Got Vitamin C?

Just wanted to remind all of you to start popping that Vitamin C...keep those immune systems healthy! We are in the middle of the RSV season for this area (december-late april) RSV is a respiratory infection that affects adults (with less severity) and children/babies (with higher instance of complications).  In adults symptoms are similar to those of the common cold.  In infants, it can be a serious infection that requires hospitalization.  There is currently no medication for the treatment of RSV.  Because of the ease of transmission (spreads like a cold through sniffles, sneezes, coughs and hand to surface or clothing) Labor and Delivery wards will request that all visitors who have these symptoms stay out of the hospital.  We will also be asking that any sickos keep their distance until the symptoms are gone! 

With that being said--let's keep it healthy people! 

much love and respiratory health!

Justin, Robin and Jaxon

35 weeks and counting...

I apologize for going MIA lately.  But I haven't really had much to tell...So here is a quick run-down of the last few weeks...

We've been going to the Dr for weekly appointments now.  She checks my weight (yay...) blood pressure,  listens to Jax heartbeat and measures my fundal height (from the top of my pubic bone to the top of my uterus) and after answering any questions we may have...sends us on our merry way.  The fundal measurement is still ahead of schedule-by how much I'm not sure.  She usually doesn't tell me the numbers since this isn't an accurate way of determining baby size.  At the last appointment she did tell me that from the outside he doesn't "feel" as big as we've been concerned he will be, but we are still waiting on the final ultrasound (Thurs March 5th) for the most current measurements.  If he is still ahead-we will talk induction for the next week.  If he seems to be in closer range of the gestational time line, we will have the option to let nature do its thing.  So for now (and for the past month) its been a wait and see game.

In other news--we are now well into week 35...his lungs are mature, as are all of his other vital organs...his only job now is to pack on the pounds (ok...I'm packing pounds...he's doing ounces)  This also means that we are now operating on  new labor and delivery rules.  Prior to this week, if I had more than 4-6 contractions in an hour, I was told to guzzle the water and rest for an hour-If they didn't stop I was to go directly to L&D.  Now the rules are that I am to stay at home until my contractions are 3-5 min apart for at least an hour (so they have to be close and consistent) or my water breaks.  I've also been put on travel restrictions and need to stay close to home (boo...) just in case labor starts.

We have our hospital bags packed (well mostly packed...and definitely by the weekend!) and our phone lists made! Know that you will be getting a text message from Justin if we go into the hospital and Jax's decides to make a surprise appearance to let everyone know without taking the time to call everyone.  Once we get settled in for the long haul--he'll make the appropriate calls.  Of course if we induce...you'll all know the appointment time and can make your own plans!

So there you have it for now at least...We will let you know what happens Thursday!

hope all is well...

Justin, Robin and Jaxon

"Congrats...your having a Toddler."

Is what my midwife told me today after reviewing the ultrasound results!  Today's appointment was a "trend tracking" ultrasound.  And all this means is that we take another peak inside and take measurements to see if Jax is indeed growing ahead of schedule.  Today's measurements along with those taken at the next ultrasound appt (march 5th) will give us the information needed to make the best delivery decision possible.  

Today Jaxon is weighing in a 5lbs 11 ounces (at 32 weeks gestation he should be weighing about 4 1/2 lbs.)  His head is measuring at 36weeks 1day, his midsection was barely ahead at 33weeks 2days, and his limbs were at 33 weeks.  What all this means is that he is still measuring ahead of schedule--with an average of 35weeks 6days in development.  

And its because of that large head measurement that Renee (the midwife) is still leaning towards a scheduled induction or ultrasound.  The bummer is that we are still in limbo as to exact dates and final decisions.  What will happen next is that I will continue to meet with her-every 2 weeks-and then every week- to keep track of my weight, growth, contractions, symptoms etc.  And then after the 36 week ultrasound-we will know whether we are having a baby by scheduled appt within the next 2 weeks...or whether mother nature will get to do her job.

So sorry that I don't have more information for you all...its a huge source of frustration for me as well! 

hope all is well with you-

much love, 

Justin, Robin and Jaxon (who wouldn't wake up to take good ultrasound pics...)

Mom-31...Jaxon-34

weeks that is...Today was another Dr's appointment. Our appointment that had been scheduled for last Friday was bumped by an emergency c-section (which is why there was no post last week...sorry if you missed us)  But what we did find out today is that Jaxon is still measuring ahead of schedule-this was done by measuring my belly this time, no ultrasound today.  The belly measurements are taken from the top of the pubic bone to the fundus (the top of the uterus).  This measurement should be as many centimeters as weeks of gestation.  So I have been pregnant for 31 weeks and should measure 31 cm.  However today I was measuring 34+ cm.  Justin and I spent a lot of time with the midwife today picking her brain on what she thinks is going to happen delivery wise.  She told us that we would continue to track Jax' growth through measurements and ultrasounds (we have an ultrasound next Thursday and another in 3 weeks).  The next ultrasound will give us his "growth trend" which just means it will tell us if he is continuing to grow at the same rate as he has been.  The BIG one is going to be the ultrasound that will be done at around 35 weeks.  This will be the deciding picture.  If at this point in time he is still measuring ahead of schedule and by all measurements appears to be weighing in at 7-8 lbs, she will strongly recommend a scheduled induction at 37 weeks (close to the 10th of March) or we can opt for a c-section at 38 weeks (the week of the 16th).  She believes that this little boy will be coming sooner rather than later!! Which means that we have about 6 weeks until baby day!

Justin and I are researching and weighing our options as we try to determine the path that will lead to the safest delivery of our boy.  And to put your minds at ease about the possibility of him coming early--babies born between 37-40 weeks are considered full term babies.  Those that are born between 34-37 weeks generally do not have any long term health issues and most won't spend any time (or very little) in a neonatal unit.  

Just a little Jax FYI- if he were truly a 34 week baby, he would be weighing in at 4 3/4 lbs (but he's already surpassed that) and measuring at about 18 inches.  His central nervous system and lungs continue to mature as he puts on more weight.  He is supposed to be gaining about an ounce a day at this point in the pregnancy!

We'll keep you posted as we can! Look for ultrasound pictures next week!

much love, 

Justin, Robin and Jaxon

Jax' Shack

I know that I didn't post on Jax' development this week...to be quiet honest...I'm just a little bit confused as to where he is developmentally.  Is he 32 weeks?? or 33?? possibly 35?  I really dunno.  So I decided that I would take a break from the medical and post a little on the fluffier side. (at least until I  get some better answers on Friday)

The most exciting thing is that we are almost done with the boy's room!  Justin laid the baseboard and chair railing yesterday and then we took to putting up decorations/pics and arranging the furniture! We both really love the way it is turning out! There are still a few finishing touches to be made (hamper, trash can, The Chair, another side table...the list goes on) but I wanted to share with you now!  The best part about all of the decorations is that they are things Justin and I had collected pre-Us and pre-Jax.  Many of the items are from our travels and carry fond memories with them.

Thats really all I wanted to share this week with you--Enjoy the pics and hopefully everyone has been enjoying their weekend!

Much love, 

Justin, Robin and Jax

***a side note--this kid seems to LOVE classical music...as I sit here listening to a great classical CD...he is bouncing (quiet literally) all over the place!

Huh??? 32 weeks??

Happy Friday all! Hopefully you've enjoyed a quick week-and if not...TGIF!  

Yesterday was our regularly scheduled 2 week Dr appt along with an ultrasound to see how Mr. Jaxon has been growing.  And what we found out is that the boy is definitely growing! (this is where it gets a little confusing, so I'll try my best to clear it up--however I was probably the most confused, so no promises!)

The ultrasound tech takes measurements of Jaxon's major body parts (head, belly, legs...) and the average of those measurements give us a rough estimate of His development and fetal age. (which is different than the gestational age, which is how long I've been pregnant.)  The last time we visited Jax, he was measuring about 3 weeks ahead of the pregnancy (when I was 24 weeks and he jumped to 27 weeks)  He continued the growing trend this time as well.  While I am still stuck back at 28 weeks pregnant--our guy is measuring at 32 weeks in development-measuring at 19 inches and weighing 4lbs! (and his head alone measured at 34 weeks!!! Thank you Simmons' for that one!)  This all to say that he is about a month ahead of schedule growth wise and our midwife is expecting a BIG baby.  She does not want to change my actual due date (I know... there have been soo many) from the 30th of March because the first ultrasound (at 8 weeks) is by far the most accurate as far as pregnancy length and fetal age at that point.  As we get farther along, babies-like "real people"-grow at different rates. (margin of error is about +/- 5 ounces right now.)  

So the plan of action is:  We will keep monitoring his growth with yet another ultrasound (how lucky are we that we get to take so many peaks at our boy before meeting him) to determine if his growth rate will continue or if it is just a spurt.  More than likely he will continue on this pattern.  If that is the case, I will then be induced once I hit term.  Term pregnancy is considered anywhere from 37-40 weeks.  The reason for induction at 37 weeks is that first of all--he will be smaller in size for a natural delivery and the rates of shoulder dystocia (where they get stuck) and breathing problems go up when babies are bigger and get to marinate longer.  Induction will be the safer route for the both of us.  If March 30 is considered "term" or 40 weeks- then we can expect that Jaxon will make his arrival sometime in the first half of March (around the 9th).  That's a whole lot sooner than it sounds!!

I've added some of the great close ups we got of Jax this time around--he IS his father's (ok and mother's) son and Loves to mug it up for the camera! The tech kept commenting on how much he likes his picture to be taken..=)  Hopefully the pictures are much more clear thanks to a wonderful Christmas gift-new computer and scanner! (thanks Bob and Kelly) Enjoy!!!

much love,

Justin, Robin, and Jaxon (aka The Beast!)

Got Wrinkles?

Here we are in week 30...with only 10 weeks (or so) to go! I can't believe that things have gone by so quickly-and that there is so very little time left until we all get to meet this little man!  Just thinking about it leaves me speechless...(hard to imagine me speechless...I know)

During this week-our guy has grown to anywhere between 15.7 and 17 inches long!  This puts his height within 3-4 inches of his final length! Not much more to go baby!  He should be weighing in at somewhere near the 3 pound mark (the book says like a head of cabbage...but really...thats a whole lotta cabbage!)  He is swimming in about a pint and a half of amniotic fluid which will continue to decrease as Jax continues to grow and take up more room.  His eye sight, which will continue to develop after birth, allows him to be sensitive to light-and even though he is able to open his eyes now, he spends most of his time with them closed (just like after birth).  Jaxon's first view of the world will be a blurry one, with his vision only registering objects within a few inches of his face (20/400 vision).  The big growth this week is happening in the boys brain.  This week it begins to "look like" a brain.  The brain begins taking on the characteristic grooves and wrinkles of a mature brain.  These wrinkles are what allow for future expansion of brain tissue as he continues to hit milestones.  These grooves and wrinkles also allow his brain to start taking on tasks that have been delegated to other parts of the body.  Among other things, Jaxon is now able to regulate his own temperature-along with the help of the baby fat supply he's working on.  As a result, he'll begin shedding the lanugo(fine downy hair) that has been aiding in keeping body temperatures up.

Dr's Updates- We were finally able to nail down a pediatrician this week.  A task that was much more difficult than I had anticipated.  We won't get a chance to meet face to face with Dr. Jones until Jax's delivery (which I've found to be standard practice now...) but I've heard great things about him.  

We also are now on a 2 week schedule with the midwife until 36 weeks...at which time we'll begin our weekly appointments.  I am way done with doctors appointments!  Our next appointment has an ultrasound attached to it--yay! More pics!!  Our midwife wants to keep a close eye on his growth as she thinks that he may be a much bigger baby than expected (and I had hoped--ouch)  By keeping an eye on his size, she will be able to ensure that I won't be delivering a 10lb baby (thankful for that!)  

We will keep you posted!

Much love,

Justin, Robin and Jaxon