Stats on May 21st, 2013
Gestational age: 38 weeks
Weight: -.5 pounds (Gotta love losing weight when you are pregnant!)
Total weight gain: 26 pounds
Dilation: 4cm
Last night I started having some pretty strong Braxton Hicks contractions. Strong enough that they were slightly painful, but nothing that made me stop what I was doing to get through them. I had the dilemma of going to sit on my exercise ball (which usually gets my contractions going) or go watch tv and lay down. I chose to lay down since Forrest is sick. I would like my husband to not be feeling like death while I am trying to labor naturally. The contractions eased a bit, but continued through the night. Today they have been every 10-15 minutes.
While I know that being 4 cm dilated means absolutely nothing - I did come home from my appointment and finish packing my hospital bag - just in case. Squirt is lower than she was a week ago, but my cervix is still pretty long. Our plan is to head to the hospital as soon as I have 3-4 regular contractions in a row due to how fast Selah's labor was (4 hours total) and I want to be ready.
I am feeling pretty fantastic. Squirt moves frequently and I love to watch my belly rolling and contorting with her movements. She doesn't have the hiccups very frequently, but it is always funny to me to feel them in my hip/butt when she does. I am getting up 1-2 times a night to pee, but honestly it doesn't bother me. That first middle of the night pee is my favorite - because it feels like a normal non-pregnant pee. Getting back to sleep is a chore, but I'll deal for the next few weeks or days. :)
Forrest and I have narrowed down Squirt's name to 2. We don't have a middle name yet, but I am pretty sure I know what it will be. The kids are starting to get really excited about her arrival. Selah keeps asking when I am going to leave them so they can go to a friend's house. They also ask interesting questions like "How is she going to come out of your bottom?" "Are these (my boobs) full of milk yet?" "How do they get full of milk?" It is pretty entertaining.
We are just waiting for Squirt to make her arrival. Will I make it through Memorial Day weekend? Will she be a May baby or a June baby? How big will she be? Is she going to look like her siblings or be completely different. Can't wait to find out!
Tuesday, May 21, 2013
Monday, May 06, 2013
36 weeks
Stats on 5/6/13
Gestational age: 35 weeks, 6 days
Weight: + 2 pounds.
Total weight gain: 23 pounds
BP: 118/80
Fetal movement: Squirt likes to spin and move and kick her feet out right below my ribs
Baby's heartrate: 128
Dilation: 1.5 cm
Today I had an ultrasound to check on baby's growth and fluid levels. One of the concerns of people with blood clotting disorders and on Lovenox is that the placenta can start throwing little clots and there can be low fluid levels. My fluid is on the normal to slightly high side so that is fantastic. Squirt is currently head down (yay!) and in an excellent position for labor. Her butt is on my right side with her feet kicking out towards the left. They are estimating that she is currently 6 pound 6 ounces - but that can be off by up to a pound either direction. Most likely she will be my biggest baby (Eph was 6 pounds 12 ounces and Selah was 7 pounds 11 ounces) at around 8 pounds. The ultrasound tech was unable to get me any pictures of Squirt's face - she is pretty tucked into her position around my right hip and wasn't being cooperative.
I was a little surprised to be 1.5 cm dilated already - I haven't had any regular braxton hicks for over a week. I know that it means absolutely nothing for when I will go into labor - but it is nice to be progressing without being in any pain. If I can get to 4 or 5 cm without actually being in labor (just like with Selah) that would be fantastic. I asked if 3rd babies come faster or slower than their siblings and was told by my doctor that it is a crap shoot and it can go either way. Selah's labor was 4 hours start to finish and I would love for Squirt's to be the same. I will be switching to heparin on Thursday. My doctor gave me a two week prescription so that if I do go into labor before then that I won't have a stockpile of unneeded heparin.
My doctor also told me I didn't need to write up a birth plan. My desires for this labor are - no pitocin, no epidural and minimal amount of monitoring. Of course - if baby or mommy shows any sign of distress then everything gets thrown out the window and we do what we need to do. Pretty simple birth plan, and I trust myself and Forrest to make informed decisions and share what we want with the hospital staff.
Next appointment is in a week!
Gestational age: 35 weeks, 6 days
Weight: + 2 pounds.
Total weight gain: 23 pounds
BP: 118/80
Fetal movement: Squirt likes to spin and move and kick her feet out right below my ribs
Baby's heartrate: 128
Dilation: 1.5 cm
Today I had an ultrasound to check on baby's growth and fluid levels. One of the concerns of people with blood clotting disorders and on Lovenox is that the placenta can start throwing little clots and there can be low fluid levels. My fluid is on the normal to slightly high side so that is fantastic. Squirt is currently head down (yay!) and in an excellent position for labor. Her butt is on my right side with her feet kicking out towards the left. They are estimating that she is currently 6 pound 6 ounces - but that can be off by up to a pound either direction. Most likely she will be my biggest baby (Eph was 6 pounds 12 ounces and Selah was 7 pounds 11 ounces) at around 8 pounds. The ultrasound tech was unable to get me any pictures of Squirt's face - she is pretty tucked into her position around my right hip and wasn't being cooperative.
I was a little surprised to be 1.5 cm dilated already - I haven't had any regular braxton hicks for over a week. I know that it means absolutely nothing for when I will go into labor - but it is nice to be progressing without being in any pain. If I can get to 4 or 5 cm without actually being in labor (just like with Selah) that would be fantastic. I asked if 3rd babies come faster or slower than their siblings and was told by my doctor that it is a crap shoot and it can go either way. Selah's labor was 4 hours start to finish and I would love for Squirt's to be the same. I will be switching to heparin on Thursday. My doctor gave me a two week prescription so that if I do go into labor before then that I won't have a stockpile of unneeded heparin.
My doctor also told me I didn't need to write up a birth plan. My desires for this labor are - no pitocin, no epidural and minimal amount of monitoring. Of course - if baby or mommy shows any sign of distress then everything gets thrown out the window and we do what we need to do. Pretty simple birth plan, and I trust myself and Forrest to make informed decisions and share what we want with the hospital staff.
Next appointment is in a week!
Friday, May 03, 2013
Mariners Game
I love to watch baseball. On the top of my list of things to do before Squirt makes her appearance was to go to a Mariners game. We were able to go to a game last Saturday. It was bat night for all kids under 14, the game started at 6:10 and Felix Hernandez was pitching - triple win.
Ephraim was very excited in the car.
Selah - not so much.
We bought the cheapest tickets that we could, which ended up being in the very last row in the 345 section. At first I wasn't happy with our seats - but really they were perfect. The kids had room to walk around a little bit, and Selah could turn and look at the Port of Seattle and the big boats when she was bored with the game.
The view from our seats. Ephraim paid good attention to the game and has been practicing bunting at home "like the guy at the game."
The kids did fantastic. They made it through the whole game, danced to the music and loved cheering when we got a home run.
I am so glad that we were able to check this off of my list. Hopefully we will get in another game after Squirt is born.
Ephraim was very excited in the car.
Wednesday, April 24, 2013
Easter Egg Hunt Party
From March 23rd, 2013
Ephraim and Selah's birthdays are about 3 weeks apart. Which means that while I can, I get to throw combined birthday parties. With Easter falling in between their birthdays this year, the kids decided that they wanted to have an Easter Egg Hunt party.
I made each kid attending the party their own treat bag to put the eggs in. Each guest had a rabbit bag and Ephraim and Selah had egg bags.
34 weeks
Current Stats on 4/23
Gestational age: 34 weeks, 1 day
Weight: + 2 pounds bringing my total weight gain to 21
Blood pressure: 116/80
Fetal movement: This baby seems to be head down and break dancing on her head. I get lots of turns and spins.
We believe that Squirt is head down. I am getting lots of hiccups in my hips and believe that it is her bottom that spins around above my belly button on a regular basis. Before she flipped she was a very active kicker/puncher, but now it is just more giant spinning movement and stretching. I seem to be carrying all my weight in my tummy and it is fun to see how my stomach changes shapes. She is pretty active at night after dinner and the kids like to feel her move. She is a stinker and won't move when Forrest puts his hand on my belly, but he likes to watch and laugh.
I am still having headaches - although thankfully they are not every day. However the days I do have them, they are doozies. I am so thankful that headaches are only something I struggle with when I am in my third trimester - knowing that there is only 6 more weeks of them makes them easier to handle.
Other than the headaches I am feeling pretty fantastic. I have the normal end of pregnancy issues - difficulty bending over to pick things up, hard time sleeping, some light discomfort in my hips and for some odd reason morning sickness has returned. Thankfully it is only first thing in the morning and not all day - although why my body thinks it needs to throw up a completely empty stomach is a mystery to me.
I have been having a lot of braxton hicks contractions the past week. On Monday night they were coming every 7 minutes for 45 seconds for about and hour and a half. They aren't painful, more super uncomfortable. My doctor isn't concerned about them at all, and says that is going to happen a lot more frequently from now on. I never really experienced braxton hicks this early with Ephraim or Selah so it is new and interesting. Makes me curious to see what labor is going to be like with this one if my body is starting to practice so much sooner.
In two weeks I will go back for my 36 week appointment and have a growth scan. It will be fun to see baby girl again - and double check to see if she is actually head down or just fooling us. Let the six week countdown begin!
Gestational age: 34 weeks, 1 day
Weight: + 2 pounds bringing my total weight gain to 21
Blood pressure: 116/80
Fetal movement: This baby seems to be head down and break dancing on her head. I get lots of turns and spins.
We believe that Squirt is head down. I am getting lots of hiccups in my hips and believe that it is her bottom that spins around above my belly button on a regular basis. Before she flipped she was a very active kicker/puncher, but now it is just more giant spinning movement and stretching. I seem to be carrying all my weight in my tummy and it is fun to see how my stomach changes shapes. She is pretty active at night after dinner and the kids like to feel her move. She is a stinker and won't move when Forrest puts his hand on my belly, but he likes to watch and laugh.
I am still having headaches - although thankfully they are not every day. However the days I do have them, they are doozies. I am so thankful that headaches are only something I struggle with when I am in my third trimester - knowing that there is only 6 more weeks of them makes them easier to handle.
Other than the headaches I am feeling pretty fantastic. I have the normal end of pregnancy issues - difficulty bending over to pick things up, hard time sleeping, some light discomfort in my hips and for some odd reason morning sickness has returned. Thankfully it is only first thing in the morning and not all day - although why my body thinks it needs to throw up a completely empty stomach is a mystery to me.
I have been having a lot of braxton hicks contractions the past week. On Monday night they were coming every 7 minutes for 45 seconds for about and hour and a half. They aren't painful, more super uncomfortable. My doctor isn't concerned about them at all, and says that is going to happen a lot more frequently from now on. I never really experienced braxton hicks this early with Ephraim or Selah so it is new and interesting. Makes me curious to see what labor is going to be like with this one if my body is starting to practice so much sooner.
In two weeks I will go back for my 36 week appointment and have a growth scan. It will be fun to see baby girl again - and double check to see if she is actually head down or just fooling us. Let the six week countdown begin!
Thursday, April 11, 2013
32 weeks
Weight gain: + 2.5 pounds
Blood Pressure: 118/70
Nothing too exciting to report after this appointment. Two weeks ago I was struggling with headaches and decided to try my doctor's suggestion of eating more quinoa. Two days of eating quinoa and they disappeared. It was so nice to feel fantastic after having a headache every day for over 2 weeks. On Monday afternoon I came down with a pretty strong headache and took two of my prescribed pills (prescription strength Tylenol, caffeine, muscle relaxant combo) and woke up Tuesday feeling much better.
Baby girl (or Squirt as my kids like to call her) is believed to still be transverse. She wasn't being super cooperative for the doctor to try to feel her position, but based on her movements, I would guess she hasn't budged.
Things are starting to get a little more uncomfortable. We had a few nice days of no rain and were able to play in the backyard - I have a camping chair out there and it is really low to the ground and is getting hard to get out of. I do not enjoy having to bend over to pick up toys, but am still comfortable sitting on the floor and getting up. I am starting to experience some mild heartburn (usually at night), but have discovered Tums Refreshers which taste like a breath mint. I have struggled with eating Tums forever, but these are actually palatable!
I have been feeling really crafty and have been sewing up a storm. I can't post pictures yet because I have made some things for my other pregnant friends, but believe me - they are cute and I will post pictures soon.
Blood Pressure: 118/70
Nothing too exciting to report after this appointment. Two weeks ago I was struggling with headaches and decided to try my doctor's suggestion of eating more quinoa. Two days of eating quinoa and they disappeared. It was so nice to feel fantastic after having a headache every day for over 2 weeks. On Monday afternoon I came down with a pretty strong headache and took two of my prescribed pills (prescription strength Tylenol, caffeine, muscle relaxant combo) and woke up Tuesday feeling much better.
Baby girl (or Squirt as my kids like to call her) is believed to still be transverse. She wasn't being super cooperative for the doctor to try to feel her position, but based on her movements, I would guess she hasn't budged.
Things are starting to get a little more uncomfortable. We had a few nice days of no rain and were able to play in the backyard - I have a camping chair out there and it is really low to the ground and is getting hard to get out of. I do not enjoy having to bend over to pick up toys, but am still comfortable sitting on the floor and getting up. I am starting to experience some mild heartburn (usually at night), but have discovered Tums Refreshers which taste like a breath mint. I have struggled with eating Tums forever, but these are actually palatable!
I have been feeling really crafty and have been sewing up a storm. I can't post pictures yet because I have made some things for my other pregnant friends, but believe me - they are cute and I will post pictures soon.
Sunday, April 07, 2013
Remembering
Not many know - but back on July 27, 2012 we found out we were pregnant. Eight days later on August 4th we miscarried. Today would have been that sweet babe's due date.
Having now miscarried twice - I will say that this second time was different in many ways. It was physically less painful, but was also emotionally less painful as well. I grieved - absolutely, but there is something different about miscarrying when you have two healthy beautiful children and miscarrying when you don't have any kids.
I have been blessed both times to be pregnant again rather quickly - and this time VERY quickly. :) So while I am thoroughly enjoying being pregnant with this sweet baby girl who is currently kicking up a storm - I wanted to make sure that our sweet baby in heaven gets a mention - and is remembered.
Having now miscarried twice - I will say that this second time was different in many ways. It was physically less painful, but was also emotionally less painful as well. I grieved - absolutely, but there is something different about miscarrying when you have two healthy beautiful children and miscarrying when you don't have any kids.
I have been blessed both times to be pregnant again rather quickly - and this time VERY quickly. :) So while I am thoroughly enjoying being pregnant with this sweet baby girl who is currently kicking up a storm - I wanted to make sure that our sweet baby in heaven gets a mention - and is remembered.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
