Halfway There, And Ivan Is Right Again.

Yes, we hit 19 weeks last week, which is technically halfway through the assumed 38-week gestation period.  Both Kate and Savannah went over by 2 weeks each; let's see if Scary Baby will be doing the same.

And speaking of Scary Baby, I think it's time for a renaming... to Stubborn Baby.  But let me start at the beginning.

On Friday - Ivan's birthday - we had our extra-special super-duper high-resolution ultrasound, which showed EVERYTHING.  One of the first things our tech said, however, was, "Oh good... looks like your placenta previa has healed and your placenta has moved up nicely."  Placenta Previa?  Gee, is this why I had some unexplained vaginal bleeding last trimester?  For which I intuitively put myself on bed rest?  Okay, I'm glad it's healed, but I would have liked to know about it, since placenta previa isn't terribly dangerous... unless you have vaginal bleeding... anyway, not to dwell on it; the placenta has moved out of the way, and Kiddo is currently head down and was resting his toes on it.

Back to the scan!  We saw four chambers in the heart, lips (no cleft palate), nicely forming brain, kidneys, bladder, and stomach all where they belong on the inside, and even got a picture of Kiddo yawning:

Not yawning, profile... nose is so cute:

Yawning (baby apparently does not like morning, kinda like Daddy and big sisters):

Then we got a nice look at the spine, of which I'd have loved to have a picture, since it was so neat to see something so recognizable in such miniature.  Now, all this time, Stubborn Baby was turning away from the ultrasound probe at every possible chance, so the tech had to really jiggle my belly around to get ... the money shot...

And for an even better (closer) view...

 

 

Yep, that's a boy, alright... the tech said everything except "I bet my life on that sucker being boy parts."  She was very definite.

And so, Scary Baby - Stubborn Baby - is now... Baby Ivan.  I cried.  A son.  We have a son!  His big sisters are ecstatic and his daddy is smug.  How's that for a birthday present? 

 

Baby Ivan was still scary this time, though... he kept hiding his umbilical cord from the tech, and she could only count 2 blood vessels in the cord.  Normally, there is one vein providing nutrients and oxygen to the baby, and two arteries taking waste products away from the baby and back to the placenta.  When there aren't the right number of vessels, it tends to indicate congenital defects such as chromosomal anomalies. 

Unfortunately, the techs aren't allowed to share that information with the patient - they have to go get the doctor who will review the scan and then inform the parents.  Also unfortunately, techs are human, and sometimes not very good about hiding their concerns from the parents.  I think it's sad that they can't even say, "I'm not seeing something I was looking for, so I'll go get the doctor," because parents are not stupid and can tell that something is wrong.  All the tech is allowed to say is, "I'll be right back with the doctor."  Not so reassuring. 

 

Our tech was clearly worried, and I saw her write "2 bvac???" on the scan.  So I kinda knew what was going on.  Fortunately at the last moment she saw the third vessel for which she was looking, and her relief was immense and kinda comical.  I actually felt more sorry for her than relief for us!

However, the doctor came in and reviewed everything and all is well.  Had some blood drawn for my AFP (checks proteins in blood for indicators of chromosomal defect) but at this point, it's kinda moot.  We saw absolutely NO soft markers for birth defects on the scan.  So we feel there is no need to jeopardize our son's health by opting for the amniocentesis.

 

Baby Ivan was head-to-heel measuring 21.6 cm and 11 ounces - pretty big for 19.5 weeks.  Clearly he is thriving. 

On Tuesday, I met with one of our OB teams for a check up - Dr. Grillo.  Told him the results of the Level II and he agreed - no need for the amnio.  He measured my uterus and then spent some time with the doppler machine looking for a heartbeat.  Once again, our stubborn son hid from the probe.  Took a good five minutes of a 30-year professional in his field looking.  But Dr. G. wouldn't give up ("Ultrasounds are for sissies... ptooey!"  Okay, he didn't say it, but he LOOKED it...) and eventually, higher up than expected, we found the heartbeat, steady and fast.

 

So everything is good!  And as I said, Ivan is right again.  It's really revolting, particularly when you (I) are (am) the one who is, by default, wrong.  He predicted an iron deficiency for me when I was having so much trouble with my energy level.  Turns out... I'm anemic.  Yep.  I don't have to take iron supplements yet, but Dr. Grillo wants me to increase my vitamin C intake anyway to bolster my immune system (I had a nasty upper respiratory infection the week before last), and that will help me absorb iron more efficiently.  Eating more beans and beef should help.  And adjusting my diet back to pre-morning sickness.  I still hate broccoli and have to cover it with sauce to get it down, but I'm trying gamely.  Salads are my friend.  One of these days I will start making my morning spinach smoothies again.

Maybe next week.  For the rest of this week, I'm going to luxuriate in maternity pants and the vital role they will play in my holiday celebration ("why, yes... I don't mind if I do have some pumpkin pie AND apple crisp...").  I will help Ivan Sr. enjoy his other birthday present - the XBox 360 he's wanted since Christmas last.  And I will start to work on a baby blanket, and I will enjoy being able to crochet in blue.  Because I can.

 

Next week I will be fully recovered from my virus, will have had a good few days' of extra C, and will be ready to take on the world.  Or at least my favorite walking trail. 

 

SO much to be thankful for right now.  For this, and all of you, and everything to come.  

Happy Thanksgiving!

Things I Have Learned So Far (17 weeks, 3 days).

1.  Marie Callendar pot pies require a strip of aluminum foil around the crust.  The circumference of the pot pie is exactly one inch larger than the length of my aluminum foil.
2.  I suck at aluminum foil.
3.  I will eat almost anything that goes appropriately with mustard.  I prefer pretzels but if I must resort to say, corn dogs or hot dogs, I know no shame.
4.  Pregnancy causes your immune system to become depressed.  I think mine must be downright suicidal.  If someone sneezes in the next county, I will become infected.
5.  Car seat manufacturers in this country assume that every parent drives an SUV.  I have had to reconsider my top three choices for car seats because the base of the seat will not fit the Prius.
6.  Babies R Us is designed specifically to drive already-hormonally fragile women over the edge by overwhelming them with sheer volume of Stuff they put on your registry checklist.  Although I'm looking forward to playing with the scanner.  I'm registering at both BRU and Amazon; I suspect the prices and availability of stuff is better at Amazon, but I get a super cool discount at BRU on stuff that's left on my registry after my due date.  Great for things like larger sized clothes and older baby toys!
7.  Pregnancy intensifies personality.  If you're pretty laidback normally, you become sentimental and maudlin and cry over dog food commercials (not that I know anyone like this...).  If you're easily upset, you become a raging bitch and feel perfectly justified in blaming your nastiness on your pregnancy.  If you're critical of the lifestyle of others, you feel absolutely free to voice your opinion of said lifestyle in a manner for which normal people (or the sentimental and maudlin variety) want to find you and wash your mouth out with soap.  Preferably soap with exfoliating beads. 
7a.  I mean, seriously.  Does it really matter if someone else prefers prefolds to pocket diapers?  Or will be using tap water instead of filtered water to mix formula?  Or will have relatives over to help with the baby after he or she is born?  Do women who breastfeed really deny their husbands an important bonding experience?  These are honest-to-goodness things pregnant women argue about, and call other women "selfish," "materialistic," "spoiled," "apathetic and uncaring," and I could go on. 
8.  Buying maternity jeans one size up for "comfort" is a bad idea.  I now have jeans that want to fall off my hips because I do not yet have the tummy to hold them up.  If I bought my right size, at least my bum would have acted as a stopgap.
9.  Ivan is awesome at pregnant.  Seriously.  He has been a real trooper and source of strength.  He reels me in when I need it and takes very tender care of my tummy.  He reminds me to rest, take my vitamins, and eat the right food.  And he sang the Indiana fight song to the tummy this weekend.  Pretty awesome stuff.
10.  It's finally getting real.  My stomach is filling out and getting hard.  I'm almost afraid to say this, but I think I've been feeling flutters.  Last night, Ivan was poking my stomach and saying, "Come out and play!" and right after he quit, I felt a "thump."  I can't wait to see his face in another month when he can feel it, too.

I'm sure there's more, but ten is good for now.