31 Weeks

Pretty sure this happens on a daily basis in there.

I’ve been pretty quiet the last couple of weeks because I haven’t been feeling well. The out of control blood sugars was a huge factor in that, and now that they are under control again; my energy is returning, my moods are balancing out (well, sort of…) and I’m feeling a lot better overall. It’s a good feeling!

While I would never wish for my baby to be born too early, it would be amazing to have a fast forward button to April. The last trimester is ridiculous and hard, each day seems to get longer and longer.

I have two NST’s scheduled for this week and then my baby shower is on Saturday, I can’t wait!!!

Pretty boring around here, just trying to keep up my energy, keep up with my kids and get things ready for a new little person to join our family. Here’s a comparison from 21 weeks to 31 weeks.

Baby Girl is Grounded

I had every intention of going to my Non Stress Test this morning, leaving the hospital by 10, running errands and then spending the rest of the day catching up on laundry and other housework that’s been neglected lately. That didn’t happen.

The nurse hooked me up to the monitors and immediately noticed her heartrate was pretty high (175’ish) and after 10 minutes, it was still that way. After 2 hours of IV fluids, me drinking cup after cup of water, the heart rate was still high. It went down a few times, but not enough and not consistently enough for them to send me home without further testing.

The on call OB came in and did a Bio Physical Profile which I had never had done before and was a little nervous, but it was pretty quick, painless and because it’s an ultrasound, I got to watch her in all her glory. So cool to see those little feet kicking instead of just feeling them. I ended up scoring a 10.8, under 10, they admit you.

What does this mean? I have another NST Friday morning and we’re hoping that today’s was just a fluke and her heart rate stays in normal ranges as it has been for every other appointment, ultrasound and NST. Obviously, the ideal course is to keep me pregnant as long as possible (I’m currently just over 30 weeks), but it may come to a point where we have to decide on delivery and NICU or possibly losing her if the pregnancy continues. I’m doing everything that I can and will continue to do so. Please keep us in your thoughts and prayers.

Even though she is grounded, she is still pretty cute 😉 Here is a profile picture from the ultrasound this morning. She was moving around a lot and is head down, so it was hard to get a good profile shot.

30 Weeks

Some days I feel like I’m going to be pregnant forever and it will never end, and then I realize how little time there is left and I start to get sad. This is it. This is the last time I’ll feel a baby move inside of me, the last time I’ll have a newborn, the last so many things!! Apparently I’m feeling sappy today. 

Your baby’s the size of a cucumber!

Your 15.2- to 16.7-inch, 2.5- to 3.8-pound baby continues to grow.

 

 

I had an appointment with my OB this morning and if I wasn’t having all of these blood sugar issues, it would be my best and easiest pregnancy of them all. My blood pressure is great, no swelling, growing right on track, strong heartbeat, etc. But then he looked at my blood sugars and said “it’s a good thing this is your last one, another baby might kill you.” I am to continue twice a week non stress tests at the hospital and to see my Endocrinologist as needed, but since baby girl is doing so well, I don’t need another OB appointment for 3 weeks. 

 

I talked with my Endocrinologist on the phone this afternoon and we are trying something new with my night time dose of insulin. Currently, I take 100 units right before bed, but I’m still waking up with blood sugar readings near 200 – they should be under 90. And then my body is trying to catch up all day and I’m injecting a LOT of insulin all day long, only to start the cycle again the next morning. Starting tonight, I’ll take 60 units right before bed and another 60 first thing in the morning. Fingers crossed. 

 

That’s all for now. Here’s a fun bump comparison, 20 weeks to 30 weeks. Pretty big difference, no wonder I can’t find shirts that fit!!!

 

 

 

29 Weeks

Your baby’s the size of an acorn squash!

Baby already measures about 15.2 to 16.7 inches long. Right now, we weighs about 2.5 to 3.8 pounds but he’s still got a ways to go — can you believe he’ll triple in weight before birth?

your baby at 29 weeks

• He’s getting a little cramped in there, since he’s growing so fast. But you probably already realize that, since you’re getting all those jabs and kicks.
• He’s growing white fat deposits under his skin, and his energy is surging because of it.
• Feel a subtle twitch? It might be baby hiccupping.

Life has been somewhat of a roller coaster the last few days. My blood sugars have been all over the place and becoming harder and harder to control. As many times as Dr’s have told me this could happen, now that it IS happening, I don’t like it.

I had an OB appointment yesterday – and an ultrasound-. Good news is that baby girl continues to thrive and is doing great! She is growing right on track and even though my body is going nuts with all of this blood sugar nonsense, she continues to be unaffected. But, because my numbers have been so high, and when that happens, I note decreased fetal movements, it’s time to watch things a little closer.

Starting this morning, I will be at the hospital having Non-Stress Tests done twice a week and I’m also seeing my OB weekly now until delivery.

The first test was done this morning and we passed with flying colors. While it was a little boring sitting there clicking each time she moved, I loved being able to just sit back, listening to the heartbeat and moving around and I did a little reading as well. Next test is Saturday morning.

And that’s that! I’m trying to stay positive and just focus on one day at a time right now. It’s really all I can do!

27 Weeks

I think this is the first week that I’m actually really feeling the woes of pregnancy. It is WAY harder the 4th time and 12 years later. I’m old, I’m tired, I’m cranky, I’m gassy, everything hurts…that about sums it up. Yes, I’m whining, not sorry. I’m still feeling incredibly blessed to be this far along and we are both doing well, but I’m entitled to a little whining during the last trimester. It’s law.

I really don’t know what she’s doing in there all day long, but yesterday the rolls and kicks were so strong, I half expected an organ of mine to come shooting out my lady bits.

She definitely had a growth spurt this week, my shirts are starting to lift up now, they used to cover the bump ok. Also, not sorry, not buying anything else. Don’t care.

Other than the whining and being slightly uncomfortable, things are going great. My blood sugars are behaving, my blood pressure is still behaving and I’m beyond excited at those two things. While I may have some uncomfortable moments over the next couple of months, I know how fast it goes once they are here and while I’m insanely excited to meet her, I’m not ready yet!

Here’s a fun comparison- same shirt: 21 weeks vs 27 weeks.

26 Weeks

Almost 90 days- HOLY CRAP!!! Sorry, momentary freak out. I’m done now 😉

Baby is the size of…Lettuce.

Let’s see, how are things going? In a word. Interesting. My life would be so much easier if this stupid insomnia would just go away. I know that once the baby gets here, sleep will be non-existent, so dang it, I want to sleep now! Almost every night I fall asleep fine and think, this is it, the night I sleep all night…and then around 1 or 2 I wake up and just lay there and lay there. That alarm going off at 6 comes way too soon when you’re up for a few hours in the middle of the night. #firstworldproblem- I can’t lay down during the day and take a nap because then it’s even harder to fall asleep and I toss and turn even more. Good thing I have a full DVR, I’m ready to move out to the couch instead of just laying there staring at the walls.

Other than that, just normal pregnancy stuff. It’s definitely getting harder to do simple things, but I absolutely LOVE watching the bump go crazy with movements so I guess it’s a fair trade off 😉

I did get some excellent news today. Back in October when I first got my Diabetes diagnosis, my A1C level was around 13.2. In December it was down to 7.3 and as of the bloodwork I had done yesterday, it’s at 5.8. This is awesome. No one can say what will happen after delivery, but the doctors are hopeful that I either won’t need insulin at all or I could go straight to oral medications or the best possible outcome being I won’t need anything at all and I can control it with diet and exercise. Only time will tell.

From 6 weeks to 26 weeks. I’m sort of bummed I don’t have any pictures for weeks 7,8,9,10, 11 or 12 because those were the weeks I wasn’t believed to be pregnant anymore. Looking back, I am still in disbelief that everything happened like it did. While I may have “missed” most of the first trimester thinking I had miscarried, I’m so very thankful this little miracle of mine continues to fight hard and prove everyone wrong. She is a champion and I can’t wait to meet her.

What I Ate Wednesday {7}

Hello, Hello! Just when I thought food aversions and other yuckiness associated with pregnancy was gone…it’s back with a vengeance. I have had a craving for baked potatoes and chicken for a few days and was so excited to cook that tonight, as you’ll see, that didn’t happen. My stomach has felt “off” all day long today. It’s only 7:15pm, but I’m ready to put the kids and myself to bed. Before that happens, let’s get to the WIAW party!

Breakfast: 

This meal has been on repeat for about a week, it’s so filling and so delicious, I can’t help but eat it every morning.

Carbmaster yogurt with Fiber One Cranberry Almond granola and a sliced banana. Perfection.

Lunch: 

I had an Endocrinology appointment this morning and on the way home I decided to treat myself to a lunch out. Thank you, Jimmy John’s.

This sandwich was SO good, I think it’s going to be dangerous for the rest of the pregnancy that Jimmy Johns is so dang close to us.

Dinner: 

No chicken. Instead I toasted two waffles, slapped some crunchy nut butter and a sliced banana on top and called it a meal. I needed a little something extra, so I had another yogurt.

And because I have yet to finish and publish my 26 week bump-date, here is a picture for hump day, bump day (26 weeks, 4 days).

What I Ate Wednesday {6}

Like almost every other WIAW post I have read today, this is my first one in a couple of weeks, thanks to Christmas Day and New Year’s Day falling on Wednesdays. Glad to be back in the game!

Today was snow day #3. Heaven help us all if school is cancelled again tomorrow.

We kept it low key today and didn’t go anywhere. It was a little warmer than it has been (I think it got up to 14 today which was a heat wave compared to the -40 two days ago) so they were in and out of the house making igloos and snow forts all through the yard. Thank goodness for small favors.

Breakfast:

Looking at this picture makes me sad I emptied the box this morning. I have a mad craving for Frosted Mini Wheats lately, can’t get enough of that goodness! The sliced banana on top makes it even better.

Lunch:

The usual. I’m trying to keep my carb levels to a minimum at least one meal during the day so I don’t have to inject as much insulin. It seems to be helping, my levels have been nothing short of amazing lately. I’m pretty proud of myself :).

Since I was pretty hungry, I also had a makeshift grilled cheese: whole wheat english muffin with sharp cheddar cheese- under the broiler for about 3 minutes.

I had a couple of squares of this little goody this afternoon.

Dinner:

The rest of the family had pancakes, but pancakes make my blood sugar spike to over 200, and I don’t even have syrup with them. Instead, I had an egg sandwich with turkey bacon on the side and a mighty delicious and extra juicy orange.

Can’t forget about hump day, bump day: 25 weeks, 4 days.

I had a bad case of insomnia last night and then the kids were up early this morning, which means I’m ready for bed. Like now. I’m going to go crochet for a little bit and then call it a night when I put the troops to bed.

Don’t forget to head over to Peas and Crayons for more WIAW fun!

 

25 Week Appointment

I typically post about my appointments in the weekly updates (if I have one that week), but changing things up and sharing my appointment in it’s very own post. Why not, right?

Everything is going great! I am averaging about a 1lb gain a week, I have no idea how much I have gained, I don’t look at the scale, the Dr. didn’t mention a number, just said I’m doing great. I worked SO hard getting a crap ton of weight off last year, I don’t even want to think about what the scale says at this point. I’ll worry about that AFTER she is born.

My blood pressure was normal and the uterus is measuring about 2 weeks ahead. Next appointment is in 4 weeks and I’ll have an ultrasound to check on growth. One of the biggest risks of being Diabetic is baby getting too big which can result in stillbirth, so I’ll be having ultrasounds every two weeks after that as well as non stress tests done in the hospital. Told me to still plan on an April 10th c-section date unless her health or mine is at risk.

It’s getting real. April 10th is not that far away. Guess I better finish this blanket…

I’m off to do some anti-snow day rituals now. I love my kids, but my gosh if school is cancelled again tomorrow, I may lose my ever loving mind.

25 Weeks

That baby in the ticker is getting mighty close to the end…it’s starting to get real that in the very near future, baby #4 is going to be arriving.

Baby is the size of…Cauliflower. What? I really have no idea what this app is talking about, but it’s fun 😉 Apparently she is around 2-2.5lbs, THAT I believe. The uncomfortable part of pregnancy is here. Definitely feeling the extra weight and pressure of her moving and growing in there.

She is moving ALL.THE.TIME now. It’s pretty constant, and I feel at least a couple of movements every hour, the strongest, craziest moves occur just as I’m going to bed and it’s fun to poke the bump and have her kick back. Still won’t perform for others, the moment anyone else lays a hand on the bump, all movement will stop until the hands are gone.

I have an OB appointment on Tuesday morning (unless we are still snowed in…) and we’ll see how big her (and I) have grown over the past month.

That’s all I have for today, thankfully things are going well now and it’s just us both growing steadily every week.