Friday, October 30, 2009

Bean's check-up

So...as many mothers and other preggos know, you go into like panic mode the day or two before your appt in the off chance something is wrong. This is regardless of whether or not you've had any prior complications. The more I talk to people, the more I think there is no perfect pregnancy/conception/delivery, etc. Everyone has got SOME kind of issue. This baby having is more emotionally straining than I anticipated. Though, it is all for a good cause. My little Bean.

Anyhow...off to the office we went- me, Bean, and Mom. Matthew was at work but I like taking someone as a security blanket. My doc was running a little late b/c she was delivering triplets! She said it like it was no big deal. She delivered the patient at 33 weeks b/c one of trips was only 2lbs. Poor little thing. His big 4 1/2 lb brother was hogging all the good stuff! I digress...so, the nurse came in and I had to give her my pee cup. You have to carry in your own pee cup they give you from the month before! I do not like this. This is not something I wanted spilling in my purse, so that baby was triple bagged! I was weighed and have officially gained 2lbs which is good but since the doc only wants me to gain 15, I need to save as much as I can for the third trimester. These Halloween goodies are NOT helping! The nurse then took my blood pressure which was a little elevated...I can't remember the # bc I really don't know what the # parts mean. Hmmm...this is something I should look into considering I usually have fairly low BP and it's been "slightly elevated" on all of my three visits. Then, my favorite part, we listen to the heart beat on the doppler. Little Bean kept running away from the nurse which means a.) Bean is athletic or b.) just antisocial- I am hoping for the first of the two w/ Matthew's running genes and some of Stacy's soccering genes in the mix! We only heard it for about 2 seconds but Bean was there thumping away at 160bpm which is still on the higher side (120-180 is avg). Allegedly if the heartbeat is higher, it's a girl...woo hoo! Can you see me putting one of those giant obnoxious headbands on Bean where the flower is as big as her head? I can :) I chatted w/ the doc just briefly next and went off to have what now is the standard battery of blood tests. This includes testing for down syndrome. Thank the lord we can just do blood tests instead of the old option of amnio only. Those needles are freakin huge! Fingers crossed the tests come out ok. I was dehydrated and my blood was not cooperating so after the 3rd stick, we tried my hand which I've gotta say definitely stings a little bit. The only concerning thing- and exciting really- is that I have to go back in for another appt in two and a half weeks. Like I've said before I have a slight bicornuate uterus (heart shaped, split in the middle) and us gals have a higher occurring incontinent cervix. This is not the kind of incontinence where you can't hold your pee- it's where your cervix wants to open early, very early and doesn't hold the baby to term. The rate doesn't seem to be lower in women with a minor case of the heart uterus vs. a severe shape where the uterus has "horns". So, we're gonna check things out to make sure I can carry to term. The doc said "oh, it's no big deal, if that's the case then we just put some stitches in your cervix". Well, I don't know about you lady, but that sounds like a bad deal to me! But, we certainly want to keep Bean in there as long as possible. I'm 16W 5D and babies born around the 24 week mark have a ~50% survival rate though it jumps to between 80-90% at 28 weeks. On a good note...b/c the doc wants to check me out I get to have an early ultrasound- meaning WE GET TO FIND OUT THE SEX OF THE BABY ON NOVEMBER 17th. Hell yeah!! So, we're taking bets on what the sex will be. I think it will be a boy and Matthew thinks Bean's a girl . Haven't decided on the stakes- something involving poopy diapers I'm guessing. Any other takers? We won't make you change diapers- well, some of you that is :)

NOTE: Blood tests came out "normal". YEAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Wednesday, October 28, 2009

Pants

Its official...I'm pregnant. My pants are unbuttoned and I'm searching in earnest before a customer shows up to find a rubberband! Damn it.

Monday, October 26, 2009

16 weeks- headaches

All is well this week except lots of headaches-this Tylenol stuff doesn't seem to do the trick -nor am I supposed to take handfuls of it like I used to do w/ Aleve. Other than that not "feeling" pregnant.

This week Bean has been upgraded from an apple to an avacado (4 1/2" from head to bottom)- I thought an apple was bigger than an avacado? I guess it depends what sort of apple!

Tuesday, October 20, 2009

15 week update

Next week is my 16 week appt. At that point I COULD tell what the sex of the baby is but these darn OB's make make you wait until my 20 week appt which is technically due on Thanksgiving. Dear OB, please let it be the day before so I can tell all my relatives at our holiday meal. I happen to enjoy the attention :) I will also get the H1N1 vaccine at this point. I know some folks think this is a conspiracy for doctors and drug companies, which I think is a load, so please- do not lecture me on what is best for my baby! I am going to assume my doctor has my best interest at heart and is not going to get rich on my $30 flu vaccine!

I have the wallpaper officially picked out for a boy, now for a girl...so many choices. Hmmm...if anyone has thoughts, let me know! I'm obsessed w/ tone on tone toile. Maybe rose and cream. But, I already have some in my guest room and want it on my club chairs in the living room too. What else...could go cottage floral...has to match with white furniture and white beadboard wainscoating.

UPDATE: I AM looking pregnant. Maybe not from straight on but from the side I'm definately rounder. Black certainly helps! I'll get a picutre up here one of these days, I swear.

Weight gain: 3 lbs. unofficially

Your pregnancy: 15 weeks

How your baby's growing:Your growing baby now measures about 4 inches long, crown to rump, and weighs in at about 2 1/2 ounces (about the size of an apple). She's busy moving amniotic fluid through her nose and upper respiratory tract, which helps the primitive air sacs in her lungs begin to develop. Her legs are growing longer than her arms now, and she can move all of her joints and limbs. Although her eyelids are still fused shut, she can sense light. If you shine a flashlight at your tummy, for instance, she's likely to move away from the beam. There's not much for your baby to taste at this point, but she is forming taste buds. Finally, if you have an ultrasound this week, you may be able to find out whether your baby's a boy or a girl! (Don't be too disappointed if it remains a mystery, though. Nailing down your baby's sex depends on the clarity of the picture and on your baby's position. He or she may be modestly curled up or turned in such a way as to "hide the goods.")See what your baby looks like this week.Note: Every baby develops a little differently — even in the womb. Our information is designed to give you a general idea of your baby's development.
How your life's changing:You've probably gained about 5 pounds by now (a little more or less is fine, too) and are well into the swing of your pregnancy, but you may still be surprised by an unexpected symptom now and then. If your nose is stuffed up, for instance, you can probably chalk it up to the combined effect of hormonal changes and increased blood flow to your mucous membranes. This condition is so common, there's even a name for it: "rhinitis of pregnancy." Some pregnant women also suffer nosebleeds as a result of increased blood volume and blood vessel expansion in the nose.

Saturday, October 10, 2009

Second Trimester

I made it...here's what's happening to Bean. I'm 13W6D.

Your pregnancy: 14 weeks

How your baby's growing:This week's big developments: Your baby can now squint, frown, grimace, pee, and possibly suck his thumb! Thanks to brain impulses, his facial muscles are getting a workout as his tiny features form one expression after another. His kidneys are producing urine, which he releases into the amniotic fluid around him — a process he'll keep up until birth. He can grasp, too, and if you're having an ultrasound now, you may even catch him sucking his thumb.In other news: Your baby's stretching out. From head to bottom, he measures 3 1/2 inches — about the size of a lemon — and he weighs 1 1/2 ounces. His body's growing faster than his head, which now sits upon a more distinct neck. By the end of this week, his arms will have grown to a length that's in proportion to the rest of his body. (His legs still have some lengthening to do.) He's starting to develop an ultra-fine, downy covering of hair, called lanugo, all over his body. Your baby's liver starts making bile this week — a sign that it's doing its job right — and his spleen starts helping in the production of red blood cells. Though you can't feel his tiny punches and kicks yet, your little pugilist's hands and feet (which now measure about 1/2 inch long) are more flexible and active.See what your baby looks like this week.Note: Every baby develops a little differently — even in the womb. Our information is designed to give you a general idea of your baby's development.
How your life's changing:Welcome to your second trimester! Your energy is likely returning, your breasts may be feeling less tender, and your queasiness may have completely abated by now. If not, hang on — chances are good it will soon be behind you (although an unlucky few will still feel nauseated months from now).The top of your uterus is a bit above your pubic bone, which may be enough to push your tummy out a tad. Starting to show can be quite a thrill, giving you and your partner visible evidence of the baby you've been waiting for. Take some time to plan, daydream, and enjoy this amazing time. It's normal to worry a bit now and then, but try to focus on taking care of yourself and your baby, and having faith that you're well equipped for what's ahead.

Wednesday, October 7, 2009

Belly

So, my pants are getting a little tighter and soon I'll have to wear one of those belly bands or rubberband my buttons together. I was orignally thinking I was looking forward to the belly but then it occured to me that I am not a cute little petite gal that just grows a beach ball in front. As a friend of mine said "it just looks like I ate too many twinkies". I am now putting lotion on every morning to ward off the dreaded stretch marks. Those are not what I would consider cute. Hmmm...I think I'll need to go maternity clothes shopping very soon. I'm skeptical but I'll keep an open mind and just try and avoid the moo-moos. On a good note, I don't really "feel" pregnant. I have to admit I have gotten used to my husband cooking dinner so I'm hesitant to be too perky again, but I hear the next few months are supposed to be great. I hope so! We shall see...

Friday, October 2, 2009

12 Week Doctor Visit

Yesterday I had my 12 week OB appointment and finally got to meet my doctor, Dr. Amy Moon. First, the nurse weighed me and took the baby's heart rate with a doppler. I've lost 4 lbs since I have some extra to start :) I'm really only supposed to gain about 15lbs total. I'll try and be good Dr. Moon! I've not been sick, just trying to be reasonable on my eating. Not that I won't indulge in some good pizza or ice cream here and there, but maybe one peice of pizza instead of three would benefit me, the baby, and my waistline! Next, the nurse used the doppler machine (heart rate monitor for the baby). It took a while to find the heart beat, my heart was about to burst out of my chest waiting to hear that little bump bump. But, then it popped up fast and strong. Little Bean had a heart rate of 167 bpm- within the normal range of 120-180. I was so relieved. They took me a little early so my husband missed that part much to his disappointment, but I was so glad they didn't make me wait til the end of the appointment. I would have had an anxiety attack by then! I started crying when the nurse left becasue I was so anxious about the baby still being in there and healthy. The miscarriage rate is just so high, I've heard one in four pregnancies. The visit was short, just about 20 minutes. The doc introducer herself, asked me if I had any questions, and we were on our way. She did say she'd keep an eye on my "special" utereus. It is slightly bicornuate or heart shaped, but it doesn't look like it should be a problem. Some folks in extreme cases develop two "cavities"or "horns" and the baby has a hard time being born full term b/c they are so restricted on space.

I'm thirteen weeks on Sunday, so it looks like I'm in the clear for the most part. YEAH!! I'm healthy and stress-free, the baby is healthy. All is well :) Next time I go to the doctor, I should have a little baby belly. Then comes the maternity clothes. I am NOT so excited about those as many strides as desiners have made. There are still a lot of things that look like moo-moos to me.

Oh, I also got my flu shot when I was on my way out of the doc's. And the H1N1 is on the way! Don't worry. No pig virus is getting to my baby! And honey, if you won't get a flu shot, then you'll sleep on the couch for a couple nights when you start coughing this winter :) I know, I know..."you never get sick"

Today I got my first baby gift from a girlfriend who I've been helping on her wedding, Shannon. As a "thank you" gift, she gave me one girl outfit and one for a boy. I'm torn becasue they're both so damn cute! I'm looking forward to all this baby stuff. How can anyone resist!