Archive for September, 2009

A recap of 4 days of couch laying.

Posted 08 Sep 2009 — by Mrs. Jenna
Category baby business

Well, the obnoxious news that I tested positive for fFN was enough to put me on lots of rest, even if my midwife said “just don’t do anything out of the ordinary.” After talking to my mom & the hubs, we all determined that my “ordinary” is way more than most people’s (I can’t sit still anymore) so, I did a lot of couch and bed laying…and a little bit of walking around. The result? Lots of morning contractions (timable to nearly 3-5 minutes apart at times) and evening cramping…which was at it’s worst on Friday night, and had another bout of on Saturday night. It’s kind of scary- the cramping feels like menstrual cramps, but it radiates into my upper legs (which I read in What to Expect can be a sign of pre-term labor). The Midwife on call on Friday night recommended a bath and going to bed. It was 8:30pm. So, I took a bath and re-assumed the position on the couch. I felt better.

Overall, the weekend was mostly without alarms, but I’m totally on high-alert and it sucks. I was able to get in today to get checked again to make sure nothing is happening, no progress is being made (instead of waiting until Friday which was the earliest I could get in before). That will ease my mind. I’m pretty hopeful that I’m not dilating…but if I AM, I want them to start intervening NOW. I can’t go the next 7-9 weeks worrying daily that any contractions or cramping are dilating me and putting me more at risk of pre-term labor.

Good news is, the baby seems to be okay through all this – still moving and hiccuping like normal. I’d still wish they’d take a peek inside via ultrasound so I could get that reassurance as well…but I’ll take what I can get at this point. Well wishes and prayers are still being accepted! I’m hoping I don’t need them. :)

31 weeks.

Posted 08 Sep 2009 — by Mrs. Jenna
Category baby business

How far along? 31 weeks.
Total weight gain/loss: Up 25ish lbs or so.
Maternity clothes? Casual summer ended today, so I’m wearing my maternity style work pants, thanks to Mom! (I got 2 pair of pants and 3 shirts for my B-day, which is Sunday!)

Stretch marks? Belly is stretchie free!

Sleep: A little better. Was up twice last night to pee, and had my first kick that actually woke me up. That was new. :)

Best moment this week: I’m going to go ahead and say NOT going into labor over the weekend.

Movement: Oui.

Food cravings: (I’m going to leave this up because it still stands.) I would like a big slice of marble cake with vanilla frosting. (My birthday IS in 5 days. *cough*getmeacakehubs*cough*)

Gender: I’m back to girl. My Dad and MIL are the only ones thinking boy. Maybe the hubs too.

Labor Signs: See below. *sigh*

Belly Button in or out? Flat as all get-out.

What I miss: Not being scared of going into labor.

What I am looking forward to: Getting checked again. I might be the only lady on the planet who’s stoked about getting an internal. That…and making it to at LEAST 35 weeks.

Weekly Wisdom: If something doesn’t feel right – call or head to the doc. It can’t hurt.

Milestones: Making it one more week is a milestone enough. :)

Call me now for a free reading, dahrlin’!

Posted 04 Sep 2009 — by Mrs. Jenna
Category baby business, please and thank you

Maybe I’m more in tune to my body than I think. Maybe I AM in fact, Ms Cleo’s less-Jamaican intern.

I finally went to the doc yesterday because I was having a leaking sensation (again), and the midwife checked everything out and everything seemed good. He attributed the leaking sensation to the ridiculous amount of discharge I had. (gross) The tests he ran against it showed it wasn’t amniotic fluid, and that my cervix was still thick and tight, but the baby’s head was rightthere on my cervix. (PS – that makes my second internal – BOOO). He ran the test for the protein released when contractions are “going to work” and said he’d only call me if it came back positive, but that he didn’t anticipate that happening since everything looked good.

He just said to take it easy and come back in a couple weeks for my normal appointment.

And then at 8:00pm last night he called. The test came back positive. He said this test result means I have a slight chance of going into labor in the next two weeks. BUT he also said I could go full term, too. So, he basically said I have to come in next week for another internal, and I shouldn’t do anything out of the ordinary. Bed rest not required. If the BHs get close together again I need to come in and get hooked up to the monitors. He really was surprised that it came back positive. He said NOTHING from his exam pointed to this test coming back positive. He didn’t think steroid shots were necessary at this point (to mature the baby’s lungs).

(This is the webpage explaining the test.)

It seems like a lot of women have this test and still carry their babies to full term, but I’m still freaked out. I took today off so I could just lay and rest anyway…and I plan on doing that a lot this weekend. I’m still having contractions, and of course, they’re more uncomfortable than before, but I’m hoping that’s just because I had a dude’s hand up my vag for like, 10 minutes yesterday.

I was totally fine and being the calm one about it until I called my mom last night to tell her and then I cried like a baby. I’m not ready for an outside baby yet. AT ALL. Esp at this point.

But, it’s really kind of out of my hands. The whole pregnancy really is. I’m doing all I can to keep this baby healthy and inside…and if my body wants to be a jerk and send me into pre-term labor, then it will. Of course, I’ll still fight it till the end to keep this baby inside, but I can’t control anything. Which is a really shitty feeling.

Thoughts, prayers, good vibes – whatever you have to offer would be appreciated. I’l take what I can get at this point to keep this baby inside.

This will be random.

Posted 02 Sep 2009 — by Mrs. Jenna
Category baby business

I’m going through a weird time with this pregnancy…filled with odd anxieties and excitement. Maybe it’s just par for the course at this point in the 9 months…but yeah…freaking myself out.

I have this irrational fear that something is wrong. That I’m somehow leaking amniotic fluid or that the baby has developed some weird issue. Do I have anything to back up these feelings? No. Not really. I’m thinking it’s mostly due to the insane amount of braxton hicks I’m having and the fact that I haven’t technically seen the baby for 2.5 months. I’m all worried that I’m going to go into labor like, tomorrow. Again…unfounded. I’m worried that my belly doesn’t seem to have gotten any bigger in the past couple of weeks.

I don’t have another appointment until the 17th. I don’t know if I can wait that long to have someone reassure me that everything looks okay.

In other, less stressful news – our first birthing class is at 6:30 tonight. HOLY CRAP. And the baby’s room is coming along quite well. Still waiting to take some more pictures until a couple more prints have been hung.

30 weeks.

Posted 01 Sep 2009 — by Mrs. Jenna
Category baby business

How far along? 30 weeks.
Total weight gain/loss: Still about + 25 lbs, give or take a pound.
Maternity clothes? Yup. And my fav maternity jeans are getting a little tight. NOOOOOO!

Stretch marks? What stretch marks? (Still refusing to look at my thighs.)

Sleep: HORRID. The steady decline of comfort hath officially begun. I’m now sleeping with 3 down pillows, a body pillow and the boppy belly wedge.

Best moment this week: Seeing my parents!!!

Movement: Yes. The hubs got to see some pretty crazy stuff last night.

Food cravings: I would like a big slice of marble cake with vanilla frosting. (My birthday IS in 12 days. *cough*getmeacakehubs*cough*)

Gender: Most are leaning girl. I’m just going to stay neutral until the end.

Labor Signs: Effing Braxton Hicks. Hate you. HATE.

Belly Button in or out? Both. And it’s starting to look gross.

What I miss: Not having sciatica when I walk and an awesome night’s sleep.

What I am looking forward to: A full day at the State Fair!

Weekly Wisdom: Even if you feel like superwoman while pregnant…REST. Rest often and for long periods of time. I haven’t been and I pay the price for it frequently.

Milestones: Uh, holy crap. Only 10 MORE WEEKS. (70 DAYS PEOPLE.)