Now that is one boring email!

Disclaimer: For those of you who may notice the time on this post, MBB and I (well my dysfunctional body that is) have decided that 4am seems to be the new time to wake up each day with a nap allowed at about 6am for an hour or so. So I disclaim any part of this point that may not make 100% of sense!



This weeks baby email update email brought a really boring update of a Ken doll. So boring in fact that I didn't even feel like it was worth posting - I was pretty disappointed that was the best American Baby.com came up with. But yesterday I had my 32 week Birth Center appt. so now I feel like I have enough reporting to make it interesting to everyone (however note the disclaimer above as this post may only be interesting to me!). So:

• According to American Baby.com MBB is between 11.75 and 19 inches, according to Baby Center.com MBB is 17 inches - both of these statistics are from top of head to bottom of feet. - HOWEVER we now have actual information on the head to "rump" as it is called length of MBB - measuring in yesterday at her/his appt. at: 12.60 inches (or 32 cm)! With the addition of legs (which the head to rump measuring does not count but the baby emails do) MBB fits in perfectly with what we are expecting and is moving right along with proper growth. Grow MBB grow!
• We also know that MBB's head is facing down - the correct direction for this stage in the game as well you you can tell from the time of this post about MBB ability to move and shake.
• Back to information from emails, MBB should be about 4lbs gaining about a 1/2 a pound a week for the next seven weeks.

I am not sure if I have mentioned it before in this blog, but the DC Birth Center holds 2 hour group sessions after each 2 week appointment to help train us new (and some old!) mom's on how to take care of ourselves while pregnant and our baby once it is born. Yesterday's session was all about Breastfeeding (past ones have been on nutrition, prenatal yoga and back pain), which is quite timely given the article that many many people sent me yesterday on Five breast-feeding mistakes new moms make, and how to fix them which cites the main reasons women fail at breastfeeding as not having enough support.

In the past I know that I have touted the amazing qualities of midwives, but to also share an additional reason I have chosen the amazing care at the DC Birth Center - they have 24 hours 7 day a week on call breastfeeding peer counselors. These are women who have breastfed themselves, been trained to help other women and are on call, in case you missed it, 24 hours a day 7 days a week - with home visits whenever needed! They call every day your first week and then once a week for your first few months to check in on you and see if there is anything they can do. Talk about support! For the long road that led me to the DC Birth center I feel very lucky to be there each time I find out new services and support they offer new moms.

Yesterday we also had another new mom come into the class to tell us her "birth story". These have been so incredibly valuable as they are each different and point to the "anything can happen" theory of labor. Last sessions mom had her baby 2 weeks early, at the birth center, with minimal labor and went home after 4 hours. This mom had her baby 1 week late, at the hospital with medial intervention (and midwives!) and was there for two days. I have to say - both babies were equally as cute :)

In case you were wondering how this whole - birthing at the birth center v/s the hospital thing really shakes out, we got the full scoop yesterday:

• Birthing at the birth center: MBB must be between 37 and 42 weeks with all signs pointing to normal (heart rate, amniotic fluid, etc.).
• Birthing at the hospital: If MBB comes early (before 37 weeks) or has to be induced (after 42 weeks) or there are any "complications" then off to the hospital with midwives in tow it is. If we do end up at the hospital it will be Washington Hospital Center - close to the Birth Center, excellent care and reputation with full privileges to the midwives.

I think that is all my tired brain can push out right now so off to try and nap a bit it is!