new baby pic & a GOOD NEWS update!!

There is good news!!

Ewan @ 33 weeks (click on the pic for a larger view)

Ewan and I are both measuring normally. At 33 weeks, his estimated weight is 4 lbs 9 oz (putting him in the 60th percentile) and my measurements are exactly on track again: measuring 33 cm at 33 weeks (if you recall, I was measuring 37 cm at 29 weeks, so this is definitely a positive development). Hoorah!! For the second appointment in a row, I lost a few pounds (2 lbs since my last visit, and the visit before that I had lost about 3 lbs). Not to worry however -- this still puts my net weight gain for this pregnancy at a healthy and respectable 31 lbs, which is in the healthy range of weight gain given my height and weight. I can assure everyone (and anyone who has seen me in person recently can attest): my appetite is VERY healthy!!

(And it's good for me that I am still weighing less than my husband. Wink, wink.)

Unfortunately, the doctor we saw yesterday was not our normal doctor (ours had torn her achilles tendon and was out of the office). This other doc ordered another ultrasound to measure my fluid levels next week. I was surprised, since the amniotic fluid was measuring within the normal range. She said "the higher end of the normal range" and James and I both agreed that given the other measurements being right on track, this is something our doctor would probably not be concerned about. This experience makes us even MORE thankful for Dr. J who has promised to be there for the delivery of this baby and who we will see again next week.

I was particularly thankful because this is the first positive ultrasound experience that we've had this whole pregnancy: the pictures we saw yesterday confirmed what we were seeing at 22 weeks: Ewan has no other abnormalities or deformities present -- his heart rate is healthy, he's kicking hard, his hands and feet and fingers and toes are all normal, his lungs and all his other organs look perfectly healthy.

We're so excited to meet him!!

In other news, we begin our birthing classes at the hospital today. We were really hoping to take some Bradley method (or other natural method) classes, but couldn't find anything that worked for our schedule. I've been doing a lot of reading about natural methods and am hoping that my stubborn, stoic Scandinavian constitution and high threshold for pain will see us through so we can have the unmedicated birth we want.

I can't believe how close we're getting ...