30w5d- OB and Ultrasound

Our little man is measuring over 4lbs and over 34 weeks!!! HB 164. He is breach and fluid levels are in the normal range.  Cervix is closed and not soft but blood is present.  When mommy stood up, a gush of blood came out.  Doctor's orders to take today off and rest with feet up.  If more blood gushes or contractions start back up,  she is to head to L & D for a check.  Mommy requested an external aversion to getting you into position and ready for a natural delivery.  Their office does them at 34 weeks.  

The next appointment is with the ENT for the steroid injections in the eardrum for her sudden hearing loss.  We are hoping that it does not throw her into labor as the oral steroid did!

Sadly contractions started and did not slow down…Caitlin spent several hours in L&D.  Contractions about 5 minutes apart and 1 cm dilated but cervix still hard.  They had to give her Turbutraline to stop the contractions.  It worked and Mommy was sent home.

30 Week Life Update for Mommy

 Last Friday, Mommy heard a ringing in her left ear for about 20 mins and then she lost her hearing in that ear.  It’s known as sudden hearing loss caused by a virus.  There are 4 levels of hearing loss (mild, moderate, severe, profound) Mommy has profound hearing loss. ENT said she’s pretty sure it’s viral and it’s considered a medical emergency due to short window of time for steroid treatments to be effective. The first oral dose of steroids put started labor contractions and you little man did not like it one bit.  Your movements even slowed.  After a few hours of flushing herself with water and putting her feet up, the contractions let us and you started more regular movements.   

Mommy saw an ENT specialist who wants to do the injection steroids in ear drum over a 3 week period while being monitored by OB… since we know it can  cause early labor but these injections are more localized.  

Flip side if she says no to injections she will miss her window of trying to improve her hearing. She only has an 8 week window of time to try.  But ENT was kind and blunt at the same time…. Right now she has a slim chance this will work due to level of loss.   If no improvement will do MRI for possible tumor which are 99% benign and … hearing aides won’t work for her profound level of loss and may need a cochlear implant. 

We are praying these treatments do not cause you any undue stress and that you stay nice and comfy in your mommy womb for several more weeks!

30 Weeks Belly Pic!

 

30 Weeks Pregnant!

 

How big is my baby at 30 weeks?

Your belly's increasing size is a definite clue that your baby is getting bigger every day — now he’s weighing in at about 3 pounds. He’ll be packing on weight at a rate of roughly half a pound per week for the next seven weeks.

Baby's brain is getting bigger

Also growing at a quick pace these days? Baby's brain. Until now, its surface was smooth — but now, your fetus' brain is taking on those characteristic grooves and indentations.

The reason for the different appearance: Those wrinkles allow for an increased amount of brain tissue — a necessary change as your baby prepares to develop street smarts for life outside your womb.

Lanugo is disappearing

Now that baby’s brain and new fat cells are regulating body temperature, the lanugo — that soft, downy hair covering your little bean's body — is beginning to disappear.

No need for that furry coat anymore! But you may see a few leftover strands of fur on your newborn's back and shoulders when she’s born.

Bone marrow is making red blood cells

Another big change at 30 weeks pregnant: Your baby's bone marrow has completely taken over production of red blood cells — before, tissue groups and then the spleen took care of producing the blood cells. This is an important step for your baby because it means he'll be better able to thrive on his own once he is born.

29 Weeks Belly Pic!

 

29 Weeks Pregnant!!!

 Over  the next several weeks, Owen will more than double — or even come close to tripling — his weight!

Baby's getting more fat and fewer wrinkles

As more fat is deposited under the skin surface, his wrinkled skin is smoothing out. This white fat, as it's called, is different from the earlier brown fat your developing fetus accumulated. Brown fat is necessary for body temperature regulation, while white fat — the same kind you have — actually serves as an energy source.

Counting baby's kicks

Since space in your baby's living quarters is now at a premium, you'll be feeling jabs and pokes from elbows and knees, mostly.

And they'll be more vigorous and less erratic than before because your baby is stronger and excitedly responding to all sorts of stimuli — movement, sounds, light and that candy bar you ate half an hour ago.

That means now's a good time to start doing a kick count once or twice a day, depending on what your doctor recommends. Plus, it's a good excuse for a rest.

Mimi made these for Owen!

Camping!

28 Weeks- Belly Pic!

28 Weeks Pregnant!

 

28 weeks pregnant is how many months?

Mommy is 28 weeks pregnant, and in month 7 of your pregnancy. Only 2 months left to go! 

How big is my baby at 28 weeks? 

Your little work-in-progress now weighs about 2¼ pounds and is almost 15 inches long when measured head to toe.  So by going by the Ultrasound pics at 27 weeks Owen was measuring slightly bigger at the time…about One week ahead of schedule!

Baby's getting into position

Your baby is settling into the proper position for birth, which will be head-down toward your body's nearest exit! Owen is busy these days blinking — outside in the real world, blinking is necessary to help keep foreign objects out of the eyes. That skill is just one of an already impressive repertoire of tricks he is working on, like coughing, more intense sucking, hiccupping and, perhaps most important, better breathing.

Baby might be dreaming

Dreaming about your baby at 28 weeks pregnant? Your baby may be dreaming about you too. Brain wave activity measured in a developing fetus shows different sleep cycles, including the rapid eye movement phase — the stage when dreaming occurs

More Baby Sprinkle Pics!

27W3D- Setting up for Baby Sprinkle

The grandmas co-hosted a baby sprinkle for Owen and Caitlin at Mimi and Tara's house.

27 Weeks 3D/4/D Ultrasound Pics

Wow…You look like your older brother, Warren!

27 Weeks- Nursery

Milk Bath Maternity Pics!

Maternity Pictures!

27 WEEK ULTRASOUND!

 

OH MY,…YOU LOOK LIKE YOUR OLDER BROTHER, WARREN! During the ultrasound, you kept kicking the doppler and finally rolled away and hid your face!  Your heartbeat ranged between 130-140’s, weighing in around 2.7 lbs and measuring one week ahead!  We even saw a hair fuzz and back fat rolls!  You are soooo loved already! More pictures to post soon!

27 Weeks Pregnant!!!! Hello Third Trimester!

 Here’s Owen’s development so far:

Brain 

Your baby’s brain is now more active than ever. The neurons and synapses (where the brain cells meet) are forming and making a system of complex connections throughout the areas of the brain.3

Lungs 

Your baby's lungs are continuing to mature and prepare to breathe after birth. The tiny air sacs in the lungs (called alveoli) are expanding to help your baby take in and exchange air after birth; meanwhile, the cells of the lungs are making the small amount of surfactant necessary to keep the alveoli from collapsing.4

Your baby is also taking "practice breaths" of amniotic fluid—a practice that is an important part of their lung development. Your baby is spending about 10% to 20% of their time doing practice breaths.5

Survival Outside the Womb 

Babies born at 27 weeks are considered extremely premature and require a high level of care. However, research has found that up to 90% of babies born at 27 weeks will survive with extra support!

Belly at 26 Weeks- Belly Band!

 Started wearing a belly/back support band and it’s amazing !

Video- Big Brother, Warren!

 

Overview of Weeks 25 and 26!

 By now, Owen is almost 9 1/4 inches  from the top of their head to the bottom of the buttocks (known as the crown-rump length), and his height is about 13 inches from the top of the head to the heel (crown-heel length).1 This week, he weighs just about 32 ounces or 2 pounds.  2

Eyes 

All the parts of his eyes are formed. He even has visible eyebrows and eyelashes.3

Reflexes 

Owen is beginning to display the startle or moro reflex as well as the palmer (hand) and plantar (foot) grasp, all reflexes you'll see them perform as newborns.4

Reproductive System 

Since he is a boy, the testicles may begin to descend into the scrotum this week.5

Intestines 

Owen’s intestines also continue to grow and develop. They are absorbing more and more nutrients from the amniotic fluid and producing enzymes to break down nutrients such as sugars, proteins, and fats for digestion.6

Survival Outside the Womb 

While he still has plenty of growing and maturing to do, advances in modern medicine give babies born at 26 weeks an excellent chance of survival. These babies are still extremely premature, but with specialized care in the NICU, survival rates are as high as 85%.7 As each week passes and brings the baby closer to term, the chances of survival go up and the risks of life-long health problems go down.

Work!

Finally a day in my own office where I can put my feet up! My leg and ankle swelling has been bad 😣🙌🏻

25 week Belly!

Video- Belly Movement 24 Weeks Pregnant

 

24 Weeks Belly Pic!

24 WEEKS PREGNANT! VIABILITY!

 

Owen is about 11½ inches long and weighs 1 pound, gaining steadily at a rate of about 6 ounces per week. Much of that weight comes from growing organs, bones, muscle and accumulating baby fat.  And boy do you do use those muscles to move around.  Mommy has been recording your movements for a few weeks now!

 If we had a baby cam at 24 weeks pregnant, we’d almost be able to tell by now who you look like.   Your cute little face, though still tiny, is almost fully formed, complete with eyelashes, eyebrows and hair.

Will you have brown, black, blond or red hair — or something in between? Actually, right now your locks are white, since there's no pigment yet. The fat that will be piled on under your skin is also missing from the picture right now.

Until those fat deposits are made, that very tender skin is still very transparent, which means a close look would let you see clear through to all the organs, bones and blood vessels. Fortunately, that see-through look won't last much longer.

Most of all…week 24 mean viability! Let’s hope and pray you decide to not to make your debut any time soon!  The longer you develop in the womb, the quicker you come home after birth!  

Belly Time

Gracyn is toooo funny!

The Thompson Boys!

Pool Time!

23W4D

Baths are getting more uncomfortable to lay in 🤣

23 Weeks Belly Pic!