36 Week Checkup

Filed Under Doctor Stuff, Gender, Second Pregnancy, Symptoms, Two and a half years old | 5 Comments

Today I had my 36 week appointment at the OB’s office. So here is my official TMI warning. If you don’t want to hear about my cervix, stop reading.
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After a freakishly uncomfortable internal exam (really, I don’t remember it being that bad before!) she told me that I was only a HALF centimeter dilated. I almost cried… but then she told me that my cervix is thinned and soft and the baby’s head is against it. So- that means that he has officially dropped. No wonder I feel like I’m waddling lately. Bailey never actually “dropped” until I was in labor at the hospital with her. That also explains all the pinchy feelings I keep getting in that area!

I also got swabbed for Butt Strep, a.k.a. Group B Strep. So we’ll get those results next week. I’m assuming I don’t have it, I didn’t when I was pregnant before, but who knows. Who even knew your butt could GET strep? Gross…

Baby Boy’s heartbeat was in the low 140s as it has been at every checkup since about 12 weeks. So far he is holding true to the old wives tale about heart rate. I also got a new prescription written for my prenatals so I can start getting them filled at the grocery store where they are now free!

Bailey did surprisingly well during the checkup. She sat in the chair and looked at pictures in a magazine. And wiggled a lot, and told the doctor she was going to be a doctor when she grows up. And then she said, “Dr. _____, I have a question for you.” So the doctor tried to ask what her question was but all she would say was “It’s a question about Grammy.” Then she hopped up on the table after I was done, leaned back, opened her legs and said, “My turn for a checkup!”

By the way…

Filed Under Second Pregnancy, Symptoms | 1 Comment

My ankles are swollen. 25 weeks, almost 26 but who’s counting?

It’s been happening off and on for a few weeks but starting to be more of a regular occurrence. That and the heartburn in the evenings. If I try to lean over to bathe Bailey, I throw up in my mouth.

Pregnancy- Baby Boy- 23 Weeks

Filed Under Being a Mom, Daddy, Nursery, Second Pregnancy, Siblings, Symptoms | 2 Comments

I feel like I need to take a minute and write down some notes about this pregnancy. At some point I should probably take a belly picture, too. I was so good about all of this with my first pregnancy. I hate it, but this baby already is having to share my time with his sister. And trying to keep up with a busy two year old, plus working on my Avon business, doesn’t leave me a lot of time for writing down details about my belly growth! I feel like I am doing such an injustice to this baby. Someone with multiple children please tell me you have felt the same way.

Anyway. I will be 23 weeks as of this weekend. The time is flying by so fast. I am more than halfway there. We have the bedding and most of the room decor stuff, thanks to a great sale and my mom spotting it for me! We have moved the crib and changing table into my office but haven’t really moved any office stuff out yet. I am dreading having my office downstairs with Jonathon’s because I won’t be able to just run in and out to check email etc all the time. We need to get the downstairs set up as more of a playroom for the kids.

I am feeling REALLY good right now. At about 20 weeks my heartburn was horrible but it has actually subsided a bit. Or maybe I am being more careful about what I eat. It only comes in the evening and is usually fixable with a Tums or two at this point. I had a few days of swelling back in mid October and had to put my feet up, but I haven’t swelled at all lately either. I feel this baby move a lot. That is definitely my favorite part of pregnancy. It seems like every time I eat something he wakes up and kicks around. Jonathon says that’s because boys love to eat! Speaking of Jonathon, he has started to take a slight interest in patting or kissing my belly every once in a while. Okay like maybe once a week, but it’s really sweet! Neither of us really talk to the baby at all. We didn’t with Bailey either… to me it just feels awkward.

Every time anyone asks me how I feel I tell them I am GREAT! If this was the only part of pregnancy and I could skip the sickness in the beginning, the first trimester worry, and the feeling huge/swollen/uncomfortable at the end I think I wouldn’t mind being pregnant twenty times. I also have more energy right now than I did even a few weeks ago. It’s hard to believe that in three or four weeks I will be in the third trimester. I guess that means I should hurry up and get some things done now, before my energy dwindles again.

Some fun news- we THINK we have a name for Baby Boy. We are both pretty much decided on it but it’s not officially official yet. I’m not sure whether I will share this one or wait and surprise you all. The idea of a surprise seems kind of exciting. Our family and good friends will know but maybe not the internet, at least not yet. And since we just started working on the nursery, here’s a little glimpse:

Next Post- Details!

Filed Under Second Pregnancy, Symptoms | 10 Comments

As requested by Tiffany, “Next post- details!”

Yes, we are expecting Baby #2 here at the Stick house. No, we do not know the gender yet, but yes, we will find out when the time comes! We are almost 12 weeks now, and so that should be sometime in early to mid October. After my cruise!

I am feeling good now. From weeks 6-8 1/2 it was kind of iffy. I had an all-day queasiness and I had a hard time finding something to eat, so then I felt worse from being hungry. I never actually threw up, same as my pregnancy with Bailey. I was absolutely exhausted but just as I hit the 11 week mark, I started getting bursts of energy. Same as with Bailey. My boobs hurt, but it’s not unbearable. Unless they are being smashed by my lovely two year old. I have had gas at night- like shooting pains in my abdomen- same as with Bailey. Aren’t you glad you get all these details? Don’t forget, my blog is also my own journal.

So right now I am a little more tired than usual, and I do have some food aversions and probably the beginning of cravings: (NO chicken, YES regular Coke, NO diet soda, YES chocolate cake, NO ice cream, NO pork, NO hamburgers, YES hash brown casserole!) Oh and a big YES to Sonic lemon berry slush with orange. They are half price between 2 and 4 and I have actually considered altering Bailey’s nap schedule to accomodate that. Pathetic, huh?

Our due date is March 8th. Our first ultrasound was at 7 1/2 weeks and showed a perfect little bean with a heartbeat. I have my next checkup on Monday. So probably more news after that!

Last Doctors Appt

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Wow, I can’t believe I actually made it to every single one of my OB appointments. I am still pregnant. 39 weeks and 5 days.

I think my blood pressure was high again today. The nurse took it and didn’t tell me what it was- which she usually does- and then the doctor came in and took it again. The doctor has never done my blood pressure herself. Then she asked me if I had been having any headaches or seeing spots. I told her no, and she said that I was “okay” but that if I had anything like that I needed to go in to the hospital. This seems to be the theme of my appointments lately.

She also checked my cervix and I am now at 4 cm. Not much change from last week, but the good news is that she said even if I went to the hospital before my contractions were five minutes apart (she said like 5-7 mins or not completely consistent) that they wouldn’t send me home at this point.

I asked her to guess the baby’s size- and she said it was really just a guess and probably not very accurate but she guessed around 7 1/2 pounds. Yikes I don’t want a big baby! I was only 6 lbs 4 oz and I was hoping for a little girl more about that size. But that could be way off anyway.

She said she is still hoping I will go into labor this weekend but if not, I’ll definitely have a baby on Monday! I am glad I am making such a good snuggly home for Bailey but I wish she didn’t like it in there QUITE so much!

Other than that, I am just having a little more back pain than usual, and trouble sleeping because of being uncomfortable. I wake up about every half hour until about 5 a.m. and then I manage to get about three hours straight where I can sleep. That’s been the pattern for the past few nights. The reason I wake up is because my back and hips are in pain and I have to turn over- but then of course I have to pee while I’m up too- but I always fall right back asleep.

This Little Piggy

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Okay, I hate feet and I know mine aren’t so pretty right now… despite the pedicure which LOOKS really bad in the picture but I think it’s the angle… but I had to take a picture of them and actually document how swollen they are or I won’t ever believe myself later.

These guys are causing me some pain. This picture isn’t even as bad as it gets. By evening, it hurts to walk because the bottoms swell too. That’s about the time when my toes look like they might pop off. I’m bringing sexy back.

Swelling

Filed Under Doctor Stuff, Pregnancy, Symptoms | 4 Comments

Just a quick update- I have my 37 week dr appt today- was supposed to be at noon but I am freakishly swollen, including my face, so doctor told me to come in sooner and just get checked. On my way out the door!

EDITED:

I am fine. No protein in urine, blood pressure is normal, etc etc. Just horrible water retention, apparently. Things are fine and in fact I have progressed even more. Details later- and I will post my 37 week pictures- but I am going to take a nap first.

Seriously

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I am very tired of being pregnant. I want to meet my baby. I love having her in me, but I would like to have her out of me a lot more at this point.

My main complaints:

-back pain
-swollen ankles and feet
-rib pain (drop, Bailey, drop!)
-hands get tingly
-can’t get comfortable sleeping

36 Weeks, 5 Days- Pictures and Dr Appt

Filed Under Belly Pictures, Pregnancy, Symptoms | 5 Comments

My belly, taken a few days ago by Jonathon.

Wow… I feel really round…

So today we had our “36 Week” appointment, although I am technically almost 37 weeks now, which my doctor considers full term. Nothing but good news today. First I did the routine pee-in-a-cup and blood pressure stuff. My blood pressure was 130/76 which is a little higher than normal for me, but I was pretty nervous today between the upcoming internal exam and also having a different doctor. He measured my uterus, which always means nothing to me, and checked the baby’s heartbeat which he said was just fine.

He also showed me where Bailey’s body parts are this time. He said she hasn’t “fully dropped” or whatever but that she’s on her way, and definitely head down. Her spine is on my left side and the pokey things over to my right are her feet. Her butt is the big hard thing above my belly button, which I kind of guessed. He said she will probably stay head down now but that the side she’s facing could definitely change.

Sidenote: Why am I saying “he?” My regular doctor is out of the office this week (I’m not really sure why because I think she’s in town, but both Dr. K and the other female doctor in the practice are gone for something right now. So I had to see the male Dr. K instead, who was a little older and a little quirky but very nice.

Anyway, the exciting news is that I am already dilated 2 cm and 65% effaced. Please don’t ask me what that means for sure, because I know it has something to do with thinning of the cervix, but if it’s already open a little bit I’m not sure how it can still be thinning. Anyway, it was good news. Jonathon also asked if my mucus plug had come out yet. For some reason he has been pretty interested in this. I guess he’s just a boy and he likes gross body stuff. The doctor said he didn’t really believe in a “plug” but more like it could come out a little at a time, but that if I had one to begin with it was definitely gone now.

In the doctor’s exact words, “Will you deliver this weekend? I doubt it, but I wouldn’t fall off my stool if it happened. Will you ever see your due date pregnant? No.” He said that his best “guess” would be maybe next week or even more likely the week after. Which means at 37 or 38 weeks, and I would be very, very happy.

I have been feeling okay for the most part. Just some cramping that feels like my period is going to start, but apparently that’s my cervix doing what it’s supposed to do, so I really can’t complain too much. Sometimes when I walk it feels like Bailey’s head is banging against my bladder or my pelvic bones or something. Last night I had the joy of waking up about every 30-40 minutes. I guess I’m getting ready to be up all the time with a newborn

Where did the time go?

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I had my “almost 35 week” doctors appointment yesterday- the last time I will be seeing Dr. K for a few weeks. I go back in two weeks and see a different doctor in the practice, and that begins my weekly appointments. So this was my last non-internal check up, I guess

Baby’s heartbeat was in the 150s again- of course me I am already worried that’s too high, but she said it was just right My blood pressure was normal, although she didn’t tell me what it was this time. So apparently I am just freakishly swollen from retaining water and nothing serious. The last thing I want now is high blood pressure, so that was a big relief to me. She measured my uterus, and again I am assuming it was fine because she didn’t really say anything about that. Asked if the baby was moving and I told her I think she has about ten arms.

I asked her to take a guess as to which direction Bailey is facing. She felt around my belly and then said she was feeling a head down really low (think: almost pubic area) so she said she is most likely to stay in that position now, which is good news for this mommy I told Jonathon the other night, she constantly pounds on my belly button. I said I hoped that she didn’t think that was the way out, and if she didn’t stop we were going to stick a flashlight in my underwear to light up the exit for her so she could get things figured out.

I also told the doctor that I was kind of ready to be done being pregnant. I mean, seriously despite my complaints, I have loved having this baby in me. I just kind of want her OUT of me now. For comfort reasons and because I am so excited to meet her that I am literally counting the days! Doctor told me I needed to wait two weeks and two days, and then she would be full term. I can wait that long Wow, two weeks and two days and I will have a full term baby in me? Where did the time go?

A Few Random Things

Filed Under Pregnancy, Random, Symptoms | 3 Comments

-I finished getting the changing table/diaper pail/wipes warmer set up in the nursery… so we are officially “ready” except for a few decorating things!

-My father in law is really creepy- the other day he asked me if I had been doing my Kegels! Ewwwwww, I really don’t like to think about him thinking about my hoo hoo

-One week from today, I will be done working.

-My belly button is sticking out just a little bit on one side. I told Jonathon it looks like a sleepy old man. He says it looks drunk. I’ll have to post a picture of it because it’s really goofy looking.

-I have a baby shower this Saturday at my friend Jen’s house, and I am really excited I told Bailey she can come out anytime after that shower.

-Jonathon finally took the little shrub thing out of the ground that fell over during the ice storm. It was ridiculous looking.

-I started frantically packing my hospital bag the other night because I became convinced that when I go for my doctors appointment on Thursday she is going to have me admitted to the hospital, for any of the following reasons:

1. I have the most swollen ankles, feet, and toes I have ever seen. If I didn’t hate feet so much I would post a picture of them for proof. I keep checking my blood pressure and it’s normal, but the feet are crazy!

2. I have had a lot of (painful) contractions lately. Totally random and not so uncomfortable that I can’t handle it- I guess painful isn’t the best word- more like uncomfortable period cramps. For that, I am glad that I have an appointment tomorrow.

Kicking My Ribs

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Okay I suddenly know what people are talking about when they say the baby got a foot under their ribs or kicked them in the ribs. I really thought people were exaggerating until now. Seriously.

But I was laying on the couch this morning at work, watching a movie (yeah I have a rough job, don’t I?) and her foot was jabbing me up underneath the right side of my ribs. Not comfortable. And I couldn’t get her to relocate.

I guess she might be stubborn like her mommy and daddy. Uh oh.

32 Weeks and Some Thoughts About the Birth

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Information according to Babycenter (italics are me talking):

How your baby’s growing: By now, your baby probably weighs almost 4 pounds and is almost 17 inches long, taking up a lot of space in your uterus. She has tiny toenails now, and her fingernails have grown in, too. Some babies have a head of hair already; others have only peach fuzz.

How your life’s changing:
Your blood volume (the plasma plus red blood cells) is now about 40 to 50 percent greater than before you became pregnant to accommodate the needs of you and your baby. (This extra amount also helps make up for any blood you’ll lose when giving birth.) You’re also gaining a pound a week now, yikes! and roughly half of that goes right to your baby. With your uterus pushing up near your diaphragm and adding pressure on your abdomen, you may be dealing with heartburn more often or feeling a little short of breath. Yeah, heartburn has become pretty much a constant thing in the evenings. I am keeping Tums on my nightstand- out of the bottle and ready to go so I can grab them anytime!

To help with shortness of breath, try eating smaller quantities more often (rather than three daily feasts) and sleeping propped up. Those smaller meals should help with the heartburn, too. Smaller meals seem to be mandatory now. If I eat too much, I am horribly uncomfortable.

As your baby grows, the increasing concentration of weight in your growing belly causes a change in your posture and a shift in your center of gravity. Plus, your abdominal muscles are stretching, hormones are making your ligaments more lax, and your growing uterus may even press on some nerves. All of this can contribute to low back pain and possibly to some pain in your buttocks and thighs as well. Let your caregiver know if you have severe pain or feel numbness or tingling in your legs.

Decision Guide: Who should be in the labor room with you?

Childbirth is an intensely personal experience, as is your decision whether to have additional family members, friends, or labor coaches in the birthing room with you. Here are some things to keep in mind as you prepare your guest list:

• Labor and delivery nurses come and go according to their shifts, so if you’d like to be attended continuously by one person, a private labor coach or doula is a good option. I briefly thought about getting a doula. There is a mom, Vicki, in the playgroup that I’m in with Alison. She just finished her training or whatever to be a doula. But then I also think that might be more for people interested in natural childbirth, which I’m not- AT ALL! We are planning to get an epidural, but first I’m going to see how long I can go without. Just because I don’t want it to slow down the labor too much… but if it starts sucking really bad, I’m not holding out!

• Some husbands or partners may be confused about their role in the birth or reluctant to participate if others are present. If you bring outside relatives or coaches in, make sure your partner is on board with the plan.

• You may be under pressure from mothers or mothers-in-law who are eager to be in the delivery room for the birth of their grandchild — regardless of your wishes to keep the experience private. If you want to be alone with your partner, don’t be afraid to enlist hospital staff for support in carrying out your wishes and keeping relatives out of the delivery room. We are planning on not having anyone (other than hospital staff of course) in with us. No moms or dads or friends. Except: I am reserving the right to call my mom into the room in case of emergency. Emergency being extreme panic on my part. For some reason she can calm me down better than anyone else. Jonathon knows this, and knows that it is a possibility for her to come in at some point. But not stay. I imagine my parents coming to the hospital sometime during the labor/delivery so that they can see Bailey fairly soon after she’s born. Once she’s clean and we have a little time with her, then I want the grandparents to come in. Well, not Jonathon’s parents. Hopefully they will still be in Oklahoma at this point. I don’t want them to even come in town until we’ve been home from the hospital for a week or so. And even then, they’re not staying at our house. They already know this, and I am sticking to it.

Friend or Foe

Filed Under Food, Symptoms | 3 Comments

Remember that game show with Kennedy on it? That’s kind of how I’m feeling about food lately. I can’t decide whether to love it or hate it. Do I do what I want and be selfish, or do I try to think about the future? (The future of my stomach, that is…)

Friday night I went to TGI Frid@y’s with my friend Faith. I really didn’t eat that much. I got potato skins for my whole meal, and I gave her one or two of them. I had a brownie/ice cream dessert thing and didn’t finish it because I was feeling stuffed. Not pleasantly stuffed. Sickeningly stuffed. So I get home that night and have some sort of reflux thing going on for a while. Went straight to bed but couldn’t really sleep. Drifted off and woke up to… drumroll…. me puking in bed because I couldn’t move my fat stomach over the pillows and get to the bathroom in time. Not a pleasant experience. I won’t go into any more details except to say that it was very gross and also very humbling considering that Jonathon was maybe two feet away.

Then on Saturday, we had reservations at The Melting P*t to celebrate V-day a little bit early. Our favorite restaurant, and also one where it is very easy to overeat. I was determined to eat sooooo slowly after my experience the night before. It went fine. I felt okay, and everything stayed down. And I’m sure I ate more during that meal than I did at Friday’s.

Sunday wasn’t anything exciting, food-wise. Last night I was good and had a chicken caesar salad and baked potato at home. Today for lunch, I went to a pizza buffet with Alison and a friend and her kids. Overate again. I am not used to this smaller stomach thing. It’s like my body wants more food and is hungry, but it just won’t fit.

Now I feel like I don’t ever want to eat again. ANyone else having/had this same issue with third trimester and food?

Random Update

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This morning Mae asked me how I was feeling, so I figured it might be time for just a random update/complaint session…

1. My stomach is almost completely squashed under my ribs. If I lay in bed wrong, it feels like I can’t breathe. If I eat too much,I feel like I am going to explode. I am beyond the food obsession because I just can’t hold that much and don’t feel hungry very often anymore.

2. Still not sleeping well. Up a million times at night. Then tired during the day- I am hoping these iron pills help with that.

3. My last day of work is April 6th, assuming the baby is still in there and we are both healthy up until that point. That gives me just a week until my due date, but I am assuming since she is a first baby she will be on time or late. Although I would LOVE for her to be a week or two early Work is getting harder- I lack the energy to keep up with Alison and don’t feel like doing much with her, except going sale shopping for baby stuff-otherwise I just want to sit here and let her play, which she doesn’t seem to mind too much, but we don’t get out as much as we used to. I guess that’s to be expected right now, and also it’s winter and there’s not as much to do anyway.

4. Random pains in pelvic area, especially when walking or when I need to pee- in fact almost shooting pains sometimes when I need to pee which is weird because I have been on that antibiotic for almost a week now, so I am going to have to talk to the doctor about that tomorrow. Not really having any more contractions though, so that’s good.

5. Baby is still kicking a lot and getting stronger. I think she must be at the point where she is strong enough to feel a lot, but still has enough room to move around a bit. She seems to do a weird rolling thing now, especially at night in bed.

6. I bought a diaper bag yesterday (will have to post pictures) and we got a video camera last night, so I am feeling a little more “prepared” than I did a few days ago. It’s the little things, I guess.