MayBaby becomes Baby Mae!

Amelia Mae Perry
May 27, 2011 - 3:09pm
6 pounds 6 ounces - 18 inches

Belly Pics: LB#2 - Week 40

YES! 40 weeks. That's right I made it!
Now it's time for MayBaby to get out of here!
I'm officially evicting you MayBaby - you have until Friday to evacuate the premises.

Dear MayBaby

I'm having trouble thinking about anything but your upcoming arrival. Will you be waiting for someone to make you come out? Or will you be kinder to your mother and come on your own? Tomorrow is your due date and it would be fantastic if you came then, or today. Today would be good.

There are so many people waiting to meet you, to hold you, to love you.

Please, just think about making your appearance soon.

No matter what happens I love you.

-mommy

Belly Pics: LB#2 - Week 39

39 weeks!

Who thought I would go this far? Not me! I'm happy, but confused at the same time.

We went to L&D last night for a NST. MayBaby stopped moving on me and I could NOT get her to budge. As she is normally a crazy mover I freaked out and called the OB's office and they told me to go in.

Just to make sure I wasn't being neurotic I tired the following things first: rubbing my belly, laying in different positions, drinking cold water, drinking a Coke, dancing around, playing music LOUDLY right at my belly. I even took a bath and pour water over my belly over and over again (something that always makes her wiggle). Nothing worked and I hadn't felt her move since lunch. So I freaked out and went in.

Well, her heartbeat was strong, but after 20 min then nurse came back in and said "She sounds great, but we need to get her to wake up and move around." Uh YEAH! That's what I'm here! So they had me lay on my side and drink some more cold water and FINALLY she moved enough that they sent me home. She's still being really quite, but moving some - enough for me to know she is okay. I think she's just out of room to move. I'm hoping this means she will be coming soon!

The Body That Cried Wolf

That's how I'm looking at my body now. It keeps falsely crying "wolf" or in this case "baby"! I have had serious false labor for weeks now. Last night it went on for hours and felt so much different than it had before, that for awhile I thought it might actually be something...it wasn't. Just more false labor.

Yes, I understand that it is preparing my body for what is to come and that I should look at it as a good thing, but I'm finding that it just makes me anxious. Tired, cranky and anxious.

Yesterday my doula asked if I had any fear about having a VBAC and honestly I don't. I know my body can do this if it is given the chance. The only thing weighing on me is the deadline. Just over a week until my due date, then I get 7-10 more days after that before I'll be induced (something you have to be really careful about with a VBAC) or pushed into another c-section. I'm just ready for my body to get things moving so I don't have to stress about induction/c-section.

I want to give MayBaby all the time she needs, but the deadline makes me anxious.

Belly Pics: LB#2 - Week 38

38 weeks!

I'm surprised to be here. It doesn't seem possible that I'm still carrying this baby. It is a little frustrating that it is working so well for her when my body failed Greyson so spectacularly. I'm dealing with a little mommy guilt over this, but still so delighted that I'm getting to do for her what I couldn't for him.

I'm feeling good except for the shin splints (OUCH) and where my belly has started folding over at my c-section scar line (OUCH again). But over all I'm doing well and baby girl is still looking great and that is what matters.

I hit my due date in 10 days and in 17 days they will induce me if she hasn't come on her own by then. I REALLY don't like deadlines, but things are progressing well so I don't think I'll need to worry too much.

Also, my bum is huge and I'm having trouble getting it into my MATERNITY JEANS! Oh well, it's a good sign, even if it means cutting my wardrobe from "low" to "ridiculously low".

Belly Pics: LB#2 - Week 37

So this is what a full-term belly looks like. Who knew? Not me, that's for sure.

Since she stayed put after this weekend's craziness I'm relaxing and just going with the whole "she'll come when she is ready" thing. Be that this week or in 4 more. I just want her to be a May Baby and not a June Baby. :)

And yes, that is the Pack and Play behind me. This weekend I set that up and her bassinet in my room. We are all ready!

Some one is FULL-TERM today!

Oh MayBaby, you've made it too May!! I'm so happy that you are Full-Term today. This is a HUGE milestone for our family.

We will be celebrating by going to the March for Babies this morning and walking in honor of you and Greyson!

Can't wait to meet you.

Love
momma

2 things I'm not good at and don't really like

Waiting and Surprises

Sooo, this whole waiting for baby girl to decide when she's ready to show up thing is really hard for me. It's only really hard because she keeps faking me out! I'd be happy to wait until 40 weeks, as long as it didn't seem like she could be here at any moment.

Last night I had regular contractions from 9pm until mid-night, then was awakened by them again at 3:30am. After 2 hours of walking around the house things calmed down and I went back to sleep. Today the contractions have been much stronger, but not as often. She is super-low right now too. 2 weeks ago I could only get a finger or two between her and my sternum. Now I can get both my hand there.

I have a very busy weekend ahead and it would be nice to get through it before she arrives, but there is no way of knowing!

Babies come when they are ready, I just have to learn to roll with it.

But I don't like surprises or waiting; so this waiting thing is getting hard.

Still here!

So it seems like yesterday was just a fun-filled day of Braxton-Hicks contractions. I'm totally fine with this. I just like to know what is going on. I'm pretty amazed with this whole "growing a baby" thing. That it works at all is a wonder.

Today we've got an OB appt, and I'm looking forward to seeing if yesterday helped us make any progress. Plus I love hearing her heartbeat!


UPDATE: Thanks to all the Braxton-Hicks I am 1cm dilated and 50% effaced. Not likely to have a baby this weekend, but according to my OB next weekend isn't out of the realm of possible! And that everything still looks great for a VBAC.

Is this what a contraction feels like?

The problem with being a 2nd time parent, but one who has never gone into normal labor - is that you have no idea what is normal and what is labor. That's the point I'm at now. My pelvis is sore and I have a lot of low pressure and about every 10 min my abdomen gets really tight and that tightness lasts anywhere from 30 seconds to 2 min. I both want to eat and throw-up.

Frankly it's all just strange to me. I'm 7 weeks further along than I was when Greyson was born so this could totally be normal 3rd trimester stuff, but I don't know.

I called the OB's office and they said to stay put and not worry until the contractions are getting noticeably stronger and longer and consistent over an hour +, or my water breaks, or I start bleeding. So I'm just hanging out at home, trying to get things done and wondering "what the heck is going on".

But I have a strange feeling that MayBaby may not make it to May. And if she does it won't be for much of it. And I'm actually totally okay with this. Because I feel like she's in control right now, everything that happens is up to her. Unlike with G, she'll get to be in charge of when she comes. And that thought just makes me happy.

Belly Pics: LB#2 - Week 36

Well, if I thought she has dropped last week it is nothing compared to this week! Now I can feel her hiccups in my pelvis! It's so strange, I've been so used to her hanging out in my rib cage it feels weird to have her anywhere else. Is is wrong to say I miss the sensation of not being able to take a full breath? Cause I kind of do.

I'm both happy and sad about these changes. Happy because it means our little girl is on here way, but sad too because I really will miss being pregnant.

I've also started having regular contractions, although they are not really strong, nor painful, they are fairly regular. Mainly they happen in the evening, but for the last 2 days I've had them for a couple of hours, anywhere for 10 to 20 min apart. I think it is freaking Michael out, but I don't think it is something to worry about yet. I have an OB appointment on Thursday and I'm excited to see what she says. Is what I'm feeling normal and it means that we could still have weeks to go, or does it mean that MayBaby could arrive at any time. I just don't know! That's the problem with being a 2nd time mom who has never gone full-term. I have no clue what to expect!

I've been getting as many Greyson snuggles in as I can. I'm really thrilled that our family is growing, but I'm still feeling a little guilty that very soon he'll have to share Mommy and Daddy. I love that little kid so much!

Realizing that Little Bird #2 will be here soon! (and a game!)

How soon I don't know, but there are less than 30 days before her estimated due date (May 23rd)! I have a feeling I'll have her before then. She's moved much lower and everything just feels different. Noticeably different even from yesterday. This is just a whole new experience for me - it's like being a first-time mom. I'm still not too achy or uncomfortable, but I feel...different.

Now here's the game:
In the comments section list the following:

• Date you think she'll be born
• Weight and Length
• Bonus: MayBaby's Name

Whom ever is the closest will win some kind of amazing prize...I just don't know what yet. But don't let that unknown factor stop you. Make your guess!

(Check the comments section for my guess!!)

Belly Pics: LB#2 - Week 35

35 weeks! We are getting so close! Less than a month to go before my due date!

I'm having some normal early contractions, but so far things are still looking as normal as can be! next week they will check to make sure MayBaby is still head down and if she is then as long as she stays that way and everything proceeds normally then I'm a-go for a VBAC! Yippee!

Baby Fever?!

How is it possible that I have baby fever? I'm 8 months pregnant - baby secured! But holy moly I want to be snuggling a little bundle of sweetness this morning. I want to look into a little face, I want to hold a child in my arms that FITS in my arms! I want to introduce Greyson to his baby sister. I even want to change tiny diapers again!

Only 3 to 6 weeks left before baby girl arrives! While the house still isn't really ready for her, nor is my work-life, my heart is.

Belly Pics: LB#2 - Week 34

THIRTY-FOUR-WEEKS!
YES!!!

I'm still chugging along in this pregnancy. It's going smoothly. Currently MayBaby is making my belly wiggle. She's very active, but head-down and as long as she stays that way all is good!

We met with the doula this weekend and talking to her has made be realize that we are really close to "go-time". Time to read up on the stages of labor and prepare myself to do this! I've been so focuses on STAYING pregnant, that I haven't thought too much about actually giving birth. Yikes.

Belly Pics: LB#2 - Week 33

Wow, I look haggard!

Really this week I've been feeling okay, but a little tired...okay A LOT tired! But after our OB appointment this week everything is looking perfect. YAY baby girl!

31, 32 and 33 Weeks!

I have been remiss lately when it comes to taking belly photos. I'll take one this week I promise. Mainly I've just been enjoying being pregnant; enjoying tiny baby hiccups, kicks - even the painful ones. I love knowing that she is still safe inside me!

I'm actually still really comfortable. Yes, something are harder - like getting in and out of bed, but overall I still feel really good. Maybe chasing Greyson all day is keeping me in shape! Whatever it is I'm looking forward to the next 6 to 8 weeks and I'm really looking forward to meeting our little MayBaby!

Belly Pics: LB#2 - Week 30

30 weeks baby!
My Aunt took this photo of me this weekend. I'm SO pregnant and I have so much more to go! YAY!

MayBaby, you are quite the interesting bird already. You love to make HUGE movements and SHOVE yourself against me. There is almost always a little baby bum pushing against my tummy, or ribs. You've also started stomping, or head-butting me in unpleasant places. It hurts little girl. Yesterday you did it so often that I called the doctor because I didn't know just what was going on. He said to go to the hospital, so we did. 2 hours of watching your heartbeat and monitoring for contractions they sent me home saying. "You've got a big, very active baby and she's just stomping on you." I'm glad that is all it is. Now that I know that, I'm able to welcome the pain - because it means that you and I are both doing fine.

Keep growing little girl and we'll see you in 8 to 10 weeks!

Belly Pics: LB#2 - Week 29

She's a growing bird!



On this momentous day MayBaby decided to shine. I had an OB appointment and little girl is GROWING! So much so that I'm measuring a week+ ahead. That's right, it's not just in my head - this belly is getting BIG! Not only am I measuring big, but I'm also a full 10lbs heavier than I was when I delivered Greyson on this exact same point in pregnancy. The OB even joked about me having a 10lbs baby. After having a 3 pounder I'll take on all ten pounds with no fear!

When it was time to do the heartbeat check with the Doppler, MayBaby decided to show off with a HUGE kick. One that we could both see! The OB went "Whoa, that was a huge kick. Does she do that often?" To which I had to reply, "Oh yeah. Totally normal. I have very active kids."

At the moment she has her bottom snugged under my right ribs with her tiny toes aimed at my left ribs and she is so high! Greyson was always low, but MayBaby is about as high as she can be. The experience is at once familiar and so vastly different. But I'm so glad she's a wiggle worm - it may not be super comfortable, but it is reassuring. 10 more weeks!!