Well-girl checkup

We went to see Dr. M on February 18 for Mary Lawton's 2-year-old well visit. Mary Lawton waited very patiently. She was fine with the nurse and was kind of a show-off while the nurse asked the basic development questions. (Nurse Paige: Can she speak in two word phrases? ML: Mommy, I want to go home and see Daddy.)

Then Dr. M showed up, and Mary Lawton turned into a sobbing disaster. Poor girl. Dr. M said she was very healthy.

Little did Mary Lawton know that the worst was yet to come: a flu shot (that I said I would do in November then forgot) and a hematocrit/lead blood test. The blood test was a nightmare--for me. But when it was all over, she got her first ever (sugar-free) lollipop and Baby got band-aids that matched Mary Lawton's, and everything was just fine.

Weight: 24 pounds 15 ounces. 25th percentile
Height: 35 inches. 75-85th percentile
Head circumference: 19 inches. 65-75th percentile

9 months check-up

Mary Lawton's 9-months well-baby visit was last Wednesday.

Height: 28.5 inches (80th percentile!)
Weight: 17 lbs., 10 oz. (25th percentile)

The nurse went through the long list of developmental questions, including, "does she understand 'no?'" I'm sure I looked at her like she was crazy. She's 9 months old. She does not understand "no." I asked the doctor about this. She said, "well, if you say something like, 'no, don't touch that,' does she understand you?" I said, "she looks at me, she hears me, but I don't think she understands what it means." Doctor: "Ok, that's fine." Whatever.

The pediatrician had received some H1N1 vaccines that day, so we had the option of getting one. Sweet LJ and I had discussed it several times but hadn't come to a decision. So, I called him for one final chat, and we decided to do it. She's in daycare, and I work with filthy college students, so it makes sense in our household. She handled the shot very bravely. The horrible part was the finger prick to test for anemia and lead (since we live in an older home). Please, pediatric workers, don't call it a "finger prick" when after you prick her finger you squeeze and wring her tiny hand as she SCREAMS to fill a vial of blood. Please. Set me up for what is really going to happen. I was so horrified I almost stopped them, but I knew I'd just have to come back another day and start all over again.

Other than that, the visit was boring and Mary Lawton was perfect. Note to self: Always bring a snack to distract her during the wait.

6 months old

We blinked, and our girl is half a year old. Each month gets a little more fun. The theme for this month has been Adventures in Food. Mary Lawton eats:

• rice cereal
• oatmeal
• peas
• sweet potatoes
• carrots
• avocado
  
• bananas (in the mesh feeder)
  

and has tried honeydew (mesh feeder) and apples. She eats rice cereal for breakfast every morning at daycare and for dinner eats oatmeal and a couple of veggies. Except for when we were on vacation and the cereals, I've been making her food. It's been easy and has worked out well. I have bags of frozen scoops of food in the freezer and take out and thaw whatever she's going to eat.

One night she fell asleep in her highchair. Her eyes were half-closed, yet she kept opening her mouth for more. Finally, she gave in.

One night she realized she could eat her dessert banana and play at the same time. Why stop eating or playing when you can multitask?

Now that she can scoot around pretty well, she's begun exploring more and more. Nothing is off limits (in her mind). She is very happy. Strangers comment on how happy and smiley she is. She loves to watch people. We went to the aquarium again recently thinking she might enjoy watching the fish more than she did last time. She watched them a little, but she was much more into the people-watching.
She loves peek-a-boo and chewing on all her toys. She seems to have become ticklish. I was scrubbing her feet one night and she was laughing hysterically. Sweet LJ was tickling her belly and got the same reaction.

At her 6 months' appointment she was 14 lbs, 15.5 oz. (so let's just say 15 lbs.), and 26.5 inches long. Still long and lean and healthy all around. The vaccinations were very traumatic for all of us and resulted in a very long night, so we are considering spacing out the 9 months vaccines. It was too much and a little scary.

Love you, little chicken.

Four months check-up

Weight: 13 pounds (25th-50th percentile)
Length: 25 inches (75th percentile)

Mary Lawton had her 4 months visit on Wednesday. I was a little worried about her weight (when I found out she's in the 25th-50th percentile), but Dr. M said not to worry--she's still just long and lean. She's very healthy all around. She got 2 shots and one oral vaccine, and they didn't go over well. There was a lot of heart-wrenching wailing. I remembered to give her Tylenol before the shots, because she was very irritable and sore after the vaccines at her 2 months appointment. It seemed to help; at daycare that afternoon she took at 2.5-hour nap, was very happy that evening, and slept well that night.

Feeling sooo fortunate to have a healthy girl.

Two months check-up

Yesterday Mary Lawton had her two-months well-baby doctor appointment. She's doing great.

Weight: 11 pounds, 1.5 ounces (50th-75th percentile)
Length: 23 1/2 inches (90th percentile!)

The doctor said she's "long and lean" and was very pleased with her overall health. She was impressed with ML's strength and the way she's controlling her head. The doctor turned her over on her tummy to see how she would do, and ML immediately pushed up and looked around. It was fabulous. She got three vaccines and was a little irritable that night but recovered just fine.

One month check-up

Yesterday was Mary Lawton's one-month well baby doctor visit, and she is a well baby!

Weight: 9 lbs., 3 oz. (75th percentile)
Length: 21 3/4 inches (also 75th percentile)
Head: (50-75th percentile)

The doctor was impressed with her almost 2-inch growth in length. We talked to him about her crying fits, and he recommended a few things to us to try to figure out what might be the cause. One of his suggestions was more structure to her day, and I think she would like that (takes after her mama). I'll be working on putting her on a schedule. We already have a morning routine pretty established...we just have to work on the rest of the day! Overall, she's a healthy baby, except for a strange thing going on with her fingernails. One looks like it's about to fall off, and three others look like they're going to meet the same fate. The doctor wasn't too concerned. He said, "well, they'll grow back. " She got her hepatitis B vaccine, and was very brave. She looked surprised, and then started crying about 5 seconds later. Then, after 5 seconds of crying, she stopped. (She screamed all the way home, though. I think she was trying to show off for the nurse by holding back while we were there.)

The weather has been gorgeous this week, and we ate dinner outside last night. Mary Lawton had a very good day and a relaxing evening, as you can see.

One week old

Today is Mary Lawton's one week birthday. She loves eating, sleeping, and entertaining us with funny faces. She has tummy time a few minutes a day, and plays (is awake) on her play mat or cat mat for awhile. The dog is in love with her and follows us from room to room. Luckily, the cat is oblivious to her. He doesn't want to be too close to her, and when she cries he can't get away fast enough.

play time

The week has been a blur. They let us leave the hospital on Tuesday evening rather than Wednesday morning, with our promise that we'd take her to our pediatrician or back to the hospital for another bilirubin test. Her level was a little high. We took her to the pediatrician the next morning (Wednesday), and her bili level was even higher, and she'd lost quite a bit of weight. A bilirubin light was delivered to our house that afternoon, and we started putting her on it an hour at a time. I also had to feed her a tiny bit of formula to supplement, since my milk hadn't come in. The next day (Thursday) her bili count was down and her weight was up 2.5 oz. No more formula! We went back to the pediatrician on Friday for one more visit. Her bili level was 10.4, and she'd gained even more. The doctor declared her an "A+ baby" and said she was very healthy. Sweet LJ has been amazing. You'd think he'd been changing diapers and soothing babies his whole life. And her diapers...I recently read something about "sweet-smelling breastmilk bowel movements." Whatever.

39 weeks appointment

Weight gain: None. Same as last week.
My BP: 100/60
Val's heartrate: 150s

Today I saw Dr. H. Dr. G is out this week, which was fine with me. I don't think I like her anymore. Dr. H was great, talked to us for a long time, and basically said you'll have the baby in the next 2 weeks. (They will let me go a week past my due date.) Yes, she'll probably 8.5 lbs or more, but that's no problem and the two of you will be fine. Will there be shoulder dysplasia? Who knows. Will she be a giantess? Probably not. I measured 2 weeks behind today, which might be because she's dropping. So, we wait. I feel fine, so I don't mind waiting. My next appointment is with Dr. G, and Sweet LJ is hoping there will be some kind of showdown between her and Dr. H because their attitudes are so different. We like Dr. H's better.

37 weeks, 1 day appointment

I saw Dr. H on Friday (January 30), and I fall more in love with her each time. She is so kind and patient and really has a knack for putting you at ease.

Weight gain: I'm not sure. I think around another +2. I have trouble doing the math anymore.
My BP: 100/80
Val's heart rate: 130s-140s

This visit was fine. Fundally*, I'm measuring a week behind. I asked Dr. H about preeclampsia, because the nurse said, "your blood pressure is up!" with some drama after she took it. Dr. H said preeclampsia starts with a BP of 140/90, and also that my BP increase is nothing to be alarmed about. During your 3rd trimester, your BP tends to go up. I still have to go for another growth ultrasound. Everyone seems confused because I'm measuring a week behind, but according to the last ultrasound, Val is getting very big. Sweet LJ thinks she's long and compactly folded up.


*I don't think "fundally" is a word, but it's what is needed here.

36 weeks, 1 day appointment

I'm getting more and more delinquent on my posts. On January 23 I had an appointment with Dr. G.

Weight gain: +2
My BP: 110/70
Val's heart rate: fluctuating between 120s and 140s

The nurse seemed surprised that I didn't want an internal exam to see if there has been any progress. I told her I have a month to go, and I'm in no hurry. I'm beginning to lose faith in Dr. G. She asked about my January 12 ultrasound and thinks that maybe the baby is getting too big. She tried a few scare tactics on me. She didn't succeed in scaring me, but she succeeded in making me so frustrated that I cried on the way home. I cried when I got home. Sweet LJ was out of town, and I cried on the phone to him. I want my baby to have a chance to arrive when she's ready. I'm not convinced she's a giant. I don't want to be induced unless I really, absolutely have to be. I have to have another growth ultrasound soon. I want to enjoy these last few weeks, but I'm getting depressed by all the suggested intervention.

35 weeks appointment and a little drama

On Thursday I had a regular appointment, this time with Dr. A. Liked her, too!

My BP: 100/70
My weight: -2.5 lbs. I really can't explain this.
Val's heart rate: This is where the drama unfolds.

Dr. A found Val's heart beat with the doppler just fine, but she monitored it for much longer than usual. She asked whether I was having a girl or a boy. I told her a girl. (Boys' heart rates typically are lower than girls'.) She said she wasn't happy with Val's heart rate. It was fluctuating from 110 to the 120s, but not really any higher. She decided to call down to Labor & Delivery and get me in so they could monitor her heart rate for an extended period.

So, Dr. A called L&D and talked to the doctor on call, who happened to be Dr. G, my regular OB. I went downstairs, filled out some forms (because technically they were admitting me), and about 15 minutes later they gave me a room. I put on a gown, they strapped the external monitor to me, and then they monitored Val's little heart for about 30 minutes. A resident came in and checked the paper trail and said everything looked fine, and then Dr. G came in and concurred. The baseline, they said, is 120, and Val's heart rate was staying right around there with an occasional jump into the 140s and dip into the 110s. They let me go home.

I was a little panicky. All I could think about was what if they admit me for a C-section, and I'm feeling totally unprepared. There are a million little things I feel like I need to do, and I thought I had about 5 weeks to do them. This weekend I did some of the little things, and I do feel more prepared. I think my baby is just a cool, laid-back little dude like her dad, but I still told her please no more drama.

33 weeks, 1 day appointment

On Friday I went in for an appointment with my regular OB, Dr. G. Everything was fine. I measured at 32 weeks. Dr. G said they don't stop labor after 34 weeks, so if I go into labor after Thursday, they'll let it continue. (I spoke to Val and told her that was not an invitation to arrive early.) Sweet LJ asked how involved he could be in the delivery. Dr. G was excited by his interest, but she said it really depended on who's on call that day. She said she'd talk to her colleagues and let them know a patient's husband wants to be in on actually helping deliver the baby.

This conversation with Dr. G came about after a discussion I had with Sweet LJ after our childbirth class. I asked him whether he would be interested in, for example, catching the baby as she came out. (I watch too much TLC and Discovery Health.) He was not. A few days later he told me he was, how cool would it be, etc. We'll see what really happens.

My BP: 124/64
Val's heart rate: 140s
Weight gain: +4, I think. I was flattered, because the nurse started the large weight slider at 100 lbs, then started moving the small slider. I told her she needed to start the large one at 150, but thanks.

31 weeks, 1 day appointment

On Friday I had another doctor's appointment. I'm trying to see all of the doctors in the practice before I deliver, so I saw Dr. JH today. I really liked him. I won't be disappointed if he's on call on the big day.

My BP: 100/60
Val's heart rate: 130
Weight gain: +6. And still I gain like someone is paying me.

Dr. JH remarked that Val was "just chillin' in there." Based on our low BP's, I guess we were both very relaxed. I asked him what her position is, because some days it feels like she has woven her little feet in between my ribs. She was head down and sort of diagonal across my body. He said, "I can feel her hip bone right here," then he grabbed my hand and pressed down a few inches above my belly button. Sure enough, there was a big, hard lump. When I got home, she hadn't shifted, and Sweet LJ got to feel it, too.

27 weeks, 5 days appointment

My BP: 100/70
Weight gain: +6. I am a weight-gaining machine!
Val's heart rate: in the 140's

Really, I have nothing much to report. Everything was fine. Dr. H was happy with my glucose results and last week's ultrasound. I asked her whether the doctors in the practice (I go to a group practice) have a shared philosophy regarding labor and delivery. She said no, but that everyone is fairly laid back and will communicate nicely with me. No one will rush me or pressure me into anything (pitocin, epidural, etc.) as long as everything is going well. I really like Dr. H and will be thrilled if she's on call when I deliver. I know I need to meet all the doctors in the practice, though, so my next appointment is with another Dr. H.

23 weeks, 4 days appointment

My BP: 110/70
Val's heart rate: 140s
Weight gain: +5, I think, but I can't remember what is was last time and didn't want to ask.

Val squirmed away from the Doppler every time the doctor tried to find her heart beat. It took a few minutes for Dr. H to get a steady sound. Go, Val! I measured exactly according to my due date. After a brief chat about what happened at the ultrasound, Dr. H went ahead and ordered the gestational diabetes test, since I was so close to 24 weeks, anyway. (They like to do it between 24-28 weeks.) I drank the orange liquid and an hour later, Innocent, the lab tech, drew my blood. You might think Innocent was female, but he was male and very inquisitive. Was I hungry? Why was I tired? Did I take a walk last night? Was I cold? Will I go home and go to sleep?

Anyway, the lab results should be ready in a few days. The orange drink didn't make me gag or vomit or shake or anything, like I've heard will happen. It tasted like flat orange soda with a weird burning, tingly aftertaste.

If I have gestational diabetes, it will be rough getting off the Twix cold turkey.

21 Weeks and The Big U

We had the big ultrasound recently, and everything looked good: A heart with 4 chambers (the doctor said it was a "beautiful heart"), liver, spine, 2 arms, 2 legs, "perfect nose and mouth" (so said the doctor--no clefts), fingers, toes, and 2 kidneys. Val was pretty still the whole time--just cool, hanging out. I'll post the images as soon as I scan them. It was thrilling getting to watch our amazing baby. And we know whether Val is a boy or a girl, but we're waiting a little longer to make the announcement. I'm not trying to torture you; we have a family party planned and are waiting until then.

There were two issues, but one is sort of a non-issue now. The perinatologist asked me the date of my LMP to confirm my due date, and I got confused and told her 5 days earlier than I told my OB long ago at my first visit. (Why they couldn't just call the OB's office down the hall to verify, I don't know.) Anyway, this threw Dr. F all off, because Val--based on my 5-days-earlier estimate--was measuring HUGE: 97th percentile. I explained I was confused and told them the real date, which put Val back on track and healthy but not huge: 79th percentile. This didn't really appease Dr. F, and she's telling the OB that they need to do the gestational diabetes test at my next appointment, which they weren't planning to do until next month. She's worried about the baby being so big (but Val's not, really, so this is the non-issue).

The other issue is that Val might have a minor kidney problem. This could also be a non-issue, and I'll post more once we find out more. If you are a prayerful type, please send one up for Val.

btw, we're not really naming the baby Valdosta. Someone asked that.

Thanks, Julia and Sara for the fun lunch today.

Week 19 appointment

Yesterday I hit 19 weeks, and I also had a regular appointment.

My BP: 104/80

Val's BP: in the 140s

Weight gain: Yes!

I didn't exactly get a lecture about my weight gain, but Dr. G did tell me a cautionary tale about how I will gain the most weight during the 3rd trimester, and she sort of trailed off to let me draw my own conclusions. Then she instructed me to "look, literally, at what you're about to put in your mouth [she mimed holding food in front of her face] and ask yourself, 'do I really need this?'" She also suggested I 1) drink water, or 2) brush my teeth to avoid eating. [yawn.] Thanks, Dr. G, for Basic Avoidance of Overeating 101. I guess I should cut down on the cheese eating.

Otherwise, everything was ok. I measured at 20 weeks, but she probably mistook some fat for uterus.

Week 15 appointment

Today I'm 15 weeks, and I had an appointment yesterday.

BP: 104/70 (I think)

Up 6 pounds (Total. I hadn't gained anything at my 10-week appointment, which means, yes, I've gained 6 pounds in 5 weeks. I blame vacation and the 2 dozen chocolate chip cookies I've eaten since Saturday. Val loves cookies.)

The heartbeat was strong and fast. The results of my echocardiogram and bloodwork all were fine. My doctor is scheduling a CT scan of my lungs, since the shortness of breath continues. I like my doctor, but yesterday she seemed a bit skeptical of my windedness. She asked me questions that made me realize she thinks I'm having panic attacks. I told her I wasn't anxious, heart not racing, etc. Maybe Val is running on a tiny treadmill in there and is hogging the oxygen we're supposed to be sharing.