Only the Beginning

GLADIATOR

Today is our due date and we started the day off with an ultrasound to check all vital signs and make sure it's OK to continue carrying this little guy since he hasn't shown his face yet. According to the ultrasound, it's more than OK--everything looks really good--but after seeing him crunched in there and measuring his anatomy, it's obvious why I'm feeling like he should be here already!

Here's the scoop.

His head is down. We couldn't even see my cervix because he's smushed down in there. The width of his head measures 42 weeks and the length measures 41 weeks-landing his head in the 98th percentile! His abdomen is measuring 41 1/2 weeks-also landing him in the high 90th percentile. His femur is measuring 40 weeks-landing him in the 72nd percentile. In other words--he's not the tallest, but his head is HUGE and he's CHUBBY!! The ultrasonographer asked me to guess the baby's weight. I guessed 7 lbs 10 oz. He laughed. 8 lbs 2 oz? Laughed again. 9 lbs? Higher! He estimated 9 lbs 10 oz., give or take 3/4 lbs. If he's right, we'll have a chubby little 8 1/2 - 10 1/2 pounder. We got a little peek at his cheeks.....there's plenty to pinch =0)

Other stats: his heart rate is 122 BPM, my amniotic fluid level is at 11.3 (they require at least 5 to continue the pregnancy), and he is definitely still a boy =0). Overall, he lands in the 90th+ percentile.

All things considered, my due date says I'm 40 weeks, but I'm measuring at 41 weeks and 1 day. Hopefully that means he'll get here this weekend, or we can talk my doctor into inducing me at my appointment Monday morning. I'm praying it's not the latter.

Oh yeah. After all measurements are made, the computer gives the approximate age of the baby. Our ultrasound said "OOR"- "Out Of Range." Not quite sure what that means?

My body says it means he should be here. S O O N.