Quatro
How crazy is this ultrasound picture?! If you aren’t familiar with these, baby’s head is on the right and its face is sorta pressed up against the probe so you see Travis’ lips and a little nose looking out at you. That dark area in the center is the 4 chambered heart. Almost 28wks, not finding out gender. Perinatologist visit was great – don’t know how he ended up in that field, but he had fantastic bedside manner! It was a refreshing change. Baby is growing really well, but cord is still a marginal insertion (meaning it’s towards the edge of the placenta instead of in the center, so growth has to be monitored to make sure blood flow is adequate – so far so good). The estimate on size, which I take with a grain of salt because these things can be very inexact, is 2lbs 7oz, putting Quatro in the 70 percentile…I have a feeling this is on the overestimated side! I highly doubt any child with 1/2 of my genetic makeup is in the 70%, but then again, I have a bio brother who is 6’3” so I guess anything is possible.
On the pregnancy front, I have some news. After a lot of thinking, talking, and discussing, I have opted to schedule my C-section this time around. For those of you who followed my first labor, you probably realize I’m in the “pretty damn unlikely” category with regards to the chances of a successful VBAC. My mom had 4 sections, and I think I got her narrow pelvis that wasn’t well-suited to birth, much to my dismay since one of my biggest desires was to experience a normal vaginal delivery. Don’t ask why; I know that’s the part most people dread. But I’m weird like that, the pain is not something I’m afraid of. What I AM afraid of is attempting a VBAC, going through a grueling labor again, having my heart set on a vaginal delivery, and ending up in a traumatic last-resort c-section once again. If I weren’t an intern and I had unlimited time to recover and be with the new baby thereafter, I might choose differently. As it is though, I have 3 weeks and I do NOT want to spend that laid up with my body healing from BOTH labor AND surgery.
So, if all goes as planned (did I REALLY say that out loud), Quatro will be born at 8:30am on November 29th. Weird, huh?
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26 comments
Just how short are you, Laurie? I’m about 4′11″ and my first child is about 6′2″. So you never know.
Looks good; glad everything is going the way that it’s supposed to. Did you know that the first C-sections in this country were performed by native Americans about 300+ years ago? Of course, the white people didn’t think they could learn anything from them…as a history teacher, I couldn’t resist sharing this with you
looks good, Laurie. Can’t wait to see your addition. What an exciting time.
So excited!! Looks like a cutie!! And ya for you have the day all planned out!!
oh my gosh, a birthday! So how much thought do you put into a birthday when you get to pick it? I’ve never thought about that before!! Like do you intentionally decide on November instead of December? Late enough so it won’t fall on Thanksgiving? Or is it up to the surgeon? This is fascinating to me.
That is so so soon. I’m so excited for quatro!
Nothing wrong with scheduling a C-section! It certainly helps you be prepared and better able to organize your schedule around your other 3 kiddos! So excited for you!
Awww, Quatro is so cute! Great news, too!
And…November 29th is a great birthday!
Laurie, i feel like we have a lot in common. I too REALLY wanted to have a VBAC and I tried and I will tell you that I wasn’t anywhere near as emotionally devastated the second time around. It sounds like the right choice for you. I’ll always feel a little loss for not having had a vaginal birth, but I am more thankful for two healthy boys than anything. Anyway, I can only imagine the blog traffic on the 29th!
So Quatro is hamming it up for the camera already??? Are you going to consider Q names to go with the Quatro nickname? My mom has always said the the second C-section was so much easier than the first because she didn’t have the long labor before (she wasn’t a candidate for VBAC either).
Congrats on everything so far!
Clearly I was not meant to be a “real” doctor. I had to stare at that pic for 5 minutes before I could figure out where the head was!!! So cute. Love the moniker quatro. Wasn’t there a 70s singer named Susie Quatro?!?! Likely not the image you were shooting for. Ha! Very happy that she or he is growing and that all is going well despite the long hours and stress. Be good to yourself (no pun intended).
Congrats on number 4! The ultrasound is a mystery for me, as I have been staring at it for well over 5 mins and have NO clue anything seen there… but if you say it’s there that’s all that matters! I hope all goes well for you and the baby and your other babies in the transition time!
Good Luck!
Lookin’ good, Quatro! I do not blame/judge/whatever you at all for going with a scheduled section. I think you have enough drama to keep things lively at your house!
I know everything will go well. November really isn’t that far away. How time flies (for me!)
Make sure you save a turkey drumstick to celebrate Quatro’s grand entrance into the big, noisy, funny, loving family, wow November is just around the corner.
so exciting laurie..bring on quatro!!!
i loved seeing the picture but i did everthing but stand on my head to figure where the little darling is but so glad everyting is ok.so now Mom has a 11/28 birthdate and our lil cuie is in the 29 th.2 great reasons to celebrate,Gia
Yeah! Very exciting! In Japan they don’t do any VBACs, so I have a scheduled c for Dec. 7th. Hopefully I’ll make it until then. Congrats again and don’t work too hard:)
I was just thinking the same thing - Susie Quatro!
I’m so glad that you know what you want and you seem really at peace with how to get there. The 3 weeks for down time is really worrisome in many ways for you - at least this is one way you can make the most of it.
Read Jack’s first day of school - Julia responded very similarily last year (she is about 6 months older than he is, I think.) She virtually floated into the program this year - which was nice, but it was so hard to watch last year.
Thinking of you!
That little one is soooooo gonna be another girl! I can just FEEL it!
After everything you went through with Finely’s delivery, wouldn’t it be just like you to have Quatro all natural on the 28th before you can even get to the hospital (assuming you aren’t already there for work). However s/he comes, I can’t wait to see your latest addition and hope it goes beautifully for you!
Your latest addition is gorgous already! I can’t wait to see who you’re baking in there.
Wow! It that adorable baby will be here before you know it! Glad to hear all is well.
I wouldn’t be concerned. 4th is always the best. He / she will probably be smart, good-looking and off the charts in size (if the past is any guide to the future)… Hopefully, talkative though - being quietly excellent is not easy… Especially when you’re so effing excellent - good luck ‘Tro.
Took me minute but yay, saw Q’s face or at least the part thats showing. Nov. 29th, congratulations!
I know you are making the right choice after all that you went through the first time around–and as you said, your body/family have enough stress with the internship. The more time you have to hold and love little Q and to rest and recover, the better!
Cannot wait to “meet” this newest addition. They are going to be so loved and adored by your entire crew
Hugs!
love the lips. and, i know i’m a giant nerd, but that lovely picture of the 3 vessel umbilical cord that is floating around looks pretty beefy. and often beefy cords bring beefy babies along with them….but then there is the marginal insertion which might mean little baby…and fin was little, especially considering her extra cooking time…hmmmm…i’m seriously overthinking it
but i’ll go with little.
I’ll go with Stacie and Hawk. Cannot tell a thing by that pic. Just thankful that you’re hanging in there, and praying everything will be good. Don’t know how you do it. Quatro is a cute tag. Love you so much.
wow! i haven’t been to your blog in a while! congratulations mountain momma!
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