29 Weeks

Well, it was another stressful week.  I went to the doctor on Thursday, and found out that I failed my gestational diabetes one hour test.  I had a feeling I might, so it wasn't a huge surprise, but it was a huge disappointment.  I now have to go for a two hour test, after fasting for eight hours.  To me, that is a nightmare.  If I don't eat, the tech can't find a vein, which leads to poking, and wooziness, sickness, torture.  For this test, they will be poking me three times:  As soon as I get there, one hour after the drink, and two hours after the drink.  I am scared.

I decided to go Saturday to get it over with, and it was a disaster.  I went to the lab closest to me, the same one I went to for my one hour test, and it was packed--no surprise, it always is.  I took a number, and sat for over half an hour before my number was called.  I went to the counter to give my requisition, and the man said, "Oh, we can't do this today, we close at 2:00."  At this point it was about 12:20.  I told him I'd hadn't eaten in 12 hours, and that I'd been waiting for over half an hour, and now I had to go home?  He was unsympathetic.  I wanted to throw something at him.  I didn't have a choice, I had to leave, so I cried all the way home.  Being without food, and the stress just got to me.  I've decided to go Monday to MY lab, which is at my doctor's office, and is never busy.  They know me there, I'll be more relaxed.  I'll miss work, but I am not going back to the other lab just because they're open on weekends.  So that is tomorrow, and of course I'm nervous again, although not as much knowing it'll be at my regular lab.

Also at the doctor, I found out that my uterus has grown one cm, and I have gained one pound, since my appointment two weeks prior.  Not bad!!  I'm still measuring three weeks ahead, but maybe I'm catching up to uterine size.  The heart rate was 156 bpm, quite high for this baby!  Dr. J. had been pushing and prodding before checking the heart, so Nemo was a bit excited.  She was teaching a student doctor how to find the baby's head and back.

Nemo is feeling more alien-like these days, I often have a big foot sticking out at my belly button, and then the baby drags it across the top of my uterus--it's so weird!!

I have been feeling more and more pregnant in the past week or so; my belly feels very large, and my sides feel about to split because I'm not big enough to support the sides, so I often lay down.  I'm worried about the rest of the pregnancy, if I am this large already.  In the last couple weeks I've grown 1.5 inches around.  I'm having a hard time standing, walking, and sitting.  I'm hoping the growth will slow down a bit now.  It is getting harder to work, so that worries me too, as I need enough hours to qualify for maternity leave.

I took Montana swimming again, and it was just as wonderful as the first time.  I so look forward to getting in the water, and wish I could stay forever!  Look at this picture:

Doesn't that look like Heaven?  I can't wait until it's time to go again this week!

This week I'll be going for my two hour test, as I mentioned, and my birthday is in a few days.  I'll be 30--eek!  So, it will be an interesting week!

Symptoms:

• Sore sides/belly ache
• Backache
• Headaches
• Overheating
• Acne--especially on my lower back
• Difficulty walking and standing
• Emotional
• Healthy sex drive, as always!
• Baby movement
• Braxton Hicks
• Pink tinged cm after going to the washroom

Cravings:

• Fruit
• Nachos

28 Weeks

Well, hello, third trimester!  I have been anxiously awaiting you!  I am now in the home stretch, with just twelve weeks to go!

I have had a tiring week.  I didn't sleep well between waking to pee every half hour and fighting the cats to stay out of the crib.  SD2 came over Tuesday night, which was amazing, of course, but once I settled down to sleep I started having menstrual cramps in my back, and Braxton Hicks in my front.  I managed to sleep through it, and the next day the cramps were better, but I still had BH frequently.  I took it easy at work, and drank lots of water.

 My female cat, Bear, hasn't been sleeping in my room lately, she is only interested in running outside.  I forced her to come to bed Wednesday night, and she went right to the crib.  I sprayed her with water, and she ran away.  I awoke at 5 a.m. to her throwing up, which is normal for her.  However, I realized that she was in the crib throwing up.  She managed to throw up all over Montana's new Build-a-Bear, which was wearing baby clothes, and also got a bit of the car seat.  I was livid.  Bear survived, lucky for her, but I do not want her in there anymore.

Thursday night I took Montana swimming, and that was incredible.  It felt amazing on my belly, and my whole body.  It relaxed me beyond belief--I have never felt so relaxed.  I slept wonderfully that night, and into the afternoon.  I think I will be doing that often!

Friday afternoon, after I finally got out of bed after my swim-coma, and went for my gestational diabetes test.  Yuck!  They took two vials right off the bat, then I had to drink the torturous sugar-filled gag-inducer, wait an hour, and then they took one more vial.  I am praying I pass, because I do not want to do that again!

The weekend has been good, still having BH but nothing serious.  Nemo is starting to stick out feet when I have my hands resting on my belly, which is amusing!  Baby is getting very strong.  I just hope s/he stays in another couple months!

Symptoms:

• Fatigue
• Very frequent urination
• Menstrual cramps
• Braxton Hicks
• Low energy
• Backache
• Increased breast leaking

Cravings:

• Pop
• Fruit

27 Weeks

What an exciting weekend!  Oh my.

Last week my infection eased up, thank goodness.  It still felt like it wasn't gone, but the pain sure was, so I was happy.  I saw the doctor, and got my RhoGam shot--which consisted of seeing the doctor briefly, taking my requisition to the hospital, getting a surprise blood test, and picking up the RhoGam to take back to the doctor to get the shot in my hip.  Luckily the hospital is across the street!  The shot didn't hurt, and I found out I'll only need it after birth if the baby is RH+.  Which is neat because then I'll know the baby's blood type right away.  Montana is O+, as is SD2.  I am O-, so chances are the baby will be the same as his/her big sister!  I think that's neat.

Dr. J. measured my fundal height as she always does, and at this stage it should be 26 or 27 cm, give or take 2 cm.  It was 30 cm!  I knew I was big.  I don't feel the baby at the top of my uterus, though, so I'm hoping it's all water and not just one massive baby!  This means that in the last four weeks my uterus grew 8 cm, which to me seems incredible.  The amazing news is, I've only gained three pounds in that time, which I can't figure out, but am very happy about!  The heart rate was 148 bpm, nice and strong.  In other good news, the doctor confirmed that the infection is gone, so now I'm just feeling pregnancy pressure on my bladder.

I now start seeing the doctor every two weeks, which is very exciting for me because that means I'm getting close to the end!  Next weekend I will be going for my gestational diabetes test, yuck.  Then I will see the doctor the following week and hopefully will have the results.

Yesterday was the best day of all:  I bought the crib and travel system!  It almost didn't happen, but I made it work.  Montana helped me build the crib and stroller, and I showed her how to open/close the stroller, as well as how to insert the carseat and take it out again.  Here are the pictures:

The crib does not have the mattress or bedding set yet, I will be getting those in a few weeks.  Right now I just wanted the crib set up so I could start training the pets to stay away.  Last night was a trial, the kitten would not leave it alone, so it will probably take me the full three months to train his stubborn butt.

Nemo is kicking up a storm these days, I can feel more and more movement as baby grows.  My belly seems like it is constantly twitching and jiggling, this will be one active child!

Symptoms:

• Frequent urination
• Breast growth
• Backache
• Emotional
• Acne

Cravings:

• FRUIT!!  and lots of it
• Pop

26 Weeks 1 Day

After I posted last week, my infection got worse.  I was in so much pain I could barely walk or sleep.  I called my doctor's office and told the receptionist, so she squeezed me in after lunch.  Apparently the antibiotics the clinic gave me were an "odd choice" for a bladder infection, according to Dr J and my pharmacist.  I got a prescription for the antibiotics I usually get for these infections, and came home to sleep.

It took a few days of excruciating pain, but I finally started feeling better.  Even a week later, I still feel like the infection isn't completely gone, but the pain is, so I'll see what Dr J says this week.

Nemo is starting to move more and more--not more often, but more big, noticeable moves.  Today has been a strange one;  s/he keeps poking me in the side, and I feel a lot of movement below my belly button.  Hoping the baby isn't trying to flip over!

Braxton Hicks have increased also, and it is getting the point where (like with Montana) if I bend over I have a contraction.  Makes it difficult to work!

Symptoms:

• Bladder infection
• Braxton Hicks
• Leaking breasts
• Acne (this just doesn't ever go away!)
• Darker facial hair
• Walking cramps

Cravings:

• Salad
• Fruit

25 Weeks

This past week has been eventful.  Some good, mostly bad.

A couple weeks ago as I was leaving work I had pain behind/beside my belly button, and it was hard to walk.  It felt like a walking cramp, but much worse.  Last Monday night I got it again, right at bedtime.  It was so painful I couldn't do anything, and just went to bed, hoping to sleep it off.  When I woke up, I felt okay, until I got out of bed.  I was doubled over in pain and couldn't walk because it was so severe.  I couldn't even get Montana to school.  We spent the day watching TV and relaxing, and the pain finally subsided in the afternoon.  I have no idea what this pain is, but it's debilitating, so I will be mentioning it at my doctor's appointment next week.

On Thursday night we went for a tour at the hospital, that was fun!  Every woman there was much further along than I, so I felt tiny.  Montana learned a lot about the hospital, making ice packs for me, and we even got to see a newborn baby boy.  It made it feel so real for me, and also made Montana and myself very impatient. 

Friday morning I woke up at 5:00, and went to the bathroom.  Afterward I was in severe pain yet again, but this time it was lower.  I could not sleep, and had a bath with Epsom salts at 6:00 in the morning.  I missed work yet again, and went to the clinic to get antibiotics for a bladder infection.  I also had to go to the lab and give another sample for them to make sure I'm being treated for the right thing.  I have been in pain since then.  I have had so many infections in my life that I usually catch it from the onset, but I mistook the symptoms for pregnancy symptoms.  Of course, Nemo thinks it's great fun to headbutt my bladder, so it has been an interesting weekend.

I may not get to see SD2 this week due to the infection, and that just plain sucks.  I so look forward to seeing him every week, and after the week I had I could use some happiness.  I was feeling very down last week, admittedly because I'm getting confused about my feelings for SD2, and I think it was because I was tired and worn out from fighting the infection.  So it may be a good thing that I don't see him this week, just to get a reality check, but it still bums me out.  I only have a couple months left before I have to say goodbye forever, and I want to see him as much as possible.  I know, I know, I said I would keep my feelings out of it, and I have for the most part.  I'll be fine after the baby comes, but right now I'm just confused. 

Not much will be happening this week baby-wise, just hoping to get through a full week of work.  Next week I'll see the doctor and get my RhoGam shot.

Symptoms:

• Bladder infection
• Side cramps
• Severe belly button pain
• Heartburn
• Headache
• Sadness
• Braxton Hicks
• Sore right nipple
• Leaking

Cravings:

• Pop

24 Weeks

Yay!! I made it to 24 weeks!  Nemo is now "viable!!"  S/he has always been viable to me, but now the doctors will think so too!  Hoping to go the full 16 weeks I have left though, of course!

Nemo has been a little tornado lately, I hardly feel a reprieve from all the movement.  S/he thinks it's fun to punch my bladder and cervix-- ha ha little one, very amusing.  I wish the baby would move up a bit already!  Sheesh!  But it's nice to feel the kicks and know everything is fine.

It seems like everyone around me is in cahoots and wishing twins!  Even my soon-to-be-four-years-old-nephew said there are two and named them!  Pretty scary, but I refuse to believe that a second baby has been missed at every ultrasound and doppler check!

This week we have our hospital tour, so that'll be fun!  It's early, but it was the only one booked so far so I took it.  I want Montana to get to know the hospital for when we are there, and it'll be a good refresher for mom and myself.

Other than that, not much changes weekly at this stage!

Symptoms:

• Braxton Hicks
• Shortness of breath
• Frequent urination
• Increased sex drive--woah!
• Acne, still
• Stretch marks

Cravings:

•  Veggies and dip
• Pop

23 Weeks

Man, time is going fast!  It's almost June, and has been almost two weeks since my ultrasound!

I saw the doctor last week to go over the ultrasound and blood tests I had done a while back.  She said the technician wrote in her report that she had a hard time seeing Nemo's face because s/he is so squished, which I already knew, but I guess she had a hard time doing measurements also.  Dr. P. said not to worry about that though. I only gained two pounds in the time between my last appointment and this one, so the doctor was happy this time.  I was surprised I didn't gain more, it feels like I eat so much!  My blood tests all came back with good results; no risk was found for certain conditions like Down Syndrome, and the placenta seems to be functioning well, so I'm very relieved with that news!  My next appointment will be at 26 weeks, when I'll have my RhoGam shot, and then at 28 weeks I'll do the glucose test for gestational diabetes.  Nemo's heart rate was 144 bpm.

After the appointment I registered at the hospital--Dr. P. told me to.  That was overwhelming, I almost cried.  Being in that building again just brought so emotions, such a wonderful feeling of happiness and excitement that I didn't want to leave!  Four months seems so long now!

Nemo is moving a lot lately, and it's so fun because I know what I'm feeling now!  It's usually the hands I feel down in my pelvis, and occasionally the feet in my side. I can see my stomach move now.

Symptoms:

• Fatigue after cleaning, etc
• Leaking
• Sensitive nipples

Cravings:

• Salt and vinegar chips
• Pop