It’s been several days since I whined, hasn’t it? I hope so.
So I went for my check-up today. I also got yet another ultrasound, as last time I was “measuring big” (see? I told you I had turned into a grapefruit). So I have the ultrasound and the very experienced tech is muttering things like, “wow”.
I figured wow wasn’t something to be overly concerned about, but I still found myself grinding my teeth while waiting for her to say something helpful. Instead she checked my chart and quizzed me to affirm that I am 34 weeks along. And then she told me that my son weighs six pounds, 7 ounces. NOW. His size is in the 100th percentile on everything.
At first, I was kinda excited by this. Because my back has been aching so much and I’ve been having so much trouble lifting kids and climbing the stairs, I was worried that I had just turned into a wimp with this pregnancy. To know I’m already carrying a term-sized baby makes my wimpiness more acceptable, somehow. Then she dropped the other bombshell. The one that says unless I had pre-eclampsia or something (which I don’t, my blood pressure is great) there’s is NO WAY they will let me go before week 39.
I’m scheduled to have my c-section five weeks from tomorrow. By which time NewBaby will be HUGE. And I will barely be able to walk. My son is not even trying to get out, folks. He’s lying sideways, although sometimes he goes breech to kick my bladder. I’m not going to go into labor early. I’m just going to keep growing into an ever larger grapefruit. Seriously. Between my ever numbing and painful carpal tunnel and my giant stomach, there’s going to come a time when I won’t be able to get out of bed. At least not without help.
I tried talking to the doctor. But since his daughter was born at 8 pounds, but three and a half weeks early and still had a preemie lung infection he really didn’t care to hear my opinion. I mean, I wasn’t really expecting him to say he’d check me into the hospital next week or anything. But even one week earlier would have made me feel better. But noooo. Week 39 or bust.
Have I mentioned that most of my maternity pants won’t go over my belly now? And I have very few shirts still long enough to cover things when the pants have to stay under the belly. Nevermind the pain and exhaustion, what the hell am I going to WEAR for the next five weeks?
Any advice will be much appreciated.
15 responses so far ↓
AndreAnna // September 29, 2008 at 7:23 pm |
You’ve seen my pics. I was huge. You’re local, so if you need any giant maternity wear, I’d be happy to lend it to you.
They always measured him bigger than he was. They told me he was 7 pounds at 36 weeks but when I was induced for preeclampsia at 38 weeks, he was only 7 lbs, 7 oz.
Andrea // September 29, 2008 at 7:55 pm |
I just wanted to let you know that I was HUUUUUUGE with my pregnancy. I’m only 4′11″ so I was almost as wide around as I was tall. Talk about a grapefruit! My son ended up being 9 lbs 7 oz when he was born!
Just wanted to let you know if the baby gets any bigger, and you have a hard time breathing, it really helped to get down on my hands and knees so that the baby fell forward for a bit. B, my son, would sit right on my lungs and squish all the air outta them. It was terrible! Just wanted to give you that little hint for when you feel like you might pass out! It’s not as attractive when you’re in public lol so you might wanna save that for home.
Good luck! I love your blog by the way!
silken // September 29, 2008 at 10:35 pm |
this is the time to be whiney anyway!
most of us are wishing we could stay in bed and not have to get dressed, but I know it’s not the same!
hope you won’t get too uncomfortable between now and then…
Jen in MI // September 30, 2008 at 5:40 am |
My advice is insist on having another ultrasound done.
I supposedly had a large baby, was induced, had problems with being induced and after all that, “oops” – they found out the ultrasound was wrong and my baby was born on his due date at 7 lbs. 12 oz.
He had a variety of learning issues that they’ve tied to the birth process. I’m not meaning to be gloom and doom or to scare you, but my doctor even admitted another ultrasound would have changed the whole story.
It’s just worth being safe. Doctors are too quick to schedule for c-sections, and it’s probably good to “know” for sure.
I hope you feel better, too – that sounds like a huge pain!
La La // September 30, 2008 at 8:42 am |
Muumuus. The ugly hide-it-all dress.
I know… my kids say I’m no help, either.
Becky // September 30, 2008 at 2:16 pm |
Those final days drag on and on and on. I hope they fly by for you.
Anglophile Football Fanatic // September 30, 2008 at 2:36 pm |
What? If you are measuring that big, they aren’t considering letting you go early? That’s crazy. Do they expect you to pop out a giant watermelon of a baby?
Mama Zen // September 30, 2008 at 5:45 pm |
I think you’re going to be working the “big tent” look! That is just unbelievable . . .
jerseygirl89 // September 30, 2008 at 6:29 pm |
AndreAnna – Trust me, you were not THIS huge. But thanks for the clothing offer – I’ll let you know. Ironflower and Lovebug were both early and well over 8 pounds, so I’m not totally surprised.
Andrea – I’m 5′2, so I hear you. I’ll try the position thing. Thanks!
Jen – I’m sorry that you had such a lousy time. I’m having a c-section at least, so we won’t be going through the inducing, at least.
La La – That’s what my husband suggested too.
Becky – So far, nope. I hope yours do!
AFF – Since it’s a c-section, I guess they don’t care that I feel like the poor boy is coming out through my belly button. And they are adamant about 39 weeks, although my old OB took Lovebug out and 38 weeks and he was FINE (and well over 8 pounds).
Mama Zen – Maybe I should cut a hole in a tablecloth that I never use?
Cousin Greg // October 1, 2008 at 6:32 am |
Maybe this is not the place for this question, but hey we are all family here, and I’m an actual relation so….have you given any more thought to who the father of this child might be? You think its the same guy as the first one or the second?
jerseygirl89 // October 1, 2008 at 12:11 pm |
Gregory – I think it was your boyfriend.
Jess // October 1, 2008 at 4:27 pm |
Umm….I KNOW you are into the medical birth thing. That’s all good.
But another ultrasound isn’t going to tell you anything.
Want to get an ACCURATE idea of size?
Go see a midwife. You know, someone who will TOUCH you & your baby? You can still have your c-section and still see your OB. I’m talking a five minute, “please look at my belly” thing. Start hanging out with some AP/hippie Moms (they have those in Jersey, right?) and you’re bound to find someone who is a midwife. Walk up to her, put her hands on your belly, and ask her to tell you how big he is.
Midwives are FAR more accurate than ultrasound (scientific fact, not my opinion, you can google it).
So, to recap:
1) Most ultrasounds are with 1 pound (at least). So the kid could be 5 lbs.
2) Most ultrasounds are not entirely accurate (see #1)
3) Get someone to actually TOUCH YOU and FEEL YOUR BABY and you’ll have a hell of a lot better idea of what exactly is going on in there
4) Your doctor is right. Premature is premature.
5) Just think of how freakin’ good you are going to feel when you come out of the hospital with your “huge” baby- you get to lose ALL THAT WEIGHT- instantly! AMAZING!!!
6) Grapefruit…yummm…. LOL!
Petra // October 1, 2008 at 8:08 pm |
I say buy some comfy housecoats (aka mu mus) and tell everyone they have to wait on you hand and foot!
jerseygirl89 // October 2, 2008 at 12:13 pm |
Jess – My body has been trying to tell me that he’s especially big, I just didn’t believe it. And while there may be cool hippie moms somewhere in Jersey, they do not live around me. But I will ask around.
Petra – Don’t I wish!
Leslie // October 2, 2008 at 9:40 pm |
I had the same issues with Lucy! I got tons of “Wow, this baby is BIG.” But taking her early was out of the question because I was a c-section anyway. At the end, I just let my belly hang out. I couldn’t care less about how it looked. I was too wrapped up with how I felt. I had so much pressure and pain in my hips.
I feel for you! Hang in there. You’re almost done.