bump #89: 38 weeks and scheduling a c section

Andrew is on Spring Break this week, and we've been lucky to get some warm, beautiful beach days in. Here we are in La Jolla with a 38 week bump:

 

 

Here we were at the same beach the day before our transfer back in July:

 

What a difference 8 months makes!

 

We are so grateful to have made it this far. Oliver is doing great and growing strong. At my 38 week appointment today the doctor said he probably already weighs in the high sevens and, although he is head down, his head is resting on my right hip so he is still not in the "engaged" position over my cervix as he needs to be for delivery. We still have 12 days until our official due date, but each week when doctor checks me, everything is still very high and very closed. I was hoping my big, wide birthing hips would finally come in handy for birthing this baby, but it appears that my teeny tiny cervix plays a more crucial role, and it ain't budging. Up until this point we had planned on a natural delivery (I kid, natural with a big, fat epidural) and our doctor always agreed we could plan on a vaginal birth.

 

Until today.

 

Today she examined me and delicately suggested that we start thinking about the possibility of a cesarean delivery. She explained that if we still wanted to go natural we could wait as long as 42 weeks and see if Ollie shifts into position. Keep in mind he's already almost 8 pounds, so by the time 42 weeks rolls around I might have a toddler walking around in there!  She also mentioned that while vaginal birth is typically ideal, I have a succenturiate lobe on the placenta that complicates the safety of vaginal delivery. The number one thing I want to avoid is going through days of labor and then having to get an emergency C-section anyway when my body is weak and exhausted. This isn't how I envisioned bringing baby boy into the world, and recovery time is going to be brutal, but none of this process has gone according to plan and God has still been faithful every step of the way.

 

Tonight we are praying and thinking about what is best for our family. We will most likely call tomorrow morning to schedule a C-section at the end of next week. Either way, we are meeting our baby boy soon and cannot contain our excitement!

 

bump #88: 36 week belly

For a second I was reluctant to take "bare belly" pics due to modesty and what not, but then I remembered how for so long and so very badly, I wanted to have a baby in my belly and document this amazing time. Also, we've been attending childbirth prep classes and I'm now well aware that in a few weeks all modesty will go out the window, so I might as well prepare now!

 My mom took these pictures last weekend during her visit. Thanks MaMa! Also, please remember to delete all of the outtakes before uploading to our shared family files :)

And now for some "normal" 36 week pics...

I am going to miss this bump! I've cherished every kick and roll. Smiled with each hiccup. Sorry Ollie; I'm sure that's no fun for you, but it's a blast to watch my whole belly shake up and down! I can't believe in a few short weeks he will be in our arms... more joy than my heart can handle! 

bump #86: 34 weeks and peeing my pants

34 weeks sure looks glamorous, what with fake flower headbands and frolicking in fields. But don't be fooled... 34 weeks will henceforth be remembered as the week that I literally peed my pants. {Cringe} I debated sharing this debacle, but ultimately decided that this blog is about all of the bumps having to do with infertility and pregnancy, and you can now add incontinence to that list :)

It happened on Thursday, after a long day at work and running errands to get Valentine's decorating supplies for my class. Andrew and I were leaving the Costco parking lot, our final stop, and I realized I needed to use the restroom. The baby was cozily resting on my bladder and pushing it flat as a pancake. But we live half a mile from Costco and surely I could make it home. You see where this is going. I made it all the way home, through our front door and into the hall entry. And then I lost it. One wrong move and the floodgates opened. I half-hoped it was my water breaking because that's not something I can control and slightly less embarrassing. I thought of kegels and a dry desert, anything to stop the stream. No such luck.

It's like this: from the second you realize you have to pee, you are allotted approximately 30 steps to get from where you are to a potty. I pushed my luck at 35 steps and have learned my lesson. It hasn't happened again. Hooray ~ 3 days accident free. Go me! But I am keeping a change of clothes in my car just in case. I knew this day would happen, but I didn't expect it to happen so early. I've still got 6 more weeks... Guess I'll have to stock up on diapers for me AND the baby!

bump #84: 31 and 31 weeks

31 weeks looks like this:

Andrew's parents and my mom came down to San Diego for the long weekend 

and we had our third and final 4d ultrasound at The Ultrasound Experience.

Feeling Oliver move around inside my tummy has been the most amazing experience of the whole pregnancy, but seeing him move around on the big screen and getting to share that with our friends and family is incredible.

He seems to be pretty easy going and mellow. He moves around a lot, but looks peaceful and cozy.

He even gave us a little smile this time! And the dark spots on his head are shadows; 

he doesn't have a comb over!

He can open his eyes now. A little strange looking, but you can tell he is a very deep thinker, obviously really inquisitive and intellectual :)

From here on out he's just packing on the pounds. Look how his little arms and cheeks have filled out!

Here is is smirking again and you can see both hands and a foot in the lower right corner. 

He has some big feet!

And here he is all squished up in a ball with his chubby little legs and shadows that make it look like he has crazy thick hair. He has hair, but it's light and fuzzy.

At 31 weeks I'm feeling...

Excited: about 2 baby showers coming up next month! I can't believe this is my life! I get to have a baby shower because I'm really having a baby?!

Nervous: about the whole delivery thing. I honestly never thought this day or the ones ahead would come, so I never planned that far ahead. I'm in the beginning stages of making a birthing plan. So far it just says "epidural."

Happy: that we got to see the baby smiling. How cool is that?!

Uncomfortable: This week I got my second cold/flu of the month and it made sleep impossible. Fever plus can't breathe plus a cough that won't end equals misery. I just hope the baby is developing a strong immune system and antibodies in the process. I am incredibly grateful for this pregnancy and elated that Ollie is healthy and growing on track, but with the third trimester, I am also experiencing sciatic nerve pain in my back, numbness in my legs, intense exhaustion, and gag worthy acid reflux. It will all be worth it though! There is a part of me that wants to keep him in there forever, but as the weeks get closer I'm beginning to understand why most pregnant women are like "get it out!"

Ready: for the 6 week childbirth and infant care preparation course we signed up for at our hospital. It starts next week and I'm hoping it will put my fears about labor and delivery at ease. It will also be fun to meet other expecting couples and make some new friends. And of course, compare belly sizes and maternity wardrobes because I'm mature like that.

Relieved: there's still no sign of stretch marks and even though I feel swollen everywhere, all my jewelry and shoes still fit comfortably.

Silly: I've started my "push" mix playlist and it makes me giggle. I'll post it once it's done.  I added Semisonic's "Closing Time" after watching this video about how the song is really about a child exiting the womb, and not getting bounced from a bar.

Well travelled:  We flew to Austin for Andrew's graduation last month and just got back from a whirlwind baby moon / birthday weekend in Canada. Pics here. I am now 31 years old and 31 weeks along. Yay!

Tired: I am presently in that special place where pregnancy exhaustion meets illness exhaustion and I have succumbed to the Benadryl I took right before writing this post.

Goodnight!

bump #83: 29 weeks

Hello 3rd trimester! 

As of today's doctor visit, which are now every 2 weeks instead of 4. Yay!  Baby boy weighs almost 3 pounds and is 16 inches long. He repositioned himself in the head down position with his little feet kicking like crazy just below my ribs. The kicks are still my favorite thing ever! I cannot believe there is a real baby in my belly and the kicks just remind me of what a miracle it all is.

Though I'm only 29 weeks along, Oliver's growth has him at about 31 weeks. I asked if that meant he would come early, but the doctor just said it meant he would probably come big. Here's to a healthy baby boy! I'm up 22 pounds thus far. Hopefully he'll come in weighing a little less than that. I am only 4' 11" with barely a couple inches of torso, so he has nowhere to grow but out and it makes sense that I'm measuring big. 

 At 29 weeks along, my belly button is decidedly no longer an innie, but not quite an outtie. More of a "flattie?" I don't have stretchmarks yet, but they'll probably show up in a day or two when my belly button pops out. I've completely given up shaving. I figure I can't see anything below my chest anyway and it's the chilly Winter months where leggings and boots are a daily staple. So that's working out great.

I never heard back about the gestational diabetes test results, so I'm assuming we're in the clear. And even though I'm seeing the doctor every 2 weeks, I've really only seen my actual doctor once this whole pregnancy. I've usually just met with the nurse practitioner because my doctor is always out delivering babies. That will be great when it's time for me to deliver and I can count on her to be there, but it's been a hassle so far because I still haven't discussed the whole vasa previa and accessory placental lobe thing with her from back in November. Hopefully I'll get to meet with her in person soon for my peace of mind!

This week we're looking forward to a trip to Vancouver for a literature conference. It will be baby boy's first international trip and a sort of baby-moon for us. We have another 4-d ultrasound coming up in a couple weeks and plans for 2 baby showers (one up home with family and one down in San Diego with friends) are in the works for February. I'll be on maternity leave March and April, returning to finish out the school year in May and June. Until then it's full steam ahead at work as I bust my bum trying to clear my California teaching credential. Is anyone else having a tough time returning to work this week? I can't focus on anything except this sweet little boy who is going to rock our world in the best way in a couple months. We love him so much already!

bump #82: 27 weeks

27 weeks!

The third trimester is right around the corner and I am still loving every minute of being pregnant!

Even this morning's glucose test...

It was not as bad as everyone said. I never drink soda, so the glucose sugar orange drink tasted like a Fanta and was quite refreshing. The hardest part was to sit still for an hour afterwards until they could do the blood test. They say no news is good news, so I'm hoping not to hear back from them about the results of the blood work and to go on my merry way indulging in all the tasty treats I want.

Andrew and I took some self timer Christmas photos in the woods near our neighborhood. I need to get better about remembering to take pictures each week. The time is just flying by!

Oliver is measuring right on track, according to our doctor's appointment this morning. My nurse said my belly is "all baby" bless her heart. I know better. I've gained at least 20 pounds at this point and I know for a fact that about 5 of those pounds are from all the delicious Texas BBQ we ate over the weekend. My belly may be mostly baby weight, but my thighs are all brisket :) The big highlight this week (and the culmination of the last 4 years) was when Andrew graduated from UTSA with his PhD on Friday! Yay!

This week we're excited to head home to Pismo Beach and spend Christmas and New Year's with family. When we get back to San Diego in January, we're signing up for a bunch of pregnancy, newborn care, and nursing classes at our hospital. Fun times ahead!

Merry Christmas!

bump #81: 24 weeks

 24 weeks, baby!

I thought I was already so huge, and then POP! I got even bigger! But the bigger I get, the bigger the baby gets, and he is growing strong and healthy in there, so I am absolutely thrilled and waddling around with pride :)

We had our 23 week 3-d ultrasound November 25 and it was so amazing to see our little Oliver moving around.

He lays on his back with his head on the left side of my stomach and his feet on the right. He keeps his feet crossed and his hands tucked up by his face like a bunny. He was in the same position last time we had this ultrasound at 14 weeks. Soon he's going to run out of room in there!

You can see the umbilical cord wrapped around his little legs below.

At one point, he rolled over as if to say he was done with the photo shoot. 

Uh oh, he better get used to having his picture taken all day everyday!

 We got to see him stretch and work on his dance moves.

 He's often deep in thought!

 Sometimes he sucks his thumb.

 And pulls on his umbilical cord.

 I feel lots of kicks all day long and it is MY FAVORITE thing in the world!

In fact, I'm the opposite of the typical pregnant lady who doesn't want strangers touching her belly. 

I'm like "Oh, he's kicking right here! Feel this! Wow!" and I make anyone who's near me feel my belly. 

I'm sure they're over it by now, but I can't help it! This is the best... until I get to meet him and hold him in my arms. I can't wait!!!

bump #78: 21 weeks

Thank you so much for the overwhelming support, prayers, and love you have all shown us this week. Words cannot express how grateful we are to be surrounded by such awesome friends and family who care about us and our sweet little Ollie so much! We are hopeful that with the early diagnosis and proper precautions, everything will be ok.

That said, we still haven't met with the specialty obstetrician. After days on the phone obtaining referrals, authorizing insurance, and jumping through hoops with uncooperative receptionists, we were told the earliest available appointment was in December. Are you kidding me?! I'm living minute to minute with the mantra "Pelvic Rest" running through my head and worrying that my placenta could rupture at any time. Waiting another month to consult with the expert is not an option. Today the pregnancy hormones kicked in and I relentlessly contacted the front desk at Specialty Obstetrics of San Diego until they finally got an appointment for me next Wednesday afternoon. Which is still ridiculous. At this point, I'm done remaining calm. The squeaky wheel gets the grease. "Squeak, squeak, squeak!"

This week was rough, but there were some high points that got us through. Friday was the day Andrew went to San Antonio to defend his dissertation and he now has his PhD! I can't wait to get the Dr. and Mrs. address labels started! That's what it's all about, right?!

With Andrew out of town for a few days, my mom drove down to stay with me, keep me off my feet, and help me get report cards and parent conferences ready for next week. She is an angel! I forgot to mention our little maltese, Maxwell, got neutered yesterday so she has been caring for me and my invalid dog. I don't know what I would do without her!

 

She is so sweet and is always talking to the baby!

 

 

For now, I will continue to thank God for keeping Oliver healthy and safe in my tummy as long as possible. And I will savor every little kick and nudge I get. Sometimes it feels like I have popcorn kernels popping in there! So fun! Oh, and now I want some popcorn. Yum yum yum!

bump #76: 20 weeks and anatomy scan

This is already the half way mark! Unbelievable!

 

Part of me wants to freeze time because it's going so fast and I love being pregnant.

The other part of me wants to speed it up because I can't wait to meet him and snuggle him up!

The anatomy scan (detailed ultrasound of baby's vital organs) today went great. He is measuring 20 weeks exactly and weighs 11 ounces. We counted 10 fingers and toes, his heart rate was 154 bpm, and he is cozy and mellow. He cooperated and only moved his arms and fists around a little bit. I haven't felt big punches or kicks yet, but I do feel him rolling around some. New symptoms this week include minor back pain (sciatic nerve?), daily bacon cheeseburger cravings (I might have to name him Carl after my favorite fast food: Carl's Jr.!), a little dizzy spell (prompting me to retire my 4" heels and stick with more practical shoes: 2" wedges), and more *ahem* undergarment shopping. It appears that along with IVF, I got a complimentary boob job :) On the bright side, think of how much money I saved! Next up: a "designer" C-section with a follow up tummy tuck. Just kidding. Unless they offer that as a package deal... I am getting so big and this is only the half way mark!

20 week bump

Some days I feel HUGE. Other days I just feel blubbery. It is safe to say I will not be one of those cute preggos who only gains weight in the belly. I am bigger everywhere! My bottom and my tummy wobble like a teeter totter! It's pretty precious. But as long as the baby is comfortably cushioned in there, I will happily go on growing. *chomps into another burger bite*

And now I get to focus all my shopping energy on toys and clothes for a baby boy! I'm so excited! I've never been to Lego Land or played with GI Joe's and Transformers. This is a whole new territory. Challenge accepted!

And just in case there was any doubt about the gender, that right there is the money shot.

He is ALL BOY :)