~17 weeks

I'v been neglecting this blog because work is seriously getting me down...and I mean, I barely have any time for anything else!! But, today I'm unwinding from work by logging the initial sensations of baby movement! It started maybe a day or two ago and they are definitely noticeable tonight. At this point, I've only had one doctor's appointment--COP (confirmation of pregnancy)--as well as the nuchal translucency test and first trimester blood draws, all done on 8/15. At that point, the estimate was that the baby was at 12 weeks (maybe 13?). So, I'm not exactly sure if I'm currently at 16 or 17 weeks!

In any case, my nausea was pretty extreme, as was the exhaustion--clearly not a good time to have been starting at a new job, but so it goes. SH happens....But, the nausea is much better now and my appetite is beginning to come back. I think I'm still at about 120-122, thanks to lack of appetite and fairly regular lunch time walks during the work day. But now that my appetite is coming back, I'm sure I'll blow up like a blimp in no time.

Next blood draw should happen really soon; I'm planning on heading in this Wednesday, so hopefully, more of a meaningful update then....

33 or 34 weeks

...it's such an imprecise science! In any case, Dylan went with me to another doc appointment. He's such a cutie. He told the PA that when his sister comes out, she's going to say, "WAH!" She couldn't stop laughing!

Anyway, all is well. BP is at 102/70 and baby's heart rate is 125. Doc says her head is in the right place (phew! Let's hope it stays that way throughout her entire life!) and I'm definitely getting kicked more in the mid-section than down below my belly button (as was the case for the past several weeks).

I'm still suffering from insomnia and multiple (i.e., 3-4) middle-of-the-night trips to the bathroom (hence the blog writing). It's very exhausting and I feel like I look like hell, but there's so much to do before she's born that I'm in no rush to end the pregnancy!

about 24-weeks

Dylan went with me to my 24-ish-week appointment (blogged here). It was a short exam with no warning flags, etc. I have to take a glucose tolerance test soon, but that's about it! Right now, I'm weighing in at about 140 lbs; blood pressure is 116/64 and the baby's heart rate was at 147.

All is going well, though I still don't think I'm nearly as healthy as I was when I was pregnant with Dylan (not walking to work, for sure, and not running...it also seems I'm not eating as well...).

half-way there!

Today was 20-week ultrasound day. The baby's measurements look good and all my test results (blood, urine and amnio) are looking a-ok, too. Despite all of this, no good ultrasound pics! Of course, we're just thrilled to bits that everything is looking so good, but I'm a little disappointed that we don't have good photos! Our little girl continues to hang out way down low, and she was lounging placidly on the placenta during the entire exam!

She still shows a marked difference from Dylan who, from the get-go, was such (and still is) a wriggler!

Despite leaving work in a hurry, and feeling some time pressure to get things done there, my blood pressure today was at 116/74 and I weighed in at about 135. Seems reasonable.

No new news to report, otherwise...and, for that, I'm pretty content.

Interested in Dylan's 20-week report? It's here.

17 weeks 4 days (or 16 weeks 6 days)

Just got back from the amnio with the generally good news that everything looks absolutely fine and normal. The pictures we got this time around do not even remotely compare to the shots we got of Dylan (at 16 weeks 5 days) despite the fact that this baby was "well-behaved" for the entire exam, meaning it stayed fairly still the entire time. This was such a huge difference from Dylan's ultrasound that I expressed some concern, but both doctor and the sonographer both reassured me that there was nothing to fret about.

So today's report indicates that the baby is skinny (perhaps 10th percentile at 6oz/188gm -- not so surprising, maybe, since I've had barely the stomach for food these days -- despite a voracious appetite), the measurements are consistent with gestational age, and my placenta is low. The low placenta is apparently very common at this stage and is no cause for current concern....

Of course, I can't help but "gnaw" at my fingernails. I'll feel a huge burden lifted from my shoulders once we get the results in 2 to 2.5 weeks....

In the meantime, Dylan is at Music Together with Heather and Taliana, hopefully, being a very amenable little boy.

vitals

Had a visit with the doc today for a routine physical. Two urine samples and 3 vials of blood later, I was off to "enjoy" the rest of my day at work! My blood pressure was at 110/68 and I weighed in at about 126 pounds. My, that sounds heavy -- my sedentary nature these days is really beginning to get to me!

I had forgotten what happens during this check-up, so I was surprised when the doctor said she was going to check the baby's heartbeat. I got a little nervous, but in seconds, we heard it -- 155 BPM!

I still am not eating terribly well and I'm still mildly anxious about this pregnancy, so it was very reassuring (and nice!) to hear the heartbeat today. I think my fears will be completely gone once we get the amnio and the results....

I've also begun to feel a few kicks! I had Chinese food the other day which triggered a whole lot of belly activity! Feels like odd gas bubbles moving around in my tummy, but without the gas!

We talk to Dylan more about it now and now he talks straight into my belly button in a very loving and sweet way!

#2

It's been a long time since I've posted mostly owing to a desire to not bad juju the current state of things...! We're strongly optimistic that the third time is indeed the charm.

I had an appointment with the doc on January 30th, and my were we surprised at just how large that belly-thing had become! At that time, the doc said she believed we were at about 13 weeks, a textbook ultrasound, rather than 12 weeks (the official date based on LMP was 12 weeks, 1 day).

I am still feeling pretty nauseated, though I think I'm finally coming out of the worst of it...for several weeks (including those while we were in LA for Chanukah), I was starving but really couldn't stand the thought of 99% of the foods available! Even now, most things still don't sound appealing, but at least the nausea isn't as exhausting as it had been. So, the biggest drag so far is being so hungry (often waking up in the middle of the night with a growling stomach) and then often being unable to eat to satisfaction!

I'm looking forward to liking food again...!

There were also several weeks where I just needed to lay down on the sofa at the end of the day. I'd tell Dylan my tummy was feeling topsy-turvy and he'd often give me his favorite trains to play with (sweet thing). I felt so bad that I just didn't have the energy to really play with him. The past few days have been a bit better and I'm looking forward to being more than just a slug to toss toys to!