Uncharted Territory

Now that I’m 38 weeks along, I’m officially in uncharted territory! I wasn’t pregnant this long with Rock, so Elle and I are into our very own bonding time and it has been so fun. My belly is larger than it was with Rock but Elle is still running out of room it seems. I can feel every little movement, including her daily hiccups. But all of the movement is good because it shows the baby is still healthy and active, and a lack of movement may be one of the earliest signs that complications have developed. So, I enjoy every jab, push, smear, poke, wiggle, jolt, and flutter.

At my doctor appointment this week, the ultrasound tech did something new during the appointment…a biophysical profile. Evidently, she watches for four categories and assigns a score to each: fluid level, general movement, diaphragm movement (to see Elle practice breathing), and muscle tone. There is a maximum of two points for each category, for a grand total of eight points. Elle scored an eight out of eight! So that was great news! My fluid was still up at 10 AFI, Elle was moving a bunch the entire time, and we got to see her practice breathing a few times. Her muscle tone was good, which they determine by how clenched her hands are or how tight her arm is bent, etc. Elle’s arms are always bent during the ultrasounds, with her hands up around her face. It’s adorable, but doesn’t make for a good picture when the ultrasound tech takes a screen shot to print for us to keep. So we have lots of arm and feet pictures instead.

Elle is estimated to be the size of a watermelon now and her heart rate was 133 bpm. She has not “dropped” at all yet, but I was still 1.5 cm dilated and 70% effaced. I think I even had my first real (and painful) contraction on Sunday during the Bronco game. I tried to sit up from a laying position and my tummy hardened and the most intense pain took over for a number of minutes! It only happened once, but it made my abdominal muscles sore the rest of the day! And Monday, I walked on the treadmill during my lunch hour, but stopped early because of the tightening and pain I was experiencing. I made a mental note that walking might be a good way to put me into labor if/when I’m ready for Elle to come out! For now, I’m enjoying every day she continues to grow and I’m in no rush to evict her yet.

I have doctor appointments scheduled for the next two Tuesdays…at 39 weeks and 40 weeks pregnant (the last one is my due date of October 23^rd). It will be interesting to see if I have to schedule one more appointment, or if she’ll be here in the next few weeks.

Fun fact: I’m officially counting down by days (instead of weeks) until my due date now, since Elle’s estimated date to arrive is only 11 days away!!! We can’t wait to meet her!!!

Phenomenally Full-Term!

I can’t believe this is the day I checked into the hospital to be induced with Rock during my first pregnancy! And with baby Elle, there’s no sign of induction in the near future! I’m excited to have two very different experiences.

I am officially in the final month of my pregnancy and Elle will range in size from 18.9 to 20.9 inches and will weigh in the range of 6.2 to 9.2 pounds. She’s the size of a winter squash and is considered full-term now that she’s 37 weeks! According to all of the stats from my Tuesday doctor appointment, Elle is healthy and my fluid is still in a normal range (at 10 AFI), so there is no reason to be induced. Elle’s heart rate was 124 bpm, my blood pressure was low, I just passed the 30 pound mark for weight gain (which is more than I gained with Rock, but I’m not worried), and my tummy measured perfectly for 37 weeks along!

The doctor checked my cervix again this week and there was no change in dilation, but I am 50% effaced (instead of 40%). And they reminded me to get my flu shot before Elle arrives since she can’t get one after she’s born. Hopefully my shot will help keep her healthy.

My 37-week email was very accurate about the current symptoms of pregnancy, specifically: heartburn, stretch marks, trouble sleeping, and an overwhelming need to be “nesting.” I drink a liquid antacid nearly every night before I lay down to sleep and I definitely have some new purple marks on my hips (still no stretch marks on my tummy though!). Additionally, tossing and turning all night is a new plague (primarily caused my discomfort and my mind racing). The strongest ‘symptom’ is the nesting though. I can’t seem to sit down if there is something on my “To Do List” that I feel needs to be done before Elle arrives. And it’s the same sensation at work. At home we’ve been decorating the nursery, cleaning, organizing, washing clothes, and trying to get mentally prepared for all of the “what-if” scenarios of going into natural labor. I have never experienced going into labor anywhere other than the hospital, so I have no idea what to expect. And it’s an added level of planning for a spontaneous event when you have a toddler. We have to have a bag packed for Rock and babysitters lined up for each scenario, since we’ll be in the hospital for a few days when Elle arrives. Who knew there was so much to think about during the wee hours of the night! Right?!.

We know God is in control and we take comfort in that knowledge. We will continue to work toward having things organized, but know that whatever God’s plan is, we’re along for the ride! And we are thrilled for all that is to come (even the tough stuff).

Lord, please continue to protect our family and help bring Elle into this world healthy. Please allow me and Phil to be the parents you want us to be…for both Elle and Rock. And we pray that Rock is excited to welcome Elle into our family. So far, he definitely is! We just pray that his excitement continues once she arrives.

36 Weeks and Counting...

Last week was a crazy week! Not only was work insane, but my doctor appointment on Tuesday was a complete shock (again)! For some reason, those two things wiped me out mentally and physically, so this post is definitely late!

I am currently 36 weeks pregnant and Elle is the size of a honeydew melon. Most of her body’s systems are in working order for her debut and she’s just putting on weight at this point. I am starting to get more uncomfortable with strange pain and pressure inside my body, but that might be because I’m starting to dilate!!! Yes, I was dilated to 1cm at my appointment last Tuesday! That feat took me two days in the hospital on induction meds to accomplish last time!

My entire appointment last Tuesday went really well and everything I found out that day made it sound like I may NOT have to be induced this pregnancy! Phil and I discovered Elle is estimated to be in the 22^nd percentile for her size right now (approximately 5lbs 7oz), so she’s not a large baby, but neither was Rock. My fluid levels were above 13 AFI (wow!), blood pressure was still low (102/70), my tummy measured 35.5 cm (at 36 weeks pregnant… right on where it should be), and Elle’s heart rate was 130 bpm.

When the doctor check my cervix, she said I was dilated 1cm and 40% effaced (which is the thinning of your cervix that has to happen before birth). The baby hasn’t “dropped” at all, so she’s at a negative 3 station still, but we’ll see if there are any changes at tomorrow’s appointment!

Maternity Photo Shoot

Phil and I took a drive to the mountains to see the fall colors and packed our camera and tripod to try to get some maternity photos. We put the camera on a 5-shot mode and quickly changed positions in between each shot...it was comical!

 

Sprinkled with Love

What a wonderful weekend! Not only did Phil and I get a ton done, with my mom’s help, around our house. But Phil even got his car seats inspected and mom and I got the entire house cleaned! That alone fulfilled my need for nesting more than I realized! But in addition to all that…my sister-in-law, Becki, and mother-in-law, Sandi, threw me and Elle a “Baby Sprinkle” (instead of a full-blown “shower”) on Saturday!

So many of the amazing women in my life were able to make it…even from up to 6 hours away! During the event I realized that all five of the women who stood with me before God, my family, and friends, six years ago when Phil and I got married, made it to the ‘sprinkle’! I was BEYOND thrilled! I even had to take a picture with all of these wonderful ladies!!!

Not only did I get that heartwarming picture, but we managed to get a giant group photo of everyone at the ‘sprinkle’! What a special memory…and what patient friends! Each person helped decorate letters for Elle’s nursery so we will have hand-crafted art for her room in the form of the entire alphabet on her walls! I can’t wait to get everything hung up! Each one turned out unique and beautiful!!!

The ‘sprinkle’ invite was so cute too and stated the intention of the ‘sprinkle’ perfectly…

 

 

Ribbons, booties, and diapers galore,

Phil and Michele are having one more!

Big brother Rock has plenty to share,

It’s only a ‘sprinkle’ to show that we care!

Butterflies, bubbles, blankets and bows!

Let’s sprinkle Elle from her head to her toes!

Thank you God for the blessing of our family and friends, who threw the party, who travelled short or long distances to attend, and who each made a lasting impression on my life this weekend and in years past. What a wonderful weekend!!! (Oh and Elle was spoiled rotten by all of these lovely ladies tooJ)

I'm in shock!

But I’m in shock for all good reasons! Both last week’s doctor appointment and this week’s doctor appointment left me completely shocked at one point or another. Last week I went in for my Tuesday appointment to have a non-stress test (NST), an ultrasound to measure my amniotic fluid level, and meet with the doctor, knowing that I’d be back on Friday for a second NST appointment. BUT my fluid level was in the normal range at 11.9 AFI! The doctor and I were both shocked! Since my fluid level was normal, the doctor allowed me to cancel the Friday NST appointment. Elle’s heartbeat was 135 bpm, she passed the NST with flying colors, and my tummy measured 32cm (at 34 weeks pregnant), so everything was within normal range!

This week’s appointment was also a shock because my fluid level was still relatively “normal” at 9.95 AFI (slightly low but nothing worrisome) and for the first time...here’s the shocker…my tummy measured right on where it should be (35cm at 35 weeks pregnant)!!! I have always been 2-3cm small but must have grown a bunch over the past week! (That might explain the low abdominal pain I’ve felt, as if I had done 50 sit-ups, which is not even possible!) Elle’s heartbeat was 124 bpm, my blood pressure was nice and low, so with all of the evidence, the doctor allowed me to cancel this week’s Friday NST appointment too! I didn’t even have to stay for an NST today! So now we just have a growth ultrasound and fluid check to prayerfully look forward to next Tuesday.

I did find out today that I’ve officially gained 30 lbs with this pregnancy so far, so hopefully I can keep myself in check and not gain too much more for the remaining weeks. I gained 28 lbs total with Rock, but delivered at 37 weeks pregnant, so we’ll see where I end up with this pregnancy!

As for baby development updates, since I’m still in the 8^th month of pregnancy Elle continues to range in length from 17.2 to 18.7 inches and in weight from 4.2 to 5.8 pounds. Last week, at 34 weeks along, she was the size of a butternut squash and this week she’s the size of a coconut. She can hear and recognize songs we sing frequently (probably “Jesus Loves Me” and “Jesus Loves the Little Children” because those are Rock’s favorites right now) and is peeing up to a pint a day. Elle might even grow up to a half-pound each week from now until delivery!

My body updates were interesting too because my weekly emails explained that my uterus has grown to 1,000 times its normal size…which is crazy to think about! And my blurry vision (in the evenings) and fatigue was explained in the emails too as being a result of a lack of sleep, along with hormones and fluid buildup. Nothing too eventful to report other than that (which is great)!

Here we go again...

Phil and I went in for my follow-up ultrasound today to re-check my amniotic fluid levels. It appears that I have low fluid again at the end of this pregnancy, just like I did at the end of my last pregnancy. The “quick” amniotic fluid check turned into a three-hour doctor appointment, mainly because:

·    My fluid levels were measured twice, ranging from 6.8 to 8.3 AFI, for an average of 7.6 AFI (the normal range is 10-20 AFI and at 33 weeks, they prefer to see closer to 12 AFI).

·    The doctor was running an hour behind schedule after doing a morning surgery.

·    The non-stress test (NST) machine that they hooked me up to, in order to watch the baby’s heartbeat for an extended period of time, decided to quit working today. So I had to go over to the labor and delivery floor at the hospital to use their machine.

After the ultrasound, the doctor came in to discuss the ultrasound results. She mentioned I will now need to have two doctor appointments every week (Tuesdays and Fridays) for NSTs, and every Tuesday will also include an ultrasound to check my fluid levels. At least Rock will get to enjoy hearing his little sister’s heartbeat at my Friday appointments…the one thing he LOVES about coming with me!

Other than that, Elle’s heartbeat was 138 bpm and my tummy measured 31 cm at 33 weeks along (within the normal range). After probing for a specific answer from the doctor about the possibility of an early induction, she simply said “I’d be surprised if you haven’t been induced by 39 weeks with your low fluid levels.”  She also said “the likelihood of you going into labor naturally is low” since they’ll probably induce me again if my fluid levels remain where they are (or decrease). If they induce me at 37 weeks, like they did with Rock, that’s less than one month away (October 2^nd to be exact)!

It’s all God’s plan. We’ll just keep doing what the doctors instruct and praying for a healthy little girl!