Professional Photos

I decided to hire the best Photographer I could find to photograph our baby's first year.  Jean Shifrin Photography is who we chose and so far I couldn't be happier with her work.  We signed up for a package that includes maternity photos, newborn, 3 months, 6 months, and one year.   Here are a couple of our favorite maternity photographs that were taken at 30 weeks:

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36 weeks... less than one month to go!

I've been seeing my Ob/Gyn Dr. and the Perinatologist now three days a week.  baby I's been passing his Non Stress Tests (NST's) with flying colors!

Yesterday, I had an exam and was checked for any signs of progress.  Report:  No dilation yet, but I am 50 % effaced (my cervix is starting to thin out now).  Let me tell you, that is one of THE MOST uncomfortable exams I've ever had.... yes, there will be an epidural during delivery!  Since I'm so old, Dr. Tackitt doesn't want me to go over my due date.  SO... we checked his call schedule and I'm on the books for an induction on August 10th (if he doesn't decided to try and come out on his own earlier)!  I started crying in the office... pretty surreal moment knowing the exact date of when I'll be a Mom :-)

I can't believe I'm posting this, but here's what "Baby I" and I look like at 36 weeks.
Chaz says this is the most impressive belly he's ever seen!  

This morning, Chaz and I saw the Perinatologist for another full body ultrasound to check the baby's growth.  She said he "looks perfect."  We saw more hair, fat around his short chubby legs (hee hee) and at 36 weeks...he is now 6 lbs. 14 oz!  We could see him "practice breathing" and she said that's a very good sign.  I still have plenty of amniotic fluid for the baby to swim in.  He's a happy healthy boy!!!

The final stretch!

I've made it to 34 weeks this first week of July.  Because of my age, my Dr.'s are requiring two Non-Stress-Tests (NST) and one Obstetrical visit each week until I deliver

I have the NST's done at my Perinatologists office on Tuesday and Fridays.  They hook two monitors up to my belly: one is to hear and record the baby's heart rate and the other one is to capture any contractions.  When the baby moves, I click a button.  They're looking for they baby's heart beat to increase with fetal activity.  This lets them know that he still has room to move around and isn't "stressed."

The OB visit each week is continued checking on me.  They will continue to monitor my weight, blood pressure, urine culture.  At some point, they will check my cervix to see if it's thinning (effacing) and/or dilating in preparation for birth!