Baby J Update 4.20.12

Today I had a sonogram, Doctor's appointment, and non-stress test all scheduled for early afternoon. The sonogram is usually quite easy--the tech measures all the parts necessary two times (head size, belly size, femur length, and humerus length), then measures the fluid in the uterus surrounding the baby in all 4 quadrants, then she gets a 4D image for me to take home, then watches for the baby to move, and I'm outta there. Today it went as it usually does, until the 4D image and baby movement parts. Today Baby J has his face smooshed up against my uterus, completely distorting his face. The picture wasn't any good, so I left the appointment without any pictures. That's ok. But then the bugger didn't want to move. He was perfectly content in his position, his heart a beating away, and practicing breathing. I could see his hand moving--almost clenching and unclenching a fist--and his lips would open and close with his breathing motion. It was so cool to see all that! And to see the heart beating while his chest moved up and down with each practice breath. But, he needed to move! I laid on the table, rolling from side to side hoping to get him to move, but nothing. I tried coughing and tensing my ab muscles, and nothing. The tech kept pushing on my stomach with the sonogram wand, and finally, after about 10 minutes of prodding from different angles, he moved enough to satisfy the tech and I could get up. He's usually not that difficult when it comes to moving--he's constantly having his own dance party or kickboxing match in there!
Next was the Doctor appointment. I had two questions for him, which he answered right away. A. Why do my fingers feel like all the knuckles are broken when I wake up in the morning? It's due to carpal tunnel and the way all humans naturally curl in our wrists while sleeping. I can wear splints to sleep in if I want to, but other than that there's nothing else to do and it won't go away until the baby is born. B. Why am I getting a terrible shooting and debilitating pain below my belly between my two pelvic bones that doubles me over in pain? Because your baby's head is pushing down, moving down into birth position, and it's pushing on your pelvis and stretching out all the muscles, ligaments, and pelvic bones to make way for his head to come through. Oh, and PS your baby's head is humongous.
So last time, Baby J was big for his gestational age. This week, he's still a little big, but he's in the 72nd percentile for his belly, leg, and arm size...while his head is another story. His head, as the doctor said, is humongous--92nd percentile. The doctor just laughed and said "Your poor va-jay-jay" and laughed again. I should have expected as much: Josh had to be born via c-section because his head was too large for a vaginal birth. So, lucky me, he gave our kid a giant dome too. Just fabulous. But there's absolutely no doubt that it's his child! (As though there was any doubt before) :)
Then I was on to my Non-Stress Test, hoping that it didn't end up being as stressful as the last one I took, and hoping that he felt like moving at this point and I didn't have a repeat of the sonogram! I got hooked up and he immediately started kicking. I drank some juice, then snacked on some pretzels, and he kept on moving. Off to a good start at least! Then, he must have fallen asleep, because nothing for a while (but I could see my belly moving from his practice breathing...it was so cool! but didn't count for movement). I was given some ice water, and drank that and chewed the ice up, and it must have woken him up because he gave two more bursts of movement, and luckily that was enough to finish off the test!
Unfortunately, all this ended up taking far longer than I expected, and I didn't get to visit Meghan and Kasen at the women's hospital. :( I was so looking forward to seeing them! But Meghan texted me right when I was done with the NST and said she was lying down for a while and that she didn't feel so well, so I didn't go visit so she could rest and hopefully get to feeling better. Soon though...very soon. :)

The days are just flying by now. I cannot believe my baby shower is on Sunday. It seemed so far in the distance only yesterday it seems! Only 6 weeks left until my due date...probably less in all reality until Baby J comes into this world! I feel so unprepared, so nervous, and at the same time it's all so surreal...like is this really happening to me?? *Sigh* Nothing I can do about it at this point...he'll be here when he's ready to be here, and all I can do is love him and feed him and protect him and hope it's enough. :)

Baby Update 4.06.12

I had a 2 week check up today, and actually got to see my doctor!
Baby J is doing well...I guess you could perhaps say a little TOO well! He's huge! I am just at 32 weeks right now, and his head and torso size are measuring at a 36 week baby size! He's weighing in at 4 lb 14 oz and is quite a happy little camper in there. My fluid levels are very good, which was the reason for the sonogram in the first place. It was awesome to see little Baby J again...it had been awhile since my last sonogram, and man has he grown since that last time! When I saw the doctor, he said that it's a very good sign that he is on the big side: usually they are worried about a small, undernurished baby with women who have Factor V and are on Lovenox. Something about having an insufficient placenta and poor flow through the umbilical cord...however I do not seem to be having that problem! (And I got to see the flow through the umbilical cord on the sonogram in color...it was pretty awesome to see!) My other vital stats: BP 110/68, 200 lbs, belly measures 32cm (which Doc said is a little big and explains the baby's big size). I now have weekly visits to the doctor's office - every week I get a sonogram and non-stress test, and every other week I will also see the doctor. This is again due to my Factor V condition and the Lovenox I take daily, and to monitor Baby J's growth and comfort inside my belly. A bit of a nuisance, yes, but we need to be sure that he's happy and safe and that I remain happy and safe as well! So no problem at all. :)
The only bit of bad news of the day actually has nothing to do with the baby: I asked if I would be permitted to travel to Oklahoma in May for a good friend's wedding. Doc said that the AMA answer is no, after 36 weeks pregnant women are to stay within 2.5 hours of home and not travel extensively. He then said that there was no way he could MAKE me stay at home, but there was no way he could guarantee me that I would not go into labor at that time or have any other kind of emergency that would send me searching for a hospital. Sigh. Looks like my trip to Oklahoma isn't going to happen now afterall. :( No real shock there, I didn't expect him to say yes. After all, that weekend will put me at 37 weeks pregnancy...that is awfully close, no need to push the envelope.
I just hope he stays in as long as possible...the house work is coming along nicely, but it would be great to have a nursery complete and be mostly settled into the house before he comes into this world!! :)

Baby Update 3.23.12

I had a 2 week follow up appointment today with the OB/GYN office. The past four appointments I have been to have been with a doctor other than my regular doctor. Though they are all nice and I feel comfortable with them all, I really do kinda miss my regular doctor! Luckily, the check-out clerk asked me who I wanted to see next time, and I was able to request him and get scheduled with him! :)

As for me and Baby Boy, we are doing very well! My blood pressure is still low: 122/68 today, Baby's heartrate is "a happy 150 in there", and he is moving and rolling around very well (the doctor had to chase him for a minute to get a steady heartbeat). My tummy now measures at 30 inches, and tomorrow is 30 weeks, so it's perfect according to the doctor!

One more big thing, well, at least it was big for me--I've actually lost 4 pounds since my last visit 2 weeks ago! I am still eating the same amount of the same things, and eating any time I am hungry, and I gained the 2 inches on my tummy so Baby is still growing, but I have ramped up my walking and physical fitness and it's working! I know I've gained some firmness and lost some of the flab off of my thighs and butt--good places to lose the pounds from! And it's helping keep my blood pressure under control and the swelling to a minimum, and keeping my left leg feeling SO GOOD when I thought I'd be having lots of issues with it! But, knock on wood, so far so good!

As my good friend Brandy says--it's all training for the marathon that's coming in 10 weeks: Labor! So not only does the walking feel good, it's doing my body good, and getting me ready physically for when Baby Boy decides to make his appearance to the world. I'd have to say, with incentives like that, I'll keep up my walking routine till I'm no longer able to! :)

Baby Boy Fiske Update 3.09.12

Baby Boy Fiske is doing well!
His heartbeat is a strong 150 beats per minute, my belly is now measuring 28", and I now have gained 21 lbs since becoming pregnant (10 of which were in the past month!). My blood pressure is remaining even -- today at 118/72. I'm very happy with that, as I worried that I would have problems with it because of my past issues with my veins, but so far so good!!
I took the Glucola test today, and will await results early next week...the only issue I've been having lately is extreme thirst, which I know can be a sign of diabetes. But there have been no other signs, and I only crave water to satisfy my thirst (nothing sugary or anything)...so I'm hopeful that the blood results will be good! Fingers crossed! The orange drink was...interesting. It didn't taste as horrible as I thought it would, just kinda like syrupy orange Hi-C, but it was the fact I had to chug it in 3-5 minutes that did me in. I woke up a little late, but made sure I ate some cereal and two mini banana nut muffins and had two large glasses of water prior to the time I had to start the Glucola drink. That left almost no room in my stomach to put that drink! But the water I drank was necessary as I knew I'd be asked for a urine sample at the office and I could not drink anything until I got to the office and had my blood drawn...so I had to hydrate sometime!
My next appointment is in 2 weeks...I had been going every 4 weeks...I'm hoping that this is normal? Maybe because I am now in my 3rd trimester the office visits become more frequent. I'm not sure, but it's alright because I love hearing his heartbeat. I hope I get another sonogram soon, because I'd love to look at his face again! :)