So, I went to the maternity store the other night in search of a maternity support belt that I thought would help ease that straining I was feeling in my belly every night. I tried one on, and realised that it was not going to do what I wanted it to do, and baby did not like it at all. Well, he either didnt like it or he was just kicking out of reflex- we'll never know.
Anyway, I told the saleswoman what I wanted it for and she said that it would not help with that at all. It is meant for back pain during the day. Looking back, I should have bought it anyway, for that reason. My back has really been hurting lately.. usually in the evening.
The saleswoman told me the same thing anyone else I ask tells me- use a pillow under your belly at night. The problem with this is that pillows are usually to big and it makes me even more uncomfortable. I tried using a folded up towel, and that worked for a little while but still wasnt right.
So I went over to Walmart to see if they had a body pillow or something that was at least thinner than what Ive been trying. I found this little travel pillow that was only three dollars. It looks just like a regular pillow only tiny. I figured I had nothing to lose since it was so cheap.
It turns out that that little pillow is just a dream come true for me, and I would recommend it to anyone with this problem. The last two nights have been the best night sleep I have had in 6 months. My belly doesnt hurt anymore when I shift from left side to right, and it doesnt hurt when I get up in the morning. How wonderful..................
Friday, January 29, 2010
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Glucose test
I had my glucose test this afternoon, and it went really well. I was a little nervous about it because there are a few mums on the forum I read who said they got really sick and dizzy during it.
I didnt have any trouble at all. You drink a bottle of something that looks and tastes like orange pop, only doesnt taste as sweet as that. You have to drink it in five minutes, and then one hour later they take some blood.
If I pass it then it means I dont have gestational diabetes. If I fail it then I have to take another test only that one is three hours instead of one. I dont see any reason why I wouldnt pass this one, though. Im not over weight, I dont have high blood pressure, and baby is measuring smaller rather than bigger. All good signs that I dont have GD.
I have to go to the maternity shop this afternoon, and try to find a belly support belt. I had a really bad night last night and when I woke up this morning I felt like the muscles in the very front of my lower tummy were all ripped... it didnt feel good.
They tell me I cant sleep on my back, so it has to be one side or the other. I flip back and forth constantly all night. Pillows are too thick to support my belly so the past week or so I have started using a folded up towel instead. That helps a bit, but Im beginning to think maybe a belt would be even better.
What happens is when I lay on my side for a little bit everything stretches to that side, including baby. He gets comfy and curled up in one spot and then when I move to the other side, hes still curled up in that same spot. It pulls, and hurts a fair bit. It is funny looking, though, because when I lay on my back on the way to rolling to my other side, my belly is all hard and lopsided. Baby moves when Dan rubs my belly, but not when I rub it.
So, my idea is that if I wear a support belt to bed it might be less painful when I switch from side to side. Baby cant be more than 1 or 1 1/2 lbs at this point... I just keep wondering what its going to feel like when he is 6,7, or 8 lbs. My belly is already pretty big, so I think Im going to look pretty ridiculous by the time Im 8 or 9 months. :-) Not that I mind. We're excited to have him with us, and cant wait to see his little face.
I didnt have any trouble at all. You drink a bottle of something that looks and tastes like orange pop, only doesnt taste as sweet as that. You have to drink it in five minutes, and then one hour later they take some blood.
If I pass it then it means I dont have gestational diabetes. If I fail it then I have to take another test only that one is three hours instead of one. I dont see any reason why I wouldnt pass this one, though. Im not over weight, I dont have high blood pressure, and baby is measuring smaller rather than bigger. All good signs that I dont have GD.
I have to go to the maternity shop this afternoon, and try to find a belly support belt. I had a really bad night last night and when I woke up this morning I felt like the muscles in the very front of my lower tummy were all ripped... it didnt feel good.
They tell me I cant sleep on my back, so it has to be one side or the other. I flip back and forth constantly all night. Pillows are too thick to support my belly so the past week or so I have started using a folded up towel instead. That helps a bit, but Im beginning to think maybe a belt would be even better.
What happens is when I lay on my side for a little bit everything stretches to that side, including baby. He gets comfy and curled up in one spot and then when I move to the other side, hes still curled up in that same spot. It pulls, and hurts a fair bit. It is funny looking, though, because when I lay on my back on the way to rolling to my other side, my belly is all hard and lopsided. Baby moves when Dan rubs my belly, but not when I rub it.
So, my idea is that if I wear a support belt to bed it might be less painful when I switch from side to side. Baby cant be more than 1 or 1 1/2 lbs at this point... I just keep wondering what its going to feel like when he is 6,7, or 8 lbs. My belly is already pretty big, so I think Im going to look pretty ridiculous by the time Im 8 or 9 months. :-) Not that I mind. We're excited to have him with us, and cant wait to see his little face.
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Undiagnosed.......
We had the appt with the obgyn this morning, and the latest is that I no longer have Placenta Previa. She said it has moved away from the cervix, and is now considered a low lying placenta. It is approx 3 cm away from the cervix now instead of partially covering it.
She also says there is no sign of Vasa Previa. I am now considered a normal, healthy pregnancy and can expect a vaginal birth. I can slowly get back into exercise again, and am off pelvic rest. This is all wonderful news, of course, but now we both have this lingering worry about the Vasa Previa because it is such a dangerous condition and nothing to play with. We're not really sure how they can go from saying everything they did in the beginning, and now saying that we dont have it.
We also had an appt with our family dr this afternoon to see what she thinks of it all. The records and reports that were sent to her were very messy and almost unreadable but from what she could gather, there never was a certainty that we had Vasa Previa. That it was just likely that I had it.
She is going to contact the radiologist and find out exactly what the findings were, and get a more clear report of what went on. We should be hearing back from her within a week.
So we are happy on one hand, and still a little leery on the other hand. I think depending on what the family dr says when she gets back to us, we should at least ask for another ultrasound or something.
The obgyn also told us that the baby is measuring small. She said he is in the 29th percentile, which means if he was in a room with 100 babies his age- there would be 70 bigger than him and 20 smaller than him. She didnt seem at all concerned, and said that its actually better because you dont want a really big baby, right?
Im supposed to go next week for my glucose test which determines if you have gestational diabetes. You have to go to the lab and drink an orange pop type of sugar drink and then an hour later they test your blood.
At any rate, that is all the news for now. I feel really good. My appetite is getting pretty enormous, but thats to be expected. My cravings are still really healthy, though. Pretty much still citrus fruit, especially clementines. My weight gain is on track, and baby boy is healthy and thriving.
She also says there is no sign of Vasa Previa. I am now considered a normal, healthy pregnancy and can expect a vaginal birth. I can slowly get back into exercise again, and am off pelvic rest. This is all wonderful news, of course, but now we both have this lingering worry about the Vasa Previa because it is such a dangerous condition and nothing to play with. We're not really sure how they can go from saying everything they did in the beginning, and now saying that we dont have it.
We also had an appt with our family dr this afternoon to see what she thinks of it all. The records and reports that were sent to her were very messy and almost unreadable but from what she could gather, there never was a certainty that we had Vasa Previa. That it was just likely that I had it.
She is going to contact the radiologist and find out exactly what the findings were, and get a more clear report of what went on. We should be hearing back from her within a week.
So we are happy on one hand, and still a little leery on the other hand. I think depending on what the family dr says when she gets back to us, we should at least ask for another ultrasound or something.
The obgyn also told us that the baby is measuring small. She said he is in the 29th percentile, which means if he was in a room with 100 babies his age- there would be 70 bigger than him and 20 smaller than him. She didnt seem at all concerned, and said that its actually better because you dont want a really big baby, right?
Im supposed to go next week for my glucose test which determines if you have gestational diabetes. You have to go to the lab and drink an orange pop type of sugar drink and then an hour later they test your blood.
At any rate, that is all the news for now. I feel really good. My appetite is getting pretty enormous, but thats to be expected. My cravings are still really healthy, though. Pretty much still citrus fruit, especially clementines. My weight gain is on track, and baby boy is healthy and thriving.
Saturday, January 16, 2010
2 weeks until third trimester
So Ive noticed that my pregnancy seems to be going very fast. Im 24 weeks 6 days today. I have a little chart on my fridge that breaks up the weeks into months and trimesters, and I was looking at it today and realised that in two weeks I will be in the third trimester..... I cant believe that.
Ive been getting more uncomfortable lately, so I guess it makes sense. Im farther into this than I actually realized. D-day is quickly approaching. lol My lower back has been hurting alot, and I have no bendability at all in my middle (thats been gone for quite awhile, actually). If something drops on the floor, or especially on the floor of the car when Im in it- it stays there. lol
Im trying to get things organized as much as possible. I am really in big time nesting mode right now. I think we have pretty much decided on cloth diapers so I need to talk to the diaper service we're going to use, and also try to find the right type of diaper covers for him. Some of them look so uncomfortable, so hopefully we can find something that wont be too bad for him. Its also hard to buy things like that yet because we dont know if hes going to be a preemie or not.
Im hoping we get a definite diagnosis on Wednesday about the vasa previa issue because I would like to start looking at his coming home outfit. I think we'll do a nice sleeper, with a knitted sweater/hat set to match it. I want him to be comfortable in whatever it is. Again though, I have to wait in case he is a preemie.
Anyway, we're anxiously waiting for that appt on Wednesday. I tried to get in earlier but she snot in on Monday, and she is in surgery all day Tuesday. I did make an appt with our family dr for the afternoon on Wednesday so that we can see what her thoughts are on everything, and to let her know about all of this. We havent seen her since this diagnosis was actually made, so she has no idea. Also, if the obgyn appt doesnt go well, we want our family dr to send us for a second opinion.
I probably wont be writing now until Wednesday or Thursday. Hopefully it is with good news!
Ive been getting more uncomfortable lately, so I guess it makes sense. Im farther into this than I actually realized. D-day is quickly approaching. lol My lower back has been hurting alot, and I have no bendability at all in my middle (thats been gone for quite awhile, actually). If something drops on the floor, or especially on the floor of the car when Im in it- it stays there. lol
Im trying to get things organized as much as possible. I am really in big time nesting mode right now. I think we have pretty much decided on cloth diapers so I need to talk to the diaper service we're going to use, and also try to find the right type of diaper covers for him. Some of them look so uncomfortable, so hopefully we can find something that wont be too bad for him. Its also hard to buy things like that yet because we dont know if hes going to be a preemie or not.
Im hoping we get a definite diagnosis on Wednesday about the vasa previa issue because I would like to start looking at his coming home outfit. I think we'll do a nice sleeper, with a knitted sweater/hat set to match it. I want him to be comfortable in whatever it is. Again though, I have to wait in case he is a preemie.
Anyway, we're anxiously waiting for that appt on Wednesday. I tried to get in earlier but she snot in on Monday, and she is in surgery all day Tuesday. I did make an appt with our family dr for the afternoon on Wednesday so that we can see what her thoughts are on everything, and to let her know about all of this. We havent seen her since this diagnosis was actually made, so she has no idea. Also, if the obgyn appt doesnt go well, we want our family dr to send us for a second opinion.
I probably wont be writing now until Wednesday or Thursday. Hopefully it is with good news!
Sunday, January 10, 2010
Nursery
We're finally getting started on the nursery. We went to Ikea over the weekend and bought the shelving, drawers, and toy boxes that we're using in his closet. Dan is working on that now, and then he will be painting the rest of the room. We're doing a very soft, light blue. It will go best with his crib set and furniture. The crib and change table we registered are white, and the bedding is pastel moon and stars.
We decided on white furniture because the room is really small and we thought anything dark would just make it seem even smaller. One of my brothers bought us a nice glider for our baby shower in Pa, so that will be nice when it gets here.
I definitely am in nesting mode at the moment. I feel really anxious to get everything he needs ready for him. I suppose thats normal.
I will post some pictures of his room when its all finished and ready.
We decided on white furniture because the room is really small and we thought anything dark would just make it seem even smaller. One of my brothers bought us a nice glider for our baby shower in Pa, so that will be nice when it gets here.
I definitely am in nesting mode at the moment. I feel really anxious to get everything he needs ready for him. I suppose thats normal.
I will post some pictures of his room when its all finished and ready.
Friday, January 8, 2010
Wait and see
We went to our appt with the ob yesterday. She now says that they are not certain that I have vasa previa, and that they want to keep an eye on it to see if it changes. The information was kind of wishy washy, with nothing certain.
I do have partial anterior placenta previa, which means the placenta is partially covering the cervix in the back. She says that she wants to watch this and see if it moves up out of the way during the pregnancy. Also, at the same time she will be watching the vasa previa to see if it moves also. (The vasa previa that she says I might not have, that is.)
She also said I have probable velamentous cord insertion.
The last time I went in and was "diagnosed", I was told with certainty that I have these two conditions, that I would be getting an early csection and would be hospitalised several weeks beforehand. Now she is not even sure that I will be having a csection, and says I will not be hospitalised unless I have trouble with bleeding.
I cannot worry about this the way I have been because it just makes it that much harder on me. I have to wait every three weeks to have the ultrasounds that will "keep an eye on it". Over the past two weeks I had to condition my mind that I would be having a csection, and now I have to recondition it that I may be having a natural childbirth.
Depending on what the next ultrasound shows, I think we will be requesting that our family doctor send us for a second opinion.
On a better note, we had our first Childbirth Education class last night. It went really well, and the instructor is really good. She said it was one of the smallest groups she has ever had- there were four couples including us. She is very thorough and knowledgeable, and hopefully we will learn alot.
I do have partial anterior placenta previa, which means the placenta is partially covering the cervix in the back. She says that she wants to watch this and see if it moves up out of the way during the pregnancy. Also, at the same time she will be watching the vasa previa to see if it moves also. (The vasa previa that she says I might not have, that is.)
She also said I have probable velamentous cord insertion.
The last time I went in and was "diagnosed", I was told with certainty that I have these two conditions, that I would be getting an early csection and would be hospitalised several weeks beforehand. Now she is not even sure that I will be having a csection, and says I will not be hospitalised unless I have trouble with bleeding.
I cannot worry about this the way I have been because it just makes it that much harder on me. I have to wait every three weeks to have the ultrasounds that will "keep an eye on it". Over the past two weeks I had to condition my mind that I would be having a csection, and now I have to recondition it that I may be having a natural childbirth.
Depending on what the next ultrasound shows, I think we will be requesting that our family doctor send us for a second opinion.
On a better note, we had our first Childbirth Education class last night. It went really well, and the instructor is really good. She said it was one of the smallest groups she has ever had- there were four couples including us. She is very thorough and knowledgeable, and hopefully we will learn alot.
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
New appt time
I decided yesterday that I was not going to wait until Jan 20th to get some answers about my situation. I called the obs office and told them that, and also that Im getting myself too worked up over everything the more time goes by. I think what really did it was I looked at our hospitals NICU information on their website and found out that depending on how serious our situation is- we might not even be at our hospital. We might be at a hospital thats an hour or more away, or one thats 45 min or so away.
I want whats best for the baby, but this scares me because if an emergency happened while I was waiting for my scheduled csection and they had to do an emergency csection, Dan would never make it there in time.
So anyway, I see the ob on Thursday. Will write after that and update on what is going on.
I want whats best for the baby, but this scares me because if an emergency happened while I was waiting for my scheduled csection and they had to do an emergency csection, Dan would never make it there in time.
So anyway, I see the ob on Thursday. Will write after that and update on what is going on.
Monday, January 4, 2010
Holidays are over, back to baby prep
Now that the holidays are over, we're trying to get the house and everything back to normal. Its time to really buckle down with the baby's room, and everything that needs to be organized for him (and his possibly early arrival).
We are finishing our registries hopefully this week at Babies R Us and Sears. Our baby shower will probably be in the beginning/mid February. We wanted to have it a little early so that I have time to get things organized before they put me in the hospital.
We decided to paint baby's room very light blue, and Dan is going to build shelves into his closet so that he has somewhere for his clothes, and a toy box at the bottom. His room is really small, so we have to make the most of the space in there.
On New Year's Eve we got to see baby boy move from the outside for the first time. I was sitting on the couch and he gave me a couple of really strong kicks, and I thought to myself- there is no way you cant see those right through my belly. So I lifted up my sweater and sure enough he did it a couple more times. Thankfully Dan was there and he got to see it, he usually misses these things. Baby doesnt always kick that hard, but when he does, he really does.
My next appt is January 20th and I am really anxious about it. I have to have an ultrasound to look at the vasa previa/placenta previa issue on Jan 13th, also. We're more than a little ticked that the Dr just dropped that bomb on me and then didnt even take the time to really explain it very well. We found out alot of our information online and through The International Vasa Previa Foundation.
Ive joined a couple of Vasa Previa groups on facebook, and 1 on Yahoo, so that has been helpful. I have found a couple of women on the facebook group who have delivered babies and had vasa previa. Its nice to have other women to ask questions.
It appears as though the usual way of handling this is hospitalization at around 30 weeks, and csection no later than 35. We will see what the Dr has to say on the 20th, and she had best hope that she has a plan.
We start our Childbirth Education class this week. The first couple of classes wont really be that relevant to us since we are having a c section but it will be nice to meet some other couples who are around the same point in their pregnancies as us.
I contacted a few maternity photographers in the area over the holidays and I think we have decided on one of them. I have to wait until I see what the Dr says about when I will be hospitalized before I can arrange a date for it. We're going to buy a maternity/newborn package, and then we'll have nice pictures of him when he is new also. Im hoping I can make it around 30 weeks but I guess that depends on how everything goes.
I also contacted a Doula who does belly casting. We were going to do it ourselves originally, but its not much more to have her do it-then we dont have to worry about the mess and we know it will be done well by someone who has done it before. Again- Im going to try to wait as long as possible to do that, too, so my belly is nice and big.
Im really hoping that nothing happens to prevent me being able to do one or both of these things. Its really important to me since we're most likely only having one child. I want some beautiful memories to have from it.
I probably wont be writing again now until after my next appt unless something else interesting comes up before then.
We are finishing our registries hopefully this week at Babies R Us and Sears. Our baby shower will probably be in the beginning/mid February. We wanted to have it a little early so that I have time to get things organized before they put me in the hospital.
We decided to paint baby's room very light blue, and Dan is going to build shelves into his closet so that he has somewhere for his clothes, and a toy box at the bottom. His room is really small, so we have to make the most of the space in there.
On New Year's Eve we got to see baby boy move from the outside for the first time. I was sitting on the couch and he gave me a couple of really strong kicks, and I thought to myself- there is no way you cant see those right through my belly. So I lifted up my sweater and sure enough he did it a couple more times. Thankfully Dan was there and he got to see it, he usually misses these things. Baby doesnt always kick that hard, but when he does, he really does.
My next appt is January 20th and I am really anxious about it. I have to have an ultrasound to look at the vasa previa/placenta previa issue on Jan 13th, also. We're more than a little ticked that the Dr just dropped that bomb on me and then didnt even take the time to really explain it very well. We found out alot of our information online and through The International Vasa Previa Foundation.
Ive joined a couple of Vasa Previa groups on facebook, and 1 on Yahoo, so that has been helpful. I have found a couple of women on the facebook group who have delivered babies and had vasa previa. Its nice to have other women to ask questions.
It appears as though the usual way of handling this is hospitalization at around 30 weeks, and csection no later than 35. We will see what the Dr has to say on the 20th, and she had best hope that she has a plan.
We start our Childbirth Education class this week. The first couple of classes wont really be that relevant to us since we are having a c section but it will be nice to meet some other couples who are around the same point in their pregnancies as us.
I contacted a few maternity photographers in the area over the holidays and I think we have decided on one of them. I have to wait until I see what the Dr says about when I will be hospitalized before I can arrange a date for it. We're going to buy a maternity/newborn package, and then we'll have nice pictures of him when he is new also. Im hoping I can make it around 30 weeks but I guess that depends on how everything goes.
I also contacted a Doula who does belly casting. We were going to do it ourselves originally, but its not much more to have her do it-then we dont have to worry about the mess and we know it will be done well by someone who has done it before. Again- Im going to try to wait as long as possible to do that, too, so my belly is nice and big.
Im really hoping that nothing happens to prevent me being able to do one or both of these things. Its really important to me since we're most likely only having one child. I want some beautiful memories to have from it.
I probably wont be writing again now until after my next appt unless something else interesting comes up before then.
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