Pregnancy Update

I can't believe I am already 30 (almost 31) weeks into this pregnancy.  It is crazy how fast it is going.  I feel bad already for this little girl cause I am already slacking on documenting anything from her life. I'm sure once she is here though things will change!

We found out we were pregnant in August (almost the exact same weekend we found out about Rowan) and were a little bit surprised by the news!  We had talked about starting to try again, but no real plans were made. We weren't not trying, but weren't trying really either.  Needless to say though we were excited that our kids would be close in age (I'm slightly freaking out about this now!).  We told family and friends and then got excited for the 20 week appointment when we could find out if we were having a boy or a girl.

At the 20 week ultrasound we found out we were having a girl!  We would have been thrilled with either a boy or girl, but we were both rooting for a girl.  She was a little stubborn at this appointment though and the ultrasound tech could only get a good view of the spine and not her heart so we had to schedule another ultrasound for 24 weeks.  From what she could see, everything looked good on baby girl.  My placenta however, was sitting very low.  The doctor explained that if it did not move up by 30 weeks we would have to start talking about the complications that would cause.  Pretty much, if it didn't move up then I would have to have a c-section.  They would check it again at the 24 week ultrasound and if needed again at 30 weeks.  I was a little taken aback by this news because my pregnancy with Rowan went so smoothly, I wasn't prepared to hear potential problems.  I knew though that the placenta could move up on its own and there wouldn't be any issues so I tried to not worry to much. 

Ryan wasn't able to go to the 24 week ultrasound with me so I went on my own.  Baby girl was still a girl and was a little more cooperative.  I had a different tech this time who I didn't really like, but she did what she needed to do.  Baby girl's heart looked good and the placenta had moved up on its own.  I was happy leaving the ultrasound before my Dr. appointment.  Dr. however had some more news for me that the tech did not tell me about.  He confirmed what the tech had told me about the heart and the placenta, but then said there was a slight issue with the umbilical cord.  The umbilical cord is supposed to have 1 artery (which delivers all the good stuff to the baby) and two veins.  My umbilical cord however appeared to be missing one of those two veins.  He said this wasn't really a huge problem, but it could create issues with the growth of the baby.  There was nothing I had to do, we just had to check baby's growth at 30 weeks with another ultrasound.  I was disappointed at the news and concerned, but knew I just had to wait it out and see what the ultrasound said.

I had my glucose and anemia test at 28 weeks.  I passed the glucose test, but am slightly anemic.  I wasn't really surprised by this news.  I have been anemic on and off my entire adult life.  I just have to take an iron supplement until I deliver.  At this same appointment, when the Dr. measured me he just laughed.  I was measuring at 33 cm which equates to about 33 weeks along (I was only 28)!  Clearly we were not having any growth issues with baby!  He said that he didn't feel that is was necessary to have the 30 week ultrasound to check growth, but if I wanted to see baby again he would order it.  I wasn't going to turn down a chance to see the baby and check on everything and insurance pays for it so I said yes.

Ryan had to work again for this ultrasound so I went on my own again.  I had the good tech and she was very quick.  She measured baby's head, abdomen, and femur and then checked gender one more time.  Baby girl is breech and was facing away so she couldn't get a good profile shot of her.  Baby was weighing in at about 3lbs 8oz and at about 30.5 weeks.  She is right where she should be in terms of growth.  The tech also said she already has hair (my constant heartburn might be proving the old wives tale true)!  I was so excited to hear I wasn't having a ginormous baby and that everything was looking good!  The Dr. was pleased with the ultrasound and said I measured so large at the last appointment because of her position.  I am hoping she flips around soon!

We are slowly preparing for baby and are really looking forward to her arrival very soon!  If she is born on her due date (May 7) she will be 2 years and 2 weeks behind Rowan, but I anticipate an early arrival (maybe that is wishful thinking). We have 2 names picked out at this point, but are not committing to anything yet.  We probably won't commit until she is born!  We just had maternity pictures done so look for those in the next post!

I'll try to do at least one more pregnancy update before she makes her arrival!

Nicki