I've been pregnant for 246 days! Only 34 more to go!!
I can see why many women choose to have their babies at home. In Hospitals, babies are subjected to a myriad of tests, procedures, prophylactic antibiotic ointments, and injections before they are even 24 hours old! Many of which are done purely because "That's what we've always done"! For example, did you know that babies are given a 1.0mg Vit K shot ~ 6 hours after they are born. Like many medical procedures, it has been done routinely since the 1940's whether baby needs it or not. (Vit K is used by the body for clotting) Now there are some instances where babies are high risk for bleeding and/or are born with disorders that affect their clotting ability…which certainly warrants "supplementation". However I do not agree that all babies are born "deficient" in this vitamin. Who decided what level a newborn should have. (Besides one wonders how God would overlook something that significant…OR how all babies born previous to 1940 survived without this injection.) Anyway…what really makes me nervous is that the shot contains 20,000 times the newborn's natural level of Vitamin K which is a fat soluble vitamin and is therefore stored in the body, not excreted. Many opponents to this procedure refer to research that links high Vitamin K administration with childhood leukemia. The reason being is that cellular division, which is still rapidly occurring in the early days of life, depends on precise amounts of Vitamin K. BUT there is an alternative that most doctor's "forget" to suggest. And that is gradual supplementation through breast milk. To do or not to do?! Do the risks outweigh the benefits? That will most likely be my most difficult first parenting decision!
Did any of you catch the show “Life before Birth” that aired on Thursday night? (Discovery Channel) It took us on a fascinating journey from pre-conception, through all the trimesters, and finally to birth. They used computer graphics to take us inside the womb for a very interesting perspective. It really opened my eyes to the miracle that is life. I think we sometimes take the process for granted because it is so common, but after watching this program and seeing all the odds that are overcome for conception to even take place…it really is the most incredible event! To watch some clips, check out the link below.
So I had my ultrasound today. It was very exciting to see him again...and he is definitely a HIM! There was no mistaking the anatomy this time! And good news....he is in the right position. The U/S tech said his head is down, his back is curved against my tummy, bum is up to the right, and his feet are tucked under my rib cage. He is very cramped for space now...and that is because they estimated his weight at 7lbs! I still have ~5 WEEKS to go!?! Gulp! After taking other measurements, she said I can expect him to be about 9lbs at delivery Ummm...hello epidural?! That puts him in the 95th percentile which I was initially very proud of. I mean Baby Bryce scored 95% on his very first test. That was until "Daddy" reminded me that 95th percentile means only 5 babies out of 100 are born larger!! Here is an Ultrasound picture of his chubby face. It was difficult to get a great shot due to his position and size.
-What's happening with baby this week? "Besides looking like a newborn at 34 weeks of pregnancy, your baby is acting like a newborn as well. His eyes open when he’s awake and close when he is sleeping. His sleeping cycles are the same now as they will be when he is born. He has learned to blink and can see better when a bright light is shined on your stomach. He recognizes voice and sound patterns from the outside world and is most comforted by the sound of your voice. He weighs about 4 ¾ pounds now (OR NOT) and is about 18 inches long. His fingernails have reached the end of his fingertips at week 34 of pregnancy and he may even scratch his face before he is born. His fat layers are growing every week to fill up that wrinkly skin and he may have already turned into the head down position for labor. Your baby’s central nervous system is still maturing, and his lungs are almost fully ready to breathe air. If your baby is born this week, he has a 99% chance of survival outside of the womb, pretty darn good odds."
As Red Green (and "Daddy") says...."Remember, I'm pulling for you. We're all in this together!"
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