33 Weeks

I know everyone wants to look at my big naked belly...

What a crazy couple of weeks! As of yesterday, I was 3 1/2 cm. dilated and in early labor.  I got a shock last week when at my 32 week OB visit, they found out I was 2 cm. dilated and was probably having contractions.  I was given 2 steroid injections to help her lungs develop and they seem to think she'll be okay born this early.  She was weighing at 3 pounds, 9 ounces last week, so she is still very small.  I've never held a baby that small before! I have officially been put on modified bed rest too.  Today was my last day of work and it felt very strange leaving.  The next time I go back there I will be a mom! It still seems strange to me.  Who knows how long she'll stay in here. My doctor said yesterday that she doesn't think I'll go longer than a week.  Well, it's all up to Sophia on when she's good and ready.

I also had a baby shower last weekend given by our friend Amanda. She made some yummy vegan, gluten free food for me! She made vegan quiche, and vegan, gluten free cupcakes that were amazing! I also got some nice gifts too. Here are a few crappy, cell phone pictures:

Pretty flowers and one of my favorite books

Food...

Pretty diaper cake

Look at the cute owls!

These were incredible! Yummy...

So, who knows, this may be my last entry as a preggo and the next one might be as a mommy! Stay tuned...

31 Weeks

Here is this week's update:

- Both NST's and the ultrasound were fine. Sophia is still looking good. We saw her playing with her foot during the ultrasound and got a few good pics. Next week they will measure and get her weight again. Hopefully she's grown!

- We had our last hypnobirth class. I am so glad we took them. It has given me a totally new perspective on birth. I feel more positive and not quite as anxious about it. Having a c-section though I'm still a bit afraid of. I will hopefully have a private session with the teacher about that.

- I found a doula who works for free or donation and hopefully can meet with her this month. 

- I'm actually getting pretty excited about meeting Sophia! I can't wait to meet her and see what she looks like. I'm trying to enjoy these last couple of months of pregnancy. It's a bit hard seeing as how uncomfortable and tired I am, but I'm trying. I know I will never be pregnant again, so maybe I'll try harder.

- Miss Sophia is on Cary's schedule somehow. She sleeps and doesn't move around much during the day, but come evening and all night, there is a party going on in my belly! Let's hope she doesn't keep this schedule once she is born.

Until next week...

30 weeks or tests, tests, and more tests

I can't believe I'm 30 weeks already.  It's crazy, yet I am so uncomfortable and ready to get this baby out of me.  The last couple of weeks have been exhausting to say the least.  Work has been a little stressful with having to train a temp to do my job while I'm on leave.  Plus, all the tests  I'm having to do each week really just exhausts me. So far the NST'S or non stress tests have been fine and the ultrasounds have looked good.  We won't know her weight again until July 7th.  Hopefully she's growing a little bit in there! At my 30 week OB appointment I had gained 3 pounds which I'm hoping is because of her. I've only gained a total of 13 or 14 pounds so far. It's all in my belly. 

We had our second hypnobirth class last week and I am still loving it.  The teacher is so calming and her voice immediately calms me.  We have MP3's to listen to between classes and they relax me so well, I end up falling asleep.  I think the self hypnosis will help me in my daily life even after I have the baby.  Here is a link to the hypnosis center. Take a look, it's fascinating.  Our minds are very powerful! Until next week...

28 weeks

Well, technically I'm 29 weeks now, but I'm a bit behind. I promised myself I would start updating every week now.

The view from above

So, what's going on at 28 weeks? Well, I got a little scare last week.  Apparently, little Sophia is indeed little. She weighs 2 pounds, 5 ounces and this is only in the 3rd percentile. They worry when they are under 10 and really worry under 5.  This could mean a few things: 1- she's just a small baby (we're hoping for this one), 2- she's not getting enough blood flow/nutrients from the placenta, or 3- something is wrong with the cord.  All of this leads to me having NST's (non stress tests) and doppler ultrasounds every week from here on out.  The NST's measure her heartbeat, movement and if I'm having any contractions. The doppler looks at the flow from the placenta to her.  I now go to my OB's office once a week and the hospital once a week.  It is truly exhausting.  The couple of NST's I've had have been fine and the one ultrasound I had looked good. The doctor said this could change from week to week and is why they have to monitor it.  Let's hope she keeps growing! But, not too big.  

On a different note, our first hypnobirth class was amazing! I'll have to write a post just for that. I can't wait for this week's class.  I think it will help me relax no matter what kind of birth I have.  Stay tuned!

27 weeks, or OMG I'm huge!

I have been so bad at updating on here and I apologize. I can't believe I haven't done anything since March. Time is flying by and so much has happened since then!  Well, obviously I've gotten bigger.  I think maybe I feel much bigger than I actually look.  I haven't gained a ton of weight though so that's good.  I can definitely feel her moving around in there and can see my stomach moving which is kind of creepy! Cary has felt her moving too. I can't believe I'm about in my third trimester already, about 91 days to go.  Yeah, I'm not freaking out about that at all.  We start one of our birthing classes next week.  The first class is hypnobirthing classes and then in July we take childbirth education classes taught by some doulas.  I'm pretty excited about the classes.  Right now, let's just hope I can survive this summer with the heat!  My next OB appointment is next week and I may get yet another ultrasound to see how big she is. Apparently, I'm measuring big and they want to see if it's her or if it's just because I'm so small. So, I will update next week hopefully with some ultrasound pictures- I promise!

Lies

Whoever says pregnancy is the most beautiful time in your life are liars. Big fat liars.  I never thought being pregnant would be all sunshine and rainbows, but I never thought I'd be experiencing some things I'm going through. I think mothers must have some sort of secret pact to never tell any innocent,  not yet pregnant woman all the bad things that can happen.  Don't get me wrong; I am extremely grateful that I even got pregnant, but, really, someone should tell you about these things!

Now that my "extreme" morning sickness is gone, I have moved onto other problems. I still get morning sickness, just not all day everyday like in the first 3 months. But, believe me, it's still there.  I was sent to a cardiologist to check my heart murmur, and they discovered while doing an echo that one of my heart valves stays closed.  This scared the crap out of me.  I'd never heard of this and it was the last thing I could even think of happening.  Well, turns out, some of my sisters have the same thing, and they just have it monitored, but have no real problems with it.  This made me feel a bit better. My OB is still having me talk to a cardiologist next week, just to explain things.  My OB is also having me see a high risk OB.  Between, my heart and my breathing issue, (I have some restrictive breathing due to my ribs not being completely curled as they should),  they thought I should talk to the high risk doctor and get her opinion.  She is less worried about my heart than she is about my breathing.  When you're preggo and in the 3rd trimester, most women do have some breathing issues since everything gets all smooshed up (not the technical term)  to make room for the baby. Which leads to me seeing a pulminologist on Monday.  I will be having breathing tests and who knows what else to check my lung capacity.  I'm definitely not looking forward to this and honestly a little scared of the results.  This is all just a bit too much for someone with anxiety to take in.

Lately, I've been in a lot of pain. Like, I can't walk very fast and look like I'm an 80 year old woman kind of pain.  My docs think it's my sciatica.  It's ridiculously painful.  My OB has referred me to a chiropractor and physical therapist in hopes to alleviate some of the pain.  To top it all off, they think I have a bladder infection, which is fairly common while pregnant.  Again, no one tells you these things.  While at the OB for said bladder infection yesterday, they also discovered I have a yeast infection! Really. Sorry if that's TMI, but I'm pregnant and don't care anymore. It's never ending I tell you!

My hope is that this little one will all be worth it in the end.  I think it will.

16 weeks

Maybe the reason mothers don't tell you all the gory details is because in the long run it pales in comparison to being a mother. Either way, I am refusing to be a part of this so called secret pact! 

In other news, my next ultrasound is in about a week.  Hopefully we'll find out for sure if this chickpea really is a girl!  I'm very excited!

12 Weeks

I can't believe I'm almost through my first trimester! It's been such a crazy journey so far. I can now say I'm starting to feel a little better. I still have bad days or moments of morning sickness, but not nearly as severe as it was. I am however still very tired all the time.  I think I'm actually getting excited too!

I've had some preliminary testing for the risk of Downs and other birth defects and thankfully those turned out good. I swear my OB office makes me feel so old! Since I'll be 35 when I have the baby, it puts me in a "higher risk" category.  Hence, all the testing.  I also had a glucose test to see if I'm at risk for gestational diabetes. I passed that one as well. The next test I'm having is an EKG. My doctor's want to have some sort of baseline of my heartbeat since I have a slight heart murmur.  That's kind of scary. 

The ultrasound for the birth defects screening was amazing! I think we've got one feisty baby going on! This baby was flipping and flopping all around the whole time. It was crazy! The doctor also thinks it's a girl. It's still a little early, but that's her prediction so far- which is fine with me! 

I think this pregnancy is finally starting to feel real to me.  We went to a maternity store yesterday because my pants are getting a bit snug on me. It was surreal. Me and C looked at each other and said this feels a little weird being in here.  The jeans I bought are so comfy! I'll have to get some more soon.  

My next appointment is in another 4 weeks. I'll be sure to let everyone know how it goes!