30 wks 6 days

Another day, another weird twist in my pregnancy. I was sent for an ultrasound yesterday where I learned that not only is my baby apparently HUGE (no real surprise there, I come from big baby stock) but she's also hanging out in an excessive amount of amniotic fluid. This condition is called polyhydramnios and it affects around 1% of pregnancies. Yes I'm just that special. It can be caused by nothing, by birth defects, by big babies, and by diabetes, and it leads to a higher instance of preterm birth, often because the belly can only hold so much and your waters simply break. It also increases your chances of a cord prolapse, which is a deadly situation for baby and requires an immediate c-section, but I'm trying not to think too much about that potential outcome.

Realistically, between the polyhydramnios and the "irritable uterus" I just have to prepare myself for a baby sooner than Feb 8th and then hope for the best. And I need to be better about staying down. I've been getting sloppy with bedrest again, which means contraction city.

If she decides to come any time in the next 6 weeks, this will be a hospital birth, which I'm fine with at this point. We just need to find a high risk OB that will take me on at this late stage. Our goals right now are modest. If we can make it to 34 weeks, she'll probably have a NICU stay, but should do OK. If we make it to 36 weeks we might even get to take her home right away. If we get to 37 weeks, I will do a happy dance all the way to the birthing center. Anything beyond that would be developmental icing on the babycake.

So, once again, we don't know what's going to happen. But I do know we really need to get serious about choosing a name for this little linebacker. Ideas welcome! We're seriously stumped...