Friday, November 14, 2008

Swollen!!!!!!!!



another view...

My TRANKS (tree trunk ankles)


Just adorable...
One of my 4th grade girls said, "Oh my gosh! I've never seen legs look like that before! They're so big, they look kind of like my grandma's legs!" One of those kids you really want to be truthful back for a moment, but I just smiled and said "I know, just a part of having a baby..."
Lacy didn't think they were very bad last time I took a picture...this better? :) Love you Lace!

Thursday, November 13, 2008

Good Dr. Appt...

Dr. said that I get a sonogram next week. Originally she said no more unless there are complications. But she's worried that Miss Sadie might be too big before Thanksgiving and doesn't want me to go into labor over Thanksgiving week and have to use whatever on call doctors are just there... So, she said if Baby is 8 lbs. or bigger (good gracious, I hope not), then she'll take her the next Monday. If below 7 1/2 lbs. she'll hold off until after Thanksgiving week.

My blood pressure was a little elevated, nothing huge. But it explains my GIGANTOR ankles and feet. I weighed something I never thought I'd see in my lifetime, but she said I'm carrying like 2 gallons of extra water weight around. So I felt a little better.

I thought I lost my mucus plug yesterday in the shower, she said maybe just a little bit of it, but not all. And no big deal if it does. Some people lose theirs up to 6 weeks ahead of time.

My cervix is really soft, and feels like I'm ready to start dilating. :)

Just thought I'd update you!!!

Wednesday, November 12, 2008

Monday, November 10, 2008

Miss Sadie...36 weeks...bring on the baby!!!

No comments today, just read everything below on How Life is Changing...it's right on!! Pictures tomorrow...we'll see. :)

Your pregnancy: 36 weeks
See the big picture
How your baby's growing:Your baby is still packing on the pounds — at the rate of about an ounce a day. She now weighs almost 6 pounds (like a crenshaw melon) and is more than 18 1/2 inches long. She's shedding most of the downy covering of hair that covered her body as well as the vernix caseosa, the waxy substance that covered and protected her skin during her nine-month amniotic bath. Your baby swallows both of these substances, along with other secretions, resulting in a blackish mixture, called meconium, will form the contents of her first bowel movement.At the end of this week, your baby will be considered full-term. (Full-term is 37 to 42 weeks; babies born before 37 weeks are pre-term and those born after 42 are post-term.) Most likely she's in a head-down position. But if she isn't, your practitioner may suggest scheduling an "external cephalic version," which is a fancy way of saying she'll try to coax your baby into a head-down position by manipulating her from the outside of your belly.See what your baby looks like this week. (Or see what fraternal twins look like in the womb this week.)Note: Every baby develops a little differently — even in the womb. Our information is designed to give you a general idea of your baby's development.
How your life's changing:Now that your baby is taking up so much room, you may have trouble eating a normal-size meal. Smaller, more frequent meals are often easier to handle at this point. On the other hand, you may have less heartburn and have an easier time breathing when your baby starts to "drop" down into your pelvis. This process — called lightening — often happens a few weeks before labor if this is your first baby. (If you've given birth before, it probably won't happen before labor starts.) If your baby drops, you may also feel increased pressure in your lower abdomen, which may make walking increasingly uncomfortable, and you'll probably find that you have to pee even more frequently. If your baby is very low, you may feel lots of vaginal pressure and discomfort as well. Some women say it feels as though they're carrying a bowling ball between their legs!You might also notice that your Braxton Hicks contractions are more frequent now. Be sure to review the signs of labor with your practitioner and find out when she wants to hear from you. As a general rule, if you're full-term, your pregnancy is uncomplicated, and your water hasn't broken, she'll probably have you wait to come in until you've been having contractions that last for about a minute each, coming every five minutes for an hour. Of course, you'll want to call right away if you notice a decrease in your baby's activity or think you're leaking amniotic fluid, or if you have any vaginal bleeding, fever, a severe or persistent headache, constant abdominal pain, or vision changes.Even if you're enjoying an uncomplicated pregnancy, it's best to avoid flying (or any travel far from home) during your final month because you can go into labor at any time. In fact, some airlines won't let women on board who are due to deliver within 30 days of the flight.

Thursday, November 6, 2008

Dr. appointment

Went to the dr. yesterday. Everything looks good. She felt the cervix, said it's really soft and will probably start dilating soon. I asked her about a date, early or on time...she said, "When she feels like coming, she'll come." I'm having a lot of braxton hicks today... My feet were so unbelievably swollen last night, it was disgusting. I asked her abou that...she said my blood pressure is perfect, so I'm just retaining water. (Like a camel evidently). Whatever fungus was mentioned in the BabyCenter blog, I tested negative...yea! All's well... just a matter of time.

Tuesday, November 4, 2008

35 weeks....just getting by...

I'm swollen, I'm hurting, and I'm soooooooooo ready to have this sweet little girl in my arms and OUT of my belly!!! I'm going to the dr. once a week now. I have an appt. tomorrow, next Thursday the 13th, and Friday the 21st (my LAST day of work - wahoo!!!). Lots of things are getting harder to do... But I know that I'm going to have a beautiful baby in the next 3 to 5 weeks (I pray it's Thanksgiving week...). We're just getting things organized around here. I'm working in my classroom to get it organized, too and ready for my sub. I can't even walk to the bathroom without another teacher stopping to touch my belly and tell me they don't think I'm going to make it... :) I don't mind them touching my belly...I'm just ready to have a real baby to touch. Singing is getting SO hard...but she just loves it... the drums get her moving and she's gonna be either deaf or really rhythmic when she comes out. :)


Your pregnancy: 35 weeks
See the big picture
How your baby's growing:Your baby doesn't have much room to maneuver now that he's over 18 inches long and tips the scales at 5 1/4 pounds (pick up a honeydew melon). Because it's so snug in your womb, he isn't likely to be doing somersaults anymore, but the number of times he kicks should remain about the same. His kidneys are fully developed now, and his liver can process some waste products. Most of his basic physical development is now complete — he'll spend the next few weeks putting on weight.See what your baby looks like this week.Note: Every baby develops a little differently — even in the womb. Our information is designed to give you a general idea of your baby's development.
How your life's changing:Your uterus — which was entirely tucked away inside your pelvis when you conceived — now reaches up under your rib cage. If you could peek inside your womb, you'd see that there's more baby than amniotic fluid in there now. Your ballooning uterus is crowding your other internal organs, too, which is why you probably have to urinate more often and may be dealing with heartburn and other gastrointestinal distress. If you're not grappling with these annoyances, you're one of the lucky few.From here on out, you'll start seeing your practitioner every week. Sometime between now and 37 weeks, she'll do a vaginal and rectal culture to check for bacteria called Group B streptococci (GBS). (Don't worry — the swab is the size of a regular cotton swab, and it won't hurt at all.) GBS is usually harmless in adults, but if you have it and pass it on to your baby during birth, it can cause serious complications, such as pneumonia, meningitis, or a blood infection. Because 10 to 30 percent of pregnant women have the bacteria and don't know it, it's vital to be screened. (The bacteria come and go on their own — that's why you weren't screened earlier in pregnancy.) If you're a GBS carrier, you'll get IV antibiotics during labor, which will greatly reduce your baby's risk of infection.This is also a good time to create a birth plan. Using our form will help you focus on specifics — like who'll be present, what pain management techniques you want to try, and where you want your baby to stay after you deliver. It will give you a starting point to discuss your preferences with your medical team. Childbirth is unpredictable, and chances are you won't follow your plan to the letter, but thinking about your choices ahead of time — and sharing your preferences with your caregiver — should take some of the anxiety out of the process.