I had another ultrasound this afternoon to check on baby Katie's size. In case I haven't shared, we have been concerned that this baby might be as big as Drew was (who would have had to become a C-section if he had been any bigger) and cause problems at delivery. With this being my fourth and last pregnancy, I would really like to avoid a C-section if I can, and my doctor has been wonderfully supportive.
We've been monitoring her growth closely. I had my last ultrasound at 33 weeks along and at that time she was measuring right on track and in the 35th percentile for size, but my doctor did say that many big babies do not gain their weight until the last few weeks. Based on that ultrasound, the plan was to check again this week and then to induce me at 39 weeks just to play things safe.
Today's ultrasound really surprised me; this little one is most definitely taking after her petite big sister. As of now, 37 weeks along, she is measuring at five pounds and ten ounces and is in the 15th percentile for size. Rather than being worried about her being too large, my doctor said she hopes that Katie can gain at least another pound before birth. So nice to have that worry gone.
Unfortunately, we will still be inducing me in two weeks, but for a different reason. My Group B Strep Test results came back positive. GBS is a type of bacterial infection present in about 30% of pregnancies that can be passed from mother to baby during delivery. This infection is dealt with by giving the mother eight hours of IV antibiotics during labor but before delivery and then keeping both mother and baby in the hospital for 48 hours after birth for careful monitoring.
Given the fact that my labors have gotten faster each time, my doctor thinks it might be smart to have me come in as soon as I hit the 39 week mark, the earliest she likes to induce in a non-emergency situation, so that I can be sure to get in a couple of rounds of antibiotics before Katie makes her debut.
So while it was nice to hear that I can stop worrying about Katie being a ten- pounder, I now feel worried that I will go into an early and fast labor and that Katie will not get a chance to get the antibiotics she needs through me. I expressed these fears and was told that in that case, Katie would be very closely monitored with frequent blood tests and, worst- case scenario, would be transferred to Children's Hospital for IV antibiotics of her own. Definitely not my ideal situation, but one that we could handle if we needed to.
So, if you don't mind, I would love prayers that this little baby girl does not give me any excitement over the next sixteen days and that I am able to arrive calmly at the hospital on the morning of May 19 to start my antibiotics.
Also, I loved reading the name comments. I agree that it might cause issues to use her middle name as her first name and Ben and I have had lots of discussion about this. She actually would be Lily Kate or Lucy Kate- the double name. It's very big here in the South and I think it is adorable. We would not be calling her just Lily or just Lucy, which I think helps with the middle name/first name confusion.
We've been monitoring her growth closely. I had my last ultrasound at 33 weeks along and at that time she was measuring right on track and in the 35th percentile for size, but my doctor did say that many big babies do not gain their weight until the last few weeks. Based on that ultrasound, the plan was to check again this week and then to induce me at 39 weeks just to play things safe.
Today's ultrasound really surprised me; this little one is most definitely taking after her petite big sister. As of now, 37 weeks along, she is measuring at five pounds and ten ounces and is in the 15th percentile for size. Rather than being worried about her being too large, my doctor said she hopes that Katie can gain at least another pound before birth. So nice to have that worry gone.
Unfortunately, we will still be inducing me in two weeks, but for a different reason. My Group B Strep Test results came back positive. GBS is a type of bacterial infection present in about 30% of pregnancies that can be passed from mother to baby during delivery. This infection is dealt with by giving the mother eight hours of IV antibiotics during labor but before delivery and then keeping both mother and baby in the hospital for 48 hours after birth for careful monitoring.
Given the fact that my labors have gotten faster each time, my doctor thinks it might be smart to have me come in as soon as I hit the 39 week mark, the earliest she likes to induce in a non-emergency situation, so that I can be sure to get in a couple of rounds of antibiotics before Katie makes her debut.
So while it was nice to hear that I can stop worrying about Katie being a ten- pounder, I now feel worried that I will go into an early and fast labor and that Katie will not get a chance to get the antibiotics she needs through me. I expressed these fears and was told that in that case, Katie would be very closely monitored with frequent blood tests and, worst- case scenario, would be transferred to Children's Hospital for IV antibiotics of her own. Definitely not my ideal situation, but one that we could handle if we needed to.
So, if you don't mind, I would love prayers that this little baby girl does not give me any excitement over the next sixteen days and that I am able to arrive calmly at the hospital on the morning of May 19 to start my antibiotics.
Also, I loved reading the name comments. I agree that it might cause issues to use her middle name as her first name and Ben and I have had lots of discussion about this. She actually would be Lily Kate or Lucy Kate- the double name. It's very big here in the South and I think it is adorable. We would not be calling her just Lily or just Lucy, which I think helps with the middle name/first name confusion.
Comments
XOXO.
Allie
Can't wait to meet LITTLE Lucy-Kate (or Lily-Kate, or Katie Lucille, or whatever name she ends up with....)