Measurement Monday

On Monday, we had our first good look at Connor through ultrasound. The nurse took images of his feet (photo above), arms, head, spine, and femur. The images were used to take measurements that helped recalculate the due date. Our due date moved from June 14th to June 18th. All of the measurements that were taken were in the normal range, so it appears as though we will have a healthy baby boy.

One unique thing that occurred during the ultrasound was Connor's movements. He was kicking and swaying a little, but the nurse couldn't get a good image of his spine. Connor just wasn't cooperating. Tanja tried to talk him into moving, but he didn't do much. The nurse asked me to talk to Tanja's belly and see if I could get him to move. I felt a little strange, but I told Conner through my wife's belly that he had to roll over or turn so we could take his picture. He turned just enough so that the nurse could get a shot of his spine. That was amazing.

Moving Moments...

The last few nights my wife thinks she has felt Connor swimming around. She says the movements are almost like a squirming, squishy feeling in her tummy. My first thought was, I've felt that before and it wasn't a baby. But she assured me this was different and I was immediately excited and intrigued. Could I feel it? No, not yet. Apparently, it will take a few more weeks before Connor's movements can be felt from outside my wife's growing belly.

Easy Pregnancy?

When we first found out we were going to have a baby, I immediately worried about how difficult the pregnancy might be on my wife. She gets car sick fairly easy and I thought she'd spend the first few months of pregnancy upchucking all over the place. But, funny thing, she really hasn't dealt with morning sickness. At most, she is very picky about what she eats -- and gets nauseous when I cook something her new taste buds don't approve.

What has troubled my wife is a ruptured disc in her back. Because she is pregnant, they can't take x-rays or an MRI, so the exact disc and its condition are unknown, except the intense pain. I worry how that will feel once she is 6-7 months pregnant. Hopefully, as the baby is more developed, they can take an x-ray and give her the treatment she needs. Right now, her chiropractor is keeping her walking.

So while she has been given a pass on one of the most notorious symptoms pregnant women have to endure, nature through her another curve ball. Connor will grow up owing his mom big-time.

How Many Weeks Pregnant is She?

The way this is calculated still baffles me. My wife and I know the conception date of our unborn son. It was September 20th, which equates to about 16 weeks. But her official term of pregnancy is 18 weeks. Why the discrepancy? They calculate how far along a woman is in her pregnancy according to the date of her last period before getting pregnant. I understand that not everyone knows the conception date -- especially those in their 20s or 30s -- but I would think that if you have a firm date of conception, they would throw out their calculation and accept ours. I guess that's not how it works. So, our due date of June 14 is more likely June 28 -- unless the little tike arrives early.

In the Womb

My wife and I are expecting our first child. She is 44 and I am 43, so we feared the possibility of a chromosomal abnormality. But we got the results of the amniocentesis today and everything was normal.

I decided to start this blog because now it seems real; we are going to have a baby, a baby boy to be more specific. His name will be Connor Dorwin, hence the title of this blog. I'll post updates on the pregnancy, discuss what I have learned thus far in this reproductive process, and will at times look ahead to the future, when I will finally meet my son.