Margin of Error

We had our 36 week ultrasound yesterday and the results are in. Charlie weighs anywhere between 5.5-7.5lbs. :) That tells me about as much as those weekly BabyCenter emails! The doc predicts that she's right in between at 6.5 lbs and isn't worried about her size at full term. Technically she will be full term next Wednesday at my 37 week mark. On average, babies gain 1/2 lb a week during this time so even if I go to 40 weeks at his guess she'd be 8.5lbs at delivery. That's a lot bigger than Addie, but still not huge or anything.

We had to go for this final ultrasound and consult with an OBGYN in order to finalize and approve our home birth because of my gestational diabetes. I've been managing it well though and I have full approval. I could now go into labor anytime and safely deliver at home. I have no clue if I'm effaced or dilated and probably won't until I actually go into labor. That's another blessing of midwifery care. Do you know that I've had 1 vaginal exam since being pregnant this time? ONE! That was my initial papsmear at the health department and nobody has gone poking around in there since. It's fantastic and even during these last weeks the midwives don't make that a routine thing and usually only begin checking you during labor and very minimally. I think that's awesome!

Anyhow, we got to see our sweet Charlie on the screen again and she is just pretty awesome. Her legs already look chunky, we could see a little patch of what the tech told us was hair, and we could even see her eyelashes at one point. Her little face was all squished against her placenta pillow though. She's head down and in a fine position to get ready to come out and greet the world. The kids are getting excited and we play a daily game of "Can you play soccer with a baby?" "NOOOOO!!!" they yell. "Can you snuggle a baby with a grown-up's help?" "YESSSS," scream Freddie and Addie. The list of nos and yesses just goes on and on and gets more and more ludicrous. My favorite is when Addie makes up her own. "We can kick da baby?" This precedes very worried glances between Jason and me, then she laughs hysterically and frantically shakes her head and yells, "Naaaooooo!" Oh Charlie, I hope you are the baby of steel!