This weekend

So Andrew and I had a great weekend. Normally, I'm tired and we end up just sitting around the house and I clean too much. This time we decided to get out. On Friday, I found a good use for my belly...it works great as a table. Especially for a bowl of ice cream! I did end up crying 4 times on Friday though. Why you ask?? 1. The Dog Whisperer 2. Tori and Dean: Home Sweet Hollywood (their dog died and they had a memorial) 3. A maternity photographer's website 4. Change. I'm scared. But other than that, it was relaxing! HAHA. On Saturday, we went to Ewa Beach. We both got in the water and had fun. That night we went to California Pizza Kitchen for our date. Now, I was super excited about this and let me tell you why...I decided that I wanted to feel sexy. It's hard to feel sexy when you can't really see your feet and you waddle a little. It's also hard to feel sexy in elastic waistbands!! So I remembered that a friend had given me a size 10 jeans to use as transition jeans...to my surprise, they fit!!! Of course, I had to wear them under my belly but they buttoned up and everything! And my top was also non maternity. I felt sexy =). So what if Andrew had to buckle my shoes and if my fingers looked like sausages because they were swollen? I felt sexy and that's all that counts =)

This is only a test...

Baby Isaac at 34 weeks 2 days-his hand is next to his check making it look super chubby =)

So I decided that I would take the time to explain all these doctor's visits/appointments that I have to go to all the time. Just in case someone is interested. So, every Monday and Thursday I have to do a nonstress test (NST). This is actually pretty fun and relaxing. The purpose of the NST is to monitor the baby's heartbeat and movements and to see if he's in distress. These are done for most high risk women. I say they're relaxing because all I do is lie down in a recliner with my belly exposed. There are 2 belts around me-one to monitor his heartbeat and one to monitor my contractions. The nurse also takes my BP and the monitor keeps track of the readings on paper. So, the problem is that Isaac is apparently not a morning person and he never wants to wake up to do them. When a baby is sleeping, they take this thing to buzz my belly. It doesn't hurt but when he starts bouncing around back and forth, it does hurt. Most people only get buzzed once or twice (there are 4 of us to a room), but no, not me. I have to get buzzed about 3-4 times because he never wants to wake up. Apparently, I have a very cozy uterus. After being buzzed, the heartbeat should jump between 150-160. Overall, I am monitored for about 30 minutes.

Now if the readings don't come out good, or if his heartbeat is not good enough, I am sent for a biophysical profile (bpp). A bpp is basically an ultrasound, but it looks for specific movements by baby. He is then scored for each thing and he has 30 min. to do this. So far, I have had to get a bpp once a week because his heartbeat won't get up high enough during the NST. Some of the things they look for-small movements (like sucking), breathing, large movements, tone, etc. So far, he has passed his bpp's. They told me that everything is fine...but that he's just sleepy in the morning and doesn't like to move. If the bpp is not passed, I would have to go to L&D for further monitoring.

So far, that's 2 NSTs a week and possibly 2 bpps. Now, once a week after my NST I have to get a fluid check. This is basically another ultrasound but they measure the pockets of fluid around baby. We've gotten some cute pics by doing these. They are looking for the fluid to be between 5-25 cm. And they use about 3 places and then take an average. So far, mine have been great. My last one was 16.8.

Aside from these visits, I have a growth scan every 4 weeks (starting at 32 weeks). My next one is next week. And hopefully will be my last. This is basically another ultrasound and they measure all his body parts and organs to make sure that he is growing accurately. Again, this is done due to me being high risk.

I also go to the dr. every 2 weeks. Starting next week, it'll be every week. They triage me, check the heartbeat, measure my fundal height. For those that don't know what that is...the body is such a cool thing. By taking a tape measure and measure from the top of my pubic bone to the top of my uterus (in cm), it should be equal to the amount of weeks that I'm pregnant. (At this point it's +/- 4 weeks due to the baby's position). And then they basically see if I have questions. Every now and again I have to do a specific test. Next week, I have to test for Strep B.

So, that's about it. Interesting, eh? So at this point, I am always at the hospital. On a good note, gas prices just dropped to $4.25 =)

34 Weeks

So, I made 34 weeks yesterday. That means I'm big and my belly button is really shallow. This is what my insides look like:

Is anyone else freaked out by that picture?? I am. And see that organ right under the head that's not labeled? Yeah, that's my bladder. And baby Isaac is head down already which means his noggin is directly on my bladder at all times.  So here's what is going on at 34 weeks (according to pregnancy.com and i-am-pregnant.com):

Your baby now weighs about 4 3/4 lbs (like your average canteloupe) and is almost 18 inches long. His fat layers are filling him out, making him rounder. His skin is almost smoother than ever. His central nervouse system is maturing and his lungs are continuing to mature as well. You'll be happy to know that babies born between 34 and 37 weeks who have no health problems generally do fine. Baby's hair continues to grow longer and thicker. Your baby is also taking calcium from you to lay down lots of bone. Be sure to continue to take your prenatal vitamins and to drink milk. The baby now rests on your uterus and is no longer floating. Fingernails now reach over the fingertips and he can now scratch himself.

By this week, fatigue has probably set in again though maybe not the same coma-like intensity as the first trimester. Your tiredness is perfectly understandable, given the physical strain you're under and the restless nights of frequent pee breaks and tossing and turning, while trying to get comfortable. Now's the time to slow down and save up energy for labor day (and beyond). If you've been sitting or lying down for a long time, don't jump up too quickly. Blood can pool in your feet and legs, causing a temporary drop in your blood pressure when you get up that can make you feel dizzy.

5-6 more weeks to go!! =)

Pregnancy etiquette

Ok, I love being pregnant. But there are definitely some things that I didn't know about it...one being all the stupid/ridiculous questions or comments that people will throw at you. You see, I really think that other people just feel the need to say something to a pregnant woman so they say anything...and I do mean ANYTHING. I know they mean well...so I just try to stay calm. But really,  no need to get all up in my business. In honor of my baby boy being almost here, here are some statements/questions that you should never say or ask a pregnant woman unless you're already close to the person and talk about personal things. So, these are not intended for ya'll not to ask me or anything. It's just a chance for me to get some things off my chest. I just find it extremely rude when someone that I barely know will come up and ask me if I'm getting an epidural. Here you go =)

• Was it planned? Yeah, I'm serious. People that I am not close to have asked me this question. Ok, you're basically asking me about my sex life.

• Go ahead and eat it, you're eating for two now! Ok, no I'm not. I'm eating for me and someone the size of a fruit. And did I mention that I have a BS in dietetics?

• Should you be eating/drinking that? Are you kidding me?! Shut up. Now. My body. My baby. Again, would you ever say that to someone who wasn't pregnant??

• You look like you're about to pop!/Are you due like next week?  Ok, that's not how babies are born. I'm not gonna pop...ever. I'm gonna shove him out of my vagina. And you don't need to guess my due date. If you're curious, just ask.

• Judgement on decisions ex. breastfeeding, epidural, induction, circumsicion, etc. They are just that. Our decisions. We didn't make these lightly, and I educate myself on every decision that I make. If you don't agree, I really don't care. Nor do I need to explain myself.

• Any comment about body size Do I even need to explain myself? No. 

• Acting like I'm baby illiterate This is THE ULTIMATE WORST. Just because I'm not a mom yet, doesn't mean that I'm baby stupid. However, I am no expert and I am very open to advice. In fact, I am constantly calling people to ask them things that I don't know...or to get their opinion. I don't need to hear things like, "Get sleep now because when the baby comes...you won't sleep!" Well, DUH! If I could sleep, I would. I've been around babies before. In fact, I have 2 younger brothers. No need to tell me that babies don't sleep through the night. REALLY?? That's news to me. And no need to tell me how breastfeeding is good for my baby. Thanks. Again, did I mention that I have a BS in dietetics?? Oh yeah,  and don't tell me that it's impossible to breastfeed for for 6 months because you couldn't. Let me live my own life...everyone is different. No need to be smug.

I promised myself awhile ago that I won't be one of those moms that pushes unwanted advice or ask rude qustions to people I don't know. I just think that maybe other people out there didn't get that memo. But for you people that I know and love...go ahead and ask away! You know I'm all about talking TMI. HAHA. Love you all!

Body Language

Ok, here is a little video of Isaac going crazy. I've been trying to get this on video and I finally did! He likes to move a lot at night but tonight I guess he decided to get the party started a little earlier. You can see a little movement around :09 and then majorly starting at :31. Boring I know...but I love to watch it =) Poor thing really doesn't have much space to move around anymore...so I guess I forgive him for messing about in my ribs. I read in my book that his feet can get lodged in there and to get on all fours and arch my back to "dislodge" them. That freaks me out. Plus, me on all fours right now just should not be happening. HAHA...enjoy.


PS-The background noise is Andrew playing some war xbox 360 game. And excuse my Darth Vader breathing...I'm big, ok?

32 Week Picture

Wow! I can't believe it's already been 32 weeks. Time is flying by. We are doing well. I am no longer working, but I am starting to get highly uncomfortable. The heartburn is incredibly painful at night. Yesterday I went in for a growth scan and I have to do that again in 4 weeks. They measured all his body parts again. He's an average sized baby and weighs about 4 lb 4 oz right now. It is so funny because we were looking at all his body parts and he kept wanting to show his boy parts! haha. We also went on our labor and delivery tour which was pretty informative. On Thursday I start my first nonstress test and then I have to go twice a week after that. I basically lay there with monitors on me. So yeah, confused by all the appts? Me too. Not to mention going to the regular doctor every two weeks. I have that on Thursday as well. Told ya it was confusing. Anyways, enjoy the pics...and please excuse my face...I was tired.