34 Week Growth Scan

So we went in for a growth scan yesterday because at our 20 week ultrasound they were concerned about the baby being a bit too small. They were thinking that perhaps she would have a growth spurt and that's why she seemed a bit small but that it was just about the timing. Just to be safe, they scheduled a scan to see if she was growing well enough. I got a scolding on my eating and changed my diet to primarily have proteins (good bye tons of garden salads, hello eggs, cheese and protein bars). She did seem to have spurts after that so I wasn't too concerned. 

Over the last 3 weeks I started eating like a cow. Crazy hungry all the time. Big meals that I would finish and turn around and have another. I was afraid to step on the scale! So at the appointment we had the ultrasound first. She did lots of measuring and not a ton of profile shots (which is what we were interested in). Oh, and it was reconfirmed (for the 8th time) - we ARE having a girl. We saw her vagina, nice and clear, looking like a coffee bean. 

Ok, anyway...the u/s tech said "looks like baby's been eating well" which sent a red flag to me, being as I have been concerned since day one about having a big baby (family history and all). So I start asking about "guesstimating" weight. She then launches into the numbers - baby's head is perfectly perfect in the 50th percentile (50th being the most average of average size) which is great because it was small at the 20 week. Her limbs (arms and legs, daddy) are long within normal limits. But it's her belly. Her belly is in the 90th percentile!!!!! This means it's about 40% bigger than it should be as compared to her head! Almost twice as big as expected!!!

When we saw the midwife I got weighed but refused to look at my weight (remember, "Mooo Mel" has been eating up a storm - Blizzards and cheesecake for dinner) - then I heard "Only gained a pound." What?! How could that be?! Midwife laughed and said, I guess it all went to baby. On the bright side, they are happy that baby's growing well. Everything seems normal and functioning well so they don't know why her belly is so big. They think perhaps it was another uneven growth spurt and that she'll even out by the time she makes her grand entrance. Perhaps. But, just in case, the BABY is on a DIET (not me, I'm not gaining too much weight, just her!). I have to cut out/drastically reduce my carb intake. Of course I just bought 4 bags of jelly beans and there's a cheesecake in the fridge. Bye bye pasta, white bread, sweets and chips. Also, I should start exercising in the morning more because for some reason that helps more than if I did it at night. 

The midwife basically said we'll have a baby "humpty dumpty" at this rate ~ those were her words!  Her poundage is ok at approximately 6 lbs 8 oz - give or take a pound (please, take a pound). So, dashed are my hopes of a 7 1/2 lb baby. I'm doing this au natural with a biggin'.  At this stage, she should be about 5 lbs and up to 19 inches.

On the way home Bruce rubbed my belly and it dawned on me - the baby looks just like I do right now! That's apparently what Bruce was thinking when he reached for my own Buddha belly to rub baby's Buddha belly! 

I can laugh about this but they did mention there's a concern that if it she doesn't even out then her shoulders may not fit. You can infer here. If not, I'll help you ...if her shoulders don't fit I may have to have a C-section. Even if I tried to push her out for 24 hours! There are so many reasons I don't want this to happen. Thus, I have to change my diet once again. 

Phew, talk about getting ready for parenthood! First trimester I had to change the way I eat just to keep food down and decrease nausea. Second trimester I had to change the way I eat because she wasn't craving enough protein which is needed for brain development. Now 3rd trimester I'm changing again! She wants ice cream! Instead, she's going to get a high protein, low carb diet. At least she likes salads. If only I could get her to stop craving treats for dinner. 6 more weeks to get her photo-ready!