8th Ultrasound

Yesterday was the 8th time I got to see my son via ultrasound. It will probably be quite awhile until the next one, but the good news is now I'm at the stage where I can feel him moving every day. During my pregnancy with Nadia, I was seen by the perinatologists 3 times because I had placenta previa (her placenta was over my cervix) as well as polyhydramnios (excessive amniotic fluid). I have neither condition this time so yesterday was my last visit with the specialists. The only abnormal finding was that he saw an echogenic intracardiac focus (bright spot in the heart). This actually does not indicate any heart problems. About 5% of healthy babies have this condition during pregnancy. The percent is a little higher for those with Down's syndrome. However, the doctor doesn't think it's likely our son has Down's since the other physical features that are associated with Down's didn't show up in the ultrasound. He's grown a lot since the last ultrasound! At 18w5d he weighed 10 ounces, and at 24w0d he weighed 24 ounces (1.5 lbs). The sonographer gave me 4 pictures - two 3D profile shots and two 4D facial shots. I have to say I prefer the 3D ones to the 4D ones.

I talked with the doctor about the contractions and bleeding and also the fact that he often kicks so low it feels like he's about 1 inch from exiting my body. He said if the contractions are strong enough that they are worrying me, I can come in for them to check my cervix even if I'm having less than 4 an hour. He said usually it's not a problem for baby to kick that low, but that if those kicks are persistent and strong, that it actually can be a problem. He just kept emphasizing that it was better for me to come in if I was concerned due to bleeding, contractions, and/or really strong/low kicks. I think he was surprised they didn't have me come in over the weekend. I thought maybe he'd do an internal exam in light of what I shared with him, but he didn't. I visited with Donna for about an hour and then drove home. When I got home I discovered a little more blood. I didn't see the point of calling the hospital since that's where I had just been! I haven't had any contractions since Saturday night. I did notice I felt super lousy while we stood for one song during choir rehearsal last night. I definitely need a stool for school although I was informed yesterday they don't have any available. I guess I need to try to buy one myself ASAP. I left choir a little early since I just wasn't feeling that wonderful. My next regular OB appt is scheduled for a week from today. If I have any more bleeding or contractions, I'll ask if we can move that up and include an internal exam.

Nadia did well yesterday considering her afternoon nap was 2 1/2 hours later than usual and only 25 minutes long (taken in the car on the way home). I've noticed that when she gets less sleep during her naps, she sleeps more that night, which makes sense. The last few days she's been getting up between 6:15-6:30, but this morning she slept until 7:15.

I've mentioned after her well baby visits that her head circumference has usually been in the 90th percentile. Well I guess it means no turtlenecks for her. I bought a few at Target a few weeks ago. There are even snaps on the back of the neck so I thought it would go over her head unsnapped (size 18 months), but nope there is no way these shirts are going over her head. I hope they'll take them back as I didn't keep the receipt. Thankfully the tags are still on them.

Nadia's newest word is "pop." She said the word many, many times yesterday as a package that came in the mail yesterday had bubble wrap around it. I put it on the floor and when she walks on it, she pops the bubbles. She already had fun again with it this morning; after hearing the popping sound she says "pop." Paul's dad likes his grandkids to call him PopPop so we shall see if she'll start saying his name now that she can say that word. :-)