Welcome, Alex!

Alex was born on February 1, 2006.

I took notes in the hospital so I could write up the birth story, but I don't have the energy right now. So, the short version -- we went in for induction at 7am on Wednesday morning (the hospital called to postpone us just as we were walking out the door Tuesday night -- too many women showed up unscheduled to labor and delivery). Things mostly went okay with just a few scary moments (meconium in the amniotic fluid led to the use of an internal monitor, etc) until I was about 6 cm dilated, then the baby started responding very badly to the more intense contractions. My blood pressure went way up (mostly due to the risks I felt we were taking if we continued with labor) and by 7pm we had decided to go to c-section.

Alex was born at 8pm, after a calm, controlled c-section:


(Click to enlarge photos.)

I'll just say that having surgery under epidural is a really freaky experience. But not scary at all, and oh, so worth it.



He spent the first night in our room and latched on right away. The next morning his blood sugar had plunged (the heel stick said 35 and the lab report said 13, both are terrifying) and he spent the next two days in the nursery on a glucose drip. I was scared to death, but everything was under control. The hospital was great and I have to hand it to them, they did everything they could to make sure we were all handled with care.


In the nursery.

Today we are home. I am hormonal and achy, but so very happy. It's still sinking in that we've made it. I cried over a ham sandwich at lunch today because there was a baby sleeping on my couch, and I realized how long I went wondering if we would ever actually have one.

We did it. And I feel like I need to send the entire medical community of Connecticut a thank-you note. This is amazing.

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For future updates on Alex, visit Raspberry World. Thank you for joining me on this journey through pregnancy!

Week 39: Beating the clock

I'm still a week from the due date, but the baby is coming this week. My doctor will induce labor within the next couple of days. I am feeling both nervous and excited. The baby has dropped lower in my abdomen these last few days and now I can really feel his head like a bowling ball sitting in my pelvis... especially when he gets the hiccups!

This week's info from babyfit.com:

You are about as big as you are going to get at this point. The baby is still storing fat and increasing the production of surfactant to keep the air sacs open in the lungs. You should have everything prepared at this time to go to the hospital if labor begins.

Other changes that are happening:

• The baby's skin is becoming thicker and paler.
  
• The baby is gaining about ½ an ounce of fat for every day in the womb now.
  
• The muscles in your uterus apply a force equal to 55 pounds during labor contractions.

Baby's Size (head to rump) and weight this week:

Size: 14.5 inches (head to rump)

21.5 inches (head to toes)

Weight: 7 lbs

Is this really necessary???

The Pee-Pee Tee-Pee.

Week 38: Getting Close

Well, folks, this could be my last weekly update. And if it's not, next week's will be the last one for sure. Wow!

Everything went fine at the fetal monitoring appointment yesterday. The baby is still very active and moves around a lot. He's been in a head-down position for weeks, but he seems to move his hips and legs around pretty regularly. Sometimes you can actually see the movement from outside. I think it's really neat.

I can't wait to have him out here where we can meet him and hold him and love him in person, but at the same time I think I'll miss having him moving around inside me and taking him everywhere with me! Despite all the stress and fear, pregnancy has been a really cool experience.

I still don't feel that labor is imminent, but I know it can come on suddenly and it can happen at any time. But my doctor confirmed yesterday that if I get to week 39 without starting naturally, they will induce sometime that week. So cross your fingers for us and wish us luck.

This week's update from babyfit.com:

The baby's growth has slowed down a great deal with the exception of fat production. Because of space limitations, the baby's arms and legs are bent and held close to the body.

Other changes that are happening:

• The baby's toenails have reached the end of the toes and may need to be trimmed right after birth.
  
• At this point the circumference of the baby's head is close to the circumference of the shoulders and hips.

Baby's Size (head to rump) and Weight this week:

Size: 14 inches (head to rump)

21 inches (head to toes)

Weight: 6.75 lbs

New Gallery

For the sake of convenience, I've created a new gallery featuring some of the different images I've posted during the pregnancy. Most of them are ultrasound pictures, but there are a few others as well. It's the BUN gallery, of course. The nursery pictures are still there as well.

You can also get to the galleries now from the links on the right, just under the main link back to Raspberry World.

Week 37: Counting Down

Well, we're on the final stretch. Just three weeks left now until the due date, so the baby could come along any time! He is still moving around a lot but I think space is getting tight in there. Maybe that'll encourage him to come out soon!

Yesterday we had an ultrasound on my doctor's brand new ultrasound machine, which can do 3-D and 4-D imaging as well as regular ultrasound images. These higher dimension images look more like "photos" than the usual x-ray look of an ultrasound picture. Here's a picture they took yesterday -- click to see a larger version:



The optimal time to take these 3-D images is around 30 - 32 weeks when there is still a lot more room (and more amniotic fluid) than there is right now, but you can still kind of see his face. Wow! (It fades out on the sides, because of the way the technology works.)

So now we are just waiting to see if I go into labor on my own. If get to week 39 without going into labor, I think they'll induce me. Most of the people who have guessed when the big day would be said the last few days of January or the first week in February. I have to say I agree! But we'll see.

Here's this week's update from babyfit.com:

By this time, the baby has developed a very firm grasp. The baby now automatically turns toward a source of light and its body is fuller and rounder as the body fat continues to rise.

Other changes that are happening:

• 85% of babies are born within 2 weeks of their due dates.
  
• Not all of the baby's cartilage has turned to bone. This makes getting through the birth canal an easier process.
  
• It's getting pretty cramped in the womb; when the baby turns you can likely see the arms and legs pressing up against your abdomen.

Baby's Size and Weight this week:

Size: 14 inches (head to rump)

21 inches (head to toes)

Weight: 6.5 lbs

Week 36: Celebrating 9 months

Today is the beginning of the ninth month. Can you believe it? This week I am finishing up my projects for work and continuing to get things set up in the house. It's exciting to think that our little guy will be here in just a few weeks!

At yesterday's monitoring appointment, the ultrasound technician estimated the baby's weight at 5 lbs, 9 oz. There is a lot of room for error in there, but the good news is that he is not getting too big (always a concern with gestational diabetes). And the doctor told me that if my blood glucose levels stay under good control (as they are right now) we could go as long as week 39 before delivery. That would be the first week of February. They won't let me go past 40 weeks because it's dangerous for the baby to stay in too long when the mother has gestataional diabetes. I hope to go into labor naturally before that, so I don't have to be induced.

When do YOU think he will arrive?

Here's this week's update from babyfit.com:

You are probably feeling as big as a house and that you've run out of room for the baby to grow any more! You're close to the finish line, but there is still time and room for the baby to grow.

Other changes that are happening:

• Limbs are dimpling at the elbows and knees as fat deposits continue.
  
• The baby's gums are rigid and it may seem like teeth are about to come out.
  
• The baby's body fat has likely increased to about 8% and may reach as high as 15% by the end of your term.

Baby's Size and Weight this week:

Size: 13.5 inches (head to rump)

20.75 inches (head to toes)

Weight: 6 lbs

The baby's weight is about that of a bunch of large bananas.

Tempting Fate

Just about five months ago, Amanda and I made a lunch date. We were planning to meet in Orange after my hair appointment, to get together one last time before her baby arrived. She was a few weeks from her due date, but she was not able to drive much and so we hadn't seen a lot of each other in the latter half of her pregnancy, and I was really looking forward to seeing her one last time before she became a mom!

Well, lunch got canceled that day, and two days later Julia was born. That was five months ago today! Happy five months, Julia!

So... Amanda and I are making plans for this Thursday. I have a (much needed) haircut and color session scheduled, and we are going to try to meet for lunch in Orange before my appointment. I will be just weeks from my due date, and it will probably be the last time we get together before the baby arrives.

Do you think lightning can strike twice? If so, we may have a baby by next Saturday.

Marty says: Pack the bag!!!