The Real Final Update on the Umbilical Cord Issue

I went back to the perinatologist today for one last estimate on Emdrew's fetal growth. As I laid down on the table the doctor asked me what I wanted the baby to weigh and I said, "Six and a half pounds." Lo and behold, the number he came up with was six pounds six ounces (very near, if not slightly above, average for this stage). Hooray!

Supposedly from here on out, she'll gain about one ounce every day she remains in the womb, which I'm beginning to hope won't be long. There's still a chance that I'll end up having a C-section if (because of the sub-par umbilical cord) bambina doesn't tolerate labor as well as she should, but we're planning on doing it the old-fashioned way.

And as far as that goes, everything appears to be in order. The baby is slightly off-center, so I've been sleeping on my right side some, but her orientation is generally good. On Monday my OB speculated that she's dropped. I can't tell. However, it might help to explain why my hips and low back have become extremely achy this week. But the leg cramps every time I fall asleep?! Baseless and cruel...

Living Free (and not dying or delivering, thankfully) Once Again in the Great State of NH

A, bambina and I had the distinct pleasure of revisiting New Hampshire this past week. Although the rain kept us inside more than we would have liked, we thoroughly enjoyed our time with Grandma Mary and Grandpa Tom. We also enjoyed several visits from family friends.

The three of us went in search of a tree to plant in honor for QM's arrival mid-week, and ultimately decided on a McIntosh apple tree. Here are some photos of A. and I giving the baby's tree a permanent home. Whether it will weather this first year without much human intervention remains to be seen, but we'll be keeping our fingers crossed.





Honestly, I mostly supervised. And we also had quite a bit of help from Grandpa Tom.

And here QM and I are taking a post-planting spin around lake. I guess this must be her first boat ride.


On an unrelated note, another highlight from this week was the discovery of this creature hanging from a tiny lip on the eve of the second story of the house. Yes, it's a snake; yes, it's dead; no, we can't fathom how it got it's head wedged in there; and yes, removing it proved disgusting. We showed it to several people, none of whom had seen anything like it. Are we cursed?

The 9ish Month Bump

Since we were once again up in New Hampshire last week, this photo was taken a week late. Five weeks have passed since the last one. Somehow I feel like this picture doesn't do my enormity justice...

Final Update on Emdrew's Umbilical Cord Issue?

A. and I went to get another ultrasound from the Perinatologist / Maternal-Fetal Health Specialist this afternoon to monitor the baby's growth and umbilical cord insertion. Incidentally, my OB was also at the hospital, and someone must have informed her that we were there because she wandered in during my ultrasound. It was comforting to me that both doctors were able to look at the same screen and talk about what they were seeing.

The consensus: it seems that this kid and I are making the best of our situation. Phew! Although the cord is pretty clearly velamentous (see my "Not Good News" post for an explanation), the placenta and cord have moved well away from the cervix. This means that the cord is not at increased risk of rupturing when my water breaks.

And most importantly, the cord has not yet failed to supply the baby with an adequate blood supply. The doctor estimated that she currently weighs a whopping 4 pounds and 4 ounces, which is very average for her age. My OB and I were somewhat concerned by the fact that I hadn't gained much weight in recent weeks, but it hasn't apparently slowed bambina down at all. The Perinatologist just chided A. for not taking me out often enough and sent us on our way.

We promptly feasted on Indian food and headed home to prepare for a full weekend of childbirth classes (to which A. is thoroughly looking forward). My sense is that I won't be having any extra ultrasounds, and that this pregnancy will be regarded as largely normal from here on. Hooray! Now to get the next six to nine weeks over with...

Oh yeah, the ultrasound technician also showed A. and I that QM is working on a nice little crop of head hair. I'm sure she'll rub it all off in no time, but hey, hair's nice. Bets on the color, anyone?

The 8? Month Bump

Here am I just shy of 32 weeks now. This time a full four weeks have passed since the last photo in this series.

Some would argue that this isn't truly 8 months yet because when you count it out in 4 week increments a pregnancy is 10 months long. In any case, I've potentially got about two more months to go. So near and yet so far...

QM's first sojourn to New England

This past weekend A. and I took advantage of a truly rare event: a long weekend between A.'s rotations. So, after he finished his exam on Friday, we piled into a rental car and drove up to New Hampshire. A.'s family has had the great good fortune of inheriting the 1830s farmhouse pictured here, and we try to spend several weeks here every year (albeit with varying success). Though the mosquitoes and black flies were numerous, it was too chilly/rainy to take our kayak out on the nearby lake, and our stay was far too short, we were very very happy to be there.

Emdrew's first two days up here were spent listening to the hummingbirds at the feeder by the porch, sloshing along as we enjoyed a short hike, napping, and digesting hot cocoa alongside a warm fire. She also had the privilege of accompanying us as we shopped for footie pajamas and listening as we discussed our plans to plant a tree in her honor at length. We tried to get her to weigh in on tree varieties and locations by way of the old "kick once for yes, twice for no" method, but she seems to be withholding judgement until she can see for herself.

I'm nearly 31 weeks (out of 40) along here; so again, three weeks have passed since the last bump photo. Note how the babe is already gravitating towards that tire swing.

The 6.75 Month Bump

We went ahead and took our monthly photo early this week since I wanted other photos for an animation assignment at school.

So, as circumstances would have it, all three of these "bump" photos are spaced three weeks apart (this being 27 weeks). It's pretty astonishing to me how much I've visibly grown in recent weeks, despite the fact that my weight gain has been pretty consistent throughout.