Thanks

Since it is approaching Thanksgiving, I thought my blog would discuss what I'm thankful for - baby-related. So, here it goes...

I am thankful for a smooth pregnancy. I've been feeling really normal -- not many aches and pains at all. Yes, there's some back pain, but not bad at all. I am also thankful that this pregnancy has not had the 'icks' that I've read about: vericose veins, hemorrhoids, constipation, the list goes on.

I am thankful for a child that is developing as expected. Last Friday was our 32 week ultrasound, and we could really start to see a human with personality -- the button nose was already apparent! The baby is still in a 'breached' position, where his head is near my ribcage, but there is still plenty of time for the baby to rotate to the birthing position. Baby Thumper's heartbeat was in the 140s, and according to the doctor, the baby is about 3.5 to 4 pounds already. When I asked my doctor about how big the baby was, he lifted up his hands (so that his palms faced each other) and said a very scientific, "Oh, about 'yay' big." Oh, thanks, doc, thanks for the specifics. Now you probably didn't know this, but a 'yay' is approximately 10 inches. I am thankful to know what a 'yay' is. :-D

I am thankful my placenta moved. (Where did it go?) One reason for the ultrasound was to ensure that my placenta was not too low. Early on, it had appeared to be close to the baby's "exit," but the doctor said it oftentimes will move farther along in the pregnancy. Well, mine moved, thankfully. If the placenta had stayed too low, it would have complicated the pregnancy, increasing the possibility for pre-labor bleeding and may have necessitated a c-section.