Joaquin slept for 5 1/2 hours in a row just now. So, of course, here I am at 3:45 am blogging because I am not tired! I guess my body is so used to not getting real sleep these days that if I get 5 1/2 hours in a row, it feels fully rested and ready to go.
Hopefully in 20 more minutes I will be able to sleep again.
Thursday, December 30, 2010
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
Yay! Real naps have begun!
Thanks to a great tip from my mother-in-law, we have succeeded in starting actual naps. It all began when I (reluctantly) left Joaquin with Dayle and Nini on Christmas day to go to the movies with the rest of the family (a Nunez tradition on Christmas). I was having a hard time being away from Joaquin for that long. Three hours away from him was a record.
When we returned from the movie, I nervously asked how he had done - hoping he hadn't been too fussy. Dayle pointed to my little guy, fast asleep on a blanket on the kitchen table! He stayed sleeping there for another hour or so after I returned.
Jay and I attempted this on our own when we got home. And it worked! Yesterday, Joaquin took three naps on the table lasting over an hour and a half each. It was fantastic. I was so excited that I did about 6 loads of laundry, cleaned the house, paid some bills and was generally very productive. I really should have napped with him though. Oh well - next time!
When we returned from the movie, I nervously asked how he had done - hoping he hadn't been too fussy. Dayle pointed to my little guy, fast asleep on a blanket on the kitchen table! He stayed sleeping there for another hour or so after I returned.
Jay and I attempted this on our own when we got home. And it worked! Yesterday, Joaquin took three naps on the table lasting over an hour and a half each. It was fantastic. I was so excited that I did about 6 loads of laundry, cleaned the house, paid some bills and was generally very productive. I really should have napped with him though. Oh well - next time!
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
Friday, December 3, 2010
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Monday, November 29, 2010
Trip to the Pediatrician
Today I took Joaquin to the pediatrician. His lungs sounded good so we aren't too worried about his congestion - although we hope it goes away soon because it makes him (and us) miserable. He weighs 8 pounds, 8 ounces, which was also good.
Unfortunately, he was also a little too yellow for the doctor's comfort so we have to feed him formula for three days now :-( Poor guy.
Unfortunately, he was also a little too yellow for the doctor's comfort so we have to feed him formula for three days now :-( Poor guy.
Saturday, November 27, 2010
Baby's first cold
Joaquin and I have come down with a cold. It is no fun seeing him sneezing and listening to him breathing through his stuffy nose. I hope we both get better soon!
Sunday, November 21, 2010
Joaquin's Newborn Photos Are Ready
We are so happy with how they turned out. The only problem is that we love each and every one of them!!
You can view them at http://babyasart.com/index2.php
Then click on "client proofing" and use the password "joaquin"
Enjoy!!
You can view them at http://babyasart.com/index2.php
Then click on "client proofing" and use the password "joaquin"
Enjoy!!
Thursday, November 18, 2010
Goals for Today
1. NAP. Joaquin had an unusually bad night last night and I barely managed 4 hours of sleep, when it was all added up together. I'm hoping he decides to take a nice long nap soon so I can join him!
2. Make homemade beef stroganoff for dinner.
3. Make some chili to store for later.
4. Laundry.
Hopefully I at least get #1 and #2 done today!
2. Make homemade beef stroganoff for dinner.
3. Make some chili to store for later.
4. Laundry.
Hopefully I at least get #1 and #2 done today!
Today is Joaquin's Due Date
Joaquin was supposed to wait until today to make his entrance into this world. It seems like he has been around for so long already!
Weight Check
Last week, on Thursday, Joaquin weighed in at 7 lbs, 6 oz! This is really exciting because just 6 days earlier he was 6 lbs, 9 oz. Any worries we may have had that breastfeeding wasn't going well are now gone.
Recap of our Jaundice Experience
First - please let me apologize for not posting much lately. As you might imagine, we have a lot going on these days.
I wanted to write this post to recap our experience with Joaquin's jaundice.
On our second to last day in the hospital, Joaquin was diagnosed with jaundice and put in a machine for several hours that kept him under lights that help get rid of the jaundice.
We were allowed to leave the hospital on time with the caveat that we take home some lights that looked like flexible paddles that we had to put on Joaquin's back and chest, and then wrap him in a blanket to keep the lights in place. Unfortunately, after our first weekend, his jaundice was worse than when we left the hospital.
Joaquin's pediatrician said I had to feed him formula exclusively for 48 hours and that we were only allowed to take Joaquin off of the lights to change his diaper.
We were so upset. We had this adorable new baby at home but we were not even allowed to really hold him. He had to sit in his pack-n-play for four straight days while we tried to talk to him, read to him and resist the urge to pick him up.
One week after we left the hospital, his jaundice was better and we were allowed to get rid of the lights. We were so happy. We think Joaquin is much happier now too.
I wanted to write this post to recap our experience with Joaquin's jaundice.
On our second to last day in the hospital, Joaquin was diagnosed with jaundice and put in a machine for several hours that kept him under lights that help get rid of the jaundice.
We were allowed to leave the hospital on time with the caveat that we take home some lights that looked like flexible paddles that we had to put on Joaquin's back and chest, and then wrap him in a blanket to keep the lights in place. Unfortunately, after our first weekend, his jaundice was worse than when we left the hospital.
Joaquin's pediatrician said I had to feed him formula exclusively for 48 hours and that we were only allowed to take Joaquin off of the lights to change his diaper.
We were so upset. We had this adorable new baby at home but we were not even allowed to really hold him. He had to sit in his pack-n-play for four straight days while we tried to talk to him, read to him and resist the urge to pick him up.
One week after we left the hospital, his jaundice was better and we were allowed to get rid of the lights. We were so happy. We think Joaquin is much happier now too.
Monday, November 1, 2010
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Saturday, October 30, 2010
Joaquin Jose Luis Nunez’s Birth Story – Born October 27th, 2010
After some false labor on Saturday night, October 23rd, my “true” labor began on Monday night, October 25th. At about 6:30 p.m. I started to feel crampy and uncomfortable and had sporadic contractions similar to the ones I had experienced a few days earlier. I figured it was just another tease, and didn’t get my hopes up too much.
Jay and I went to bed a little after 10:00 p.m. I fell asleep, but kept waking up with contractions and finally gave up on sleeping at about 11:45 p.m. I let Jay keep sleeping. I was restless so I cleaned up the house, folded laundry, and did the dishes. Then I decided to enter all of my billable time for the month of October, just in case. Next, I decided that I would finally fill in my ballot for the November election so I could vote by mail. By that time, it was about 3:15 a.m on Tuesday, October 26th. I still could not sleep so I got on the couch and started watching the first Sex and the City movie, hoping that I would fall asleep at some point. It never happened.
Then, all of the sudden, at 4:45, my water broke on the couch. It almost felt like Joaquin had punched a hole in the amniotic sac – it came out so forcefully and even made a popping noise. Luckily I was laying down on a blanket so the couch was not ruined.
I ran to the restroom to try to clean up and then I woke Jay up. Jay immediately notified our doula, Lorraine and helped me clean up the mess. We finished packing the hospital bag, attended to some last minute work emails, fed the dogs and got ready to go. My contractions began to intensify dramatically about 45 minutes after my water broke, so I focused on breathing through them while sitting on my birth ball in the living room. I was really glad that I had purchased a package of adult diapers just in case my water broke – not the most attractive look, but it was so helpful. I couldn’t believe how much fluid there was!
By 6:45 I decided we should head over to the hospital. We packed up the car, got the dogs, and took off. We made a detour to drop the dogs off at day care, which is conveniently located about 3 blocks away from the hospital.
We got to the hospital a little after 7:00 and were immediately admitted and given a room. My first nurse got my IV set up and did all of the paperwork, which took about an hour. Then I was finally allowed to get on the birth ball for the contractions. They kept getting worse and I was extremely exhausted from the combination of no sleep on Saturday night and on Monday night. Jay was really helpful getting me through the contractions by reminding me to breathe slowly and deeply and by massaging my lower back.
Lorraine arrived at the hospital at around 9:00 a.m. and continued to help me through the contractions. At this point, I was so drained that I would collapse after each one on the pillow set up on the side of the hospital bed. I started to cry because I was in so much pain and was so tired and couldn’t imagine doing it for several more hours. I decided to ask for an epidural sometime between 10:00 and 11:00 a.m.
About an hour later, the anesthesiologist came to give me the epi. He saw that I had a doula and immediately offered a “walking epidural”, which I was happy about. I was not anticipating that procedure to be as uncomfortable as it was. It wasn’t that painful, it was just weird. It felt very unnatural and Jay said that at one point my pupils went from dilated to tiny pin points in a split second. Once the epi was in, I started to feel much better. Our nurse immediately said that because I had gotten an epi that she was going to give me pitocin to speed up the labor. We told her we would talk about it. She left, and Jay, Lorraine and I discussed it and decided that we would ask to have progress checked in a few hours before agreeing to pitocin. She reluctantly agreed.
Then, I got to take a nap for about an hour and a half. It was awesome. I woke up feeling much more energized. I got checked again in the early afternoon and was 5.5-6 cm. Yay! No pitocin necessary. I was so relieved.
Then my nurse’s shift was over and I got a new nurse. She came in and immediately scolded me for sitting up in bed. She said that the epi would not work as well if I sat up because gravity would pull the meds down and I would start to feel contractions at the top of my uterus. I told her that sitting up seemed to be helping with the contractions and that if I started to feel uncomfortable I would lie back down. She responded “Trust me. You need to lay down.” And then she put me down and checked me for progress and said I was still at a 6. Hmmmmm…. I actually still don’t believe she was telling the truth. She immediately said that she was giving me pitocin and was going to hook up an internal contraction monitor. Jay, Lorraine and I all said no to the pitocin and said we would think about the monitor. Later, we agreed to the monitor but told her that I was not going to agree to pitocin until I talked to my OB. We knew that would take a couple of hours so we bought some time.
After the nurse left the room, we were all in a bad mood. We decided to call the charge nurse and request that I get a new nurse. I would never have done that on my own, but Lorraine convinced me it was the right move. Boy was she right!
We got a new nurse and she was fabulous! She was so nice and came in to check on progress and said I was at 8.5-9 cm!! Woohoo. That was at about 6:00 p.m. I was thrilled.
The epi did start to wear off a little, so I decided to lie down and rest. I was pretty tired. But, when I was on my side, the contractions decreased dramatically in intensity and frequency. From about 6:00 to 10:00, I stayed at 9 cm, with mild contractions. We were all really tired and getting frustrated. We finally agreed to pitocin at the lowest dose to get through that last cm. I also upped my epi by one notch because my contractions were getting painful again.
At about 11:30 my nurse checked me and I was 9 cm on about half of my cervix and 10 cm on the other half. I was at a +2 station too! Lorraine and the nurse had me lie down in a special position to help dilate the side that was being stubborn. At this point I was really starting to feel the contractions through the epi, so Jay helped me breathe through them and we upped the epi one more notch. Thank god for that yellow button on the epi machine!
Around midnight, I started to feel the urge to push, so we called the nurse back in to check me. She confirmed that I was at 10 cm!! Woohooo! We were all so relieved. We got set up with Jay on one side and Lorraine on the other side, holding my legs to do one practice push with the next contraction. I was told that first time moms with epis generally push for one or two hours.
The nurse and Lorraine were really surprised that I pushed correctly the first time and could tell that I had actually moved Joaquin a little. They were very excited and I was relieved. I was not anticipating feeling pain during pushing because of the epi, but I definitely felt pain that first push, so it was nice to know that I was at least making progress.
We pushed for 2-3 more contractions and the nurse said that she would probably call my OB in about 10 minutes because she thought I would be delivering sooner rather than later. One push later, the nurse changed her mind and called the doctor right away. Joaquin was so far down that I could feel the top of his hand already in between contractions, which was exciting and also really freaky to feel. She then told me to just try to breathe through the contractions without pushing – she didn’t want to deliver the baby without a doctor!
A few minutes later, she called the on-call OB because she wasn’t sure I’d last for the 15 minutes it was going to take my OB to arrive. She also called the NICU team. They had to be present because Joaquin was exactly 1 day short of being considered a “term baby”. The on-call doctor showed up and the NICU team followed, but I was told to continue just breathing through the contractions. At this point, each contraction was extremely painful and it was almost impossible for me not to push, but I tried.
Finally, my OB arrived! I was so happy. I was then allowed to start pushing again while my OB helped with massage to keep me from tearing. I’m glad she did that, but oh boy did it hurt!! About 3 contractions later, Joaquin was born at 12:51 a.m. on October 27th. Jay said his entire body just came out in one motion – which he said surprised him because usually a baby’s head will come out and there will be a pause before the shoulders and body come out.
They put him on my chest quickly and Jay cut the cord. He was purple-ish gray at first. The nurses rubbed him and he started to cry the sweetest little cry I have ever heard. I started to cry too. It was probably the happiest moment of my life. We had finally done it!
He got checked by the NICU team for about 10 minutes. He was healthy and weighed in at 6 pounds, 12 ounces. He was 19 inches long and scored an 8/9 on his Apgars. After I delivered the placenta, my OB told me that I had no tears!! Woohooo!!!
Then they handed Joaquin to me and we started nursing. It was amazing.
The whole experience, while long and exhausting, was so magical. I was so happy that we hired Lorraine and I was so thankful to have Jay there – he was the perfect birth partner in every way. We are both captivated by our beautiful son and thankful to finally have our take home baby.
Jay and I went to bed a little after 10:00 p.m. I fell asleep, but kept waking up with contractions and finally gave up on sleeping at about 11:45 p.m. I let Jay keep sleeping. I was restless so I cleaned up the house, folded laundry, and did the dishes. Then I decided to enter all of my billable time for the month of October, just in case. Next, I decided that I would finally fill in my ballot for the November election so I could vote by mail. By that time, it was about 3:15 a.m on Tuesday, October 26th. I still could not sleep so I got on the couch and started watching the first Sex and the City movie, hoping that I would fall asleep at some point. It never happened.
Then, all of the sudden, at 4:45, my water broke on the couch. It almost felt like Joaquin had punched a hole in the amniotic sac – it came out so forcefully and even made a popping noise. Luckily I was laying down on a blanket so the couch was not ruined.
I ran to the restroom to try to clean up and then I woke Jay up. Jay immediately notified our doula, Lorraine and helped me clean up the mess. We finished packing the hospital bag, attended to some last minute work emails, fed the dogs and got ready to go. My contractions began to intensify dramatically about 45 minutes after my water broke, so I focused on breathing through them while sitting on my birth ball in the living room. I was really glad that I had purchased a package of adult diapers just in case my water broke – not the most attractive look, but it was so helpful. I couldn’t believe how much fluid there was!
By 6:45 I decided we should head over to the hospital. We packed up the car, got the dogs, and took off. We made a detour to drop the dogs off at day care, which is conveniently located about 3 blocks away from the hospital.
We got to the hospital a little after 7:00 and were immediately admitted and given a room. My first nurse got my IV set up and did all of the paperwork, which took about an hour. Then I was finally allowed to get on the birth ball for the contractions. They kept getting worse and I was extremely exhausted from the combination of no sleep on Saturday night and on Monday night. Jay was really helpful getting me through the contractions by reminding me to breathe slowly and deeply and by massaging my lower back.
Lorraine arrived at the hospital at around 9:00 a.m. and continued to help me through the contractions. At this point, I was so drained that I would collapse after each one on the pillow set up on the side of the hospital bed. I started to cry because I was in so much pain and was so tired and couldn’t imagine doing it for several more hours. I decided to ask for an epidural sometime between 10:00 and 11:00 a.m.
About an hour later, the anesthesiologist came to give me the epi. He saw that I had a doula and immediately offered a “walking epidural”, which I was happy about. I was not anticipating that procedure to be as uncomfortable as it was. It wasn’t that painful, it was just weird. It felt very unnatural and Jay said that at one point my pupils went from dilated to tiny pin points in a split second. Once the epi was in, I started to feel much better. Our nurse immediately said that because I had gotten an epi that she was going to give me pitocin to speed up the labor. We told her we would talk about it. She left, and Jay, Lorraine and I discussed it and decided that we would ask to have progress checked in a few hours before agreeing to pitocin. She reluctantly agreed.
Then, I got to take a nap for about an hour and a half. It was awesome. I woke up feeling much more energized. I got checked again in the early afternoon and was 5.5-6 cm. Yay! No pitocin necessary. I was so relieved.
Then my nurse’s shift was over and I got a new nurse. She came in and immediately scolded me for sitting up in bed. She said that the epi would not work as well if I sat up because gravity would pull the meds down and I would start to feel contractions at the top of my uterus. I told her that sitting up seemed to be helping with the contractions and that if I started to feel uncomfortable I would lie back down. She responded “Trust me. You need to lay down.” And then she put me down and checked me for progress and said I was still at a 6. Hmmmmm…. I actually still don’t believe she was telling the truth. She immediately said that she was giving me pitocin and was going to hook up an internal contraction monitor. Jay, Lorraine and I all said no to the pitocin and said we would think about the monitor. Later, we agreed to the monitor but told her that I was not going to agree to pitocin until I talked to my OB. We knew that would take a couple of hours so we bought some time.
After the nurse left the room, we were all in a bad mood. We decided to call the charge nurse and request that I get a new nurse. I would never have done that on my own, but Lorraine convinced me it was the right move. Boy was she right!
We got a new nurse and she was fabulous! She was so nice and came in to check on progress and said I was at 8.5-9 cm!! Woohoo. That was at about 6:00 p.m. I was thrilled.
The epi did start to wear off a little, so I decided to lie down and rest. I was pretty tired. But, when I was on my side, the contractions decreased dramatically in intensity and frequency. From about 6:00 to 10:00, I stayed at 9 cm, with mild contractions. We were all really tired and getting frustrated. We finally agreed to pitocin at the lowest dose to get through that last cm. I also upped my epi by one notch because my contractions were getting painful again.
At about 11:30 my nurse checked me and I was 9 cm on about half of my cervix and 10 cm on the other half. I was at a +2 station too! Lorraine and the nurse had me lie down in a special position to help dilate the side that was being stubborn. At this point I was really starting to feel the contractions through the epi, so Jay helped me breathe through them and we upped the epi one more notch. Thank god for that yellow button on the epi machine!
Around midnight, I started to feel the urge to push, so we called the nurse back in to check me. She confirmed that I was at 10 cm!! Woohooo! We were all so relieved. We got set up with Jay on one side and Lorraine on the other side, holding my legs to do one practice push with the next contraction. I was told that first time moms with epis generally push for one or two hours.
The nurse and Lorraine were really surprised that I pushed correctly the first time and could tell that I had actually moved Joaquin a little. They were very excited and I was relieved. I was not anticipating feeling pain during pushing because of the epi, but I definitely felt pain that first push, so it was nice to know that I was at least making progress.
We pushed for 2-3 more contractions and the nurse said that she would probably call my OB in about 10 minutes because she thought I would be delivering sooner rather than later. One push later, the nurse changed her mind and called the doctor right away. Joaquin was so far down that I could feel the top of his hand already in between contractions, which was exciting and also really freaky to feel. She then told me to just try to breathe through the contractions without pushing – she didn’t want to deliver the baby without a doctor!
A few minutes later, she called the on-call OB because she wasn’t sure I’d last for the 15 minutes it was going to take my OB to arrive. She also called the NICU team. They had to be present because Joaquin was exactly 1 day short of being considered a “term baby”. The on-call doctor showed up and the NICU team followed, but I was told to continue just breathing through the contractions. At this point, each contraction was extremely painful and it was almost impossible for me not to push, but I tried.
Finally, my OB arrived! I was so happy. I was then allowed to start pushing again while my OB helped with massage to keep me from tearing. I’m glad she did that, but oh boy did it hurt!! About 3 contractions later, Joaquin was born at 12:51 a.m. on October 27th. Jay said his entire body just came out in one motion – which he said surprised him because usually a baby’s head will come out and there will be a pause before the shoulders and body come out.
They put him on my chest quickly and Jay cut the cord. He was purple-ish gray at first. The nurses rubbed him and he started to cry the sweetest little cry I have ever heard. I started to cry too. It was probably the happiest moment of my life. We had finally done it!
He got checked by the NICU team for about 10 minutes. He was healthy and weighed in at 6 pounds, 12 ounces. He was 19 inches long and scored an 8/9 on his Apgars. After I delivered the placenta, my OB told me that I had no tears!! Woohooo!!!
Then they handed Joaquin to me and we started nursing. It was amazing.
The whole experience, while long and exhausting, was so magical. I was so happy that we hired Lorraine and I was so thankful to have Jay there – he was the perfect birth partner in every way. We are both captivated by our beautiful son and thankful to finally have our take home baby.
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Sunday, October 24, 2010
Frustration... (some TMI information, just to warn you)
This weekend has been a just a tad bit frustrating.
Friday I went to my OB and had an internal. I was 2 cm and after the internal I became immediately crampy and uncomfortable and was also spotting with some clots. I also went to the Chiropractor and got adjusted. By about 8:00 on Friday night, I was feeling really uncomfortable - my entire groin/lower stomach area was in pretty severe pain. Sort of menstrual cramp-like feelings plus a ton of pressure.
Jay was convinced I would go into labor Friday night but I knew he was wrong. He was insistent though so we timed contractions for a few hours before I finally told him I needed to go to sleep, which I did easily through the contractions. Jay, on the other hand, was so anxious he barely slept Friday night.
Saturday during the day I had no contractions at all - not even BH contractions, which was sort of strange. Then, all of the sudden around 7:30 I started having them regularly and they were a lot stronger than normal. I didn't say anything to Jay because I didn't want to get his hopes up.
Also, by Saturday it was pretty clear from looking that the baby had dropped.
We went to bed around midnight and as soon as I got in bed, pain started radiating from my back to my front and I thought - hmmm........
I got out of bed and walked around, started timing the contractions and finally told Jay that maybe he should stay awake too.
I was in constant pain, even between contractions, which were anywhere from 2 to 5 minutes apart and lasting 30 seconds to just over a minute. Our doula, Lorraine, said to just keep timing them to see if they got longer/stronger and let her know when I started to see pink/bloody discharge when I peed.
At about 1:15, after taking a shower, I started to see pink every time I peed. I got in the tub and the contractions got stronger, rather than weaker and were getting closer together.
We called Lorraine and she decided she would come over in about 1-2 hours. We were so excited - we were going to have a baby!
By the time she got to our house around 3:30, I was having contractions between 45-55 seconds every 2 minutes or so. We timed them on the couch and birthing ball until about 5:00 and then decided to go on a walk around the neighborhood.
We went on a walk for about an hour and the contractions stayed about 2 minutes apart but increased in length to between 55 and 75 seconds. She wanted them to consistently stay well over 60 seconds before we went to the hospital.
We went back home and listened to a Hypnobabies track meant for during labor and I fell asleep, but woke up to way more intense contractions, although they hadn't gotten any longer or closer together.
Then over the next hour or so, they just completely stopped. We tried to walk again to get them to start but .... nothing.
I'm not even full term yet, so it's not the end of the world that baby is still safe and snuggled for now, but I had it in my mind that today was the big day and it is just so hard to wrap my head around the fact that I have no idea when this is happening - or that I could go through contractions like that for 9 straight hours and have it just stop.
It's funny because I think if we had not have hired a doula I would have probably gone to L&D around 6 am when the contractions were around a minute long and 2-3 minutes apart, because that's basically when they say you should go. I bet if we had gone, they would have admitted me. And then I would have stalled. And then I would have been given pitocin and an epidural and god knows what else.
So, I am glad I avoided that whole situation if he is just not ready yet.
So now, after taking a nap, we are going to eat some lunch and then run some errands and hope that the activity will help things speed along.
Friday I went to my OB and had an internal. I was 2 cm and after the internal I became immediately crampy and uncomfortable and was also spotting with some clots. I also went to the Chiropractor and got adjusted. By about 8:00 on Friday night, I was feeling really uncomfortable - my entire groin/lower stomach area was in pretty severe pain. Sort of menstrual cramp-like feelings plus a ton of pressure.
Jay was convinced I would go into labor Friday night but I knew he was wrong. He was insistent though so we timed contractions for a few hours before I finally told him I needed to go to sleep, which I did easily through the contractions. Jay, on the other hand, was so anxious he barely slept Friday night.
Saturday during the day I had no contractions at all - not even BH contractions, which was sort of strange. Then, all of the sudden around 7:30 I started having them regularly and they were a lot stronger than normal. I didn't say anything to Jay because I didn't want to get his hopes up.
Also, by Saturday it was pretty clear from looking that the baby had dropped.
We went to bed around midnight and as soon as I got in bed, pain started radiating from my back to my front and I thought - hmmm........
I got out of bed and walked around, started timing the contractions and finally told Jay that maybe he should stay awake too.
I was in constant pain, even between contractions, which were anywhere from 2 to 5 minutes apart and lasting 30 seconds to just over a minute. Our doula, Lorraine, said to just keep timing them to see if they got longer/stronger and let her know when I started to see pink/bloody discharge when I peed.
At about 1:15, after taking a shower, I started to see pink every time I peed. I got in the tub and the contractions got stronger, rather than weaker and were getting closer together.
We called Lorraine and she decided she would come over in about 1-2 hours. We were so excited - we were going to have a baby!
By the time she got to our house around 3:30, I was having contractions between 45-55 seconds every 2 minutes or so. We timed them on the couch and birthing ball until about 5:00 and then decided to go on a walk around the neighborhood.
We went on a walk for about an hour and the contractions stayed about 2 minutes apart but increased in length to between 55 and 75 seconds. She wanted them to consistently stay well over 60 seconds before we went to the hospital.
We went back home and listened to a Hypnobabies track meant for during labor and I fell asleep, but woke up to way more intense contractions, although they hadn't gotten any longer or closer together.
Then over the next hour or so, they just completely stopped. We tried to walk again to get them to start but .... nothing.
I'm not even full term yet, so it's not the end of the world that baby is still safe and snuggled for now, but I had it in my mind that today was the big day and it is just so hard to wrap my head around the fact that I have no idea when this is happening - or that I could go through contractions like that for 9 straight hours and have it just stop.
It's funny because I think if we had not have hired a doula I would have probably gone to L&D around 6 am when the contractions were around a minute long and 2-3 minutes apart, because that's basically when they say you should go. I bet if we had gone, they would have admitted me. And then I would have stalled. And then I would have been given pitocin and an epidural and god knows what else.
So, I am glad I avoided that whole situation if he is just not ready yet.
So now, after taking a nap, we are going to eat some lunch and then run some errands and hope that the activity will help things speed along.
Friday, October 22, 2010
Check-Up Update
I'm "almost 2 cm dilated."
This tells us just about nothing about how much longer we will be waiting.
This tells us just about nothing about how much longer we will be waiting.
Thursday, October 21, 2010
Chili!
I have begun working on a loooong list of recipes to make and store in our brand new deep freezer.
Buying that freezer was one of the best ideas I have had in a long time. It already has a few delicious looking meals from my mom stored inside (although we have already finished the eggplant parmesan and will start working on the italian wedding pasta tonight).
Jay took me shopping this morning and we bought stuff to make chili, which is now cooking away in my slow cooker.
other items on my list are:
Herbed Turkey Meatballs
Neiman Marcus Chocolate Chip Cookies
Vegetable Tangine
Zesty Orange Bread
White Bean Pasta and Swiss Chard Soup
Garden-Style Eggplant Parmesan
Lasagna
Beef Stroganoff
Baked Ziti
(all courtesy of Williams-Sonoma recipes online, except for the cookies).
I think I need to grab a snack - all of this food talk is making me hungry!
Buying that freezer was one of the best ideas I have had in a long time. It already has a few delicious looking meals from my mom stored inside (although we have already finished the eggplant parmesan and will start working on the italian wedding pasta tonight).
Jay took me shopping this morning and we bought stuff to make chili, which is now cooking away in my slow cooker.
other items on my list are:
Herbed Turkey Meatballs
Neiman Marcus Chocolate Chip Cookies
Vegetable Tangine
Zesty Orange Bread
White Bean Pasta and Swiss Chard Soup
Garden-Style Eggplant Parmesan
Lasagna
Beef Stroganoff
Baked Ziti
(all courtesy of Williams-Sonoma recipes online, except for the cookies).
I think I need to grab a snack - all of this food talk is making me hungry!
Ticker Change Thursday - 36 Weeks
Joaquin is 36 weeks today and it is his last week as the size of a honeydew melon. He is continuing to put on weight at about ½ pound each week. This layer of fat will help him regulate his body temperature after leaving the womb. In fact, he will be 15 percent fat at birth. Even in the womb, he can listen, feel, touch and see. His gums are firm with ridges that look somewhat like teeth, though his actual pearly whites won't start breaking through until he's between three months and a year old. He has definite patterns of sleep and wakefulness—opening his eyes while awake and closing them while sleeping. He will become alert and turn his head toward light and sound just as a newborn would.
How far along? 36 weeks
Weight gain/loss: I'm up a total of 34 pounds.
Sleep? This changes day by day. Sleeping on my sides is getting OLD. It is really starting to hurt my hip joints. It will be so nice to start sleeping on my stomach again soon.
Best moment this week? It was nice having my mom come up on Sunday and help out and bring us some food.
Movement: Joaquin is moving normally, which is always reassuring.
Food cravings: Neiman Marcus chocolate chip cookies.
What I miss? Agility.
What I am looking forward to? Having this baby (this may stay the same until the baby comes).
Milestones: Each week is its own little milestone these days.
What I'm nervous about: I just got a new deal at work. I'm sort of wondering how that is going to turn out.
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Trying to Take One Day at a Time
It seems like every day is a little bit different these days. One day I will have a ton of energy and feel great. The next day (like today), I can barely muster the energy to get off the couch to use the restroom.
Days like today are pretty hard - my joints are really starting to revolt against all of the extra weight. My feet hurt from the weight, my knees hurt when I stand up, my hips hurt when I lay down, my ribs hurt constantly from the stretching, and my fingers and wrists hurt from having to push myself up with my upper body strength (what little I actually have). On days like today, I just wish I could blink and make it November.
Hopefully I feel better tomorrow!
Days like today are pretty hard - my joints are really starting to revolt against all of the extra weight. My feet hurt from the weight, my knees hurt when I stand up, my hips hurt when I lay down, my ribs hurt constantly from the stretching, and my fingers and wrists hurt from having to push myself up with my upper body strength (what little I actually have). On days like today, I just wish I could blink and make it November.
Hopefully I feel better tomorrow!
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Grandparents ... now taking name requests
Hi future grandparents! Now is the time when Jay and I are taking requests for grandparent names. If you want to be called something other than the standard "grandma" or "grandpa", please let us know. We hope that everyone can come up with something slightly original so everyone has their own "name".
Jay's parents have pre-reserved traditional Spanish names - Layla & Laylo (I think that is the correct spelling).
Please let us know what you'd prefer!
(If you can - respond in the comments instead of directly to me so that everyone can see what names have been chosen).
It's starting to become official - you are all going to be grandparents very, very soon!!!
Jay's parents have pre-reserved traditional Spanish names - Layla & Laylo (I think that is the correct spelling).
Please let us know what you'd prefer!
(If you can - respond in the comments instead of directly to me so that everyone can see what names have been chosen).
It's starting to become official - you are all going to be grandparents very, very soon!!!
Monday, October 18, 2010
One Month Until the Due Date!
One month until I'm officially due! We'll see how accurate that date really is soon enough....
Friday, October 15, 2010
Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Day
Today, October 15th, is Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Day.
The resolution to declare October 15 a remembrance day passed the United States House of Representatives on September 28, 2006. On this day, parents who have lost a child light candles at 7:00 p.m. in their respective time in memory of what they have lost.
You can read more about this day here and here.
The resolution to declare October 15 a remembrance day passed the United States House of Representatives on September 28, 2006. On this day, parents who have lost a child light candles at 7:00 p.m. in their respective time in memory of what they have lost.
You can read more about this day here and here.
Thursday, October 14, 2010
Update from my 35 Week Check-up
I'm 1 cm dilated and 60% effaced.
I can stop taking procardia but I am still on modified bedrest for at least one more week.
We have no idea when Joaquin will make his debut ;-)
I can stop taking procardia but I am still on modified bedrest for at least one more week.
We have no idea when Joaquin will make his debut ;-)
Ticker Change Thursday - 35 Weeks
Joaquin is 35 weeks today and about the size of a honeydew melon. His kidneys are fully developed now, and his liver can process some waste products. Most of his basic physical development is now complete — he'll spend the next few weeks putting on weight.
How far along? 35 weeks
Weight gain/loss: I'm up a total of 34 pounds.
Sleep? I am waking up about once an hour to pee every night these days. Otherwise, sleep is good.
Best moment this week? Seeing our little boy yesterday and finding out he is growing big and healthy.
Movement: Movement has picked up again. He really likes to kick me when I'm about to go to bed.
Food cravings: Sushi!!!
What I miss? Going out to dinner.
What I am looking forward to? Having this baby.
Milestones: I'm 35 weeks today, which is a big milestone! 35 weeks down, 35 days to go until my due date!
What I'm nervous about: I'm hoping that we aren't waiting too much longer after all of this worrying about going into labor too soon!
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Update from our last Ultrasound
Joaquin is measuring 6 1/2 pounds!!! This is fabulous news and we are so relieved to know that he is big enough now to be a healthy baby if he is born a little early.
Unfortunately, we didn't get any pictures this time to share. I think it is because he is so big that he is all squished in there and the pictures would not have been very good.
It was fun to get to see him again but we just can't wait to meet him!
I have an appointment with my OB tomorrow and I am hopeful that I will be able to stop taking the procardia, or at least drastically reduce the amount I am taking. I might even be released from bed rest. That would be fantastic.
Unfortunately, we didn't get any pictures this time to share. I think it is because he is so big that he is all squished in there and the pictures would not have been very good.
It was fun to get to see him again but we just can't wait to meet him!
I have an appointment with my OB tomorrow and I am hopeful that I will be able to stop taking the procardia, or at least drastically reduce the amount I am taking. I might even be released from bed rest. That would be fantastic.
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
Tomorrow
Just a reminder that tomorrow we have a growth ultrasound at 8:30 a.m.
The ultrasound is at the high-risk center we have gone to before where we got those great 3D pictures.
Please wish us luck that Joaquin is growing on track (or ahead of schedule!) and that everything else looks good. We will share the pictures tomorrow.
The ultrasound is at the high-risk center we have gone to before where we got those great 3D pictures.
Please wish us luck that Joaquin is growing on track (or ahead of schedule!) and that everything else looks good. We will share the pictures tomorrow.
What a Difference a Year Makes
One year ago today, Jay and I officially lost our first child. We had known that our baby was no longer living for a few, extremely painful, days, but on October 12, 2009, I had a D&C and our pregnancy was officially over.
I don't think I will ever forget the feeling of pure agony and sadness that I felt as we drove home after the procedure. Until that moment it really had not hit me that it was all over. I cried uncontrollably. I had no idea what to do next, how I was just supposed to move on, go back to work, function normally and try again, knowing that I would be risking experiencing this pain again if I did. Nothing could have possibly prepared me for the devastation that I felt.
Very slowly, I started to feel like myself again. But I don't think that anyone who has gone through that experience is ever really the same again. It is not something that is possible to forget. But, I gradually went from thinking about our loss every minute of every day to every hour, to a few times a day and now I think about it probably every other day, but the feelings are not as raw.
Today, one year after our loss, Jay and I are so incredibly happy to be where we are. We are only a few weeks away from welcoming our son into this world and have never been so excited about anything before. And, while neither of us believes that bad things happen for a reason, we do believe that people have the ability to find some good in a bad situation.
Because of what we went through, we have absolutely no doubt that we are ready to be parents. We appreciate how lucky we are in a way we never would have before. We are more sensitive to other people who have experienced a loss or had trouble trying to have children. We are truly grateful for what we have. It is a lot harder to feel sorry for yourself when you are stuck at home on a beautiful day due to bed rest when you went through hell just to get (and stay) pregnant in the first place.
When Jay and I finally decided we were ready to try to start a family in July of 2009, I never would have guessed that we would have this experience. I certainly would never have guessed that my body would either be pregnant, or be recovering from a pregnancy for over a year before I would actually have a baby to take home. But I have a feeling that when we finally meet our little Joaquin, we will know that this was all worth it.
I don't think I will ever forget the feeling of pure agony and sadness that I felt as we drove home after the procedure. Until that moment it really had not hit me that it was all over. I cried uncontrollably. I had no idea what to do next, how I was just supposed to move on, go back to work, function normally and try again, knowing that I would be risking experiencing this pain again if I did. Nothing could have possibly prepared me for the devastation that I felt.
Very slowly, I started to feel like myself again. But I don't think that anyone who has gone through that experience is ever really the same again. It is not something that is possible to forget. But, I gradually went from thinking about our loss every minute of every day to every hour, to a few times a day and now I think about it probably every other day, but the feelings are not as raw.
Today, one year after our loss, Jay and I are so incredibly happy to be where we are. We are only a few weeks away from welcoming our son into this world and have never been so excited about anything before. And, while neither of us believes that bad things happen for a reason, we do believe that people have the ability to find some good in a bad situation.
Because of what we went through, we have absolutely no doubt that we are ready to be parents. We appreciate how lucky we are in a way we never would have before. We are more sensitive to other people who have experienced a loss or had trouble trying to have children. We are truly grateful for what we have. It is a lot harder to feel sorry for yourself when you are stuck at home on a beautiful day due to bed rest when you went through hell just to get (and stay) pregnant in the first place.
When Jay and I finally decided we were ready to try to start a family in July of 2009, I never would have guessed that we would have this experience. I certainly would never have guessed that my body would either be pregnant, or be recovering from a pregnancy for over a year before I would actually have a baby to take home. But I have a feeling that when we finally meet our little Joaquin, we will know that this was all worth it.
A request
For all of the family members who plan on visiting when Joaquin is a newborn, we have a request. There has been much talk lately about whooping cough and its potentially lethal consequences to newborn babies.
Jay has gotten his vaccine for whooping cough (pertussis) and I will be getting mine at Hoaq following the birth.
We would greatly appreciate if those of you planning to visit with Joaquin regularly would also obtain this vaccine. We had no problem getting the vaccine for Jay from his primary care physician, so I don't imagine that this should be difficult for others to obtain as well.
Please let us know if you have any questions. Thank you!
A brief article on Pertussis can be found here.
Jay has gotten his vaccine for whooping cough (pertussis) and I will be getting mine at Hoaq following the birth.
We would greatly appreciate if those of you planning to visit with Joaquin regularly would also obtain this vaccine. We had no problem getting the vaccine for Jay from his primary care physician, so I don't imagine that this should be difficult for others to obtain as well.
Please let us know if you have any questions. Thank you!
A brief article on Pertussis can be found here.
Friday, October 8, 2010
Thursday, October 7, 2010
Ticker Change Thursday - 34 Weeks
Joaquin is 34 weeks today and still about the size of a honeydew melon. His fat layers — which will help regulate his body temperature once he's born — are filling him out, making him rounder. His skin is also smoother than ever. His central nervous system is maturing and his lungs are continuing to mature as well. The great news is that babies born between 34 and 37 weeks who have no other health problems generally do fine. They may need a short stay in the neonatal nursery and may have a few short-term health issues, but in the long run, they usually do as well as full-term babies.
How far along? 34 weeks
Weight gain/loss: I'm up a total of 31 pounds.
Sleep? Sleep is becoming much harder these days. I think I just do not expend enough energy during the day anymore to feel really tired at night.
Best moment this week? College football on Saturday was great - UCLA won, Notre Dame won and USC lost. A rare "perfect day."
Movement: In the last day it seems like his movement has slowed down a bit. Hopefully it is just because he's getting too big and running out of room.
Food cravings: Eh - I barely have an appetite these days. I only eat because I know I am supposed to.
What I miss? Leaving the house!!
What I am looking forward to? I have a baby book themed work baby shower coming up, which should be fun and a chance to escape the house for at least a tiny bit. Also - our u/s next Wednesday morning.
Milestones: One week away from 35 weeks - which is when my OB will not stop labor!
What I'm nervous about: I'm nervous that I'll go crazy in the next few weeks being stuck at home all the time.
Saturday, October 2, 2010
Modified Bed rest is ... Interesting
It's funny how people who have not been on bed rest will express jealousy over someone's mandatory laziness. Bed rest has never been something that sounded even remotely pleasant to me - I'm just not good at sitting still or remaining inactive. So, I knew on Thursday night that this would be tough for me.
It's been two full days so far, and I have noticed that my contractions are less frequent. So, between the increased medications and the resting, something is working. I am very grateful for that and hopeful that at least the next 2-4 weeks will remain relatively uneventful
But, oh boy, this is tough. Those who know me well probably have seen me in action at home. I'm not good at letting things wait until later. Dishes, laundry, jackets draped over chairs - these things drive me batty. It is difficult for me to truly relax until I have accomplished at least a few things around the house. So you can just imagine how sitting on the couch for 80% of the day makes me feel.
But, there are good things about it too. Most importantly, it is giving Joaquin every opportunity to grow big and healthy. But also, I am reminded all over again what a great husband I have. Jay has really been awesome. He is cooking, cleaning, taking care of the dogs and not complaining at all. I am so lucky. I would never be able to relax the way I should without all of his help.
Tonight, Jay made dinner. It was a simple dinner - grilled chicken and rice. After a few mishaps with the rice, we ate a delicious dinner and Jay admitted that it was really stressful juggling making dinner. Trying not to burn the chicken while figuring out the rice is not as easy as it looks. And then he said he had a whole new appreciation for what I do (or at least used to do when I cooked dinner on a regular basis).
So, even though this is tough on both of us, we have each been reminded of how much we do for each other. We are very lucky.
It's been two full days so far, and I have noticed that my contractions are less frequent. So, between the increased medications and the resting, something is working. I am very grateful for that and hopeful that at least the next 2-4 weeks will remain relatively uneventful
But, oh boy, this is tough. Those who know me well probably have seen me in action at home. I'm not good at letting things wait until later. Dishes, laundry, jackets draped over chairs - these things drive me batty. It is difficult for me to truly relax until I have accomplished at least a few things around the house. So you can just imagine how sitting on the couch for 80% of the day makes me feel.
But, there are good things about it too. Most importantly, it is giving Joaquin every opportunity to grow big and healthy. But also, I am reminded all over again what a great husband I have. Jay has really been awesome. He is cooking, cleaning, taking care of the dogs and not complaining at all. I am so lucky. I would never be able to relax the way I should without all of his help.
Tonight, Jay made dinner. It was a simple dinner - grilled chicken and rice. After a few mishaps with the rice, we ate a delicious dinner and Jay admitted that it was really stressful juggling making dinner. Trying not to burn the chicken while figuring out the rice is not as easy as it looks. And then he said he had a whole new appreciation for what I do (or at least used to do when I cooked dinner on a regular basis).
So, even though this is tough on both of us, we have each been reminded of how much we do for each other. We are very lucky.
Friday, October 1, 2010
Family & Friends
I didn't think I would have to draft this post for a while longer, but I guess at this point it's becoming more and more likely that we have to start actually planning for a birth. That is exciting and scary at the same time.
Jay and I appreciate all of the support that each and every one of you has provided throughout this process. It is so comforting to know that we have so many people in our lives who are just as excited to meet Joaquin as we are.
Many of you have asked about things like visiting the hospital, being present for when he is born and visiting our house after we come home from the hospital.
Here is some preliminary information for everyone:
I will be delivering at Hoag Hospital in Newport Beach. The Hospital is between Superior and Newport Blvd, just up the hill from PCH. The Labor & Delivery department is located on the 5th floor of the main building of the hospital, opposite the main parking structure. The hospital also offers complimentary valet parking. You can go straight up to the 5th floor without checking in with the main desk on the first floor. The hospital has free wifi access, so you can also bring your laptops/iPads. They also allow cell phones.
Either Jay or our doula, Lorraine, will try to periodically update any one who decides to wait at Hoag on our progress throughout labor to the extent possible.
The hospital has a policy that no family members may visit with the new parents/baby for at least 1 hour after the baby is born. This policy is meant to ensure that the baby gets some "skin-to-skin" time with mom and the staff has a chance to complete their basic tests and so forth.
Assuming all is well, we will be moved to the 7th floor of the hospital 2 hours after delivery. This is the "mother-baby" unit. So if you want to forego the waiting room and come to visit later, this is where you will find us. Under normal circumstances, mothers stay on the 7th floor anywhere from 2-5 days. You can call Hoag directly to check that I am still there and able to take visitors, or you can give Jay a call on his cell phone.
After we return home, Jay is planning to take 2 weeks off from work, so I will not be alone. We plan to use this time to bond as a family as much as possible and also to allow me to recover physically. Visits from family members are welcome at this time, but our home is just far too small for any overnight visitors in the guest room. So, for our out-of-town family members who would like to visit, we highly recommend the Best Western Newport Beach, which is walking distance from our place. If you'd prefer a nicer hotel that is only a 5 minute drive away, we recommend the Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach, which is just north of our place on PCH.
If you have any questions, please let either Jay or me know. We hope that anyone who wants to visit will be able to do so!
Jay and I appreciate all of the support that each and every one of you has provided throughout this process. It is so comforting to know that we have so many people in our lives who are just as excited to meet Joaquin as we are.
Many of you have asked about things like visiting the hospital, being present for when he is born and visiting our house after we come home from the hospital.
Here is some preliminary information for everyone:
I will be delivering at Hoag Hospital in Newport Beach. The Hospital is between Superior and Newport Blvd, just up the hill from PCH. The Labor & Delivery department is located on the 5th floor of the main building of the hospital, opposite the main parking structure. The hospital also offers complimentary valet parking. You can go straight up to the 5th floor without checking in with the main desk on the first floor. The hospital has free wifi access, so you can also bring your laptops/iPads. They also allow cell phones.
Either Jay or our doula, Lorraine, will try to periodically update any one who decides to wait at Hoag on our progress throughout labor to the extent possible.
The hospital has a policy that no family members may visit with the new parents/baby for at least 1 hour after the baby is born. This policy is meant to ensure that the baby gets some "skin-to-skin" time with mom and the staff has a chance to complete their basic tests and so forth.
Assuming all is well, we will be moved to the 7th floor of the hospital 2 hours after delivery. This is the "mother-baby" unit. So if you want to forego the waiting room and come to visit later, this is where you will find us. Under normal circumstances, mothers stay on the 7th floor anywhere from 2-5 days. You can call Hoag directly to check that I am still there and able to take visitors, or you can give Jay a call on his cell phone.
After we return home, Jay is planning to take 2 weeks off from work, so I will not be alone. We plan to use this time to bond as a family as much as possible and also to allow me to recover physically. Visits from family members are welcome at this time, but our home is just far too small for any overnight visitors in the guest room. So, for our out-of-town family members who would like to visit, we highly recommend the Best Western Newport Beach, which is walking distance from our place. If you'd prefer a nicer hotel that is only a 5 minute drive away, we recommend the Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach, which is just north of our place on PCH.
If you have any questions, please let either Jay or me know. We hope that anyone who wants to visit will be able to do so!
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Home from L&D!
Yay! I was allowed to go home! I am so relieved.
The fetal fibronectin test came back negative, which is great news. I was still registering more contractions than the doctor was happy with, even though I had recently taken my Procardia.
So, I was read the riot act by my nurse (who, by the way, was just the coolest nurse ever) about taking it easy, drinking water, taking my pills, and staying on the couch as much as possible. I'm not even allowed to go to the grocery store any more.
I was given two more shots of terbutaline, which made me really jittery and had my heart going all over again. I was also told to up my dosage of Procardia at home and take it every 6 hours, even if I didn't think I was having contractions.
I was there for about 3.5 hours. Thank goodness my awesome husband came and kept me company.
The fetal fibronectin test came back negative, which is great news. I was still registering more contractions than the doctor was happy with, even though I had recently taken my Procardia.
So, I was read the riot act by my nurse (who, by the way, was just the coolest nurse ever) about taking it easy, drinking water, taking my pills, and staying on the couch as much as possible. I'm not even allowed to go to the grocery store any more.
I was given two more shots of terbutaline, which made me really jittery and had my heart going all over again. I was also told to up my dosage of Procardia at home and take it every 6 hours, even if I didn't think I was having contractions.
I was there for about 3.5 hours. Thank goodness my awesome husband came and kept me company.
Ticker Change Thursday - 33 Weeks
Joaquin is 33 weeks today and about the size of a honeydew melon. He's rapidly losing that wrinkled, alien look and his skeleton is hardening. The bones in his skull aren't fused together, which allows them to move and slightly overlap, thus making it easier for him to fit through the birth canal. (The pressure on the head during birth is so intense that many babies are born with a conehead-like appearance.) These bones don't entirely fuse until early adulthood, so they can grow as his brain and other tissue expands during infancy and childhood.
How far along? 33 weeks
Weight gain/loss: I'm up a total of 30 pounds.
Sleep? I wake up a ton to pee, but otherwise sleep is fine. However, I am now a apparently quite talented at snoring, which is making it hard for Jay to sleep (even with all of the training from Bananas!)
Best moment this week? Jay and I were watching Dexter last night and it was really good!
Movement: He's moving all over the place, which is so reassuring.
Food cravings: Brownies and cottage cheese.
What I miss? Not worrying about a premature delivery.
What I am looking forward to? Hopefully some good news this evening.
Milestones: I'm one week away from 34 weeks, which is when my OB says that babies tend to do really well if they are born.
What I'm nervous about: I have a lot of work to do by Monday and I have a stressful afternoon coming up. I am wondering how I am going to juggle all of this.
Back to L&D this afternoon
I think it's going to be a Thursday ritual for me or something! I have gone to L&D on Thursday 3 weeks in a row.
I went to see my OB this morning and she was concerned about my cervical length (which is down to 2.6-2.8cm, from 3.1 last week and 3.3 two weeks ago - I had an u/s to check this yesterday afternoon).
So, I have to go back to L&D and have the fetal fibronectin test again and be monitored for contractions.
If the test is negative and all looks fine, then I can go back home and resume what I've been doing for the last week.
If the test is positive, then I am going to be admitted to L&D for at least 72 hours and will get steroids just in case.
I hope it comes back negative!
Wish me luck.
I went to see my OB this morning and she was concerned about my cervical length (which is down to 2.6-2.8cm, from 3.1 last week and 3.3 two weeks ago - I had an u/s to check this yesterday afternoon).
So, I have to go back to L&D and have the fetal fibronectin test again and be monitored for contractions.
If the test is negative and all looks fine, then I can go back home and resume what I've been doing for the last week.
If the test is positive, then I am going to be admitted to L&D for at least 72 hours and will get steroids just in case.
I hope it comes back negative!
Wish me luck.
Sunday, September 26, 2010
Late Update on OB Appointment
I went to see my OB on Friday afternoon and the news is as follows:
1. No going into work for at least 3 weeks (until I am 35 weeks), except for one meeting I have scheduled on Wednesday.
2. I am supposed to get another U/S this Wednesday to check and make sure I am not dialated or effaced. I have another U/S 2 weeks later to check growth as well.
3. If at 35 weeks I am not dialated or effaced and everything else looks good, I might be allowed to go back to the office. I will also have to pass the fetal fibronectin test again at 35 weeks.
4. I am NOT on bedrest, but I am supposed to take it easy at home as much as possible.
1. No going into work for at least 3 weeks (until I am 35 weeks), except for one meeting I have scheduled on Wednesday.
2. I am supposed to get another U/S this Wednesday to check and make sure I am not dialated or effaced. I have another U/S 2 weeks later to check growth as well.
3. If at 35 weeks I am not dialated or effaced and everything else looks good, I might be allowed to go back to the office. I will also have to pass the fetal fibronectin test again at 35 weeks.
4. I am NOT on bedrest, but I am supposed to take it easy at home as much as possible.
Friday, September 24, 2010
Oh - I forgot
My official "diagnosis" from the hospital yesterday was an "irritable uterus", which Dr. Google has told me is something that the scientific community knows little to nothing about. It is basically a condition where a uterus likes to contract a lot and can be caused by many different things (and likely some things that are yet undiscovered) and is not really "curable".
It is linked to a slightly higher chance of premature birth (18% or so versus the normal 11%) and is usually treated with bed rest, terbutaline, prometrium or a combination of these things.
It is linked to a slightly higher chance of premature birth (18% or so versus the normal 11%) and is usually treated with bed rest, terbutaline, prometrium or a combination of these things.
Here we go again
Ever since last Thursday, I've been writing down my contractions to sort of keep track of how often I'm having them and make sure they don't increase in frequency. In general, I was having somewhere between 3-5 per hour (that I noticed).
Yesterday at work I noticed that I was having more than usual. After lunch, I started writing them down and, sure enough, I had 9 in the next hour. Hmmmmm..... So, I thought it was probably a good idea to call my OB's office and see what she said. I had been drinking tons of water and getting plenty of sleep, so I knew that was not the issue.
When I talked to nurse, she said that my doctor wanted me to go back over the Hoag to be monitored again. So, off I went. Again.
I arrived at the hospital at about 4:30 and was quickly hooked up to fetal monitors. One monitor tracks the baby's heart beat and the other tracks my contractions. After about 45 minutes or so, the nurse said "So, how many contractions did you say you were feeling an hour?" I told her about 8 or 9 that afternoon. She said "Well, you are actually having a contraction every 2 minutes, so about 30 an hour." Holy smokes.
The contractions were mostly small contractions, which is why I didn't really even notice most of them, with a few big ones mixed in (the ones I was feeling). After watching the monitor, I started to notice what the small ones felt like too.
Next the nurse gave me an injection of Terbutaline, which is a drug used to prevent or delay premature labor. She warned me that it would cause my heart to beat faster. About 10 minutes later, my heart was racing and my hands were shaking, but my contractions had completely stopped. I felt like I had just downed about 5 red bulls.
They continued to monitor me and they also had me go for another quick ultrasound to check my cervix, which, thankfully, was not dilated or effaced. A very good thing.
I was still having some contractions on the monitor about an hour after my injection, so the nurse gave me one more, which caused my heart to race all over again. Jay said I was acting extremely hyper. After the second injection, I had to stay in bed being monitored for another hour. They brought me dinner (a dry turkey sandwich on wheat - something most people would hate but I actually liked) with some grapes and fruit juice. We hung out for an hour, after which the doctors and nurses were satisfied that I was no longer having contractions and I was discharged.
I was given a prescription for Procardia, another drug prescribed to stop contractions and premature labor. I am supposed to start taking it if I start feeling contractions again. So far, I haven't felt any.
I was also told not to go to work today or Monday and to get an appointment with my OB as soon as possible to discuss what sort of work privileges I would have for the next 3 weeks. The doctors are really only concerned with preventing premature labor until I reach 35 weeks. After that, if I start having real contractions they will not stop them, so going back to work might be allowed without restriction. I guess the next 3 weeks are just critical to get through.
Update: I got an appointment today at my OB's office at 2:45. I'll update on what she says after that.
Yesterday at work I noticed that I was having more than usual. After lunch, I started writing them down and, sure enough, I had 9 in the next hour. Hmmmmm..... So, I thought it was probably a good idea to call my OB's office and see what she said. I had been drinking tons of water and getting plenty of sleep, so I knew that was not the issue.
When I talked to nurse, she said that my doctor wanted me to go back over the Hoag to be monitored again. So, off I went. Again.
I arrived at the hospital at about 4:30 and was quickly hooked up to fetal monitors. One monitor tracks the baby's heart beat and the other tracks my contractions. After about 45 minutes or so, the nurse said "So, how many contractions did you say you were feeling an hour?" I told her about 8 or 9 that afternoon. She said "Well, you are actually having a contraction every 2 minutes, so about 30 an hour." Holy smokes.
The contractions were mostly small contractions, which is why I didn't really even notice most of them, with a few big ones mixed in (the ones I was feeling). After watching the monitor, I started to notice what the small ones felt like too.
Next the nurse gave me an injection of Terbutaline, which is a drug used to prevent or delay premature labor. She warned me that it would cause my heart to beat faster. About 10 minutes later, my heart was racing and my hands were shaking, but my contractions had completely stopped. I felt like I had just downed about 5 red bulls.
They continued to monitor me and they also had me go for another quick ultrasound to check my cervix, which, thankfully, was not dilated or effaced. A very good thing.
I was still having some contractions on the monitor about an hour after my injection, so the nurse gave me one more, which caused my heart to race all over again. Jay said I was acting extremely hyper. After the second injection, I had to stay in bed being monitored for another hour. They brought me dinner (a dry turkey sandwich on wheat - something most people would hate but I actually liked) with some grapes and fruit juice. We hung out for an hour, after which the doctors and nurses were satisfied that I was no longer having contractions and I was discharged.
I was given a prescription for Procardia, another drug prescribed to stop contractions and premature labor. I am supposed to start taking it if I start feeling contractions again. So far, I haven't felt any.
I was also told not to go to work today or Monday and to get an appointment with my OB as soon as possible to discuss what sort of work privileges I would have for the next 3 weeks. The doctors are really only concerned with preventing premature labor until I reach 35 weeks. After that, if I start having real contractions they will not stop them, so going back to work might be allowed without restriction. I guess the next 3 weeks are just critical to get through.
Update: I got an appointment today at my OB's office at 2:45. I'll update on what she says after that.
Thursday, September 23, 2010
Ticker Change Thursday - 32 Weeks
Joaquin is 32 weeks today and still about the size of a squash. He sleeps 90-95% of the day, and sometimes experiences REM sleep, an indication of dreaming. He is head-down, which is great news. This week his movements will peak. The wrinkles in his face are disappearing and fat is still being deposited throughout his body. The body growth slows down from now on. Because of the lack of space in the uterus, the legs are drawn up in what is known as the fetal position. As a preparation for breastfeeding, he has already learned to root for the breast. The baby will turn its head if touched on the cheek and open its mouth if the bottom lip is tickled. By this time the baby can also suck and swallow in a coordinated way.
How far along? 32 weeks
Weight gain/loss: I'm up a total of 29 pounds.
Sleep? Other than waking up 6+ times a night to pee, sleep is pretty good these days.
Best moment this week? Hmmm.... I think the end of the work day on Friday will qualify.
Movement: I'm getting a lot of kicking to my ribs these days.
Food cravings: Still salad. And milk.
What I miss? My real wardrobe.
What I am looking forward to? Only 7 more weeks of work. I'm really looking forward to that last day. It can't get here soon enough.
Milestones: We have less than 2 months left now!
What I'm nervous about: I guess I'm a bit nervous about how I am going to hang in at work for the next 7 weeks. I have a shorter fuse than normal these days and some clients are really pushing my limits. I sort of thought people would stop giving me new work right about now but I was definitely mistaken. Oh well.
Friday, September 17, 2010
Thursday, September 16, 2010
Well, I had an interesting morning
I had heard my mommy friends talk about Braxton Hicks contractions (which, for this post, I'll shorten to BH contrax). I had read about them in all of my baby books. But, to be honest, I had absolutely no idea what they really felt like. My OB told me about a month ago that I might start feeling them and to go to Hoag's Labor & Delivery center ("L&D") if I had 4 or more BH contrax in 1 hour.
Well, if you don't really know the difference between strange baby movements (i.e., pushing his butt out) and a contraction, it is easy to just sort of ignore BH contrax and pass them off as movement.
Yesterday, after my return to work, I started feeling a lot of these strange movements and I thought, "Hmmmmmm....maybe these are those BH contrax. And, if they are, I've definitely been having them sort of regularly and today I am having them about 4-7 times per hour." I had a regular check-up scheduled this morning with my OB so I thought I'd just ask her when I got there what a real BH contrax feels like and didn't worry about it too much. I wasn't in any pain or anything.
Jay went with me to my appointment this morning. On the drive over I felt those same "strange movements/possible BH contrax". Then, sure enough, when the OB was talking to me, I felt it again. So, I asked her to feel my stomach and tell me if it was just the baby moving or if I was having a contraction. She said it was a contraction and then asked how frequently I was feeling them.
Somewhat embarrassed by my lack of knowledge, I admitted that I had been having a lot of them - in fact 3 in the last 30 minutes.
So, she told me I was to go straight to L&D to be admitted and tested.... for at least 2 hours. Yikes.
Off I went. I checked in and they hooked me up to two fetal monitors - one that tracks the baby's heartrate and another that tracks contractions. They did a urine test and another test (I can't remember the name), which basically tested to see if I was producing a hormone that women start to produce within the last two weeks before they go into labor. They also did an ultrasound to check my cervix and make sure it was not dilated or effaced. So, now I've had a whopping 8 ultrasounds during this pregnancy! No pictures this time though.
The tests showed that I was, indeed, having contractions. But they were not too frequent when I was laying down in the hospital bed (about 2 an hour), I was not producing the labor hormone (yay), I was not dilated or effaced (big yay), baby's head is still down (phew) and the cause of the contractions is a mild UTI, for which I was prescribed antibiotics.
So, all in all, it was a relief to see that I was not headed into pre-term labor and to also find a cause for the contractions. The L&D doctor forbid me from going to work for the rest of the day, even after I explained that I sit at a desk for work. I am allowed to work from home, but no going to the office. I can go in tomorrow.
I suspect that my OB is going to talk to me about either reducing my hours or working from home very soon. Neither sounds that terrible at this point. I just don't want her to make me stop working (and earning money) all together.
As soon as I left the hospital and went to the pharmacy, I started having regular BH contrax again, so I guess the doctor was spot on telling me to go home and relax. The BH contrax seem to disappear when I am sitting in bed, even if I am working on my computer.
Well, if you don't really know the difference between strange baby movements (i.e., pushing his butt out) and a contraction, it is easy to just sort of ignore BH contrax and pass them off as movement.
Yesterday, after my return to work, I started feeling a lot of these strange movements and I thought, "Hmmmmmm....maybe these are those BH contrax. And, if they are, I've definitely been having them sort of regularly and today I am having them about 4-7 times per hour." I had a regular check-up scheduled this morning with my OB so I thought I'd just ask her when I got there what a real BH contrax feels like and didn't worry about it too much. I wasn't in any pain or anything.
Jay went with me to my appointment this morning. On the drive over I felt those same "strange movements/possible BH contrax". Then, sure enough, when the OB was talking to me, I felt it again. So, I asked her to feel my stomach and tell me if it was just the baby moving or if I was having a contraction. She said it was a contraction and then asked how frequently I was feeling them.
Somewhat embarrassed by my lack of knowledge, I admitted that I had been having a lot of them - in fact 3 in the last 30 minutes.
So, she told me I was to go straight to L&D to be admitted and tested.... for at least 2 hours. Yikes.
Off I went. I checked in and they hooked me up to two fetal monitors - one that tracks the baby's heartrate and another that tracks contractions. They did a urine test and another test (I can't remember the name), which basically tested to see if I was producing a hormone that women start to produce within the last two weeks before they go into labor. They also did an ultrasound to check my cervix and make sure it was not dilated or effaced. So, now I've had a whopping 8 ultrasounds during this pregnancy! No pictures this time though.
The tests showed that I was, indeed, having contractions. But they were not too frequent when I was laying down in the hospital bed (about 2 an hour), I was not producing the labor hormone (yay), I was not dilated or effaced (big yay), baby's head is still down (phew) and the cause of the contractions is a mild UTI, for which I was prescribed antibiotics.
So, all in all, it was a relief to see that I was not headed into pre-term labor and to also find a cause for the contractions. The L&D doctor forbid me from going to work for the rest of the day, even after I explained that I sit at a desk for work. I am allowed to work from home, but no going to the office. I can go in tomorrow.
I suspect that my OB is going to talk to me about either reducing my hours or working from home very soon. Neither sounds that terrible at this point. I just don't want her to make me stop working (and earning money) all together.
As soon as I left the hospital and went to the pharmacy, I started having regular BH contrax again, so I guess the doctor was spot on telling me to go home and relax. The BH contrax seem to disappear when I am sitting in bed, even if I am working on my computer.
Ticker Change Thursday - 31 Weeks!
Joaquin is 31 weeks today and about the size of a squash. By my estimates from our last ultrasound and average weekly growth, Joaquin should be approximately 4 pounds and 1 ounce. Joaquin is busy accumulating layers of fat under his skin. The arms, legs, and body start to fill out and will look less wrinkly as each week progresses. He may be finding the space tighter and tighter at this point.
How far along? 31 weeks
Weight gain/loss: I'm up a total of 29 pounds.
Sleep? Sleep in Spain had its ups and downs. Ups: naps. Downs: universally hard mattresses and no body pillow. I am LOVING sleeping in my bed the last two nights.
Best moment this week? The entire trip to Spain was amazing, but Mia and Nelson's wedding was magical. I just love going to weddings. There is nothing quite as romantic as a wedding ceremony. They always remind me of how much my own marriage means to me.
Movement: Joaquin is moving A LOT the last couple of days. It's almost hard to concentrate on anything else. Jay and I discovered that he really likes to dance to classical Spanish music.
Food cravings: Salad, of the american variety. Spain had a lot going for it, but it really lacked in the salad department. I ate a huge salad for dinner last night and was a very happy camper.
Belly button in or out? Out and to the right. Now with a slightly blue center. No idea what that's about.
What I miss? Jay's family in Spain and the beautiful architecture of Madrid.
What I am looking forward to? A low key weekend. I need some time to just relax and be quiet.
Milestones: My first trip to Labor & Delivery today. This will warrant a separate post.
What I'm nervous about: Well, after today, I'm nervous about how I am going to make it to at least 37 weeks staying pregnant and how I am going to handle work until then. I'm going to talk to my OB sometime within the next 2 weeks and I suspect she's going to order me to work from home. She was already hinting at it this morning. If that's the case, I am going to have to set up a little home office at our kitchen table. Not exactly my idea of a tidy house, but I guess I can live with it for a while.
Friday, September 3, 2010
SPAIN!
We are headed to Spain tomorrow!! Here's a lovely picture of Almeria, the city where we will spend most of our time while in Spain.
Thursday, September 2, 2010
Ticker Change Thursday - 29 Weeks
Joaquin is 29 weeks today and about the size of a squash! His muscles and lungs will continue to develop and mature in the weeks ahead. His brain is also developing and maturing, with billions of neurons forming daily. He requires more nutrition than ever from 29 weeks pregnant and beyond, so it is important that I eat well and get plenty of sleep during this important developmental period!
How far along? 29 weeks
Weight gain/loss: Remember how I said I'd stick with 27 pounds? Well, I really still have only gained 27 pounds! Yay!
Sleep? I'm looking forward to getting a lot of this in Spain.
Best moment this week? The family baby shower on Saturday was so much fun. It was so nice to get a chance to see everyone!!
Movement: He likes to hang out on my left side, which causes my belly button to point to the right.
Food cravings: Last night it was a root beer float.
Belly button in or out? Out and to the right.
What I miss? Energy.
What I am looking forward to? SPAIN!!!!!!!!!!!! And college football!!!
Milestones: Only 2 1/2 months to go. I can do this. I think.
What I'm nervous about:The plane rides to Spain. I hope I am comfortable, hydrated and well fed.
Friday, August 27, 2010
Thursday, August 26, 2010
Ticker Change Thursday - 28 Weeks
Joaquin is 28 weeks today and still about the size of a large eggplant. He's busy adding new skills such as blinking to an already impressive repertoire of tricks like coughing, sucking, hiccuping, and taking practice breaths. His sleep now includes the REM (rapid eye movement) phase — and that means he could be dreaming already. Though his lungs are nearly fully mature, he still has plenty of growing to do.
How far along? 28 weeks
Weight gain/loss: I might just stick with 27 pounds from here on out.
Sleep? I'd love a little more.
Best moment this week? Seeing our little guy this morning was amazing. I was so happy to see he is healthy and growing. The pictures are just too cute for words.
Movement: Now I know that what I keep feeling is Joaquin rotating his butt from side to side throughout the day. I could not tell if it was his head or butt before.
Food cravings: Mango.
Belly button in or out? Out.
What I miss? A margarita sounds amazing!
What I am looking forward to? Baby shower #2 on Saturday will be fun and relaxing!
Milestones: Joaquin is already head down - this is a great sign!
What I'm nervous about:Getting work done before we leave for Spain.
28 Week Ultrasound Results!! :-)
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Jay and I just finished up with our growth ultrasound to check on baby Joaquin's progress. It was fabulous. Joaquin is measuring ahead in growth! He is 2 pounds 15 ounces and measuring at 29 weeks and 2 days! He is head down already too!
We hope you enjoy these awesome pictures of our little man. I have some black and whites that I will scan later too. We are so in love.
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Baby Shower #1!
Our first baby shower was absolutely wonderful. Hosted by Joaquin's very generous and talented future grandmother, Dayle, and future aunties, Kate and Mia, it was held at The Cannery on Lido on August 15, 2010. Kate did so much work making every detail of the shower perfect and it really showed! It was gorgeous and everyone had a fabulous time.
Monday, August 23, 2010
Lots Going on This Week!
We have a jam-packed week of baby-related events coming up!
Tuesday Evening: We are going to our last Prepared Childbirth class at Hoag. I have been instructed not to sit in the front of the class this time as Jay does not want to be so close to the movie screen when they show diagrams of episiotomies. haha.
Thursday Morning: Our growth ultrasound!!!!! I've been waiting for this for what seems like forever. We haven't seen our little guy in about 8 weeks and I am starting to go through ultrasound withdrawals. We are going back to the high risk center and should hopefully get another great 3D shot of Joaquin to share with you all. Mostly importantly though, we are going to check to make sure his growth is on track.
Thursday Evening: We are meeting with a potential doula. Most of you probably just said to yourselves "What is a doula?" I didn't know about doulas until after I was pregnant, so don't feel bad. Essentially, a doula is a trained birth assistant. They are not doctors, but usually have attended hundreds of births (the one we are interviewing has attended over 300) and they are hired to come to your home when labor begins to help you labor as long as you need at home, then come with you to the hospital to assist once you are there. They generally help you find comfortable positions, help you remember to breath properly, give you massages, help advocate for you at the hospital, and also provide lactation assistance. Doulas also help dads a lot - they tell them what to do and make sure they don't feel clueless or helpless during the process. Jay also thinks I'm much less likely to yell at a doula when she tells me to do something during labor than I would be to yell at him. I think he has a fair point.
If you want to read a little more about doulas, click here for the Wikipedia entry (scientific, I know).
Friday: I have a dental appointment. Hopefully no pregnancy gingivitis for me!
Saturday: Baby shower #2!
Tuesday Evening: We are going to our last Prepared Childbirth class at Hoag. I have been instructed not to sit in the front of the class this time as Jay does not want to be so close to the movie screen when they show diagrams of episiotomies. haha.
Thursday Morning: Our growth ultrasound!!!!! I've been waiting for this for what seems like forever. We haven't seen our little guy in about 8 weeks and I am starting to go through ultrasound withdrawals. We are going back to the high risk center and should hopefully get another great 3D shot of Joaquin to share with you all. Mostly importantly though, we are going to check to make sure his growth is on track.
Thursday Evening: We are meeting with a potential doula. Most of you probably just said to yourselves "What is a doula?" I didn't know about doulas until after I was pregnant, so don't feel bad. Essentially, a doula is a trained birth assistant. They are not doctors, but usually have attended hundreds of births (the one we are interviewing has attended over 300) and they are hired to come to your home when labor begins to help you labor as long as you need at home, then come with you to the hospital to assist once you are there. They generally help you find comfortable positions, help you remember to breath properly, give you massages, help advocate for you at the hospital, and also provide lactation assistance. Doulas also help dads a lot - they tell them what to do and make sure they don't feel clueless or helpless during the process. Jay also thinks I'm much less likely to yell at a doula when she tells me to do something during labor than I would be to yell at him. I think he has a fair point.
If you want to read a little more about doulas, click here for the Wikipedia entry (scientific, I know).
Friday: I have a dental appointment. Hopefully no pregnancy gingivitis for me!
Saturday: Baby shower #2!
Friday, August 20, 2010
Thursday, August 19, 2010
Personal V-Day!
As I mentioned in my previous V-Day post 3 weeks ago, I consider 27 weeks my personal "V-Day" because if Joaquin were to be born anytime now he'd have greater than a 90% chance of survival (with lots of medical help, of course). We hope he stays cooking for at least another 10 weeks, but it is a relief that we have gotten this far without any major issues or pre-term labor scares. Here's hoping the good luck continues!
Ticker Change Thursday - 27 Weeks
Joaquin is 27 weeks today and about the size of an eggplant (yep, we're stuck with the same fruit for a few weeks again). He is about 14 1/2 inches long with his legs extended. He's sleeping and waking at regular intervals, opening and closing his eyes, and perhaps even sucking his fingers. With more brain tissue developing, Joaquin's brain is very active now. While his lungs are still immature, they would be capable of functioning — with a lot of medical help — if he were to be born now. Baby hiccups may be common from now on.
How far along? 27 weeks
Weight gain/loss: Um, well, I'm debating whether I should still answer this question. (whispers: 27 pounds).
Sleep? The last week has been difficult. My abdominal muscles are literally ripping off of my rib cage at the top of my stomach and I can feel it and it really hurts. So, when I try to sleep it can be somewhat difficult. I'm hoping the pain starts to go away soon.
Best moment this week? My first baby shower was amazing! It was absolutely gorgeous, the food was great and the company was even better. It was absolutely perfect.
Movement:Jay FINALLY felt Joaquin move. That was really exciting!
Food cravings: Spicy chocolate still. I wish I could find some with a bigger kick.
Belly button in or out? Out.
What I miss? Being able to buckle my own shoes with ease.
What I am looking forward to? Jay and I have no concrete plans this weekend, which is a big change. I'm excited at all of the possibilities (including naps!).
Milestones: I'm in my third trimester! 2 months and 30 days left!
What I'm nervous about:The flight to Spain in a couple weeks.
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
I passed!
I passed my glucose tolerance test, which means no gestational diabetes for me. Yay! Failing means taking a 3 hour version of the test (i.e., drinking that nasty drink again and sitting in the lab for 3 hours, without being able to leave, before they draw blood). Failure of the 3 hour test would mean a trip to a nutrionist and some serious changes to my diet for the rest of the pregnancy. I'm so relieved I can skip all of that!
Do you know what today is?!?!
The first day of my 3rd trimester!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Yay!!! Slowly but surely, we are getting closer to meeting our little man. Come on November - get here soon!
Yay!!! Slowly but surely, we are getting closer to meeting our little man. Come on November - get here soon!
Friday, August 13, 2010
Thursday, August 12, 2010
Ticker Change Thursday - 26 Weeks
Joaquin is 26 weeks along and about the size of an eggplant. He now weighs a full two pounds and measures nine-plus inches. And this week, his eyes, which until now were developing under fused eyelids, start to open. Of course, there's not much to see in there, but if he spots a bright light (or hears a loud noise) near your belly, he might start moving around because his brain is getting more fully developed and sophisticated.
How far along? 26 weeks
Weight gain/loss: 22 pounds last time I checked.
Sleep? This is getting harder and harder. I'm just not very comfortable anymore.
Best moment this week? It's been a boring week.
Movement: I'm starting to track the movements now with a kick-counting app on my iPhone. It's sort of fun!
Food cravings: Spicy chocolate.
Belly button in or out? Out.
What I miss? Sleeping on my stomach.
What I am looking forward to? My first baby shower on Sunday!
Milestones: Less than 100 days left!!!
What I'm nervous about: Maintaining my energy. I have nothing left at the end of my work day.
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