growingbaby

First, a Merry Christmas to all those who are celebrating!

Second, I'm 15 weeks today and in the past 24 hours I have traveled to the airport, flown 3 hours, slept in a strange (and very hard) bed and been a little more stressed out than usual. Possibly connected to all of this, or possibly unconnected, my lower abdomen has been unusually sore and achy today. If I lay perfectly still, I'm fine, but moving around (or pressing on my abdomen) brings out the achyness. I'm sure this is fine and normal and all... right?

Happy holidays, ladies & babes!

I hope you are all surrounded with love & happiness and are as comfortable as possible :o)

I am going to Disney in April and I will be 31 weeks..I am taking Northwest airlines, and it is 2 hour and 20 minute flight! DO you think I will have any issues? I am going to bring it up at my next appt. I do have Gestational Diabetes, but have been able to control it thus far with diet and have no other complications....

Just trying to plan ahead...Thanks!

So after over five months of nightmares with the insurance companies, as well as dealing with "prenatal doctors" who do nothing but push abortion on you, I finally had my first official appointment with the OB that will be seeing me through to the end of my pregnancy. What an incredibly feeling.

Firstly, I'm relieved that my insurance finally went through, and I was able to make an appointment with an OB/GYN. And secondly, I'm relieved because the doctor, and his entire staff are fantastic people. And finally, I can make sure that my baby and I are getting the care that we need and deserve. It's been hell trying to get prenatal care, and it feels so good to be on the right track.

They ran me in for a quick ultrasound, as the doc wanted to have a peek at the baby, since I had not had my first diagnostic ultrasound yet. They did all the measurements, and the ultrasound tech put me at 21w6d, and my number had been 21w1d, so I'm a little further ahead than I had originally thought.

She said the baby is measuring great, he's even a little bit ahead of schedule. We got another little peek at his junk, and yup, he's still a boy. Baby's heartbeat was 144 bpm and strong, so that was a relief.

The only other comment that she had was that the little tube that runs from his kidneys to his urinary tract had a small section that was not quite right; the fluid just wasn't moving as quickly and freely as it should be. She said right now there's no cause to worry, and that very rarely does it ever turn into something where there needs to be a procedure done, but she just wanted to give us a heads-up so that if something does happen, we didn't feel like they were keeping anything from us. She said they'll keep an eye on it, and it will most likely clear up on its own.

Aside from that, it was great to see the little bean in there kicking around. He kept opening his mouth and taking giant gulps, and then he would stick his tongue out and swirl it around the outside of his mouth. He had all of us cracking up, haha.

But anyway, it was great to be in a doctor's office; my next appointment is on the 20th when I'll have my bloodwork and a bunch of other tests being done. I am so relieved!

Ultrasound pictures under the cut! The last one is my favorite. =]

21w6d

( Read more... )

Just a quick post before bed.

Second apointment today! YAY! :) Everything seems to be alright, Doctor was concerned about my BMI though, and is having me do the GD tests early... PLUS refering me to the OB AND I'm going to be getting Ultrasounds every month. something to do with people who have a high BMI having more problems... Higher risks and things. (My BMI is apparently at 41, but I lost weight between this appointment and my last!)

But all in all everything was good. Belly measured at 17.5, and the heart beat was good! and very easily found. Very cooperative baby I have so far (Maybe Baby will stay this cooperative for the ultrasound on the 13th?)

So after getting through Christmas (which should be fine) I just have to deal with work. and tell my manager that, hey, I'm pregnant, Doc wants me to have water with me so I don't get dehydrated, and stuff like that. UHG.

Here goes! <3's

So, I am currently almost 12 weeks along and I haven't told anyone at work about my pregnancy yet.  I am trying to decide if I should say something to my manager today (the day before we all go on break for the holiday) or wait until we get back in January.  the pros of telling her now is that she is a festive mood and it's a slow day today with not much going on, and she would have the whole vacation to kind of absorb the news.  OR if I tell her in January, she would be able to enjoy the vacation without having to worry about covering my duties this summer while I am on maternity leave.  I'm torn.

Any thoughts or advise??  The work day is over in less than three hours!

Thanks in advance!

Update to my last post. I told my parents and they were SUPER supportive. I was so shocked. My dad seemed kind of happy. My mom was just telling me it's my life and that she was happy and kept telling me everything was going to be okay. Which is SO nice of her.


I have a couple of questions:

1.) I am overweight, and I'm okay with they fact that I am going to gain weight now that I am pregnant but what are some good tips to try and keep it minimal. I have already stopped eating junk and cut soda out completely. I have been trying to make sure I eat small meals through out the day, and making sure I get a good breakfast. Are they any types of excises that I can start doing that will actually work. I've been starting to walk but I didn't know if there was actually any thing I could do to tone up? I'm not even sure if while being pregnant that is an option. I'd call my doctor but I live in a small down and all the doctors attitudes is, "if you don't have an appointment, I don't have time." They always wont even schedule an appointment until 12-13weeks.

2.) [I ask that you be supportive because I'm really trying to do this. Please nothing negative. This is a real concern I have]

I've smoked for about 5 years now and I really want to stop this pregnancy. I would say that I smoke A LOT and since I found out I was pregnant I have cut back. Only smoking a few... (A few more than I want to smoke... :[ )For all of those who have quit, what really helped you. I keep telling myself being pregnant is reason enough, but I am surrounded by people that really don't think smoking it bad and they aren't that supportive. I'm just wondering if there was anything like chewing gum, going for a walk, picking up a new hobby that helped you out? My goal is that today (I pray) I wont smoke and I'll just go cold turkey. Any positive response is greatly appreciated.

3.) I found out that I was pregnant a 3w1d and tomorrow is the day that I would have started my period. I getting EXTREMELY scared that even though I had taken many test, I will start tomorrow and miscarry. Is this possible? or am I just getting overly worried.

I still am unable to sleep... I hope that I will soon be able to. ha ha. Sorry for all my rambling...I have nothing else to do! ha ha <3 Thank you all so much

3w6d

So I made an entry in here a little over a month ago about being nervous about the sex. I got an 80% last time and went in Dec 7th to get the final okay. And as certain as they "can be" IT'S A GIRL! Thank God. It wouldn't have been a pain at all returning all those dresses and bows ;D

Here are some 3D/Ultrasound pics

I was 25 weeks here

( Ultrasound/belly pics )

So I'm 34 weeks now. It's crazy how the time flies. It feels like I've been pregnant forever but at the same time, I feel like it's starting to go so quick. Maybe it's because I'm terrified of the delivery? So naturally time has to speed up when you're dreading something? Hah.

I've heard that at 37 weeks you're considered 'full term' pregnant. What exactly does that mean? Does that mean I can go into labor at any point basically at that time? I'm starting to get nervous so I was just curious what you ladies thought about that. My due dates Feb 2nd so I do have a bit to go yet. It's my first baby so I have no idea what to expect or WHEN to expect it. I've also heard with your first baby you tend to carry late but that could all be talk. I'm sure everyone's different. I'm just getting sooo nervous. :P

( Baby Belly collage! )

Merry Christmas ladies!!

I will be 13 weeks pregnant as of tomorrow (end of first trimester!) - but I am worried because last night, as well as just a few minutes ago this evening, I have been having moderate pain/cramping in my lower abdomen. It only lasts 2, maybe 3, minutes max and then its over. I am not bleeding but the pain I mentioned above can get pretty intense while in those 2-3 minutes.

Anyone have an experience like this? Know if this is a sign of coming miscarriage or another "fun" pregnancy occurance that isnt abnormal or an indicator that something is wrong?

I went for ultrasound yesterday (about 6 hours before the first bout of pain) and was told everything is just fine - heart beat at 154/min and even have a picture where it looks like he/she is looking at you and waving.

Thanks to anyone who replies - this worries me but Ill just keep my fingers crossed.

I'm having some serious pain in my stomach. It has been constant for about two days and I think perhaps I should call my midwife. It's the holidays so she is available but for emergency only - it really hurts but I don't think it's to the emergency stage yet.

Essentially it feels like I've been having one constant BH for about two days. My uterus has been tight and even touching my bump is very painful and tender. The tightening sometimes subsides but for the most part, it has been very constant. I did not experience this in my previous pregnancy. Is it normal/possible for BH to be constant and evil like this?

Otherwise the only other thing I can chalk it up to is perhaps I've given my stomach muscles the beating of their lives by sitting on a exercise ball nearly constantly for the last few weeks. But that doesn't really explain the tightening, just the pain in my muscles.

ETA: 35 weeks and babe still moving around well.

first, i just want to say a big THANK YOU to everyone who posted in my last entry regarding natural versus medicated birth! i was overwhelmed with the amount of replies and everyone gave me SO much to think about and consider. once i fully research and talk to my doctor i think i will be able to make a educated decision and i'll make sure to let everyone know which i choose! i have one more question for you helpful mommies and mommies-to-be! my boyfriend let me know last night that he is feeling a bit left out of the pregnancy learning process. it's the first child for both of us and we are really going into this almost completely clueless. i've been spending hours doing research online and reading blogs and articles (thank god for desk jobs) but he hasn't had the freedom to do the same. along with that, he sees all the changes my body is going through and just feels helpless/useless and left out. i know he REALLY wants to learn everything possible to help plan this wonderful process but all of the books i have are from a women's perspective. i read out loud to him whenever i find something interesting, but i don't think it's enough. can anyone recommend any stellar books for daddies? someone suggested "the expectant father" but my sister told me it was mostly about finances and that sort of thing, and that's not at all what i'm looking for. i want something that will explain everything that's happening to me and explain the whole birth process that will make sense to HIM! does anyone have any recommendations? thanks in advance! :)  

Hi ladies!

I am now 9w3d with my second pregnancy. My DD is 2.5 years old. Thought I'd poke in and say "hi!". I had some challenges with DD's birth that landed me in a c-section and I'm trying my damnedest to not let it happen again. I've got lots of time to educate myself on the things I wasn't prepared for the first time around. We'll be delivering in a birth center attached to a local hospital. The OB I have trained with midwives and has adopted a lot of their methods. I will probably also get a doula, but that all depends on if this H1N1 silliness is over with by then and if the hospital will allow more than 1 support person. DD is still nursing and we will likely tandem nurse. Guess that's about it. Hi!

After a long pregnancy including daily lovenox shots and a clotting disorder, my son Liam was born on Oct. 31. I had gone to the OB the Wednesday before and he decided to induce me the following Monday. I wasn't keen on being induced but was worried about going into labor while on blood thinners.

Saturday morning (Halloween)I was having trouble sleeping and realized that I was having minor contractions. I wasn't concerned since I had been having them the whole pregnancy. About 7am I woke my husband up because the contractions were keeping me awake. We hung our around the house and around 8 I lost my mucus plug. My OB had warned me that if I had any increase in discharge, not to take my blood thinner. Thank goodness I skipped it.

Around 1pm DH and I decided to go to the mall. I figured the contractions would either pick up or stop. We got a snack and walked a few laps. I started to get more uncomfortable and we headed home. I called the hospital and told them that I was having a lot of contractions but wasn't able to time them. My stomach was almost constantly hard and the pain barely went away. They told me to stay at home and wait until I could time them and they were 5 min apart. Frustrated, I took a hot bath and relqaxed. After a while I got out and rested on the couch. I was able to doze through the contractions at that point. THEN, at 4pm my water broke. My DH didn't believe me! He did soon enough and we headed to the hospital.

When I got there the OB apologized for not believing me about the contractions. They were a minute apart and were coupling. Basically one was starting before the previous one stopped. I discussed pain management with the OB and I knew that an epidural was out. I took IV pain meds. The pain meds did very little since the contractions were so close together. The OB said she sees contractions like that when too much pitocin is used.

I got in the tub and was in there until I got sick to my stomach and too hot. I got out and labored on my side for a while. DH did a great job of not talking or touching me unless I told him to. I needed the room quiet and dark. They put a fan on me and I just I just focused on the sound of my own voice. At one point I sent DH to get the docs because I was pushing. They got everything set up and I pushed for all of 15 minutes. I had only a small tear where my epsiotomy was with my first son (who is 12). Labor was

Liam Zoltan "last name" was born at 8:23pm on Halloween. He weighed 6lbs 15oz. 20". He was born 8 days early despite me having lupus, high blood pressure and a clotting disorder.

Yesterday was my first day back at work. Mom and baby are doing well. Baby Liam is over 10lbs at 7 weeks old! He is my little miracle as we lost a baby last year at 15 weeks due to the clotting disorder.

I was wondering if any of you know of any active breast feeding communities? or maybe even any forums or something outside of LJ?

So I went to the doctor this afternoon, and actually saw one of the OBs (I had been seeing the practice's midwife). He was very reassuring and exuded confidence. Checked my cervix, which is nice and tight. Said he saw some old blood up there.

Got out the doppler and found the heart beat. "You're little passenger is doing just fine in there."

Everything looked fine, but he wanted to do an ultrasound just to be sure. My next one is scheduled for Jan. 28, so he asked the scheduling lady to find something sooner. She had an opening in 10 minutes, so we took that.

Again, everything looked good and we got some great pics of the baby.

I initially felt a little silly even calling, since it really wasn't much blood at all, but I knew I would worry forever if I didn't call. I didn't expect them to have me come in (and was even more freaked that they wanted to see me -- that meant there really could have been a problem), but I have so much more peace of mind now that I know everything's good.

15 weeks

Hi everyone! I found out I was pregnant about 3 weeks ago. I'm 8 weeks, 1 day and I couldn't be more excited. As this is my first baby, and I'm only 21 years old, I'm also very nervous and feel as if I have a lot to learn!

My main issue at the moment (besides the incredibly sore boobs, contant nausea, and back pains of course) is creating my birth plan. I've always said to everyone that there is NO way I would ever be able to handle a natural child birth and I always assumed I would get an epidural. Recently however I've been doing a lot of research online and reading amazing stories about natural child birth and I've started to doubt my original plan. I would love to be able to do a natural childbirth and even in a birthing center instead of a hospital, but honestly, the thought just terrifies me. I am so afraid that the pain will be unbearable but I won't be able to do anything about it because it will be too late for medication. On the other hand, I've had a spinal tap before and I can say without a doubt that it was the most painful experience I've ever had to go through so the idea of an epidural is almost equally terrifying. I just cannot make up my mind on which is the less scary!

So I have 2 questions for you experiences mommies!

1) How did you make the decision between a natural vs. medicated birth? I've talked to friends and family but it seems that people are either so FOR natural pregnancy (why would you want to let your baby into this world on drugs or be numbed during the whole experience) or SO against the idea (why go through the pain with modern medicine available?) I just don't know how to make up my mind so I'm curious to know how everyone else handled it.

2) What are the most popular alternatives for an epidural? My mom said they gave her demerol back in the day, but I'm pretty sure they don't do that anymore because it seriously drugs up the baby as well. What are the most common forms of medication other than an epidural? What are the safest?

Thanks in advance for your help!

When I told my chiropractor that I had morning sickness, she told me about this stuff called Phosfood, which is supposed to help with it. I bought a bottle of it and just took the first "dose". The regular dose is 10 drops but you're supposed to do 20 for morning sickness.

The official name is Phosfood Liquid, made by a company called Standard Process.

Has anyone heard of this and has anyone tried it? Any stories about how it worked/didn't work for you?

So I've heard that itching is common towards the end of pregnancy. I have all these weird little red bumps all over my thighs, they itch like crazy. And the past few days it's gotten worse and I'm devoloping a red rash on my legs, my arms, my back... And it itches!! I'm going nuts. I have a few tattoos and for some reason, they're itching like crazy too! I've been googling it but there's soo many different skin irritations that can happen in pregnancy- it didn't really help.

Can anyone recommend any good lotions/creams to help with this? I use coco butter daily and stretch mark cream but it's not helping these rashes at all. I called my doctor and I'm still waiting for a call back.

It doesn't help that I live in WI and it's brutally cold and dry. I have super sensitive skin so normally I get really dry skin this time of year anyways, but never like this. Ahhh. The joy of pregnancy indeed.

33 weeks.

Hello. I have an odd curiousity: For the past two weeks I get this odd feeling around the vaginal area where it feels like there's a string pulling the clitoris up and in (Sort of like a backwards version of the Time Warp-You want to pull inward instead of thrusting out). Anyone else have this happen before?

Also, anyone's kid recognize the dad and environment while in the womb? Mine starts kicking and then stops when anyone other than my S.O. touches my stomach. She only kicked once for his aunt. She also picks up when certain people are around and when she likes where she's at. I met a group of his friends yesterday, and at first she didn't kick at all, but about an hour in, she wouldn't stop kicking. It was like she was saying "C'mon mom! I want to party too!" But whenever grandma is around, she stops. We're tripping out on this because she does the same thing with my friends: If she doesn't like them she won't kick, if she does, I can't stop her.