32 Week Update…Kicking All the Way

This week I had to go for another 3D scan so that the OB could get a more exact size of the baby, they also checked the baby’s heartbeat, blood flow and kidneys. Everything is looking good and in the last 2 weeks bub has gained another 300 grams, bringing his weight to 2.3 kg which is actually smaller than the OB thought but still larger than the 1.8 kg average for this stage of the pregnancy.

My belly is still rapidly expanding and I’m finding it is getting to the stage where I have heartburn every night no matter what or when I eat and walking for extended periods of time is uncomfortable and tiring. I am hoping my belly doesn’t get too much bigger otherwise I will no longer be able to drive (about another 10cm). I have already put my seat back as far as I can while still being able to safely have control over the car. With only approx 6 weeks to go, fingers crossed it won’t be a problem.

Lots of people have asked me about the baby kicking. He has been kicking day and night (more so at night). When I am sitting up either driving or watching TV he squirms more than kicks, probably because he is feeling squashed! Bub is actually a ‘Frank Breech’ meaning that his feet are raised up by his head, meaning that the kicking that I feel is lower than if he was the right way down. His head is sitting up by my ribs. Over the weeks bub’s has less room and the kicking has been getting stronger. It started off feeling like little muscle twitches and now the kicks are so strong that sometimes they surprise me and make me jump! I also find that since I am laying down and resting more now (without sleeping) it gives me time to pat and poke bub’s so he will hit and kick back. This usually goes on for about 15 minutes until he gives up and goes to sleep. I must admit it is pretty amazing being able to have this kind of interaction already before he is even born.

Baby Shower

Last Saturday (9th Jan) was my baby shower. Although the day was hot the party went off without a hitch, thanks to Beth, Fee and Namu. Thanks goes out to Beth for the lovely handmade invites (see below), decorating the house and the creative party hats. Thanks to Fee for letting us use her house and the yummy choc-honeycomb mudcake and thanks to Namu for organising and making the delicious food (especially her secret recipe, marinated chicken wings) and for organising the games. With everyone pitching in tidying up was quick and painless and with the abundance of food we were also well fed for the next few days!

The party started at 3.30pm and with all the eating, drinking, game playing and opening pressies we didn’t finish until about 7pm. I received an array of beautiful and useful gifts for baby which were greatly appreciated and will definitely come in handy. Fiona let her creativity shine by making a ‘nappy cake’ with a toy topper and it turned out really well!

This weekend I posted out my baby shower ‘Thank you’ cards and sorted through all the pressies, attempting to arrange them in bub’s room.

For those of you that couldn’t make the party, here a few more of the memorable pics (still waiting on more to be sent to me), including; my big (and rapidly getting bigger) belly, guests, me and my pressies and the famous ‘drinking from only a baby’s bottle’ (thanks Namu)!

I will upload more photos as they come in.

Week 30 Update

Just after the new year I got my results for the glucose test which said that I have Gestational Diabetes. Basically it means that I need to go on a low GI diet for the remainder of my pregnancy and my baby will be larger in size at birth. My levels weren’t too bad and I had a feeling that this was coming.

Today I went for my 30 week check-up and although I have lost 1kg, baby has gained 830 grams (all in 2 weeks). This brings his weight in at 2.27kg (or 5 pounds). He is still sitting breech and at this stage the OB has decided to schedule me for a caesarean in the first week of March. Due to the baby’s size and position there is no chance of a natural birth. I am a little disappointed but in the end all I really want is a healthy baby! Based on the speed of the baby’s weight gain, if I was allowed to go to full term it would end up being a 11 pound baby! At that size it would probably make the news or the Guinness Book of Records (DEFINITELY don’t want to be famous for that!) The OB is also going to send me off for another 3D scan to confirm the baby’s weight and the development of his organs.

Below is a ultrasound pic of bub with his eyes open and his fists up by his head. The OB thought it was cute so he printed it out for me.