We're Expecting!

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BEJULED BENGALS

We’re Expecting!

Well, it took a while, but JULIE is expecting!

That’s right, we’re expecting our litter May 29th +/- 4 days. Watch here for updates. >>> UPDATE: Most likely, the baby will be delivered early.

10/4/06: First ultrasound.

11/15/06: Ultrasound at 12 weeks. All normal. Heart rate 167 bpm.

11/27/06: CVS results are in….Healthy BOY.

1/8/07: Level 2 ultrasound today. See images below.

2/25/07: Started childbirth education classes. Even after reading as much as we could and talking to family & friends, we’re still learning a LOT at these classes. We strongly recommend them to new parents or parents-to-be.

3/5/07: Regular check-up. All OK.

3/12/07: Julie’s maternity photo shoot. We love the results! See below.

3/19/07: Follow-up ultrasound. All okay. Baby currently weighs 3 lb 11oz.

3/24/07: Julie’s baby shower in Seattle. What a great time! Thanks to all who participated.

3/25/07: Julie admitted to Overlake Hospital (Bellevue, WA) with pre-term labor complications (partial abruption of the placenta). She has been restricted from travel and ordered to bed rest. As a result, the baby will be delivered in Seattle. Thanks for the well wishes, cards and letters. She needs the support. Keep ‘em coming. Thanks!

3/29/07: Another ultrasound to check up on the baby. All looks good. The plan is to try to get the baby to at least 34 weeks (April 15—21) or longer.

4/3/07: Julie’s new laptop arrives in Seattle. Soon Julie will be back on line to check e-mail and “chat” with friends. Feel free to send Julie an e-mail.

4/11/07: This is week #33. Bed rest and medication seem to be working. Julie and the baby are doing well. We’re learning a lot about a preemie as we’re pretty sure our new son will be born earlier than expected. Current thinking is that delivery could be in the next 1 to 4 weeks.

5/1/07: Week #36. Julie saw her doctor in Seattle this afternoon. She is having contractions, the baby is at Zero station, she is dilated 2.5 cm and is 85% effaced. There is protein in her urine and she is showing signs of preeclampsia (http://www.preeclampsia.org/about.asp). Blood work done today with results tomorrow will help determine whether they plan to induce her early, but plans as of tonight are to induce on Thursday, May 10 at 0630. I will update you as we learn more, but I am tentatively making plans to be in Seattle the evening of Wednesday, May 9th through Sunday, May 13^th. For now, we're on baby watch. Stay tuned…

5/4/07: Julie’s blood pressure escalating. Doctor’s evaluation concludes that they need to induce earlier than expected. They advise that tomorrow is the day.

5/5/07: Hospital advises we arrive today at 4pm. After a few hours of monitoring, they decide to start the induction.

5/6/07: It’s been 18 hours and Julie has only progressed to 8.5 cm dilation. No change in last 4 hours. We stop and weigh our options.

5/6/07: After careful review, monitoring and lots of discussion, we decide that a C-Section is our safest option. At 12:22 pm, Charles Broderick Coleman arrives!

More photos on this page.