It's A Girl!!!!

Baby B...you're finally here!

Welcome to our baby girl!

Madeline Elizabeth Bernard 

Born Tuesday, March 8, 2011 at 8:16am. 

6 lb 14 oz and 20 inches

 Full details of our labor/birth story and many more (and better) pictures to come this week...promise!!

Progress in Centimeters

Dear Baby B -

At 38 weeks we are making progress! I went to the doctor yesterday and we are both doing great and looking good. We did find out that I am 1 (almost 2!) centimeters dilated and 50% effaced; and you are definitely continuing to burrow your way down there cause things are starting to get a little uncomfortable. Although I don't feel that I am having any contractions, just a couple here and there, I know we are getting close to your birth! So the big day is just around the corner!

The doctor and I did discuss a plan for if you do not come on your own. If you haven't arrived by March 8th, they will bring me in to the hospital that night to start the induction process with a plan for delivery on March 9th. Daddy was happy about that because 9 is his favorite number.

Last weekend we dedicated to making sure everything was ready for you to come home. We set up all kinds of things for you (swing, pack n play, bouncer, etc) and I just finished my last load of your laundry. The nursery is finally 99% complete and that's as complete as it can get until we know whether you are a boy or girl. Eventually we plan to put your name over the crib along with some decals. So below I've put up some pics of your future home:

Who knows Baby? Maybe Mommy's next post will be a picture of you and the announcement of your arrival!!!

Love you tons!

Mommy XOXO

Showered with Love

Hi Baby B!

We are almost at the end of our journey here. At 36 weeks now, we are in our final weeks. Believe it or not, you could come any day now! Now you are the size of a watermelon and are gaining about a half ounce per week:

Although you are almost considered full term (will be as of Friday), you are still continuing to grow. And everyday you spend in my belly is another day of strength you are gaining. So, as eager as Daddy and I are to meet you now, we're happy to let you stay put for a little while longer.

Our last two doctor's visits were pretty uneventful. They say you look great and things are going well. I've had a few contractions while on the fetal monitor, but nothing that I have felt. Although I do think I may have felt one or two these last couple days - obviously nothing too big though.

The doctors did inform me though that you will definitely be here by your due date, March 11!!! Because of my thyroid and the effects it can have on the placenta they do not want to you in there any longer than necessary. So that was exciting to here!! At one of our next visits we'll talk about a plan if you do not come on your own by then. Personally I feel like you're already moving down and getting yourself ready.

Last weekend Daddy and I started our childbirth prep class and will finish it this weekend. Although a lot of the information is review to me, it's been informative to both me and your Dad. Also this weekend we plan to finish putting everything together and away in anticipation of you coming. Your nursery is ALMOST complete and I can't wait to show off Daddy's amazing job! (Pictures of that should be posted next time)

Speaking of pictures, here's our latest pic - taken yesterday before Daddy and I went out for Valentine's Day:

36 weeks 4 days

And as promised, here are some pictures from our two showers:

Mommy & Daddy B

March Baby Bumps

Baby B's first Bears jersey

With the hostesses

Mommy & Daddy B

With the Grandmas

Hand drawn animals for nursery

Baby B in 3D

Hi Baby B!

Today marks 35 weeks for us. You have reached the size of a large cantaloupe:

Your growth has reached it's peak and will now start to slow down in preparation for delivery. Most of your body systems have reached maturity now, and those that haven't won't until after you are born. We know that you are growing strong because today was our ultrasound and you now weigh about 6 lbs 2 oz, which is the 60th percentile.

We got some very cool 3D photos of your face today and it was just another thing that made your upcoming arrival all the more real. One thing Daddy and I seemed to agree on was that you look to have Mommy's nose. Here's a sneak at your precious little face (ignore the placenta and other stuff that's kind of in the way):

Baby B's profile at 35 weeks

Face and hand under chin

Sad face or sleepy face

Baby B in 3D

Our last couple doctors appointments have went well. This week you were very active and cooperative so we only had to stay on the monitor for about 10 minutes. Probably helps that Mommy decided to eat a decent meal before going to the doctor...and a snack in the car.

Speaking of Mommy, for the most part I am still feeling pretty good. But there is definitely some discomfort that sets in these last few weeks. Sleep is definitely getting harder to come by. There's always something waking me up - being too hot, having to go to the bathroom, reflux (all things we weren't dealing with until recently). I also feel like you have started to drop, and have been told that by several people now. I'm feeling more pressure lower and my back is often sore. But I don't mind all these things because it's all a sign that you are on your way!

We are working on the final preparations in your nursery as we unpack your gifts and add some last minute decorations. Once it's complete I'll post some more photos.

Tomorrow is our last shower with Mommy's side of the family. So after that I will post some pics from both of the showers. To hold everyone over though, here's our most recent picture from this week:

Baby B & Me - 35 weeks

Love you always,

Mommy XOXO

Getting Closer...

Dearest Baby B...

We are getting closer and closer to the end; closer and closer to the day we get to meet you!

Last week we hit 32 weeks (8 months) and you were the size of a honeydew:

Your big development last week was that you are starting to be able to differentiate between day and night. Mommy's work schedule probably really messes that up for you though. You are also learning to close your eyes while sleeping and leaving them open while awake. Another big change was the development of your own immue system. You're not ready to protect yourself from little infections.

Since we are now doing weekly doctor's appointments we had our visit on Tuesday. Our appointment went well, it was the non-stress test (NST) that kept us there over an hour. Apparently you were doing a little more sleep than the doctor wanted, so your heart rate was on the lower side. She said it was because I hadn't eaten in a few hours. So they had me drink some juice and you perked up a bit. We were also having some contractions again, but only mild ones; ones I didn't even feel. So again, they told me to drink more water. Not sure how much more water we can drink! Overall though, everything is fine! 

This week we are 33 weeks! Seven short weeks and you'll be here! You are now the size of Mommy's favorite fruit, a pineapple:

Your fingernails have now grown full length and may even be past your fingers. Kinda crazy to think that you are growing fingernails in there! You are still growing quite a bit. As much as an inch since last week - possibly making you 20 inches long already. Which if you take after Daddy (who was 23 inches when he was born) then you have surely reached that point. Maybe we'll find out at our next ultrasound in February.

Our next doctor appointment and NST are on Wednesday, so I'm sure there will be an update later in the week.

Aside from this, we had a very busy weekend! We had our first baby shower for you and it amazes me how loving and generous our friends and family are. The three of us received so many wonderful things for you. Now the trick is just finding a place to put them all. More updates on the shower are sure to come when I get all the pictures and can post some of those too.

After the shower, Daddy and I decided to finally put together your crib and dresser. It makes it so real now, walking into the room and seeing the place you're going to be sleeping in a couple months! Here's a peak at where we are at as of today.

Baby B's Nursery

Dresser

Crib and Changing Table

Loving you,

Mommy!

Everything is A-OK!

Dearest Baby B,

Well....we sure had an eventful, long weekend (and not so much in the good way)! So where to start? Starting on Friday, I felt like I was going to the bathroom every 10 minutes; and when I would go, I'd be lucky if more than a few drops came out. Although my nursing judgment told me differently, I convinced myself that it was just part of being 31 weeks pregnant (they say at that point the baby is squishing your bladder and you are constantly using the bathroom). By the time I went to work that night, I had become extremely frustrated with the situation and was growing uncomfortable. At that point I also started to get an annoying pain to the right side of my mid-back. For an hour I could not get comfortable or sit still, but then out of no where the pain subsided and the bathroom situation was a little better. After all, I was able to work a full 12 hours.

Then Saturday morning rolled around and I came home and tried to get some rest. I was back to being uncomfortable. I slept a few hours and then gave up hope. I told Daddy that we needed to go do something to distract me, otherwise all I could think about was the constant urge to go to the bathroom and have minimal results. On a good note though, my back was feeling better! Eventually we decided to go grab some dinner with some friends. Of course I felt fine until we sat down at dinner. The pain was coming back and the longer we sat, the more intense the pain got. We thought maybe it was the uncomfortable chairs at the table. I tried sitting and standing but nothing seemed to help. It eventually got to a point I couldn't eat my dinner and I started to get nauseous.

So Daddy and I came home. Daddy actually went back out to get me a heating pad from grandma and grandpa. I tried to make myself comfortable, but it seemed impossible. I just tossed and turned in bed, until I was so uncomfortable that I threw up twice. At that point I realized a call to the dr was probably due (even if it was 11pm). And just as I expected her to say...she wanted us to come in to the hospital. So we made our first long trek to the hospital (side note: 11:30pm would be an ok time for labor because traffic was not an issue).

Thankfully we were able to go straight to the Labor & Delivery unit and avoid the chaos of the Saturday night ER. Within 20 min they had gotten my urine specimen, drawn my blood, hooked me up to the fetal monitor, and started giving me fluids. They were suspecting some type of urinary/kidney infection or kidney stones. Thankfully, Baby B, you looked great - good heart beat and no contractions. The problem was making me comfortable. After some mild relief from hot packs, I managed to fall asleep for about an hour. Only to  wake up extremely uncomfortable and sick to my stomach. At this point I think it was decided that I would be spending the night. They had started my antibiotics and wanted to keep an eye on us. I was still vomiting and extremely uncomfortable (I was continuously tossing and turning). So they did have to give me some Morphine to make me comfortable (which didn't really work). Thankfully you were still bouncing around all over the place so I knew you were ok even after the medications.

Once they got us moved to our room (and I got sick again) they were able to give me something for the vomiting and then some Tylenol. Finally I was feeling some relief and was able to sleep for about 3 hour; until everyone started making rounds to see me again. We had hoped to go home that night, but the Dr. wanted one more night of IV antibiotics; so we stayed. Thankfully though I was feeling much better. By Monday morning, I was pain free and definitely ready to get out of there!

We were discharged by noon and on our way home. On the way home I started to feel somewhat "blah" again but still much better. Until I got to our house and tried to get in our house only to realize that our dead-bolt lock was broken and the key was just spinning...and of course I didn't have the garage door opener and Daddy was at work. Thankfully your grandparents live so close and I was able to go relax there.

As the night went on I was feeling bad again. I barely slept during the night because I just could not get comfortable. My back was hurting and I was nauseous. Eventually morning rolled around and I truly felt as bad as I did Saturday night when I went in to the hospital. My big concern at this point was how crampy I started to feel and how my abdomen was feeling hard more often. Thankfully they were able to squeeze me into the dr that morning. Once there they hoped me up to the monitor and there were definitely some contractions going on...so back to the hospital we went.

By the time we had got there, the contractions had stopped or were very very small and I was not dilated - so they were no longer concerned about labor. They told us you were still tightly closed in there so that was a huge relief. Mommy, however, was still very uncomfortable. They ran tests to check everything out...and of course everything was normal. Which was a big relief to everyone, except for the fact they could not figure out where all the discomfort was coming from. Needless to say I pretty much had everyone stumped.

By 7pm that night I was feeling better and for the first time in 2 days was somewhat hungry. Thankfully they saw no reason to keep me. They are continuing to treat it as a urinary tract/kidney infection and have me on antibiotics for the remainder of the pregnancy. The additional pain they believe may be from how you are positioned or may be the way my back is reacting to the additional weight I'm carrying. Bottom line was that you were doing great and saw no signs of you coming earlier than March 11th. And as long as you are okay, then Mommy can deal with the discomforts.

After a great night sleep last night, Mommy was feeling much MUCH better this morning. By the afternoon the pain has come back slightly, but I think we've got it under control with the heating pad and Tylenol. So we are doing good again.

Now a quick update on you...

You are now the size of a head of lettuce:

You have officially taken over the view of my toes for the next two months:

The toes are gone

And as always, you are making yourself more and more known in Mommy's belly:

Baby B & Mommy B at 31 weeks

Love you!

Mommy XOXO

Our Miracle

Hi Baby B!

It's Mommy again; and here we are at 31 weeks. I can not believe that you will be here in 9 short weeks! As the time grows closer and closer, your daddy and I grow more and more excited to meet you. Yesterday was our monthly ultrasound and it amazed us how much you seem to have matured in just 1 month. Just look at how big your foot has gotten in a month:

Footprint at 31 weeks

Footprint at 26 weeks

By the way, Daddy thinks you have his feet (which may be a good thing because Mommy has some long toes). You are now weighing 3 lbs 13 oz, which is the 53rd percentile. It's still hard to believe that you will most likely double your weight over the next 9 weeks! Here are your adorable profile pictures from yesterday:

Daddy also thinks based on these pictures that you have my nose; and lucky for you I lucked out on having the Italian Marrocco nose. We have so much fun talking about what/who we think you are going to look like. And since we don't know whether you are a boy or girl, the thoughts are limitless. No matter whose features you have, I know that you are going to be one beautiful baby! And I can't stop telling you how much I can't wait to meet you!!!

One characteristic I do know you have gotten from Daddy though is his strength. You have gotten so strong over the last week! Those tiny little kicks have turned into powerful jabs, bounces, and rolls now! You are so strong that I started to wonder if it was possible that I could get a bruise from being poked numerous times in the same spot. But it is so worth it...even the painful ones that keep me up at night :). The way I can feel you now makes everything all the more real (if that's possible). Whenever I feel a limb roll by my hand placed on my belly I get little butterflies in the stomach. It is such an amazing thing.

Daddy and I were talking last night about how much of an amazing miracle a pregnancy is. It blows our mind that some people believe that having your little life grow inside of me is not an act of God. Who else could allow a couple to experience such an incredible thing? And it is indescribable how blessed we feel to be given the opportunity to experience a miracle such as you...because that is exactly how we see you...Our very little, very precious, life-changing miracle!

Again I have to say it...WE can't wait to meet you Baby B!

Love you forever,

Mommy ( & Daddy too)

PS: We also felt you get the hiccups for the first time this morning...it put a smile on our face and was an exciting way for the three of us to start our day.