Twins? Due Date? Big Baby?

If only I had a dollar for every time I've been asked:

"Are you having twins?... "Are your sure your due date isn't sooner?"..Or my personal favorite, "WOW, that's going to be a BIG baby, isn't it?"

Funny how perfect strangers feel comfortable asking one or all of these questions! Yes, my stomach is big and appears to be multiplying by the day. I guess that comes with having person inside of you. All that matters is that I am on track according to my health care provider who says that there's only one baby in there; my due date is still the same (Oct. 16th), the baby is set to be average size (approx. 7 lbs), and most importantly he is healthy.

However, being the person that I am I did a little research and found that as humans we are all individuals and the size and shape of a pregnant woman's belly will depend on many factors (even at identical stages of pregnancy) including:

- Your height and weight.
- If this is your first or subsequent baby.
- What position your baby is lying in, and of course
- If you are carrying twins or triplets or more!

Therefore, try to remember that every woman's body is unique in how she changes and responds to her pregnancy.

Appointment #6 - 31 Weeks

We are now entering the 8th month! We just entered the single digit countdown - only 9 more weeks to go!

From the last appointment the results of the glucose screening revealed that Shauna is mildly anemic. This requires that in addition to her daily prenatal vitamin, she must take an iron supplement. Otherwise, the appointment was routine. Instead of every 4 weeks, the spacing of our appointments will be shortened to every 2 weeks from here on out. We are getting closer and more anxious by the day!

At 31 weeks the baby...
- Weighs about 3.5 lbs
- Is approximately 16.5 inches long
- Will gain .5 lbs per week until birth
- Can now process information from all five senses

30 Weeks

Pierre and Shauna at Robyn and Marrkel's Wedding.

27 & 28 Weeks

We spent weeks 27 and 28 in San Diego and Las Vegas for Dominic's basketball Tournament. We had lots of fun and the team placed 2nd in both tournaments! Shauna did fine with the flights and the weather. These were the last trips she will take before the baby is born (apparantly its not recommended to fly after 32 weeks for some reason).

Appointment #5 - 27 Weeks

Shauna is now 7 months! Most healthcare practitioners routinely recommend a glucose screening test (also called a glucose challenge test or GCT) between 24 and 28 weeks of pregnancy to check for gestational diabetes, a high blood sugar condition that some women get during pregnancy.

Before we arrived at our appointment, Iwe had to go to the lab so Shauna could take the glucose screening test. This process included drinking a orange-flavored (flat) soda-like drink. There was a one-hour waiting period - and we had to be back in exactly one hour for the results to be read or do it over. While we waited, we headed over to our scheduled appointment. Shauna's gaining weight on track and everything else checked out fine. With minutes to spare, we made it back for the screening reading, which consisted of a blood test.

At 27 weeks the baby...
- Weighs almost 2 pounds
- Is about 14.5 inches long
- Is sleeping and waking at regular intervals
- Can open and close his eyes
- Is possibly sucking his fingers

25 Weeks

Save the Date: Baby Shower BBQ - 9/5/09

Please save the date for our co-ed Baby Shower BBQ, to be held Saturday, September 5th at Temescal Park, Oakland, CA from 1-5pm.

Invitation to follow.