I had another OB check up this afternoon. Thankfully it went much better than last week's. My blood pressure was down to 138/83. Still a tad high, but better than it was. Bed rest is working. :-) I'm also down four pounds since Thursday... Not sure what that's about.
I was supposed to have a biophysical profile ultrasound today, but the scheduling lady messed up last week and didn't schedule it. So, I go back on Thursday for it and a cervical length check. From the sounds of it, my OB is going to have me do a growth ultrasound every other week and a cervical length check every week until I deliver! I can't say I'm sad about getting to see this baby girl so often. ;-)
Tuesday, August 7, 2012
Friday, August 3, 2012
Bed Rest
Well, it's official. My blood pressure was again elevated at my OB appointment yesterday and it has earned me bed rest for the rest of this pregnancy.
I am 29 and a half weeks. Up another 5lbs since my last appointment (Boo! I'm thinking of standing backwards on the scale so I will not be so depressed seeing that number go up every time). Zoey is looking good though! She was very active and her heartbeat was up in the 150bpm.
When I first got back for the cervical length check ultrasound, the u/s (ultrasound) tech took my blood pressure. It was 140/95. Not great, not good at all. My cervix is holding strong at 3.75cm, though it is shorter than it was two weeks ago (was over 4cm). However, my OB is not concerned about that at this point. After the u/s, my BP was still up at 138/94. So, the "lay around more" talk that I got two weeks ago became "lay around ALL the time, until delivery" yesterday.
She is thinking I'm in the early stages of pre-eclampsia. While I do not have any protein in my urine at this point (pre-e is diagnosed by high blood pressure and the presence of protein in urine in pregnancy), she is going to be very proactive to try and make sure baby and I stay healthy. She made me lay on my side at the end of my appointment and then took my blood pressure again before letting me leave. Thankfully laying on my side got my BP down to 118/78. That also reaffirmed to my OB that bed rest is what I need to do to keep my BP down. She also had me stop by the lab to get some blood drawn to get a baseline of what my levels are now. That way if my BP/health gets worse, they have something to compare everything.
Then, and this was the scary part, she sent me over to the Birthing Center/Labor & Delivery to get the first of two shots of Celestone. Celestone is a steroid shot given to me to try and help mature Zoey's lungs faster. In case she has to be delivered pre-term. Because the only cure for pre-eclampsia is delivering the baby. I'm not yet 30 weeks, and a pregnancy is supposed to last 40 weeks! I am not in danger of having to deliver Zoey yet. But my OB said she wanted to be more safe than sorry. As she put it, she would rather look back and say, "I'm glad we went ahead and did those shots," than "Man, I wish we had done the steroid shots when we had the chance."
It was emotionally hard walking past the nursery on the way to the L&D desk. That is where Zane stayed for a week after his birth. Walking past it yesterday on the way to get that shot was like a blow to my heart. Because Zoey may have to spend some time there. What is even more frightening is that I can't deliver in Kokomo until I hit 34 weeks. If I have to deliver before 34 weeks, they will send me to Indianapolis. This is because Kokomo is not equipped to handle a premature baby before 34 weeks due to the respiratory support most likely to be needed. So obviously I want to keep Zoey cooking as long as possible. But should she come too early, and I have to deliver in Indianapolis, she would have to stay in the NICU down there for some time. How much time depends on when she came and how well she does once she's here. But ANY time is too much. Because I would be 45 minutes away from my home, from Zane, from Jeremy. I can't imagine having to spend time away from my son. :-(
But anyway, at this point I'm just on bedrest. I can stress and worry about all the what-ifs all day long. It won't change anything. One thing I am thankful for is that I already work from home. So we are not losing my paycheck or anything by my being on bedrest. I was already on a modified bedrest anyway!
I am 29 and a half weeks. Up another 5lbs since my last appointment (Boo! I'm thinking of standing backwards on the scale so I will not be so depressed seeing that number go up every time). Zoey is looking good though! She was very active and her heartbeat was up in the 150bpm.
When I first got back for the cervical length check ultrasound, the u/s (ultrasound) tech took my blood pressure. It was 140/95. Not great, not good at all. My cervix is holding strong at 3.75cm, though it is shorter than it was two weeks ago (was over 4cm). However, my OB is not concerned about that at this point. After the u/s, my BP was still up at 138/94. So, the "lay around more" talk that I got two weeks ago became "lay around ALL the time, until delivery" yesterday.
She is thinking I'm in the early stages of pre-eclampsia. While I do not have any protein in my urine at this point (pre-e is diagnosed by high blood pressure and the presence of protein in urine in pregnancy), she is going to be very proactive to try and make sure baby and I stay healthy. She made me lay on my side at the end of my appointment and then took my blood pressure again before letting me leave. Thankfully laying on my side got my BP down to 118/78. That also reaffirmed to my OB that bed rest is what I need to do to keep my BP down. She also had me stop by the lab to get some blood drawn to get a baseline of what my levels are now. That way if my BP/health gets worse, they have something to compare everything.
Then, and this was the scary part, she sent me over to the Birthing Center/Labor & Delivery to get the first of two shots of Celestone. Celestone is a steroid shot given to me to try and help mature Zoey's lungs faster. In case she has to be delivered pre-term. Because the only cure for pre-eclampsia is delivering the baby. I'm not yet 30 weeks, and a pregnancy is supposed to last 40 weeks! I am not in danger of having to deliver Zoey yet. But my OB said she wanted to be more safe than sorry. As she put it, she would rather look back and say, "I'm glad we went ahead and did those shots," than "Man, I wish we had done the steroid shots when we had the chance."
It was emotionally hard walking past the nursery on the way to the L&D desk. That is where Zane stayed for a week after his birth. Walking past it yesterday on the way to get that shot was like a blow to my heart. Because Zoey may have to spend some time there. What is even more frightening is that I can't deliver in Kokomo until I hit 34 weeks. If I have to deliver before 34 weeks, they will send me to Indianapolis. This is because Kokomo is not equipped to handle a premature baby before 34 weeks due to the respiratory support most likely to be needed. So obviously I want to keep Zoey cooking as long as possible. But should she come too early, and I have to deliver in Indianapolis, she would have to stay in the NICU down there for some time. How much time depends on when she came and how well she does once she's here. But ANY time is too much. Because I would be 45 minutes away from my home, from Zane, from Jeremy. I can't imagine having to spend time away from my son. :-(
But anyway, at this point I'm just on bedrest. I can stress and worry about all the what-ifs all day long. It won't change anything. One thing I am thankful for is that I already work from home. So we are not losing my paycheck or anything by my being on bedrest. I was already on a modified bedrest anyway!
Tuesday, July 24, 2012
28 weeks
Whoops. :-) I've been a bad blogger! It has been six weeks since my last post! My apologies for the one or two readers I have. lol
How far along? 28 weeks and 1 day
Total weight gain/loss? I think I'm up about 17lbs now. :-(
Maternity clothes? Oh yes.
Sleep? I had a bout of insomnia a few weeks ago. I could not fall asleep and stay asleep for several days. Thankfully my sleeping has improved since then.
Best moment last week? I had a growth ultrasound last Thursday! Baby girl is looking awesome - and is definitely still a girl!
Movement? Lots of it!
Gender? GIRL!!
Labor signs? I have the occasional Braxton Hicks contraction, some days more than others. They've all gone away with water and laying down to rest though, so we're doing okay there.
Belly button in/out? Neither, it is flat!
What I miss: Being able to breathe. Being able to play with Zane like I want to, but can't because I get so out of breath so easily.
What I am looking forward to: Family reunion this weekend. I actually have to choose one to go to, because two sides are having theirs on the same day!
Milestones: Um, I hit third trimester when I wasn't looking.
I am 28 weeks. Baby girl looks good. However.... At my appointment three weeks ago, my belly was measuring much bigger than it should have been. At prior appointments, I was measuring right on track and then suddenly I had gained 5lbs in two weeks and my belly was bigger. So, that got me a growth ultrasound last week. When I arrived for that appointment, my blood pressure was pretty high. The nurse took my bp again after the ultrasound, and it was 150/94. She didn't tell me what it was the first time, just that it was even higher. I had to lay down while waiting for my OB to come in, and she took my blood pressure yet again. 130/90. Since it had gone down, and I had had no protein in my urine, she was okay with sending me home. I got the "lay around more" talk. She didn't say bed rest. But it was hanging out there. My normal blood pressure is right around 120/80 and had been this entire pregnancy. Baby was looking good though, and she's actually measuring pretty much right on time - in the 30th-40th percentile. I didn't get a weight estimate, just that she looks fine.
I went back in today for my weekly progesterone shot, and the nurse took my blood pressure again. 150/84. The top number was pretty high, but the bottom number was lower than it was. So she wasn't too horribly concerned. I don't see Dr. Redmon at these quick shot appointments (and she's on vacation this week anyway). I'm to just continue to keep taking my blood pressure occasionally at home. If I ever get a reading over 160/100, I'm to call and go to L&D.
Of course, this has me concerned. I kept track of my bp over the weekend. On Saturday, I went to a pool party. I had to get out and go sit down after about 30 minutes in the water though, and when I took my bp then it was 150/94. :-/ Thankfully it went down after a bit. And then Sunday, my mom and I took Zane to the pool, and again I had to quit some time in. Zane was ready for a nap by then anyway, so I laid him down and took my bp. 140/90. Ugh! It went down again to normal after resting though.
Now, I have visions of bed rest, hospitalization, and premature birth in my head. NOT fun visions! I'm scared of developing pre-eclampsia. I'm scared of having to be put on hospital bedrest. So I am trying to do everything I can to just lay around and be on self-imposed bedrest. Do you know how hard that is to accomplish with a toddler? It is HARD. I never really had to deal with high blood pressure when I was pregnant with Zane. And the fact that my blood pressure keeps creeping back up when I get up and do stuff is very worrisome to me.
Hopefully, at my appointment next Thursday this blood pressure crap will have resolved itself. I would MUCH rather come back here and apologize for overreacting and getting you all worked up about my blood pressure.
How far along? 28 weeks and 1 day
Total weight gain/loss? I think I'm up about 17lbs now. :-(
Maternity clothes? Oh yes.
Sleep? I had a bout of insomnia a few weeks ago. I could not fall asleep and stay asleep for several days. Thankfully my sleeping has improved since then.
Best moment last week? I had a growth ultrasound last Thursday! Baby girl is looking awesome - and is definitely still a girl!
Movement? Lots of it!
Gender? GIRL!!
Labor signs? I have the occasional Braxton Hicks contraction, some days more than others. They've all gone away with water and laying down to rest though, so we're doing okay there.
Belly button in/out? Neither, it is flat!
What I miss: Being able to breathe. Being able to play with Zane like I want to, but can't because I get so out of breath so easily.
What I am looking forward to: Family reunion this weekend. I actually have to choose one to go to, because two sides are having theirs on the same day!
Milestones: Um, I hit third trimester when I wasn't looking.
I am 28 weeks. Baby girl looks good. However.... At my appointment three weeks ago, my belly was measuring much bigger than it should have been. At prior appointments, I was measuring right on track and then suddenly I had gained 5lbs in two weeks and my belly was bigger. So, that got me a growth ultrasound last week. When I arrived for that appointment, my blood pressure was pretty high. The nurse took my bp again after the ultrasound, and it was 150/94. She didn't tell me what it was the first time, just that it was even higher. I had to lay down while waiting for my OB to come in, and she took my blood pressure yet again. 130/90. Since it had gone down, and I had had no protein in my urine, she was okay with sending me home. I got the "lay around more" talk. She didn't say bed rest. But it was hanging out there. My normal blood pressure is right around 120/80 and had been this entire pregnancy. Baby was looking good though, and she's actually measuring pretty much right on time - in the 30th-40th percentile. I didn't get a weight estimate, just that she looks fine.
I went back in today for my weekly progesterone shot, and the nurse took my blood pressure again. 150/84. The top number was pretty high, but the bottom number was lower than it was. So she wasn't too horribly concerned. I don't see Dr. Redmon at these quick shot appointments (and she's on vacation this week anyway). I'm to just continue to keep taking my blood pressure occasionally at home. If I ever get a reading over 160/100, I'm to call and go to L&D.
Of course, this has me concerned. I kept track of my bp over the weekend. On Saturday, I went to a pool party. I had to get out and go sit down after about 30 minutes in the water though, and when I took my bp then it was 150/94. :-/ Thankfully it went down after a bit. And then Sunday, my mom and I took Zane to the pool, and again I had to quit some time in. Zane was ready for a nap by then anyway, so I laid him down and took my bp. 140/90. Ugh! It went down again to normal after resting though.
Now, I have visions of bed rest, hospitalization, and premature birth in my head. NOT fun visions! I'm scared of developing pre-eclampsia. I'm scared of having to be put on hospital bedrest. So I am trying to do everything I can to just lay around and be on self-imposed bedrest. Do you know how hard that is to accomplish with a toddler? It is HARD. I never really had to deal with high blood pressure when I was pregnant with Zane. And the fact that my blood pressure keeps creeping back up when I get up and do stuff is very worrisome to me.
Hopefully, at my appointment next Thursday this blood pressure crap will have resolved itself. I would MUCH rather come back here and apologize for overreacting and getting you all worked up about my blood pressure.
Here's a comparison of my 27 week bumps with Zane on the left and Zoey on the right! HUGE difference, lol!
Little stinker stole my tea at the pool this weekend. :-)
And just for fun, Zane and I talking in the pool about how he does not need to cling to me every second he's in the water. And a bonus shot of me in a swimsuit and my pregnant glory. :-)
Tuesday, June 12, 2012
22 Weeks!
How far along? 22 weeks and 1 day
Total weight gain/loss? Up 4lbs total.
Maternity clothes? I can still wear some of my more roomy non-maternity shirts, but otherwise I'm all into maternity.
Sleep? Still the same - sleeping great!
Best moment last week? My baby brother, Tyler, graduated from high school.
Movement? Oh the movement! I love it! Except the sitting on my sciatic nerve....
Gender? GIRL!!
Labor signs? Nope, and let's keep it that way.
Belly button in/out? In, but I noticed last night it is starting to get more flat already.
What I miss: Still softball. That's the only thing I have had taken away so far.
What I am looking forward to: Garage sale this weekend! Well, to clarify, I am looking forward to the money we could make. Not so much the preparations for the sale. My dining area is stacked FULL of all of Zane's baby boy clothes. Milestones: Two more weeks until V-Day!
Monday, May 28, 2012
Half Baked
20 weeks pregnant today! Can you believe it?
How sweet is this? Zane wasn't ready to wake up from his nap this afternoon, so he fell asleep on me.
Last Thursday, Jeremy and my mom and I went to Indy for the anatomy scan. Baby looks absolutely great, measuring perfectly on time. At this point in my pregnancy with Zane, he was measuring almost a full week ahead. This baby is right on time. Jeremy and I had gone into this appointment thinking that we would not find out the sex of the baby. We were going to let the u/s tech tell my mom, who would then bake a cake or do some other creative idea for a gender reveal. We had planned on having a birthday party for me on Saturday, and that seemed like an awesome idea to surprise everyone. Of course, the morning of the ultrasound, neither Jeremy nor I could stand the suspense and had to find out - but we were still going to do the gender reveal at my party.
Best laid plans, right? Granny was sick all of last week, meaning Zane got to stay home with Daddy. And by Friday, she was still running a fever, so my mom and I decided to postpone the party until Monday. Annnnnnd, Sunday came around and Granny was STILL running a fever. So, party cancelled. We ended up calling and telling everyone instead.
Everyone was SO excited to find out we are expecting a BABY GIRL in October! A GIRL! Can you believe it? Because I don't think it has really sunk in for me yet. I honestly did not think it was even possible. But when the ultrasound technician said she was 90% sure we were going to have a girl, and then pointed out the three lines they look for in the ultrasound.... Holy cow.
My sweet baby girl!
Total weight gain/loss? At my appointment a week and a half ago, I was at my starting weight. I gained in the 1st tri and then lost several pounds between appointments.
Maternity clothes? Bottoms? Oh yes. I can still fit into my regular shirts (mostly just tank tops for lounging at home), but my other maternity shirts are more dressy for an office setting. And since I work at home, they are not getting a lot of use.
Sleep? About the same as always. I still bed-share with Zane, so there are the inevitable kicks and snuggles from him throughout the night. But since I work at home, I only have to get up in time to take Zane to Granny's and be home by 8am to work. I'd say I'm getting about 10 interrupted hours a night. (Please don't hate me!)
Best moment last week? We found out we are expecting a GIRL!!!
Movement? Lots of movement! This is the single most reassuring aspect of pregnancy to a momma who is used to losing babies.
Gender? GIRL!!
Labor signs? Nope, and let's keep it that way.
Belly button in/out? In.
What I miss: Playing softball. Oh what I'd give to be a normal healthy pregnant woman who could play softball right up until she delivers. But no, I have to be high risk. So no softball for me.
What I am looking forward to: OB appointment on Thursday. Milestones: Today is a milestone! Halfway there!
Last Thursday, Jeremy and my mom and I went to Indy for the anatomy scan. Baby looks absolutely great, measuring perfectly on time. At this point in my pregnancy with Zane, he was measuring almost a full week ahead. This baby is right on time. Jeremy and I had gone into this appointment thinking that we would not find out the sex of the baby. We were going to let the u/s tech tell my mom, who would then bake a cake or do some other creative idea for a gender reveal. We had planned on having a birthday party for me on Saturday, and that seemed like an awesome idea to surprise everyone. Of course, the morning of the ultrasound, neither Jeremy nor I could stand the suspense and had to find out - but we were still going to do the gender reveal at my party.
Best laid plans, right? Granny was sick all of last week, meaning Zane got to stay home with Daddy. And by Friday, she was still running a fever, so my mom and I decided to postpone the party until Monday. Annnnnnd, Sunday came around and Granny was STILL running a fever. So, party cancelled. We ended up calling and telling everyone instead.
Everyone was SO excited to find out we are expecting a BABY GIRL in October! A GIRL! Can you believe it? Because I don't think it has really sunk in for me yet. I honestly did not think it was even possible. But when the ultrasound technician said she was 90% sure we were going to have a girl, and then pointed out the three lines they look for in the ultrasound.... Holy cow.
I think we have already settled on a name. It's not 100% certain to stick, but it's the front runner by a long shot.
Zoe Nicole. Or maybe Zoey. We're still debating, lol.
Maybe I'll try and keep up with the weekly 20 questions for pregnancy blog posts... I can't promise one for every week, but I'll try to keep up.
How far along? 20 weeks
Total weight gain/loss? At my appointment a week and a half ago, I was at my starting weight. I gained in the 1st tri and then lost several pounds between appointments.
Maternity clothes? Bottoms? Oh yes. I can still fit into my regular shirts (mostly just tank tops for lounging at home), but my other maternity shirts are more dressy for an office setting. And since I work at home, they are not getting a lot of use.
Sleep? About the same as always. I still bed-share with Zane, so there are the inevitable kicks and snuggles from him throughout the night. But since I work at home, I only have to get up in time to take Zane to Granny's and be home by 8am to work. I'd say I'm getting about 10 interrupted hours a night. (Please don't hate me!)
Best moment last week? We found out we are expecting a GIRL!!!
Movement? Lots of movement! This is the single most reassuring aspect of pregnancy to a momma who is used to losing babies.
Gender? GIRL!!
Labor signs? Nope, and let's keep it that way.
Belly button in/out? In.
What I miss: Playing softball. Oh what I'd give to be a normal healthy pregnant woman who could play softball right up until she delivers. But no, I have to be high risk. So no softball for me.
What I am looking forward to: OB appointment on Thursday. Milestones: Today is a milestone! Halfway there!
Sunday, May 13, 2012
Happy Mother's Day!
Happy Mother's Day to all of my friends who have babies here on Earth OR up in Heaven.
Zane and I spent Saturday afternoon down at my mom's gawking at my little brother and his girlfriend as they were all dressed up and heading off to their senior Prom.
We also spent time hanging out with Mia (my mom) and her old friend Darhla. Darhla and her family used to live next door to us for a long time before they moved to Texas. She and my mom are able to get together a time or two each year to catch up. Surprisingly, with as many pictures as I took last night, I don't have any of them together!
Mia and Zane
Mommy and Zane!
Mia and Granny
He doesn't look like he is rotten at all, does he?
Then this morning was business as usual. No sleeping in for me; no fancy breakfast in bed. I didn't expect it either, lol. But I certainly did not let Daddy sleep in if I couldn't!! We had lunch with my mom, sister, her fiance, Granny and Aunt Lynnette and Darhla and her daughter Katherine. It was really good! And surprisingly, despite lunch being at 1 and Zane having had no nap all day (he usually goes down to nap about 11:30), we made it through lunch with no major tantrums. THAT was an awesome Mother's Day gift in itself!
Zane did fall asleep on the ride home and stayed asleep for another hour at home. And then we went over to Papaw Roy's (Jeremy's dad) to play. Poor Zane though. Daddy and Papaw and Zane were playing with a football, rolling/throwing it back and forth. Until Daddy decided to give the football a kick.... A little bit harder than he meant to.... And it hit straight into Zane's face. Poor kid is going to have a black eye tomorrow!
Oh, and 18 WEEKS! (tomorrow) I can't believe how this pregnancy is just flying on by! No belly pictures this week. Check up appointment on Tuesday, so I'll update more then. :-)
Wednesday, May 9, 2012
Happy 2nd Anniversary!
Yesterday was my and Jeremy's 2nd anniversary. I opened up my laptop to work yesterday morning and he had drawn me a sweet message in Paint.
How sweet is that??? So much better than some generic card, in my opinion! He won some major brownie points for it.
So, in honor of our wedding anniversary, it only seems fitting that I share some wedding photos, right?
Pretty curls! Obviously not my final style. My sister did my hair.
My favorite of me and my brothers!
My siblings and I
Well, what good is a wedding anniversary post without a picture of the bride and groom?
And the bird seeds. Oh the bird seeds.
My favorite of Devyn and my bridesmaids. Doesn't he look like such a little pimp here?
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