The OR/birth experience

Needless to say- When I woke up that morning for what I thought would be a routine visit and ultrasound, I could have never imagined the events that would transpire over the next 24 hours! My mom had spent the night (she was spending a lot of time with me anyway as I was on bed rest) but she planned on going to the growth scan with us that day to see if the baby had grown. Travis had worked the night before so as soon as he got home at 9:30 am and changed clothes, we left for the appt. After the appt. we headed back to the women's center for evaluation.

When I got to the room they hooked me up to all the monitors, they came in to draw labs and it was a waiting game, hoping my pressures would go down. Travis, my mom and I really didn't think too much of this as we'd done this whole ordeal about five times in that same week. Every time the machine took my blood pressure I could see that it wasn't going down so we were getting a little worried but trying to relax. I called my mother in law to let her know what was going on but assured her that she should stay at work because everything would be fine ;)

As I laid in the bed, I could feel the contractions getting more intense but I still wasn't in pain. Poor Travis was laying on the "window seat" praying we could go home soon because he'd been up all night! My mom was pacing the floors and obsessively checking the monitor readings! A few minutes later, my nurse came in. It was actually the same nurse who we'd taken the child birth classes with! She asked me if I was feeling the contractions and I said yes. She told me they were getting stronger and closer together (I already knew this ;) ) She also told me that they were starting an IV and admitting me. I knew that something was going on because this wasn't a standard procedure.

A few minutes later, my doctor arrives and says, "I think we're going to go ahead with the c-section TODAY.. Your pressures are getting worse and now you're contracting". Wait a minute... WHAT!!!!! Travis popped up off of the window seat and wiped his eyes, I picked my jaw up off of the hospital bed and my mom's pacing turned to panic! When she left we all started to freak a little but I was surprisingly much calmer than I'd imagined I would be. We started to call and text our family members and within a few minutes my dr. was back to say that we'd be going in the next thirty minutes.

Within five minutes anesthesia was in to talk to ask me questions and the nurse started handing out our OR garb. Travis put on his dr. suit, I put on my hat and within 15 minutes they were back to get me. No one evenhad time to make it to the hospital before I was taken back. The walk to the OR felt like the longest walk of my life. I was pretty much in shock so I really didn't have time to panic. I kissed Travis and my mom goodbye and off I went.

The OR was absolutely freezing. When I got in there I sat up on a table and had to lean over in the arms of the OR tech while the anesthesiologist prepped my back for the spinal. I was shaking uncontrollably. I think part was nerves and part was the ice cold bed. They put warm blankets on me and the dr. started the spinal. It really was painless and far easier than I thought it would be. As soon as it was in I immediately laid back on the table. The nurse inserted the catheter and they started cleaning my stomach. It was really weird to be naked on this table in front of all of these people! The nurses put up the screen so I wouldn't be able to see anything and eventually they let Travis back in. I remember asking for him.. I was so afraid they would start without him! He finally came back and he looked so scared for me! He held my hand and the dr. started testing me to make sure I was completely numb. Once she confirmed, they started the surgery.

I really couldn't feel the "pressure" that everyone talks about. I could definitely feel pulling and tugging which was kind of gross but not much pressure. I had tons of pain in my chest which they said was from them pressing on my uterus. Travis just help my hand and kept asking me if I was ok. I surprisingly had a pretty great attitude and didn't really get emotional. I was just SO anxious for the baby to come out because we were SO scared that something was terribly wrong with him causing him to be so small and not grow. I could hear my dr. making comments about the size of my uterus (that it barely looked bigger than a non-pregnant uterus).

It wasn't long before she told Travis and I that we'd be hearing a "little cry". We were so anxious. Finally, we heard the most BEAUTIFUL sound ever! Our little boy was screaming away! The nurses shouted out the time (15:06) and I started to get really emotional. I just knew he was going to be ok! I asked the dr if he was tiny and she said yes, "he's a little fella!". I was so excited to see him and kind of sad that I couldn't see anything. Travis jumped up and headed over to the cleaning station with the nursery nurse and was able to cut the cord stump and take pictures. The little fella was 4 lbs 9 oz and 18 inches! He FINALLY came back over to me (it felt like hours later) with our beautiful baby boy! He was perfect. We knew after looking at him that he was going to be ok! Travis brought him over and I examined him and gave both he and Travis a kiss.

It was about that time that I started to get extremely nauseous. I was dry heaving as best I could considering I couldn't feel ANYTHING! I could see the sadness in Travis's eyes! He had to go to the nursery with Kylar and felt so helpless for me. As much as he wanted to go I know he felt so bad to leave me there. Luckily the awesome anesthesiologist was able to give me an alcohol swab under the nose and help with the nausea. They finished stitching me up and the surgery was over. My dr. told me while she was stitching me back up that my placenta looked "crummy" and that it was definitely pre-eclamptic. She sent it off to pathology to be examined. She also told me that she was so glad we did the surgery that day and that she would definitely sleep better that night knowing that Kylar had been delivered and she didn't wait any longer. I had an overwhelming peace with everything that had just taken place. As much as I had dreaded a c-section and as traumatic as the days events were, I knew GOD had his hand on us and had given our dr. wisdom. It was absolutely the right decision. Even though sometimes we don't know why things are happening or can't forsee the end result, he is in control. I am so very thankful.

Anyway- after being stitched up, I was wheeled back to my room where I got to see a few visitors. They gave me a little something for pain and it was at least an hour before I was finally able to see Kylar. He wasn't interested in nursing right away but eventually caught on later in the night. He was absolutely perfect and I was COMPLETELY in love!

A lot of the rest of the day is sort of a haze because I was put on Magnesium Sulfate (HORRIBLE stuff!) to prevent seizures from the pre-eclampsia. The effects were pretty crappy! It made me see double, very dizzy and extremely hot. Luckily I was only on it for 24 hours. I was bed ridden until I came off of it the next day but I was able to see some visitors that night. Even though the experience was a little traumatic and unexpected, I wouldn't change a thing. God certainly had his hand upon our family and we are so very blessed!

During the surgery

After getting the shocking news that we'd be having a baby in 15 minutes!!!

Mom and I before I headed out

No turning back now!

During one of the contractions!

If you made it all the way through this, bless you ;) I'll post more later about the next ten days we spent in the hospital!

A delayed update!!

I'm sorry it's taken us so long to update! I hope to update more with pictures and stories of the past month's happenings in the next several days. As you can imagine, things have been a bit hectic!

For starters- After a routine appt. and growth ultrasound on Friday October 30th, it was revealed that the baby was still not doing much growing and had fallen below the 10th percentile in growth. This was very alarming. That was coupled with record high blood pressure for me. It was somewhere around 165/105. I was immediately sent up to the Women's Center for the 5th time that week to be monitored.

After about an hour, my blood pressure continued to increase and my labs eventually came back. The lab work revealed changes in my platlet levels. The pre-eclampsia was pretty much confirmed at that point. During this same time, I was hooked up to an NST monitor for the baby and a contraction monitor. I started having contractions about 4-5 minutes apart and they were getting stronger. We won't know for sure, but the dr. was pretty sure I was actually going in to labor on my own! My dr. came in to visit about an hr after we'd been at the Women's Center and told my mom, Travis and I to prepare for a c-section that day. She came back in about five minutes later and said we'd be heading to the OR in about 20 minutes! We were beyond shocked to say the least!!!

About an hour later, God blessed us with the most amazing gift we'd ever layed eyes on. I will post a full story later of my experience in the OR and the days events along with pictures....

But Kylar Nicholas Holland was born at 36 weeks at 3:06 pm on October 30, 2009. I've never been so scared in my life- but after one look at him, I knew he was absolutely perfect. He was 4 lbs, 9 oz and 18 inches long. My placenta confirmed atypical severe pre-eclampsia which caused pretty significant fetal growth restriction. My poor guy wasn't getting any nourishment. I couldn't be more thankful for my amazing dr. for making such a great call and getting my precious boy here safely.

The next two weeks weren't without challenges, as we spent 12 days in the hospital for various issues (I'll post more info later!) but the good news is... we're all HAPPY, HEALTHY AND INCREDIBLY BLESSED!!! God is good and we're so in love with our new family! Thank you to ll of our friends and family for the unconditional love and amazing support we've received over the past few months. You guys are irreplaceable :)

36w bump

36 week baby progress

Here's what baby H should be up to this week ;)

By this week of pregnancy your baby's crown-to-rump length reaches about 13.5 inches and the total length is approximately 20.7 inches. Your baby weighs about 6 pounds now. The top of your uterus has moved further up under your ribs and is about 5.5 inches above your bellybutton. Your uterus has grown a lot in the past few weeks as your baby has gained weight. You may have gained about 30 pounds by now and it is common for your weight to stay about the same from this point onwards.

Because the top of the uterus is high as it will be, breathing may be getting very uncomfortable at times. You might notice jabbing pains from your baby's kicks. However, within the next few weeks, your baby will drop into the birth canal and this will make breathing easier again. Most doctors like to see their patients weekly from now on to check for labor progression. Your prenatal classes are probably coming to an end and you should have already made a birth plan and discussed available options for pain control during pregnancy.

Your baby's face has filled out significantly and looks smooth and plump. Because your baby has powerful sucking muscles and has had layers of fat forming for quite some time now, the cheeks have filled out like a newborn's. Your baby's skull is firm, but not hard. Every baby's head has the ability to give slightly so that there is room for her to fit down the birth canal during delivery. Some babies are born with cone shaped heads from the pressure of delivery, but this will go away after delivery. The amount of amniotic fluid is at its maximum amount now and your baby may not be moving as much as she had been. As long as you still feel her movements every day, there should be no cause for concern.

The placenta is now one-sixth of the fetal weight.

Quick update

After we got back from the NST on Thursday, we ended up back at the women's center on Saturday night because I was so swollen and my blood pressure was back up. I was in triage for a few hours and they were able to get my BP back down. All of my labs and urine still look good, so they are not suspecting pre-eclampsia just yet.

I was hoping that'd be the end of the blood pressure debacle! I had a follow up appt. this morning to re-check my urine and blood pressure. Well- it was through the roof again, so back to the women's center I went! They were able to get it to come down again and I was able to go home! I have to repeat my labs and 24 urine when we go to our big appt. on Friday (This is the appt. where we'll find out about the baby's growth as well as the c-section).

The dr seems to think at this point it is just pregnancy induced hypertension- which often happens for no apparent reason towards the end of pregnancy. So long as it doesn't start to show changes in blood or urine, we should be ok! I, unfortunately, have to remain on pretty strict bed rest for now, but our little blessing will be here in a few weeks and it will all be worth it! Thanks again for all of the continued thoughts and prayers!

NST and a few pics!

Last night we had to head back to the hospital to drop off my 24 hour urine bucket. Good times ;) I also had to do a non stress test to make sure the baby was doing fine. My blood pressure was pretty good and the baby was doing wonderfully! I have to go back to the dr. on Tuesday to re-check blood pressure and urine and then we're set for our growth scan on next Friday. We're VERY anxious to see what our little guy has been up to in the past 3 weeks! We can't wait to meet him!!!

Here are a few maternity pics-- Enjoy ;)

35 week appt.

Yesterday we had our 35 week appt. We met with the dr. for the first time and I really liked her! She was pleased with my food diary and that I had gained a few lbs since being on bed rest. I've really got the hang of eating everything in sight Whatever my little guy needs

She did my group b strep swab and asked if I wanted to be checked. Of course, I said YES! Boy did I NOT know what I was getting myself into! Needless to say I was only 1 cm dilated and 60 % effaced.

Now onto the bad news--- My blood pressure was through the roof both times they checked it, so they sent Travis and I over to L&D where we had to stay for the next 5 hours while they monitored my BP, contractions and the baby. My BP eventually went down, I was having quite a few contractions, but the baby was doing great. They sent me home with the pee container to collect for 24 hours. I have to take it back tonight and then stay for a Non stress Test to be sure the baby isn't under any sort of distress. This makes me feel a little better because his movements have slowed some recently. The dr. anticipates that all will be fine with both my BP and the NST.

I also got a short 15 sec. u/s in the hospital to make sure he was still head down because the dr said when she examined me she couldn't tell. Luckily- he's still in the right position! Woohoo!! We go for our next growth scan next Friday to determine if he has fattened up any and hopefully I will get off of bed rest if he has! I'm hoping for good news

35 week bump and a quick update

Many of you have been asking for an update and I apologize that I've yet to post one! Afterall, I have been couch-ridden. There's really no excuse ;) I have remained on bedrest and will continue to do so until October 30th when we find out if the baby has done any growing. I must say, I am INCREDIBLY INCREDIBLY blessed. So many people have reached out to us, we've had tons of phone calls, visitors, thoughts and prayers. We are SO very grateful for everyone's support! My job has been so gracious and good to me- I couldn't be more thankful. My husband has been amazing and so accommodating- despite his many trips to the woods, he's still been extremely supportive and sacrificed a great deal! My parents and in-laws have been a godsend! And thank you to all of our wonderful friends as well!

I've been keeping busy with company from my mom, baking, folding clothes from the couch, working on my lap top, scrap booking and watching movies! I look forward to returning to my normal activities as soon as I can but know I am doing what is very best for our little baby boy! We can't wait to meet him!!!

We don't really have an update on the baby and won't know much until our follow up ultrasound on October 30th. We do have a regular appt. tomorrow and I will update afterward if there is any new news. Thanks again for all of your thoughts and prayers!! We'll keep you posted :)

35 week baby progress

Your baby now weighs over 5.5 pounds and its crown-to-rump length is approximately 13.2 inches. Your baby's total length is around 20.25 inches at this point. Your uterus is now 6 inches from the bellybutton and the average weight gain is approximately 24 to 29 pounds.

Most pregnant women begin to feel cramped and heavy around this time and often become tired of being pregnant. Some women feel like they do not have to room to breathe or eat. You should eat small, but frequent, meals and rest as often as you can throughout the day. Your cervix will begin to dilate and efface within the next few weeks to make room for your baby's head to emerge from the birth canal. Your cervix needs to be 10 cm dilated in order to deliver your baby.

This week of your pregnancy your baby's fingernails will have definitely reached the tips of his fingers. When your baby is born, his nails may look long and pointy. Your baby is less likely to scratch himself at this point because of the lack of room in the uterus. Fat deposition will still continue and your baby is getting chubbier and rounder. Your baby's shoulders are plump at this point.

The baby begins to develop its own immune system.

Update from yesterday's appt.

Yesterday we had our growth u/s and regular 33 week appt. If you recall, at our last appt., the baby was measuring 4 weeks behind. We had the u/s and the baby looked good. The placenta seemed to look fine as well as the fluid levels. He was, however, still measuring very very small. She measured him to be in the 17th percentile. They said that they do not get overly concerned until you get below the 10th percentile or if the baby appears to not be making steady growth. We're set to go back in 2 weeks for our regular appt and three weeks for another growth scan to see if there is improvement in his growth. With that said.... I've been put on bed rest for the next three weeks.

I have to keep a food diary for the next two weeks and increase my caloric intake in hopes to fatten the little guy up. I've got strict bed, couch, bathroom orders. If the baby does not have a significant amount of growth after the three weeks of increased calories and bed rest, they will induce labor and begin fattening him up on the outside.

They told me that his size could simply be a result of my small frame and size coupled with a fast metabolism and being very active. There could also be placental problems (though the placenta did look good). It's also possible that it could be inter uterine growth restriction. Intrauterine Growth Restriction (IUGR) We are holding out faith that sitting around sipping milkshakes is going to fatten this baby up and in three weeks he will be good to go! If not, we're prepared for an induction. We just want him to be happy and healthy and strong. Thanks for all of your prayers!

In regards to the c/s recommendation:
I brought this up at yesterday's appt. They still hadn't received anything from the neurologist, but did send something over requesting it. After talking with the NP, she set me up to see the dr. at my next visit. She did, however, say that she feels very strongly that both my dr. and my insurance company would require more urgency/medical complications to approve the c-section. She doesn't think it will be an issue. She said if nothing else, my dr (OB ) would approve a trial labor. I won't know for sure until I talk to the actual OB in two weeks, but I do feel a little better about the situation.

Updates....

Last week was not particularly cheerful for us. After hearing that our little guy was measuring a month behind, I had a less than optimal dr's appt....
Last Tuesday I had the appt. with my neurologist. If you look down a few posts, I explained why I had to go. Well, his "medical recommendation" was ..... deep breath....., c section.

I was absolutely devastated. We've done all the right things! We planned this pregnancy, we took the classes, we read the books, we planned our ideal "delivery",... it was a HUGE blow. After having some time to let it sink in (and having a moajor cry session in my WONDERFUL husband's arms), I am happy to say that I'm feeling much better about the possibility. I know many of you are probably thinking, "C-section? Big deal! People have them everyday!".

This is true, but I suppose I felt like I was having my birth experience overhauled, I was scared of the actual surgery itself, not being mobile, not being able to hold my little guy or be all 'with it' for his birth, breastfeeding difficulties, complications with the surgery, having to PICK our babies birthday instead of letting nature take it's course, etc. etc etc. The list goes on. After having a week to stew on it, I am feeling much much better.

With that said- I still have to talk to my ob's office and see if they will go along with this recommendation or allow me to make the decision on my own. If they insist that we will be going along with the neurologist's recommendation, I am fully prepared to get a second opinion, as I am leary of his recom. and his overall diagnosis. The neurologist's reason for the c-section is that pushing, "may possibly cause me to retrigger symptoms I had in the past".- ie: headaches. Not only is this not enough reason to justify getting sliced open (in my opinion) but I am not convinced he's accurate with his diagnosis, which is why I un-medicated myself to begin with.

I am fully prepared- either way- for the decisions to be made and will have peace regardless. I only want what is BEST for both my son and myself and wouldn't think about jeopardizing either of our health. I do, however, want to make sure that whichever conclusion is reached, it is done so thoroughly and with purpose. I'd hate to have the surgery simply based on a misguided recommendation. I will absolutely keep you posted as to what the outcome is or will be.

In other IMPORTANT baby news ;) We get to see our little guy tomorrow which we are SO excited about! I can't believe it's been 17ish weeks or so since we've seen him and I'm sure he's changed and grown so much. We are having our growth ultrasound to be sure that he is measuring and growing properly, considering his fundal measurements were off my 4 weeks at our last appt. I am very anxious but am so thankful for all of the prayers we've received and feel sure that God has his hand on my precious baby! I know he is going to be just perfect. After the ultrasound, we will have our 33 week appt. and I'll also get a chance to go over the neurologists' recommendation. I will post more in the next few days about the outcome of all of it! I know this was long- but those are the latest updates =) Thanks for reading!!

Baby H's progress @ 33 weeks...

Your baby weighs about 4.4 pounds at this point. The crown-to-rump length of your baby is approximately 12 inches and the total length is around 19.4 inches. Measuring from the top of your uterus to your bellybutton is 5.2 inches. Total weight gain at this point of pregnancy is usually 22 to 28 pounds.

With the exception of crying, your baby is capable of doing everything that a newborn baby will do. Your baby is restricted now inside of the uterus, but still can kick and move. Your baby sleeps a lot of the time, just as newborn babies do. Your baby's eyes move in the manner of REM sleep and researchers believe that babies can dream vividly in uterus. When your baby is awake, she is listening, feeling and learning. There are billions of neurons in the brain that make trillions of connections. Your baby will probably have settled into the birth position by now and your caregiver can most likely tell which way your baby is presenting. If your baby were to be born now, the lungs would probably be strong enough to function properly, but your baby may still need extra care from specially trained doctors and nurses.

During these last few weeks of pregnancy, most women experience an increased urge to urinate. The uterus puts a lot of pressure on the bladder and can send you to the restroom frequently. Your uterus has actually grown 500 times throughout your pregnancy! Red blood cell production catches up with the production of plasma and physiological anemia may begin to fade at this time.

Your baby's eyes open during alert times and close during sleep. The eye color is usually blue, regardless of the permanent color as pigmentation is not fully developed. The final formation of eye pigmentation requires exposure to light and usually happens a few weeks after birth.

33 week bump

I appologize that there has not been a recent update- but I promise to update very soon! I have a hectic work day but will write more later! In the meantime, here's a 33 week bump update! This Wednesday is the growth ultrasound to check on the little guy and we're really looking forward to seeing him again :)

32 weeks.

Just FYI- Tomorrow morning is my appt. with the neurologist regarding delivery. Due to being diagnosed with Arnold Chiari Malformation and Papilledema as a teenager, there were concerns regarding a vaginal delivery, due to the increased inter-cranial pressure during delivery. I've been crossing my fingers this entire pregnancy for an o-k on a vaginal birth and definitely have my heart set on it. Obviously I'll do whatever it takes to get my little one here safely, but we'll find out tomorrow what the neurologist has to say. Because I've felt great and had very little problems for several years, I am certainly hoping for an expecting the best! I'll keep you posted!

Now... here's what the lil' guy is up to this week!!
By week 32, your baby weighs nearly 4 pounds! The crown-to-rump length of your baby is approximately 11.7 inches and the total length is about 18.9 inches. Your uterus is now 5 inches above your bellybutton. Some doctors do not see their patients every other week until now. So, if you were going to the doctor monthly, you may begin going once every other week now.

The baby sleeps 90-95% of the day, and sometimes experiences REM sleep, an indication of dreaming.

Now that your baby has grown so long and your uterus is higher, you might notice a new discomfort. Your baby is probably head-down and may occasionally stretch out and kick you in the ribs. The pressure on your rib cage can make you sore, especially if one of your baby's feet becomes caught. You can prevent this by sitting up straight as much as possible. Because your baby's demands for vitamins and minerals are higher than ever right now, you should continue to take your parental vitamins for the entire pregnancy.

This week your baby's movements will peak. You should continue to monitor the fetal movements daily and address any concerns with your caregiver. The wrinkles in your baby's face are disappearing and fat is still being deposited throughout the baby's body.

The body growth slows down from now on. Because of the lack of space in the uterus, the legs are drawn up in what is known as the fetal position. As a preparation for breastfeeding, your baby has learned to root for the breast. The baby will turn its head if touched on the cheek and open its mouth if the bottom lip is tickled. By this time the baby can also suck and swallow in a coordinated way.

Appt update...

On Tuesday, Travis and I had our 31 week appt. We're on the every two week deal right now and most of our appts are pretty routine and mundane at this point. This week in particular, I had several things to talk to the midwife about, because I hadn't been feeling too pleasant. I've had lots of cramping, tons of Braxton Hicks and some abdominal and back pain- similar to the pain I experienced at 21 weeks with the kidney stones.

Our appt. was at 4:15 and the office was an absolutely madhouse! Of the 4 dr's and midwives on staff that day, 2 were out with emergencies, leaving only 2 to take on all of their patients. Needless to say, it was over an hour and 15 minutes before we were finally seen. As if the wait wasn't enough... the midwife informed me that my weight had decreased the past 2 visits (so I HAVE to beef up the protein intake) and I had blood in my urine indicating another kidney stone. YIKES! Unfortunately, there isn't much they can do for them, other than send you to the ER when things get bad. Luckily my pain hasn't been intolerable and if it does I suppose we'll treck on over the the hospital.

She said the Braxton Hicks and cramping were pretty normal, which I figured. The babys heartbeat sounded good and he is now in the head down position. He's very low and my abdomen is very tight! The concerning part of the appt. came when she did the fundal measurements and told us that the baby was measuring 4 weeks behind. She seemed a little concerned and scheduled us for an ultrasound at our next visit.

Travis and I literally spent the next 2 hours a worried, nervous mess thinking of all the awful possibilities of our baby being to small. I was comforted to hear that the fundal measurements can be off and aren't always accurate. The midwife did also say that it's likely I'm just a small person who will deliver a small baby. All of my mom's children were small and we're claiming that this is the explaination! My fears still remain, but I guess this is just the beginning of parenthood and I'm sure the worrying will never stop. I will continue to trust that the ultrasound in 2 weeks will show that our little guy is healthy and growing. I know that God is in control and I trust that he will see us through. Thank you to everyone who has lifted our family up in prayer. I will keep you posted :)

Here's an *almost* 32 week (8month) shot of the growing bump!

Baby H @ week 31

Your baby is continuing to grow each week that you remain pregnant. Your baby's crown-to-rump length is nearly 11.2 inches and total length is approximately 18 inches. Your baby weighs approximately 3.5 pounds at this point. Your uterus is about 4.4 inches above your bellybutton and continues to get larger. An average weight gain at this point is between 21 and 27 pounds. The weight that you gain is made up of your baby, placenta, blood supply, uterus, breasts, fat, water storage and amniotic fluid.

Because the ligaments and muscles supporting the small of your back relax and loosen in order to get ready for childbirth, your back may be aching from now on. There is usually nothing that can be done to prevent backaches, only to make them more comfortable. Many women get heartburn during these last few weeks of pregnancy because the oversized uterus leaves less room for the stomach and the contents within the stomach. Eating smaller, more frequent meals can help relieve the discomforts of heartburn.

This week marks an incredible milestone in your baby's lung development. Before now, the air sacs and branches in your baby's lungs were present but not functional. The lungs were not able to inflate properly. However, now there is surfactant being produced in your baby's lungs (YAY!!) Surfactant prevents your baby's lungs from collapsing outside of the uterus and the baby is able to take in air and breathe properly. The fetal ear is almost completely developed both inside and out. Your baby can hear your voice and other familiar sounds that she will recognize after birth. Your baby is putting on white fat under the skin and the skin's color is pink instead of red at this point. Your baby's fingernails have grown to the end of her fingers and she may scratch herself while she is in the womb.

31 week update:

Well, well, well! This was definitely an interesting week around casa de Holland! I started early in the week with some pretty strong Braxton Hicks contrations and they continued most of the week. I suppose my body is just practicing for the real thing! I had experienced a few of these in weeks prior, but nothing as intense or frequent as this week! Baby H's movement is also getting stronger. The kicks/punches/elbows are starting to feel more intense. I suppose he's getting stronger and a little more powerful ;) He seems to have found a nice set of monkey bars via my right rib cage :) He's a big fan!

Saturday I was able to attend a breastfeeding class that the hospital offered and I really enjoyed it. I plan to breastfeed and pump as long as I can, so it was really nice to get some info and a little encouragement. I can't believe we're in single digit weeks and our little guy will be here so soon! Here's a bump update for week 31!

Shower Pics

30 week bump!

That's right... 10 weeks and counting!! Wooohoooo!!

Although we're secretly hoping it's only another 7 or 8 ;)

30 week progress!

First I have to say that my baby shower yesterday was absolutely INCREDIBLE. I feel so blessed to have so many wonderful friends and such an awesome family. God has really blessed us by surrounding us with some of the most thoughtful, caring and loving people. I couldn't ask for a greater support system. Thank you to EVERYONE!!!! I promised to post pictures as soon as I get them from my mom and mother-in-law.

30 WEEKS PREGNANT:
You may feel as if you have been pregnant forever at this point. It might be hard to imagine being pregnant for another ten weeks, but your baby still has a lot of growing and developing to do! By this time, your baby's crown-to-rump length is a little over 10.8 inches and the total length of your baby is about 17 inches! Your baby weighs about 3 pounds now. Your uterus can be felt about 4 inches above your bellybutton. Your uterus, baby, placenta and the amount of fluid will get larger over the next ten weeks. You should be gaining about a pound a week at this time.

Because you are getting larger, you are probably becoming slower and clumsier. You should try to be careful to avoid dangerous falls. Good posture when sitting and standing can help you feel better during your pregnancy. You also should be rolling over on your side to get up after lying down because your muscles have stretched to accommodate your growing uterus.

Even though your baby is cushioned by the amniotic fluid, she can feel and respond to pain. Your baby now does `practice breathing` to get ready for life outside of your womb. If you have an ultrasound at this time, you will be able to see this. If your baby swallows amniotic fluid down the wrong passage, she will still get hiccups that are noticeable by you. If your baby were born at this time, she would be able to keep herself warm.

The skin begins to smoothen as fat deposits accumulate underneath. The fat insulates and is an energy source.

29 weeks

We have our 29 week appt. today and I'll update later on how it goes. At this point, appt's are pretty mundane and routine, so there is little to report. I've yet to hear back on my GTTest so I am assuming that no news is good news! I am very much looking forward to my first baby shower this weekend and promise to post pictures :) Things are definitely coming down to home stretch, but these last 10 or so weeks will probably drag by! 64 days and counting until my maternity leave starts and I couldn't be more ready! Here's what the little one is up to this week:

At this point in your pregnancy, your baby's crown-to-rump length is approximately 10.4 inches and the total length of your baby is around 16.7 inches. Your baby weighs about 2.7 pounds and continues to grow every day. If you measure from your bellybutton, your uterus is 3.5 to 4 inches above it. Total weight gain at this point is usually between 19 and 25 pounds ((thank goodness I'm not there yet!!!))

Babies that are born prematurely can be very tiny. Even a baby that is only a few weeks early can be very small. Your baby will grow rapidly from now until week 36, and then at a slower rate thereafter. Generally, boys weigh more than girls at birth. The average baby's birth weight at full term is 7 to 7.5 pounds.

You might notice some leakage of colostrums from your breasts around this time. Colostrums is a sticky, watery substance that provides your baby's first food if you choose to breastfeed. Milk does not come in immediately after delivery and colostrums is high in calories and enough for your baby's first few days of life. Your baby is stimulating the production of colostrums. The baby's body is ensuring that there will be a readily available food supply after delivery.

Your baby will continue to open and close his eyes in the womb and may be able to see silhouettes of objects or even people in the right amount of light. Your baby should be moving many times throughout the day. Some of your baby's movements will be predictable and if you notice a decrease in fetal movements, you should lie down and do a fetal kick count. You should feel your baby move approximately ten times in an hour. If you do not notice the proper amount of movements, you should contact your healthcare provider.

Research has shown that your baby is not only able to hear, but also able to recognize your own voice. This shows that your baby can already learn, remember and recognize.

29 week bump!

27 week appt

Yesterday we had our 27.5 week appt. and I had my glucose tolerance test. I was only able to have toast for breakfast and my appt wasn't until 3, so I was pretty hungry by the time we got out of there!! Everything looked great. The "juice" for the test wasn't quite as bad as I thought it would be, but it certainly wasn't delicious ;) After I drank the juice, we went back to be seen. I had a bit of a meltdown after getting weighed (I am still struggling a little bit with this, but I think 90% of it is totally hormonal). Travis convinced the dr. that I'm a nut :) Thanks, hunny!



After I got myself together, the rest of the appt. went great. The baby sounded wonderful and it appears that he has flipped head down. He's definitely not engaged and will do some more flipping (hopefully not too late and get stuck breech!!) before it's all over. I knew he had flipped because my belly looks a bit different and I've been feeling feet in my rib cage! I signed off for my vaginal delivery and hope and pray we're able to follow through with that! They went over the delivery process and were able to ask some questions. Overall, it was a great appt. After my final blood draw, we finally got out of there around 4 and headed straight to Chick-fil-A :D This is becoming quite the riutal for us! I'll know the results of the GT test in a few days.



Until then, we're BEACH BOUND for the next week! I'll be sure to take lots of pictures and update upon our return. This vacation is LONG overdue and we couldn't be more excited!!

XoXO

What happened to my innie?

And where did that ugly dark line come from ?!? Thanks, pregnancy!

27 week bump

Monday AM

This morning (wed AM)- and some water retention :)

Hello 3rd Trimester :)

SO glad you're here!!

Today marks 27 weeks and the beginning of the end! I will be considered FULL TERM in a mere 10 weeks. Holy Moly, time sure does fly! Now that the nursery is ready and we're beginning to fill it up with goodies, it seems the only thing missing is our little boy! We absolutely can't wait to meet him! We do, however, want him to keep on cooking until he's nice and plump ;) Here's what is going on this week!

You are now in the third trimester, and last, of your pregnancy! Your baby's crown-to-rump length is about 9.6 inches and your baby's total length is approximately 15.3 inches! Your baby now weighs about 2 pounds 3 ounces and is going to grow rapidly during this last trimester! Your uterus is about 2.8 inches above your bellybutton.

If your baby were born now, it would have an 85% chance of surviving. Even though your baby is still not fully developed, she would be well within the limits of premature viability. You still have approximately 13 weeks left of your pregnancy, and during this time your baby must continue to grow and develop. If your baby was born at this time, she would have several complications that would require special attention. Because babies do not have adequate amounts of fat at this time, your baby would have to be kept inside of an incubator for warmth. Because the air sacs in your baby's lungs do not yet have surfactant, she would require an artificial respirator. Your baby's brain, liver and immune system still need to develop more also.

Finishing Touches...

The color is off because my flash still isn't working and I tried to play with the contrast... and there's a glare from the window... but you'll get the idea!! Travis and I put a few more finishing touches on the nursery last night. The vinyl lettering I ordered came in a we put it up, along with the last piece of border. It's all coming together so nicely!! Now we just need a sweet little baby in the crib ;)

A few pics..

We still need a table for that corner, but we improvised! The crib has also since been moved over to the right.

The new blinds, pictures and valance.

The dresser/changing station. I plan on purchasing two matching frames for up top, but the candle and frame work for now :)

The new border!

New ceiling fan and lamp (in the corner!)

Bear with me... because the pics are not that great of quality. For some reason my flash has not been working, so the pictures are a bit dark and grainy... but you get the idea! I will update with more pictures as we continue to make progress :)

Thanks to both of our parents for all of your help :)

26 weeks and other updates!

Here's a front and a side shot for this week's bump update :)

So- 26 weeks! Wow! It's the last week on the second trimester and the last week of my 6th month! I am still feeling pretty good! We made LOTS of progress on the nursery this weekend and I'll post pictures of that soon! Tonight is our 3rd out of 4 childbirth classes. Tonight's class is on interventions (c-sections, inductions, epidurals, pain meds, etc). I enjoy learning but think this portion may freak me out! I'm hoping and praying I'll get the birth I want, but know *anything can happen* so it's important to know what to potentially expect. Baby H is still as active as ever and let's me know he's in there ;) We love feeling him move around and practice his boxing skills :) More pics to come soon!