We are finally getting settled in our temporary apartment in Brooklyn, and had our first appointment with the OB today. We met with Dr. Roshan at NYU today and liked him a lot. He asked us a lot of detailed questions, and took more ultrasound photos of our little girl! This is going to be the most photographed baby in utero to date!
The baby is doing well and growing like a weed. She measured 1 lb, 15 oz today, about 4 ounces larger than her due date indicates. Yep, woe is me, she's going to be a big baby! She was ultrasounding a week ahead in size. Due to her size, Dr. Roshan made an adjustment to my due date to August 27th. He also checked my placenta with the ultrasound, which as you may remember from our last update was covering my cervix, i.e., must have a c-section. This time, the placenta had stretched some and it just partially covered the cervix. He lowered my chances for requiring a c-section to 50%, whereas four weeks ago I was given 100% chance of a c-section. That is great news, although I was getting used to the idea of planning the delivery according to our schedule. He also said it was great that it was oriented towards the spine, because if he does have to do a c-section, it will not have to cut through the placenta to get to her. That means less bleeding and a more discreet scar! Woohoo!
The baby seemed bored throughout the exam. She was yawning and punching mostly. Her legs are looking a little cramped in there, so not as much kicking as before. She has definitely grown since our last exam, and while we didn't get her exact length, she should be about 13 1/2 inches long or so. She definitely practices her karate moves in there, and I can feel them all the time. The coolest thing she has developed recently is a sense of equilibrium. Apparently she hates to be on her head, and prefers to be more on her back/tummy. At night, when I'm sleeping on my side, she will adjust herself so she is oriented more parallel with the bed. Then if I roll over, she'll move herself around again.
As for me, I'm doing well and feeling well. Dr. Roshan was unconcerned with the swelling in my ankles, he said it was normal. However, he was concerned about my blood pressure, which was in the high-normal range. However, I think I just get stressed out going to the doctor, because I bought one of those home blood pressure monitors and when I'm not around the doctor's office, my blood pressure is perfectly normal. However, to monitor this, we are going back in two weeks to make sure there's no change.
Joel seems to be doing well too, but is feeling the pressure to get our nest in order. He only had a few sympathy nausea episodes in the beginning, but now seems to have lost his first trimester weight gain and is back to normal. So far he likes his job and the people he has met at work. We have been looking for a more permanent place to live, and are meeting with some friends tonight with whom we might buy a brownstone in Brooklyn.
Finally, the question we have been hearing from everyone...what will you name the baby? We are test-driving the name Katherine Madison Yarbrough. The name has special meaning for us, because Joel's maternal grandmother was named Katherine, and my maternal grandfather had the middle name Madison, as did his father, grandfather, great-grandfather, etc., as far back as the late 1700s. The name also met Joel's criteria in his special baby name analysis database, which you can view here: http://www.joelandjenn.com/download/bnames.shtml We are planning to nickname her Kate (and maybe Strawberry every once in a while for posterity).
