Today I’m 17 weeks pregnant… I think.
I’ve started wondering if there’s a chance that when I see my doctor next week she’ll just say I’m having a big baby and that my due date/weekly progression hasn’t actually changed. While the ultrasound technician said to go by my new due date, I know my doctor could say something different at my next check-up. All in all it doesn’t really matter – most babies aren’t even born on their due date. Now that I’m pregnant though, each week seems like a HUGE milestone, so I really like counting them just right.
Another reason I’m thinking that my baby might be jumbo is because, well…
I was a chub. I weighed just over 10 pounds when I was born. Yowzers. Emphasis on the “ow.” And to top it all off, my mom gave birth to me completely naturally. She likes to remind me that she didn’t have so much as a Tylenol. Just to let everyone know, as grateful as I am, I will not be following in her footsteps.
My dad actually wrote about my birth experience for an old Memphis paper called the Dixie Flyer. For this, I am also grateful. It captures my debut in such a raw, sweet way. I hope one day I can do the same for my baby girl.
(click images for larger view)
Wow, you were big
I was 8 lbs and Ben was 10 lbs. So I don’t think we would produce a tiny baby. But, you never know. How big was Todd?
You are looking lovely as always!
Wow! You were a big baby! and you are so beautiful!!! Can’t wait to see you grow!<3
my brother was a ten pounder! he broke his collar bone and my mother’s tail bone going through the birth canal … i hope that is NOT the case for you and your little one!
i love that your dad wrote about your birth! the pictures are really sweet.
I am crying over here! What an amazing story… YOUR birth story. Please send this to Leigh at Marvelous Kiddo: leigh@leighpennebaker.com – she posts the best birth stories to her blog – http://marvelouskiddo.blogspot.com/ – many of them are natural births.
Your mom and dad are a great team!
You and Todd are, too.
xoxo.
Sarah,
If it helps, the bigger the baby, the less you tear…seriously. I have had three children and my daughter was 9 lbs, 14 oz. My first son was 7 lbs. 12 oz. and I was torn up and it took almost 6 months to heal. I didn’t even need stitches with my daughter and healed so easily! The thought that she would be bigger terrified me, and the ultrasounds can be off by a pound. The OB/Gyn told me that big, healthy babies come out easier and “straighter”, which means less tears and pain during delivery, even without pain killers (the science behind this is that lighter babies, since they are smaller, drop down easier, thus more tears). It’s not that it won’t hurt, but the pain is the same DURING birth whether it is 7 lbs or 10 lbs. NO difference. But the pain AFTER is worse. Hope for a big baby and push push push as hard as you can. You will be just fine!