I've had a bit of cause for concern this week. I lost what I'm pretty sure was my mucus plug on Thursday (that was 35 weeks, 1 day). This next paragraph may be TMI, so I'm forewarning you.
The mucus plug was basically a long string of, well, mucus. It was about 6 inches long and stretchy, and it would have taken a lot of stretching to get it to break. Since then, I have been having a bit of mucus-like drainage every day that's very slippery when I wipe. Then last night, when I woke up around 1:00 am and had to go to the bathroom, the drainage was tinted brownish red. I'm 35 weeks, 6 days today, by the way.
Well, that freaked me out. The mucus plug I could deal with, and kind of deny that it was a big deal. But the hint of blood scared me. I was up most of the remainder of the night worrying about it. When I got up in the morning, I told my husband about it, and he talked me into calling my doctor. At 5:00 am. I was surprised that the answering service actually had my doctor on the phone for me within about a minute.
I apologized for waking her up, and I explained the situation. She told me that this is all normal, and that by tomorrow I'll be past the point where a delivery would be considered preterm. She said I should not be concerned unless I start having contractions that can be timed, period-level bleeding, or my water breaks.
So that calmed me down a lot. But I'm still anxious, though for a different reason. My 1-year anniversary at work is on May 8th. If I need to go on maternity leave before that time, they aren't legally obligated to hold my job for me or to continue my health insurance. Both are super important, and both were things I took into consideration before trying to get pregnant. I thought I had allowed plenty of time.
I don't even have the nursery ready! We're still moving stuff around. And I don't have the car seat in the car. I did just pack my hospital bag tonight. And I'll get the car seat done tomorrow night. And hopefully I'll get the nursery at least functional this weekend, if not pretty. And then it would be really great if this is just a total false alarm and I don't have to worry about anything until June. Yeah. At this point, I'm trying to just put it in God's hands and relax. After all, worrying definitely won't help the situation.
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
Saturday, April 24, 2010
Week 34
I just had another ultrasound this week. The doctors haven't been able to tell what position the baby is in (head up or down), and that'll be kind of important very soon. I was glad to find that the baby is indeed head down. The head is near my left hip, and then the body curves towards my right hip then up so Baby's bottom is under the ribs on my right side and Baby's legs are under the ribs on my left side.
So now the movements I've been feeling make a bit more sense. I sometimes feel tiny, sharp movements near my left hip, and those are from Baby's hands and arms. I feel larger kicks under the ribs on my left side, and those are from Baby's legs. I also sometimes feel the baby stretching its legs out, and that creates pressure up high on both sides. It's pretty cool to understand what I'm feeling.
Saturday, April 10, 2010
Week 32
I just got home from my baby shower. I had a wonderful, exhausting time. I should have enough onesies to get me through the first three months just fine. And gift receipts so I can take stuff back if I decide I need something else. I also got lovely blankets, hooded towels, washcloths, rattles, sleepers, diapers, crib sheets, an adorable home-made quilt, a play center, and many other things. Everyone seemed to have a good time. I didn't get to spend as much time as I'd have liked with people that I don't see enough as it is, but it was still very nice.
It's so amazing to think that Baby will be here in just eight weeks or so, especially when we've been trying for almost four years. It's a little scary, now that I can see the light at the end of the tunnel. I'm actually going to be a mommy. It's frightening and exciting and miraculous. I would do anything for this baby, give up anything. I hope I'm a good mommy. This child deserves my best.
It's so amazing to think that Baby will be here in just eight weeks or so, especially when we've been trying for almost four years. It's a little scary, now that I can see the light at the end of the tunnel. I'm actually going to be a mommy. It's frightening and exciting and miraculous. I would do anything for this baby, give up anything. I hope I'm a good mommy. This child deserves my best.
Sunday, March 21, 2010
Week 29
My, time is certainly flying. This pregnancy is nearly 3/4 over! So much for weekly entries, huh?
The last time I went to the doctor, we scheduled all my appointments through the end of my pregnancy. It really brought home how close I am to becoming a mommy. I'm so excited! My next appointment is on March 30th, then the three after that are spaced 2 weeks apart, and then all the rest are only one week apart.
My boss and HR have been great about it. They've been letting me take shorter lunches rather than using vacation hours. I'll have very little vacation time available when I go on leave, but at least it will provide a little more than a week's worth of wages. I've been there such a short time that the rest of my maternity leave will be unpaid. But I knew that before we started trying.
Last week, my team at work surprised me with a little baby shower-type lunch. It was so sweet of them. They put together a diaper cake with a rattle, hand wipes, lotion, a bottle, and a bib that says "I was born cute". They bought an adorable cupcake cake shaped like an umbrella. And then, as if that weren't enough, they also gave me a $50 gift card for Babies R Us. I thought it was so generous and thoughtful of them.
Baby moves a lot now. Sometimes it catches me off guard with a really strong kick, and I let out a little gasp, then look around to make sure no one heard me. I'm not complaining; it's really fun and exciting and comforting.
I've finally signed up for online childbirth classes. Unfortunately, I now have to wait for them to call me so I can pay for it. I guess they're taking baby steps into the online world. I would have liked to have taken classes in person, but it's just too hard with my schedule. I'm glad they have this option. It does include an actual tour of the birthing center and facilities at the hospital, so it's not entirely virtual. That will ease my mind a lot.
The last time I went to the doctor, we scheduled all my appointments through the end of my pregnancy. It really brought home how close I am to becoming a mommy. I'm so excited! My next appointment is on March 30th, then the three after that are spaced 2 weeks apart, and then all the rest are only one week apart.
My boss and HR have been great about it. They've been letting me take shorter lunches rather than using vacation hours. I'll have very little vacation time available when I go on leave, but at least it will provide a little more than a week's worth of wages. I've been there such a short time that the rest of my maternity leave will be unpaid. But I knew that before we started trying.
Last week, my team at work surprised me with a little baby shower-type lunch. It was so sweet of them. They put together a diaper cake with a rattle, hand wipes, lotion, a bottle, and a bib that says "I was born cute". They bought an adorable cupcake cake shaped like an umbrella. And then, as if that weren't enough, they also gave me a $50 gift card for Babies R Us. I thought it was so generous and thoughtful of them.
Baby moves a lot now. Sometimes it catches me off guard with a really strong kick, and I let out a little gasp, then look around to make sure no one heard me. I'm not complaining; it's really fun and exciting and comforting.
I've finally signed up for online childbirth classes. Unfortunately, I now have to wait for them to call me so I can pay for it. I guess they're taking baby steps into the online world. I would have liked to have taken classes in person, but it's just too hard with my schedule. I'm glad they have this option. It does include an actual tour of the birthing center and facilities at the hospital, so it's not entirely virtual. That will ease my mind a lot.
Monday, January 25, 2010
Week 21
Oh my goodness, time is just flying right now! I feel like Baby will be here any minute, and there's so much to do!
I went in for an ultrasound on the 20th to finish up finding all the important anatomy bits that the tech couldn't get to the week before. Everything looks great! It's amazing how much they can tell from the ultrasound. They can see indicators of Down's Syndrome, spina bifida, clubfoot, and lots of other developmental stuff. It's so comforting to hear that Baby is developing normally.
The tech also explained to me that I have an anterior placenta. That means my placenta is attached across my belly, which explains why it's taking me so long to feel Baby. It's like there's a big cushion between Baby and my belly.
But! I did feel Baby, the day before the 2nd ultrasound! I think the feeling is best described as popcorn popping. It was a couple of inches below my belly button. Then on Friday the 22nd, I felt Baby again, this time towards my left side. My arm happened to be resting there, and I even felt it against my arm. Very cool. I'm sure I'll soon be feeling Baby all the time.
I went in for an ultrasound on the 20th to finish up finding all the important anatomy bits that the tech couldn't get to the week before. Everything looks great! It's amazing how much they can tell from the ultrasound. They can see indicators of Down's Syndrome, spina bifida, clubfoot, and lots of other developmental stuff. It's so comforting to hear that Baby is developing normally.
The tech also explained to me that I have an anterior placenta. That means my placenta is attached across my belly, which explains why it's taking me so long to feel Baby. It's like there's a big cushion between Baby and my belly.
But! I did feel Baby, the day before the 2nd ultrasound! I think the feeling is best described as popcorn popping. It was a couple of inches below my belly button. Then on Friday the 22nd, I felt Baby again, this time towards my left side. My arm happened to be resting there, and I even felt it against my arm. Very cool. I'm sure I'll soon be feeling Baby all the time.
Sunday, January 17, 2010
20 Weeks
Half way there! It's amazing. Time is flying swiftly, and there's so much that needs to be done. We haven't signed up for childbirth classes yet. The future nursery must be cleaned out. We should get a registry started at Babies R Us. We haven't even begun to discuss names. I know we'll get to all that, but only if I keep it towards the front of my mind.
In the meantime, I went to this website called MorphThing that lets you morph two facial images together. They have a lot of celebrity head shots, so you can play around with that, but they also have a feature that allows you to upload pictures of yourself and your partner to see what your child might look like. Here's what it came up with for us:
Pretty cute, huh? Now, I in no way expect this to be accurate. There are far too many genetic variables between my husband and myself. I'm blonde, his hair is black. My eyes are blue, his are this weird combination of clearly delineated green and brown caused by a genetic mutation called sectoral heterochromia. My nose is a little long and thin, his is flatter and rounder. I have virtually no upper lip, his lips are very plump. We're both white, but between our two families (factoring in only parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and first cousins), you will find every hair color, eye color, and skin tone possible within our race. It's a bit like trying to predict the outcome of throwing 23 dice. That makes it all the more exciting to me.
In the meantime, I went to this website called MorphThing that lets you morph two facial images together. They have a lot of celebrity head shots, so you can play around with that, but they also have a feature that allows you to upload pictures of yourself and your partner to see what your child might look like. Here's what it came up with for us:
Pretty cute, huh? Now, I in no way expect this to be accurate. There are far too many genetic variables between my husband and myself. I'm blonde, his hair is black. My eyes are blue, his are this weird combination of clearly delineated green and brown caused by a genetic mutation called sectoral heterochromia. My nose is a little long and thin, his is flatter and rounder. I have virtually no upper lip, his lips are very plump. We're both white, but between our two families (factoring in only parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and first cousins), you will find every hair color, eye color, and skin tone possible within our race. It's a bit like trying to predict the outcome of throwing 23 dice. That makes it all the more exciting to me.
Monday, January 11, 2010
19 Weeks
I had my 20-week ultrasound this morning, but I'm still in the 19th week. I'm 19 weeks, 5 days today. Just wanted to make that clear so you know I really am doing the 19 weeks entry at the right time. ;)
Anyway, I was really looking forward to this ultrasound because I've been waiting with bated breath for any signs of movement from Baby and haven't felt anything. But there was definite movement on the ultrasound! My husband came with me, and he was so happy he did. We saw Baby's face, hands, feet, arms, legs, brain, spine, heart...unfortunately, Baby was covering up certain key parts and refused to cooperate no matter how I turned or wiggled or how the ultrasound tech tried to jostle it, so I need to go back next week for another one. The ultrasound tech wasn't able to get a good enough view of the heart, diaphram, and sacrum to make sure they're normal. She said to drink a pop or eat some candy before my next one so baby will move more. Isn't it odd that you can give your fetus a sugar rush?
Baby is around 10 ounces right now, which the ultrasound tech says is normal. It's heartbeat was about 153 beats per minute, which my doctor said was good. She also said my weight gain (about 11 pounds) is just right. Hooray for all that!
The ultrasound tech also said my placenta is in such a spot that it may make it more difficult for me to feel movement. So I may not feel it yet for quite a while. Now that I've tried to find out what that might mean, I'm a little concerned that I might have Placenta Praevia, which might make delivery a little more dangerous. I'll have to ask my doctor the next time I see her.
But all in all, lots of good news there!
Anyway, I was really looking forward to this ultrasound because I've been waiting with bated breath for any signs of movement from Baby and haven't felt anything. But there was definite movement on the ultrasound! My husband came with me, and he was so happy he did. We saw Baby's face, hands, feet, arms, legs, brain, spine, heart...unfortunately, Baby was covering up certain key parts and refused to cooperate no matter how I turned or wiggled or how the ultrasound tech tried to jostle it, so I need to go back next week for another one. The ultrasound tech wasn't able to get a good enough view of the heart, diaphram, and sacrum to make sure they're normal. She said to drink a pop or eat some candy before my next one so baby will move more. Isn't it odd that you can give your fetus a sugar rush?
Baby is around 10 ounces right now, which the ultrasound tech says is normal. It's heartbeat was about 153 beats per minute, which my doctor said was good. She also said my weight gain (about 11 pounds) is just right. Hooray for all that!
The ultrasound tech also said my placenta is in such a spot that it may make it more difficult for me to feel movement. So I may not feel it yet for quite a while. Now that I've tried to find out what that might mean, I'm a little concerned that I might have Placenta Praevia, which might make delivery a little more dangerous. I'll have to ask my doctor the next time I see her.
But all in all, lots of good news there!
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