Post-Partum Neurology Appointment

My post-Partum neurology appointment with Dr. L is officially scheduled! 

On Feb 28, she wants me to come in to see how I'm adjusting to the new med dosage (they are going to tinker with my Lamictal after birth), ask if I'm having episodes and do an exam and - of course - see the baby. 

I can't believe it is already time to make this appointment. We are really getting close!

Well, this sucks...

Since about 5pm yesterday, I've been devastatingly nauseous. I feel like my morning sickness is coming back. I can barely hold my head up or keep my eyes open. I've heard this can happen in the 3rd trimester. It's caused by the fact the baby is growing so rapidly (babies do the majority of their growing in the last 6 weeks of pregnancy), so my hormones are fluctuating a lot.

On top of all this, little dude was moving so much last night from 7-8pm to about 4:30 this morning. It made my belly rock hard and was causing what felt like Braxton Hicks contractions. My belly is actually sore from this.

Needless to say, I barely slept. I have little desire to do anything or go anywhere, including to work. 

I genuinely feel miserable today. Ugh...

Week 28

Week 28

How far along? 28 weeks 

How are you feeling? My allergies are out of control this morning. I feel like I've been smacked in the face.

Baby is the size of a(n): An eggplant. He's about 2 1/4 pounds and 14.8 inches from head to heel. I believe it. When he rolls over, my entire belly shifts!

Cravings: Nothing.

Aversions: Nothing.

Testing/appts this week? Not this week

Milestones: My belly button is officially half-in, half-out. Haha. And that stretch mark I thought I had has all but disappeared. :)

Glucose Testing

Good lord, I was nervous about this test. When you are in between 27-29 weeks pregnant, doctors test you for Gestational Diabetes. Gestational Diabetes can cause serious problems in pregnancy and after-birth, although for most women it is controlled by diet and exercise. A percentage of women who get Gestational Diabetes develop Type 2 Doabetes after-birth or later in life.

I have a family history of Type 2 Diabetes and a major sweet tooth, so needless to say, I was freaking out.

The test is done by making you fast an hour before going in and then drinking this horrible, disgusting syrupy Tang-flavored drink that has a salty aftertaste. It's so gross. Then, they make you hang out for an hour before taking your blood. For my doctor's office, you need 135 (units of glucose per milliliter of blood) or lower to "pass" the test and not be considered for Gestational Diabetes. However, if you "fail," you need to take a 3-hour test. 

I got a 97! I am so glad that I passed and don't have to do the 3-hour test. I'm also glad that it's one less thing I have to worry about and that I am healthy and so is this amazingly active baby boy :)

Week 27

Week 27

How far along? 27 weeks 

How are you feeling? Okay, sore. My ankles have begun to swell again. I'm really tired too. 

Baby is the size of a(n): A head of cauliflower. He weighs around 2 pounds and is 14.5 inches long.

Cravings: Nothing.

Aversions: Nothing.

Testing/appts this week? I have to do my 1-hour glucose test this week. Appointment-wise nothing until November 4, thankfully.

Milestones: I think I got my first stretch mark on my belly... :(

Can't sleep

It's 4:04am and I've been up since 2:45. There is not one part of my body that doesn't hurt right now.

My hips are really really sore, my GERD is acting up (the original reason I woke up was because I had acid reflux) and I'm super congested. I know it's only going to get worse from here but tonight is bad.

It is going to be a ridiculously long work day.

26 weeks

26 weeks

How far along? 26 weeks 

How are you feeling? Like I have been hit by a bus. Not pregnancy-related though. We went to the Penn State game last night and they won after 4 overtimes! It was a long day of screaming at the ref and jumping up and down. Haha. Baby boy got a work out last night.

Baby is the size of a(n): Scallion. He's 1 2/3 pounds and about 14 inches :)

Cravings: Sleep and a massage haha

Aversions: Ehh, nothing really bothering me this week.

Testing/appts this week? Nothing until November 4, thankfully.

Milestones: We can now see the baby kick from the outside.

Week 25

25 weeks

How far along? 25 weeks 

How are you feeling? My back hurts today. I slept weird last night. Other than that, pretty good. :)

Baby is the size of a(n): Rutabaga. What an odd comparison... About 13.5 inches and 1.5 lbs!!!

Cravings: Nothing 

Aversions: Smells. My office smells like onions and garlic today. Gross.

Testing/appts this week? No appointments or testing but I'm going to set up to get the flu shot and the tDap vaccine. The tDap vaccine protects against tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis and it is suggested moms get it every pregnancy, as well as anyone spending a significant amount of time with the baby.

Milestones: None this week.

Ob appt and second birthing class

I had my routine 24-week Ob appointment today. 

They were just doing a regular check up to monitor my blood pressure, weight, listen to the baby's heart beat and measure my fundal height (number of centimeters from top of belly to pelvic bone should correlate to the number of weeks pregnant). 

Baby's heart beat is between 148-152 (he was moving a lot so they couldn't get an exact beat) and my fundal height was 24.5, so I'm right on track. My blood pressure was 126/70, which is fantastic. It had been a little high before but I think that's because they always took it the second I got into the appointment and was racing.

My next appointment isn't until November 4 and we will have an ultrasound to check on the development of the baby.

We had our second birthing class too. We went over relaxation methods during labor and car seat safety. I have to say, Dave and I aren't really happy with this class. The instructor is pushy and insane.

After the first class, she felt the need to email me after she saw on our intro class sheet that I wasn't planning on breastfeeding because of my medication. She went on to tell me that I really should do more research because we were going to talk about it in the class and she "didn't want me to feel bad about it." Why would I feel bad about doing what I think was best for my child?

Last night, she asked the dads what they were going to say during labor to calm us down. Dave said a lot of good words of encouragement and one was, "It's almost over (meaning the contraction)." She SNAPPED at him telling him that he should never say that because he doesn't know that. Contractions on average only last 90 seconds, so yeah, he'd know that it was almost over. Plus, he's my husband. He knows what I need to hear in order to get through it. He is an amazing support system.

So help me, if she does something next week, I'm more than likely giving her "feedback" on how I think the class is going. And it won't be pretty.