big ultrasound

I really am opposed to ultrasound. Many people think it causes undue harm to the baby. I am pretty sure there are just as many who say it's harmless. That's not why I don't like them.

When I got called back, I had the ultrasound, which was really cool. Then I went to see the doctor. Because I "had the ultrasound," I kid you not, she did not touch me. How do you get to know your patient if you don't touch them? There is something very worthwhile to be said for palpating and checking true fundal height and checking heart tones with a fetoscope. I got to know Abe better with the help of my midwives. I am getting to know Ike via a machine. ...I don't know, there is something a little eerie about that.

Anyway, everything came back totally fine. He looks good, his estimated weight was 3.13 on Thursday. He will be a bigger baby, but not as big as Abe...as long as I eat right between now and the birth. We shall see! I don't have a low-lying placenta, which is great -- much less of a chance for too much blood loss during labor. The placenta is anterior, which means that I will never feel him right at the front of my belly; he'll always kick around the edges and whatnot. Things are great!

We started our prenatal classes with Jennifer (my former midwife) and Mariah (my monitrice/doula for this birth). They're fabulous. Extremely informative. Birth plans were on the agenda, but we talked about a lot of other things, too. Amazing food.

Everything is looking up for this birth. You know, it's incredible how much there is to learn and KNOW about our bodies. I am not sure I still truly KNOW myself, though creating another life is extremely eye-opening. Food for thought: we are very reactionary as a general cultural norm, instead of preventitive. There are million things I could do better this pregnancy that I simply didn't do (and ended up with a less than agreeable outcome) with Abe. We are still hoping for our beautiful, vaginal, intervention-free birth experience. And here's to hoping!