Wednesday, July 9, 2014

No Cookies for You! Just One Big Ole Baby

What message must God be trying to send if my wall oven stops working just as I have a sheet of raw chocolate chip cookie dough ready to throw in? I've decided to let this be a reminder; if not having freshly baked cookies is my only reason to pout, then life is pretty good.

Couldn't help but think of the soup nazi from Seinfeld :)

We are still waiting on final repairs after having a service guy out and ordering parts (fun!), but luckily the fridge is still working so the dough is safe and sound. Thankfully, this mini crisis at the week's start was no indication of all the other good stuff to come.

Monday we met our doula, Julie, in person for a Prenatal Consult in our home. Both hubby and I feel very good about working with her. She talked with us for a full 2 hours and just seemed the perfect balance of knowledgeable, caring, and inquisitive. I felt like she was very confident with what she does but wasn't bossy, was a great listener, obviously experienced, and it just feels like a really good fit. She's had nothing but good experiences at our hospital as well, which is also reassuring.

We will be writing up our own birth plan come to find out, but Julie will provide examples of NUCB (natural unmedicated childbirth) plans, give feedback, and answer any ?'s we have. I can see the reasons why it's actually important for us to take ownership and craft the birth plan ourselves. We will give this to our OB at the next apt. and then Julie will come to our 36/37 week apt. to meet our doctor ahead of time. At that point, we will be seeing the OB every single week (beginning at 36 wks). I'll share my birth plan here once we write it too.

Our second to last perinatologist apt. was today, and I guess I can finally believe what we've been hearing for the last several ultrasounds. "This is certainly not a small baby!" I've heard some people say that fundal measurements (mom's belly) are more indicative of baby size than ultrasound (which can be off sometimes), but my MFM's u/s tech seemed pretty adamant that this is not necessarily so. Apparently, they look specifically at a few of the measurements as the "truest indicators" of baby size: head, abdomen, and femur length. When you see a perinatologist during pregnancy, they are practically doing a full anatomy scan every single visit, so they're pretty precise and measure everything...quite different from the condensed version done by OB's from what I can tell.

According to today's measurements (@33w5d), Preston is definitely on the large side. His head, abdomen, and femur length are all at the 90th percentile of growth.


Preston = measuring 35w6d
             = weighing approx. 5 lbs12oz
             = hb @ 158 bpm
             = head down and "in position" for a vaginal delivery
Mom = weighing 156 (26 lbs. gained)
          = bp @ 96/72


We asked about any concerns on baby's large size and were told that since I passed the glucose test with flying colors and blood pressure is nice and low, it's really of no concern...that he's just a big baby and has long legs. Come again?! Long legs?? Mind you, hubby is barely 5'8" and I'm 5'3". My immediate response, "I sure hope they used the right sperm!"

All in all, nothing but good news. I'm instructed yet again to just keep exercising 7 days/wk and to continue all normal activities. Alrighty then! Now before you think I am some kind of superwoman, I should clarify that my idea of working out these days is doing the elliptical with barely any resistance for 30 minutes with my heart rate not going over 115 bpm. Additionally, I now require almost daily naps and get tired after running one or two errands, needing to lay down on the couch.

I think if you look up the word "mosey" in the dictionary you will see a picture of me. Speaking of, here is my monthly bump shot. So hard to believe I'll only have one or two more of these before we actually meet Preston in person....

32 weeks

Hubby remarks several times a week now about how large and in charge I've become. While some pregnant women may not take kindly to this, I love hearing how noticeably pregnant I am...even from people at the gym who I've never spoken to in my life. I feel like some sort of freaking homecoming queen with all the compliments and attention (although I still find it a bit odd that strangers keep talking to me). Still, I'm damn proud of this belly! Sure, I have days where I just feel like the marshmallow man or nights when I can't sleep because I can't get comfy, but that is just part of the process. You will not hear a peep of a real complaint out of me, and more often I'm remarking what a miracle this whole pregnancy has been. I truly cannot complain.

So, this is it...the last 6 week stretch. Hoping and praying baby stays put to become full term, that there will be no reason to induce, and that we can deliver au natural...even if he does end up being a 10 lb. monster.

45 comments:

  1. You look beautiful! Own that belly!!

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    1. No way not to own this 26 lb. mass attached to me, so may as well embrace it! ha!

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  2. You look so incredible, I mean IN-CREDIBLE. And I guess all of your homemade gluten free snacks are doing the trick... what AWESOME wight gain and blood pressure levels. You're AMAZING! Happy 6 week stretch!

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    1. Oh dear, I must confess that gluten free went out the window around 14 weeks! It started with some gluten filled dabbling here and there and is now full on Olive Garden breadsticks any time I get the hankering. I'm probably harder on myself than most people, but yeah...can't claim to be GF anymore at this point. Thanks though Amanda! I'm really thankful that I actually do love healthy food and working out, so that's helped a little.

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  3. Cookies sound so yummy right now!! You look fabulous lady! So glad to hear everything is still going so well for you and baby Preston.

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    1. Thanks Amie! Oven dude is on his way as we speak, so cookies may be happening as early as this evening!!

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  4. Looking amazing sweet girl!!! I just finalized our birth plan. Let me know if you want me to send you a copy to refer to! I feel ya on the big baby. Preston and Raegan can be big baby friends! Haha.

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    1. Hey, I'm all about playing the dating game early on with these two little fatties! LOL Congrats on finalizing your birth plan! That has to feel good just knowing it is there to keep everyone focused on the same game plan.

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  5. I just had a good giggle when I remembered the u/s tech doing measurements of Mason as 38 weeks (ended up needing a late-in-the-game u/s because my belly measured smaller than the week before and they wanted to make sure I wasn't leaking fluid -- ended up just being dehydrated due to an awful cold). Based on the measurements of the femur bone and whatnot, she told me he was already in the nine pound range. Wha????????? How the heck was I gonna deliver a baby that big? I'm barely 5'2"! I felt like crying! Ended up getting induced four weeks later at 42 weeks because the boy was clearly not vacating of his own accord. Birth weight: 7 pounds even. Two weeks overdue. So yeah... thank goodness that tech was wrong!! LOL!

    With Reid I did not have an ultrasound towards the end of the pregnancy. The midwife felt my stomach with her hands at my 40-week appointment and declared he was already at the eight-pound mark. And I thought, whatever... I'm tiny, my first baby was a wisp of a child, and I've gained the exact same amount of pregnancy weight. I will humor you, lovely lady, but why should I believe your laying-of-the-hands prediction?

    Five days later I had Reid, and he was 8 pounds 5 ounces.

    You look fantastic! Enjoy these final weeks!

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    1. See, that is what confuses me. All the holistic peeps say that fundal measurement is a better indicator and all of the Western peeps say they are more accurate (even though they do admit they can be off up to 12 days in either direction...always that caveat). Guess I should just let it all go in one ear and out the other eh? Whatever happens is going to happen! I weighed 8 lbs. 13 oz. when I was born myself, so I guess it wouldn't shock me if he really was a big baby. I am mentally prepared for whatever. If this baby is 7 lbs. great, and if he's a bruiser then holy crap, just bring it anyways! haha!

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  6. 6 weeks :) This most made me smile - 'homecoming queen' - yes, that is you!! Glad your measurements are doing well and I'm just believing that if God created Preston, He also created you to birth him, despite how big or small he is :) Glad your appt went well with the doula and you feel comfortable with her!!! Home stretch!! Keep taking those naps girl!

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    1. I love that you said that, because I feel we were made perfectly for each other too. I am the perfect person to give birth to him, no matter how gargantuous he actually is! Believe it! ;)

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  7. You look amazing! I am just so thrilled with how well everything is going!

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  8. The updates sound wonderful! I can't believe that at our growth scan on 34w5d our babe also had an estimated weight of exactly 5lb12oz!! What are the odds? And at this point...I've also gained 25lbs! I just hope our babes can arrive into the world the old fashioned way (fingers crossed)!

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  9. That's funny about your oven...or not really funny at all :/ If you were not prego I would have told you to just eat it raw. I wanted to tell you that you are the cutest little pregnant woman I have ever seen! You are glowing! xo

    waitingforbabybird.com

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    1. Oh believe me, the thought crossed my mind, and a few choc chips on the edges may or may not have crossed my lips. hehe

      Thank you so much Elisha!

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  10. You look amazing! All of these updates sound just perfect... enjoy the last 6 weeks!

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    1. Enjoying every last moment. Thank you so much!

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  11. Emily, you are stunning!!! Okay now I want chocolate chip cookies. It is great to read about your doula... What a beautiful experience you are going to have! I just know it! Wow, I can't believe baby boy is almost here.

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    1. Oven officially fixed now! Choc chip cookies coming soon! haha!

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  12. So so exciting!! Can't believe he will be here to soon. Also love that things are well with your doula. Excited to hear all about your birth plan.

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    1. Excited to get our birth plan done too and will def share!

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  13. You look amazing! Have you worked out your entire pregnancy or were you hesitant to workout earlier in the pregnancy?
    It sounds like you guys are getting everything in place for little Preston's arrival!!!!

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    1. Thanks Jennifer! I was extremely nervous and cautious in the beginning. I actually did not work out AT ALL from the day before our FET until after our second u/s (8.5 or 9 weeks I think?). So it was a good full month or more after we learned we were pregnant before I even stepped foot back in the gym.

      Then, I started doing the elliptical (on zero resistance) very slowly again. I was seriously even scared to just walk on a treadmill, because of the impact of just walking with each step, so elliptical seemed even safer (smoother) to me. Around 12 weeks, I think I finally upped the resistance on the elliptical machine but still never let my HR go above 120 bpm, and around 14 weeks I finally added back in some very light weight training (1 day of upper body & 1 day of lower body) on the weekends. Since then, I've kept with the 5 days of light elliptical and 2 days of light resistance training. This entire pregnancy, I've never done anything that engages my core at all and I'm extremely careful about lifting anything more than 20 lbs. In fact, I've still not even vacuumed since before our FET, because I don't want to lift the vacuum up the stairs.

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  14. The Friday before Liam was born they estimated him to be 8lbs 15oz :). He was 7lbs 12oz at birth! At my 34 week u/s they estimated him to be 6ish lbs. I had BP issues though from all the steroids I needed for my RA and it totally sucked!

    You're doing great mama! I loved my pregnant body and I'm so glad you love yours! It's an incredibly powerful feeling to feel a baby move inside you :). I hope your meeting goes well and will be looking for your update!

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    1. So funny, but I'm big as a house and happiest with my body I've ever been...just in a different way than every before. I can see now why some people enjoy being pregnant so much and can't seem to stop at 2 or 3!

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  15. Good for you for staying active! I found it harder after 32 weeks because I got tired so quickly but I was able to keep exercising lightly right up until the end. I think it makes a big difference in recovery.

    The good thing about having a big baby is that they have bigger stomachs and are able to sleep longer stretches. I'm so impressed that you aren't worried about an unmedicated birth if he does end up being 10 pounds. Go Mama!!

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    1. I like the idea of anything about sleeping longer! Sign me up!

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  16. Yayyyy! You look so amazing Emily! I cannot believe you're working out 7 days a week- I'm impressed even if it's only 30 minutes on the elliptical!

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    1. I can't imagine not working out, so very thankful they want me to keep going. It was really hard during early pregnancy when I was super careful, not working out at all. I about lost my damn mind!

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  17. I'm sure you already know this, but ultrasounds after 20 weeks are notoriously inaccurate. I had one the day before I had my ODD and they said she was 10lbs, possibly more. Less than 12 hours later, she came out at 8lbs, 11oz. Then with my YDD, the ultrasound said she was around 8.5-9lbs and definitely no larger than 9.5lbs. She came out two days later at 10lbs ;)

    Fundal height isn't even terribly accurate either, but more so than ultrasound, in my personal opinion. There was a study that came out in 2012 that said aside from birth (wink wink), the best way to estimate weight of the baby was mother's intuition (no shock there), followed by the doctor feeling with his or her hands, and finally an ultrasound.

    I'm a firm believer that barring any medical concerns, your body will birth the baby that it made!

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    1. Oh yes, this is what I keep hearing about u/s being inaccurate. That's why I brought it up to the tech at our recent apt. It's funny that they do say they can be off, but then right back to talking about how accurate certain measurements are. I really won't believe anything until the day he's born. I totally agree that my body is ready no matter what too!

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  18. You look great! And, cookies sound amazing, hope you get to make them soon!

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  19. You look amazing! Enjoy these last few weeks, you have definitely earned the homecoming queen attention.

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    1. Thanks Lilee! I guess I'm realizing why so many people think they are the center of attention when they pregnant. I try not to even talk much about myself around friends, but it's like they all go straight to the pregnancy as topic of discussion...strangers too. It's nice in a way, but weird in another way. I definitely want to still be ME after this baby is born and have outside interests other than poopy diapers!

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  20. What a great post this is!! I love it, and you look fabulous!! Attention is well deserved, no doubt! xoxo

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  21. You look awesome!! And with babies, bigger is better in my opinion. :) He's gonna be such a cute little chunker. Can really relate to your cookie-baking scenario too -- I would much rather my actual oven malfunction than my baby-making oven. None of those annoyances even comes close to the stress of infertility; indeed, you tend to feel truly lucky that you get to pout over such quotidian things.

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    1. OK, this is a definite first for me....I had to actually google the word "quotidian." I learned a new word today! I love friends with good vocabularies! hehe

      Thanks girl! I agree that bigger is better when it comes to baby's health for where I'm at right now!

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  22. I have to give u mad props! I can't even brin myself to exercise right now and there you are doing it while pregnant. You deserve an award! Lol you look amazing an Preston is probably taking after someone else in the family? My brother is taller than my dad but my moms brothers are tall. Just a guess.

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  23. I'm going to echo the sentiments above to say you look GREAT! Possibly the cutest pregger lady ever!

    Also, I'm ehhh about those estimates. Perinatal claimed Molly was 5 lbs at 34 weeks, which would mean she only gained 6 ounces in 6.5 weeks? Doubt it. I say take it with a grain of salt. And even if he is a big boy... you can DO IT, mama! Can't wait to hear all about it :)

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  24. Wow! This is so exciting, Em. I can't believe you are so close. You look beautiful pregnant. I can't wait to see your birth plan and meet your sweet boy.

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