Thursday, August 5, 2010

Overachiever

This week, my doc sent me in for an estimated fetal weight scan.  (Acause of the two bellays, fundal height measurements aren't exactly accurate).  The result?  This kid is in the 91st percentile for weight, at an estimated 3 lbs., 6 oz. at 28 weeks.  My mom said her grandchild is an overachiever.

If the baby maintains this rate of growth, we're looking at about a 9 lb. baby.  Yes, I am growing the next Alex Ovechkin.

This large size (assuming that these estimates are accurate, many times they are not) doesn't bother me and I was not all that surprised.  I'm large and was a bigger baby (over 8 lbs.) and my siblings were both bigger babes as well (sis was the same as me; brother was over 9 lbs).  My only concern here is that I not be pushed into an unnecessary induction or c-section just because of my weight or the weight of the baby.  I'd greatly prefer to have labor start on its own and have an unmedicated birth.  Obviously, if me or the baby is in danger, we do what's necessary, even if that includes meds and/or a c-section.  I plan to sit down with my doc when I see her in 2 weeks, to discuss our preferences and how that will work with her practices and that of the hospital.

The good news is I've really been trying to do all that I can do to help us have that unmedicated birth that we want.  I've been walking every day and doing my Bradley-recommended exercises most days.  I've been pretty good at getting the right amount of sleep.  I'm drinking lots of water.  I'm doing really well at controlling my portions and making sure I'm eating good foods (ex: I'm having yogurt almost every day which has really helped with the heartburn).  I passed the 1-hour glucose test, yay!  I successfully limited my weight gain to 3 lbs. this month, yay!

This month, I'd like to keep my exercise up and work on doing the Bradley exercises every day.  I'm going to work on making sure I include a 20-minute nap at lunchtime, so I'm not worried about falling asleep on the drive home from work.  I'm also going to try and get back to meal planning, to make sure that I'm eating a good variety of proteins and fruits and veggies.  (Yeah, including grains has never been a problem for me).

Last, and definitely not least...JD got a job!  He started this week and is feeling very positive about what he'll be doing and the people with whom he'll be working.  We're both hoping that this job will be a good fit for him -- something that will be more of a longer-term situation.

I'm hoping to post more often than I have been, not only about the baby and how we're doing with cleaning out what will be the baby's room, but also with regard to how we're doing with routines, meals and exercise.  Thank you all for sticking with me through these lean-posting times.

15 comments:

Michelle said...

Sounds like you are having a great week! Congrats to JD on the new job. And a nap at lunchtime sounds like a perfect idea.

Jo said...

Glad to hear that all is well. I've missed you!

Grow, baby, grow!

Hugs,
Jo

Searching for Serenity said...

Good for you! It's so great to read that you are feeling better and can focus on the positive aspects of your pregancy (versus the ill-feeling nastiness.)

Congrats to JD too!

Somewhat Ordinary said...

Yay for JD getting a job! That is fantastic news.

Don't get too concerned about the size of the baby. They never can tell for sure. They estimated M at between 7 1/2 and 8 pounds 3 days before my due date. He was 9 pounds at birth 4 days past his due date. So they were way off! He was born vaginally and I was begging for the vaccum (becuase turns out his head was 97%tile) and my doc wasn't for it. Plenty of people have big babies without a c-section. My best friend had a 9lb 12oz baby vaginally!

Anonymous said...

So glad things are going well for you!

I was a 10 pounder, but also almost 2 weeks late. My mom was VERY opposed to being induced (these days they probably wouldn't give her a choice). I was perfectly healthy, I just looked like a 2 month old, apparently. :)

kimbosue said...

So glad he got a job!

And WOWZA that's a big one!

Nicky said...

Your plan to discuss induction and estimated weight with your doctor is exactly the right thing to do. Hopefully she'll be respectful of your wishes, but either way, there's no way to "force" you to either induce or plan a c-section, both of which are ridiculous things to do based on weight estimates (unless it's what YOU want).

I ended up with a c-section with my son because his head was too big to fit through my pelvic bone (a condition called cephalopelvic disproportion, or CPD), but this is VERY rare, and the ONLY way to diagnose it is when you're in labor, fully dilated, and the doctor can actually feel the head and pelvic bone. It's often diagnosed unnecessarily based on ultrasounds or the size of the mother, but all good medical authorities will tell you that planning in advance for CPD is a waste, and it should NOT be diagnosed before full dilation in labor.

I did a lot of research on this after my son was born. I was fairly significantly overweight, and wanted to know whether that put me at higher risk for CPD. Nope. No correlation at all. So if you really want to try for a natural birth, stick to your guns and don't let them induce or schedule a c-section based just on size estimates, or your weight, or a premature diagnosis of CPD.

Meghan said...

So glad you're getting to experience some of the good things, instead of all that nasty pukeyness.

I hope your appt goes well and your doc agrees with you. You know how much I love the practice and part of it is because he did not push a section on me after many hours of pushing. I hope you guys are on the same page

And a big YEAH for JD getting a job he is excited about

Meghan said...

So glad you're getting to experience some of the good things, instead of all that nasty pukeyness.

I hope your appt goes well and your doc agrees with you. You know how much I love the practice and part of it is because he did not push a section on me after many hours of pushing. I hope you guys are on the same page

And a big YEAH for JD getting a job he is excited about

SassyCupcakes said...

Things sound really good. *fingers crossed* things go smoothly from here and you get the birth experience you wish for, with a beautiful healthy bub at the end of it. Really, you are doing so well. Congrats on passing the glucose test too, that is so nasty.

Anonymous said...

Alex Ovechkin!! LOL!
I am glad you are doing good. YEAH for JD getting a job. I hope this one is a good fit for him also.
Keep up the good work getting ready for the baby!!

Jessica White said...

I've missed you!
I'm glad that you and the baby are doing well, and that JD got a job: WOOHOOs all around!

Visualization techniques worked fantastically for me during delivery. I just kept seeing my contractions as waves at the ocean, something to just ride out and hop over.

areyoukiddingme said...

Congrats on the new job! I hope it works for him (and you).

Keep up the good work - I hope you get the birth you want.

LJ said...

So much good news on this post! Yay for a healthy growing baby AND you taking a smart approach to childbirth. Also kudos to JD!

Cloaca said...

What!

I wish I had your number. I would be on the phone right now.

Do you have my real email? I was just thinking about you.

-aka Antigone