It's A Girl!!!!

We found out yesterday that Mini Finney is going to be Cara Joyce Finney!  We are very excited (although we would have been just as excited if it was a boy).  Here are some pictures of our baby girl!  After the ultrasound we went to Kohls and Ryan picked out an outfit for her.  :)  My heart melts!!

A quick clip of our wiggle worm!

19 weeks!

1. How far along?: 19 weeks.
2. How big is baby?:Your baby weighs about 8 1/2 ounces, and measures 6 inches, head to bottom — about the size of a large heirloom tomato. The hair on her scalp is sprouting. This is a crucial time for sensory development: Your baby's brain is designating specialized areas for smell, taste, hearing, vision, and touch. Some research suggests that she may be able to hear your voice now, so don't be shy about reading aloud, talking to her, or singing a happy tune if the mood strikes you.
3. Weight gain?: -8 lbs.
4. Stretch marks?: None yet. 
5. Maternity clothes?: I'm wearing my maternity pants, although they are too big (pre-pregnancy jeans aren't working anymore) and maternity shirts. My belly is getting bigger! :)
   
6. Best moment last week?:  I think I felt baby move.
7. Food cravings?: I really want some fresh peaches.
8. Symptoms?:  I am feeling pretty good, other then some back pain
9. Exercise?: Not really exercise but stretches for my tailbone/sciatic pain.
10. Gender?: Unknown. Should find out today!!
11. Movement?:  I think I felt baby yesterday.
12. Belly button?: Still in.
13. What I miss?: Nothing this week.
14. Labor signs?: Better not have these yet.
15. What I'm looking forward to?: Anatomy scan today!!

Our Birthing Plans

I have been seeing a midwife since about 12 weeks.  We started out with an OB but I have always wanted to use a midwife.  With the IVF and twins at the beginning we thought we had to see an OB. I want to be able to be comfortable with my provider and know that I am getting individual, 1 on 1 care.  I don't want to be just another patient.  I am using a midwife that 2 of my past doula clients have used.  Everything I have heard about her has been great so I knew when the time came that I wanted to use Melissa.

We are planning a med-free birth at a freestanding birth center.  I hope it is a short (hehe!!), intervention free birth.  I am not planning too much because I know that labors go however they do.  I want to try things and if they work great, if not then we will try something else.  Some things I plan to try are heat, cold, water, massage, different positions, breathing and relaxation.  We will have a doula, as I feel they are valuable to both myself and Ryan.

I read Ina May's Guide to Childbirth and feel very empowered by it.  I'm excited for labor and delivery and to hold my sweet baby.  I will probably re-read the book once July gets a little closer.  I'm not 100% sure who will be with us for labor and delivery.  I want to be able to relax and focus on myself birthing without having to think about all the people in the room.  The birthing center is different then the hospital because the only medical staff in there is the Midwife and her assistant.  In addition to them, Ryan will be present and our doula.  Everyone else is still up in the air.  At this point I'm leaning toward my mother in law and mom if she is able to be there only for the pushing stage.  We have time to decide and will do whats best for Ryan and I.

After the birth we will stay at the birth center until we feel comfortable going home.  I'm excited that we don't have to spend a day or 2 in the hospital afterwards.  It will be nice to go home to the comfort of our house.  I look forward to breastfeeding and Ryan and I bonding with our baby together.

I will post our birth wish once we have one.  I like to call it a birth wish because that's what it is.  Our wishes for our birth.  We understand that we don't have control over a lot during the labor and delivery so we will state our wishes and hope that things go as we wish.  We do understand that things come up and are prepared for our plans to change if needed.  We want everyone involved to be healthy and safe in the end.  That's all that matters!

18 weeks!

1. How far along?: 18 weeks.
2. How big is baby?: Head to rump, your baby is about 5 1/2 inches long (about the length of a bell pepper) and he weighs almost 7 ounces. He's busy flexing his arms and legs — movements that you'll start noticing more and more in the weeks ahead. His blood vessels are visible through his thin skin, and his ears are now in their final position, although they're still standing out from his head a bit. A protective covering of myelin is beginning to form around his nerves, a process that will continue for a year after he's born. If you're having a girl, her uterus and fallopian tubes are formed and in place. If you're having a boy, his genitals are noticeable now, but he may hide them from you during an ultrasound.
3. Weight gain?: -8 lbs.
4. Stretch marks?: None yet. 
5. Maternity clothes?: I'm wearing my maternity pants, although they are too big (pre-pregnancy jeans aren't working anymore) and maternity shirts. My belly is getting bigger! :)
   
6. Best moment last week?:  Scheduling our gender ultrasound.
7. Food cravings?: Strawberries.
8. Symptoms?:  I am feeling pretty good, other then some back pain
9. Exercise?: Not really exercise but stretches for my tailbone/sciatic pain.
10. Gender?: Unknown. Should find out in 1 week.
11. Movement?: Not sure.
12. Belly button?: Still in.
13. What I miss?: Nothing this week.
14. Labor signs?: Better not have these yet.
15. What I'm looking forward to?: Anatomy scan next Tuesday!!

17 weeks!!

1. How far along?: 17 weeks.
2. How big is baby?: Your baby's skeleton is changing from soft cartilage to bone, and the umbilical cord — her lifeline to the placenta — is growing stronger and thicker. Your baby weighs 5 ounces now (about as much as a turnip), and she's around 5 inches long from head to bottom. She can move her joints, and her sweat glands are starting to develop.
3. Weight gain?: -8 lbs.
4. Stretch marks?: None yet. 
5. Maternity clothes?: I'm wearing my maternity pants, although they are too big (pre-pregnancy jeans aren't working anymore) and maternity shirts. I think that I do have a little belly now. :)
   
6. Best moment last week?:  I might have felt baby move a couple times.  Not 100% sure though.
7. Food cravings?: None this week.
8. Symptoms?: Nauseous occasionally. But over all feeling better!
9. Exercise?: Not really exercise but stretches for my tailbone/sciatic pain.
10. Gender?: Unknown. Should find out in 1-2 weeks.
11. Movement?: Not sure.
12. Belly button?: Still in.
13. What I miss?: Nothing this week.
14. Labor signs?: Better not have these yet.
15. What I'm looking forward to?: Midwife appointment tomorrow  and the anatomy scan in a few weeks.

16 weeks

1. How far along?: 16 weeks.
2. How big is baby?: Get ready for a growth spurt. In the next few weeks, your baby will double his weight and add inches to his length. Right now, he's about the size of an avocado: 4 1/2 inches long (head to rump) and 3 1/2 ounces. His legs are much more developed, his head is more erect than it has been, and his eyes have moved closer to the front of his head. His ears are close to their final position, too. The patterning of his scalp has begun, though his locks aren't recognizable yet. He's even started growing toenails. And there's a lot happening inside as well. For example, his heart is now pumping about 25 quarts of blood each day, and this amount will continue to increase as your baby continues to develop.
3. Weight gain?: -8 lbs.
4. Stretch marks?: None yet. 
5. Maternity clothes?: I'm wearing my maternity pants, although they are too big (pre-pregnancy jeans aren't working anymore) and maternity shirts. I think that I do have a little belly now. :)
   
6. Best moment last week?:  I might have felt baby move 2 or 3 times.  Not 100% sure though.
7. Food cravings?: Strawberries!
8. Symptoms?: Nauseous still.  I haven't thrown up in a week or so.
9. Exercise?: None.
10. Gender?: Unknown. Should find out in 2-3 weeks.
11. Movement?: Not sure.
12. Belly button?: Still in.
13. What I miss?: Nothing this week.
14. Labor signs?: Better not have these yet.
15. What I'm looking forward to?: The anatomy scan in a few weeks.

15 Weeks!!

I've changed the check-in a little.  It has a few more questions!

1. How far along?: 15 weeks.
2. How big is baby?: Your growing baby now measures about 4 inches long, crown to rump, and weighs in at about 2 1/2 ounces (about the size of an apple). She's busy moving amniotic fluid through her nose and upper respiratory tract, which helps the primitive air sacs in her lungs begin to develop. Her legs are growing longer than her arms now, and she can move all of her joints and limbs. Although her eyelids are still fused shut, she can sense light. If you shine a flashlight at your tummy, for instance, she's likely to move away from the beam. There's not much for your baby to taste at this point, but she is forming taste buds. 
3. Weight gain?: Still down -9 lbs.
4. Stretch marks?: None yet. 
5. Maternity clothes?: I'm wearing my maternity pants, although they are too big (pre-pregnancy jeans aren't working anymore) and maternity shirts. I think that I do have a little belly now. :)
   
6. Best moment last week?:  I might have felt baby move 2 or 3 times.  Not 100% sure though.
7. Food cravings?: Nothing this week.
8. Symptoms?:Still sick.  This week has been bad.  I've taken Zofran most days. I was hoping it would be better by now but I think this is my new normal!
9. Exercise?: None.
10. Gender?: Unknown
11. Movement?: Not sure.
12. Belly button?: Still in.
13. What I miss?: Nothing this week.
14. Labor signs?: Better not have these yet.
15. What I'm looking forward to?: The anatomy scan in a few weeks.