38 Weeks: False Labor

This week has been crazy, crazy, crazy. On Monday we went to the doctor for an appointment and I got my membranes sweeped. This is a procedure that helps "ripen" the cervix for labor. Pretty much it can help jump start labor or at least it can help move your cervix along so you go into labor naturally on your own. The doctor checked my cervix and then while she was all up in there, she stuck her fingers through my cervix and separated the amniotic sack from the uterus. Well needless to say, this got things going. It was mildly painful, more uncomfortable than anything but it only lasted a few seconds.

Later in the day I felt very crampy and around 7pm that ended up turning into real contractions. At first they were erratic and I wasn't really sure if they were contractions or what was going on. They felt different than anything I have ever experienced. They continued to get more steady and more and more obvious. They came on like waves, my blood pressure would rise and then i could feel them building in my back/butt and wrapping around my lower abdomen. Once they got to be 5-7 minutes apart for 40-60secs each we called the doctor. We sat at home with me having contractions for a long time. I was certain I was in labor, but alas, I was wrong. Around 2am they trickled out and I went to bed. Since then I have been feeling random contractions very far apart and some mild cramps. Searching the internet has told me this is completely normal after a membrane sweep and I could potentially feel this way for the rest of the time I'm pregnant.

How Far Along: 38 weeks, 4 days

How Long To Go: 1 weeks, 3 days

Weight Gain: .8lbs
Total Weight Gain: 21lbs
Weight: 141lbs

Belly Button: Total outie

Stretch Marks: none

Sleep: Finally started using one of those pregnancy pillows (Matt calls it my candy cane) and I don't know why I waited so long

Best Moment This Week: Hanging with Nicole and Mason!! Dinner at a favorite restaurant with our friends Allison and Morgan Hurley and a girls lunch earlier in the week

Nausea: A little bit randomly

Craving: Sleep

Miss Anything: Don't even remember what its like not being pregnant. I miss that.

Movement: A little decreased movement, but still an active baby.

Gender: bouncing baby girl

Symptoms: False labor contractions!!!

Wedding Ring: Off for the most part

Looking Forward To: Having this freakin baby!!!

Maternity Clothes: Lucky if I put on clothes at this point

Fruit: Swiss Chard (6.5lb, 19-22 inches)

Weird Dreams This Week: Don't remember


XOXO
Lisa

36 Week Doctors Appointment

On Tuesday I went to the doctor for my 36 week appointment. This marks the start of weekly doctors appointments, so every Monday I've got to get weighed, measured and poked. I mention the poking because this also starts the weekly cervical checks. I had been hearing about these from the women on my What To Expect App and from their accounts, these things sucked. Some women complained of extreme pain and bleeding afterwards, and others said that it caused them to get Braxton Hicks contractions for the rest of the day. No bueno!

BUT....I was still really excited for the cervical check up because it would tell me if my body and baby had begun to prepare for birth. I am happy to report that I am 1cm dilated and 50% effaced. Which means, to those who didn't know this (like me before I got pregnant) that labor could happen tomorrow...or in three weeks....or a week past my due date. Pretty much, being dilated means not a whole lot at this point and most women begin to dilate within the month before labor. My sister was 2-3cm dilated for three weeks and then went over her due date!! So I'm not holding my breath that anything is about to happen but my doctor seemed pretty confidant that my body will go into labor naturally and not need an induction. YAY.

She did, however, give me some options. I asked her how long she lets patients go past their due date before inducing labor (a very important question because I sure as hell don't want to be waiting until I'm 42 weeks to meet my little one). She reassured me by telling me that she never lets her patients go beyond 41 weeks because "the placenta might start conking out"---her words.

She also gave me the option of scheduling an induction for a day she would be on-call in the labor and delivery unit, either the 19th (3 days before DD) or the 24th (2 days after DD). I have to say it was really REALLY tempting to hear that I could be induced a few days before my due date, especially since everyone tells me that I will be late because its my first pregnancy. However, inductions come with all sorts of other complications, including the increased risk of c-section, as well as a more painful experience (so I've heard). So after talking with Matt, we decided that at our next appointment we will go ahead and plan an induction for the 24th, but hope that things progress naturally before then. This may not be everyone's way to go, but we have a few reasons why we like this idea:
1. both of our lucky numbers is 24....a random piece of trivia we discovered about each other when we first met.
2. she will be born well before Thanksgiving (this year)
3. She will not share a birthday with any of the MANY family and friends we have that have November birthdays
4. If I get to my due date with no baby, at least there will be a light at the end of the tunnel
5. She will be a Sagittarius
6. Our doctor will be able to deliver her for sure....and we love our doctor

So there you have it. Baby girl Pontius will be born by the 25th of November!!

XOXO 

Lisa

29 Weeks

This week was really exciting because we went to the doctor and we went back to See Me 3D (pictures in a separate post) for another ultrasound all on Thursday. The doctors visit couldn't have gone better. We saw a different doctor this time, which was fine because they're pretty boring appointments, and we loved her. She was also very impressed with my charts, saying that both the baby and I are in perfect condition and right on track. She even said that I could teach a class on how to be pregnant. I have to admit, I don't think I've ever been told how good I look more consistently than since I've been pregnant. It's  a real confidence booster, which is definitely needed on the days that I feel like I'm sporting a trucker's beer gut around.

Since we saw our baby girl on that 3D ultrasound she is all I can think about. I can't wait to meet her and I am so in love already.

 

How Far Along: 29 weeks, 2 days

How Long To Go: 10 weeks, 5 days

Weight Gain: 1.2lbs
Total Weight Gain: 10.8lbs
Weight: 130.6lbs

Belly Button: starting to poke out! I'm getting an outie!

Stretch Marks: none

Sleep: Getting hard to get comfortable again as my belly gets bigger

Best Moment This Week: Seeing our beautiful girl in 3D!

Nausea: none

Craving: Chocolate Milk

Miss Anything: feeling comfortable

Movement: Her kicks are getting harder, and more painful

Gender: bouncing baby girl

Symptoms: Braxton Hicks, back pain, the beginning of a Linea Nigrea is starting to show.

Wedding Ring: on

Looking Forward To: My baby shower on Saturday!!!!! So excited I can't even stand it!!

Maternity Clothes: Ordered another dress off ASOS.com for the shower, can't wait to wear it

Fruit: Small Cabbage (2.9lb, 17 inches)

Weird Dreams This Week: Had a dream that Matt was running errands with me and I had to get home to prep for an event. He wouldn't take me home because he wanted to run to Lowe's and I got so mad I slapped his arms. I woke up because I was actually hitting him in my sleep in bed!! LOL

XOXO

Lisa

26 Weeks

This week was a little rough, physically. The closer to the third trimester I get, the more I am starting to feel the affects of my growing body. My back and pelvic pain is at an all-time high. I went to the gym the past two days and after I got home yesterday the pain that was radiating down my legs was almost unbearable. Along with back pain, I have now developed acid reflux. I have never had acid reflux before so it is particularly unpleasant, especially because I love tomatoes and spicy food. Another lovely symptom that has developed this week is trouble sleeping. My enlarged belly is making getting comfortable extremely difficult at night time, and it also happens to be my daughters favorite time to kick me.

Although it sounds like I am doing a lot of complaining here, I am actually really enjoying being pregnant still. I feel so blessed to have this little girl inside of me and I can't believe I am almost in the third trimester! Things are getting into gear for both of our upcoming baby showers and I am planning out my last two months of work. All of a sudden it feels as if we have very little time to get our ducks in a row before our little one arrives. We have also reached the point where we will now be seeing the doctor every two weeks.

We went to the doctor yesterday and she gave me some good tips for my back pain (heating pad, muscle relaxer if necessary, taking it easy with the exercise) and gave me a thumbs up as far as baby's heart rate and growth. She said I was measuring at 25.5 which means baby girl is on the small-ish side, which I don't mind. She is definitely getting bigger and I wouldn't mind a 6lb baby on delivery day lol. My weight gain is starting to become steadier and I have definitely gained the most weight this past month (about 5 pounds). The only concern from the doctor was that I am on the verge of having too low of an iron level, so she just asked me to be mindful of eating high iron foods to keep my levels up.

We leave for a wedding in Aspen on Thursday so today I am cooking the remainder of my delivery meals and hopefully will have time to get primped before we go. I can't wait to show off my bump to my in-laws who haven't seen me since pre-pregnancy. They are so excited for this baby that I'm sure I will be closely monitored this weekend...I anticipate being offered lots of food and being asked if I need to rest constantly. Hopefully my back pain will be manageable enough for me to dance at this over-the-top wedding!

grimacing in back pain

 

How Far Along: 26 weeks, 3 days

How Long To Go: 13 weeks, 4 days

Weight Gain: 0lbs
Total Weight Gain: 7.2lbs
Weight: 127lbs

Belly Button: flat!

Stretch Marks: none

Sleep: Really tired all day and then a lot of trouble sleeping

Best Moment This Week: Having a couple of at-home date nights with my hubby, including a movie marathon

Nausea: none

Craving: sweets...went and got TCBY the other night and it really hit the spot. Still trying to beat the craving with fruit.

Miss Anything: Sleeping on my stomach

Movement: Lots of kicks and movements

Gender: bouncing baby girl

Symptoms: Acid reflux, back pain, pelvic pain, leg pain, general body discomfort...and i'm supposed to get bigger???

Wedding Ring: still on

Looking Forward To: Going to Aspen on Thursday!!! I need a vacation!

Maternity Clothes: purchased a pair of maternity jeans and can't wait to rock them out in Colorado

Fruit: Butternut squash (2lb, 9.2 inches)

Weird Dreams This Week: Had a dream this week that when the baby was kicking, her little arm and leg protruded from my belly skin and looked kind of like barbie limbs were sticking out of me...I had to push them back in. Also part of the same dream, I was in preterm labor.

XOXO
Lisa

23 Weeks

This week has been a lot going on. It started at the end of last week when I took my Glucose Tolerance Test. This is the test that determines a lot in the next few months of pregnancy. Basically it is a blood test that you take after drinking a syrupy sweet drink and waiting an hour. The blood test after you drink the drink and wait an hour determines how well your blood is filtering sugars to your babies placenta. If your test comes back positive (with levels over 135) you have to then go and do a follow up test that takes 3 hours long! More than being just a pain in the ass, if your first and second test come back positive you are diagnosed with gestational diabetes and are put on a restricted, low-sugar diet and have to regularly monitor your blood sugar with finger pricks. Not my idea of making the last trimester of this pregnancy any more fun!

So, I took the first test on Friday and have been anxiously awaiting results since then. They told me that they would be ready by Monday and yet, I haven't heard a peep from my doctor. I even tried calling but I felt silly leaving a message for such a routine thing. I figure, no news is probably good news.

On another note, my sister and her hubby are back in town this week and brought baby Brooke down for another visit. She is 11 weeks now and looks like a little person. It's crazy how fast they grow! I can't wait for her to meet her new baby cousin and for there to be two crying poop machines at my parents house lol.

These last few weeks Matt and I have been toying with names for our upcoming addition and without letting on to too many people, we have narrowed it down to just a couple combinations of first and middle names. We don't plan on telling anyone the name until we've fully committed to one, but we are also toying with the idea of not telling anyone the final name until she is born. In the mean time Matt's dad and step-mom have been calling her BGP for Baby Girl Pontius, and my family picked up on a silly name Matt made up: Birch Canoe. So...baby girl Pontius, or Birch Canoe will have to do until we are ready to announce a name, which could be within days, or at the hospital.

How Far Along: 23 weeks, 4 days

How Long To Go: 16 weeks, 3 days

Weight Gain: 1.8lbs
Total Weight Gain: 3.8lbs
Weight: 123.8lbs

Belly Button: holding on for dear life

Stretch Marks: none

Sleep: getting better sleep now that i am adjusting to sleeping on my sides

Best Moment This Week: cooking a fancy meal for my sisters 30th birthday. It was fun for me to get to do what I do professionally for my family. I don't think they quite understood what I do until now and they were all very appreciative and complimentary. It gave me warm fuzzies.

Nausea: none

Craving: not really, i just miss my deli from back home in NY

Miss Anything: bagels and lox from Bagels&More in Hartsdale, NY

Movement: she is super active but has been gun shy when I've tried to get my mom or sister to feel her

Gender: girl

Symptoms: My emotions have leveled back out thankfully so I don't feel like an emotional basket case. Haven't noticed any new symptoms except yesterday when I had a near panic attack out of hungry. It hit me out of no where and all of a sudden I was driving and got really sweaty and shaky because I was so hungry. I had already stopped and gotten Matt and I some Pho for dinner but I couldn't make it home! I had to stop and get a grilled chicken wrap from the chick-fil-a drive through and I mauled it like a starving trucker on the road as I drove home.

Wedding Ring: still on

Looking Forward To: getting my glucose tolerance test results (and finding out they were negative)

Maternity Clothes: Had to make a larger scale maternity purchase this week. Thankfully I got an incredible deal at Pinkblushmaternity.com and got several staple pieces for around $150. Maternity clothes are EXPENSIVE and they've got you by the balls because there comes a point where you just HAVE to buy them. It's genius really. I also bought a dress from ASOS.com which has a great maternity line at an affordable price because I have to go to a wedding in August and can't fit in any of my formal attire anymore. Nothing has arrived yet so I'll keep you posted.

Fruit: Papaya (1.4lb, 8 inches) - same general size as last week according to the What to Expect App

Weird Dreams This Week: I had a very sexual dream about Kiefer Sutherland the other night. We made passionate, movie-style sex and then were smoking cigarettes in bed and talking about how Freddie Prince Jr was trashing him on the radio. Kiefer was not pleased about Freddie's remarks. (BTW...I do not find Kiefer Sutherland attractive, he's kinda old and sooo not my type. I would've much preferred a sex dream with Freddie Prince Jr. lol)

XOXO
Lisa

22 Weeks Ultrasounds

So lots of stuff happened this week. We found out friends of ours are expecting!!! We are so thrilled because we figured none of our friends would get pregnant for another couple of years so now we will have babies six months apart!

Today we went back to the doctor to finish up our anatomy scan. Apparently Baby Girl Pontius is such a wiggle worm that the tech couldn't take all the necessary pictures the first time around. But, that meant that we got another chance to see our little jelly bean! She looks perfectly healthy and has a strong heart beat so the doctor is happy which means mom and dad are happy.

Since I neglected to post my ultrasound pictures from my 20 week scan I will post a few from that scan and this one from today...it's amazing how much development took place even between those two weeks!

isn't she adorable already?!

 XOXO

Lisa

16 Week Doctors Appointment

Most doctors appointments after the first one are pretty uneventful.

Today was our 16 week appointment which consisted of peeing in a cup, hearing the baby's heartbeat on the doppler -  a strong 140bpm! - and talking breifly with our bubbly, southern doctor about our next stages of testing.

Two weeks from now we are scheduled for a speedy visit with the nurse practitioner to complete our testing. As I mentioned in a previous post, at around 12 weeks you will decide to either do or to forgo early testing for Down Syndrom, Trisomy 18 and Trisomy 21. Our results came back with a 1/10,000 chance of our baby having any of those conditions which is pretty much the best result you can hope for. The next phase of testing comes at around 16 weeks and is called the Sequential Screening, because the two tests are used in combination to get a full picture of your baby's fetal development and overall health. The sequential screening checks for gastrointestinal problems, neural defects such as spina bifida and a few other similarly devastating conditions.Our doctor seemed very unconcerned about this testing as our preliminary results were so good, so it is all really just a precaution.

In a month we will have our most exciting appointment, the gender scan! Most doctors do this around 20 weeks which at this point seems like a lifetime away. To remedy this a lot of couples opt to find an outside ultrasound facility to find out a few weeks earlier. We have an appointment at a place 30 minutes from us that a friend recommended. So in one week we will know if we are having a little girl or a little boy!

XOXO

Lisa