Tuesday, November 30, 2010

18 Weeks and an Update

Our appointment yesterday went well.  There didn't seem to be much of a change from the last time.  Except maybe that the pocket was a little bit wider.  The inner part of my cervix (up near the baby) actually looked more closed last night than it did last time.  However, the outer part almost looked like it had a ribbon of fluid running through it.  Dr. S didn't seemed too concerned about it though, he said that as long as it wasn't close to 2 cm or more it shouldn't be a concern.  He still wants to keep a close eye on me and he still wants to know what the peri says before we do anything further.  He has told me to stay on bed rest at least until after my appt. with the peri on Wednesday.  Bed rest has been interesting. I have finished 3 and a half books and watched a few movies.  I haven't done as much studying as I probably should.  I do have a final next week so I need to get busy on that!! 


How far along: 18 weeks





Size of baby: 5 1/2 inches long (the size of a bell pepper) and he weighs almost 7 ounces. He's busy flexing his arms and legs. His blood vessels are visible through his thin skin, and his ears are now in their final position, although they're still standing out from his head a bit. A protective covering of myelin is beginning to form around his nerves, a process that will continue for a year after he's born. 



Weight gain: 2 pounds



Maternity clothes: Lately I have just been wearing sweats and pjs but when I do get dressed I wear maternity pants. I am still trying to make use of my regular shirts but do pull out maternity shirts occasionally.



Gender: BOY!!



Movement: I feel more and more every day.  He is really active.  I can't wait until Skeet can feel him move too!



Sleep: Sleep still isn't a problem.  I do toss and turn a lot but I think that interrupts Skeet's sleep more than mine! Poor guy!  I just can't seem to stay on my left side but it is getting better. 



Symptoms:  Round ligament pains, heartburn, and constantly hungry!!



Cravings: Nothing in particular, I still love chocolate milk and well... just chocolate in general but I have always loved that!!



Best moment this week: We got the crib!!!  It is still in it's box and will probably stay that way for another few months but I love that it's here!  Also, yesterday at our appointment we saw a quick glance of our baby boy (who showed us again that he is in fact a boy) and we saw his beautiful hand waving at us.  Avery's hands always looked like they were always in fists in ultrasounds, his looked perfect! I am soo Happy!!! 



What I am looking forward to: Seeing Peanut again tomorrow and finding out what is going on with my body!  Hopefully it's nothing and I can finally get my Thanksgiving decorations down and my Christmas tree up!!

Tuesday, November 23, 2010

Bed Rest

The ultrasound today showed that the "pocket" of fluid, or whatever it is, has expanded toward the baby.  If it continues to do so it could open my cervix.  As of right now the outer part of my cervix is still very closed but only measuring about 22 mm.  They like to see it stay above 25 mm.  Because I carried Avery to 32 weeks we don't have any reason to believe that I have an incompetent cervix but Dr. S doesn't want to take any chances with this pregnancy.  He believes that we will probably have to do the cerclage after all.  He believes it is an extreme measure in my case but we both believe that it is better to be safe than sorry.  We didn't schedule it just yet though. For right now I will be on "bed rest", or staying off of my feet as much as possible, until next Monday at least, but most likely until my appointment with the peri on Wednesday.  I will go back to see Dr. Sanders on Monday to see if things look worse but I think he wants to get the peri's opinion before proceeding with the cerclage.  I have been surprisingly positive about everything so far but did let myself start to panic a little bit today.  I love this little boy and want to do every thing in my power to help him stay put as long as possible.  I can't lose him.  So I will be gluing my behind to the couch and doing as little as possible cause it is all I can do along with hope and pray that in 23 weeks we will be holding a healthy, sweet little boy.  We would appreciate any prayers that you can spare for this little boy!  I'll update again when I know more!

17 weeks

How far along: 17 weeks





Size of baby: 5 inches He's about the size of my palm, weighs about five ounces, and is developing some body fat (join the club, baby!). His heart is now regulated by his brain (no more random beats) to beat 140 to 150 times per minute (actually it's 154)— about twice as fast as mine! What else is up? He’s practicing the survival skills he’ll need at birth — like sucking and swallowing.





Weight gain: 0 pounds!!




Maternity clothes: I am wearing mostly maternity pants now and a few of my maternity shirts. Still trying to get use of my normal shirts for now.





Gender: BOY!!





Movement: I am feeling movement much more lately. Even a few kicks here and there.  Love it!!




Sleep: I can sleep pretty easily but am having a hard time with staying on my left side. I get really sore and uncomfortable on that side but if I am on my back or right side I sleep great! I guess I need more practice and one of those great pregnancy pillows!






Symptoms: So tired still and hungry all the time!! 





Cravings: Counting down the days to sweet potatoes and pumpkin pie!  I can hardly wait!!



Best moment this week: I bought Peanut's crib!!! I can't wait to see it, it will be here next week sometime.  Also, I was able to see Peanut again but unfortunately it wasn't for the best reasons.  I have been having contractions and pain in my back.  Dr. S found a small pocket of fluid in my cervix about 4 weeks ago and when he checked my cervix on Saturday the size of the pocket had tripled at least.  He's not sure what it is since it doesn't look like blood.  My cervix is still closed up by the baby where it needs to be closed but it almost looks like this pocket is opening up my cervix from the other side (from the outside in instead of the inside out).  We will be keeping a close eye on things and hopefully when I see the Peri in St. George next week, we will be able to get some more answers.  There is a chance that if it is opening up, we will have to have a cerclage stitch done to keep this little Peanut where he needs to stay for the next 23 weeks.  I am not really panicking yet and trying to have a positive attitude.  I have faith that Dr. S is doing everything he can for us.


What I am looking forward to: Seeing Dr. S this afternoon to see if the pocket has grown. Also seeing family and friends over the holiday!  We will be asking for advice from our families about what we should name our Peanut!!

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

16 weeks and....

How far along: 16 weeks





Size of baby:  4.5 inches. The size of an avocado. In the next few weeks, my baby will double his weight and add inches to his length. His legs are much more developed, his head is more erect than it has been, and his eyes have moved closer to the front of his head. His ears are close to their final position, too. The patterning of his scalp has begun, though his locks aren't recognizable yet. He's even started growing toenails. And there's a lot happening inside as well. For example, his heart is now pumping about 25 quarts of blood each day, and this amount will continue to increase as my baby continues to develop.




Weight gain: 0 pounds!! 



Maternity clothes: I am wearing mostly maternity pants now and a few of my maternity shirts.  Still trying to get use of my normal shirts for now.


Gender: Our Peanut has a peanut... between his legs!!! Yep that's right, we are having a BOY!!  See story below.



Movement: I am feeling movement much more lately.  Even a few kicks here and there.



Sleep: I can sleep pretty easily but am having a hard time with staying on my left side.  I get really sore and uncomfortable on that side but if I am  on my back or right side I sleep great!  I guess I need more practice and one of those great pregnancy pillows!




Symptoms: Still getting nausea occasionally but it's nothing I can't handle.  Heartburn and headaches are what I am fighting most right now. 




Cravings: Everything!!  I am really looking forward to Thanksgiving!  All that yummy food! I can hardly wait!



Best moment this week: Well first it was getting the doppler in the mail (Thanks again Holly! You are awesome!) and listening to Peanuts heartbeat and movements.  Then yesterday at our appointment with Dr. Sanders, he decided we needed to try to see what the baby was before Thanksgiving.  Peanut was standing on his head so Dr. S wasn't sure if we could get a good look but he is pretty confident that our Peanut is a Mr.!!!  He kept going over the area and seeing what he called "a third leg".  We have a couple of pictures but nothing worth scanning.  Peanut was really active and kept moving around but Dr. S checked a few different positions and from each one Peanut looked all Boy!!!  Dr. S also did a measurement of our little guy's femur bone.  When they measured Avery's femur at 19.5 weeks it measured at around 14 weeks.  Peanut's femur bone measured 15 weeks 5 days at 15 weeks 6 days so I pretty much breathed a huge sigh of relief and cried some tears of pure joy.  We will still be going to St. George in 2 weeks just to make sure everything looks good and Dr. S wants us to do a Quad screen to test for Down Syndrome, Spina Bifida and a couple of other things.  I don't really want to do that test but he was really pushing it so I guess we will.  But as of right now I believe there is a healthy baby boy in my belly and I couldn't be happier!




What I am looking forward to: Shopping for my little guy and eating lots of yummy food next week.

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

15 Weeks

Today we celebrate making it to 15 weeks!  The past 11 weeks have gone by so slow but so fast at the same time... if that makes any sense.  I still have a hard time believing that I am really pregnant... with a real baby!!  If it weren't for my stomach growing every day I would be in complete denial.  I think back on my BFP (big fat positive!!) and it all seems like a dream.  I don't think I ever posted the story so I will do it now, just so that I have it written down in case I ever forget.  I woke up on the morning of August 21 and thought to myself that something didn't seem right.  My boobs hurt like crazy and they had been this way for well over 2 weeks.  That is how I knew that I had ovulated.  I didn't know exactly when but I knew that it had been a while and AF should have arrived by then.  Just the day before I had been complaining to a good friend of mine that my stomach was so bloated that I looked pregnant and I told her how much I hate when it does that because it's like my body is teasing me.  I did not, at that point, believe I was pregnant... at all.  So anyway, on the 21st I finally decided, in the middle of the day, to go to the store and get the cheapest pregnancy test they had.  I didn't think it would be positive but I was going to a party later that day and didn't know if I would want to have a drink or not so I thought I had better be safe and just take the dang test.  I went home and with what little I had in my bladder, I peed on a stick.  Within 2 minutes I saw a hint of a line.  I knew if I showed it to anyone else they would probably tell me it was negative but I had heard about these "shadow" lines and I started to let myself believe that it might be possible.  I decided that I would test again in the morning and no, I didn't drink anything at the party.  Despite the pressure I got from my peers ( you know who you are!!) 

The next morning I got up at about 5 a.m. to pee and decided to take the 2nd test.  When I didn't see anything right away I put the test down and went back to bed.  I had woke Skeet up and when he asked how the test went I told him it was negative.  A couple of hours later, when I got up for the day, Skeet was gone to work and I went into my bathroom and just happened to glance at the test I had left on the counter.  There was definitely a second line there!! I couldn't believe it!!  I called Skeet right away and told him that I had lied and that the test was positive.  I don't think he really believed it either!  I knew better than to get my hopes up.  I decided not to tell anyone until after we had a couple of blood tests to confirm.  After our blood tests confirmed the pregnancy that week I told my parents but decided to not start spreading the news until we saw an actual heartbeat.  It was after seeing that beautiful heartbeat that I announced that we were pregnant to the world!  I feel pretty fortunate that I didn't have to take it back.  With every appointment we had I could only picture going in to see Dr. S and getting bad news but every time so far the news has been pretty good! 

So why can't I let myself get excited about this baby?  It's because I am scared to death!  The only thing I know is loss.  I have never experienced anything but loss when it comes to pregnancy so who can blame me for being a little hesitant about this one?  I am trying to be positive.  I try to think about the future and try to imagine what our lives will be like next summer, after our baby is born.  I try to picture a nursery in our home and how Callie will treat a new member of the family.  However, I can't.  I think somewhere deep down I am trying to protect myself from a potential heartbreak.  Skeet is much more optimistic than I and it really helps.  He brings me back down when I start to feel like I am crawling on the ceiling with anxiety.  He talks about our baby as if he knows she will be around this time next year ( and yes he refers to the baby as she... it is so dang cute!).  So if it weren't for my amazing hubby, I think I would be a complete and total basket case right now. 

Now that I have that all off my chest I will get on with the 15 week update...

How far along: 15 weeks





Size of baby: 4 to 4.5 inches.  The size of a large navel orange or an apple.  His legs are much closer to being proportionate to her body.




Weight gain: When I checked last week I still had 3 pounds to go before I reached my pre pregnancy weight.  I am sure I will be there by my next weigh in.




Maternity clothes: Wearing maternity pants more often now but still trying to wear belly bands when I can get away with it.  They are getting to be such a pain though because every time I sit down at work my pants pop out the bottom of the belly band and I have to keep fixing it.  I am staying away from maternity shirts as much as possible still, although I have broken out a few t-shirts here and there.



Gender: 3 more weeks.  I just don't know really.  I will be happy either way... just as long as the baby is healthy!!




Movement: I am feeling the fluttering more frequently and love every second of it!!  Although when I can't feel it I freak out, which I know it is way to early for that.




Sleep: Still no problem sleeping. I could sleep all day, every day and still sleep through the night. Getting better at sleeping on my side... the key is pillows... lots of pillows!!




Symptoms: The morning sickness came back for a few days last week but seems to be better again the past couple of days.  I just have to be eating constantly.  I am still really tired... all the time.  I also have been having more and more round ligament pain and have been blessed with an increase in charlie horses (do they still call them that?) or cramps in my feet and legs.  Headaches and heartburn (or acid reflux) have also become more frequent.



Cravings: Chocolate milk and ice water.  For those of you who really know me you know that I normally prefer to not have ice in my beverages, unless I am drinking through a straw, but now I can't go without ice!!



Best moment this week: Hearing Peanut's heartbeat last week while I was at the Dr.'s office with my mom.  It was holding strong at 153 bpm.  Such a beautiful sound!



What I am looking forward to: Next Monday is my OB appointment and only 3 more weeks until our BIG ultrasound. 

Thursday, November 4, 2010

Tuesday, November 2, 2010

2nd Trimester!!

How far along: 14 weeks




Size of baby: Around 3 and a half inches (the size of a lemon).  Peanut weighs 1 and a half ounces too!  If all is going well, by the end of the week Peanut's arms will be proportionate to the rest of her body.  But his legs still have some catching up to do!



Weight gain: Still not sure..I really need to invest in a scale!


Maternity clothes: Still wearing belly bands most of the time but have broken out the maternity pants and have worn them a couple of times... I just forgot how ugly they can be!!


Gender: Only 4 more weeks until we find out... what do you think?  Skeet is sure that Peanut is a girl.


Movement: I now think that the fluttering is in fact Peanut dancing around.  If I hold really still sometimes I can feel it!


Sleep: Still no problem sleeping. I could sleep all day, every day and still sleep through the night. Getting better at sleeping on my side... the key is pillows... lots of pillows!!


Symptoms: I have been feeling so much better! Occasionally if I don't eat every couple of hours I will start to feel sick and even get really shaky and faint.  I have been having more and more headaches and heartburn.  I am starting to feel round ligament pains too.  My gut is getting huge (as you may have seen in my last post) and my boobs are keeping up rather well!  I am still tired all the time but I am hoping that will start getting better so that I have more energy to work out or even clean my house! 


Cravings: Mexican food and chocolate milk... although I don't think I could handle them together!


Best moment this week: Making it to the 2nd trimester!!  We are about a third of the way through this pregnancy!!


What I am looking forward to: 2 more weeks until my next OB appt and 4 until our level II ultrasound in St. George.  I am getting so nervous!