Well, we’re getting closer and closer to the big day. I had my latest obstetrician appointment this past Wednesday, and everything looks good so far. In fact, last week, Airman got to feel Aaron kick for the first time.
However, I had a second ultrasound a few weeks ago. Everything’s perfect. Aarons’s got no neural tube defects, his heart looks very healthy with the usual four chambers, his brain and skull are normal (which was a concern because I was taking medication when I got pregnant that is known to cause some rather nasty defects. It looks like we missed that window.), and yes, he’s still a boy. We got the whole thing on videotape, in fact.
The surprise on the ultrasound is that he’s HUGE. At that time, he was roughly two weeks ahead of his gestational age, size-wise. Assuming he gains the average of about a half-pound a week, he’s on track to weigh around nine pounds. He’s also very long. I don’t know how long he’ll be, but he will be a big baby. The OB is going to repeat the glucose test to rule out gestational diabetes, but he doesn’t think I’ve got it because the last one was well within normal limits (113, for you medical types out there. Anything over 140 is bad.)
We also talked about banking the baby’s cord blood for my mother, who’s got MS. There is a lot of research being done in San Antonio for stem-cell transplants for that, and since my mother’s been cleared to have that, and since the cord blood would otherwise go to waste, we figured, why not? My OB has done this before, and has given the go-ahead and the information on doing this.
So, for the blood collection, the group B strep prevention, and the sheer size of this little turkey, my OB is talking induction. At my appointment for my 37th week, we’re going to plan it all out. Mostly, this is to make sure that the labor is well-controlled so problems can be dealt with as problems, and not as emergencies. At this point, I don’t know if we’re going to induce labor or if we’re going to do a scheduled c-section. Either one is okay, but I’d prefer the c-section. I know, it’s major surgery and all that, but considering what I went through last time, it’s an attractive proposition.
The dining room at my parents’ house has been converted to a nursery. Aaron’s bassinet has been set up, as has his changing table. The rest of the room looks like Hanukkah with all the boxes of stuff waiting to be used. He’s got almost everything he needs, right down to the first box of Pampers. (The only thing missing is the stroller, but that’s coming soon.)
Anyway, that’s where we are right now. Nothing else to do but wait! At least I get to start Lamaze next week. That’ll be fun.
Robin
Hope all goes well–start stocking up on chapstick 'cuz you’re going to wear your lips to nubs kissing that sweet little boy.
Betcha can relate, huh?