Getting Chubby...

I realize I'M getting chubby (or just more pregnant), but apparently Benjamin is also beefing up. I had a doctors appointment today and they somehow determined that he weighs 4 pounds 13 ounces! He is in the 66% range for his age, which is still pretty good for the baby of a diabetic. He's supposed to gain about 1/2 pound a week until he's born, so my doctor told me that at 37 weeks if the baby's lungs are mature they will induce me either that day or the next, if I would like. If I've not all ready begun to dialate it may be more difficult to get things going when they try to induce me. If I choose to wait until 39 weeks that is fine too. I got the impression that 39 weeks is the longest they'll let me wait. Ben is about 1 week ahead of schedule so it's possible that one day in the end of May could be the big day!

Deliver me from L&D!

I went in yesterday for my non-stress test, which has been stressful pretty much every week. This week was no exception. Benjamin's heart was fine and so was my blood pressure, but I was having a lot of small, ineffective contractions (3 in 8 minutes!) so my doctor sent me to Labor and Delivery, just to be evaluated. Evaluated means poked and prodded by various uncomfortable means. My contractions continued, but I was not dialated at all. Apparently an infection was causing the contractions and I was given IV antibiotics. IVs are hard to accomplish in pregnant women and here's where the poking part of being evaluated comes in. By the time the 3rd nurse came in to try and find a vein I was sobbing. I was hurt and worried and hungry and tired. I felt really bad for the nurses and really really bad for myself. They finally got a vein and after the IV was finished I was free to go home with pills I take every 6 hours to relax my uterus so I don't have any more contractions. The pills relax ALL of me and make me really drowsy and a bit dizzy and weak, but it's better than being hooked up to an IV or having a very small, very sick little baby.

Flip Flop

I had my weekly Non-Stress test on Monday and it revealed some encouraging information: Benjamin is no longer breach (for now)! They can't tell if the cord is still around his neck or if it's just pushed up against his neck now. Last week they saw the cord against the front of his neck; this week it's around the back. I also got some news that my blood pressure is slightly elevated. Apparently my mom has slightly high blood pressure too, so it could be genetic but the doctors are now watching me for preeclampsia. I've been instructed to take it easy and lie down if I feel a headache or see spots in front of my eyes. I have to admit, it's kind of nice having a "get-out-of-housework-free" card.

Return of the Prodigal

I'm sorry it's taken so long for me to update my blog; I get upset when blogs I follow aren't updated regularly so I know how you feel. My last ultrasound gave me some worrying news and it's taken me a few days to process it. Also, I've been seeing a lot of family and I feel like I'm always busy! I only got one picture of my last ultrasound and the picture is really grainy and blurry, but it's a picture of Benjamin's little face. Ben is in the 60th percentile for his age as far as weight goes, which is pretty darn good for the baby of a diabetic mother. However, he is breech (and has remained breech ever since with his little bottom facing down instead of his head). He still loves to keep his legs up by his head and during the ultrasound, he got the hiccups, which was adorable. Every few seconds he would just jump a little bit. The ultrasound showed that the umbilical cord is wrapped around his neck. My doctor ordered weekly (and someday bi-weekly) Non-Stress tests. The Non-Stress test is...not stressful except for the reason behind it. All I do is sit reclined in a comfy chair and I have a fetal heartbeat monitor attached to me. They listen to Ben's heartbeat for about 1/2 hour and also sometimes record his breathing (well, practice breathing since he's in fluid and isn't really breathing). They sometimes do an ultrasound there as well to make sure everything is still developing normally. I love getting to see Benjamin every week, but I hope the cord comes off his neck so I don't have to be so stressed by these Non-Stress tests! I'll be sure to (try to) keep you all posted as the weeks progress.

6 down, 3 to go!

Here are my pictures from the beginning of my 7th month. This pregnancy has seriously gone by SO fast! The days themselves are long, but time as a whole is flying by. I still have so much to do, but I am not going to panic quite yet. June still feels a long way from March. I still have no stretch marks, but on most days I look pregnant and not just overweight. I got a few maternity shirts from my sister Stephanie and I love wearing them because they accent my baby bump. I am feeling pretty good other than backache and the fact that I cannot go longer than 2 weeks without getting a cold. I have my next ultrasound appointment on Monday, and I will post pictures of that next week sometime.

Killing the Moment

Benjamin is all ready a pretty well-behaved baby. He keeps pretty still through the night and he moves when I have time to sit back and enjoy it. His new annoyance: he doesn't like anything to push on him. Last night I went to bed earlier than Dennis and was sleeping peacefully when Dennis came in. He put his arm around me as he usually does when falling asleep, but Benjamin started kicking his arm away until I woke up and felt Dennis' arm around me and Ben doing everything he could to get rid of it. Dennis finally gave up and as soon as he did, Benjamin stopped kicking. The kid all ready knows how to spoil the moment...

I Know What Boys Like

I was told that I would start to recognize a pattern to Ben's kicking; that he would begin to kick at certain times, almost like a schedule. I have discovered what gets Benjamin excited: food, sleeping (well, me sleeping) and sports. Benjamin starts kicking whenever I start eating. He also starts to kick whenever I lay down. Some would say that he misses the rocking motion he experiences when I'm up, but I am pretty sedentary most of the day so I don't think that's quite it. I just hope this habit doesn't carry over to after he's born or I won't get a wink of sleep. Benjamin also begins kicking whenever Dennis and I listen to BYU basketball games on the radio. He never seems to tire, kicking pretty consistently for over 15 minutes. He's probably anxious to get out there and join in the fun! Benjamin's kicking patterns indicate that he's a lot like his dad - he enjoys food, sleeping, and most of all: sports.