THE NICHOLS FAMILY


Saturday, December 6, 2008

Baby Update

I haven't given a baby update lately so here it goes. I went to the doctor the Tuesday before thanksgiving. This was my 18 week appointment and ultrasound. This is the appointment where we could have found out what we are having but I resisted temptation and I'm looking forward to being surprised.

Everything looked perfect. The baby is growing just like it is supposed to and I got some good pictures and video. The heart beat has remained at 158 bpm the whole time. I've had four ultrasounds now and each time the heart beat has been the same.

I did find out that this time I have a front placenta. They said that this is normal but it is creating an extra cushion between me and the baby. This would be why they were unable to find the heart beat the last two appointments and why I can't feel this baby kicking all over the place yet. I felt Mary Selwyn for the first time at 16 weeks and so by this time she was going crazy in there. I was getting worried when I wasn't feeling this baby. Turns out everything is fine it is just going to take a little longer to feel those kicks. Now I have felt it some, but just a little bit every now and then. It isn't the consistent movements I long for but soon enough I'm sure.

Like I said this front placenta thing isn't abnormal but it could be a little tricky for me since I will be having a scheduled c-section. Dr. Nicholls said that if they have to cut through it, not to be too graphic or anything, that it can cause more blood loss. I'm not real excited about the possibility of this because my blood loss is what kept me down for several weeks after Mary Selwyn was born. Apparently my body doesn't reproduce, I'm not sure that is the right word, the blood that I have lost fast enough. The doctor talked for several days last time about giving me a blood transfusion. Thankfully we were able to avoid that. So this worries me a little bit but Dr. Nicholls said we have other things to worry about right now, "like what to buy for Christmas," were his exact words and we will look again later. So overall it was a good report, which we are very thankful for.

Now here are some pictures of our enormous Christmas tree. Normally we go to one of those cozy little Christmas tree farm places to pick out our tree but in an effort to pinch pennies this year we went to Lowe's and boy we got a deal. We ended up with a huge douglas fir tree. I'm positive it is the biggest tree in Dothan (have I ever mentioned that I tend to exaggerate). I love it!! Oh and it was only $40.00!!!! What a steal. We had fun decorating it with Mary Selwyn's help and managed to only break one ornament. We are enjoying how cozy our house is with all the lighted garland and trees. By the way, I still dressed MSN up in a cute candy cane dress to go pick out our tree but she wouldn't be still long enough for me to take her picture looking for trees. Hope everyone is enjoying the Christmas season as well.




Wouldn't she be the cutest little elf ever?


This is the view of the tree from the recliner that sits in front of it.


Please notice how much taller it is than my back door. That door is 8ft tall....it towers it. I told you biggest Christmas tree in Dothan.

4 comments:

Rachel said...

Listen to me and listen to me good. I swear on all that is good and pure...if I don't get to see you over Christmas, we're breaking up...we will no longer be friends. Think about it! :)

Ann-Marie said...

lol! I love the big Christmas tree, and I love the candy cane outfit. Green is definitely - hands down- MSN's best color.

kristen said...

The tree looks great!

jane said...

sorry to hear about the possibility of extra blood loss-- we both had a pretty rough go of it last time... i'm starting to have to chase down fears as they creep up. i guess getting into the second half makes the "baby getting out" part more real and unavoidable ;-) just thought i would mention a website to you http://www.ican-online.org/ ... it is a good place to find up to date info about c-sections and vaginal birth after c-section... just in case the front placenta/ blood loss makes that something to consider trying... glad things are going well otherwise!