29 Weeks

Big Baby. Big Mama. That's the diagnosis. I had my usual weekly checkup and also an ultrasound to see how baby is doing. They are making sure baby is growing and doesn't have IURG (Intrauterine Growth Retardation) which I think can occur when there's preeclampsia. Ironically this baby doesn't have IURG but is actually huge! He's in the 92nd percentile and his head is measuring large. When the dr. came in to see me she asked how big we both were at birth. I was 7 something and George was 9 lbs. He was with me on this visit and I wanted to say, look at his head, it's huge, he was big, he had a big head, he has a big head, he's 6'2"! Help me...I can't push this baby out!!! She's testing me again for diabetes next week to make sure that's not the cause for such a big baby. She did say that I could very well just be having a big baby, simple as that. I'm not that worried. I'm actually very happy he's healthy and growing. Every day I feel like I'd be ready for him to come out although I know the longer the better.
Most babies weigh just under 3 lbs. in the 29th week. Ours weighs 3 lbs. 10 oz!!! My doctor also said this baby could be large because I'm gaining so much weight and once again I got the lecture. Whatever. Who gains just 20 pounds in a pregnancy? If you did please don't tell me. :)

Anyway, he was as cute as button on the ultrasound screen. She couldn't get the best picture because he's getting squished in there. His head is down but I'm carrying him very high so his head, arms and feet are all around my belly button. That's why I get quite the show there!
He's moving all of the time. I think he likes music, jazz especially...he really wakes up when he hears it. All else looks good. Blood pressures have been the lowest they've been all pregnancy. I think I've completely relaxed at this point knowing that he could come out and be okay. My instinct tells me all will be okay and I've really learned to listen to my instinct.

In other news, I got a little inspired for his nursery with some things on sale on this website and this website. I can't wait to see how it looks. I love my sister, Emily, for telling me like it is and all of her motherly knowledge. She took one look at me and told me this baby could come out any day and I better wash some things. So, I've washed crib bedding, bassinet bedding, and two buntings. I have more to do but overall he doesn't have a whole lot. Sad, considering Magnolia has two closets and two dressers. It's a lot harder to find things I like for boys than it is for girls. Emily knit him the most beautiful baby hat, I adore it and can't wait for him to wear it. I thought about taking a picture of it but I'll wait until he arrives. The yarn she used is gorgeous.

This weekend we are finally going to buy the car seat, for some reason I've held off but it's time. We are going off the top 3 Consumer Reports recommends but if anyone has any recommendations, ones that they loved, please share!!! That goes for any other tips for a first time mom of a newborn!

28 Weeks

I made it! I made it to my first goal! 28 weeks was the first milestone my doctor hoped we'd reach. 28 weeks means I'm also into my 3rd trimester and 7 months pregnant! My check up today went very well. No weight gain, good heartbeat, no protein and sugar in urine, and blood pressure low. My doctor seemed as relieved as I was. She said 32 weeks is the next big milestone and so far I'm not showing any signs of anything preventing me from getting to that goal.

I got my RhoGam shot today since my blood is Rh negative. I also have to start kick counts. I should feel at least 6 kicks within one hour. Shouldn't be a problem, this one is active! I recently read that studies have been done that show stretching & eating fish may prevent preeclampsia. You better believe I've been stretching everyday and eating fish when I can. I really really hope I can make it through this pregnancy without seeing preeclampsia or any other complication for that matter.

So far so good!

27 Weeks

Everything is the same. I continue to feel good and my doctor's appointment yesterday confirmed that there's still no sign of preeclampsia. I have been visualizing/guessing my blood pressure numbers when I take it at home and I come pretty close! I thought I would try this experiment at the doctor, wondering if I could get lower numbers there. I visualized a number all day and when the nurse took it, it was VERY close! It worked!

Now that Magnolia's big girl room is done and the nursery is emptied of her things, I've been filling in things for the baby. I've also bought some baby things that I never needed for Magnolia like receiving blankets, burp cloths, and tiny clothes. It's been fun and I love to go in there to look at all of his things.

I'm at a standstill in finishing the nursery. I am trying to be frugal and use some of the things I already have. Something's not right and until I figure out what it is, I'm leaving it alone. I've also gotten very distracted with giving our first floor a makeover. I've been so wrapped up in it that when I take my blood pressure at night it's at all time lows. George thinks this is because I love to decorate and I haven't had time to worry about the pregnancy. He may be right.
The redecorating is correlated to our nesting. We cleaned every closet in the upstairs and have now moved downstairs. The cleaning has led us to better organization which has somehow led us to moving furniture and repainting the walls. It seems like we're constantly doing this especially this time of year so I'm not sure we can blame it entirely on the pregnancy...

The weather has been unbelievably cold making it very hard to be out and about pregnant with a two year old. To get out of the house, we've have been going to the mall to walk about three times a week. I feel so happy to be walking again! I saw my doctor there this morning. I was waiting to meet my friend, sitting in the food court giving Magnolia a snack. She walked by and I yelled out "I'm just mall walking!" Like I had to prove to her that I'm attempting to get some exercise and not just sitting around and packing on the pounds like I have been doing. :) She measured me twice yesterday to make sure she saw it right, I'm measuring big. Surprise surprise. On the second measurement she said that was better, 29 weeks. Just two weeks ahead. Oh well. I'm big. I certainly can't be the first big pregnant woman. :)

26 Weeks

Here he is! I find these 4D pictures a little strange and hard to see how he really looks but then I realized that the only way I'm really going to see him is when he actually arrives. We are pretty smitten with him around here and can't wait to meet him!

The ultrasound went well. Everything looks good. We are both so relieved!

I had a little scare last Friday at my check up. My blood pressure was pretty high, high enough to consider medication and the onset of preeclampsia. My doctor had me do some blood work to check. I waited all weekend worried. I couldn't figure out how my blood pressure got so high when I take it twice a day and it's never gotten that high. When I was doing my glucose test that day the lab tech was flipping through my files and asked if I was having triplets. My heart skipped a beat, confused and scared for a minute that I was! I told her no. She said, "Oh so you have triplets at home?" "No" I told her, "they died." I really think that's why my blood pressure sky rocketed, she had no business being so nosy! On Monday the nurse called and said all my tests came back normal. I am so relieved! And today the ultrasound confirmed that preeclampsia isn't coming anytime soon. The dopplers looked good, the blood flow to and from the uterus and the baby is growing at a steady rate. He's in the 50th percentile which my doctor says is great. My visit afterwards went well and she reassured me that things are looking good and we're getting closer to better viability. Today is a very happy day indeed!

100 Days

When I first got pregnant and started this blog, I put a pregnancy counter at the bottom of this blog. At first the amount of days until the baby was born was overwhelmingly long. I couldn't wait to get to only 100 days and today is that day! And, if I get to see this baby early then I have less than a hundred days to go. Don't get me wrong, I'm grateful this pregnancy has been uneventful up until this point. The physical aspect of carrying this baby has been good so far but the emotional part drains me completely! I'm 26 weeks tomorrow and will get to see our baby on ultrasound, can't wait! I love Tuesdays as they mean I get closer and closer!