Our Rainbow: Week 20

Wow, I'm more than half way through this pregnancy! Baby is active and kicking more each day, especially after a meal. Since we know I will be induced before 40 weeks I'm actually MORE than half way through! That is something!!

Today was our 20 week ultrasound appointment. Thankfully, everything is very good! Baby measured at 12 oz (perfect) and all the major organs are accounted for and look normal. Placenta is posterior (towards my back) which might explain why I feel this baby kick more than I did with Sofia early on (placenta was anterior (front) with her which acted like a cushion). My cervix is long & closed- baby is not getting out yet! The amniotic fluid was good (not too much/too little) and MOST importantly- heart was beating away at 140 BPM. Yay!

Baby was very mobile on the ultrasound but cooperated nicely when it came time to take measurements, etc. We saw baby dance around, put his/her hands in front of his/her face, rest his/her hand on their forehead (was so funny- like baby was saying, enough already with the pictures! ha- wait until you are born baby!!!! don't you know who your momma is!!? ;)) The cutest pic is of him/her smiling.

We did get to see the gender and have a pic of that too, but that news will have to wait a bit longer- until after this weekend when we spill the beans to family at our football/gender reveal party!! It will be nice to share that news and not have to be so cautious about keeping it a secret. :) But anyone who know me knows- I can definitely keep a secret! So good luck to anyone who tries to take advantage of my pregnancy brain. That part is hard-wired!!

We discussed whether or not to have Dr. refer us to a perinatologist and in the end, we decided against it. Dr. left it up to us but when we took everything into consideration, the care we are getting (and will continue to receive) at his office will be just as thorough and attentive to ours and baby's needs. We're comfortable with this Dr. and he's allowing an ultrasound at every appointment from here on out.

So I go back in 4 weeks for the 'fun' glucose test where I get to drink the yucky orange drink and get another peek at baby. After that I go again 4 weeks later (28 wks) for another routine appointment & ultrasound. The next appointment will be at 32 weeks and from that point on I'll go in every two weeks with ultrasounds and non-stress tests to monitor baby.

It will be up to us to decide if we want to do an amnio at 37 weeks (the soonest that they will do it) to test for baby's lung maturity. We would get the results back within hours that same day and would be induced the following day! 37 weeks puts us at the week of January 16th.

If we decide against the amnio, the soonest they will induce is 39 weeks. Hmm. Not sure how I feel about that. 39 is awfully close to 40. 40 is a number I am NOT comfortable with.

We discussed the risks and benefits of both options and will decide in the coming weeks/months. One thing's for certain- assuming baby stays put & healthy until then, he/she will be born in January! (and not Feb. 6th, the due date)

So here are some amazing shots of our newest little one (minus the gender pic!).

2D profile pic of baby's face