The Littlefield Family

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Introducing Kira Natalie Littlefield

 One Week Old

 
 


On Wednesday, November 10th - Prescott's 30th birthday - we welcomed Kira Natalie Littlefield into the world.  She was born at 10:04 a.m. at 6 pounds, 13.2 ounces and 20.5 inches long.

Today We Are 37 Weeks Pregnant

How Our Baby Girl Is Growing:

Our baby girl is now considered "full term," even though our due date is three weeks away.  If I go into labor now, her lungs will likely be mature enough to fully adjust to life outside the womb.  (Some babies need a bit more time, though.  So if we're planning to have a repeat c-section, for example, Dr. Katz will schedule it for no earlier than 39 weeks unless there's a medical reason to intervene earlier.)

Our baby girl weighs 6 1/3 pounds and measures a bit over 19 inches, head to heel (like a stalk of Swiss chard).  Many babies have a full head of hair at birth, with locks from 1/2 inch to 1 1/2 inches long.  But we shouldn't be surprised if our baby girl's hair isn't the same color as ours.  Dark-haired couples are sometimes thrown for a loop when their children come out as blonds or redheads, and fair-haired couples have been surprised by Elvis look-alikes.  And then, of course, some babies sport only peach fuzz.

Modified from: http://www.babycenter.com/6_your-pregnancy-37-weeks_1126.bc?read_more=1&scid=mbtw_preg37:942&pe=2UxuZCY

Today We Are 36 Weeks Pregnant

No comments from the peanut gallery, please!

How Our Baby Girl Is Growing:

Our baby girl is still packing on the pounds — at the rate of about an ounce a day.  She now weighs almost 6 pounds (like a crenshaw melon) and is more than 18 1/2 inches long.  She's shedding most of the downy covering of hair that covered her body as well as the vernix caseosa, the waxy substance that covered and protected her skin during her nine-month amniotic bath.  Our baby girl swallows both of these substances, along with other secretions, resulting in a blackish mixture, called meconium, which will form the contents of her first bowel movement.

At the end of this week, our baby girl will be considered full-term.  (Full-term is 37 to 42 weeks; babies born before 37 weeks are pre-term and those born after 42 are post-term.)  Most likely she's in a head-down position.  But if she isn't, Dr. Katz may suggest scheduling an "external cephalic version," which is a fancy way of saying he'll try to coax our baby girl into a head-down position by manipulating her from the outside of my belly.

Modified from: http://www.babycenter.com/6_your-pregnancy-36-weeks_1125.bc?read_more=1&scid=mbtw_preg36:932&pe=2UxuZCY

Baby Shower

Margaret's Peaceful Backyard

Kira's Clothesline by Aunt Courtney

Lots of Love for Kira





Gramma Patricia, Aunt Katie & Cousin Ava



Aunt Courtney & Baba Mary Ann

Last Saturday, I had the pleasure and privilege of being "showered" by the most wonderful women. Chrissy, Courtney, Katie, Lital, Lauren & Marissa hosted a lovely shower for me at Chrissy's precious mom, Margaret's, house.  Everything happened so fast, I didn't even get to thank all my loving family and friends for celebrating the upcoming birth of our baby girl.  Thank you all for the beauty you bring to my life.

Today We Are 35 Weeks Pregnant

How Our Baby Girl Is Growing:

Our baby girl doesn't have much room to maneuver now that she's over 18 inches long and tips the scales at 5 1/4 pounds (pick up a honeydew melon).  Because it's so snug in my womb, she isn't likely to be doing somersaults anymore, but the number of times she kicks should remain about the same.  Her kidneys are fully developed now, and her liver can process some waste products.  Most of her basic physical development is now complete — she'll spend the next few weeks putting on weight.

Modified from: http://www.babycenter.com/6_your-pregnancy-35-weeks_1124.bc?read_more=1&scid=mbtw_preg35:920&pe=2UxuZCY