You may think I'm referring to myself in this title, but I'm not. It's true that my belly is growing each day and there's no mistaking that I'm pregnant. But the fat belly I'm referring to belongs to my precious little Frostina.
I am getting lots of extra monitoring this time around and this week I got a special kind of ultrasound that I've not had before. In addition to checking the baby and the fluid and all that stuff, this ultrasound was also to look at the placenta. My doctor checked the structure and blood flow. He not only looked at the blood flow, but he also listened to it. To me it just sounded like a bunch of swooshing, but he said it was good so that's all that matters.
If only they had done a scan like this with my son. Then perhaps they would have detected that something was wrong. That his placenta was under attack by some kind of virus or infection. Would early detection have saved him? There's no way to know for sure. But it makes me sad to think that the technology is available but isn't considered "standard" during all pregnancies. I get to have this because of my history, and for that I'm grateful, but I do wish it was done for everyone.
Before he checked my placenta, my doctor did all the normal measurements on Frostina. Unlike my son who always measured a bit small (in hindsight that fact makes me sooooo sad), she is right on target in all areas. All areas except for one that is. I was informed that she has a large round belly. Still within normal limits so nothing to worry about I was told. But big compared to the rest of her. My doctor says it's a good sign that she's getting plenty of nutrients.
She has a cute fat belly! A notion that makes me smile each time I think about it. When you think about it, babies are pretty much the only people who can have a fat belly and people think it's cute.
I just can't wait to meet her. I'm praying that things continue to go well with this pregnancy because I'm already totally in love with her.
Dealing with the loss of a child is never easy, but it's even more difficult when you are an expat living far from home. Life will never be "normal" again and so now the challenge is to find my new normal. I am now back in the USA and the proud parent of two daughters, born using two different egg donors. "Frostina" and "Olea" are the loves of my life and I feel so grateful for the amazing women who donated their eggs and made my family possible.
She must be so sweet with her plump tummy. SOunds like things are going very well. That's wonderful.
ReplyDeletelove her nickname. Frostina! With a big belly!
ReplyDeleteAww, that is so cute! I'm so glad little Frostina is getting all the goodies she needs to keep her plump little belly full!
ReplyDeleteI too wish all this extra monitoring was standard. Insurance companies only seem to look at the statistics that save them money :(
ReplyDeleteGlad Frostina is measuring on track and you are so right, fat bellies are the cutest on babies an no one else ha!
My babies all have fat bellies and they are healthy!!!!
ReplyDeleteI am pretty sure the cord compression started with Logan the day after my 37 week appt and i didnt have any extra monitoring...I will always wonder if a simple NST would have shown him starting to struggle let alone a BPP ultrasound. I am so glad they are monitoring you closely. It is what helped keep me sane during Layton's pregnancy!!!
Ahh this made me smile. I love babies with lots of squishy rolls in their skin. I think it's the cutest thing ever! So glad she is healthy. I have to say I totally agree that there are so many tests and scans that I think should be considered standard in all pregnancies.
ReplyDeleteWhat a delightful detail. Something specific to look forward to in the delivery room.
ReplyDeleteAmazing news! So so so so pleased that everything is going so well with little 'Frostina' - I hope all the specialist tests are helping to reassure you, and that you're able to look forward to meeting her in just a few months! xxxx
ReplyDeleteHa, they tell me my baby has a chubby tummy too, love that. :)
ReplyDeleteGlad to hear you're doing well momma.
Ps. Agree ith the testing. I have a billon things to ask my obgyn about for tests to be run after birth, and I know they're all "extra", and not normally performed.... But I need them for piece of mind, you know?
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ReplyDeleteSo I've never posted here but I've been watching for awhile. I'm 22 weeks today with a known-donor egg baby after several years of infertility, a miracle natural pregnancy (right after getting on an int'l adoption list, which we then had to get off of) that ended in her death minutes before delivery at 38 weeks 6 days in Dec 2009. You are the second closest story to my own that I know of, it seems...
ReplyDeleteAnd funnily enough my baby's belly is measuring a week ahead of everything else - a fat bellied baby girl too. My reaction, though, was to hone in on the "anomaly" and wonder if there's something wrong they weren't catching. Gestational diabetes, say. The doctors also say it's WNL, but I'm having a hard time trusting doctors, these days. After all, we were surrounded by expert medical staff while my daughter was dying and nobody knew enough to be concerned. Bleah.
Reading about your excitement makes me both wistful and a little bit recognizant that I'm missing the good stuff in all my worry. I cherish every bump and wiggle inside, but am so simultaneously terrified I'll never get to meet her alive.
So I appreciate you sharing the news (maybe mine is truly just fine - could it be??) and that you're loving that she has a belly. Sort of 'shapes me up', if you will.
I wish you so much luck as your pregnancy continues. May all of us scarred (and scared) Mommas hold our dreams in a few months!!!! (I know there are probably several women reading this blog hoping to become pregnant again too after their loss - best wishes to you as well. I know I didn't believe we'd ever get there until we did, and even now I'm not sure I believe it!! Best wishes to all.)
I wish that technology was offered in standard cases as well. I'm sure it would save lives, even if it "wasted time and money".
ReplyDeleteThinking of you and cute baby girl.
xo
I agree; technology is a wonderful thing but it is such a shame it's only been available to such a large scale throughout the last decade or less. I hope everything goes well for you.
ReplyDeleteCJ x
Awww, she already sounds so cute!
ReplyDeleteWhat great news.. keep cookin' Frostina!
ReplyDeleteFat baby bellies are so cute :) Wish everyone could get extra monitoring too and often wonder whether it would have saved Gabrielle too. Wonderful to hear all is going so well. Love to you both xoxo
ReplyDeleteLove that your little one has a fat tummy! SO cute!
ReplyDeleteI always wondered during my pregnancy with Mason (when I had special testing done constantly) "What if we'd had all of this with Aiden?" And that's hard to think about. I might have both of my sons with me today if it had been done.
Glad the baby is doing well. Continuing to pray for a you guys!
little buddha belly babies are the best lol so cute. I am so very happy for you that things seem to be going so well. I lost a baby between my 2 children and my goodness how my son was so nerve wracking...I too was quite heavily monitored while pregnant with him which I am so thankful for. ( I was actually so overjoyed to be having another baby that I saved the pregnancy test.. of course my husband found it later and was totally disgusted lol but to me that was a huge moment) I totally understand the questioning on the extra monitoring and what if anything it could have done to help with Ati, although I do think that everything happens for a reason ( though I've yet to figure out what that reason may be lol)
ReplyDeleteI will keep my fingers crossed for you that everything continues to go so well, and I'm so glad to hear that you are enjoying yourself as well as your little buddha hehe. :)
I miscarried before my first child ( took 3 more years to get pregnant) and I remember the heartache. We didn't know the sex, so that helped the healing process. I feel for you. And I also hope you can revel in these ten months! I remembermy pregnancy as one of the happiest years of my life. Truly. visiting from the warrior hop.
ReplyDeleteA little Budda! How cute! x
ReplyDeleteHow lovely! I hope that all continues to go well.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you that, while it is a blessing that we can get all this extra support and monitoring when we have a particular medical history, it really needs to be available to everyone. I wonder how many of us would not have the medical histories we do, if only all the available technology and resources were made available to us from as early as possible in our lives?
Hello, I think your own rounded belly must be very, very beautiful too. Wishing you all the very best and baby Frostina too. You have so many people sending love and hugs and heartfelt best wishes, it's such a lovely way to connect this blogging life. It does open our hearts in so many ways.
ReplyDeleteChubby baby! So sweet. Maybe she'll have chubby cheeks too (I am partial to those).
ReplyDeleteThe questions about whether extra monitoring would have saved Elizabeth - those keep me up at night. Why are some tests made standard and others not, when they address things at similar risk levels? I really don't understand.
I can't wait for you to kiss that tummy! I am so thankful that everything is going well. Just keep breathing. you are doing a great job.
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