Baby drama

Still no baby ... yet. She's due on Friday, and although a lot of first-timers go over their due date, one can choose to be optimistic, right? I had a bit of a scare on Wednesday when I went to the doctor and after an ultrasound, they told me my baby's estimated weight was 10 pounds. What??!! She had been growing normally based on the other two third trimester ultrasounds at 31 weeks (3 lbs. 8 oz.) and 35 weeks (5 lbs. 14 oz.). Suddenly at nearly 39 weeks she jumps to 10 pounds?? Of course the doctor immediately recommended scheduling a c-section to avoid shoulder dystocia (the shoulders getting stuck after delivery of the head). Shoulder dystocia can occasionally cause permanent palsy-type damage to the shoulders and arms. Of course I was in shock and very upset. I think most women would not choose to have a c-section if they can avoid it, and I am definitely one of those women. After much prayer, a ton of online research, a priesthood blessing and many conversations with various people including a labor and delivery nurse, I have finally come to the conclusion that I want to go into labor on my own, and try for a vaginal delivery. First of all, I do not believe the baby is actually 10 pounds. All of my research seems to suggest that ultrasounds can be off by a couple of pounds when done very close to the due date. Also, the incidence of permanent damage from shoulder dystocia is very low, and many more unnecessary c-sections are performed every year because of this diagnosis, while large babies are birthed vaginally and healthily all the time. Interestingly I discovered in my research that the mere suggestion of macrosomia (large baby), which can only be properly diagnosed after birth, drastically increases the number of c-section births (over 50%) when compared to women who were not expected to have large babies but in fact had them vaginally. Women who were not expected to have large babies, even though they did, ended up with c-sections at the average rate of 30%. I recognize there are risks, but I don't think childbirth was ever completely free of risk, not even a caesarean. Ultimately I have felt the greatest peace since making the decision to wait and let her come on her own. My excitement and happiness have returned, which is the greatest confirmation that I can have.

2 more weeks!

Until my due date, that is. I'm so ready to be able to sleep more than an hour at a time. Some people say you don't get any more sleep after the baby is born, some people say you get better sleep, I say, I don't think it can get much worse! I'm so exhausted all of the time. Now, if the baby is colicky, I guess there will definitely be no sleep. Well, we shall see! She's been moving moving moving today! Let's hope she's moving down down down.

In other news, I'm too hot. It's been over 80 degrees outside the past 2 days. I don't know what happened to Spring but I guess Summer bullied it out of the way. Luckily for now it still gets cool at night and we have an attic fan so we can use that. It's so nice to have that attic fan--and powerful ceiling fans in every room. I think it's funny that whenever they do a room remodel on HGTV they always take out the ceiling fans. Granted, they are not as elegant and beautiful as a chandelier, but when you are dying of heat they are pretty darn necessary!

I got my kitchen put together finally! For months I've had boxes sitting on the floor holding various and sundry items. A couple of weeks ago we bought a small bakers rack and a rolling butcher block cart. Nothing too fancy or expensive, but it with a little creative rearranging, it does the trick nicely.

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After:

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