Week 30 - 7 months

With Darling Daughter #2:

With Natalie:

I am shocked that I'm now 7 months pregnant and starting my 8th month! Time has flown by. The biggest change for me recently has been that I'm starting to get a lot of pain in my tail bone. It's not exactly the crotch pain that I got last time but it's getting close. I don't think I mentioned previously but I've also started snoring again, on and off. I'm getting a ton of Braxton Hicks contractions all the time. And she's a big kicker and puncher.

Our little girl measures about 17 inches from head to toe and weighs about 3 pounds. She is growing plumper and beginning to control her own body temperature. Eyebrows and eyelashes are fully developed, and hair on her head is getting thicker. Her head and body are now proportioned like a newborn's. Hands are now fully formed and fingernails are growing.

Week 29

With Darling Daughter #2:

With Natalie:

This past Friday I had my 28 week appointment with Nurse Hilbert. Blue Ridge has two nurse practitioners that they like everyone to see in addition to the doctors. She was very friendly and comforting. She administered my RhoGam shot, although this time in my hip instead of my arm. It hurts a lot more in the hip! I had planned to schedule a c-section date for 40 weeks. I am comfortable going with a c-section then if I haven't started to progress or go into labor on my own and thus, attempt a VBAC. However, Blue Ridge likes to schedule c-sections for 39 weeks (which would be around December 1). Because I was proposing a different time, Nurse Hilbert needed to clear it with the doctor I would like to do my c-section, Dr. Gaines. He instead wants me to come back into the office in 2 weeks (October 1) in hopes that I will have either committed to doing a c-section (and thus, schedule it around 39 weeks) or go for the VBAC with out pre-scheduling a c-section. I have been going back and forth on this for 29 weeks -- what is 1-2 more weeks going to do for me! I honestly don't get why it matters when I choose to schedule my c-section, assuming it's later than 39 weeks. If I decide at this point to fully commit to doing a VBAC, I could still change my mind come 39 weeks if I have no progress and schedule a c-section for a week later at that time. I could also wait it out for labor to start on its own and if it doesn't by 40-41 weeks, I'd still have to schedule a later c-section date so I'm not sure why he wants to discuss this more with me.

I am still very torn about doing a VBAC. I have many reasons for wanting to try for a VBAC and other reasons for wanting to just go with a c-section. VBAC: getting to experience a vaginal birth, not having to deal with recovery from surgery; c-section: having a date set, knowing how I respond to surgery already (recovery went well for me last time), getting my previous raised c-section scar removed (which I have to say is really annoying how much it always itches with it rubbing on my clothes), and getting two extra weeks of STD. And then of course there are reasons that I'm scared to choose either option: VBAC - potential complications, not knowing how my body will respond to a vaginal birth (since I never progressed on my own previously), the pains of vaginal birth which I haven't experienced fully yet; c-section - another major surgery, missing out on knowing what it feels like to push my child out, once I have another c-section I will have to have a third if we have more children. I'm also so unsure of going forward with the VBAC because I feel unprepared and unsupported by the doctors at Blue Ridge. They don't really give me a good cozy feeling about attempting a VBAC. Even those who say it is possible to try for a VBAC still make it sound like they'd recommend a c-section. To me, it seems most say this because scheduling a c-section is the easy thing to do. I'm really unsure what to do.

As always I'm exhausted all the time. I can't get my pants or socks on very easily and it's a struggle just to turn over in bed. Luckily, I'm still not experiencing the hip pain I had my last pregnancy and am able to sleep pretty well except for having to get up to use the bathroom once at night. My fundal height (pelvic bone to top of my uterus) is actually measuring one week behind my EDD which is within normal range (and yet people still say I look so big for how far along I am in my pregnancy).

Our baby now weighs about 2 3/4 pounds and has a crown-to-rump length of about 10.5 inches. Space is getting really tight for the baby. She will have her knees tucked up to her chest now all the time in the 'fetal position'. Nurse Hilbert thinks she is head down located more on the left side of my body which is consistent with where I feel most of the kicks, pushes and her butt.

Her bone marrow has now taken over production of red blood cells. Now that almost all of the our baby's organs are functioning, her growth will focus on maturing those organs and growing muscle mass and fat stores. She should more than double her weight again between now and birth. All 300 bones in the little one's body are present and accounted for now, though some of them will fuse after birth, leaving a grand, lifetime total of 206.

Week 28

With Darling Daughter #2:

With Natalie:

I'm actually 28 weeks 2 days today. I was in California this week for work and didn't bring my camera with to take a photo on Tuesday. The biggest change I've noticed is that I have to pee all the time now. She's definitely sitting on my bladder all the time. I'm getting up 3-4 times a night to use the bathroom. She is moving all the time now. I can feel her butt and head pushing out at different times.

Many people have been commenting on how I look further along than I am as if I'm about to give birth tomorrow. Not the most flattering comments but oh, well. This is how I carried Natalie and apparently how I'm carry this daughter too.

Our baby's eyebrows and eyelashes are now present, and the hair on the head is growing. The eyelids open, and the eyes are completely formed. Her body is getting plumper and rounder (weighs about 2 pounds) and is composed of around 2 to 3% body fat. Muscle tone is gradually improving. Her lungs are capable of breathing air.

Week 27

With Darling Daughter #2:

With Natalie:
To sum up this week, I've just been exhausted! It is getting very tiring trying to keep up with Natalie and work requirements at this point -- I could sleep all day if allowed. But I'm still trying to be as active with Natalie as I can. Not so much rolling around and chasing each other but we have been coloring, playing with play-do and chalk a lot. Plus, there's always the fun of pretending to feed and cover up her babies. We got her a big girl (twin) bed this weekend in preparation for the transition to the her new room before the baby arrives. We're planning to see how she do with a twin bed starting the last weekend in October. This will give her about a month to hopefully get used to it before the baby arrives. I'm planning to start taking out the baby items (swing, car seat, etc.) around then also so she starts to get used to seeing the items and knowing that they're for the baby to use.

Our baby measures about 9.6 inches from crown to rump and weighs a little more than 2 pounds. Hands are active and muscle coordination is such that she can get her thumb into her mouth. Thumb-sucking calms the baby and strengthens her cheek and jaw muscles. She can also cry now.

So far I'm a few weeks past when the linea negra line on my belly showed with Natalie and also from when I started getting pretty bad hip pain. I'm curious to see if either of these show up again with this pregnancy at a later date.

Week 26 - 6 months

With Darling Daughter #2:
With Natalie:

I can't believe I'm already 6 months pregnant and I have less than 100 days till my due date! I'm now starting my 3rd trimester!! I can't believe how quickly this pregnancy is going compared to last time. Now that it's September and I have roughly 3 months to go, I think I should start tackling my list of things to do which include coming up with a list of names for this little one, getting Natalie's big girl room set up, buying the additional baby items and clothes we'll need, and then a few projects around the house. Given I'm due the beginning of December, I think I'm also going to tackle Christmas shopping beforehand; I'm sure I won't be up for going to the malls right after my delivery! Laura Brett will also be coming to our house after the baby is born to take her newborn photos so I want to get Natalie and DD#2 some Christmas dresses for the photos. I need to get moving!

I had my 25 week appointment last Thursday with Dr. Corvin. Everything went well -- the baby's heartbeat was very strong and she has been kicking up a storm. I also was tested for gestational diabetes at that time in which I had to drink this very sweet orange drink fairly quickly and then get my blood drawn an hour later. I got my results on Monday -- everything looked normal; I don't have gestational diabetes which is a relief! Dr. Corvin was more towards me doing a c-section but only because she thought it was easier to just plan it than wait to go into labor. She did say that because my c-section last time was not due to Natalie not fitting in my pelvis (and given that 2nd babies tend to be bigger) that she thought it was possible to try for a VBAC. She did state that if I decide to do a planned c-section, they like to schedule them for week 39 so that I would possibly avoid going into labor on my own. They would like to get it on the books at my next appointment which is in 2 more weeks. I'm still very torn! I've also put on more weight since my last appointment than I had between previous appointments. Dr. Corvin said my weight is still within range but I should expect another 10 pounds before delivery. I'm hoping it doesn't go over that. Now if I could just figure out how to fit in working out with hanging out with Natalie and resting at night.

I've been come much more tired with everything I do. When I sleep at night, my belly now feels heavy while laying on my side. I definitely can't get up and down as easily anymore. Luckily I'm still doing ok with carrying Natalie around but get tired if I do it for too long.

One difference I've noticed with this pregnancy compared to my first is that I feel more like I'm going through it alone. Not that others aren't support and Emile has been great but because our focus during the day is more on Natalie playing and running around, that others around me are not as focused on me being pregnant since Natalie is more of an immediate focus. Plus the doctor's treat me differently, or at least that's how I've perceived it. I don't have as many questions so it feels more like I'm rushed through my appointments quicker; there's no time to get the warm fuzzy feeling from my doctor's like I did before, even though I've meet them all previously during my pregnancy with Natalie. This pregnancy is just more internal for me (which has it's own advantages). But we're all excited to meet our new addition at which point I'm sure she'll be showered with as much affection as Natalie is.

Our baby measures about 9.2 inches from crown to rump and weighs almost 2 pounds now. Her hearing is fully developed. As she reacts to sounds, her pulse increases. Our baby will even move in rhythm to music. Lungs are still growing but are not yet mature. Patterns of our baby's brain waves appear like a full-term newborn. It also has patterns of sleeping and waking.