Wednesday, April 24, 2013

28 Weeks and 3 days

We have hit the 7 month mark! Last trimester, here we are :-)

The adjustment to the GD (gestational diabetes) diagnosis has not been an easy one. I went to the OB for my now every 2 weeks appointment and we talked about the blood sugar numbers I have been getting. They are okay, not awesome but I am working on it. I think the biggest adjustment is that I have been pushing water as my fluids every day. I have a cup at school that is a 24 oz cup and I try to drink at least 4 of those everyday. However, water has no flavor for me so it makes me struggle to drink it - thank goodness for the Crystal Light squeezable flavorings, they make it much more tolerable to make myself drink.


How far along? 28 weeks and 3 days
Total weight gain: was up to 4 pounds from pre-pregnancy weight, but lost a pound - so back down to 3 pounds. This GD diet makes weight gain tough.
Maternity clothes? that's what I am fitting into right now, all maternity pants
Stretch marks? Pretty sure that I have some new ones as my stomach grows
Sleep: sleeping has become a pillow mountain - having the extra support of all the pillows while I am trying to get myself comfortable
Best moment of the week: Finishing my Master's final research paper and submitting it for final edits from my professor! That has been my life for the last few weeks and I am relieved to have it done minus the edits I will have to make
Miss anything? Not really
Movement: she is moving machine - constantly on the move, especially after meals and about 2:30 am. She wakes up and squirms around tons and tons
Anything making you queasy or sick: Random queasy feeling that comes and goes - kind of reminds me of the first trimester
Gender prediction: definitely a girl
Labor signs: Nope
Symptoms: heartburn due to her position, she sits very high and pushes up on my stomach, which causes the acid to be pushing up.
Belly button in or out? In
Wedding rings on or off? they are on a chain around my neck now, they only fit to my knuckle. I found a decent (although not real) replacement to wear so I don't have a bare hand which is very strange after wearing a ring for so long
Happy or moody most of the time? this week has been pretty good, I am waiting for the end of the week so I can see my friends who are coming in for the fun this weekend!
Looking forward to: the awesome baby shower BBQ that is planned for this weekend with our friends and family - we are so looking forward to the fun and seeing everyone!!

Thursday, April 18, 2013

27 Weeks and 4 days - gestational diabetes diagnosis

Well the results of the dreaded 3 hour glucose test are in and I have developed gestational diabetes. It wasn't a surprise just not what I was hoping for through this pregnancy. I was really hoping to sneak in under the wire so I didn't develop it but apparently that is not the case.

I went to diabetes nurse and went through the orientation, received my testing meter, and sat through an hour long discussion of my new eating habits. Ugh...pretty restrictive :-(

I am not a fan of the pricking my finger 4 times a day, I am not a fan of writing down all my sugar levels, and truthfully, I miss some of the food :-( Yes, I know it's for the best and I am working on it, it's a tough transition but I am getting better. I have to report my blood sugars to the OB as we monitor this whole process.

Things that I have learned so far:

1. 26-34 weeks the glucose levels are critical to be monitored closely and kept under control - this is when the baby has the most growth happening and the excess sugar can cause them to grow too fast without being fully prepared to do so.

2. I will monitored very closely from this point forward to make sure baby girl isn't growing too quickly with the excess sugar. That means more doctor appointments and ultrasounds to measure her growth to make sure that it's not getting out of hand.

3. I am now considered a high risk pregnancy due to this because of needing the additional monitoring.

4. I will most likely not go until my due date because babies with gestational diabetes grow so quickly.

5. Increased chances of c-section birth - again due to the larger size these babies tend to be

6. I have increased chances of having the gestational diabetes turn into Type 2 diabetes after she is born so I will be monitored after the birth to see if my sugars return to the normal range. This is kind of scary and I really hope this doesn't happen.

7. The amount of carbohydrates they want me to eat everyday is very restrictive and specific to carbohydrates are going to be used quickly and not stored so it won't pass to the baby.


Weekly update time:


How far along? 27 weeks and 4 days
Total weight gain: a total of 4 pounds so far - but that will become even slower with the adjustment to the new eating habits
Maternity clothes? that's what I am fitting into right now, all maternity pants
Stretch marks? Pretty sure that I have some new ones as my stomach grows
Sleep: sleeping has become a challenge - I have hit the point where almost no position is comfortable to sleep so I am up quite often and it's tough to fall back asleep.
Best moment of the week: Been a rough week with stomach flu
Miss anything? Not really
Movement: she is moving machine - constantly on the move, especially after meals
Anything making you queasy or sick: Random queasy feeling that comes and goes - kind of reminds me of the first trimester
Gender prediction: definitely a girl
Labor signs: Nope
Symptoms: heartburn (holy fire!), hip/sciatic nerve pain (hoping to get it better with this trips to the chiropractor), not sleeping so well
Belly button in or out? In
Wedding rings on or off? they are on a chain around my neck now, they only fit to my knuckle. I found a decent (although not real) replacement to wear so I don't have a bare hand which is very strange after wearing a ring for so long
Happy or moody most of the time? this week was tough because I came down with a viral stomach flu - it caused me to be dehydrated and have a few contractions. This sent me to the hospital for fluids and monitoring of the baby. I am going to go with sad for this week. 
Looking forward to: no longer having the flu - it's miserable

Thursday, April 11, 2013

26 weeks 4 days


26 weeks all ready! Almost to the 3rd trimester and moving along quickly! :-)

How far along? 26 weeks and 4 days
Total weight gain: 2 pounds from pre-pregnancy weight and dr wants me to gain some weight - not as easy as it sounds because I have been trying and am only 2 pounds to show for it. 
Maternity clothes? that's what I am fitting into right now, all maternity pants
Stretch marks? Pretty sure that I have some new ones as my stomach grows
Sleep: sleeping = this is getting more and more short-term, I will sleep for an hour or two at a time before go to roll over and cannot do it very well so it wakes me up
Best moment of the week: not really had one yet - maybe this weekend
Miss anything? Not really
Movement: she is moving machine - constantly on the move, especially after meals
Anything making you queasy or sick: Random queasy feeling that comes and goes - kind of reminds me of the first trimester
Gender prediction: definitely a girl
Labor signs: Nope
Symptoms: heartburn (holy fire!), hip/sciatic nerve pain (hoping to get it better with this trips to the chiropractor), not sleeping so well
Belly button in or out? In
Wedding rings on or off? they are on a chain around my neck now, they only fit to my knuckle. I found a decent (although not real) replacement to wear so I don't have a bare hand which is very strange after wearing a ring for so long
Happy or moody most of the time? lately is a flip-flop between happy and sad. 
Looking forward to: the 3d ultrasound I have set up for 2 weeks from now

Thursday, April 4, 2013

25 weeks 4 days

Here we are nearly 6 1/2 months into this pregnancy and going strong!


How far along? 25 weeks and 4 days
Total weight gain: well I was surprised at the dr appointment this week - I lost a pound so I am officially only at 2 pound weight gain since pre-pregnancy weight. I am on dr order's to gain the pound I lost before my next appointment
Maternity clothes? that's what I am fitting into right now, all maternity pants
Stretch marks? Pretty sure that I have some new ones as my stomach grows
Sleep: sleeping = this is getting more and more short-term, I will sleep for an hour or two at a time before go to roll over and cannot do it very well so it wakes me up
Best moment of the week: Seeing baby girl's face on the ultrasound this week
Miss anything? Not really
Movement: she is getting more and more active as she is losing space
Anything making you queasy or sick: Random queasy feeling that comes and goes - kind of reminds me of the first trimester
Gender prediction: definitely a girl
Labor signs: Nope
Symptoms: heartburn (holy fire!), hip/sciatic nerve pain (hoping to get it better with this trips to the chiropractor), not sleeping so well
Belly button in or out? In
Wedding rings on or off? they are on a chain around my neck now, they only fit to my knuckle. I found a decent (although not real) replacement to wear so I don't have a bare hand which is very strange after wearing a ring for so long
Happy or moody most of the time? lately is a flip-flop between happy and sad. 
Looking forward to: the end of the school year!