Wednesday, December 30, 2009

30 Weeks!

30 weeks!

On December 16 we went to the OB for my 30 week checkup. Blood pressure & weight gain are still good (18 pounds!). Lily's heart rate was in the 150s, & I was measuring at 29 weeks.

I asked the doctor what would happen in the next few appointments, as I assumed that because I would be going every 2 weeks something new & exciting would take place! I was wrong! She said that they just keep taking my blood pressure & weight, measuring me, & checking Lily's heart rate. I'll get tested for Group B Strep at 36 weeks, & then will start going weekly at that time until I deliver.

No news is good news as far as we're concerned! We're just as excited as ever for her big day to arrive, but we want her to take as long as she needs!

Love, Ashlee, Jeff, & Lily


Wednesday, December 2, 2009

28 Weeks!

28 Weeks!!!
Now, I know I look absolutely HUGE in this picture, but I'm proud to announce that I've only gained 14 pounds so far! If I go full-term (or a little longer) & continue to average a pound a week, I'll have only put on 30 pounds or less! Phew- sometimes it's hard to imagine with the sweet tooth I've got going!
On Monday, we went to the perinatologist for our 28 week ultrasound. This was our last scheduled check of Lily's heart. Everything looked great with her heart, & the doctor said that she'll be checked by the doctors at birth & at following appointments with her pediatrician, & she would only need to be followed if a murmur was detected. For more good news... The choroid plexus cyst was gone! The doctor acted like it was no big deal, & even said that they almost always disappear at this stage, but Jeff & I were relieved to hear it all the same.

The doctor measured Lily's head, long bone growths, abdominal circumference, etc. All of her measurements put her right on target in "age"; most of them had her measuring around 28 weeks & 4 days, although there were a couple that had her measuring around 27 weeks & 5 days. Either way, the average came out to be about 28 weeks- PERFECT! From those measurements, the exam estimated that she now weighs about 2 lbs, 9 oz.

Our next appointment is with the OB on December 15- I'll be 30 weeks then! After that, I'll go back 2 weeks later at 32 weeks, & go every 2 weeks until I'm 36 weeks, & then I go every week until I deliver. (I know I've said this before, but I can't believe that I'm nearing that stage- it seems so unreal!).

Everything is so exciting these days! Sometimes I feel so unprepared I just want to rush out & get everything that we need but haven't gotten so that my nerves will be calmed! But in the meantime I'm enjoying all of the kicks & movement she's doing, & thinking about all of the growth & development she's accomplished so far. It already makes me a little sad to think that I won't have that for much longer. But at the same time, I can't wait to meet this little girl growing inside me!!!

I really hope the 3rd trimester fatigue & aches stay away for a lot longer. I had a little trouble with my sciatic nerve pain a few weekends ago (it came on kind of randomly but really had me hurting for a few days!); I know that she's likely to cause that pain again, but for right now I'm loving how I'm feeling!

Thanks again for keeping us in your thoughts & prayers- we're so excited for you all to meet her!

Love, Ashlee, Jeff, & Lily