Week 20 – The 'Big Baby Scare'

I am half-way along and I can’t believe it! I already wrote a post about this pregnancy going by to fast, so I will only say it one more time – SLOW DOWN!

Cravings this week:

– cilantro

– guacamole with lots of  cilantro (see recipe below – just had to share, its THAT good!)

– mango salad; the thai/brazillian kind with cilantro

On another note, I had my 18-20 week ultrasound last week. Fun times! We didn’t have the dating one so this was my first one of this pregnancy, and most likely my last unless something comes up indicating it would be beneficial for me to have another one. I was still slightly nervous that there were twins in there (only based on an irrational fear, not because they run in the family or anything) but there aren’t – just one babe ; one BIG babe.

By one big babe, I mean there might as WELL be two in there, that’s how big this baby is measuring. Before I get into how thing went, I want to say that one of my pet peeves is what I call the ‘Big Baby Scare’ that (I would say most) women get at some point, usually towards the end of their pregnancy. It can come from stranger’s comments, “Wow you must be ready to pop!” or “Are you sure there aren’t twins in there?”, but most commonly it comes from the estimates women are given from care provider’s measurements or measurements done during an ultrasound.  Women hear that they are (may) be having a big baby, and get terrified. I always tell my clients about this ‘Big Baby Scare’ and not to be worried for the following reasons:

– no one can tell how big your baby is from the outside

– big bellies don’t always equal big babies; most of what a big belly is, is how the woman is carrying

– ultrasound has a large margin of error; plus or minus TWO POUNDS! That 9 pounder you were told you have could actually be perfectly average, OR it could be a mammoth, and in that case, good luck. Haha just kidding, read on…

– big babies aren’t all cranium (which is the hardest and scariest part to push out); they are mainly chubby babies and chub is squishy. A very scientific point.

– big babies can be long babies! Again, the extra weight isn’t all in the circumference of the baby’s head.

– big babies sleep and eat better, so if you DO have one, celebrate!

Its actually one of my goals to grow a nice big baby, so I’m not concerned or scared about the estimated size I was given at my ultrasound. I’m more so curious about how correct it may or may not be, and if it is correct, how it may affect my due date/delivering early/going postdate. Here’s the scoop:

My due date is October 7^th, based on the first day of my last period. My cycle was SUPER regular and I have no doubt about when it started as I had been tracking for about a year and it was marked down. I went for the ultrasound last Wednesday, putting me at 19 weeks and 2 days.  Multiple sources have told me that a 19-week-old baby in utero should weigh approximately 8.5 ounces. According to all of the measurements taken at the ultrasound, my baby looks to be consistent with 21 weeks and 2 day measurements, and comes in at (an estimated) 14 ounces. So, either my due date is off and I am two weeks ahead of where I thought (think) I am, OR I may have a mammoth of a child. Two weeks ahead means that I actually got pregnant when I was on my period, which I know is possible, however I don’t think that its what happened. I think I just have a good-sized, healthy baby in there!

Again, this is not a scary thing for me, but I wonder how accurate things are (there is more variability in the size of babies the further along you get in your pregnancy), and because they are so ‘off’ will I be recommended to have another ultrasound in X amount of time to double-check. I feel like keeping my original October 7^th EDD. I like it.  But what if the date IS off and I am now 22 instead of 20 weeks along? That due date would be September 23^rd; I had Caimen 5 days early, so just doing some quick math here, if I have this baby a week (or more) before the new due date, on September 16^th or earlier and have kept my original EDD, it would be considered premature labour and I wouldn’t be able to deliver at home. That would make me one UNhappy camper.  If I change the EDD and go with the earlier one, then what happens if I go postdate and then the threat of an induction is looming? Unhappy camping once again.

Two weeks is a huge difference and I’m not sure what to do, to be honest. The good thing is, I have another midwife appointment this week on Thursday and will talk about it then. I will ask what they think about the estimate and about changing the date and all the possible scenarios that go with. I’m interested to see what they say!

Stay tuned for the update, check out my guacamole recipe below, and from now on I will be using the nickname ‘Mammoth’ for this baby (girl).

Guacamole:

•  5 ripe avacados
• 1 tomato chopped
• ¼ red or sweet onion finely chopped
• BIG handful of fresh cilantro chopped
• 1 mango chopped (optional)
• 1 fresh jalapeño seeded and finely chopped (optional)
• juice of 2-3 limes
• salt and pepper to taste

Smash it up and enjoy! I like it chunky with organic blue corn chips 