The Count Down

17 Days left until my scheduled C-section!  Praying she waits until then so I can be certain that all the people that want to be in town for her birth can be here.  But I suppose she is going to make that decision herself.  My body feels ready but the rest of me does not.   So much to do to prepare for her now that I just stopped teaching.

I had a visit to my doctor yesterday and have only two more scheduled appointments with her in the next two weeks before the baby's auspicious arrival day! I have gained a whopping 16 pounds thus far........I know it doesn't seem like much but when all 16 pounds are in your belly it certainly feels like a lot.  It's as though I am carrying around a 16 pound bowling ball.  The kids at my daughter's daycare love to ask me daily if I have a baby in my belly and when and how she is going to come out. I jokingly tell them that I swallowed a watermelon.........then of course tell them that yes, indeed I do have a baby in my belly.

My daughter has been reading the "Big Sister" books a friend so generously gave to us, in preparation for her new big role.  She seems to be excited.......I only hope that this proves to be true.  I realize that it is going to be a big transition for the entire household and one that we are all eagerly anticipating.
My husband, daughter and I have been throwing around names the past few months and have not decided on one yet.  We have a few at  the top of our list but we will wait until we meet her to make the decision.  So grateful that I have such a supportive husband who has been there to help take care of me this pregnancy.  Pregnant at 45 requires a little extra care then being pregnant at 25 and comes with its risks and difficulties.  A few hurdles I have had to overcome this time around and it certainly makes it easier to have a partner who is so caring.

This pregnancy seems to have flown by and I am yearning for a little more time to prepare but alas nature will take the reigns on this one.

The baby seems to be doing well and is approximately 6lbs 11oz. already.  I believe that she will rival my other daughter's size at birth. I am aware that the estimations can be off but the ultrasound tech told me yesterday that they take it off the measurements of the baby in the womb.
Having a lot of Braxton Hicks contractions and a little difficulty moving around.  Basically a bit on the uncomfortable side in these final days but I do have to say I feel blessed as I have been able to keep mobile the entire pregnancy and had no bed rest.
Looking forward to sharing news of her arrival with you all! Thanks for following me along thus far in my journey! Praying for a healthy and happy baby and delivery.

Results

So Good News!!!  No gestational diabetes!  My test came back normal.  Not sure why the first screening did not but the 3 hour is much more accurate.  Very happy that I do not need to be pricking my finger several times a day and checking my blood sugar levels and watching everything that I put in my mouth.

Starting to really feel the third trimester kick in.  Breathing is more labored for certain just doing the simplest of tasks! 9 weeks 5 days until she arrives........hopefully she does not decide to make her appearance any sooner!

I have a trip to the perinatologist next friday so will update you all then!

Blessings to all!

Third Trimester

I am officially in my third trimester.  Less then ten and a half weeks to go!  I will be 29 weeks on monday but the ultrasound tech put my due date 3 days earlier so I guess technically with the growth of the baby I am 29 weeks. She weighed in at 2lbs. 15oz. on tuesday! And I believe the tech said about 15 inches long!
We scheduled a c-section at my doctors urging........had a long delivery with the last one that left me somewhat damaged. I am a petite woman so big babies are somewhat of a challenge for me.  This pregnancy I am unfortunately having a nasty varicose vein issue as well...... hoping they magically disappear after the birth since they weren't there before!!! I had been struggling with the decision to try and go naturally but now that my hubby's gig only gives him mondays available to be here I thought I'd rather have him here for the birth then not.  But if I do go into labor sooner it'll all be a moot point.  Bottom line is safety for the baby and of course safety for mama! My last was 8lbs. 6oz. amd 21.5 inches long so I am assuming this baby will be at least that.

I had my 1 hour glucose screening a little over a week ago.  Didn't give it much thought as last pregnancy I was fine.  Well I failed the screening which meant that I had to take a 3 hour glucose test!  Ugh!  Did that on Wednesday and awaiting the results.  For those of you not aware around this time in one's pregnancy you get checked for gestational diabetes.  It is diabetes that can be induced by pregnancy.  If your pancreas is not secreting enough insulin to assimilate the sugar your blood sugar remains high......which is not good for either the baby or mama. It can cause the baby to grow too fast and too large as well as a host of other ills to the baby and mom.  But carefully monitored it can be kept in check and most  statistics state that 85% of women who fail the first screening pass the 3 hour test so I am keeping my fingers crossed.  I'll keep you posted with an update next week.

24 Weeks and Popped

24 weeks is right around the corner!  This monday, the 11th, is the official 6 month mark.........and I have the belly to prove it!  Last week I felt pregnant but still somewhat petite, now this week my belly seems to have exploded!  I think the honeymoon part of the pregnancy is over as the weight of the baby becomes more substantial.  Don't get me wrong, I am very grateful that she is growing leaps and bounds........as the doc says, tremendous growth and an amazingly active baby!  Supposedly she is gaining weight and size rapidly now......I guess you could say she is starting to fill out.  My body too!  8 solid pounds gained thus far!  I only gained 18 with the last but had a belly the size of a house.  People actually stopped me and asked when my twins were due.  I may be embarking down that road again!

Looking forward to the big day.  It seems to be fast approaching with so much to get done in preparation.  This time around, a soon to be 3 year old makes it a bit more challenging to accomplish the tasks at hand.  Hoping that my daughter will be a big help once the baby arrives.  She is so looking forward to being a "Big" sister and has been working diligently at diaper changing her baby dolls.

Love feeling the kicking that is going on.  I don't think one can ever get used to that feeling of having another body moving around inside of you!  Still in awe and amazement at what a miracle creating life is.
So blessed!

Not to mention grateful for the Pita Kitchen around the corner that is satisfying my falafel craving!!

2nd Trimester Screening

The baby bump is truly a baby bump now!  Obvious that I am pregnant and not just fat with a food baby (too much beer and chips!)  Not sure a food baby would be making my tummy move.
I have now officially passed the half way mark!  20 weeks and 4 days today.  Had my second visit to the Perinatologist for my second trimester screening.  Quite fascinating!  They did an in depth structural ultrasound and we were able to really see her.  Even got a 3D look at her......amazing!  She's a feisty one!  Very active and already a thumbsucker in the womb.

The great news is my risk factor  for having a Down's baby has decreased significantly.  I was told that walking into a doctor's office at 45 years of age and pregnant you have a 1 in 23 risk factor of having a baby with Down's Syndrome.  With the integration of my 1st and 2nd trimester blood screening, Nuchal Fold Test and 1st and 2nd trimester structural ultrasound they determined my risk factor to now be 1 in 9100!  Much better odds I'd say.  He said that the baby looked beautiful and the heart, brain and organs all looked healthy.........So he is sticking with his recommendation of no amnio.  I feel fine with that now after the screening results!  Most of all just happy to know that she is growing on target and looks healthy!

My 2 soon to be 3 year old is getting so excited for her new sibling to arrive!  Practicing changing her baby doll's diapers. Too cute!

I am still teaching up a storm and will have some video posted asap!  I'll be back with an update soon !

Quickening

So I finally felt her move this week!  In pregnancy lingo the first sensation of fetal movement is called "Quickening".  Was getting a bit concerned as I felt my first baby at 16 weeks and was told that you usually feel the second sooner.  Well she's definitely making her presence known.......what an amazing sensation.  It's like a fluttering in the belly.  A reassurance that life is growing within me.

I finally put on a few pounds.  I had only gained 2 lbs at 15.5 weeks and my doc was not too happy! I think this past week alone I put on 2lbs.  Crazy appetite!  The baby is making tremendous leaps and bounds in the growth department.  Supposedly in the next 4 weeks the baby will increase it's weight by six times.  Hopefully not the same for me!  At 17 weeks (which I will be this Monday) the baby weighs about 5 oz and is 5 inches long.  Still seems so tiny as I look down at my ever growing belly.  Truly a miracle......

It's a Girl!

I am now sixteen and a half weeks along (4 months).  Almost two weeks have passed since our visit to the Perinatologist (high risk OB and prenatal specialist), where we had the structural ultrasound. It was truly an eyeful and earful to see and hear all about the growing baby inside of me. The ultrasound was in depth and probably lasted about 30 minutes.  We were able to see our very "active" baby.......the tech said it would not stay still. Saw the brain, the spine, the heart ventricles and even the little mouth gulping amniotic fluid.  Heard the heartbeat and saw the vascular system working.  It was mind blowing!

The most exciting part of our visit was that we found out that we are having another GIRL!!!! I was so sure that it was a boy even though the gender was inconsequential to me......the health of the baby is all that mattered.  We also got positive feedback on that. So far so good, she looks healthy....... the doc is not even recommending an amnio for me!  There is still one second trimester blood screening result that we are waiting on that will determine further testing.  They integrate the first trimester blood work with the second trimester, as well as the findings on the structural ultrasound.  We should have the results within a week.

Our two and half year old is over the moon that she is going to have a baby sister and actually asked me the other day how the baby will get out of my belly!  Didn't think I would have to deal with that question just yet!  I told her that the baby had to spend a long time in mommy's belly before she we would be ready to enter the real world.....then she would come out the same way that she had.  That seemed to suffice for the moment, so I am going to leave it at that until the question arises again.  She seems content to talk to her baby sister through the belly and loves to give "raspberries" to her through my belly!  After all she is an expert raspberry giver!  Something she takes great pride in!

Feeling good as my belly grows and also feeling blessed to have the family and friends that I do.  Keeping up with my exercise and eating well.  Next post I will be talking more about my fitness regimen and planning on posting some "YouTube" exercise videos for those interested.

Happy Spring to all!