32 Weeks and Hello There Big Boy!

Yesterday, I had the first of my weekly OB appointments.  Dr. M wanted to start weekly monitoring this early due to possible 3rd trimester complications that seem more prevalent in IVF pregnancies.  Although the conversation with him 2 weeks ago had me panicking, I am very happy that he is monitoring me more closely than the average pregnancy.

On tap for 32 weeks was my first non-stress test (NST) and an ultrasound.  In the ultrasound, we were checking the little man's growth to make sure that he wasn't measuring small, looking at the level of amniotic fluid, and checking for any signs that the placenta is not supporting him as it should be.

Since the U/S tech doesn't typically discuss the measurements she is taking, I have learned to watch the screen closely to see how the little guy is measuring.  The amniotic fluid is measuring at a normal level.  The first size measurement was the head circumference - and our little guy's head was measuring at over 35 weeks.  (I think I missed the next couple of measurements as I was wondering just how big of a head I would be pushing out...)  His legs were measuring in at over 34 weeks.  A few calculations later and the U/S tech did something she doesn't normally do - she shared some information.  She said "Well, he definitely isn't measuring small.  His weight is about 5 pounds."

Ummm, yeah.  According to my weekly BabyCenter.com email, the average 32 week baby weighs in at 3.75 pounds and is gaining about a half a pound a week from here on out.

I know that these weight estimates are just that - estimates - and they can be way off.  But WOW.  5 pounds.  I guess I shouldn't be worried about him being small.  This would also explain why so many people think I am either having twins or further along than I am...

The U/S tech was also kind enough to give us a couple of 3D shots of our little big boy.

Carder at 32 Weeks in 3D.  I love how clearly visible his ear is.

The results of the NST were good - no concerns noted.  Dr. M said that he sees no reason that I won't be making it to full term.  Regardless, knowing that he is measuring a little large makes me feel better about the possibility of a premature birth.  For some reason it makes me feel as if he would have a better chance of being healthier when he arrived.

I also discussed Cord Blood Banking with Dr. M.  Since we aren't genetically related to Carder, I have been debating if the cost of cord blood banking is worth it - but I didn't realize just how expensive it was until I called and inquired about it.  Dr. M. informed me of another option offered in the State of Michigan - there is a cord blood donation center where you can donate your cord blood for free.  It goes into a database that can be used by anyone in Michigan.  Therefore, you aren't guaranteed that yours will still be available, but they do try to use your own first if it is still available.  And, Dr. M let me know that the diseases that can currently be treated with cord blood are quite rare so the usage of cord blood isn't as frequent as you would think.  Derek and I still need to talk about it and make our decision, but at least we now have another less expensive option to look into.

I go back next Tuesday for another NST.  My next ultrasound will be at 36 weeks.

Everyone is asking me how I am feeling.  I am feeling pretty good.  I get tired when I have been on my feet for several consecutive hours, so I am trying to make sure I take some time to rest.  So far, the only swelling has been minimal and rest and hydration have kept the cankles at bay.  I am getting more frequent rib pain and it is getting a little more difficult to sleep.  I literally "roll" to get up from any seated or laying position, but I am still getting around just fine. 

Derek got to see his first outside movement at the Dr's office yesterday - normally as soon as he looks, Carder stops all movement and Derek doesn't have the patience to watch for long periods of time.  But yesterday he saw the first (which he described as looking like an alien in there).  This first glimpse inspired him to stare at my belly for a while last night and he was quite surprised at what he could see from the outside.  I really loved to see how excited he looked seeing Carder move in there...

And just in case you were wondering how big the belly has gotten, here is some eye candy for you.

Carli at 32 Weeks Pregnant



Bare Belly - Just so you can verify that this is all Baby Belly and not just fat rolls hidden under my shirt.  Or a Rye Bread.



Does Anyone Have Any Suspenders???

Things have been very busy here in the last few days and I haven't posted much - even though I have TONS to say.  My intention is to attempt to post more in the next few days and hopefully hit the high points one post at a time.  Just bear with me.

In my last post, I gave you all some lovely pictures of myself at 12 and 14 weeks pregnant.  For those pictures, I didn't really feel like I looked pregnant - just a little bit chunky perhaps. 

The Be-Band
Starting at around 9 or 10 weeks, I had been wearing my "smaller" regular pants with a Be-Band and my "larger" regular pants as they were.  I was wearing work pants every day, so I had a good selection to choose from.  I wasn't entirely pleased with how the Be-Band was working - I had been doubling it over because I didn't like the way it was so thin when I wore it as a single layer - I didn't want people to see my underwear or the obviousness that my pants weren't buttoned.  The problem with this was that the band slipped up over the back of my pants.  Every. Time. I. Sat. Down.  And in case I haven't told you all this fact, I can't wear low rise pants because I have the World's Largest Butt crack.  Seriously, yo.  If this were a category in the Guinness Book of World Records, you would see my name there.  The crack is just way too big for the size of my rear.  But I have digressed.
Having the Be-Band ride up was extremely annoying.  But, I stopped working and we moved to Michigan. And I put the Be-Band in a drawer because...

Enter the Sweat Pants
Don't get me wrong.  It isn't as if I was wearing sweat pants all day, every day.  I put on jeans to go out in public.  But if all you are doing is working the phones in you apartment and the only time you go outside is to walk the dogs, why would you bother getting dressed up, right?  Besides, the sweat pants didn't dig into my belly.  They didn't slide down and show the World Record Butt crack.  They were comfy.

AND

Enter the New Wardrobe
When we arrived in Michigan, my MIL gave be a great pair of stretchy jeans that have skinny legs that work great with tall boots (which is important in the snow).  These jeans have so much give that they easily stretched over my growing midsection and didn't dig in.  Derek is absolutely amazed at the give in these pants.  But, they stretch so much that I have baggy ass syndrome a few minutes after I put them on, so they only get worn with long sweaters.

In addition, my friend Jill had loaned me some Maternity Clothes.  I had realized shortly after we arrived in Michigan that some of my pre-pregnancy clothes weren't going to last much longer without looking like a trashy woman showing some skin on her fat belly.  So, I packed up these clothes and pulled out the winter maternity clothes.  I am not wearing most of them yet, but there were a couple of pairs of pants that weren't way too big.

So, these pants have been what I have gone to for my trips out of the apartment.  Having the extra stretch from the stretchy jeans and the maternity pants has been wonderful and so roomy and comfy!  My only complaint?

I don't know what the problem is, but I seem to have problems keeping the pants up when I walk.  It isn't as if they end up around my ankles or anything.  But the crotch slips down too low and I feel as if I should be wearing some really wildly colored boxers, wearing a hat sideways, and walking with some swagger.  For Realz, Gee.  And it isn't just annoying because of the fashion faux pas of wearing my pants too low.  When you live in Michigan and it is winter, there is this thing called SNOW you have to deal with.  And if your pants are too low, your pants legs drag the snow and you spend the day with wet pants (and you didn't even pee yourself).

So, does anyone have any suspenders???

Yesterday, I needed to do some laundry and I didn't have the motivation (more on that later), so I went back to a pre-pregnancy jean with the Be-Band.  This time I didn't double it up, just wore the single layer and made sure my shirt was long enough to cover the thin layer of fabric.  This seemed to work better as far as riding up over the back of the pants.  But WOW.  I realized just how much my belly has grown in the last 3 weeks.  I will let you all see after the next photo op this weekend.