Pregnancy Progression

As I'm nearly at the tail end of this pregnancy, while I still have time on my hands I thought it'd be fun to do a bit of a belly picture montage from over the last nine months.

I was lucky enough never to really have baby parts up in my ribs due to my height (180cm or 5'11") and my son's positioning in the womb; his feet kicked me a lot right out to the upper left side though! Being long in the torso meant that I had more room to carry 'up' during pregnancy rather than out.

How far I've come - August 2010 seems almost like a distant memory....


Click image to see it bigger

A Dream

I had one of my first 'baby' dreams last night.

That might strike some of you as odd, but throughout this pregnancy I haven't had many - in fact, in most of my dreams I'm not even pregnant! Unconsciously I feel some of this is linked to the struggles we had to get pregnant in the first place, and not wanting to pin all my hopes on an optimistic outcome. However, this has seemed to progress throughout the last few months, or at least in my dreams.

Occasionally I have flashes of who I think this little boy will be, but last night it was very vivid. I dreamt of him as a newborn, and again a little bit older (around age 1?). He had dark, straight hair like my husband, a pronounced little chin and very dark brown eyes. There were first gummy smiles, nappy blow-outs and an incident of him vomiting in a pair of my shoes (?). Cutting to when he was that little bit older, he resembled my brother more, with fairer hair and a higher forehead. I remember exclaiming that I wasn't involved in the conception of this child, as he looked like everyone else but me!

It will be exciting to finally meet this little soul, stroking his cheek and saying his name aloud. Not too long now. :)

38 Weeks

There are only two weeks until my due date, and this means that our little man will make his appearance sometime within the next four weeks (although selfishly I'm ready to meet him now; he can continue to put on extra body fat within me for the time being).

I wonder if I'll be writing a 39 week entry next, or whether it'll be an 'arrival' post... hmmm??

All is doing well over here, baby is continuing to become engaged, and our doctor is no longer concerned about his growth - he hasn't mentioned any additional scans at this point *thumbs up*. I did, however, test positive for Group B Strep, which means I'll be on an antibiotic during labour. Not really what I wanted, but if it keeps us both safe then that's all that matters. I hover between being excited about birth and terrified about labour. It's like getting your period when you're not on the contraceptive Pill - you kind of know when it's going to happen but you don't have the ability to control when it will be here... the same goes for birth. Will it be fast? Slow? Drawn-out over 24 hours? Involve a will-we-make-it-to-the-hospital-in-time dash in the middle of the night?

I've been nesting a little bit more lately, in the form of cleaning and cooking. Nothing crazily out-of-control, but I get random bursts of frantic energy (and then usually I'm tired by the next day). Scrapbooking in the evenings has become the norm for me, and during the day I'm spending a little more time at home than I've been in previous weeks. While a quick trip to the local shops isn't as much of an ordeal as it was when my back was incredibly sore around the 28-34 week mark, it still takes it out of me (not to mention the apartment stairs!), and I have to plan accordingly for when I'm feeling energetic.

We had a little scare the other day involving the baby not moving as much as normal, and I did all sorts of things to try and encourage him to move. As it turns out, he was either running out of space or having a longer sleeping period (I didn't feel him for 5-6 hours), and was back to his normal wriggling by last night - even keeping me up during the night with lots of active movement! This little one is definitely going to keep us on our toes once he's in the big, wide world. ;)

37 weeks & 5 days



Great Expectations

I've been working on my pregnancy scrapbook (digitally) since Christmas, on and off with a few other projects - namely Project 365 and various pages related to challenges on a website. Last night I scrapped on my my favourite pages to date, which documented a struggle to have a child.

I wanted to share it with you because not only am I proud of how it turned out, but it also shows our ultrasounds and a recent tummy picture (taken on March 8th, at 34 weeks). Thinking that with some modifications - mainly removing the text - it'll be the front of the scrapbook once it's ready to be printed. :)

Click image to see it bigger.

35 Weeks

I find it difficult to believe that tomorrow I'll be nine months pregnant with our son. The little boy who I always hoped would come into our lives but I dared not pin my hopes on. The countdown to his birth is on - while I find myself complaining about Braxton Hicks contractions and added pressure on my bladder, at the same time I don't really want to wish these weeks away.

Will he be born around his due date (April 12th)? Early? Overdue? Who knows!

Perhaps the events of this past week will shed some light on the time ahead (or not!). I hadn't realised it until the doctor mentioned on Thursday that the baby has dropped - he's also "very low" apparently and is engaged in my pelvis. Though to what degree I'm not sure yet, I'll ask him at the next appointment. Either way, with this knowledge and the increasing (mild) cramping I've been having lately, they're all positive signs that my body is starting to suss out the birthing process. And for that, I'm thankful. :)

Tummy comparision to show you what I mean:



33 weeks & 3 days 



35 weeks & 6 days



Some definite changes are happening. :)

In other news, results from the most recent ultrasound show a range of measurements from 31 weeks through to 36 weeks - while this worried me a little at first, talking with other women made me realise that baby measurements can be all over the place and still be okay. Sure, currently it looks like our baby might be born on the smaller side (and I don't deny that I'm carrying him compactly), but if he is a healthy size for him... then that's what matters. Besides, ultrasound weights etc can be off by up to a pound (bigger/smaller).

It has made packing his hospital bag a little more tricky - do I put in 0000-sized clothing or 000-sized? I mainly put in 0000s, but if he is born bigger, it isn't as though hubby can't bring some bigger sizes back with him from home the next day (we live about 10-15min away from the hospital). Still, it's good to know that the bag is packed and ready to go... even if it sits there mocking me until around the 41-week mark! :P

Oh! And baby nook update:

The Mario decals are up and look fantastic!

34 Weeks

Our last (or so I hope!) growth scan happened during the week and, after letting my doctor's comments about small fundal heights and fluid levels get to me a little, everything appeared to be 'normal'. Sure, I haven't had my follow-up appointment with the doctor as yet, but the fact I didn't get a phonecall within a couple of days of the scan is a good thing *big thumbs up*.

At 34w1d, baby boy (who was again confirmed to be a boy!) weighs in at 4lb8oz (about 2.5kg) and is measuring within a week of his dates - just with very long legs as per usual. I know that ultrasound weights can vary by quite a bit and aren't completely accurate, but it's nice to have that indicator that my body is growing a healthy baby, one that is measuring along the growth curve documented at 20 and 28 weeks via ultrasound. Even if my body needed a hand to have egg and sperm meet in the first place, it's reassuring that it's been possible to have a so-called normal pregnancy (one that doesn't differ from anyone else's, besides a couple of extra scans).

Here's his latest mugshot (though difficult to make out facial details because of bone causing shadows and the fact he's squished down low in my pelvis already) -


34 weeks (click image to see bigger; tilt your head to the right to see his face)



I've now started my maternity leave, which is both exciting and odd at the same time. Only a week into leave and I can feel my responsibilities with the Kindergarten beginning to melt away (although it's been a slow separationl; I haven't been employed in a teaching capacity since January and have been in the office). Part of me worries if the place can survive without me, part of me knows that it can and will - and that before long I'll be a distant memory there too. As I said, it's a little odd. We're lucky here in Australia to have access to up to 18mths leave by being employed by the Education Department - I've applied for the full amount but it's entirely possible that I'll do a little emergency (relief) teaching come 2012 before making the decision on whether to return to my workplace in September.

Pictures from my last day at work before starting maternity leave.





It was also my birthday yesterday (I turned 29). My parents came to visit - Mum in the morning and Dad in the afternoon - and I took myself out for a solo lunch (I'd been craving a big ol' iced chocolate with plenty of cream; it was as tasty as I'd been imagining!). The most special part of the celebrations was Matt's card to me, where he signed it from him and the baby... and wrote down the baby's name.

I'm beyond thrilled that our little man now has a name (presuming we think it still 'fits' him one he's here in this world), and even happier that Matt was able to play a big part in its choosing. Last night I dreamt of our son with his chosen name... and it just felt right. I'm relieved and thankful. :)

34 week tummy, baby's weight is getting heavier in my uterus and I've had some ligament pain again as his sac continues to grow.

Thinking Outside the Square [33 weeks]

33 weeks (excuse the lack of modesty)



This picture is proof for myself that I am not in fact carrying a square baby (ie, all camped out on one side), and that my tummy actually looks round occasionally.

My fundal height is only measuring 29 weeks, the doctor reported yesterday and I'm being sent for an extra scan on Tuesday to have the baby's growth monitored (as well as fluid levels and placenta function). However, I do have a very long waist and I'm not being kicked up in the ribs much yet - mainly because baby's bottom is facing the ribs, and legs are diagonally out to the left side - rather painful at times as he stretches!

So trying to think positively and that everything will be okay come Tuesday. It's all I can do, right?

What's in a Name? [32 weeks]

Matt and I had a long overdue chat about baby names last night on the way to antenatal class, and it appears that we have reached a stalemate – he’s stuck on one particular name, and I’m stuck on another. It isn’t a matter of simply using one of the choices as a first name and one for a middle name, as we’ve been long decided on middle names (yes, two names – one honouring each side of the families; he will be… on second thoughts, perhaps I’ll just wait another 7-9 weeks on that one!)

So what does one do when you’re (politely) clashing over such a thing as naming your firstborn? One of us will have to compromise, and we each think the other’s chosen name sounds “pretentious and private school-like”. Mine is apparently effeminate (it’s a unisex name) and his sounds like a Nordic viking. Definitely doesn’t pass the yell-it-out-in-a-crowded-playground-with-a-straight-face test. On the upside, neither name is popular, and I haven’t taught a child with those names (although a past student’s little brother was called the name I’m stuck on, reading a novel earlier this year reminded me of how much I still liked it).

We both admitted to each other that we’re worried about making the wrong choice for this little one, saddling him with a name that’s a lot to live up to, or be the subject of ridicule (does every parent-to-be go through this?). We know that he’ll grow into whatever we decide on, and that within a short time it’ll be difficult to imagine him as anyone except who he is.

But….

I’m torn – do I compromise on something as special as naming rights because this is my husband’s firstborn son?

Do I pull the selfish I-went-through-infertility-and-IVF-and-carried-this-baby-for-nine-months card and refuse to waver?

Is it a matter of putting both names we love to the side and try to concentrate on finding middle ground with a new name? (for the record, this is the fourth name I’ve been stuck on in the past couple of years, and all have been crucified okay, too strong a word – shot down – for various reasons; no more selfish than my own reasoning).

This name debate is beginning to cause me quite a bit of stress, and I have assured Matt that if it isn’t resolved by the time I go into labour, then I will be naming him my choice. He admits that he “doesn’t hate the name as much” as he used to (gee… that’s positive!), but he likes his choice more. Fair and understandable.

Maybe we’ll have to do an ad-hoc Hollywood celebrity job and combine the two names in a hideous mismatch a-la “TomKat”. At least it’ll sound sci-fi then. ;)

On the plus side, he does have a near-finished baby nook now. :)

32 week tummy.

Baby Nook Update

The cot's assembled! Now to add some of the decorations. ;)



(let's just ignore the other end of said room!)



31 Weeks

Baby's got the beginnings of a room!



Matt working on the changetable last night.



Operation Baby Nook is continuing to progress, with the walls completed and furniture in the process of being put together. By this time next week, the cot will be in and possibly even the Mario-themed decals will be adorning the walls! Then it will be time to start putting clothing, nappies, blankets (etc) away and pack my hospital bag.

Speaking of which, we have started antenatal classes - which has led me to feel both apprehensive (pain management in labour, and when will my labour begin?) and relieved at the same time (feeling informed and having my silly questions answered). Truth be told, I wasn't sure at first if they were a really good idea, but considering this is our first baby a lot of the information has been useful - even if some of it is just to listen to, rather than take on board.

I had a doctor's appointment this morning and was thrilled to discover that the little man has decided to turn head-down again (in fact, he's quite low - though I was reassured that this has no bearing on preterm labour etc (phew). For the first time, I hadn't gained any scale weight (hurrah! :D), and would like to attribute that to being back at work and eating a bit healthier - but who knows really, it might have been a fluke too.

My back has been acting up something terrible during the past two weeks, and I'm beginning to realise that I have limitations now (who'd have thought I'd be frustrated because I couldn't cope with things like vacuuming??), and that I don't have to be superwoman and can lean on others a little for support - possibly literally at times too! Just taking each day at a time and knowing there will be good days and not-so-good days, and making the most of the good ones.

And in the meantime, working on my pregnancy scrapbook, enjoying the fact that I've only got 2.5 weeks left until maternity leave begins (good timing!) and feeling a squirmy baby poking his feet out at odd angles from my body!

30 Weeks

30 week belly picture.

Saying "I'm 30 weeks pregnant" makes it all seem so close now, as if I'll magically open my eyes at some point soon and discover that I have a newborn son. The reality is that yes, that will happen, but not before living the next two months of my/our lives.

It'd be an understatement if I said the last week has been easy. I'm back at work and with that means job-sharing with my replacement for maternity leave (she's lovely, but I think I'm going to have to bite my tongue because of our differences in philosophies and/or workloads). However, this will only be for the month of February and I know I can do this - I've always been a 'I like to be in control' type of personality.

Physically, the hot weather has taken a lot out of me (it's the middle of the Australian Summer) and I'm finding myself tired, nursing cankles (!!), finding new stretchmarks and hobbling about with a sore back due to over-extending myself recently. But it's not all doom and gloom, I'm incredibly thankful to actually be pregnant and on the home stretch... I'm also looking forward to some of the things I've missed since July of 2010:

* Eating ice-cream sundaes from McDonalds

* Enjoying sushi

* Climbing stairs without puffing

* Bending down without looking like a frog

* Sleeping comfortably

* Laying on my stomach

* Fitting into some of my old clothing

Having said that, there is lots that I'll miss about pregnancy too once it is over:

* Breasts (enough said!)

* Feeling baby movement in my tummy

* Observing the physical changes that seem to occur almost weekly

* Getting to put my feet up

* Being able to forget about infertility somewhat

29 Weeks

This week, Operation Baby Nook really stepped up a notch - hubby and I painted the walls today (a very similar green colour to the background of this blog, actually!), and I discovered that his old t-shirts are really quite comfortable indeed! Pictures to come once the furniture (being delivered on Thursday) is set up. :)

However, in the lead-up to painting, this involved clearing the entire contents of our bookshelves - we have a lot of books, and the stacks are currently living in our loungeroom, pushed up against the kitchen bench. Still, a little short-term mess for a whole lot of gain, that's what we're both trying to think!

Personally, I think the stacks look bigger in real life than in this picture.



Baby has been keeping me a little uncomfortable recently with plenty of Braxton Hicks contractions, backache and calf cramps (ouch!). My whole tummy is very firm lately, as the skin and muscles are stretched to capacity (and somehow, I'm able to stretch some more!).

At our most recent doctor's appointment we discovered that he has turned breech again. Considering he's measuring a little ahead (his legs are in the 75th percentile, for example!) surely he's running out of room to turn head-down in time? It's making me a little anxious, to be  honest, as if he stays breech it may jeopardise my chances for a natural birth. Still, there's anywhere from 10-13 weeks to go, so I'm just trying to remain calm, encouraging him to turn by adopting certain positions when I'm sitting and (attempting to) go with the flow. After all, if there's something I've learnt about about pregnancy during these past seven months, it's to expect the unexpected... it's impossible to control everything!

In other news, it's been fun to enjoy nights out with friends lately (even if my stamina isn't quite what it used to be), some days it seems as though I have an abundance of energy whereas other times it's as though first trimester lethagy is rearing its head again - it's a matter of taking each day at a time. This time of the year is usually a time of celebration and parties and lazy Summer BBQs, it makes me wonder what life will be like this time next year, seeing as though most of my friends are currently childless. I'd like to hope that I'm having a full and rich life, with the added bonus of love for a baby who will be rapidly approaching a year old by that point.

My best friend (left) and I. I've also needed to make the leap into buying some maternity tops this month, as a lot of my pre-pregnancy clothing is too small now.



28 Weeks (ultrasound pictures)

Welcome to the third trimester! I did it, we're finally here....yippee! :D

This week we had the pleasure of seeing our gorgeous baby boy again, in a medically-ordered scan (our OB likes his IVF patients to have a 28-week scan as part of pregnancy care; he said it's to make sure that everything is continuing to go on track, as IVF babies can sometimes come earlier than naturally-conceived babies).

However, all looks to be well! Placenta is perfect, baby is weighing in at 1260g (2.5lb) and if he continues to follow the growth curve observed at our 21-week scan and this one, he'll be about 8.5lb at birth. Of course, this is only a guestimate but it's nice to know that he won't likely be an 11lb'er! ;)

Here are a couple of pictures of the little man (who has put on some gorgeous chubby baby fat in the last seven weeks). Go here to see pictures from our previous scans.

I love his profile

Snuggling against the placenta, umbilical cord over his shoulder

Beautiful sleepy face (hubby and I agree that he has my nose!)