Sonogram, Monthly Appointment, and Baby Care Basics Class

We've been busy over the last few days! Last night we went to the Baby Care Basics class at St. Johns. We both were hesitant to go, because we didn't know what to expect. It turned out to be a good class and was very informational. The teacher really opened my eyes to something I had never really thought of before. As soon as a baby comes out and they clamp and cut the cord, the baby has to start doing a lot of things on his own. It's amazing how the baby automatically starts doing these things by itself when it has been relying on the mother to do it for him. The baby has to start circulating his own blood, keeping their own temperature, learn how to cry and eat, etc. There are a lot of things we expect a baby to learn/know when they first come out. It's amazing how quickly they catch on! We also learned what can be "wrong" with a baby after it comes out, but it is actually considered normal. Blue hands for example are normal, even though I would have thought something was wrong if I saw blue hands. There are things St. Johns will not let you leave with in the baby's car seat. Nothing can be in between the baby and the seat. There can't be anything that wasn't attached by the manufacturer to the car seat either. Joel liked the video on the car seats and there was a lot that I didn't know about them in the video. They showed us how to swaddle a baby and how to take the baby's temperature, which they say to do under the arm and not rectal. They also say not to use baby powder at all on girls (which I didn't know!) and not to use alcohol to dry out the cord (they want you to keep it as dry as possible and let it fall off on its own). I think we're both glad we went, but we both agreed that we don't need to go back again!

I had my monthly appointment today and a sonogram after my appointment. This was a follow up sonogram, because at the last one she was measuring small (in the 12th percentile). I gained 6 pounds last month, my blood pressure was good, and I measured fine on the outside. I have another appointment on the 23rd and then I start going every two weeks.

My sonogram followed and we didn't get the best news. She is still measuring small, and is now in the 8th percentile. She's went down from the 12th percentile at week 21 to the 8th percentile at week 28. They are estimating her weight at 2 pounds 6 ounces. Her brain, stomach, and kidneys are all measuring good. The doctor said that they can't see any chromosomal defects. They also checked the blood flow, circulation, and amniotic fluid which all checked out fine. They were worried that something might be wrong with the placenta which was stunting her growth, but everything appeared okay. She is a very active baby, and the doctor could see that in the sonogram (she started kicking for her). The doctor said that everything checked out fine that she could see, and that it appears she is just a small baby. We have to have another sonogram in five weeks to check the growth again. They want a baby to be above the 10th percentile, but like the sonogram technician pointed out, at least Ainsley isn't below zero. She's still on the charts, if only by a little. We didn't get to see her face this time either. Joel is convinced that she is just like I was; shy and doesn't want anyone to see her! They also confirmed again that she is definitely a girl. Jim and Joel both have been a little worried that it is actually a boy, and Joel said that we would have to paint pigs on her bedroom walls (since they are painted pink) to make it a boy's room because we weren't painting it again! The sonogram pictures aren't very good again, so I'm only posting one (a profile picture), which in my opinion is the only half-way decent one. As we were walking out, the doctor was standing there and reassured us that everything was okay and that she is just a small baby.