Baby Ryleigh Update

Well, today marks 38 weeks and 5 days of being pregnant with Ryleigh Jean (it's 4:50am on Tuesday) and I'm still pregnant. Baby girl is happy and comfy inside my large belly and isn't showing signs of coming just yet. Oh how I wish it were time to meet our sweet baby girl! My comfort level is dropping ever so quickly and my patience is growing a bit thin with waiting. I know, I know, I know that she will come when she is ready and it will be perfect, but oh my goodness, I'm ready to birth this baby girl right now! She's most likely around 7 lbs and 20-21 inches long. I have an appointment with my chiropractor on Wednesday afternoon and with my OB on Monday morning. I would LOVE it if I wasn't able to make it to those appointments because of delivery but oh well, I guess I'll just have to continue the waiting game.

Ryleigh-

Mommy, Daddy, your big sisters and the rest of our family and friends are super ready to meet you. Please come as soon as you are ready! We love you so much already baby girl!!

Love,

Mommy

Current discomforts: cramping in my right leg, hips falling asleep in bed, Braxton Hicks contractions, stuffy nose and sore throat (happened over night), itchy belly and overall just feeling anxious and ready to get this show on the road. I'm a bit nervous about natural unmedicated birth but I REALLY do want to do it. I'm praying that it works out for Andrea, my cousin, to be at the hospital with Chase and I to help coach me through the delivery.

Baby Bump @ 38 Weeks

How I'm feeling at 38 weeks: Thankfully, I'm feeling pretty good still. I am very ready to have baby Ryleigh in my arms but I'm not totally uncomfortable yet. I'm still sleeping pretty well and my hip pain is much better since I've been going to the chiropractor on a regular basis. I've started having some pain in the bottom of my right foot that I'm assuming is from wearing flip flops recently due to the warmer weather. The pain gets pretty bad at the end of the day but I'm trying to ice it and stretch the muscle as much as I can. I'd love to go on some good walks to help get labor going but I have to hobble and that just looks pitiful. haha!

Baby's Development at 38 weeks:

Pretty much all systems are a go at this point. Ryleigh's lungs are finishing up some development these last few days and then she should be ready to come on into this world. I'm hoping she'll be around 7 pounds when she's born. (Brantley was 7lb 10oz, Savannah was 6lb 10oz) She is growing still because this belly is amazingly large. It still amazes me how much my stomach can stretch to grow these sweet tiny humans!

Doctor's Appointment at 38 weeks: I had my 38 week visit on Wednesday morning. It went well. Ryleigh is still measuring right on track at 38cm and her heartrate was great. She is a total wiggle worm so Dr. S has a really hard time getting a good read on her heart rate. I have dilated just a touch more to 1 1/2cm and I'm still about 50 % effaced. Dr. S said not to worry about those numbers too much. Labor could kick in at any point no matter what I was on Wednesday. My doctor will be out of town for Spring Break next week so I'm going to skip my 39 week appointment in hopes that I'll have Ryleigh next week. But if not, I have an appointment to see her again on Monday, April 4th. I really hope I have Ryleigh by then and don't need to go to that appointment.

Labor Prediction: My guess is that I'll deliver her one day next week. That may be kinda inconvenient for Chase because of work conflicts but if Ryleigh decides she's done cooking around the same time her sisters were delivered, then it puts her at Tuesday or Wednesday of next week. I'd really LOVE to have her this weekend but I don't feel like it's coming in the next day or so. Making it past Easter would be nice but at the same time nothing could be sweeter than having our sweet baby in my arms. The only day I would prefer for her not to come is next Thursday, April Fools Day. Please no! I just don't think that sounds like a fun birth date.

Belly Picture for 38 weeks:

Baby Bump @ 36 weeks

How I'm Feeling at 36 weeks: My hip/back pain has gotten much better since I started going to a new chiropractor a few weeks ago. It's amazing how much easier it is to walk and move around now that my hips are in line. Ryleigh has begun to drop down into my pelvis now that it is aligned so that is a major plus. Until now she has been tilted to the side (transverse).
-I've started doing more and more exercises to get my body ready for delivery and they feel really good. I've gotten them from my chiropractor and The Bradley Method book that I've started reading.
-I've started having more BH contractions. I'll have a few each day but as soon as I sit down, drink some water and rest, they stop.
Baby's Development at 36 weeks:

Ryleigh is the size of a Honeydew melon or a Spaghetti Squash!!

• Baby's getting closer and closer to being able to breathe on his or her own.
• Baby's skin is getting smooth and soft and the gums are rigid.
• Baby's liver and kidneys are in working order.
• Circulation and immune systems are basically good to go too.

(WhattoExpect.com says that Ryleigh is about 6 lbs and 20inches long. She's getting close to birth size!)

Doctor's Appointment at 36 weeks: Yesterday's appointment went well. Ryleigh is measuring right at 36cm/36 weeks. She was moving so much that Dr. S couldn't get a heartbeat on her but we obviously know she's doing well in there. ha! This was the first week that my cervix was checked for progress. I am 1cm dilated and 50% effaced or thinned out. That's right in the middle of where I have been with the big girls at 36 weeks. I'm hoping I'll be a bit more effaced at least by next weeks appointment. Effacement usually happens ahead of dilation. I also had some blood work done that showed I'm slightly anemic, so I've begun taking an iron supplement to prepare me for delivery.

Labor & Delivery: I've chosen to try a natural, unmedicated delivery with Ryleigh. My doctor thinks I'm a great candidate since I've had fairly easy deliveries before and this is my third baby. I've been reading The Bradley Method book to prepare myself. Chase and I will be attending the unmedicated birthing class at Brookwood on March 16th. Hopefully, we both feel much more confident after that.
-My doctor thinks I'll probably deliver a week or so early with Ryleigh like I've done with the girls, so we're preparing for Miss Ryleigh to join our family one day during spring break. I hope!!

Belly Picture for 36 weeks:

Bump Pictures @ 32, 33 and 35 weeks

Baby Bump @ 29 weeks

How I'm Feeling at 29 Weeks: Thankfully, Ryleigh and I are still doing really well. My belly is getting rather large. ha! I forget just how round my belly gets when there's a growing baby inside.
I'm still experiencing some pretty bad SI joint pain. Also, just a few days ago, I started having sharp pains in my groin. I had both during my pregnancy with Savannah so I'm not worried about it, but it is uncomfortable. I think I may be having some Braxton Hicks contractions but then again it could just be gas. Sorry! Anyways, they come in little spurts and aren't anything I'm concerned about at this point.

Baby's Development at 29 weeks:

- This week Ryleigh is about the weight of a butternut or acorn squash.
- She's starting to get a bit cramped in there so her kicks are feeling more like jabs. She is a wiggle bottom like her sisters, for sure!
- Even though she is around 16 inches long, she is still super skinny. From here on out she'll mostly put on the pounds, by at least doubling her weight by birth. Her body will be grow white fat cells to pump her up and give her surges of energy.
- I haven't felt her hiccup yet but I'm sure they're coming.

Doctor's Appointments: Last Thursday I had my 28 weeks doctor visit, which went really well. My blood pressure is still good and my weight gain is on track, even though I feel HUGE! We attempted a 4D ultrasound of Miss Ryleigh but there wasn't enough fluid around her face to get a clear picture. We're going to try again next week when I go back for my 30 week visit. Hopefully, the placenta will have moved up away from her face so that we can get some good pictures of her sweet little face.
I'm now visiting my doctor every 2 weeks until 36 weeks, then I will go each week until delivery. AHH!! I can't wait to hold this sweet baby girl in my arms!!

Belly picture for 29 weeks:

Baby Bump @ 28 weeks

How I'm feeling: I'm doing great. Ryleigh Jean is growing like a weed. She weighs as much as an eggplant this week.

My doctor appointment went well this week. Now I start going every two weeks until 36 weeks.

 Belly Picture for 28 weeks:

My Big Fat Belly - 38 Weeks

How I'm Feeling at 38 weeks: Anxious. Nervous. Tired. Ready. Really pregnant. Annoyed. Excited. Happy. Anxious!! Every feeling under the sun that can be associated with being 38 weeks pregnant really!! I'm so ready to have this baby in my arms and I'm trying really hard to be patient. Unfortunately, if you know me at all, you know that patience is not one of my greatest virtues. So, I'm taking it one day at a time and reminding myself over and over again that the longer she is inside my belly, the healthier she will be.
I've started having more BH contractions each day and they are longer and stronger, just not in any consistent pattern and they stop when I go to bed or rest. I've been trying to get out and walk a little every day but that isn't always possible with BR because she doesn't like to ride in the stroller for longer than 20 minutes. The pressure down there is so crazy painful sometimes, especially during a contraction. I feel like I spend the majority of my day in the bathroom because I'm constantly having to pee. It will be so nice when that sensation is gone after delivery.
So, really overall I'm still doing great. At my appointment on Thursday, I was still 1.5cm, almost 2cm. My belly is measuring 37.5 weeks so Savannah's growth has started to slow down which I'm hoping translates into, she'll be here very soon. My blood pressure is still wonderfully low and I haven't gained any weight in over 3 weeks now.

Baby Movements: Savannah is actually still very active at times. I thought by now she would have run out of room to do much moving. BUT for the past 3 mornings and sometimes during the day, she gets really ralled up and kicks, punches, squirms for a good 15 minutes which hurts and keeps me awake for a while. Chances are she is going to be an early riser once she's born. Oh Joy!

Baby's Size: Dr. S and I discussed Savannah's size on Thursday and we're both thinking she might be a little smaller than Brantley when she is born. I feel like I was bigger with BR and since SC's growth has slowed down I'm not sure she'll make it to 7lbs 10oz by next Saturday, but really we don't know.

Belly Pic of the week:

I'll be back Friday for my 39 weeks belly post or sooner if Savannah decides to make her arrival before then. I hope everyone has a good week! Please keep us in your prayers! Thanks!!

My Big Fat Belly - 37 Weeks

How I'm Feeling at 37 weeks: Thankfully, I'm still feeling pretty good. I'm sleeping decent for being over 9 months pregnant, so that's a plus. I haven't been feeling very many Braxton Hick's contractions over the past week or so. My only complaint/pain that I'm experiencing now is menstral-like cramping and groin pains. They are like really bad period cramps that don't stop for an hour or so (sometimes they just come and go). The groin pain just about brings me to my knees sometimes. It's like I get a cramp in my groin muscles when I walk so it just takes me out all of a sudden. I asked the doctor about it and she told me that it's just from hormones causing my pelvis to open up so that Savannah can drop down more. The pains led to me going in to my doctor's office to be checked on Tuesday afternoon but I wasn't in labor and I was still at 1.5 cm.

Doctors Appointment/Progress: I went to my 37 weeks appointment yesterday. Savannah and I are still doing really well. All the little measurements and tests they do looked great so there are no worries. Dr. S checked my cervix again just to see if anything had changed since Tuesday and I was still at a solid 1.5cm. I was totally expecting that since I haven't been feeling very many BH contractions. So that was that.

Kinda big news....There is an end in sight! Dr. S and I decided yesterday that if I haven't had Savannah on my own by 39 weeks, I will be induced on Saturday, May 19th!!!!! I'm so excited to say that in 2 weeks or less we will be holding our baby girl in our arms!!! So if I don't go into labor sometime in the next 2 weeks on my own Chase and I will be heading to the hospital bright and early that Saturday morning to be induced. EEEK! I'm so excited!!!

Baby's Size at 37 weeks:

Savannah is now about the size of a Watermelon and considered FULL TERM!! Yay!!

I forgot to have Dr. S guess how much she weighs at this appointment but I'm still going to guess that she is somewhere around 6-7lbs. I was looking back at my belly pictures from my pregnancy with BR and I think I may have been a little bigger at 37 weeks with her than I am at 37 weeks with Savannah. BR was born 7lb10oz at 39 weeks, so that's why I'm guessing that Savannah is more like 6lbs right now.

What I'm looking forward to: Going into labor sometime soon or at least being induced in 2 weeks. I'm so happy to know that there is a for sure end (I mean I know the date) that I will no longer be pregnant and I will get to see our sweet baby girls face. These next 2 weeks are going to test my patience so please pray with me that I can relax and just enjoy myself while we wait for Savannah's big debut. Thanks!

Belly pic at 37 weeks:

You can visit HERE to see my 37 week belly post during my pregnancy with Brantley Rae and compare my size if you'd like.

Okay I'll be back next week with 38 weeks belly post unless by some chance I deliver before then. Stay tuned!!

Maternity Pictures

This morning we went over to the Birmingham Botanical Gardens to take some maternity photos of me (and Savannah) and 2 year-old photos of BR. These are the best ones that we were able to get of me. The lighting was really too bright in a lot of places this morning and we were trying to keep up with BR while taking my pictures. A task that could only be handled with Smarties. haha

I am 36 weeks and 1 day pregnant with Savannah Claire Williamson. We CAN NOT wait to meet her!!!

My Big Fat Belly - 36 Weeks (Photo Update)

How I'm feeling at 36 weeks: Still very pregnant but super excited after today's doctors appointment. I'll get to that in just a minute. Savannah has dropped so I'm breathing a little easier these days. Sleeping has gotten a little more difficult because my hips fall asleep around 2:30am, so I have to sit awake for an hour or so before I can get back in the bed. Dr. S suggested that I start taking Tylenol PM so that I can sleep better for the rest of this pregnancy.

Progress: I got really good news today! Are you ready.... I'm 1 1/2centimeters dilated and 50% effaced!! Yay!! I'm further along at 36 weeks with Savannah than I was at 36 weeks with BR. I'm so pumped and encouraged that maybe I won't be pregnant for another 4 more weeks. I'm really hoping that I will have her in the next 2 weeks but I guess that's really all up to Savannah. Savannah is for sure head down and pretty far down into my pelvis. Dr. S didn't say what station she was but she did say she was really far down so that's good. Also, that explains the pressure I've been feeling down there. I didn't have an ultrasound today since we are certain that Savannah is head down. She may guess her weight next week if I'm still preggo at that point.
Dr. S did say that she thinks I will deliver before 39 weeks because I've progressed sooner with SC than I did with BR and I had BR at 39 weeks. We'll See!!

Baby's Size at 36 Weeks:

I'm not sure where in those ranges she is on length and weight but I'm still measuring right on track so I guess she might be somewhere in the middle.

Belly Pic:

Let me explain the middle picture... I'm pushing down on my stomach to show how much she has dropped.

Please pray with us that sometime within the next few weeks I deliver a healthy baby girl. We thank you for your thoughts and prayers. Also, if you haven't already done so make sure to cast your vote for when you think Savannah will be born. Just for fun!!

My Big Fat Belly - 35 Weeks

How I'm Feeling at 35 weeks: I'm feeling pretty good considering how pregnant I am. I'm really looking forward to my appointment this week because Dr. S is going to check Savannah's size and position via ultrasound. I think she's head down but possibly sunny-side up (facing out).
I've been having some interesting symptoms this week of my body gearing up for labor. Wednesday I was very nauseated pretty much all day and then by that afternoon my back and thighs started aching pretty bad and made me worried about preterm labor, but since I wasn't having any contractions, I figured we were okay. I have also feeling little one pushing on my bladder/cervix so maybe she's getting things thinned out. I'll find that out on Thursday at my doctors appointment as well.
Oh and I've been feeling more Braxton Hick's contractions this week. My body is getting ready for baby girls big arrival finally.

Baby's Size at 35 Weeks:

Savannah is now about the size of a butternut squash!!

- Savannah's hearing is now fully developed. She can respond to sound now and mostly, to high-pitched noises.

- She is almost full term and ready for her bid debut!! 2 more weeks!!

Belly Pic at 35 Weeks:

Doctors Appointment: I go to the doctor on Thursday afternoon so I'll update again on Friday. Thanks for thoughts and prayers as my pregnancy with Savannah starts nearing the end.

My Big Fat Belly - 34 Weeks

How I'm feeling at 34 weeks: VERY pregnant!! I'm not having any major pains but I'm pretty uncomfortable every moment of the day at this point. I know it's only going to get worse and that's probably the worst part. I'm SO ready to not be pregnant any longer and to hold Savannah in my arms instead of her being inside my belly. My hope and prayers are for her to make her arrival in about 4 weeks. I have heard from numerous people that second babies often come sooner than the first so that's what I'm hoping for. Savannah's birth would be a great Mother's Day gift this year. I would be 38w, 2d by then. I'll be ready!!

Savannah's position: Dr. S is pretty sure she is head down because she always hears her heartbeat on the Doppler below my belly button. I think she is still pivoting around though because sometimes I feel her back in front but then other times I feel arms and legs. At my next appointment in 2 weeks, Dr. S is going to make sure she is head down and whether she is sunny side up or not. I'm hoping she isn't because that would mean I'll be having a longer/harder delivery this time.

Movements: Savannah still moves around a good bit. She is mostly giving me kicks and punches these days because she has gotten too big to turn flips.

Baby's Size at 34 weeks:

-My guess is that she's probably is the middle of that range at about 5 pounds.
-At 34 weeks, the Savannah is now able to recognize simple songs that are sung over and over. I guess Savannah will be calmed by Brantley and I singing Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star and  The Wheels on the Bus because we sing those a lot.
-She is also urinating about a pint a day. This one isn't so cute but my hope is that her bladder is working just as it should be.

Doctor's appointment: I had my 34 week check up with Dr. S on Thursday afternoon and we got a good report from her. My blood pressure was 126/68 which is really good and about where it is always. (In the past weeks it's been more like 120/60, but this weeks is still really good). My weight gain still looks good but the number is getting higher and higher and it's starting to freak me out, but I'll live. I'm measuring exactly 34cm/weeks so even though I look really huge and like I'm about ready to pop, Savannah's growth is right on track. 

My next appointment will be in 2 weeks (36 weeks). Dr. S will do my first pelvic exam to see if I have started to dilate or thin out. I will also have blood work done and such to gear but for delivery. 

I'm not really sure if I've been having Braxton Hicks contractions yet or not. If I have, I can't really feel them or I'm just not sure what I'm feeling. I'm hoping I start having them (and feeling them) in the next two weeks so my body can start practicing for delivery. We'll see!

Belly Pic of the week:

We finally hung Savannah's vinyl name decal a few weeks ago. The plan is to hang a canvas print of one of her newborn photos above it after she's born. I can't wait!

What I'm looking forward to: Meeting Savannah in a few weeks and not being pregnant anymore!!

My Big Fat Belly - 31 Weeks

I've decided that I'm just going to wait until Friday to do a 32 week post and then I might not post again until 34 weeks since BR and I will be at the beach next week. Although, I will say that I'm feeling pretty good this week. Savannah and my belly are growing like crazy. I've had multiple people over the past few days tell me that I look like I could have her any day, but that I look great. haha I wish we could flash forward to 8 weeks from now so Savannah would be here but we can't so I'm praying that she stays in there for at least 6 more weeks. She still has a lot of growing to do and I'm just going to look like a bus AGAIN, just like I did with Brantley. Haha! At least I can laugh about it! I'm expecting any day to get the "are you having twins comment" I got a few times when I was preggo with BR. My belly gets so big that I guess it's a valid question.

Anyways, I'll be back Friday or Saturday to post about 32 weeks.

My Big Fat Belly - 30 Weeks

How I'm feeling at 30 weeks: I thankfully don't have anything terrible to complain about this week. haha My hip/buttocks pain has mysteriously stopped for the most part over the past few days. Hallelujah! I'm guessing that this means my hips have stopped opening for now so the muscle in my behind isn't bothered right now. Other than that great news I'm feeling pretty good. It's getting increasingly harder to take deep breaths but that's just because munchkin is getting so big. I've had multiple people already tell me that I look like I'm about to pop and they don't see how I can go much longer. ha! Not what I really want to hear but I know it's true. My belly is getting pretty big but thankfully, I'm still all baby belly.

Baby's Size at 30 weeks:

 

Savannah is the length of a cucumber and weighs as much as a large head of cabbage!

• -She is probably closes to 3 pounds. I would love to have an ultrasound and find out her actual weight. I'm going to ask my Dr. if she will do another u/s around 36 weeks or so to check Savannah's position and size.
  -Her skin is getting smoother, but her brain is getting wrinklier -- to make way for all that essential brain tissue.
  -She's now strong enough to grasp a finger!
  -A pint and a half of amniotic fluid surrounds her, but that volume will decrease as she gets bigger and takes up more room in your uterus.
•  
• This is a picture of what it probably looks like inside my belly at 30 weeks. Savannah is quickly running out or wiggle room in there. I'm hoping that she is in this head-down position but I really am not sure. I have this scary feeling that she is breach. 

Belly Pic of the week:

What I'm looking forward to: We really need to get working on finishing the nursery while I still feel like it. Also, some of my girlfriends are going to throw me a little baby sprinkle dinner next month so I'm excited about that as well. We haven't nailed down a date yet but I'm working on that part. 

Brantley and I also got invited back down to the beach with some of our sweet friends, so I can't wait to go back down there with Brantley and let the girls play for a few days in the sunshine and on the beach.

My Big Fat Belly - 28 Weeks

How I'm feeling at 28 weeks: My back/hip pain is still getting worse so I'm really hoping Dr. S sends me to therapy when I see her on Wednesday. Other than that I'm okay, just kinda tired. I'm also starting to have a bit of anxiety about having 2 kiddos to take care of. People keep telling me that it's totally different, way harder and basically a living nightmare. I'm worried! I know I'm going to love them both so much, but I'm afraid I'm going to lose my mind. If any of you other Moms of two or more can give me some comforting words or advice they would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

Baby's Position: Today we had our 4D ultrasound done with Savannah and I found out that she's not quiet in the head down position. Her head is kind nestled in my right hip and then her body is wrapped around to the left. She is facing up. So I feel all her kicks and punches on the right side of my belly. I'm sure I don't need to worry about her being breech just yet but when we had Brantley's 4D done her head was already way down in my pelvis and I had to be tipped upside down a little bit so we could see her face. I guess I'll wait and see what Dr. S says about it on Wednesday before I really start to worry.

Baby's Size at 28 weeks:

Savannha is now the size of a rutabaga!

Putting on layers of fat, your baby now weighs in around 1.5 to 2.5 pounds and measures about 13.6 to 14.8 inches.

Belly Pic of the week:

What I'm looking forward to: I'm anxious to talk to my doctor this week about my back, Savannah's position and a few other things. Hopefully I can get some answers and lay my worries to rest. Also, Chase and I are going to the beach in a few weeks and I'm totally looking forward to getting away for a few days. I'll miss Brantley a lot but I really need some time off from being a full time Mommy.

Next up... Savannah's 4D Ultrasound photos!!