34 Weeks -- 6lb, 2oz!

We had a growth scan on Tuesday, and our baby girl is BIG! She is measuring two to three weeks ahead on everything (especially her head, go figure), and her estimated weight is 6lb, 2oz! We have an appointment with my OB in two weeks to talk whether she thinks a cesarean is necessary. I would prefer not to take that route, but whatever she thinks is best for the baby is what we'll do. The nurse practitioner (who did the ultrasound) thought that we were on track for a 9lb baby and thought that a cesarean would not be necessary. We'll see what the doctor has to say!

We are pretty much ready for Ava's arrival at this point. We found a pediatrician that we really like, and so far we've taken childbirth, parenting, and CPR classes. We still have a breastfeeding class and a first aid class to go. Next week we'll get the car seats inspected to make sure they're installed properly. Then we just need to finalize our childcare plans, and we are good to go!

Here is what is happening with our baby girl this week (ignore the weight estimate!):

Your baby now weighs about 4 3/4 pounds (like your average cantaloupe) and is almost 18 inches long. Her fat layers — which she'll need to regulate her body temperature once she's born — are filling her out, making her rounder. Her skin is also smoother than ever. Her central nervous system is maturing and her lungs are continuing to mature as well. If you've been nervous about preterm labor, you'll be happy to know that babies born between 34 and 37 weeks who have no other health problems generally do fine. They may need a short stay in the neonatal nursery and may have a few short-term health issues, but in the long run, they usually do as well as full-term babies.

Here's a picture from the ultrasound. At this point she is way too squirmy to get a good shot, but this one shows a cute little profile.