: 4 chambered
• Septum: closed
• Kidneys: 2
• Amniotic fluid: "adequate" (only a qualitative measurement at this stage)
• Head circumference: 19 weeks 4 days
• Waist: 18 weeks 6 days
• Brain: all parts measure within normal limits
• Lips: appear to be cleft free
• Umbilical cord: three vessels
• Genitalia: Male

Um Ba-bay is a boy! Charlie and I are going to have a son. A son.

We didn't think he was going to give up the shot to see the goods, being in the breech position with not much room to open his legs, but the ultrasound tech caught a shot that seemed to show both umbilical cord and penis, and the MFM doctor confirmed later with a better shot.

Um Ba-bay had his mouth open quite a bit and seemed to be trying to stuff his fist in there. His hands remained up near his head the entire time. The numerous shots of his heart, beating, beating, beating, were comforting.

Dr. L reported all measurements are within a few days of the due date, and all looks normal, within normal measurements. The heart is not quite to the point of development at this gestational age to rule out all heart abnormalities, but the 4 chambered heart gave 90%+ probability that all is normal. She also said breech at this stage in the game is normal and nothing to fret over.

Dr. L thought another scan would be requested by Dr. M but she wants him to schedule when he'd like me to see her again. She didn't say why, and I didn't ask. I'd rather hear Dr. M's explanation on Tuesday. So, I'll try not to worry and just be thankful for another peek at our boy and close monitoring.

So there you have it...come February we're having a boy, and he looks healthy.

18 Weeks

Cannot believe we are here. Thankful for each day of the past 18 weeks, despite the stress and uncertainty. Thankful for the opportunity to experience pregnancy, and to watch Charlie watch me. And hopeful that I'll be saying the same thing at 20 weeks, 26 weeks, and 36 weeks.


I didn't think the belly had grown so much from two weeks ago, but looking at it now, I think it has grown! I've given up on trying to hide it. I've been getting comments on the bosom and the belly from friends and strangers. Well, the bosom comments have yet to come from strangers.

The last few weeks have been a pound a week gain, so that puts me on track for gaining about 30 pounds, if the pattern continues. We continue to walk about 28-30 miles per week. I'm not really watching my diet. I haven't been gorging myself on junk and sweets but unfortunately I have also been avoiding veggies and proteins. I keep telling myself to up the meat and greens, but crackers and noodles are what I want, so that's all I eat.


The anatomy scan is on Wednesday. It can't get here fast enough, as far as I am concerned. We will learn Um Ba-bay's sex, but really I am just desperate to see a wiggle and a heartbeat. It'll have been 41 days since the last ultrasound and 29 days since we heard the heartbeat, and I've been having some anxiety over all the worst case scenarios out there.

We did purchase a baby monitor this week and tested it tonight. Thankfully it worked perfectly from the baby room upstairs to the den downstairs. The baby stuff in the house grows. Next purchase from the massive list of gear we've compiled: co-sleeper.

18 weeks behind us. 22 weeks await.

2nd Trimester Screening

MFM (maternal fetal medicine) doctor phoned today.

2nd trimester screening results were "negative."

• Chance for presence of down syndrome (trisomy 21) remain 1 in 10,000, just as reported at 1st trimester screening.
• Chance of presence of trisomy 18 also remain at 1 in 10,000.
  
• Neural Tube defect chances are 1 in 1100. I haven't done my homework on NTD, but I am thinking this is about an average result. But, I'll be looking more into this tonight.
  

Boom-Ba

The chant has evolved in our house from "Boomba bottom. Boomba bottom. Boom. Boom. Boom."

To...."Boomba bosom. Boomba bosom. Boom. Boom. Boom."

And now..."Boomba belly. Boomba belly. Boom. Boom. Boom."

He's a charmer, that Charlie.

16 weeks

Is it growing?


We did just get home from a big "we love our life" meal at Herbsaint, so I think it is a bit bigger from food, but not so sure it's grown so much since the last photo 2 weeks ago.


We came home yesterday afternoon to a gift on the porch that Gustav didn't blow away for Um Ba-bay. Thank you, Dawn. And Aunt Mary sent us home with a few baby items as well. We are beginning to acquire lots of baby stuff. Charlie stopped me this evening as I passed him in the hall and said, "Let's look at all the baby things." He's also taken to reading aloud to me from his newest book, Caveman's Guide to Baby's First Year.

One of the big evacuation priorities of the week was remaining stress free, and staying pregnant. Last evacuation we left pregnant, had a D and C in Colorado during our month long evacuation, and returned home thinking we'd try again in a few months. And now after three long years we're finally expecting and find ourselves evacuating again. I could tell this bothered Charlie immensely and he was determined to keep Um Ba-bay alive and kicking. He did a great job taking care of his family, and I'm pretty confident Um Ba-bay made it home safely. We'll see for sure in three weeks.

My only concern now is this sharp pain I get in what I presume to be my cervix. I get pulls and twinges around my belly, but a few times a day I get pains, ranging from dull and achy to sharp knife cutting pains in my cervix. I have been avoiding googling it since we've got internet back, but I may cave this weekend.

Um ba-bay Update

Quickest appointment ever with Dr. M. Probably because it was the only appointment ever with Dr. M where I wasn't crying. And I didn't have any questions. Of course he couldn't help himself and had to tell me in great biological detail about why I am no longer bleeding. Yep, bleeding is all gone at just the time he said it would stop.

I told him my biggest worry today was Charlie having to stop the parades come February to drive the car through to get his laboring wife to the hospital or my water breaking as I dive for a Zulu coconut. He had a big smile and told me he was so happy that I was finally at the point of having those worries.

Blood pressure: 120/70, normal but a bit elevated for me
Weight: +2 pounds overall

A note on weight: Dr. M said his only mention of weight would be at the first visit unless ultrasounds revealed my nutrition was affecting development. His only statement in regards to weight was "the first 30 come of easily, and the rest you'll have to work for." I'm keeping track. I always have so don't think these 40 weeks should be any different. I think 2 pounds by week 15 sounds within reason, and my scale only shows 1 pound anyway!

Dr. M said uterus feels to have grown to appropriate proportions. Most important part of the visit was Um Ba-bay finally let us listen to his heartbeat with the doppler. Heart rate has dropped to the 140 bpm range. Disappointed s/he didn't require a viewing via ultrasound to make sure everything was ok, but pleased I finally got to listen because now I will order a trusty little doppler to use at home whenever I so desire!

I won't see Dr. M again until September 30th. Upcoming appointments: second trimester screening on September 9th and anatomy scan on September 24th.