OB Update

I saw the high risk OB today. He put me on blood pressure medication to try and bring my blood pressure down. His goal is try and get another 4 weeks out of the pregnancy, and get me to 38 weeks. If I make it to 38 weeks, then I'll be induced. He's a really nice guy and very reassuring and relaxed. Makes a huge difference when you're scared about your baby. So, now I see him every week as well. I really hope this helps.

Big updates

So, things have been progressing. I need to use insulin twice a day now to manage my sugar levels. That's not so bad I found out. I don't even feel the injections.

Christmas was good. Spent New Year's Day in the hospital thanks to really low pressure, tightening and back pain. Of course, everything was fine, but I was told to take it even easier. Found out the next week at my prenatal check, that that would be forced. I'm on full bedrest until I'm either induced or go into labour on my own. I had gone to the diabetes clinic earlier that day, found out I gained 11.5 lbs in 2 weeks, had protein in my pee, my blood pressure had jumped considerably, and that my belly was measuring 40 weeks at 32. The endocrinologist wrote a note for my doctor, I gave it to her and was diagnosed with pre-eclampsia. I also have some pretty bad swelling in my hands, feet, face, and legs. So, on top of that, my doctor thinks I have polyhydraminos (excess fluid) in my belly. I have an ultrasound Tuesday morning to check out my fluid level, and get an approximation on the boy's size in case he does need to be induced early. I also have an appointment next Wednesday with a high risk OB to discuss the possibility of early induction. Right now, it's assumed that every extra day and week is good, and I'm trying to make it to 36 weeks. The upside is he's happy in there. He's moving lots and his heartrate is always strong, which is good.

So, with the idea that he could be here very soon, everyone is trying to get things done with me directing from the couch. Mom is cleaning, cooking and doing laundry for us. Mike is trying to keep up with the rest, along with assembling furniture and gear, shopping, and organizing things in the baby's room, etc. Grandma and Mike's mom went shopping for the rest of the things we need for the baby. Mel and Winston have been over to help as well.

So, things are moving along. Quickly. I'll try and get Mike to take pics of the baby's room to post this week.

Gestational Diabetes and an update

I had a prenatal check up last Tuesday. Still measuring 3 weeks ahead. As of that appointment, no chance of early induction due to size, or planned c-section for the same reason. I gained 10 lbs in the 4 weeks since I'd been there. Not good. So I'm being sent for another ultrasound (#5) on December 18th to check on his estimated size.

I had my 1 hr glucose tolerance test that day, and failed miserably. Went back last Thursday for my 3 hr. Got a call on Friday, saying I'd failed that too. I have GD. I saw the endocrinologist for the first time yesterday. Tomorrow morning I go for diabetes education (testing my sugar levels, nutrition, etc). So far it's been really hard and frustrating to try and feed myself. I'm not used to having to time my meals. I have to keep them at least 2 hours apart, but no more than 4. I'm going to have to test my sugar levels 7 times a day, and if I can't control my sugar levels with diet, then I'm going to start insulin shots twice a day. The doctor I saw yesterday really wants to slow down his rate of growth. I was measuring 30.5 weeks yesterday. I'm only 27 weeks and a few days. Otherwise, I could be looking at early induction. They want to avoid that if at all possible.

I know it's for his health and mine. I know it's not just about me anymore. I'm just upset it happened, even if it was out of my control. :(

We have furniture!!!

The crib, in this finish.

This is the change table/dresser combo.

I've also picked out all the other gear.

First baby photos!

So, I've had 4 ultrasounds so far. Seems like a lot, but two were normal prenatal (10 and 20 weeks) and the other two were emergency. I got shingles at 7 weeks, so they wanted to make sure there was a heartbeat and all that, and everything was growing properly and that the shingles hadn't harmed him. It was fine. They used that to confirm dates. I already had one booked for 10 weeks to confirm dates, and he was already ahead of the game for size. So, any dates that are printed on the photos are off. I'm further along than they say on there. 20 weeks was normal, let's check out all his organs, size, etc. Still big. And we thought we were having a girl from what we saw on the screen. BC Women's wouldn't tell us. We wanted to know, but there are policies against that at 20 weeks. 21 weeks, I started having some pre-term contractions so they wanted to make sure everything was ok, and that's when they told me it was a boy. And well over a pound already (big for 21 weeks) and in the 97th percentile for growth. Not shocking since Mike is so tall. So going back you can see how he's grown and changed.

Our alien blob at 7 weeks.

10 weeks. He's the little bean between the two markers.

Side view at 20 weeks. He has the same nose and mouth as his daddy. You can tell by the little upturn at the nose, and the little bow lips even then. The big black mark near the bottom is his bladder. At this ultrasound we thought it was a girl. Looking at it now, it's clearly a boy if you see the tube leading from his bladder.

21 weeks. It's a BOY!!! Right to the left of where I put "BOY" you can see his boy bits.

His face at 21 weeks. I added text to point out what different things are and make him less alien like.

21 weeks. His left leg. And a bit of an explanation on why my belly is so big. He's a big boy.

The Nursery

So, the boy needs a room. Somewhere to sleep, and keep his stuff.

This is the crib, but in natural:

The crib bedding:


Being the crafty person I am, I bought an extra crib skirt to make a throw pillow for the rocker, valance for the window, and quilted wall hangings.

Now, all that's left is to clean the room out, and Mike needs to paint. It's currently full of my scrapbooking stuff, but Mike installed shelving to use in the closet for it. I just have to get in there and get organized.

Belly shots!!

So, I've been taking pictures of my belly over the months. Well, actually Mike has. I just try and look semi-human. It's amazing the way it's changed shape and redistributed over the months. It was all over the place in the beginning (aka: bloat) and now it's this big round belly sticking straight out in front. Should be interesting to see how much bigger it finally ends up.

24 weeks

19 weeks

16 weeks, 5 days

13 weeks

10 weeks