I took the gestational diabetes test yesterday. I know that people said not to alter my diet leading up to the test since it wouldn't make a difference, but I had stopped eating extra sugar (no sweet tea, no sodas, no desserts, no granola bars, no yogurt, etc) since Friday. For breakfast that morning, I only ate 4 slices of 40 calorie toast with butter and water was the only thing I drank.
When I got to the dr office, they took my usually stats - BP was 105/70 and my weight was 193.5 - which was great b/c I had only gained 2 pounds last month! I'm glad b/c I haven't worked out as much over the last month with all the pains. Then I had to drink some weird super sugary orange stuff - all in 2 minutes. I was worried b/c my stomach was upset and I was afraid that I'd throw up, but thankfully, the orange drink wasn't nasty like most people said it was. I had to wait exactly an hour then have my blood drawn for them to test.
In the meantime, I met with a midwife for my monthly visit and everything is still progressing like normal. My stomach measures the correct size and Kirby's heartbeat is strong. He's still moving around a lot in there - she had a hard time at first getting him to stay still long enough to read his heartbeat. :) My main questions for her were about how to manage the pain. The lower back pain has made things really difficult, and I'm really scared about what's going to happen for the next 3 months if I'm hurting this much already. Hopefully, I'm able to find ways to manage the pain without taking too many meds (I haven't taken any yet). I have a maternity belt that I wear sometimes (it's not comfortable for me to wear all the time b/c it cuts into my pre-pregnancy fat rolls :P ) and I have the pool on the back deck, which feels wonderful while I'm in it. She also suggested a heating pad for my back and cushier shoes (I mostly wear ballet flats to work, but I wear cushy tennis shoes on the weekends).
I was asked to be apart of another study while I was there. This one is to determine genetics and the environments effects on the baby. Since I was getting my blood drawn for the diabetes test (and also HIV, for some weird reason), they just took 2 extra vials of blood for the study. I answered some questions and the next time I go back for a dr appt I'm going to fill out a more detailed survey of my history and how I live. During labor, they want to take one more vial of blood and a small sample of the placenta and cord blood to compare to the blood taken yesterday for their study. I told the girl I didn't mind being a part of the study b/c I was already going to be poked for something else, but if it was something separate then she could forget it! In return for participation, I got a gift bag with notepads, a pen, and later I'll get $20. Certainly nothing worth the trouble, but I feel good helping out someone's study if it helps them stop illnesses in other children that are based on our surrounding environment. Hopefully, this study is better run than the last study (which I thought was a crock b/c the questions were written so poorly).
I ended up waiting 10 minutes past my 1 hour limit for getting my blood drawn b/c the lab tech was with someone for a *really* long time. At the time, I was getting nervous b/c the nurse drilled it into me that I needed to get my blood drawn after an hour. Once I was finally called in, I asked the tech and she said that it was ok for me to be 10 minutes later. Whew - b/c I didn't want to have to do that test again!
I called this morning for my test results and I PASSED! :) The nurse said my levels were 122 and that I was fine. I looked it up online, and I think they tend to send people over 140 on to the 3 hour test. I'm SO glad I don't have to do the 3 hour test b/c that would require fasting and 4 blood draws. Blech!
Our next appointment is August 4th - we'll have a regular dr appointment and we'll also have another ultrasound. They want to look at his head to see if the cysts are going away, but also to measure him and see if he's the right size. I'm also going to ask that they check for neural tube defects (like Spina Bifada) since the CVS test didn't test for those defects.
In other baby news, 2 nights ago was the second time that Gary was able to feel Kirby moving around in there. He was quite the kicker that night so there was no mistaking what was going on in there.:)
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Feeling him kick
They say that the dad often feels "left out" during a pregnancy, since all the action is taking place in the mom's body. While I can see how a dad wouldn't feel nearly as connected as a mom, I must say that I don't feel "left out," per se. That said, it is awfully cool when I can feel the little guy kick.
It happened for the first time a little over a week ago. I put my palm across the bottom of the baby bump and felt... something. Was it a foot? Was it a hand? A head? Who knows. But, it was definite and real. But, then it was gone.
More than a week passed before I got to feel him again. Theresa thinks I'm going to have a calming influence on him after he's born, because every time I rush to put my palm on her belly, he stops kicking. But, not last night. Last night as we lie in bed, I was able to reach across and feel him doing what must have been some type of Bill Bojangles routine. I felt probably a half-dozen or more kicks in a short span before he settled into whatever new position he found himself.
It was only then that I realized how much more "connected" to him Theresa must be. She can feel the little bugger everyday. Of course, she has to suffer the negatives along with the positives. So, I'm not suggesting we switch places or anything. But, I do envy her just a touch. Hopefully I can attend another tap dance recital soon.
It happened for the first time a little over a week ago. I put my palm across the bottom of the baby bump and felt... something. Was it a foot? Was it a hand? A head? Who knows. But, it was definite and real. But, then it was gone.
More than a week passed before I got to feel him again. Theresa thinks I'm going to have a calming influence on him after he's born, because every time I rush to put my palm on her belly, he stops kicking. But, not last night. Last night as we lie in bed, I was able to reach across and feel him doing what must have been some type of Bill Bojangles routine. I felt probably a half-dozen or more kicks in a short span before he settled into whatever new position he found himself.
It was only then that I realized how much more "connected" to him Theresa must be. She can feel the little bugger everyday. Of course, she has to suffer the negatives along with the positives. So, I'm not suggesting we switch places or anything. But, I do envy her just a touch. Hopefully I can attend another tap dance recital soon.
Monday, July 13, 2009
random baby stuff
We went to Wilmington for the 4th of July weekend, and here's the first pic of my baby belly at 24 weeks.
On the way, Gary stopped for gas, and the person at the counter was the first stranger to say something to me about being pregnant. Looks like I'm not able to hide it anymore. :)
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Sometimes, the strongest baby kicks that I feel are when I lay in bed on my left side. It feels like the baby is kicking super hard on my right side - I've even seen the pillow move when he kicks! Even though I think they're hard kicks, Gary still hasn't been able to feel the movement..... until recently! Every time BBM goes crazy, I grab Gary's hand, but it seems like Gary has a soothing effect on BBM b/c he tends to calm down. However, a few nights ago, Gary was finally able to feel a few kicks. :) I'm not sure what that feels like to the dad, but I'm so glad that he was finally able to feel it. I know - give it a few weeks and then Gary will be able to feel it all day if he wanted to. However, I think there's just something so exciting about feeling it the first time..... I dunno. You'd have to ask him. :)
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Not BBM related, but still one of our "children"...... we had Bingham boarded at the vet while we were in Wilmington. He's been having skin allergies and hot spots so we asked if they also did grooming. They only do a "summer shave" and I said go for it. During the trip we were nervous that we'd come home to a naked dog. I just though, so what, it's just hair, it'll all grow back. It's not like he'd know he looks weird. :P
We were pleasantly surprised to see that there was a bit of hair left, but not only that - he was adorable!! His face looks completely different. His ears are so short and cute - I just want to stare at him and love on him all day. :D
On the way, Gary stopped for gas, and the person at the counter was the first stranger to say something to me about being pregnant. Looks like I'm not able to hide it anymore. :)
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Sometimes, the strongest baby kicks that I feel are when I lay in bed on my left side. It feels like the baby is kicking super hard on my right side - I've even seen the pillow move when he kicks! Even though I think they're hard kicks, Gary still hasn't been able to feel the movement..... until recently! Every time BBM goes crazy, I grab Gary's hand, but it seems like Gary has a soothing effect on BBM b/c he tends to calm down. However, a few nights ago, Gary was finally able to feel a few kicks. :) I'm not sure what that feels like to the dad, but I'm so glad that he was finally able to feel it. I know - give it a few weeks and then Gary will be able to feel it all day if he wanted to. However, I think there's just something so exciting about feeling it the first time..... I dunno. You'd have to ask him. :)
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Not BBM related, but still one of our "children"...... we had Bingham boarded at the vet while we were in Wilmington. He's been having skin allergies and hot spots so we asked if they also did grooming. They only do a "summer shave" and I said go for it. During the trip we were nervous that we'd come home to a naked dog. I just though, so what, it's just hair, it'll all grow back. It's not like he'd know he looks weird. :P
We were pleasantly surprised to see that there was a bit of hair left, but not only that - he was adorable!! His face looks completely different. His ears are so short and cute - I just want to stare at him and love on him all day. :D
ab pains
Thursday mid-morning, I noticed that I was having some pains in my lower ab area on the left side. I didn't feel it so much when I was sitting, but I definitely noticed it when I walked the 20 times to the bathroom. I ended up calling the ask a nurse and she thought that it was just Braxton-Hicks contractions (which are common at 25 weeks). She said that if the pains got worse or it was accompanied by something else (bleeding, fever, etc) to call back.
After lunch, I was still feeling the pain, so I looked up symptoms of Braxton-Hicks, and it didn't sound at all like what I was feeling. B-H typically only lasts a minute or 2, but my pain wouldn't go away. I felt nervous, so I just decided to take work home and sit on the couch, with very little movement from me (like my own self-imposed bed rest).
The next day I was still feeling the pain, so I stayed at home and worked from the couch again - moving as little as possible. The pain came and went that night, but I still mainly felt it when I was standing or walking.
That night, I realized that the pain occasionally went away after I got up to pee, so I became suspicious that it was anything to really be worried about. However, Saturday I walked around a bit shopping and having lunch and there were times that I could barely walk. I felt like I was walking like an old person - not able to stand up straight and walking *very* slowly! Saturday night was pretty painful and I kept going to the bathroom in hopes that it would go away.
Sunday was better, but I still took it easy most of the day. For our morning routine (breakfast, baby registry at Target and grocery shopping) I wore the pregnancy belt in hopes that it would help with the pain in case some of it had to do with my back.
Today, I was a lot better, but still felt it some. I ended up calling the ask a nurse again and she scheduled an appt for me to come in. Other than having to wait 45 minutes past my appt time (grrrr!), the dr said everything was fine. She got more information from me about what's been happening and asked me questions to pin point trouble signs (bleeding, trouble going to the bathroom, etc).
She measured my belly, and that was normal. Then she listened to BBM's heartbeat (135) and said that it's normal and that he was moving around a lot (which I couldn't feel). Then.... the vaginal exam. She checked to see if I was dilated, but she said I was firmly shut. :) She also checked my ovaries to see if I had any cysts, but that was normal. She checked something else that I wasn't sure what was up - but that was normal, too. She said that she could feel BBM moving like crazy when she was checking everything down there. Looks like I have a lot of sleepless nights ahead of me once he's big enough for me to feel every movement. :)
So, all the exams showed that everything is fine. Her guess is that I'm just experiencing more round ligament pains. Previously, I felt them mostly in my groin, but as my stomach expands, I'll be feeling the pains in different locations. Apparently, the stretching right now is mostly taking place in my lower abs. It's certainly not fun (see the description above of how painful it can be), but it's a relief to know what's going on. At least now I don't feel like I have to veg out all the time on the couch - that it's ok for me to move around more (and go on some walks).
Also, I had my blood pressure taken (110/70) and weighed (191.5). I weighed the same as I did last appt which was 3 weeks ago. I feel a little better that I didn't gain another 5 pounds since I haven't been exercising as much these past 3 weeks with dad visiting, going out of town, and the ab pain.
After lunch, I was still feeling the pain, so I looked up symptoms of Braxton-Hicks, and it didn't sound at all like what I was feeling. B-H typically only lasts a minute or 2, but my pain wouldn't go away. I felt nervous, so I just decided to take work home and sit on the couch, with very little movement from me (like my own self-imposed bed rest).
The next day I was still feeling the pain, so I stayed at home and worked from the couch again - moving as little as possible. The pain came and went that night, but I still mainly felt it when I was standing or walking.
That night, I realized that the pain occasionally went away after I got up to pee, so I became suspicious that it was anything to really be worried about. However, Saturday I walked around a bit shopping and having lunch and there were times that I could barely walk. I felt like I was walking like an old person - not able to stand up straight and walking *very* slowly! Saturday night was pretty painful and I kept going to the bathroom in hopes that it would go away.
Sunday was better, but I still took it easy most of the day. For our morning routine (breakfast, baby registry at Target and grocery shopping) I wore the pregnancy belt in hopes that it would help with the pain in case some of it had to do with my back.
Today, I was a lot better, but still felt it some. I ended up calling the ask a nurse again and she scheduled an appt for me to come in. Other than having to wait 45 minutes past my appt time (grrrr!), the dr said everything was fine. She got more information from me about what's been happening and asked me questions to pin point trouble signs (bleeding, trouble going to the bathroom, etc).
She measured my belly, and that was normal. Then she listened to BBM's heartbeat (135) and said that it's normal and that he was moving around a lot (which I couldn't feel). Then.... the vaginal exam. She checked to see if I was dilated, but she said I was firmly shut. :) She also checked my ovaries to see if I had any cysts, but that was normal. She checked something else that I wasn't sure what was up - but that was normal, too. She said that she could feel BBM moving like crazy when she was checking everything down there. Looks like I have a lot of sleepless nights ahead of me once he's big enough for me to feel every movement. :)
So, all the exams showed that everything is fine. Her guess is that I'm just experiencing more round ligament pains. Previously, I felt them mostly in my groin, but as my stomach expands, I'll be feeling the pains in different locations. Apparently, the stretching right now is mostly taking place in my lower abs. It's certainly not fun (see the description above of how painful it can be), but it's a relief to know what's going on. At least now I don't feel like I have to veg out all the time on the couch - that it's ok for me to move around more (and go on some walks).
Also, I had my blood pressure taken (110/70) and weighed (191.5). I weighed the same as I did last appt which was 3 weeks ago. I feel a little better that I didn't gain another 5 pounds since I haven't been exercising as much these past 3 weeks with dad visiting, going out of town, and the ab pain.
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