November 1st - 33 Weeks and 4 days

Since I wrote my last post, I have had 2 more appointments. Last Thursday I went to the OB for my Non-stress test. They hooked me up to the machines again that monitor the baby’s heart rate, her movements and my contractions. My little girl is happy but I am not. I did not have a single contraction. :( Not even a Braxton-Hick! I know that I am still only 33 weeks, and I certainly don’t want her to come now, but I was hoping for some sign that she might come just a little early. I want to meet her and I am kinda over being pregnant.

I asked the doctor to explain, in further detail, what the specialist had said last week. She looked at my ultra sound results from last Monday and determined that the baby’s femur is measuring at 31 weeks, her head is measuring 34 weeks and her belly is measuring 35 weeks. When all of these measurements are taken into consideration, the baby is still is the 57% percentile. She said that she is not worried at all! She went on to say that the baby is measuring at 5 pounds and if she gains a ½ a week for the next 6 weeks then she will be about 8 pounds. Totally normal!

We then discussed my chances of going into labor naturally verse having a scheduled C-section. She said that baby’s of diabetic mothers usually have slower lung development. As result, they will most likely not take the baby before 39 weeks. As that time, they will determine if they should induce or perform a c-section. Based on the baby’s current measurements, if I make it to week 39 then they will simply induce. This was amazing news!! Last week, when I was 80% sure that I was going to have to have a c-section, I was feeling like my diabetes was going to deprive me the experience of a surprise birth. (Surprise meaning not knowing if my water was going to break or I was going to have to be induced) I now feel like I can have the same experience as every other pregnant woman.

Today, I went back to the specialist for the test that I discussed in my last post. They do an ultra sound and give the baby a score on movement, breathing, fluid levels and baby’s tone (how they use their muscles.) They get 2 points for each category. Baby was wide awake and on the move this morning so the test only took 10 minutes. She scored and 8/8 and all is good.

Baby is happy and all is well! Now, if I could just get comfortable and get a good night sleep, I would be happy as well :)

October 25th - 32 weeks and 4 days

Being as I am now 32 weeks pregnant, I will begin to see both my OB and the Maternal Fetal Specialist once a week. Most women do not begin see their doctor weekly until 36 weeks but my diabetes has me starting sooner. At the OB they will give me a non-stress test every week, which monitors the baby to ensure she is not under any stress and they also hook me up to another machine which checks for contractions. At the maternal fetal specialist, they will give the baby a score each week to determine her growth and activity. This score is based on how the baby is moving, how she is practicing breathing, her growth and the amniotic fluid levels. There are a few more things but I can’t remember them all.
While today was the start of my weekly visits, the specialist treated today as a monthly visit. As a result, we did not get a score today and the focus was on the baby’s measurements. She weights about 5 lbs which is in the 65th percentile. We also learned that the baby has a large belly. We were not given an idea of what exactly was large or how large it was but we were told that this is usually a sign that the baby is getting big as a result of my diabetes. This was tough to hear. I have been under very good control and have been receiving praise from all my doctors for managing my sugars as perfectly as I have been. Yet, even with all my hard work, I learned today that I am not invincible and am still at risk for complications. The doctor assured me that she has seen women under perfect control have large babies and women under terrible control not have large babies. She simply said that we will watch her growth and ensure she is happy and healthy.
If the baby gets too big, the doctors will simply plan for a c-section. I was under the impression that they would induce early but I learned today that that is not always the case. Just because the baby is large does not mean that her lungs are mature enough to breathe on her own. My hope is that I can work even harder to regulate my sugars, keep the baby growing at a healthy rate and have them induce a week or two early. I really hope there is no need for a c-section simply to get the baby out. I think we will learn more in the next few weeks about her growth.
Now that I have had time to think about it, I guess the positive side of it all is that we made it to 32 weeks before we saw any of the baby’s areas getting larger. Being as I only have 4 more weeks before I am in the “safe to deliver” time, I hope she grows normally and we can simply induce early. I guess it is out of my hands and it’s up to the doctors, the baby and Mother Nature.
I have attached 4 new pictures of the baby. The first one makes me laugh because she looks like the thinker. In the second picture she is VERY upset and I have a feeling we will see that face again before a big cry. As usual, you can see her hand in front of her face. At one point during the ultra sound she was sucking on her wrist. I cant wait to actually see what she is doing with her hands when they are in front of her face.

Pictures from the baby shower weekend

October 3rd-29 weeks and 3 days

This weekend was wonderfully eventful. My mom, Alena Clark, Whitney Crean and Anna Wolf all flew to Atlanta for my baby shower. We had a great time and there is a lot to remeber.


It all started on Friday with our 29th week ultrasound. My mom and Alena had gotten to town on Thursday night so they came to the appointment with Andy and I. As usual, our daughter wanted nothing to do with having her picture taken. She would not move her hand/fist away from her face so getting a great picture was difficult. Luckily, we had a very patient ultrasound tech who was determined to get a few pictures. Finally, after about 20 minutes, our baby cooperated and showed her face. It was so amazing to see that she is packing on weight and developing into a beautiful baby girl. I think she is adorable and we learned that she has some hair! The photo session ended with the baby giving us the peace sign which made us all laugh.


Saturday was the shower. Robin Cheney hosted the shower at her house and we all went there from 11-2. We ate great food, I opened my gifts, and we had great conversation. We spent most of the time talking about the upcoming arrival of a new baby and it made me realize that she is going to be here so soon. Now that we have our baby supplies I am even more excited to meet my daughter. I will forever remember how loved I felt at my shower and how much I cherish the women that were there.


Saturday night we all went out to dinner and most people turned in at a fairly reasonable hour. Alena and I, however, stayed late talking and the baby gave us quite a show. I had been telling my friends and family for weeks what a mover this baby is but for some reason she was quite all weekend long. The girls were hoping to see and feel the baby move but she just wasnt in the mood until Saturday night. At this point she must have been well rested because for about 15 minutes she was flipping around in my stomach. Alena spend a good amount of time just staring at my belly as it moved from one direction to the other. When she put her hand on my stomach, the baby kicked and tumbled. It was great to have someone there as a witness to my little gymnast.


Alena took most of the pictures this weekend and I will post some as soon as I receive them.

Nursery Pics

The baby's nursery is on its way. Andy worked hard to paint the walls green before the professional muralist came and did the details. We worked together to put the furnitre together and we are so happy with how it looks. Now we will need to focus on the important things like clothes and diapers :) I think we have some time but its fun to think about.

September 29th-28 weeks, 6 days

Many of you have been giving me a hard time about not posting new pictures so here there are. The baby has been moving a ton and she and I are having fun playing our new poking game. She will wiggle around in my stomach and when it gets to be a little too much I simply poke at her. I think this confuses her because she goes crazy. It makes me laugh and it’s a great bonding moment.

Andy and I are currently having trouble with a name. We had picked a name and were excited about it. However, I am having second thoughts. Andy is so in love with the original name that he has told me that I have until the end of October to pick a name or were going with the original. I guess I better get to the name hunting!

My diabetes has been a struggle over the past few weeks. Gone are the days of low blood sugars and I have turned the corner into my third trimester running a little high. The doctors had warned me that as I continue through my pregnancy I will become more insulin resistant. This is completely normal and I simply have to stay on top of it. I have been emailing my blood sugars to the doctor every Monday and we make adjustments accordingly.

I only have a few more weeks before I start visiting both the OB and the Maternal Fetal Specialist once a week. Once I hit 32 weeks I will see one on Specialist on Mondays so they can check my placenta and ensure its working appropriately and then on Thursdays I will meet with the OB so they can monitor the baby’s heart to be sure everything is fine.

This weekend is my baby shower and I am very excited. It will be so fun to be surrounded by people I love and celebrate the upcoming arrival of our daughter!

September 20th-27 Weeks, 4 days

Ok I was feeling guilty about not posting anything in a while so I found some cute cartoons that help express how I feel. I have a dr's appointment this Wednesday and then another appointment with the Fetal Specialist on October 2nd. Starting at 32 weeks I will have to see both doctors once a week :( I will learn more about that at my next appointment.