End of Pregnancy Roundup: Look at Applesauce Grow!

Here's the Preggo in Review from my pregnancy with Tommy. 

Here's the review from my pregnancy with Applesauce...

14 Weeks



20 Weeks

23 Weeks

29 Weeks 

32 Weeks

34 Weeks

36 Weeks

37 Weeks

38 Weeks

39 Weeks

40 Weeks

40 Weeks and 3 days: On the way to the hospital! 

40 Weeks: A Little Late

That's 40 weeks, y'all.  Dang.  

40 weeks with Tommy.

Your Growing Baby

Congratulations - your baby is now fully formed and ready to be born.
(Everything else is just a super happy extra special bonus.  Hooray. Eyeroll.) 


Your Growing Belly

If your due date has come and gone, your pregnancy is officially post-date. If you're still pregnant two weeks from now, then your pregnancy will be post-term. Anywhere from three to twelve percent of pregnant women may go post-term. The good news is that the baby is going to come out at some point—the bad news is that it may be as much as two weeks from now.

In the meantime, your care provider will check your dilation (how open your cervix is, if at all) and effacement (how thick your cervix is), to try to predict when labor will begin. If you hit forty-two weeks, your doctor will assess your health with a non-stress test and may use ultrasound to see if your baby has enough amniotic fluid. If your baby seems fine, you and your care provider can discuss when to schedule induction of labor. No matter what, one way or another, somehow, that baby's getting out!

You

I decided to stop working the Friday before my due date.  I worried it might be too early and that I might regret it but I ended up having a really wonderful week.
Wait, I take that back.  There was one bad thing that happened.  Tommy got into something at daycare and had a pretty bad allergic reaction.  But we administered the proper meds and he was fine within half an hour so that was good.  His new teachers now know what it's like so I guess if anything came out of it, that would be one good thing.
Anyway, the 40th week was great other than that.
-I got my hair did. Thanks Steph!
-I got some super quality time with Tommy T.  I got to see him fall asleep during dinner.  That was hilarious.

We took Tommy to Jump It one evening.  Tommy's Godmother Traci told us that if we go during the week after work, it's hardly busy at all.  It was awesome! He pretty much had the whole place to himself!

 This little booger has gotten so independent.  It's incredible.  He wasn't afraid to climb anything!

 He tried everything! He had so much fun.  $5 for almost 2 hours.  Can't beat that!

He also had his own unique way to do everything!

During the week, I also got some nesting done.

-I cleaned out the bathroom.

-I also organized Tommy's toy bins.  Because that was a good use of my time.  It will totally stay organized for more than a week, I'm sure. :) 

-I altered a pair of maternity pants. 

I had a pair of maternity jeans from when I was pregnant with Tommy that were a little out of style but they were comfortable.  Comfort in the 40th week is definitely my top priority. So here they are.  Baggy pants to skinny jeans! Nice toilet shot! :) 

So I honestly was very busy all week and it went really fast. I was feeling pretty decent too so that was a huge plus.  

Full term at 40 weeks! I'm so lucky to make it to my due date.  ;-) 

Guh. 

39 Weeks: Anytime, Applesauce!

Your Growing Baby 

You're in the home stretch! After nine months of growth and development, your baby is ready to be born, or nearly so. At week 39, your baby is fully developed and anywhere from 17-23 inches long and weighs 6-10 pounds. Don't be frightened if your OB-GYN says your baby is large: It's extremely difficult to judge a baby's weight accurately from the outside.

Your baby is adding neural connections and growing hair and still gaining weight. Researchers have theorized that when babies are ready to be born, they send a chemical signal of androgens to the placenta, which increases the production of estrogen and leads to labor. If so, it's proof of the old saying that "only a baby knows when it's ready to be born."

Your Growing Belly 

Don't be surprised if you get discouraged now. Relatives may be calling regularly to find out if labor has started. Ignore them and make plans every day—see a movie, take a walk, read or simply lounge around at home. Relish this peaceful time while it lasts! To get some relief from your weight and aches, do plenty of hands-and-knees cat stretches and pelvic tilts. Soak in a warm bath, swim, or just float in the pool to take a break from gravity.

You

This has been a rough week. Work has been stressful.  I've been much more tired than usual.  Sleep is harder to come by.  Pressure is worse.  Discomforts are high.  Typical end of pregnancy crap.  Still even a little heartburn occasionally.  I'm pretty sure I've been feeling contractions here and there.  I'm feeling random groin pains still too.  Fun.  

I went to the doctor today and she said I was close to 3 cm dilated and 80% effaced.  Seriously? Do you know how much pain I was in to get to 3 cm last time? A lot more than this time, that's for sure. I contracted all day, all evening and then my water broke at 3:30 am.  I made it to the hospital by 7 am and BAM only 3 centimeters.  Lucky for me the contractions only hurt during the evening.  But this time? BAM, already almost at 3.  So I guess that's a good thing, right?? We'll see! The doctor thinks it will be soon so that's exciting.  She asked me, "Are you ready to have this baby?" I've wanted to have this baby all week but as soon as she said that, I got really nervous.  You mean it's finally here? This could really be happening soon?? It's crazy.  

So what does 39 weeks pregnant look like? 

Here's a pic from the wedding this weekend since I don't feel like taking one tonight.  This was right at the point in the Backstreet Boys song where the guy sings, "Am I SEK-SHOO-ALLL?? Yeeeaaaahhhh!"  It's my favorite part.  You cannot NOT dance to that part.  So I did.  And Katie caught me dancing at the reception.  Anything to get this baby out, right?  "Am I everything you need? You better rock your body now. EVERYBODY! YEAHHHH!!"  

Anytime, Applesauce! We'll be delighted to make your acquaintance! 

38 Weeks: On a Boat

Yep, that's me... in a swimsuit... and 38 weeks pregnant.  Yikes! But I paid enough for a maternity swimsuit, I might as well get some use out of it, right?


Your Growing Baby (from FitPregnancy)

The average newborn has a length of 21 1/2 inches and weighs 7 1/2 pounds. She is fully developed, though still adding connections between neurons in the brain (this continues well after birth). Her nails have been growing and now reach to the ends of her fingers and toes. Her movements are quite restricted by her close quarters.

Your Growing Belly 

You're probably having a whole lot of back and neck strain, lots of fatigue, and not much relief! You continue to add a pound a week and have a hard time getting around gracefully.Keep eating small, frequent, nutritious meals, and if you think that your contractions may be the real thing, eat something. The calories will help fortify you for the job at hand.

You! 

Well I have to say, that's the first time I've read that you still gain weight in the last month.  A pound a week too?  Yay! Now I don't feel so bad.  That sounds a lot more realistic.  Hopefully these last few pounds are going toward the baby and not my giant backside.  :-) 

How am I feeling? Fine as usual.  No huge complaints. The heat SUCKS.  But as long as I stay in the A/C I'm okay.  I'm super tired due to the messed up dreams I've been having along with the frequent bathroom trips at night.  The baby's movements, when she's stretching, really kind of hurt.  It's impressive! She's a strong little stinker.  

My doctor's appointment was today.  There was some progress but nothing to get too excited about.  The head's a little lower (-1), 75% effaced, and 1.5 cm dilated.  It's better than nothing! 

Here's the pic from my pregnancy with Tommy T... 

Quite a difference from a winter pregnancy to a summer one!! 

So that's all the news for now.  Until the next time! 

37 Weeks: Happy Full-Term Point!

Your Growing Baby (from Fit Pregnancy)

Your baby is now 20-21 inches or so and weighs about 6-7 pounds; he looks very much like a newborn. In the vast majority of pregnancies, the fetus begins to move into delivery position.

Your baby is practicing her breathing, but she has increasingly less space to practice stretching and kicking. Your baby' intestines are also building up meconium, a greenish-black substance made of baby by-products such as dead cells, shed lanugo, and amniotic fluid. It'll become your little darling's first bowel movement, hopefully after she is out of the womb.

Your Growing Belly

This week, you may expel the cervical mucus plug, aka "bloody show," at any time. If you're worried about stretch marks, be patient. They'll begin to fade a few months after you deliver. Stretch marks are caused by broken collagen fibers under your skin's surface. The strength of your collagen is genetic, so if your mom got stretch marks, you probably will, too.

The hormone relaxin is causing all of the smooth muscle in your body to unclench. You'll feel like you have loose "rag-doll" joints. You're probably having Braxton-Hicks contractions, which you may or may not notice. How can you tell these contractions from the real thing? If you have to ask, they probably aren't. Real contractions grow progressively stronger, more intense, and more regular.

What About You? 

I'm still trucking along. I had my 37 week appointment today.  My exam revealed no progress.  Still at 1 cm dilated and 50% effaced.  The baby is at position -2 so I won't be sharing a birthday month with her, that's for sure.  But that's fine because I'm still only 37 weeks.  The longer the baby stays in there, the bigger and cuter she becomes! I'm still measuring right on target so she's probably 6-7 pounds just like the info says.  

But honestly I just keep growing.  They say right on target but it feels like one giant belly. It's really sticking out there, huh? I broke out the old American flag tank.  I think I'm close to busting through it! 

Fits a bit different now huh? (23 Weeks? Nearly half my pregnancy ago! Crazy!)

I definitely wasn't sticking out as much last time, was I? I was a lot more excited to hop up to the 37 week mark.  

It doesn't seem that long ago but it was almost 3 years ago.  Cannot believe it.    

 I tried to do something similar to show my excitement for reaching the 37 week point but it just doesn't come across the same.  :-)  Happy Full-Term Week! Very excited! But more excited to meet this baby!

35 and 36 Weeks: Two Posts in One

35 Weeks (from FitPregnancy) Your Growing Baby

At more than five pounds and between sixteen and twenty inches, your baby is becoming more ready for birth with every passing hour. She's the size of a small roasting chicken.

Her nervous system and immune system are still maturing, and she's adding the fat that she'll need to regulate her body temperature. But, everything else, from her toenails to the hair on her head, is fully formed. If she were born now, she'd have more than a ninety-nine percent chance of surviving.

Your Growing Belly 
Your size is probably making you really uncomfortable. You're carrying so much extra weight and fluid that simple things can be tiring. If your job requires sitting all day, take frequent breaks to walk around and stretch your legs (if you have the privacy to lie down for a few minutes or do stretches on your hands and knees, even better).
You'll see your care provider once every one or two weeks now. If you have other children, this can be a poignant time, because it is the last few weeks of being a family in the way that you're used to. Don't forget to arrange care for any children or pets for the two to three days you'll be in the hospital. Ask a neighbor to collect your newspapers and mail.
Your...Self? 
Did they seriously just say a roasting chicken?? I love the information they write up for this stuff.  So how am I feeling? Fine.  Good enough.  I shouldn't complain.  It's not that bad.  Heartburn, discomfort, constant bathroom trips, all the bad stuff just isn't that bad.  I'm ready to be done with this pregnancy but the discomforts are just annoying, not painful.  Now there are times when the baby's movements become somewhat painful.  I don't know what she's hitting in there but it makes me JUMP.  Like WHOA, what the heck was that?? Sometimes... this is going to sound odd... but sometimes it tickles.  Is that normal?? I jump when that happens too.  Also the constant waterbed like motions and foot pedaling that she's doing on my organs in there kinda makes me nauseous occasionally. Sort of like riding a roller coaster.  It's weird.  But again, I'm not vomiting.  I'm not in severe pain.  I'm not distraught.  So for that, I thank you, little lady. :)

I have caved in the pink department.  I finally bought something pink.  Check out these snap-on booties. I love these things.  We had a black pair for Tommy.  They don't fall off! They're wonderful! Yes I bought pink.  I'm embracing the pink.  Lord help me!

So my 35 week doctor's appointment, she started doing exams.  I also had my Group B test.  Disgusting! I am half a centimeter dilated and 50% effaced.  She told me I would NOT be sharing a birthday with Applesauce.  So that's good.  It will be interesting to see how much I've progressed in a week. 

36 Weeks (from FitPregnancy)

Your Growing Baby
With one month to go, your baby weighs about six pounds and is fattening. Her full length from crown to feet is about 20 1/2 inches.Your Growing BellyHas your baby's movement slowed down? If so, you shouldn't worry. Five to ten percent of all mothers report that babies start to slow down as they grow larger and get more cramped for space. Still, you should be able to feel your baby move more than ten times a day. If you're concerned, try drinking a sweet beverage, such as orange juice, and then lying on your side for a while. Most babies will wake up and start to move. If you're still concerned, contact your healthcare provider.
Your SELF
At my 36 week appointment today, she told me I'm still only 50% effaced but I'm 1 cm dilated.  A teeny bit of progress so I guess that's better than nothing.  Heartburn still sucks.  I have random groin pains, like I pulled something but it comes on when I'm just standing there.  Weird.  The baby must be getting crowded in there because her movements can be very painful.  She still has hiccups twice a day usually.  The fatigue has really set in.  I'm exhausted. Other than that, I'm still trucking along.  

I'm sick of these belly shots but I'll be mad at myself later if I don't document it.  Here's 36 weeks.  

HUGE!

Here's 36 weeks back in 2010.

Also huge!

Annnnnddd here's how I really feel... like eating oreos in my pajama pants.  Yay pregnancy! 

34 Weeks: Ugh

Well here it is.  34 weeks.  Ugh.  That is one giant belly.  I literally have to carry it around like this all the time because it's so heavy.  Ok that's not true.  But it just looks so huge.  Maybe it's the stinking horizontal stripes on all maternity clothes right now.  WHY??? Why horizontal? Who is making these clothes?? Oh wait. Heidi Klum.  Jessica Simpson. Elle MacPherson. Beyonce. Nicole Ritchie. (People who don't have to worry about horizontal stripes because they are either super models or have stylists and make up artists to make them look amazing.)  Just about EVERYTHING at Target is striped. Sadly, even everything I have purchased has stripes.

Apparently everything I purchased in 2010 was also striped.  Sheesh.  This is 34 weeks last time.

So what's happening in there... 

Baby:

Your baby measures about 19.8 inches (50.3cm) from head to toe and weighs about 5 pounds (2.3kg). Baby is probably settling into the head-down position, although it might not be final. Organs are now almost fully mature, except for lungs, and the skin is pink instead of red. Fingernails reach the ends of fingers, but toenails are not yet fully grown. Baby might have lots of hair. Movements are less frequent because of the tight fit.

Mom-to-be:

Your uterus hardens and contracts as practice for labor, known as Braxton Hicks contractions, but you may not feel them yet. Your pelvis has expanded and may ache, especially at the back. Uterus is pushed hard against your lower ribs and your rib cage may be sore, and your navel is probably pushing out as a result of your abdomen being stretched.

What's happening with me? 

Well I'm getting heartburn from even water now.  That's fun.  Leg cramps are still happening every once in a great while. Nightmares are often and terrible.  I'm waking up 2 times a night.  Once to go to the bathroom.  Then the second time I'm just wide awake for no reason and I can't get back to sleep. That's also fun.  I assume that's actually why I'm fatigued and not just from the third trimester in general.

It is unbelievable that I have only 6 weeks left.  That is my first thought.  My second thought is I still have 6 weeks to go??? I'm getting to that point where I'm ready to be done.

One part that is different from my first pregnancy is that the movements of Baby T2 can be painful.  I don't remember Tommy moving around and streeeeetttccchhhhiiinnggg out and jabbing me with elbows and feet to where it hurts.  That's new.  But luckily the pain is temporary and she usually moves again to release the pressure.  Phew! Relief!

So the countdown has begun. I don't think in weeks accomplished now, only in the weeks I have left.  Viability is three weeks away.  It's definitely going fast.  That's one positive! Weekly doctor appointments start next week.  Here we go!

32 Weeks: 8 Months Down, 8 Weeks to Go Take 2

Well it's been 32 weeks.  That's a super long time when I sit down and think about it.  I'm already 8 months pregnant.  Wasn't I just drinking at Disney World??? ;-) Ha!

My belly's big.  Uh uh, I'm not ashamed.  Big like a pickle.  I'm still getting paid.  (I'll buy a drink for the first one who can name the song in the comments! GO!)

To compare, we've got 32 weeks last time in Chicago...

Yep, still bigger.

I realized I am using the same info from the last time I was pregnant so I thought I'd find a new source.  How about Pampers?  They all basically say the same thing.
Ups and downs. Your acrobat may be standing on his head now: Most babies settle in the head-down, or vertex, position by this week. Ideally, he'll stay put until you give birth. But remember, your little one has a mind of his own—he might decide to change positions several times before he's born. You might feel him jostling into place as he flips, especially if he does so late in your pregnancy. 

As full as it gets. The amount of amniotic fluid in your uterus right now—about two pints—makes it fairly easy for your baby to switch from head up to head down. Over the next eight weeks, the amount of fluid will decrease as the amount of baby increases. 

Measuring up. Your baby weighs between 3.5 and 4 pounds and measures about 17 to 18 inches stretched out. 

If what MFMS told me ends up being completely accurate, this baby is probably over 4 pounds at this point if I were to guess.  That seems huge considering Tommy was born at 6 lbs 12 oz and I still have 8 weeks to go.  But at half a pound a week, that would make an 8 pound baby.  Sounds good to me!

They told me she was in the head down position at the last appointment so Atta Girl!! Keep up the good work!

I've been experiencing heartburn still.  Blech! Not fun but no biggie.  Something else that isn't fun? The HEAT! This has been an especially cool summer so far so I'm very lucky I haven't had to deal with it very much.  I'm trying to drink as much water as humanly possible to stay hydrated.  I dehydrate so easily it's hard to keep up!

I haven't been doing a very good job of documenting this pregnancy. I skipped the entire month of June! Yikes!  I don't want her to be mad at me someday when I have documented every single second of my pregnancy with Tommy and not my pregnancy with her.  I hope she understands! So I'm going to try to be better about it.  More posts, more often, here they come, watch out!

Since my 30 week post was ALL ABOUT APPLESAUCE (see, little lady, you still get special attention), I will post a 30 week pic in this post.  It's actually 30.5 weeks and it's on a boat so... enjoy... I guess?  

Go ahead and laugh at my stupidity.  I screwed up putting on sunscreen and got a MAJAH sunburn. You can partially see it on my arm but my back was toast. Brutal.  I know better than that.  I almost forgot to post this one.  I have to have a picture on a boat this time around too!

Although I will never beat the last pic I took preggo on a boat (22 weeks).

Thanks so much, Bro. :)

14 Weeks: We've Got More News

So the pregnancy has been going pretty well.  I've been sick like last time, much more tired than last time and I feel bigger than last time.  All sounds very normal.  At my 10 week appointment, the midwife said you're measuring larger but that's pretty normal for a second pregnancy.  At my 14 week appointment on Thursday, the doctor measured me and said, "You're measuring much larger.  Have you felt movements?"  I answered kind of but it's hard to tell. Then she says the words, "Do twins run in your family?"  I answer, "Well actually, yes they do."

My Great Grandma Stevens was a twin and my Grandma May had twins (my aunt Karen and uncle Kevin).  Soooooo skipping a generation, it had been a minor worry of mine but I wasn't really thinking much about it.  She heard the one heartbeat the first time so I thought we were golden.

The doctor quickly squeezed us in for an ultrasound and lo and behold, there were TWO BABIES.  TWO. BABIES. IN. MY. BELLY.  OMG.

Twin A and Twin B

They couldn't keep us long but they wanted us to come back shortly for a more in-depth ultrasound in about a half hour due to other appointments that were already scheduled.  So we waited in the waiting room and excitedly notified our family and friends.  It was completely shocking and overwhelming.

We went back to the room in about a half hour.  She started with what they call Twin A.  Twin A is the one that is closest to the cervix and will come out first.  Twin A was a little showoff.  Posing, waving, kicking, playing.  What a character! Heartbeat was about the 150s.  She said she could tell us her best guess on the sex if we wanted.  We agreed.  She took a close look and guessed Girl.  She moved on to Twin B and Twin A kept popping up in the picture. You could see her hand occasionally like she was saying, "Don't forget about me! Take MY picture!"  Twin B was also in 150s for heartbeat. She took a guess that the way each one was formed, the size and measurements, etc, that they were identical!! TWO GIRLS? Whoa.

Baby Stats

She finished the ultrasound and mentioned something about swelling before leaving the room to go get the doctor.  The doctor came and explained that she was concerned about the swelling around Twin B's brain and spine. Also the baby was a week behind in development compared to A.  She went through a terrible, horrible list of things she thought it could be.  She referred us to the Maternal Fetal Medicine specialist that comes to Lafayette once a month.  We will be seeing the specialist in a month to find out what exactly is going on with Baby B.  Shocked and terrified, we left the office and both took the day off to digest this information.

I think I can safely say that we both went through a range of emotions that day while trying to figure out how we were feeling about all of this.  By the end of the day, we decided there was nothing to do but wait and be hopeful.  And try to stay offline (impossible.)

Because seriously, what else can you do? It's scary and all we have to do is WAIT.  A month is an eternity in this situation.  Friends and family have been super supportive which is hugely helpful.
I came home from work today to some beautiful flowers from some beautiful friends.  Damn, you girls are FAST!

 Love the colors! 

My Email Club Girls

So for now until we have reason not to, it's time to celebrate. Twins, ahem, identical twins (if the ultrasound tech wasn't wrong) are pretty much a miracle.  They are not genetic.  They are pure luck and happenstance.  Another miracle (or just plain good luck) is that each twin has its own placenta so it is less likely that there will be TTTS where one takes the blood supply from the other.

So as disappointing as it first was for me to grasp, this pregnancy/labor/delivery is going to be entirely different from the first one.  I think unless you have a horrible experience, most mothers want a similar experience the second time around because familiarity is very comforting.  But I'm embracing it and trying to best prepare myself for the craziness that is ahead.

I have to post a week by week picture too, as much as I've been fighting it.  But you have to see the difference between the two pregnancies.

Here's 14 weeks with Tommy T. Just a LITTLE bigger. Sheesh. 

I used the Wave Cam App that I got from Apps Gone Free to take this picture.  This app was strictly made for selfies.  Too funny.  But hey, it works! 

So Baby T2 is now Baby A and Baby B.  Sorry for the confusion but hey, apparently we don't do anything easy in the Thornburg household.  The thought that keeps running through my head is "You make plans and God laughs."  I had just made the mistake of mentioning to my mom how much I would hate to have a high risk pregnancy.  Welllll, now I'm super mega ultra high risk.  Such is life.  

If you have the time, we could really use good thoughts and prayers for both Baby A and Baby B.  We want them to be healthy!