Monday, November 5, 2007

For Vanessa...

Baby belly at 26 weeks, 4 days pregnant.

All right, so I'm not huge. Believe me, I am *not* complaining (although it would be nice if my hips would widen just a little, to help keep my pants on). My breasts are bigger and I almost have a complete 'outy' belly button now, but those are the only physical changes I've had so far. Most people are surprised to learn I'm already six months along because I don't look big enough. But my weight and abdomen gain are right on and very consistent. I guess I'm just a little person that has little babies. Amanda was only 6lb, 8oz when she was born (although she did come two weeks early).

My last ob appt was November 1 and I passed my glucose and hematocrit tests with no problems. My appointments are always very boring. I did mix it up a little this time by getting a flu shot, but all that did was leave my shoulder a little sore for a few days.

Sometimes I feel bad that I have such easy pregnancies because it seems so many people I know have way more than their fair share of problems. Aside from the occasional sciatica (which is currently in remission) and daily heartburn that's easily corrected with Tums, my only complaint is how much this kid moves! I remember thinking Amanda snuck a punching bag into my tummy and was constantly practicing her roundhouse kicks when I was pregnant with her, and this one is no different. Sometimes he kicks me so hard I literally jump! Josh feels him move all the time now, which is really cool, but then it dawns on him that the baby is real and coming quickly, and he has to stop touching me before we both get freaked out about being parents.

I'd like a little feedback from all y'all about something, so if you have two cents to throw in, please do so. My doctor kept my due date at January 26 (based on ovulation) instead of February 5 (based on ultrasound measurements), but I tell everyone Feb 5 so that if he doesn't come by Jan 26, I won't be disappointed. Anyway, at my appointment on Thursday, I mentioned that I hope the baby comes early so I can avoid being super-pregnant on my birthday (February 1) and the doctor said he'd induce me before Jan 26 if I wanted him to.

At first I was a little peeved that my doc would be so cavalier about taking my baby out before he's done cooking, even though I'm the one that brought it up. But then I started thinking...if the baby doesn't come by Jan 26, maybe I *will* have the doctor induce me so I can be out of the hospital by my birthday. But I also really want the baby to come when he's good and ready - I figure Mother Nature knew what she was doing with Amanda (my water broke), so she'll know what she's doing with this one, too. It'll be the middle of winter in SLC, and I don't think he'll be a big guy, so I want to give him every opportunity to be and remain healthy when he's born, so right now I'm leaning toward waiting for him to come. But man, that temptation keeps creeping into my brain. What would you do??

15 comments:

brandi (and tim) said...

I was induced a week before my official due date, and I must say, it was a huge relief to be able to plan around it. I'm not big into surprises anyway, so not knowing when or where I'd be (or Tim, since he doesn't work exclusively in an office) when my water broke was causing some anxiety. The whole induction process was a piece of cake too... from start to finish it was about 12 hours, a lot of which I just slept through. Although I wasn't given a choice, my induction was medically necessary due to my blood clotting disorder, I had to be off of heparin for a couple days before the delivery - so they had to know exactly when I'd deliver. Another thing to remember is that they say labor is a lot faster with each child, so if this is your second and your hospital is kind of far away (I have no idea which hospital you're going to), and it's wintertime, so potential snowstorms... anyway, you get my point. So there's my 2 cents.

~b

Deidra said...

I'd like to know your recipe for eggnog buttercream frosting! YUM!

I don't think I have 2 cents on the pregnancy to offer, since I've had no experience. But, your little tummy is so cute! Better than waddling at month 5, like some women in our ward!

Anonymous said...

"In Spring, buds open
without hesitation.
In Autumn, leaves fall
without regret."

Let things take their natural course.

Sara said...

You look cute, and barely pregnant. Tiny lady.

I'd go with a date based on ovulation before measurements any day, as far as that topic goes.

Induced labour sucks butt though, because the drugs bring on the contractions so much harder and faster than nature would.

If you want the baby to come, try nipple stimulation when you are close enough to your due date. I swear it works. It made my water break within about 5 minutes.

Maybe that was too much information, but we're talking about getting babies out, so it's too be expected.

Chris said...

Here's one gay man's point of view...

Unless it's medically necessary, wait for the little guy to come when he's ready. You'll have other birthdays. But hey, what do I know?

Also, when do I get to meet you? Jed raves...

bechtold clan said...

ok Ill add my two cents. get induced. I only say that because I know of no other way and I liked it both times. I knew when I was going in, I could plan, both babies where winter babies...My first was induced early because of failure to grow and some other issues a week early..she was 6lbs 3 oz. My second we lived in SLC and my doctor was in provo. Elijiah was tracking way big and they thought to eliminate any issues with travel in the winter etc. they took him a week early he was 8lbs 6 oz. both times while being induced I was in labor from start to finish around 6 hours. No complications easy. Well not easy but you know what I mean. Im TOTALLY hoping Ill get induced this time around too, but its a new doctor and im not sure the practice is keen on it. Ill be really bummed Ill tell you. Main reason is size matters.( and potential weather, I work, have to coordinate where Elijiah is, etc) If im on pace for a larger baby I dont want to wait for the due date or longer...

Sara said...

Oh, but don't go too past your due date, either. Conditions in your uterus deteriorate pretty quickly when you go too long, and it can be dangerous for the babe. Not to scare you or anything.

Katz said...

i say let him stay in there and cook. if i can be in the hospital over christmas... you can miss a birthday. i promise you won't die. lol.

Joycelyn said...

I'd say let him come naturally. And yes...you are tiny! I'm just about 6 weeks and my belly sticks half as much as yours! Hmmm. 6 months, 6 weeks.

:-0

Debra said...

Having a set due date is nice for several reasons. My sister had a baby not more than a month ago, and she was induced. Another sister is pregnant and due in March, and she's going to get induced a little early. It's entirely up to you, but I wouldn't blame you if you did, and I wouldn't be surprised if I wanted to get induced if I was in your shoes.

Anonymous said...

Girl if I could give you some of my hips I would. :-) You're like my cousin, she's due next week with her second and is pretty small also.

My sciatica has gone away for a while too, yay!

About being home for the B-Day. I'm not a huge birthday person so I'd say let him roast a bit longer.

Anonymous said...

Paige,

We induced, but only because the doctors were fearing that Ava was going to be TOO BIG. It ended up being that Ava was perfect at 7 lbs 13 oz (if I remember the oz correctly).

Plus when you induce, you have more control about when the baby comes out. From the man's perspective, I would rather have this, that way I can be there, without having to rush home, get speeding tickets, etc. :)

Trude said...

i have nothing to say about inducing .. I just wanted to say HI .. so HI ! :-)

Dirtius Wifius said...

Paige, boys are notorious for being behind with lung development. Felix came when he was ready - 4 1/2 weeks early, and I hated having him on oxygen. If I had known, I would have tried harder to keep him in longer. Seeing as how it's winter and RSV season, I say give the kid longer for his lungs to develop. Docs say that 37 weeks is plenty, so either date would work, but I say take the 5th as the date and induce then (but with stripping, not with Pitosin - Sara is right that it sucks). Boys just need longer for their lungs to be stronger and it'll make a difference the whole time he's an infant.

Anonymous said...

Wow, I'm really behind on catching up with blogs.

My two cents:

I was induced with both of my children. Hailey was 10 days late, David was 10 days early.

Obviously, Hailey needed to be induced. She was almost 10 pounds! She was way too cozy and would have lasted another half a month. No thanks!

We induced David early because my doctor didn't feel the need for me to have another 10 pounder (thank heaven!).

When David was in the NICU after having been induced, I was beating myself up because I felt like it was my fault. However, the doctors kept telling me it was probably a blessing, because there was no way of knowing if he contracted his mystery illness in the womb.

Honestly, I know what happened with David was supposed to happen. There were so many blessings that came out of the woodwork through that whole experience.

I say, whatever feels right, just do it.