The Wait Is Over- Sam Is Here

My water broke at 11:45pm Saturday night and my labor progressed very quickly. I gave birth to Samuel Mitchel Wilson at 5:36am Sunday morning, March 29th, via water birth.
I received no drugs and only had slight tearing. Our entire family was back at home after his birth by 11am that same morning.

Weight: 7lbs 10oz; Length: 20.75 in.

He is the most amazing creature that Brian and I have ever encountered.

39 Weeks- One Week Left

Good morning everyone. I guess that Sam likes where he is. He's not going anywhere just yet.

According to the experts:
* As my official due date approaches, I'm completely fixed on the calendar, but since less than 10 percent of women deliver on their actual due date, chances are Sam is going to take me by surprise on a different day. Whenever Sam arrives is the right time for him.

*Sam is continuing to grow and working on the layer of fat underneath his skin. This is an important part of Sam's ability to regulate his body temperature once he is born. Sam is also beginning to form new skin cells which will replace older skin cells.


Sam is now between 18 and 20 ½ inches long and around 6 ½ to 8 pounds.




Here is the weekly bump picture (as always).
This might be the last one of these.



I requested another internal exam at my appointment yesterday and I'm still where I was last week. No change.

38 Weeks- 14 days until Sam's Due Date

Good morning everyone. I guess that Sam likes where he is. He's not going anywhere just yet.

According to the experts:
* Sam's intestines have accumulated a considerable amount of meconium (the code name for black, tar-like baby poop), which is usually eliminated shortly after birth and gives you your first experience with the 100-wipe diaper change. Here's what else is up:

* Sam might just scratch himself in the womb as the fingernails have grown over the fingertips now.

* Sam's lungs continue to mature and her brain and nerve function are working better every day. The latter two will continue to mature until Sam is a teenager, at which point he'll know it all (or at least he'll think he does).


Sam weighs about 6½ pounds and is around 19 or 20 inches long—as long as leek.



Here is the weekly bump picture (as always).
There's probably not going to be many more of these.



I requested an internal exam at my appointment yesterday and my son is at zero station and I am 90% effaced. Unfortunately, I'm not dilated, but my midwife says that once I start, it should progress pretty quickly. I'm so excited.

Maternity Pictures

We had a maternity pictures session with a student from UNC on March 1st. Here are some of the images that she was able to capture. I'm very happy.

37 Weeks- Sam is officially baked this week!

Good morning everyone. That means I could literally give birth at any given moment. A terrifying, exciting and overwhelming concept, all rolled into one.

According to the experts:
* Huge news this week: I'm carrying a full-term baby! If I was to go into labor today, all systems would be a go. Woohoo! Even though I can't wait for the little bambino to quite literally rear his head, keep in mind that Sam benefits from every day in the oven. Other ticker-tape-worthy developments:

* Sam's growth slows down dramatically this week, which is great news for my birth canal. Sam's bones are still soft and pliable and will solidify after he's born. More great news for my birth canal.

So if he's all cooked and ready to go, what the heck is he still doing in there?! He's busy practicing for "life on the outside," working on his breathing, sucking, sleeping, gazing and peeing abilities. The only thing he can't practice yet is his ability to scream at the top of his lungs when he's hungry—but he'll do plenty of that in a few weeks.



Sam is now around between 19 and 20 inches and most babies weigh approximately 6-7 pounds (approximately the length of a Swiss chard).



Here is the weekly bump picture (as always)


P.S.- During my midwifery appointment yesterday I was told that Sam has moved down and I may end up giving birth this weekend or next. Of course, that's totally up to Sam, but it's a good sign that it's going to happen sooner than later.

Week 36-- 28 Days and Counting

Good morning everyone. Pregnancy is 9 months (yea, right). I hit that today.

According to the experts:
* Sam continues to put on weight at about ½ pound each week. This layer of fat will help Sam regulate his body temperature after leaving your climate-controlled womb. In fact, Sam will be 15 percent fat at birth (and me ... well that's another story).
* Even in the womb, Sam can listen, feel, touch and see.
* Sam's gums are firm with ridges that look somewhat like teeth, though his actual pearly whites won't start breaking through until he's between three months and a year old.
* Sam has definite patterns of sleep and wakefulness—opening his eyes while awake and closing them while sleeping.


Sam is now around 18½ inches long and nearly 6 pounds—just about as big as a Crenshaw Melon!



Here is the weekly bump picture (as always)

Week 35 with 35 Days to Go

Good morning everyone. Things at Sam Central are still going very well.

According to the experts:
* The vast majority of Sam's growth is complete by 35 weeks.
* His kidneys are completely developed, and the liver is beginning to process waste.
* Because Sam has grown so much, I will notice that he will no longer be performing an aerobic workout. There just is not enough room for somersaults. However, this does not mean I will not feel Sam move. His kickboxing routine should stay the same.


Sam is continuing to grow and most likely measures between 17 to 18 inches long and weighs 5 ½ to 6 pounds; That's about the size of a honeydew melon.


This past weekend, Brian and I took some maternity pictures in Sam's room. Here are a few that turned out pretty well.



Here is the weekly bump picture (as always)

Baby Shower- February 21, 2009

My mom and mother-in-law thew me a very successful shower on Saturday. Everyone was overly generous with their gifts. I shouldn't have to buy any clothes for Sam until he starts to walk. There is no way that I'm posting pictures that I’m in because they made me wear a tiara. But here are some of the wonderful decorations and me with each of the lovely hostesses.






Most of my big ticket items were purchased and I got some really nice handmade crocheted blankets. I also received the outfit that DH was brought home in from the hospital. Unfortunately, mine can't be found, so we are going to use his.

Week 34

Good morning everyone. Things at Sam Central are still going very well.

According to the experts:
* Sam's fat layers — which will help regulate his body temperature once he's born — are filling him out, making him rounder.
* Sam's skin is also smoother than ever. His central nervous system is maturing and his lungs are continuing to mature as well.
* The fingers and finger nails are well developed and the facial features are also clearer now.
* If anyone is 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.
I don't forsee that happening.


Sam now weighs about 4 3/4 pounds and is almost 18 inches long


Weekly Bump Picture

Week 33

Good morning everyone. Things at Sam Central are still going very well.

According to the experts:
* Sam is approximately 17 inches long and weighs over 4 pounds
* Sam's bones are all beginning to harden except for the skull. The skull needs to remain soft and pliable for delivery.
* In terms of appearances, Sam is getting cuter and pudgier every minute as he piles on the baby fat for those adorable little wrist rolls and chubby toes.
* Although Sam is getting stronger, my bigger-by-the-day baby is losing space to move around, so the actual rate of movement will drop off in the last few weeks, despite that powerful drop-kick he has been working on.

Changes that I'm experiencing:
* As Sam fills out even more of my belly, lots of things might start to change: Whereas before I was sashaying, I am now waddling.
* Finding an easy position to sit in — let alone sleep — is becoming more of a challenge. And bumping into chairs and counters is par for the course.

Weekly Bump Picture



Shopping for Sam
This past Saturday I went shopping with another pregnant woman at the local outlet stores and grabbed a few more outfits from Carters and OshKosh B'Gosh. I made sure to purchase mostly 3, 6, and 9 month clothes.

Baby Shower
So far we have 12 confirmed (adult) attendees for my baby shower on February 21st. I hope that people are comfortable in my house. I hope that we can get enough chairs in my family room and dining room to accommodate everyone.


Sam is proportioned like a pineapple when it comes to weight -- a little over 4 pounds. (Length: more than 17 inches, head to heel.)