Week 33

Face is getting chubby!! ;)

Drum roll please.....my baby has a gigantic head!  Shocker! lol  I had Aiden’s Ultrasound this past week @ 32weeks 2days  and as an added bonus to the cervical check, (which is crazy long at 4.5cm and closed) they also did a growth scan.  The Tech said he’s “Tall” as he’s wrapped entirely around my belly with his bum sitting above my belly button, spine curved down around my left side, head in position above my pelvis, and feet tucked under my right rib. The diameter of his skull is measuring 2 weeks ahead, and the circumference of his head is measuring 3 weeks ahead.  His femur length is bang on, but he has a little pot belly measuring almost 2 weeks ahead. His measurements put him in the 90^th percentile and his estimated weight is 4.8lbs. (Average at 32 weeks is 3.75lbs)  It was noted that he had a “high-normal” amniotic level...but Dr. Daisy said that’s not unusual with a big baby=big kidneys=more urine output.  She said she’ll keep an eye on my abdominal measurements and send me for future scan if there is a sudden “jump”.

I’ve been re-evaluating my birth plan from the first time and there are a couple of things that I’d like to make clear.  As we all know there is actually very little we are in control of, and being flexible is really important...BUT, I do NOT want Pitocin.  (Unless medically indicated) It’s amazing how unanimous it is across the board that synthetic Pitocin makes labour 100x more intense.  (VS natural labour via body’s own Oxcytocin which comes in waves) “About 80% of women who have had pitocin say that there is more pain with pitocin than without. Unlike natural contractions, you do not get the slow build up with pitocin induced contractions. Most women surveyed stated that they would rather try alternatives to pitocin with their next labor.”  I also would like a Saline Lock only, in place of the I.V. line.  AND, would like to delay cord clamping.  (Again, unless there is a need to whisk Aiden away immediately)  Did you know that by cutting  the cord immediately, up to 30% of baby’s blood volume is left in the placenta.  Not only does that come with the obvious repercussion, but it also means a 1-2 month loss of Iron stores. 

What’s happening with baby this week?  “This week your baby weighs a little over 4 pounds and has passed the 17-inch mark. He's rapidly losing that wrinkled, alien look and his skeleton is hardening. The bones in his skull aren't fused together, which allows them to move and slightly overlap, thus making it easier for him to fit through the birth canal. (The pressure on the head during birth is so intense that many babies are born with a conehead-like appearance. These bones don't entirely fuse until early adulthood, so they can grow as his brain and other tissue expands during infancy and childhood.  As your baby fills out even more of your belly, lots of things might start to change: Whereas before you were sashaying, you may find yourself waddling. Finding an easy position to sit in — let alone sleep — is becoming more of a challenge. And bumping into chairs and counters is par for the course.”