Baby in 3D!

So the upside to Hallie having to get all these tests is all the images we get of Baby. The next one was taken on Friday with a new 3D ultrasound monitor that the hospital has just acquired. Hallie was sort of a guinea pig as several technicians got a dry run on the equipment. (She's still flat on her back with me playing the part of Jeeves.)

Can't quite see it? Here's a little help.

Week 37

Outta the hospital, but not off the couch. Hallie's on bedrest until the baby is delivered. The good news is that a blood pressure medication is not necessary as long as she stays immobile. She had a big day out yesterday for another Biophysical Profile on the baby. Got to ride in the car and everything! BP was way highat the office, but when we take it easy, stay on her left side, & take the BP at home it's fairly good.

Natalie says that there's no way Hallie will go beyond her due date. We've got another appointment tommorrow, but I get the feeling she's just trying to get this babe to 38 weeks. I won't speculate, though- stay tuned for tomorrow's news (inducing labor next week???)

Here's some ultrasound pix from yesterday. Babe checks out A-OK. (The up side to all of this is we're getting a LOT of pictures of the baby!)

Here's two of the face...































...and some cute little fingers!


















...and the little piggies!

Dammit

Hallie's been "invited to stay" in lovely Midcoast Hospital through at least the weekend. She's frustrated because she feels fine, but this is what's best. All tests on baby are good- there's no protein in her urine which indicates that nothing is out of control, no headaches, no spots, normal reflexes. Her stubborn blood pressure just won't drop. Most likely they'll release her on Sunday with a BP medication.

The cure for PIH? Delivery of the baby. Natalie did say that they won't let her go past her due date if she even gets that far.

The waiting game has been ratcheted up in intensity...

PIH

That's Pregnancy Induced Hypertension for those keeping track at home. All is well with the babe, but Hallie's blood pressure, which has been climbing steadily for months, has reached the threshold of 140/90 that sounds the alarms.

So what does that mean? Well, for starters the "weekly checkup" turned into a "hospital visit". Natalie (our midwife) was not going to wait & see and ordered a lot of tests. Hallie was hooked into a non-stress test where the babe's heartbeat was monitored along with Hallie's uterine contractions. All was well there, and they took some blood and sent us down for an ultrasound to check on the babe's movements & development.

Ultrasound went well. Babe scored an 8 of 8 on the biophysical profile. We saw some kicking and sucking. We turned away before seeing Penis? Vagina? You'll just have to wait! There was also a point where the baby moved her forehead- either furrowing her brow or scowling at the ultrasound technician. Perhaps Harpo Marx is waiting to be reborn?

What are the consequences of PIH? First the mamma can: get headaches, see "floaters", have quick reflex reactions, and ultimately seizures. Is Hallie experiencing any of these symptoms?- perhaps mild headaches, but that is all. The rest of the symptoms have not shown up and show that our Midwife's concern is an abundance of caution as opposed to a panicked worry. Results on the baby can be: premature birth, low birth weight, and worst case, the placenta can detach from the uterine wall.

Is this happening? No. Yesterday's ultrasound showed the baby to be about 6 1/2 pounds, and measuring out at 38 weeks. Now, Hallie is 36 weeks pregnant, so low birth weight is not a major concern of mine. We're lucky that this condition has surfaced so late in the pregnancy. The head size is actually at 42 weeks, so we've also got a big-headed Charlie Brown ready to meet the world- ala Uncle Byron. Ala Uncle Steve. Kid's going to be a frickin' brainiac.



So that brings us up to what we're doing now. Hallie's on "modified bed rest" until Friday. She spent today on the couch reading, programming numbers into the phone, napping, and calling me to complain of boredom. I think secretly she enjoys being pampered, but don't let on that I said that.

I had to bring a couple of jugs - 24 hours worth of urine into the hospital lab today. Man, that girl can pee!They're looking for protein in the urine as an indicator that the PIH is a concern. With any luck, we'll find out tomorrow that they found little to be concerned with. It would be nice if she could get some walking orders to move around a little more- go swimming, walk the dog, etc. I think it would help her stay calm to be able to swim a few more leisurely times.

So that's everything we're dealing with- more tomorrow when Natalie reads all the results and takes Hallie's BP again. Wish us luck!

Week 36

Hal had a good visit with Natalie last week, and we've got another tomorrow. Into the last few weeks now, so the visits are weekly. Natalie said that the baby was +1 station- which means it's head is engaged in her pelvis. I think it can mean that the baby has "dropped", too- if people say that anymore.

We had a fruitful visit to Babies R Us yesterday and bought most of the last remaining necessities. You would think that they would keep cloth diapers in the section marked "DIAPERS." You would also think they would keep the diaper pins near the cloth diapers. Well, you'd be wrong. Right now I'm listening to Hallie in the bath on the baby monitor. She isn't fussing or anything.

Ruby took a picture of us comparing belly size. Can you guess whose is whose?

A Slice of Life

"Dog with Orange on Big Belly"

Week 35

We had our last child birthing class last week- got a cerificate of completion and everything. That puppy is going up on the wall of the baby's room so- when he or she is older and questioning our methods, we can just point to it. SEE! 10 hours of grueling parental preparation proves that we're up to the task. You just can't argue with a framed document.

Yeah, right. Why do I get the feeling that for the next eighteen years we are going to be flying by the seat of our pants?

Lots of Showers in Maine

This Sunday gave us rainy skies and a Great Baby Shower...or should I say Baby Downpour up in Turner! The new Grammie-to-be Prince put on a heck of a to-do! Many thanks for all the great stuff to ready us for the coming child. Just over a month to go!
Grammy and Iris watch the goings-on.

Ruby tries to take it all in with Mom's help.

Griffin and Ava share a book with Pokey.

Fartin' around the Fort

This weekend the Smith and Prince clan took a trip to historic Fort Knox in Bucksport. Griffin had a blast poking around the dark corners and figuring out where the soldiers slept. He also pointed out where the cannons were and balanced on the spot.
























At one point, Uncle Jay found himself looking down upon the Smith's for a great photo-op! The visit was a wonderful chance to spend some quality time with the family from New York! The visits are always too few and far between!

Hal & Ruby Hit the Books

The Smiths of New York arrived for a visit today!

Ruby noticed that I had the camera and she had to smile!



















...but she quickly forgot I was there and got into the wonderful story Auntie Hallie was reading!



















Not to be outdone, Griffin spends some quality time with Hal before bed.