Baby Measurements

We had our check-up today. From now on we'll go back every week to see how things are progressing, until the baby is born that is.

I've gained 6 pounds in about 3 weeks- which is the most I've gained the entire pregnancy. I lost weight the first trimester, gained some of it back the second, and this third trimester has been a very slow gain of 1 pound every 3-4 weeks. So I'm now 4 pounds over my pre-pregnancy weight.

The baby's position is head down and VERY low in the birth canal/pelvis. The doctor says it's not going any where. Which is a huge relief to me - I was worried it would be breech.

She verified that my cervix is thin but she opted not to check to see if I was dilated because it was too painful and she felt it wasn't necessary to know that information right now/cause me unnecessary pain. "Next time it'll be a different story" ... and she'll have to check.

The heartbeat was slower this time- around 134 beats per minute as the baby was resting.

The amniotic fluid levels are at about 13 percent, exactly where it needs to be (between 5 and 20 is the acceptable range).

On the ultrasound, we saw the baby shaking it's head slowly back and forth- already seeming to master telling us "no." That was pretty funny.

The femur (leg bone) is measuring at 37 weeks as did the baby's abdomen. The head is measuring at 40 weeks but because it was so low in the pelvis, she felt the measurement wasn't likely to be as accurate. She'll do the measurements/formulas and let us know the estimated weight soon. Apparently we're still having a "very" big baby or at least one that has big brains. They say it's not the weight you need to worry about, it's the circumfirance of the head. Yikes.

The doctor mentioned she wouldn't be surprised if it was soon. I also feel like the baby is coming sooner, rather than later and sincerely doubt we'll make it to the due date. I'm hedging my bets on next week.

The baby has been very active and I've had frequent sensations of my uterus tightening which probably accounts for why the baby is so low already. The so-called "unproductive" Braxton-Hicks contractions have been productively pushing the baby down into the birth canal, which is the goal at any rate. This baby knows what it's doing and where it's going.

Consequently, things at home will be moving along at a rapid pace trying to get things done.

Kevin's going to paint our bedroom (it needs another coat) and the trim (which there are miles of) this weekend and he will finish up a couple house-hold projects and baby projects. He will also wash the baby linens (clothes, blankets, etc) and install the car seat.

I'll be at my mom's house avoiding paint fumes and helping my Mom finish the baby mobile and the window seat cushion, the last two projects that remain for the nursery.

Then the baby can come. I'm voting for Tuesday.