Get Ready to Meet Baby E!!!!!

Yesterday, Brad and I went to the doctor again and found out that we will be having a scheduled c-section on Thursday, April 2nd!!!! Yeah for getting to meet our baby soon!! The baby has not turned and is still in the breech position. So the doctor thinks it will be best to have a c-section, because it's not very likely that Baby E will change positions at this point in the pregnancy.

Everything looks great with the baby... fluid levels and respitory movements are good. The doctor is predicting that he or she is somewhere between 6 and 6 1/2 pounds.

We are super excited about next week. Keep checking back for pictures after the baby is born!!

Week 36/ Doctor's Appointment...

We visited the doctor again yesterday for our Week 36 appointment. Everything looks great witht the baby. He estimated that he or she weighs 5 1/2 pounds right now. He also did a quick ultrasound to check on baby's movement and found that the fluid levels around the baby are great and the heartbeat is still very strong.

Baby E is still in a breech position. So, we will see if he or she continues to be stubborn or decides to turn within the next few weeks.

We will be going to the doctor every week from now until we meet Baby Emmel!

Doctor Appointment Update...

Good news!!

Most importantly, the doctor feels much more confident now about Baby Emmel making it all the way to our due date in early April!! For quite a while, he was hoping to get us to Week 32/33/34, but today he talked about the baby coming closer to April 10th!!

Also exciting... I can move around more now that we are getting closer!! The doctor said it would be ok to do a little driving and be on my feet more. I am still supposed to take it easy and stay home as much as possible, but it's great to know that he is confident in how well bedrest has worked up to this point.

We will be heading back to the doctor on Monday, March 9th and then every week after that until we get to meet our baby!!! Thanks so much for all the support and kind thoughts over the last few months! Keep thinking positive!!! :)

Weeks 33 & 34

Here we are... starting our 8th month of pregnancy!! It's such a comfort knowing that we have made it this far and, thankfully, that bedrest has been effective. The baby is getting bigger each day and really likes to show off in my belly... it seems to change shape all the time as Baby E wiggles around in there.

Throughout the 33rd and 34th weeks, the baby should weigh somewhere around 4 1/2 pounds. At our ultrasound a couple of weeks ago, he or she measured in at 3 pounds 4 ounces, so we are right on schedule. The layer of soft hair, called lanugo, that covers the baby's body should be falling off now. However, the protective coating, called vernix, that covers the baby's skin is getting thicker.

Most importantly, according to www.mayoclinic.com, babies born during the 34th week need extra attention, but almost all are healthy!

We go to the doctor on Monday, February 23rd for another check-up... check back soon for an update!

4D Ultrasound Pictures! (31 Weeks)

Baby Emmel shows off at the 4D photo shoot... Enjoy!!!!

Flexing those muscles!

Waving to us!

A little smile!

Moving right along....

Week 30: Here we come!!

Today marks the beginning of our 30th week of pregnancy!! It is hard to believe that in 7 weeks, our baby will be considered full term!! The doctor said at our last appointment that because bed rest has been successful, he is more confident that we could make it to the due date.

Since our last post, I've had blood work done and found out that I am not anemic and do not have gestesional diabetes. I've also have had the injection to protect against any problems that would arise because of having Rh negative blood. So, overall, the last couple of weeks have run very smoothly.

As for Baby Emmel, during the 29th and 30th weeks, he or she is basically working on getting bigger and stronger! The baby's bones should be fully developed but are still soft and pliable. Baby E probably weighs around 3 pounds right now and will gain about 1/2 pound a week until week 37.

Our next check up is on Monday, January 26th. But, we are more excited to see the doctor in a couple of weeks for a 3D ultrasound!! The date for the ultrasound is Friday, February 6th. We will post pictures as soon as we get them!! (And in case you are wondering... we still won't be peeking to see if the baby is a boy or a girl! We can wait and so can you! Hehe! Have fun guessing!)

An ending and a beginning!

We are officially ending the second trimester and beginning the third! Yeah for getting closer to meeting Baby Emmel!!

During the 27th and 28th weeks, the baby's lungs, liver, and immune systems are continuing to mature. Baby Emmel has probably tripled in length from week 12! He or she weighs between 2 and 3 pounds. The baby's eyes are beginning to open and close. He or she is sleeping for about 20 or 30 minutes at a time.

We will be going back to the doctor on Tuesday, January 13th for a check up and some testing. The doctor has put me on bed rest until Baby Emmel arrives, so right now, we are heading to the doctor about once a week still.

On Tuesday, we will have a standard gestational diabetes screening. The doctor will also be looking more into my blood type. I am Rh negative and will need to have an injection to protect myself and the baby in case he or she is Rh positive. From what the doctor said last week, this is a pretty common pregnancy issue. We'll learn more on Tuesday!

From Baby Emmel...

Hi everyone! It's Christmas and I got some really neat stuff!! Thank you for all my cool books, clothes, shoes, and toys!!! Yipppeeee! I love Christmas already!!!!!!!!!!!!

Can't wait to meet you!! (Sorry I can't come sooner, but I'm currently working on my lungs, footprints, fingerprints, and sense of balance!)

Love, Baby Emmel (aka Peanut)

PS... I turn 25 weeks in the womb tomorrow!!!! :) :) :)

Week 22 and Recent Doctor's Appointment

Today marks week 22 for Baby Emmel! The baby should weigh about a pound by now. His or her taste buds are forming! Baby E is also experiencing the sensation of touch for the first time!

Earlier this week we went back to the doctor. The news was a little better than expected! Basically, the bed rest is working and the doctor was pleased that nothing has gotten worse. He would like me to stay on bed rest through the end of December for now. At that point he said he would actually consider sending me back to work for a while! It was great to hear that he is confident that things are at least staying stable for now.

Until next time...

Week 20 Update

We went to the doctor yesterday (Thursday, November 20th) for our big ultrasound to see how Baby Emmel is doing. Everything looks great!!! The baby is 11 ounces and developing right on schedule. The doctor confirmed that we are still looking at an April 10th due date.

As for bed rest... I am still making a permanent dent in our couch!! The doctor wants me to continue to rest until the first week of December. We go back to see him on Tuesday, December 2nd, when he will make the decision to either keep me on bed rest or send me back to work.

Today starts Baby Emmel's 20th week... according to the baby books, permanent teeth are forming under the baby teeth that will eventually break through the baby's gums. The eyebrows are also beginning to grow. Baby Emmel has been moving more and more. Brad has even been able to feel the baby move!

Bed Rest.....

A lot has been happening since our doctor's visit on Monday, November 3rd. The doctor put me on bed rest for a week because he is worried about my body being able to hold the baby in for the length of the pregnancy. So, we went back to the doctor on Monday, November 10th. The condition did not worsen, but he would like to continue to take it easy.

Now, we are on bed rest on a week to week basis for about a month. The doctor would like to see us make it week 22 without any negative changes. Brad, Baby Emmel, and I will go to the doctor weekly for check-ups so that he can monitor our progress.

The good news is, as far as we know right now, Baby E seems to be just fine! Whew!! We are going for our full sonogram on Thursday, November 20th!! Yippeee!!!
Keep your fingers crossed that my condition improves! Again, Baby Emmel is just fine, we are just working on keeping he or she inside the belly for as long as possible!!

Right now, the baby is at 18 1/2 weeks.

Boy or Girl????

Many of you have heard that Brad and I are probably not going to find out the sex of the baby... but, here's a little info to keep you thinking...

I've had three dreams now that show we are having a baby girl. And what they say about pregnant dreams is true! They are VERY realistic!!

However, the famous Chinese Birth Calendar tells us we are having a boy!

Time will tell................ until then, have fun predicting!!

(As of today, Baby Emmel is 18 weeks!)

What to do...what to do....

Brad and I can't decide if we should find out if the baby is a boy or a girl! Any thoughts?!?!?

P.S. Thank you, Roger, for the advice!

P.P.S. Baby Emmel is 15 weeks today!

2nd Doctor's Visit - Monday, October 6th

The Emmel family of three ventured back to the doctor's office on Monday. Everything is looking good! We heard the heartbeat and had a quick ultrasound. Our next appointment is November 3rd. Then, we go back on November 24th for a sonogram!!! If we want to find out the sex of the baby, that will be the day! But, we still can't decide if we want to find out or wait until the baby arrives... decisions, decisions!! Either way, we have decided that we are going to keep the baby's name a secret. So, we'll all have at least one suprise on the big day... maybe two if we wait to find out if it's a boy or a girl!

WEEK 13 - Friday, October 3rd

This past Friday marked the 13th week for Baby Emmel. Right now, he or she is about the length of your finger!! The baby's vocal cords are forming.... yikes!! :) Better to keep us up all night in April....
Also, up until now, the baby's intestines were actually right outside his or her body inside the umbilical cord! Now, the intestines are going inside the body. (Kind of icky to think about!!)
On Monday, Brad, Jenn, and Baby are going to the doctor. Hopefully, we will get to actually hear the heartbeat this time. At our 9 week check-up, the doctor could see a heartbeat on the ultrasound, but we could not hear it yet. Keep your fingers crossed for this visit!!!!

September 19th - WEEK 11!

We are almost out of the 1st trimester.... YEAH! As of week 11, the baby should be about 1.6 inches in length. His or her fingers and toes have seperated and nails are beginning to grow. Also, the baby's tummy is starting to digest food! (I'm sure he or she loved the Cinnabon Jenn had today!!)

Our 1st Doctor's Visit - Monday, September 8th

Today, Brad and Jenn went to the doctor for our first ultrasound. The doctor said everything looked just fine and he was able to see the heartbeat. Brad and Jenn could see the baby's little legs kicking back and forth! At this point, the baby measures at 9 weeks and 3 days. We will be going to the doctor again on Monday, October 6th.

10 WEEKS! Friday, September 12th

We are ten weeks. At this time, Baby Emmel is about 1 inch long and weighs about 1/6 of an ounce. The baby's bones are forming in his or her limbs. The kidneys and lungs are already present but not fully formed yet.