18 Month Well Child Visit

"See you in six months!" That's what the pediatrician said at the end of a very normal checkup.

Facts from today:
- Daniel used the "big kid" scale today.  As in, the one for adults that he will use the rest of his life!
- He weighed 25 lbs, which isn't much more than last time, but is in the 40th percentile, which is totally fine.
- His height is 33.5 inches, which is in the 80th percentile - he was always in the 90s.
- His head is now in the 91st percentile, which is also in its smallest percent yet!  But don't worry, its totally normal.

All in all, we've been blessed with a very healthy and happy child who has no major medical conditions.   We also have a great pediatric nurse and doc who have been so helpful this last year.  We are thankful for them, too!

Trip to the Dermatologist.

The appointment was fast, painless, and informative. I've noticed a patch of uneven texture/tone skin on his rib cage and mentioned it to his pediatrician. During his last check up, Dr. W referred DHH to the pediatric dermatologist in our city. Dr. W thought it was probably harmless, but said that it was a really uncommon type and that there was a 2:5 chance it could be somewhat alarming (as in it could turn into cancer when he is an adult).


While at the appointment, my son stood on a chair and waved at other patients. He hummed and giggled. He was in a great mood. I am sure that the rest of the clinic heard his uproarious laughter and joyful cries while we waited in the waiting room. You would have thought we were at a carnival! He really enjoyed playing with the roll-y chair and the crinkling paper on the examination table.


The results: The uneven skin is simply a form of a birth mark. No big deal. Not pre-cancer. (Phew!)

Five Days Old: First Pediatrician Visit

On Friday, July 31 we took Daniel to his pediatrician for a follow up appointment. Dr. Bueke and Dr. Finstad recommended this, since he was slightly jaundiced and had dropped 6% of his body weight, leaving the hospital at a mere 6 pounds, 12 oz.

My mom and Dan went to the appointment with me and Daniel. It was odd to have so many adults in a tiny room meant for a tiny patient!

Our doctor, Dr. W, also attended MU and came highly recommended by one of my doctor friends and several of my medical school friends. He's got little kids, too, and is really friendly and willing to research questions that I have.

The appointment went very well. We learned he had gained 2 ounces and lost over an inch in length. We felt really confused about why he was measuring 18.5 inches when he was 20.75 inches at birth, but the nurse explained that there is a large source of error in measurements taken just after birth. Babies are so wiggly and slippery, and often the nurses are in a hurry to record his measurements and move on to other procedures.

So, our little guy was even littler than we thought!

Here is a little movie of him being examined. He was crying because he was so cold! Notice the umbilical cord is still attached.

We had been home from the hospital for two days at this point, and it was my second outing. We'd taken the baby to Dan's softball game the night before, and I realized I needed some clothes that fit. So, after the appointment, we went to Target. I bought two dresses, and the baby slept peacefully throughout the trip.

38.5 Week Appointment and Delivery Date

On Wednesday, July 15 we arrived at the Center for Maternal-Fetal Care for what we thought was the last visit.

I assumed it was our last time settling in to this peaceful waiting room.

I assumed it would be our last black and white peek at our son via ultrasound before we saw him in color, three dimensionally.

The last time for a Non-Stress Test to monitor the fetal heart rate and maternal uterine contractions. Though the recliner is super comfy, its a really boring 25 minutes.

I thought I was having my final blood pressure check done by my favorite staff member, Nurse Mary.

I thought it was my last pee in the cup to test for ketones, white blood cells, dehydration, proteins, etc.

I was even a little cheerful about being examined to see how far the labor was progressing. Only a little, because its not the most pleasant vacation experience!

However, after Nurse Mary and Dr. Kimberly came in to discuss the baby's development and my progression into labor I realized this is not the last time. I'll be here next Wednesday, too. Perhaps once again this week or twice again next week. I had felt so certain that the pains I was experiencing were progressing the labor process. Perhaps they are, but they weren't progressing to the point of BABY TIME.

During our appointments in the last few weeks, the doctors and I have been discussing the risks of continuing pregnancy past 38.5 weeks, the possibility of preterm labor (obviously, this didn't happen, hurray!), the possibility of spontaneous labor beginning before the due date of July 26, the threat of placental unhealthiness after 39 weeks, and induction of labor at 39 weeks.

I have done research about labor and delivery processes and have formulated ideas of how I'd like to experience the birth of our son. I realize that there are two VERY different ways it could happen - a natural progression that happens before 40 weeks or a scheduled, medical induction at 40 weeks.

The benefit of letting it occur naturally would be that I would be more in control of my pain management and could stay in the comfort of my own home, doing whatever I pleased, up until the bag of waters breaks or the pains are 5 minutes apart. I could avoid hours of wearing hospital clothes, hearing hospital sounds, and looking at hospital decor (all are not especially relaxing). The risk of letting it occur naturally is that with each progressing day, the placental health quality is reduced. This occurs in all pregnancies, but for my high-risk condition, it is more likely that the cell death occurs at a quicker rate. Therefore, I cannot go past the 40 week mark as many other mothers and babies do.

The benefit of scheduling an induction is that I will not have to worry about the baby's health anymore. He will be before my eyes and in my arms. A lot less anxiety! High risk doctors follow this line of thinking, too. They have worked so hard to give the baby a good fetal life and feel confident letting a baby be born ahead of nature's schedule because of the advanced medical care he can receive after birth. The risks include a more painful experience, due to the use of synthetic hormones. The prostaglandin and oxytocin my body would release naturally are less of a shock to my system than Cytotec and Pitocin. I would also have to have an IV of fluids and constant fetal monitoring. I would be pretty confined to my bed, and I would probably opt for the pain medication immediately. There are risks with epidurals, but perhaps the benefit would be that I would be more relaxed and peaceful during the experience.

It was a very tough decision to make at 5 pm, 38.5 weeks pregnant. Ultimately, the nurse, doctors, and we decided to allow labor to progress naturally up until July 26, 2009, the original due date. If there is not a baby by then, I will be admitted to our birth center for the Cytotec intervention on Sunday evening, and then I begin the Pitocin drip the next morning. Baby H will be here by Monday night.

Because I had felt so certain that "things were happening", disappointment was a big cloud over me. I imagined us having the baby by the weekend and having company visiting him. I pictured being NOT pregnant next week. I thought his birth date would be mid July. I was reminded by a friend that God already knew the plans for this baby's arrival, and He wasn't surprised and isn't disappointed by them. That was a comforting thought! Today, I feel more at peace with the idea of having 11 more days of being the only person in the world to hold Baby H.

Oh! His 38.5 Week Stats!

Weight: 7 lbs, 6oz, in the 77 percentile (could be a margin of error of +/- one pound)

Head diameter: 9.25 centimeters, 80 percentile

Update, Week 38. Moans and Groans.

Up until a few days ago, I had been enjoying this pregnancy. Well, perhaps the enjoyment began around June 20 or so, and ended near July 4... those were the easiest weeks for me. During those days, I experienced very little daytime nausea, few anxieties about birth or newborn baby, lots and lots of rest time, and the weather was fairly cool in Mid-Mo. My skin, hair, and mood were radiant. I felt happy and calm most of the time. I had a great trip to visit my family and friends in my hometown and a pleasant Independence Day trip. I felt pretty good about life, and totally loved getting a pedicure and my hair colored. I attended my water aerobics class regularly and was able to survive the day with only the briefest of naps.

So, in the last week things have changed. I visited the chiropractor for the first time in months in an attempt to assuage my weary back and neck. I've slept very little at night. I've been only able to attend a few aqua fitness classes, and when I am there, I cannot do very much, though its all low-impact. The temperature causes me to be sweaty, and I hate being sweaty on my scalp, back, and feet. My script for Nexium has run out, and is facing the insurance company for review, so I've got a grand-old case of the GERD again. Boo!

I've been quite forgetful this week, including tiny things like switching the laundry from the washer to the dryer, calling a friend to reschedule our appointment, where my keys are (that's not a new thing, though!!). and others.

I've also been feeling super heavy. Like I've got a solid lump of cement in my belly. A big, sometimes squirmy, lump that crushes my internal organs and makes it difficult to roll over. Frequently, the baby has spasms of energy that transform my abdomen into a shaking, jumping, shape-shifting weird thing. If he's active, he's super active! And now that his parts have all formed, I feel hard bits of skeleton like knees, spine, ankles prominently protruding like little lumps under the cover of my skin. SO odd.

To top it off, some of my "gee that maternity shirt is so huge it will never fit properly" apparel is now fitting snugly. I had to go buy a new shirt to have another one long and large enough to go into the rotation! Its a vibrant grape color, and while its cute and matches a pair of fuchsia shorts I also bought, I feel like a gigantic grape in it. Or perhaps like Violet B. from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

My pace is slower, and yesterday I asked Dan if the skin on the top of my feet was cracking or peeling because my feet hurt when I flexed them while walking. They weren't cracked, just swollen! Physically, my body is slower because of my achy joints and feet. I think the energy level I am feeling has reached an all time low... I have about as much energy as when I had mono. Seriously, I have to take a rest after I do a chore like walking to the mail box or folding clothes.

And speaking of swollen... its not just my feet! I've also had puffy fingers for about a month now, but in the last two weeks, my hands have gone to tingly to numb to frozen in weird positions when I sleep. I have to use one hand to physically straighten my fingers when I wake up. Its the weirdest thing, but would be a great Halloween trick! I can't remember ever feeling pain and pressure when I flex my fingers or curl them into a fist. Its SO odd.

The labor pains are still mild, irregular, and frequent. They haven't progressed into longer, stronger, closer together contractions, so its still not time for Baby H to emerge into the daylight.

Wednesday afternoon will be another baby doctor appointment, and this time the plans are well determined by which doctor I see. If I see Dr. G, the cautious, verbose scientist one, I'll definitely have a scheduled date and time to show up for inducement. If I see Dr. Kimberly, the peaceful, nature-will-take-her-course Canadian, she'll probably do a more natural procedure to move things along and urge me to wait another week before scheduling the inducement.

So... this means a baby within a week... or a baby in a week and a few days... but a baby before the "official due date" of July 26!

35 weeks, 5 days Appointment

Today we had another Baby H appointment. Because he hiccuped for 20 minutes and did not practice breath for the other 10, our doc recommended another BioPhysicalProfile again today.

So, another copay, another set of ultrasound pictures, and another NST.

Our visit with the doctor post- BPP was quite different than the visit we had on Wednesday. On Wednesday, Dr. G shared with me his concern for placental health and early delivery. Today, Dr. Kimberly was all sunshine and roses and natural childbirth. I felt reassured, but still confused.

The two main things I will remember about today's appointment are:

1) "When you come in next time, we'll go ahead and schedule an induction in case you don't deliver early."Holy crap! Its coming up! It will be on the calendar by Wednesday! It will be around July 17!!

2) "Oh, it looks like you had some contractions during that NST. I see several, with two major ones. That one three minutes ago must have been pretty big!" No kidding, doc. Lots of contractions. Never progressing enough to make it past a good rest and huge drink of water... so not active labor.

Note: I've got dozens of ultrasounds to scan from the past few weeks. Today's best picture shows a chubby big toe.

Due Date Update

Today at the weekly appointment, my doctor told me that I would be delivering before 40 weeks is up. In fact, before 39 weeks. Either my body will naturally begin the process of labor around 36-38 weeks, or I'll have a scheduled induction.

This means the baby will likely be born on or before July 20. This helps me with the mental preparation count down!

The reason why is the MTHFR deficiency I have as part of my genetic make up. It makes the life of the placenta a bit less than an unaffected placenta. Which makes the baby's last few days more unhealthy, if left to term.

I am not sure how large of an alarm this is or should be, because my doctor was pretty cautious about telling me these facts, and also emphasizing the importance of noting decreased fetal movements. Note: lots of fetal movements today around noon and 10 PM. WAY less during other times of the day. Def. freaks me out, but baby h probably has a very nice nap routine going!

In fact, I'll be returning to the office for another BioPhysical Profile (ultrasound and non-stress test) on Friday to further monitor this baby. These frequent BPP tests are used as a way to measure the baby's overall health, thereby making inferences about the placental health.


Interesting facts...
Did you know placentas are temporary organs, meant only to function for 40 weeks? In America, doctors routinely schedule labor inductions for post-term women because they feel the condition of the placenta is not so good.

Did you know that I was born 8 days after my due date, so I probably went with a less than satisfactory placenta for awhile?

Did you know that less than 5% of all infants are born on their scheduled due date?

30.5 Week Appointment

This morning we visited the CMFC for Baby H's weekly bio-physio profile.

He was resting, head down, bottom against my right ribs, legs and feet arching over to my left side, forming a C shape. Because he wasn't very active, they had to use a small noise-making device (I think of it as a baby taser, since it is loud and had a shocking vibration).

Each week they check to see that the baby has 3 movements and engages in 30 seconds of "practice breathing" within a 30 minute scan. They also check to see muscle tone by the force of his kicks. This week, the baby took 30 minutes to do the 30 seconds practice breathing. Its not cause for alarm. He would just start... and stop. And start... and stop. And so we waited in the small, dimly lit room, staring at the black and white screen. I think we all almost fell asleep... just like the baby! It was a little boring.

The NST went okay, too. I had a contraction that I felt was intense during the screen, but Dr. G. didn't think it was a big deal at all. He said my perception and the machine's perceptions are often quite different, and that it probably did feel like a big one. But not to worry.

Here is a little photo of Baby H's sweet face.

29.5 Week Appointment and description of a typical doctor visit

On Wednesday, I had my regular weekly appointment at the Center for Maternal and Fetal Care.


When we arrive, I have the exact same conversation with the friendly receptionist about co-pays - CMFC charges $25 fee, I don't pay it, they call the insurance company which says they won't pay it, then I call the insurance company and they tell me not to pay it because it is covered. What a run around!



After that somewhat awkward conversation, we are escorted into the main waiting room. It is filled with the most relaxing and comfortable chairs EVER. Enya is playing in the background to soothe nerves. There are very few, if any, other patients in the room because we arrive for the first 7:30 am appointment or the very last 4 pm appointment. No crying toddlers. No coughing, grumpy people. Nothing stressful AT ALL.



Within five minutes, the ultrasound professional calls for me. We walk through the maze of tan colored walls filled with more spa-theme decor, until we come to the bathroom with the pass-through-urine-cup window. Each time, the sonographer asks the same questions, "Do you need to leave your sample now or after you drink a bottle of water? Do you remember how to put your sample in the pass-through door?". Yes, yes.



Dan is taken back into room 7 or 8, which is a small ultrasound room. He is usually waiting for me in a chair nearby the large exam table I sit on. The sonographer always comments about the temperature of the room and politely asks me to lift my shirt above my belly. Then she tucks a beige towel into the top of my pants and squirts warmed ultrasound gel onto my belly. Each week the amount of gel increases as my surface area increases.



As she begins to rub the ultrasound wand device on my abdomen, a black and white image of my uterus appears on the large, HD television mounted just in front of my exam table. The baby's image is fairly large on this large screen TV - probably the size of a toddler! I always have to ask where the baby is in relation to my abdomen, because it seems like the angle she is pointing the ultrasound wand and the position the baby is in on the screen don't mesh. The sonographer not-so-patiently explains that I am looking at a 2D image, and that she is only able to get a small slice of the baby's total appearance. I say, "Yeah, but where is the baby at in me?" I always feel dumb when she has to physically point. The little moves and pokes I feel don't feel as if they are coming from feet or elbows ... I can't tell a difference between the baby's backside pushing on me and his skull. The sonographer apparently thinks this is uncommon.



Usually she begins the scan locating the baby's face. This is a nice pleasant way to start the ultrasound! During the first trimester, they skipped over the baby entirely and began measuring my ovaries and position of other internal organs. In the second trimester, the fetal sac was much smaller, and so I could usually see the entire baby, placenta, and fluid in one screen shot. They would quickly located the heart, listen to the heart sounds and take measurements of the baby's body size. Now, the baby doesn't fit into the entire picture area. She begins locating the baby's front side, then switches to a top down view of the head. Every time she says, "I'm measuring his hat size". Then she begins to find the abdomen and says, "I'm measuring his belt size." Usually they measure his femur, too.



During this ultrasound, the baby's foot was prominent. I asked her to measure his foot so I could have some sort of scale to reference how big he is now. His foot is 6 cm long! The doctor has told me that the Internet sites that compare baby's size to vegetables or offer approximate lengths or weights are totally off most of the time. (ex- My baby weights 3 pounds, 9 oz right now, but the websites have said he should be just under 3 pounds. The baby is in the 80th percentile for weight, so if I listened to the website, I'd feel freaked that I have a huge baby.)



During this week's ultrasound, the baby was lying head down, facing to my left hip bone and forward at an angle. He had his elbows above his head, just like how Dan was reclining with elbows behind head while watching the exam! I think that is neat.



Here is his profile. I've seen a few pictures of Dan when he was very young, and I think that the forehead and nose look more similar from the side than my physical features. He is very cute here!


The black area around the baby's face is amniotic fluid. There is a nice, comfortable amount to cushion him and give him liquid to drink. Yes, babies DRINK the amniotic fluid and then urinate it out! How odd is that??


We spent some time looking at the baby's face. I asked the sonographer if all fetuses look the same, or if they are distinct. She told me that this baby is unique, and that I may recognize him after he is born since we can see so many physical features.



Then she started to comment on how he was SMILING. We could see his chubby cheeks lifting at the edges of the mouth and the lips curling up! His eyes were open for most of the time, and we could see the eyelids closing occasionally.








Can you see the smile? The image on the live TV was much clearer than this still that is scanned. I still can see the lips and cheek bones!



I hope he has Dan's thicker lips and my higher cheek bones. He could model.

And here is another profile.

He kicked up one leg and propped it on his knee. This was an ultra cute pose! I like seeing all the bones in his foot. He also had his hand in a fist near his chin. The bottom of my uterus is up at the top of the photo where the lighter band where the word FOOT is located. You can see he is in cramped quarters!

And here is another VERY sweet picture. He has his fist near his mouth and was putting it in or on his mouth, too.

This is very similar to Rodin's famous statue, The Thinker.

The ultrasound time always ends abruptly. Usually too quickly, too! I appreciate time to look at him and get to know him. We usually get four to ten "memento" photographs printed out while we are still in the ultrasound room. I wipe off the water-based gel, which I swear does stain my clothes, and try to feel clean.

Then I go across the hall to an exam room, where my blood pressure is taken each time. The Nurse usually has to take my blood pressure manually, instead of in the auto-cuff because it is low and the cuff doesn't get very accurate results. She goes over recent blood work I've had, such as the glucose test I had last week (passed with flying colors!) and discusses fetal-kick counts I've done as well as other symptoms. Usually my report on the frequency and predictability of contractions gets her attention, and I have to promise to sit down, drink more water, and stop being stressed out. I assure her that the contractions are long and not the quick, rapidly progressing type and that I have no other signs of preterm labor. She gives me the same information card and demands that I call or go to OB Triage if I have more than 4 contractions per hour for three hours in a row. I agree.

Then comes the worst part of the entire experience - the scale. I have an arrangement that I am never told my weight and that it is not commented on in detail, EVER. This is to help my mental health. However, I've been more stressed about my body lately and have started to panic at this point in the exam. I asked if I could refuse weight, and she told me it is my right. But of course, this lead to a question about my eating habits, mental state, and mood. Which was merited. I am not doing well. I am stressed and my coping mechanisms aren't healthy. Instead of getting a lecture, I get support. Nurse Mary arranges for medications, therapy appointments with a pregnancy ED specialist, and asks kind questions.

I typically spend the next ten minutes asking my own questions... here are the sample ones from this week: My top three right ribs really hurt. Is it possible they are popped out? Can I see a chiropractor? Is it safe for me to take a Calcium BiCarbonate heart burn medicine such as Alkaseltzer, rather than a Calcium Carbonate such as Tums? Can I get a refill on the Nexium medication? Will my acid reflux get to a more normal place after pregnancy, or does the relaxin hormone have lasting effects on the esophageal sphincter? How much bigger will the baby get this week? How much longer do you think I have? Do you think I should try to meet some of the doctors who work at the facility I will go for delivery? Is there any reason why I might need a c-section at this point? Does drinking a lot of water lead to fluid retention?

Yes, I have lots of questions! And I'd rather ask them and be informed, thanks.

Then I go across the way to another testing area, which is also decorated in beige and white and reminiscent of a spa. This is the Fetal Non-Stress Test monitoring area. There are four different curtained areas, each with a leather Lazy Boy recliner and an uncomfortable looking chair for the dad to sit in. I sit down and the technician reclines me back and puts two elastic bands around my waist, like a belly belt. One of the bands holds a fetal heart rate monitor, which is about as big as a stethoscope. The other band holds a similar looking monitor, which is used to measure contractions of the uterus. I am given a small "clicker" to click when I notice the baby moving. All three pieces of equipment are used to monitor the health of the pregnancy and will be used every week until I deliver him. The monitors are connected to a small machine that I can see. Its interesting to see the fetal heart rate change so quickly - from 135 to 160 to 140 - in a matter of seconds as he moves and gets exercise. Usually the "clicks" I make noting movement coincide with the increase in heart rate. The doctors are looking for at least two accelerations in 20 minutes.

When 20 minutes has passed, Dr. G comes in to see the test results. He always has my file - which is a white binder - and has seen the other notes from my previous care providers. He always shakes our hand to welcome, and then says:

"Your baby's size is perfect. Baby's weight gain is perfect. Amniotic fluid is perfect. Muscle tone and reactions are perfect. Heart rate is perfect. The contractions we measured are very small. Your pregnancy is progressing perfectly."

We have a five to ten minute discussion of follow up questions from the previous week and from Nurse Mary's patient notes. By this time, it is nearly 5:30 pm and I am tired, starving, and ready to bolt out of the office! I bet Dr. G is ready to be home, too. I try to wrap up the appointment as quickly as possible.

As we walk out, I note that the cleaning staff has already arrived and we are just about the last patients in the building!

Dan clutches the ultrasound pictures, I make conversation with a different receptionist about next week's appointment and our bill (unpaid, pending insurance figuring out!) and we ride the elevator three floors down to the parking lot.

Every week I think about how long it seems its been since I was there last, but how quickly the time passes when we are in there for an appointment.

Our next appointment is next Friday, May 24, which is my LAST day of work for the school district! I hope we have a very pleasant experience that morning!

Its time for the Third Trimester!

Baby H is becoming a big time squirmer. To be fair, he isn't really kicking. I think he is having leg spasms or rolling out his shoulders or something. Lots of very unusual movements! Occasionally these movements are visible externally, especially if I am lying down.

Today, Baby Daddy and I went to Home Depot to buy materials to build a chair rail in the nursh. I hemmed and hawed over paint colors. Should it be a purplish-grey-blue or more aqua tones? How much of a color differential should there be between the bottom level of blue and the top level of blue? We decided to put off decision for now.

Wednesday, May 6 is a busy day for us. Before school, the teachers are hosting a baby shower for the little man. It was originally supposed to be a "diaper drop", but because I am not a fan of disposable diapers, I politely asked if we could change the theme to "baby library". I am excited to see the board books and stories he will get for gifts! And I think it fits a bit better, too. An educational institution providing reading material for a new learner.

At exactly 2:45 pm, I must drink all 12 oz of Glucola. Then I have to rush to get to the lab for my diabetes test blood draw at 3:50, allowing for 10 minutes of needle and vein prep time. After that, I will have another routine ultrasound and visit with my physician and nurse, Dr. Grant and Nurse Mary. They will probably remark about how Baby H is measuring over a week ahead of their (incorrect) due date of July 26 and discuss prenatal labor classes, fetal kick counting, avoidance of pre-term labor, and the CRMC's Birth Center tour.

Friday is a day off of work for both me and Baby Daddy, so hopefully we'll embark on the adventure of finally choosing a changer/dresser for his nursh, selecting the paint colors, and finishing up the baby's registries.

26 weeks, 3 days ( 27 weeks, 1 day) photos

We had a "baby viewing appointment" on Wednesday, April 22. We arrived earlier in the afternoon because I had told my nurse about the 4 contractions per hour I noticed during the week of teaching, and she recommended I have a non-stress test to monitor uterine contraction activity.

The non-stress test was pretty non-stressful. I sat back in an enormous leather recliner. And I waited for the monitoring machine to register a contraction... but it didn't. I guess that was a little stressful... not being able to "prove" my symptoms! However, I only experience contractions now during stressful events, like standing up in the front of the classroom to begin a lesson, yelling at kids who are being off-task or disrespectful, exercising, walking fast to keep up with my long-legged husband... so I guess it makes sense that if I were in non-stressful conditions, I wouldn't be experiencing as frequent or predictable contractions.

The ultra sound technician also took a measurement of my cervix, and its in a great length for this time at gestation.

Bottom line: Doctor G told me to avoid stressful conditions, sit down more, and drink more water. And to stop worrying.

Here are a few pictures we received from this week's appointment. We were disappointed in the quality and quantity of them, but really... we were going for a check up, not a photo shoot! I think our expectations were a little high!

This week, the baby weighed approximately 2 pounds, 11 oz. His heart rate was 154 bpm. He has plenty of fluid to cushion him, and the stomach and urinary bladder were full. I noticed his little lips moving and "drinking" in the fluid, which is preparing his lungs for breathing. During the scan, he was facing forward with his head down and feet up, but as much as this little guy moves, I bet he didn't stay that way for long! I think he will have long legs and is just trying to get comfortable in cramped quarters!

The medical staff always tells me that the baby is measuring "big for his age", about 40% bigger than average, and I keep insisting that its because they have the due date incorrect. I think they are just looking one week earlier data when they make comparisons. Let's just say that he is an average sized kid who will be full term a week before the standardized due date calculation arrives!

(Almost) 24 Week Appointment

A Look at the Baby...

Waving to you

View of the baby's front side, including eyelids that are closed, cheeks that are plumping up, and a good view of other facial features.

Another front face picture.



Blurry toes, due to extra wiggles and kicks.

Here, the baby is flexing his upper arm muscle. We could see the triceps and deltoids very clearly! Its as if he is "making a muscle" right towards you, but the lower arm is bent at the elbow. You can clearly see the upper arm. the lower arm is coming straight out at the ultrasound device, sort of like if you are holding your arms out in a "hug a tree" position, and we took a picture straight on.

His eyes are open here. They've just started to flutter this week. You can also see the white dot in the center of his arm is the well developed humerus bone. Last time we were there, the bone wasn't quite as solidified.

His stats: He's measuring about a week ahead of the doctor's estimated due date, which is exactly at the correct time for my estimated date. His head is in the 70% percentile, and he weighs 1 pound, 7 ounces. I forgot to ask about his heart rate, but we did listen to it and it seemed slightly slower than the past, so I am guessing still in the 150s range. The fluid around the baby looked normal, as did the placenta, which is growing at the top portion of my uterus.

All in all, Dr. G says things are going really well. In four weeks, April 22, we'll have another routine visit, and then weekly after that.

Me: "Why weekly, if things are just on pace? Is he healthy? Are you suspecting something?"

Dr.G: "You've got a MTHFR gene mutation and a (blah blah blah something) compound abnormality. You have history of first trimester pregnancy loss. Babies with mothers in this criteria need to be checked out weekly to make sure things are going as well as possible in there, that there are no signs of pre-term labor, good muscle tone development, that there are normal levels of fluid, and that the baby is growing correctly. Of course we want him to stay inside as long as possible, like say 37-38-39 weeks, but that might not happen if medical intervention will help him be healthier."

Me: "Oh. I guess I'll be seeing you a lot this summer then."

Dr. G: "Yep."

23 Weeks - What's going on in there?

A few months ago, I signed up for a weekly pregnancy email from BabyCenter.com, a website that has information about pregnancy and childhood. Its been interesting to keep track of what is happening with him on a weekly basis. I learned when he was developing ears and finger nails. Each week, the website compares the baby to an everyday object. I've noticed that these objects are all FOOD!

For example, last week he was as long as a normal size carrot. And at 7 weeks, he was the size of a blueberry. Today I learned that Baby H weights over a pound, about as much as a large mango.

The email also told me the baby's length. He is 11 inches long, from head to toe.

That was a milestone the baby reached this month - being measured from head to toe, rather than from crown to rump. I must say, crown to rump is a more fun sounding measurement!

Eleven inches long.

For some reason, I keep picturing a miniature baby lined up next to a ruler.That sort of freaks me out a little bit.

That means our baby is coming close the size of his father's foot. Its like I have a man-foot-sized baby inside of me, wiggling around. That is another creepy mental image! Ha ha!

In other news, the baby's sense of movement is fully developed. He is aware of my movements and can respond with his movements. I've noticed this the most when I change from a reclined position to sitting on a short chair to laying flat on my back. That really seems to stir him up! I know that I can expect quite a few movements around 3 or 3:30 pm each day, usually around the time I am coming home from work. If I am exercising, laying on the couch watching Jeopardy!, or am standing cooking dinner, I feel him move about the same amount, no matter the activity. The movements continue until I go to bed at night. I haven't felt anything much in the morning or early afternoon, which makes me wonder if the child is sleeping in there, or if my muscles are more relaxed, so he has more space to stretch around.

I have an appointment on Wednesday to see the little guy and get my vitals checked out. This will be the final monthly visit to the doctor. We've actually only had 3 "normal" every 4 weeks checks, the rest being weekly or every other week since late November. Four weeks from now I will begin weekly appointments for the duration of the pregnancy. That's right... starting at 28 weeks, I go in for weekly appointments! This is only a precaution, since the pregnancy is classified as "high-risk". Nurse Mary assured me that Baby H's progress is normal, that his development is normal, and that my part of the pregnancy is normal.

Baby H March Photo Shoot

March 4th was a routine check-up. During this longer-than-average appointment, the baby's head circumference was measured, the long bones of the body were measured, the spaces between the toes were measured, heart rate and blood flow through the valves were calculated, the space above his lip was checked for a cleft, and the size of most internal organs were measured.

I am happy to report that the growth and development is on track! Actually, for a baby at 19 weeks and 3 days, he is measuring as large as a baby who is 20 weeks, 3 days old. (This is a confirmation of my original opinion that they got the D.O.C. incorrect!).

Although we didn't get pictures that showed them, we clearly saw all the individual bones in the baby's spine, all the ribs, and bones in the feet. It was amazing how much detail we could see. Its a shame that the images are blurry, but its because our son is a wiggler. At one point, I felt a very big wiggle, and then seconds later saw it on the screen. That was pretty cool!

20 week appointment

Wednesday, March 4 was my 20 week appointment. In a word: "normal".

I'll post the pictures of this normal baby boy tonight - that is, if I feel better than last night! The past two days have been awful in terms of puking and feeling as if I were about to puke. :o(

15 Week Appointment

Eye sockets, 2 hemispheres of the brain, and a neck!

The placenta is healthy and has taken over the role of producting hormones and nutrition for the yolk sac.

Arms and hands up by the eyes. We counted the fingers. They are all there!

Baby H is drinking in fluid here. We were able to see a lot of very noticeable slurps!

Breech position, facing upwards.

These two are blurry because the baby was SO active. The ultrasound technician was really surprised at how alert and active this little one was before 8 am. She told us to expect an early riser! Or, a show-off!


The baby didn't have a Crown/Rump measurement, since its just been 2 weeks since the last appointment. However, the baby is as large as an apple now and approximately the same 8 oz. The heart rate is at a slower (but still high-average) 168 bpm. The scans today were to check the bladder, stomach, heart, and brain. All are right on schedule, working well.

I think I was most surprised by how much the baby is moving now compared to how little I feel it. I suppose I have nothing to compare it to except for digestion or my own pulse. I think that part of the reason I feel so uncomfortable is the baby's movement and how it affects other organs and muscle tissue in my body. I can't say for certain if I am feeling the "quickening" movements described in What to Expect... but its clear that there are no painful jabs, just sloshing.

I didn't gain any weight during the first trimester, and not since my last second trimester appointment. This is due to my intense nausea and daily vomiting. Dr. Kimberly said 90 percent of all women experience diminished or completely eradicated morning sickness by this the 15th week. Either I'm in the 10 percent or I will be feeling better soon! I've tried as many remedies as I've found to feel better: lemonade, ginger root/tea/ale/cookies, Zofran, Phenergen, Unisom and Vitamin B6, chewing non-mint gum, using non-mint toothpaste, frequent snacking, constant hydration, and acupressure bands. Fortunately, I am only on the cusp of needing IV fluids, and if I continue to make urine 3 times a day, I won't need hospitalization. I am supposed to check up with Nurse Mary in 2 weeks to make any notes in my health decline/improvement.

My blood pressure is still low, and besides the fatigue of teaching in a high school, and the nausea, I am pretty healthy! My energy level is twice what it was two weeks ago, but is definitely running at 60 percent of normal. Maybe one day I'll have the stamina to finish cleaning projects, reading late at night, or do a work out. But not now! I am most frequently found sleeping on the couch or relaxing in bed. I suppose it is really taxing on my body as it creates a new creature!

Week 15 Visit...

Scheduled for tomorrow, Feb 2.

For the first time, we only have ONE appointment scheduled for this month. With any luck and with good health for the two of us, the next appointment will be March 2.

However, I've been dehydrated lately and its causing a little alarm. I'll have this checked out tomorrow, as well as ask questions about my lack of caloric intake due to the extreme nausea and vomiting of week 14.

The night before a scheduled appointment, like tonight, I feel incredibly tense. I don't sleep well, and I tend to hyper-focus on one thing to avoid worries about the appointment. Now I am feeling most concerned about the baby's progress since my second trimester progress hasn't really happened. All the books, suggestions from well-meaning friends, and medical sources indicate that I should be getting relief from the exhaustion and vomiting. I have been feeling worse, if anything. Its hard to imagine actually being worse that I was in late Nov, all of Dec, all of Jan, but its true. Pregnancy just isn't agreeing with me.

Maybe learning our baby's gender or feeling some movement will perk me up and help me to focus on the fun we'll have this fall, rather than the puny-ness I've had all winter!

**Haven't actually decided about learning baby h's gender just yet. Probably we won't be able to tell tomorrow, so there are four more weeks until decision time!

13 Week Pictures

Here are the aforementioned pictures! I have had a bit of a hectic week, and I just got to scanning them tonight, though they were taken on Tuesday afternoon.

In the first picture, I am taken by the crossed ankles. That's how I sit! Okay, maybe all babies do that. But, I've done that ever since I was in the Grape and Fall Festival Queen Pageant and was coached in the interviewing process. Crossing legs at the ankles is classy and will never give you varicose vein issues, like crossing legs at the knees, she said. (I think that advice was echoed in Princess Diaries, when Mia is first learning of her royalty.)

I also notice that the abdomen looks like a belly. A real, normal looking human belly!



This next image is taken as the baby lays in profile. Its easy to see the spine down along the bottom of the image. There is also clear evidence of a nose, lips, and chin! The large object near the mouth is the hand. The baby kept that hand near or above the head the entire time. The blurry area just right of the neck and left of the huge belly is the heart. During the ultrasound, the heart is similarly blurry, but with rapid pulsations that indicate a heart beat!


Speaking of heart rate, the baby's heart rate was a quick *though normal* 168 bpm. That's twice the rate of mine.

Here's a conversation from shortly after the photos were taken:

Dr. Kimberly: Things are going beautifully! Do you have any questions?

Me: Um, can you be specific about things are going well? Can you tell me what you can see from the image and information about the wellness of the baby?

Dr. K: Okay, I see a dark area surrounding the baby which suggests that he or she is making urine and that his or her kidneys are functioning. The level of fluid appears to be normal and healthy. I can tell that the baby's heart is in the upper abdomen and doesn't appear to be outside the body. That's good. I can see two halves of the brain, so I know that the baby's brain is forming correctly. There are two arms and two legs, and all are moving. Good signs that the extremities are developing properly. I don't have information about the baby's bowels, spinal development, or exact measurements, but those things will become more apparent and will be measured individually at the next appointment for 16 weeks and again at 20 weeks. So we're ruling out a lot of major deformities now, as well as conditions like anencephaly and intestines forming outside the body.

Me: Okay, thanks.

So all in all, a great appointment!

11 week photo

Eleven weeks, one day.

The baby was laying facing the "camera" at first, so we could see a top down view, with the heart in fluttering at 186 bpm in the center.

Later, the baby turned so the nurse could take some profile measurements, including measuring the fluid on the back of the neck. The thickness indicates a tendency for chromosomal abnormalities. Baby H had only a thin layer of fluid, which is good.

While laying in profile, we could see the facial features. Tiny nose, chin tucked to chest. The baby's arms and legs were flailing around and were captured as blurs on the photos.

The doctor reiterated that all is perfect and that everything is going perfectly. I think he says this to chill me out. As proof, I don't have to return for four more weeks. This is the longest time I've gone without an appointment, excluding the time from conception to the first appointment.

Clearer Week 9.5 Picture

Strong heart beat.

Wiggling arms.

Healthy, normal development.

Resembles a teddy bear.

Next appointment: January 5