As promised, here is our official 9 month (!!) bump picture—better late than never. This picture was taken in our new apartment, which, after all of my whining turns out to not be so bad after all. In fact we like it a little better than our old one, minus all the pollen that blows in several times a day.
As of today, we have 18 days left until your due date. While I am determined to try and fully relax and just enjoy these last few weeks before you come, I can’t help but be a little hopeful that you’ll come sooner than later because we just found out that you are packing on the pounds almost as rapidly as me.
As I mentioned in the previous post, we had to go in for an ultrasound today because during the “Incident” last week it was discovered my amniotic fluid levels were high. The doctor said she wasn’t worried about it, but wanted us to get it checked out just in case. Despite the doctor’s reassurances, I did nothing but worry about it for the last week and did the thing expectant parents are not supposed to do—I Googled the condition incessantly and worried myself sick over all the possible things that could go wrong. Apparently high levels of fluid can be associated with all sorts of birth defects and health concerns for babies, in addition to increased fetal size.
Well today we learned that while my fluid levels are indeed high, they are not outside of the normal range, which is a good thing. They checked your organs and your bones and all looks well. And then they measured you. You are supposed to be 6 and 1/3 pounds right now…but you are already measuring in at a solid 7 pounds, 13 ounces. The doctor estimated you will certainly put on another pound, plus a possible extra 15%...putting you—potentially—at around 10 pounds on your due date. Bottom line is I really really need for you to only gain one more pound (if that, even) before you come. Don’t be a 10 pound baby. Don’t do that to your mom. I have been so good to you for all these months, letting you live inside of me rent-free with a constant supply of food and heat. I mean, it’s not like I can withhold your security deposit or anything. This relationship is pretty much founded on good faith in which I have no recourse if you leave my body destroyed. I am trusting you to do the right thing here, and just be a normal sized baby.
Your massiveness aside, it’s nice to be reassured that all still looks well with you. We’ve had a few scares this pregnancy, which have really just been more annoying inconveniences than anything. Even though your dad and I are grateful for the opportunity to deliver at such a large and highly accredited hospital, we do think that the advanced medical knowledge has caused more trouble than it has really been worth. Doctors are so trained to look for every little thing that might not be exactly right, and then feel legally obligated to alert patients to the 1 in 10,000 chance that there is something drastically wrong with their baby. I am all about having access to information, but there comes a point when too much information becomes a bad thing…and then add our addiction to online forums on top of everything else and you end up with a far more stressful pregnancy than necessary.
I will say however, that I know personally some people who haven't been as lucky as us and who have had children with some health problems. I try to be sensitive to the fact that each time we've been relieved with good news, there's someone else out there who is not so lucky. Moreover, even though we keep getting good news, there's no guarantee with these things and we really just have to wait it out. And then I remind myself that even if something was wrong, the end result doesn't change. We love you and want to meet you and even though everyone always hopes for a healthy baby, just because a baby might not be 100% healthy, it doesn't mean that he's not perfect.
Now that we have this last little episode behind us, I am looking forward to these next couple of weeks of rest and relaxation. We are all moved into our new apartment, your nursery is set up, and most of the loose ends are taken care of at work. Now I guess we just wait.
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