Saturday, February 19, 2011

Measuring ahead!

Well, I had an unexpected doctor’s appointment this week.  The good news being that I’m measuring a week ahead, so at 28 weeks, instead of the 27 that I am. This will only be good of course if she will come just a week or two or two and a half early. Here’s why:
 I went to the doctor, because I had all the symptoms and another UTI (look up if not sure). I haven’t shared this yet on here, because it’s not very nice. I have had this pretty much the whole pregnancy. These are very easy to get when pregnant. I am on an antibiotic for it, but they can’t give me the good stuff, because, umm… I’m pregnant. It’s not that painful all the time, but mostly just makes me nervous. I mean you never want complications, and this is known to cause preterm labor. I have been drinking cranberry juice twice a day too. I did ask the doctor if I could take the supplements, and she said only if the pill says 100% cranberry and nothing else, so we’ll be looking for that tomorrow.  I will blame the cranberry juice on the extra weight gain. I mentioned that to the doctor, but she said I was right on track with weight gain and wasn’t that big. I feel huge, of course. Then she was like, “let me see”, and she measured me. “Oh”, she said, “maybe you are big. You’re measuring a week ahead”.  This is when I said I wouldn’t mind if she came at 38 weeks (instead of the 40), and the doctor said, “Even 37 ½ weeks would be good.” If the doctor says it, who am I to disagree?!

Girly Clothes
Baby girl finally has a real amount of girl clothes! I have some great coworkers. She now has some cute hot pink pj’s. (Thanks Staci!) I also have a bag full on hand me downs from another coworker. I still have to hang them all up and see what the closet looks like with some more pink. I’m very excited and so thankful! I have been good about not splurging on clothes just yet.  

Comments
I still have some interesting things being said to me.  It’s hard being around so many different people. Everyone is so sweet though. To my face at least! Most adults will ask me how I am or how I’m feeling, which is so nice of them. Some teachers will ask if I need anything, which is also very comforting to know they are there for me. Some teachers are just realizing that I’m pregnant. It’s pretty obvious now.  
The comment I still don’t care for however is, “Mrs. Wolfe, you’re so huge. I can’t even believe it.” -Why do we have to state the obvious in such a way.. you know?
I think this was a compliment. Not sure. “It looks like you have a basketball up your shirt. Like when people pretend to be pregnant. That’s exactly what you look like.” – So I guess I’m glad it’s only my stomach they see getting bigger.  We’ll pretend that is it.
One situation was when I was explaining something,  I was standing and pointing and turning, and this student started laughing. I could tell it was at me, so of course I couldn’t just let it go. I had to ask. “What is so funny? Seriously, what?”  He finally responded, “Ms. Wolfe, it looks like you have a balloon in your shirt. Like you don’t notice anything is wrong with you until you turn sideways. It’s hilarious.” – Wrong with me. Okay.

Kicker – Or something
Well, baby girl has been kicking like crazy. It may even be more of a lunging, if that’s possible in there. It’s like sometimes she’s slamming from side to side. My Braxton hicks contractions have went way down, thankfully. I think it may have been a growth spurt or something, I swear.  One night I felt like my stomach was expanding and about to explode, and after that night I have felt much better, and bigger. I can’t believe she will be here in 10 to 13 weeks! Each week I feel calmer and more relaxed, just knowing she is more developed puts my mind at ease. Especially after all those contractions that week had me feeling scared.
We're still working on the name. I just can't commit to one just yet. Justin can't either, so it's not just me. We're now in between two names. Still not sure if we'll share, or if we'll even know before she arrives.

Today I’m 27 weeks exactly, so I’ll tell you what will happen in week 28 that starts tomorrow:
By this week, your baby weighs two and a quarter pounds (like a Chinese cabbage) and measures 14.8 inches from the top of her head to her heels. She can blink her eyes, which now sport lashes. With her eyesight developing, she may be able to see the light that filters in through your womb. She's also developing billions of neurons in her brain and adding more body fat in preparation for life in the outside world.


Sunday, February 6, 2011

Braxton, chill out.

A few things have been going on here. We got the crib, as you can see on the right, and I went to the doctor again, twice. One was unexpected and kind of scary at first, but everything was completely fine.

My original doctor's appointment was scheduled for Wednesday. Before that day could come, however, I was trying to be good on Sunday, and lifted my small 5 pound weights in the morning, then went for a walk with Justin in the afternoon. During the walk it was 70 degrees out. Amazing. We just wanted to keep walking. I was having some Braxton Hicks contractions, which I had been having for the last few weeks here and there, so I knew they were normal. On this walk they were not being normal though. We finally got home, and I laid down and drank a lot of water, you know everything it says to do when you Google it, and they slowed down. A few hours later they came back. They came like 4 times an hour for about 3 hours. They finally slowed, and after a few reassuring phone calls (to my mom and cousin Veronica), I was able to sleep.

I called the doctor in the morning (Monday) to see if I should be concerned, or if I should just go in on Wednesday, my original scheduled appointment. They called back and said to come in the afternoon. That was when I started to get concerned. I know I may be a bit crazy, but when the doctor agrees you should come in, that's when you really start to get nervous. So the rest of the morning, while trying to teach, trying to stay calm, and trying figure out what to do with or where to send my last two classes of students of the day, I somehow made it to my appointment by 1pm. They did all the tests and everything was completely fine. It was concerning why I would have so many Braxton Hicks contractions so early on. My doctor told me to try to slow them by taking half of a Unisom (sleeping pill) with Tylenol in morning and mid-day, then the whole pill at night. No problem. I can take sleeping pills and teach. Who can't? Awesome.

The good thing was, after all the tests, the doctor let me have a few looks at our baby. I got to see her again! Not her face, because she was facing my back, still breech, butt down, with her feet up by her head. Yes, my child is already a bit strange, but most of you expected this:) The best picture we got was her leg. It's on the right of the screen. 24 weeks 2 days. It's crazy how much she has changed in 4 weeks since the last ultrasound. She's so much bigger.

The second appointment was my glucose testing, and it was super fast. The orange sugar juice wasn't too bad. Everyone said it was so horrible that I was ready for the worst, so it over prepared me. I passed my test. I think I Aced it, because they told me I could even go and get ice cream that night. This always sounds good to me, except when you have me step on the scale and the numbers are higher than I've ever seen in my life. That'll make me not want the ice cream. (Okay, so I had a shake the day before, probably one reason why the scale was so high.)

Other than that the room is getting organized. Justin picked out the first book for her from him, as seen on the side here. He thought it was the best thing ever. It was cute. We had to get it. It's too fun when Justin gets so excited about something. We also have been working on the name still. It has been slightly adjusted since the last post, so I am glad that we didn't share it yet. You'll know when we do share it! No promises on when!

Now I'm trying to relax. We walked again today, and the Braxton Hicks came back, so I'm thinking walking is probably out. This is sad because it's like my favorite thing to do for exercise with Justin. Oh well, just over three more months!

I feel baby girl kicking all the time, and punching and just going crazy.
Here is what's going on right now: I'm 25 weeks 1 day. Week 26.
About 15 weeks to go!  
How your baby's growing:
The network of nerves in your baby's ears is better developed and more sensitive than before. She may now be able to hear both your voice and your partner's as you chat with each other. She's inhaling and exhaling small amounts of amniotic fluid, which is essential for the development of her lungs. These so-called breathing movements are also good practice for when she's born and takes that first gulp of air. And she's continuing to put on baby fat. She now weighs about a pound and two-thirds and measures 14 inches (an English hothouse cucumber) from head to heel.

http://www.babycenter.com/6_your-pregnancy-26-weeks_1115.bc


To see previous belly pictures scroll all the way down.