We had a drama free doctor's appointment on Monday (i know hard to believe). He said that things are looking a little better than last week. He seemed shocked to see even a small improvement in such a short amount of time. He proceeded to diagnose me with a dynamic cervix. This simply means always changing. One week things may look as though I'm about to have this baby and the next week like I'm in good enough condition to run a marathon. Needless to say I'm stuck on bed rest for the remainder of the pregnancy. Trey and I are a little more optimistic this week. I feel like we'll be able to get through these next couple critical weeks.
We've had so many people call to check on us and bring us dinner. You guys have been so thoughtful and I can't tell you how much we appreciate everything that is being done for us! We are truly blessed to have such wonderful people around us. My boss is even driving in town tomorrow to spend the day with me. She's going to set me up with some things I can do from home to keep me busy. Unfortunately, the first thing I think of when I hear my boss is coming to my house is how am I going to clean? Before I could even stress about it my Mom offered to come over a clean. People are determined to keep me off my feet. So far it's working! Thank you for keeping us in your prayers!
Here's a look on what's going on this week...
Your pregnancy: 26 weeks
How your baby's growing:The network of nerves in your baby's ears is better developed and more sensitive than before. She may now be able to hear both your voice and your partner's as you chat with each other. She's inhaling and exhaling small amounts of amniotic fluid, which is essential for the development of her lungs. These so-called breathing movements are also good practice for when she's born and takes that first gulp of air. And she's continuing to put on baby fat. She now weighs about a pound and two-thirds and measures 14 inches (an English hothouse cucumber) from head to heel.
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Friday, April 24, 2009
Complete Bed Rest!
Trey and I figured we would go ahead and update everyone on what most of you already know. It's been a scary 48 hours. I'll try to consolidate a very long couple days...
We went in to the doctor yesterday expecting everything to be fine. The ultrasound went great. The baby looks perfect. However, we feared I was having real contractions and not just Braxton Hicks. They hooked me up to a fetal monitor for about an hour to measure contractions. I was in fact having uterine contractions. The doctor proceeded to check my cervix and wasn't comfortable with how things were progressing (I'll spare you guys all the complicated details). He put me on total bed rest and instructed me to stop working. I was ordered to stay off my feet and given 600mg of ibuprofen to take every 6 hours to stop the contractions. He wanted us to come in if the contractions didn't stop.
This leads us up to today. The contractions weren't going away and I was feeling pressure in my lower abdomen. I called the doctor and they told me to get to the office immediately. So off we went to the doctor yet again. After my o.b. examined me she decided to send me up to labor and delivery for observation. I was hooked up to monitors to keep track of everything going on. They took a sample from my cervix to test for the presence of protein. This particular test is used to determine the likelihood of going into active labor in the near future. The test results came back negative which was a huge sigh of relief. Based on the results the doctor felt comfortable saying I shouldn't go into active labor for at least another couple weeks (I could last longer but a couple weeks is the minimum). We will test again next week. After spending the entire day at the hospital she determined I would be ok to go on home for the weekend. I go back Monday morning to see the perinatologist. Hopefully things will look better!!
Needless to say Trey and I are very nervous but trying to stay positive. I have to stay disciplined and stay off my feet, poor Trey! He is now in charge of EVERYTHING!! We share many of the responsibilities around here but he's never cleaned a toilet, vacuumed, done laundry, dusted, ect., haha!! I should appreciate this time off but I'm not good at asking for help. Trey has basically threatened my life if I don't stay in the bed or on the couch. He seems to have a game plan for how things will run around here. Thank goodness I have such an amazing support system at home.
I'll try my best to keep everyone updated! Please keep our family in your prayers. It is going to be a long journey. We just have to take it one week at a time. Our ultimate goal at this point is to make it to 32 weeks. Anything after that will be icing on the cake. If anyone wants to give me sewing lessons or chit chat during the day let me know, haha! I need to find some things to keep me occupied/sane!
We went in to the doctor yesterday expecting everything to be fine. The ultrasound went great. The baby looks perfect. However, we feared I was having real contractions and not just Braxton Hicks. They hooked me up to a fetal monitor for about an hour to measure contractions. I was in fact having uterine contractions. The doctor proceeded to check my cervix and wasn't comfortable with how things were progressing (I'll spare you guys all the complicated details). He put me on total bed rest and instructed me to stop working. I was ordered to stay off my feet and given 600mg of ibuprofen to take every 6 hours to stop the contractions. He wanted us to come in if the contractions didn't stop.
This leads us up to today. The contractions weren't going away and I was feeling pressure in my lower abdomen. I called the doctor and they told me to get to the office immediately. So off we went to the doctor yet again. After my o.b. examined me she decided to send me up to labor and delivery for observation. I was hooked up to monitors to keep track of everything going on. They took a sample from my cervix to test for the presence of protein. This particular test is used to determine the likelihood of going into active labor in the near future. The test results came back negative which was a huge sigh of relief. Based on the results the doctor felt comfortable saying I shouldn't go into active labor for at least another couple weeks (I could last longer but a couple weeks is the minimum). We will test again next week. After spending the entire day at the hospital she determined I would be ok to go on home for the weekend. I go back Monday morning to see the perinatologist. Hopefully things will look better!!
Needless to say Trey and I are very nervous but trying to stay positive. I have to stay disciplined and stay off my feet, poor Trey! He is now in charge of EVERYTHING!! We share many of the responsibilities around here but he's never cleaned a toilet, vacuumed, done laundry, dusted, ect., haha!! I should appreciate this time off but I'm not good at asking for help. Trey has basically threatened my life if I don't stay in the bed or on the couch. He seems to have a game plan for how things will run around here. Thank goodness I have such an amazing support system at home.
I'll try my best to keep everyone updated! Please keep our family in your prayers. It is going to be a long journey. We just have to take it one week at a time. Our ultimate goal at this point is to make it to 32 weeks. Anything after that will be icing on the cake. If anyone wants to give me sewing lessons or chit chat during the day let me know, haha! I need to find some things to keep me occupied/sane!
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
24 Weeks and Counting...
We spent last week in Hilton Head with our good friends Eric and Lindsey. It was one of the most relaxing vacations I've ever been on. We literally sat in the sun and ate. That's about it! We got our much needed R&R. The drive was a lot harder on my pregnant body than I had anticipated. I had aches in places I didn't think could ache. It was well worth it but I probably won't be taking anymore road trips.
The baby has been very active this week! I'm pretty sure she's going to have her fathers size feet by the way she's been kicking me. By the way my stomach looks when she moves she trying to figure out a way to get out of there. We see my o.b. and the perinatologist tomorrow. Hopefully they'll tell us that we're right on track and everything looks great. These appointments always make me so nervous.
Here's a look at what's going on with the baby this week...
Your pregnancy: 24 weeks
See the big picture
How your baby's growing:Your baby's growing steadily, having gained about 4 ounces since last week. That puts him at just over a pound. Since he's almost a foot long (picture an ear of corn), he cuts a pretty lean figure at this point, but his body is filling out proportionally and he'll soon start to plump up. His brain is also growing quickly now, and his taste buds are continuing to develop. His lungs are developing "branches" of the respiratory "tree" as well as cells that produce surfactant, a substance that will help his air sacs inflate once he hits the outside world. His skin is still thin and translucent, but that will start to change soon.
Trey and I with Eric and Lindsey Watson in Hilton Head
24 Week Tummy Update
The baby has been very active this week! I'm pretty sure she's going to have her fathers size feet by the way she's been kicking me. By the way my stomach looks when she moves she trying to figure out a way to get out of there. We see my o.b. and the perinatologist tomorrow. Hopefully they'll tell us that we're right on track and everything looks great. These appointments always make me so nervous.
Here's a look at what's going on with the baby this week...
Your pregnancy: 24 weeks
See the big picture
How your baby's growing:Your baby's growing steadily, having gained about 4 ounces since last week. That puts him at just over a pound. Since he's almost a foot long (picture an ear of corn), he cuts a pretty lean figure at this point, but his body is filling out proportionally and he'll soon start to plump up. His brain is also growing quickly now, and his taste buds are continuing to develop. His lungs are developing "branches" of the respiratory "tree" as well as cells that produce surfactant, a substance that will help his air sacs inflate once he hits the outside world. His skin is still thin and translucent, but that will start to change soon.
Trey and I with Eric and Lindsey Watson in Hilton Head
24 Week Tummy UpdateMonday, April 13, 2009
23 Weeks!!
We've made it to week 23! I'm so anxious for this baby to get here! She has really become active these past few days. Her favorite (a.k.a. my favorite) treat is chocolate and strawberry ice cream with granola from marble slab. She starts kicking like crazy every time I eat this. She's probably dancing around because I eat a pint in one sitting... yup that's right... A PINT!!! It's justifiable because I know how much Natalee loves her ice cream, haha!
At the last doctor visit my measurements were better than the previous week. They think the improvement is due to the amount of time I've been spending on the sofa. I'm still working but taking it easy as soon as I get home. Hopefully I can continue this routine and avoid total bed rest. We have another appointment with a perinatologist next week. They will check to see how the baby is growing and observe her living quarters. We've got our fingers crossed for good news.
Trey and I are so excited to take our last vacation before the baby comes. We're going to Hilton Head for a long weekend with our good friends Eric and Lindsey Watson. We are all in need of some rest and relaxation. I'm still not sure how I feel about wearing a bathing suit. This is a traumatic experience for me. My poor tummy looks like a road map with all the veins going everywhere.
I made an exciting purchase this weekend... THE DIAPER BAG! I'm in love with this bag. The owner of a Me and Mommy to Be now knows me by name. I think that's a sign I'm in there way too much! I was so excited to get home and show Trey my purchase. All I wanted to do was pack the bag full of fun baby stuff. I think it's a little premature for that. The first step should be figuring out what the heck goes in a diaper bag. I'm banking on this motherly instinct that I've been hearing about to kick in. At this point I'm completely clueless.
Here's a look at what's going on with the baby this week...
Your pregnancy: 23 weeks
See the big picture
How your baby's growing:Turn on the radio and sway to the music. With her sense of movement well developed by now, your baby can feel you dance. And now that she's more than 11 inches long and weighs just over a pound (about as much as a large mango), you may be able to see her squirm underneath your clothes. Blood vessels in her lungs are developing to prepare for breathing, and the sounds that your baby's increasingly keen ears pick up are preparing her for entry into the outside world. Loud noises that become familiar now — such as your dog barking (in our case the dog screaming) or the roar of the vacuum cleaner — probably won't faze her when she hears them outside the womb.
See the big picture
How your baby's growing:Turn on the radio and sway to the music. With her sense of movement well developed by now, your baby can feel you dance. And now that she's more than 11 inches long and weighs just over a pound (about as much as a large mango), you may be able to see her squirm underneath your clothes. Blood vessels in her lungs are developing to prepare for breathing, and the sounds that your baby's increasingly keen ears pick up are preparing her for entry into the outside world. Loud noises that become familiar now — such as your dog barking (in our case the dog screaming) or the roar of the vacuum cleaner — probably won't faze her when she hears them outside the womb.
The belly photo isn't the best but everyone has been asking me to update the pic. I'll get a better one up soon.
Sunday, April 5, 2009
Here is a look at what's going on with the little one this week...
Your pregnancy: 22 weeks
How your baby's growing:At 11 inches (the length of a spaghetti squash) and almost 1 pound, your baby is starting to look like a miniature newborn. His lips, eyelids, and eyebrows are becoming more distinct, and he's even developing tiny tooth buds beneath his gums. His eyes have formed, but his irises (the colored part of the eye) still lack pigment. If you could see inside your womb, you'd be able to spot the fine hair (lanugo) that covers his body and the deep wrinkles on his skin, which he'll sport until he adds a padding of fat to fill them in. Inside his belly, his pancreas — essential for the production of some important hormones — is developing steadily.
How your baby's growing:At 11 inches (the length of a spaghetti squash) and almost 1 pound, your baby is starting to look like a miniature newborn. His lips, eyelids, and eyebrows are becoming more distinct, and he's even developing tiny tooth buds beneath his gums. His eyes have formed, but his irises (the colored part of the eye) still lack pigment. If you could see inside your womb, you'd be able to spot the fine hair (lanugo) that covers his body and the deep wrinkles on his skin, which he'll sport until he adds a padding of fat to fill them in. Inside his belly, his pancreas — essential for the production of some important hormones — is developing steadily.
Heading Toward Week 22
As most of you know we've been in and out of doctor's offices a few times a week for the last month. At our appointment last Tuesday everything looked great with the baby. She is growing like crazy! Her rolls and kicks have become much more forceful. I was actually able to see my stomach move up and down as she practiced her gymnastics this weekend! That was one of the craziest experiences. I can't help but laugh every time she starts moving around.
Unfortunately, the risk of preterm labor still concerns my doctor. They have limited my activities. I had to say goodbye to my hour long workout sessions. I was also told to limit the amount of time I spend on my feet. This will be quite the challenge when it comes to my work schedule. I have to come to terms with the fact that I will be accomplishing much less in my work week. I'm the type of person that doesn't stop until the job is done. Taking breaks when I don't even feel tired is a bit frustrating. I have to realize that this is imperative to avoid total bed rest! Luckily Trey has really stepped up at home. A typical night for us is cooking and catching up on the day in the kitchen for a couple hours. Trey has now taken over this task! I guess I should take advantage of all the extra help around the house. I honestly don't know what I would do without Trey and my family. Everyone has been so helpful. We are just taking it one day at a time. I go back next week to review measurements and determine what comes next. We have also decided to get a second opinion from a high risk specialist. I'll probably end up seeing every doctor in Knoxville by the time this is all over!
We finally got all the furniture for the nursery this weekend! I can't wait to start painting (I mean watching Mom and Trey paint, haha). Everything is coming together. We've made all the decisions on colors and wall design. I'm so anxious to see how everything is going to turn out. Our house is turned upside down right now but they say it always looks worse before it looks better... right?
I'll try to post a few updated belly pictures in the next couple days. Lord knows it's growing! I actually wore a bathing suit today. That was funny. Thank you for all your prayers. I can't tell you how much we appreciate it.
Unfortunately, the risk of preterm labor still concerns my doctor. They have limited my activities. I had to say goodbye to my hour long workout sessions. I was also told to limit the amount of time I spend on my feet. This will be quite the challenge when it comes to my work schedule. I have to come to terms with the fact that I will be accomplishing much less in my work week. I'm the type of person that doesn't stop until the job is done. Taking breaks when I don't even feel tired is a bit frustrating. I have to realize that this is imperative to avoid total bed rest! Luckily Trey has really stepped up at home. A typical night for us is cooking and catching up on the day in the kitchen for a couple hours. Trey has now taken over this task! I guess I should take advantage of all the extra help around the house. I honestly don't know what I would do without Trey and my family. Everyone has been so helpful. We are just taking it one day at a time. I go back next week to review measurements and determine what comes next. We have also decided to get a second opinion from a high risk specialist. I'll probably end up seeing every doctor in Knoxville by the time this is all over!
We finally got all the furniture for the nursery this weekend! I can't wait to start painting (I mean watching Mom and Trey paint, haha). Everything is coming together. We've made all the decisions on colors and wall design. I'm so anxious to see how everything is going to turn out. Our house is turned upside down right now but they say it always looks worse before it looks better... right?
I'll try to post a few updated belly pictures in the next couple days. Lord knows it's growing! I actually wore a bathing suit today. That was funny. Thank you for all your prayers. I can't tell you how much we appreciate it.
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