Week 34 & 35 - Momma loves her Baby Ryan

Crazy as it sounds….I am already 35 weeks pregnant, as of Sunday! At times, it seems like I’ve been pregnant forever – I mean, it’s been ALL YEAR! At other times, I can hardly believe how fast it’s gone. Last Wednesday, I had my 34 week appointment and ultrasound.

Good stuff first…
Here is a 3D photo of my handsome boy. Don’t mind the stuff on the side of his face, that’s just the umbilical cord. His face is so clear, and you can actually see family resemblance already!

Week 34 Ultrasound Pic - My handsome boy!

I’ve put on a healthy 22 pounds (pre-Halloween candy overload!), and my weekly chiropractor appointments and occasional messages have kept me going much better this time than with Sean. While I need the weekly appointments, at least I’m not barely making it in between. I’m not swelling like I did with Sean, either. I do feel really pregnant – and uncomfortable, with daily heartburn, aching back. Sometimes the back pain leads me to the waddle mode, because I just can’t walk right. Sometimes I’m spry, and dancing, and moving great! Overall, though – I look and feel pretty good for a woman now in her 9th month.

Week 35 Belly Shot - in the same stripes as before!

Week 35 Naked Belly Shot

Now…the not so great news. Baby Ryan is measuring small. That in and of itself is not as big a concern as the fact that his percentile dropped since the last ultrasound. At 20 weeks, he was on track to be Sean’s size (7lbs, 3oz), which is 30-40th percentile. At 34 weeks, he’s on track to be 6 lbs, or 11th percentile. This doesn’t have to mean that anything is wrong, but the doctor would be remiss if she didn’t follow up. So from here on out, I have weekly baby monitoring appointments – it’s called a Modified Biophysical Profile. Modified because it doesn’t include an ultrasound. What it does include is strapping me up to the baby monitor (which I’ve never done, cuz I walked into the hospital with Sean at a 10!), and measuring his movements and vital stats for 20-60 minutes each time. Plus, they’ll check amniotic fluid – which is normal right now. Any baby that registers 10th percentile or lower automatically is a red flag, and as she said, he’s straddling that line.

The doctor was not overly concerned – she reminded me that ultrasounds are just a snapshot in time, and that a 6 pound baby still falls in the normal range. For the record, I was only 6 lbs 4 oz. But she wants to make sure that he’s just going to be a small baby, that we’re not looking at …here it comes…a stillbirth. Yeah, those words freaked me out, too. She did not put me on any restrictions of any kind and did not act in any doom & gloom manner. 

I, of course, am doing my best not to blame myself – because that doesn’t help. But the fact is this has been the most stressful year of my life and there’s no way that Baby Ryan hasn’t been affected by it all. So I do blame myself for allowing him to endure my high stress levels, and no matter how hard I try NOT to, will probably always wonder about his health because of that– even after he’s here.

Because he will be here, my mommy instinct is strong.  Ryan moves like a freakshow in my belly, this kid is healthy and fine. But I have apologized to him multiple times for not being the more-relaxed momma that I was during Sean’s pregnancy.  I know he’s going to be fine, I know he’s going to be healthy – I just hope he knows that I love him with everything I have, and Momma will always protect him.

I have already cancelled some obligations that I had between now and my due date. I've stepped up my Hypnobirthing training – which provides needed relaxation now as it prepares me for Ryan’s birth. I’ve added a daily yoga tape to my mornings, as opposed to the occasional stretches and class. Unfortunately, my biggest stressor involves my relationship with my husband, and I can only control ½ of that – we are working hard to give each other a break, and this has brought renewed focus - nothing is more important than our children.

So lots of love and prayers for Baby Ryan. I can’t wait for him to be here, I love him so much already, it’s insane. Your heart just grows bigger and bigger as each child comes into your life – there’s no limit to a momma’s love supply.

Week 20 Ultrasound Pics

I know, I'm actually just two days shy of week 25!  I'm getting there....

We had our 20 week ultrasound a few weeks ago, as well as my 20 week appointment, but the only thing they wanted to talk about was my lack of weight gain at that point.  Luckily, those numbers are since up.   The other good news was that all the early signs of bleeding, low-lying placenta, and membranes were all gone!  No complications whatsoever!

And I mentioned to the ultrasound tech, at the beginning of the visit, that Trey's sister, Mandy, had some doubt that what we saw at week 14 telling us we were having another boy wasn't just a foot or something.  Apparently, our ultrasound tech has a sense of humor...

That's right, Auntie Mandy, I'm a boy!  It's confirmed!

This image is confusing, but think of it as if he's sitting on glass and we're looking up at his rump on the right, legs sticking out to the left, and his Manliness in between!

Just to confirm, here's a pelvis shot, with the big ol' man-goods sticking out!  That large black hole by his goods is his bladder.  Note the tech's description as "Not a foot!"

An Amazing 3D face shot, isn't he just the most gorgeous 20 week old fetus you've ever seen?

We think he looks like Sean in this shot!

Here's another 3D face shot of our guy, showing off his flexibility with his foot nearby!

A classic facial profile of our little man - handsome already!

Next post will be a week 24 update, with what will most likely be a week 25 belly shot, since I hit 25 weeks in just two days!   And FYI, I have ONE MORE ultrasound scheduled at 34 weeks!

Week 14 - The Second Trimester Begins!

So, first things first.  I don't have placenta previa or vasa previa.  This is good news!  I do have a "low lying placenta," which just means it's an inch closer to the cervix than they want it to be.  Also, they found a "membrane." However, this membrane has no blood flow, so at least right now, it's innocuous.  I continue to be on "take it easy" rest, and I might get another ultrasound when I have my next scheduled doctor visit, which is next Thursday.  So, basically, I'm good, and both issues will most likely clear up on their own, but they'll keep an eye on it.  I can expect more sporadic bleeding in the meantime.  Yippee.

In other news....Mom and I saw the bladder, which meant kidney function is good.

Saw the stomach, meaning swallowing function good.  

Diaphragm was where it's supposed to be and doing what it's supposed to do.  

Spine showed no signs of spina bifada or any other irregularities.

The femur (large leg bone) was the right length.

So we were looking at the kid's profile and slowly moving from the head, to the stomach, and she asked if I wanted to know the sex.  I said, "If you can tell us, yes!"  So she continued to move towards the groin, and all three of us said "Hello!"

This is what we call the "Money Shot," my friends!

And apparently, my second son is also a pirate.

That's actually the lens of the eye, but it's seriously freaky looking.  Our newest Little Man wasn't cooperating today, and had his face smashed up against my uterus, so we had no good views on 3D, and the 2D were only OK.  

But we got the most important info we were looking for - I'm physically fine, and we're having another Boy!  Oh, here's this week's belly shot.  

I'm now officially in my second trimester.  I've gained about two pounds, and am looking pretty paunchy.  Feeling good, still a touch tired, and can't believe the acne this kid is giving me.  But I couldn't be happier that I'm going to be the mom of two incredibly handsome boys!

Week 11 - She Keeps Bringing the Drama

I had another scheduled appointment yesterday, and had another impromptu ultrasound.  This little one keeps bringing the drama, and I started spotting, again, after stopping for over a week.  Part of me believes that Julie, the nurse practitioner, just really loves doing ultrasounds, but I'm glad that she let me have another one, so I could not only see the baby, but also so she could do a thorough search of everything down there.  She could not find anything wrong, whatsoever.  Again, big relief!  Again, more rest for me!  

In the meantime...check these ultrasound pics out!  She finally figured out how to print the 3D images full size, and they are simply amazing.  Before you get all weirded out and having flashbacks from "Alien," take a look at the animated thing on the side of the blog, and the baby's looking very much like what the graphic says it's supposed to!  And check out the details of her face!  (No, no confirmation yet whether "she's" a boy or girl!)

In this image, you can so clearly see her eyes, nose, mouth, even ears!  And long, gangly arms!

Here she's raising her hands up to her face, as if to say, "OK, that's enough, no more pictures!"

I also have two 2D images, but they barely resemble a baby compared to these above.  

So where are we at 11 1/2 weeks?

Weight Gain:  0 lbs!  But, I fear that I'm losing some muscle mass by not working out like I'm used to.  Definitely getting squishier!

Lil' Bit Length:  Measuring in at 4.88 cm, or just about 2 inches!  She's growing super-fast!

Lil' Bit HR:  A super-strong 157!

Symptoms:  I'm so grateful that the nausea is going away!  I get queezy every once in awhile, but the day long, in-my-throat feeling is long gone!  YAY!  My energy is definitely coming back as well, though I do still get more tired than usual.  And with the spotting, still have doctor's orders to get plenty of rest.  I've had more stretching pains this week, and that belly is finally popping out just a bit.

Week 9 - Oh, she's a Drama Queen!

What?  Did Amy just say "She?"  Well, I'm only speculating at this point, but all the drama this baby brings to the table, it has to be a girl!  Cuz my little guy is way laid back compared to the little one in my tummy right now!

What drama you ask?  Well, symptoms come and go big time.  Five days of straight nausea followed by four straight days of nothing.  Two weeks ago, this caused me to curl up in a ball for a few days until the ultrasound confirmed that everything was hunky-dory.  The only thing that kept me from going off the deep end was that I wasn't spotting.

Hey, guess what I woke up to yesterday morning?  Spotting.

So I called the doc's office as soon as they opened, and by 10:15 I was in for a second ultrasound to find out what was going on.  Once again, I was relieved to see a bouncing baby on the monitor, heart beating strong, and this time, the central nervous system was in full operating order, so Lil' Bit was moving all over the place!

Isn't she a cutie?  Little round butterball with wee-bitty arms and legs!  Her heart was beating at a strong and fast 167!

I realize now that I miss-posted the baby's length the last time - she was actually only 0.46 inches last time.  This week, she has grown to 2.45 cm, or .96 inches.  She's measuring exactly 9 weeks and 1 day, which just happens to be the exact length of my pregnancy as of yesterday - perfect!

The 4D image on the right does not show how awesome it was on screen - you're looking at the top of the head, and you could totally see both lobes of the brain, plus it's little arms just beneath the head.  I can see it, but won't even pretend that anyone else will be able to tell what's what.

In the meantime, I'm not sure if that belly is bloat or baby - or the after-affects of a weekend traveling and all the fine food that goes with that.  I'm going with bloat, as my tummy sticks out a few inches after each meal!  Ugh, I hate the sluggish digestive system of pregnancy!

As for the spotting, there's no obvious cause.  Because of that, I had to get a RhoGam shot.  (Layman's Terms:  I'm a negative blood type, Trey's positive, and that can mean bad things for baby if our blood mixes.  The shot prevents my body from rejecting the baby should that happen.)  Not only did I get a shot in the butt, I'm on "pelvic rest" for the next few days.  Ha!  Nice euphemism!  And no heavy lifting, and no leading stroller aerobics until at least 3 days after the spotting stops.  Which works well with my ongoing plan of sleeping as much as possible.

Week 7....continued....

I am ecstatic to announce that the near-disappearance of my nausea and my mild cramping are just strange and changing signs of another healthy pregnancy!  I didn't sleep last night and was a nervous wreck until my appointment, but all fears were put at ease within seconds of the ultrasound.  (Which was a completely new experience for me, as it was internal - the only thing that would have made it more fun is if there was a "vibrate" option on that baby.)

Here is our little bebe in 2D, a lovely mass of cells that measures 1.16 cm (or 0.46 inches).  The heart was so beautifully flickering on screen - yes, I cried!  The heart rate was at 150, once again high, which typically means girl - but let's remember that Sean had a high heart rate, too!  Also, only one baby was found, so stop the twin rumors out there!

  

But much cooler than the 2D image is this (albeit) small image on the right of our baby in 4D.  That cavernous space is my uterus, and that mass that Trey so lovingly described as a wad of gum is the baby!  If you can use a bit of imagination, at the top left is its head, and its body continues along the wall of my uterus, and those are wee-bitty arms and legs just starting to grow down towards the bottom left.  

And my due date was pretty much right on.  The computer said December 7th, but we aren't changing the official date from the 8th.  Besides, Sean was a week early, so I'm officially predicting November 29th right here and now.  After the ultrasound, they sucked out six vials of blood for various testing, and I was sent home completely wiped out.  So I apologize for the lack of phone calls, but I got home, put Sean to bed, and crashed!  Regardless, everything looks perfect!