27 Week Update

I had a pre-natal appointment today that was, thankfully, very uneventful. I was up 4 lbs for a total of 11 lbs so far. I have read that at this point I should be gaining a pound a week so I guess that is right on track. The doctor didn't mention anything about it, so I guess I shouldn't be concerned either.

I met with Dr. Montgomery today. He is actually the doctor who was on-call the weekend I had Jacob and I have such good memories of him from that time. Today's meeting was a confirmation of that good feeling because he was super nice and very talkative. We didn't really have that much to talk about, but we talked a little about my desire to try a VBAC. The discussion started when I told him that I felt like I was carrying this baby super high again, similar to how it was with Jacob. I have noticed that I am starting to get uncomfortable under my breasts after wearing an underwire bra because it is getting tight up in that area, especially towards the end of the day. I had that problem in my pregnancy with Jacob and I ended up having to wear a bra that had no wire (which is not very supportive for a big-breasted woman like me!). I am not to that point just yet, but I fear that it is coming soon!

Dr. Montgomery said that when he measured me, I was measuring a bit larger than I should be. He didn't give me the exact measurement, but he said that it was nothing to be alarmed about right now. He said we would just keep monitoring the growth and see what happens in the coming weeks. He asked how big Jacob was when he was born and when I told him that he was 7 lbs, 4 oz at 37 weeks, he said that he probably would have been close to 9 lbs if he had come closer to my due date. He said, "Maybe you just grow big babies" and thus led to the discussion of a VBAC and trying to push out a "big baby". Oh joy! I guess we shall see in the next few months how things pan out.

While I was at the appointment today, I was able to also drink the "yummy" sugary drink for my glucose test. I arrived at the office about 15 mins early in the hopes that I could drink the stuff while I was waiting in the reception area (to cut down on the time I had to wait afterwards), but upon checking in, the receptionist told me I had to get the drink from the nurse. Of course, as fate would have it, they were about 15 mins late calling me back, but thankfully Jacob was really good in the waiting room - playing with the toys there, eating a snack and reciting his ABCs & telling me stories super loud for all those around us to hear! :)

Once we got back to the exam room, I was able to drink the glucose drink after the nurse did my weight, blood pressure and I gave a urine sample. The drink was cold and orange flavored so it wasn't "that" bad, all things considered. After my 10 mins or so with the doctor, we still have 40 mins to wait until I could get my blood drawn. So, I made my next appointment, then we slowly made our way down the hall to the elevator, took a detour to go look at a bunny statue that Jacob really likes that is in a patio area outside the office building, got into the car, and headed across the street to the lab. Once we got to that building, I made a stop in the restroom to pee, stopped to look at two other statues that Jacob wanted to admire, and then went to the lab to register and wait. Again, Jacob was really good, even though we had to wait about 15 mins until they called us back. He was happy to sit and play with the iPad - putting puzzles together, reading books, and watching videos (old episodes of Tom and Jerry on Youtube are his favorite right now!).

It took two sticks for the lab tech to get blood from me - she had no luck with a stick in my left arm and then opted to go for a nice big vein in my right hand. I was assuming I was going to have a big bruise on my left arm from where she was moving the needle around so much to try to get into the vein, but actually there isn't even anything there. My hand is a little tender to the touch, but nothing too awful. Now, I just have to wait until (hopefully!) tomorrow to find out the results. They will call me if I fail the test, but Dr. Montgomery said I could also call tomorrow afternoon to check, since they don't normally call if everything is OK. I am praying that I don't have to go back and do the three hour test, mostly because it takes so long and I will have to find someone to watch Jacob. Oh, and the possibility that I could have Gestational Diabetes isn't pleasant to think about either!!

Some other random thoughts:

• I am still experiencing heartburn, but not nearly as bad since I have started taking Zantac twice a day now (once first thing in the morning and then again around 5pm). I have woken up a few times recently in the middle of the night with a burning feeling, but it hasn't been too awful...yet. I fear that it is going to get worse, just like with my last pregnancy.
  
• This baby continues to move around a lot and is most mobile in the evenings and at night. It is nice to feel him moving around, but sometimes - especially when I am trying to sleep - it can be a little bothersome. I am really trying to enjoy it though - like a lot things with this pregnancy - since this will most likely be the last time I experience this.
  
• I am always amazed at how much my already huge breasts grow (sorry for the TMI!). I just think....really, can they get any bigger???!!!
  
• I have not experienced any swelling yet, but I am having a lot of numbness in my hands. This happens, especially with my right hand, at night while I am sleeping. Almost every night, when I wake up to pee, I have to shake my hand around to try to get feeling back in it! I also have some discomfort in my right wrist, which I attribute to carpel tunnel from working on the computer so much. I am going to start wearing a brace at night to see if that helps (it didn't last time) and may wear a brace when I am working on the computer during the day if it gets much worse. Dr. Montgomery mentioned PT as a possibility if it gets really bad, but I don't think I will do that. I did PT with my last pregnancy and it never really helped.
  
• It is getting harder for me to bend over and move around, although I know it is going to get worse. I have a hard time getting up from sitting on the floor with Jacob or even sometimes just getting off the couch. I feel like I am much bigger this time around. Or just growing faster. I guess it is because it is my second pregnancy. And, I am doing much more bending, stooping, kneeling, reaching, lifting, etc this time around playing with - and chasing after - a toddler and keeping up with the normal everyday house-related activities (cleaning, laundry, washing dishes, etc).
  
• This poor little guy still doesn't have a name, although Keith has pretty much said that I can pick the name this time since he got to choose Jacob (with my blessing). Of course, he has some say in it, but we have thrown a few things around and he is fine with my choices. The problem I am having is that one week I think I love something and the next week, I don't like it anymore. I know we have three more months to decide on this, but it just seems weird since Jacob had a name at 20 weeks! I would honestly like to start calling him something other than "the baby" or "he", but I just can't decide on anything permanent!
  
• We have still not made much headway in preparing for this little guy's arrival into our home. I am trying not to stress about it - or the fact that we have every Saturday booked between now and the end of July!! Keith did spray paint the toddler bed that we got free for Jacob (from a Lightening McQueen red to black) this past weekend and we are just giving it time to permanently dry. We have purchased bins to start packing up the toys that Jacob doesn't play with anymore, but I haven't gotten around to actually removing anything! We have talked about our plan to get the room rearranged from a playroom to a bedroom, but just have to take the time to start doing things. It will all get done in time....it will all get done in time....it will all get done in time!! (I will keep telling myself that!)
  
• Not baby related, but a totally "oh my gosh where is the time going" thought.....Jacob will be three years old in two weeks!!! I am preparing for two birthday parties (one with family on June 9th and one with his friends at a local spray park on June 22nd) along with everything else that is going on. I have been meaning to do a post about our biggest little guy and what he has been doing, but I haven't gotten around to it. Maybe soon!

My next appointment with the OB is on June 20th. That will be my last monthly visit and then I will start going every two weeks. Wow....time if surely flying by!

23-24 Weeks Update

Last week, I had my monthly pre-natal exam (at 23 weeks) and it went well. The basics were done - urine sample, blood pressure (which was higher than normal at 131/80, but the nurse didn't seem too concerned), and weight (up 1 lb for a total of 7 lbs so far).

I saw Dr. Culver, one of the six doctors in the practice, and he was very nice. I hadn't seen him since early on when I was pregnant with Jacob and I was pleased that he was so friendly. I find that I often prefer female doctors since they tend to be more compassionate and understanding. But, Dr. Culver was very talkative and we discussed a lot of things.

First, he looked at my chart and said "So, we are looking at a due date of August 18th?" and I said, "Uh, no, I was told at my first appointment that it was August 24th." He seemed kinda puzzled and looked through my chart a little more. Once he read through some notes left by the other doctors, he said he didn't understand why August 18th was written down because based on my last period and his calculations, it should really be August 22nd. I told him I was fine with that since it was only two days earlier than I was originally told, but I would have been more freaked out if he had pushed it up by an entire week. Not that I have any control over when this little boy is going to come out, but I am certainly not trying to rush this pregnancy!

Once we had the due date issue figured out, he listened to the baby's heartbeat and, thankfully, it didn't take long for him to find it. It was "in the 140s" and really strong. After that, he felt my abdomen a little and measured my belly, which he said looked fine. I am certainly starting to feel bigger, although since I am overweight and have a lot of "extra" in my belly area, it is hard for most people to tell that I am pregnant. I kinda like it when the doctors say that I am growing just like I should and don't point out the extra weight I am carrying!

After the heartbeat and measurement, we discussed the Gestational Diabetes Screening test that I will have to have in the next month. Dr. Culver said that I can actually have the test done on the same day as my next pre-natal exam. Apparently the procedure has changed from three years ago when I had Jacob (back then I had to go to Lab Corp in a different part of the building for the test). This time, he said I can just let the receptionist know that I want to have the test when I check in for my appointment and she will give me the yummy (not!) sugary drink to consume. Then, after my appointment, I have to go across the street to the lab to give my blood sample once an hour has passed. I am really not trying to stress about this test, even though I did fail the one hour test when I was pregnant with Jacob (but passed the three hour test). I remember being really worried that I was going to have GD with Jacob. This time, I am just going to go with the flow and see what happens. Stressing is not going to make it be positive or negative! I am just hopeful that I can pass the one hour test this time so that I don't have to find a babysitter for Jacob and sit in the lab for three hours!

Dr. Culver also talked to me about my desired birth plan this time around. Since I had a c-section with Jacob, he said I had the option of having a repeat scheduled c-section or trying a vbac (vaginal birth after cesarean). We talked about the risks of both and I told him that I have thought about this ever since I had my c-section and I think I would really like to try for a vbac. The idea of another c-section does not bother or scare me, but if I am able to naturally (with pain meds, of course!!) push this baby out, I think that is my desire. Dr. Culver said that the reasons I had to have a c-section with Jacob (my water broke at 37 weeks and I was not dilated so they had to induce me with pitocin AND Jacob was transverse so he never came down the birth canal) will hopefully not be factors with this baby so he didn't see any reason why a vbac wouldn't be a viable option. He did say that in order to have a vbac, my body will have to go into labor naturally. If that doesn't happen for some reason or if those same factors seem to occur again, I will have to have a repeat c-section. At this point, only time will tell!

As of today, I am 24 weeks and 1 day and the time seems to continue to fly by. I am trying not to get anxious about all that needs to be done before this little one arrives, but it is certainly in the back of my head. Over the next two months or so, Keith and I need to formulate a plan of moving Jacob out of his room and into what is now the playroom. This will involve moving two dressers and a toddler bed out of the garage and also finding other space in the house (or in the garage or crawl space) for the enormous amount of toys that are currently in the playroom. I am a little worried that the transition will not be easy for Jacob since he has told me numerous times that he wants to stay in his room and the baby can sleep in the playroom. I am not sure that he really knows what he is saying, other than the idea of moving out the room that he has been in for the past almost three years is probably very scary. I am hoping that once he sees that he can be in the bigger room with some of his toys, he will be ok. I guess we will see!

For the most part, I am feeling pretty good right now. I am starting to feel bigger and wearing maternity clothes for the most part (even though most of the shirts and some of the pants are still too big!). My regular clothes (especially my pants) just don't fit any longer. Most days, I find myself wearing my "comfy pants" (ie, cotton pants with drawstrings) for a majority (or all) of the day. If we have nowhere to go, I just put them on in the morning and if we go out somewhere, I change as soon as we get home! I feel a little bad for Keith because every day when he gets home I look like a frumpy housewife! haha He says he doesn't care and I am glad because at least I am comfortable!  I don't have many casual summer maternity bottoms since I was working full-time in an office during my last pregnancy. I have plenty of business casual clothes, but not a lot of things to wear to the playground or to the grocery store. I have never been a fan of shorts, but I just ordered myself two pair of shorts and a pair of capris from JCPenney.  I am hoping they fit ok and I like them because but I know that I am going to get bigger and bigger and the weather is going to get hotter and hotter in the coming months!

This baby is definitely much more of a mover than Jacob was and I feel him move numerous times a day, whenever I am still. Usually it is in the afternoons when I am sitting down to work and at night when I am on the couch, either working or watching TV. So far, the movements haven't hindered my sleep (although I am having other issues in that area) and I am enjoying feeling him move! Hopefully Keith will be able to feel it soon since he was never really able to feel Jacob move.

The huge pregnancy pillow that I bought during my last pregnancy has made its way back into our bed. It makes it a little more comfortable to sleep with it since I can put part of it between my knees and I can hug the other part while I sleep. Just like last time, I am having trouble getting comfortable on my side since I am a (non-pregnant) stomach sleeper. I am also finding that my hands and fingers are going numb during the night and, of course, I am waking up to pee at least once. Since this is the second time around, I know that these are all "normal" things that pregnant women go through, but it still doesn't make it any easier! Thankfully, this time around, I don't have to get up early to go to work and Jacob is a late sleeper. Most mornings, I sleep until he starts calling for me around 7:30-8am.

I am also dealing with an increase of heartburn no matter what I eat or drink. This is nothing new, as I dealt with it pretty bad during my last pregnancy. I have been trying to stay away from taking medication and using the all-natural Papaya Enzyme pills my sister suggested, but there are a few days that I have resorted to taking Zantac. I was on that daily with Jacob (and taking it twice a day towards the end) so I am sure it is just going to get worse. I was trying to stay away from the foods that would cause the heartburn, but now, it comes at the oddest times (like yesterday after I drank milk), so I just eat/drink what I want and deal with the consequences.

I have also experienced the weird numbness in my left thigh that I had during my last pregnancy. It hasn't happened as much as it did last time, but it is still a little bothersome at times. Last time, I had PT done but it never really helped it go away. This time I am just going to chalk it up as another pregnancy symptom and deal with it.

My next pre-natal appointment and Glucose Screening Test are on May 24th. I will post another update then, unless something exciting or unusual happens and I post sooner. :)