Baby Momma

Pregnancy was not really my friend.  I don't regret a minute of it, and I would do it all again in a heartbeat. I am planning on doing it all again. I, however, was miserable. My blood pressure started a steady climb around 26 weeks.  I was swollen and uncomfortable.  At my 28 week check up, my blood pressure was 146/95. I was sent to L & D for monitoring and I did my first 24 hour urine catch.  My blood pressure settled back down and my 24 hour came back with numbers in normal range.  At my next appointment, my ob had concerns about how low baby girl was sitting.  She told me when I started feeling pressure that I needed to sit and put my feet up.  My next appointment was relatively normal, but my 34 week check up resulted in another high blood pressure, another trip to L&D, another 24 hour urine, and an overnight stay in the hospital for monitoring. This time I was sent home on bed rest. I was super bummed.  I hated to start my FMLA leave because I wanted to use every possible minute of it to stay home with baby girl.  I started going to the ob for 2x weekly NSTs and 1x weekly AFIs.   On Tuesday, Sept 27,  my AFI came back with very borderline fluid levels and I was supposed to have another AFI on Friday.  My ob wanted to hold off until 37 weeks to deliver baby girl, but it was right around the corner.  When I got to my ob appointment on Friday, my blood pressure was 167/110 and I was placed on hospital bed rest.  The husband and I spent the weekend in the hospital, and while we were there we had to make some choices about how we wanted baby girl to make her appearance.  My ob was concerned about attempting induction because I was not having contractions, I wasn't dilated at all, and apparently I have narrow pelvic bones.  Unfortunately, my ob was not on call over the weekend.  Another doctor from the practice came in to talk to me about induction vs. Csection.  While she provided me with lots of information about the procedures, she was overall very unhelpful regarding which direction she thought I should take.  In addition, I didn't feel fully supported when I opted for a c section.  I felt rushed through my visits with providers in the hospital, and I was very frustrated by the care I received.  In addition, following delivery I was placed on blood pressure medications with no explanation as to why when my pressure was on the way down.  When I asked another provider, she told me she thought I had chronic hypertension instead of PIH.  My discharge instructions were poor, and I Will not be using this ob office again.

On the upside, at 5:23 P.M. On Monday, October 3rd, my husband and I finally got to meet our beautiful, amazing baby girl.  She was born at 37 weeks gestation and weighed 6 lbs 14 oz and was 19 inches long.  I have never been so in love.

Week 15: In Pictures

I really felt like I related to the naval orange.  I’m not sure why.  As always, images courtesy of Google and the Huggies AU website.

Week 14: Lemon

Symptoms?: I greeted 14 weeks by projectile vomiting in my kitchen. Other than that, just queasy and my food aversions are getting worse.
Weight gain?: +1, I guess I can contribute those other pounds to bloat….I’m not arguing.
Movement?: Nope
Stretch marks?: Not fresh.
Best thing that happened this week?: Just knocking days down off the list.
Any baby-related purchases this week?: All my baby related purchases went to my BFF this week. Her baby’s due at the end of May.
Milestones reached?: Isn’t every day a milestone? But hello, officially trimester 2.

Doctor's Update

My doctor’s appointment today was great. I saw a different doctor in the practice, and I think that I might like her better than my doctor. We’ll see what happens. Baby looked good (we had a mini-ultrasound with a portable device) and HB was 149! Perfect

The Great Debate: Pink or Blue

This information was copied directly from the fine people at pregnancy.org. It’s information about old wives tales. I’m getting antsy about gender, so I’ve been doing some research. I’ve learned that not even the old wives tales are consistent.
* If your left breast is bigger than the right during pregnancy, you’re having a girl. If the right is bigger, it’ll be a boy. If they are the same size, you’re in for a surprise!
* If you get moody during pregnancy you are more likely to have a girl. This is because all women are moody, and when carrying a girl you become doubly so.
* If you carry the baby out front (others can’t see your pregnancy from behind) then you will have a boy. If others can tell that you are pregnant when looking at you from behind, then you will have a girl.
* Have the mum-to-be pick up a key. If she picks it up by the round end, it will be a boy. If she picks it up by the long end, it will be a girl. Should she pick it up at the middle, twins are on the way.
* If the mother’s age at conception and the year of conception are both even or both odd, the baby is a girl. If one is even and one is odd, the baby is a boy.
* Ask the mum-to-be to pick a number. Match the number with the corresponding letter of the alphabet (A=1, B=2 etc). Then ask her to choose a name beginning with that letter. If she chooses a boys name, it will be a boy. If she chooses a girls name, it will be a girl.
* Hang a gold pendant (preferably one the mother wears often) over the palm of the mother’s hand. If the pendant moves in a circular motion, it will be a girl. If it swings back and forth, a boy is on the way.
* If the mum-to-be was the more aggressive partner when the baby was conceived, it will be a boy. If the father was the more aggressive, the baby will be a girl.
* If you suffer from acne during pregnancy, you will have a girl.
* What side does the mum-to-be lay on while she’s resting? If she lies on her left, it’s a boy; on her right, it’s a girl.
* If young boys (pre-school age) show interest in you while you’re pregnant, it will be a girl. If they ignore you, expect a boy.
* Ask the mum-to-be to show you her hands. If she shows them palms up, it’s a girl; palms down, a boy.
* If you dream of girls, you will have a boy. If you dream of boys, you will have a girl.

Week 13: Peach

I’m calling 2nd Trimester on Thursday at 13 weeks 3 days. I’m EXCITED.
Symptoms?: I’m crying at the drop of the hat. I lost my phone at a concert Saturday night. When I realized I lost it, I went to lost and found and they repetitively told me that they would call me when it was recovered. Apparently, I was the only one involved who realized how idiotic this statement was, and I really wanted to punch the customer service rep in the face. ANyways, I cried and cried about this dumb interaction that I had. The woman sitting next to us at the concert, who I had never met before, continually asked me if I was ok, and I kept telling her I was fine. Finally, she looks at me and says, “You know, fine is code word for emotional and neurotic right.”
Thanks woman. You just made my night. Other than that, I’m still exhausted and still nauseated. It is improving.
Weight gain?: +3 and holding
Movement?: Nope
Stretch marks?: Not fresh.
Best thing that happened this week?: Just knocking days down off the list.
Any baby-related purchases this week?: I’ve always loved kids books anyways, but I bought some books at a book fair at work.

Milestones reached?: A day without zofran, but I’ve been queasy all day.
 


As always, photos courtesy of google images and the huggies website.

Week 12

Symptoms?: MORE nausea. Isn’t this supposed to be getting better?? I threw up yesterday morning I’m exhausted, and this pregnancy brain thing is about to win the battle. I’m also SUPER ADD.
Weight gain?: +3
Movement?: Nope
Stretch marks?: Not fresh.
Best thing that happened this week?: We got our first baby gifts! We got some onesies from my momma, and DH’s co-worker gave us a bag of 9 gifts. One for each month. So far, it was a medicine dispenser set and some snack catcher cups, and then a baby proofing kit. Pretty bad ass. .
Any baby-related purchases this week?: We bought a solid white pack of onesies off the clearance rack at target.
Milestones reached?: Baby is the size of a plum!