Thursday, June 2, 2011

15 and 16 weeks

These last 2 weeks have been so crazy busy. Mike came home last Wednesday, then we had my mother in laws nursing pinning ceremony on Thursday, Friday we left for the weekend for AMR (for those that don't know it is a 4 day long sea scout competition on the USS Hornet that I help organize and my scouts compete at every year). Saturday we not only had AMR but my brother in law graduated high school. Then Sunday night I ended up only getting about 1 hour of sleep on the floor of the office I was in all day because I was helping finish the scoring for the entire event. I got home Monday around 11am and slept most of the day.

Tuesday I had a Dr. Appointment, nothing major just a normal check up. The Dr checked the babies heartbeat and then checked my cervix. She said everything is looking really good so far. As she was trying to get the heartbeat the baby kept moving all around. It took her a few minutes but she was able to get a good reading. I was hoping she wouldn't get one because she would then do an ultrasound. Oh well I have my 20 week ultrasound scheduled for June 23 and that's my next Dr appointment as well. I am hoping it will be another 3D ultrasound like my first one was. I would never pay to have one done but having the Dr. just do one is really cool to see.

So far I have only gained about 3lbs. Which the Dr said is fine. I just haven't had a huge appetite. I am sure I eat enough I just have to kind of force myself to eat some days.

The things I have been dealing with lately is where I want to deliver this baby. I am dead set on keeping with my Dr. until 37 weeks. I figure if she put the cerclage in I want her to be the one to take it out. I have a choice after that to go to a different facility for delivery. I would have to fin a Dr willing to take me on after my cerclage comes out that delivers at the facility I would like to go to. My hesitation about delivering at LPCH is mainly due to not wanting to end up sharing a room with someone else after I deliver. I know some people feel this is a silly thing to worry about but I can't stop thinking about it. I know if there are any complications or if the baby comes at all early I will want to be at LPCH but if everything is normal I really don't want to be there. I can't imagine being stuck in a room with someone else who could make it miserable for me and my baby. I also know that there are 2 hospitals that are way nicer and just as far or closer to my house. It may sound stupid but I feel like if I am going to have to pay so much to be there then I want to make sure it is the best experience possible. I go back and forth on this a lot and just can't make up my mind on what to do.

Thursday, May 19, 2011

14 Weeks

How I'm feeling: I definitely feel pregnant. I am still having heart burn which is very annoying. I also have round ligament pains once in a while and lately I have been getting lots of headaches. I feel lucky because i am able to sleep without getting up in the night. With Zoey getting up never went away it just got worse so I'm appreciating this baby being off my bladder. 

Weight gain: 2 lbs total. I officially don't fit in my normal pants anymore. I can wear them but have to either rubber band the button or use a bella band. I lots of maternity clothes so I don't have to buy many but they are a little big still.

Cravings: still popsicles and something I forgot on my list last week is sushi. Vegetarian sushi that is. we have a great place near our house that makes amazing veggie rolls.

Dr Apt: No Dr. apt this week, but my mom and I got very needed massages on Tuesday. It helped relax my muscles and get some of the tension in my neck and shoulders out.

Friday, May 13, 2011

13 Weeks

I am currently 13 weeks pregnant. It still feels a little unreal.

How I'm feeling: pretty good. I have had some pretty bad heartburn but nothing else too bad. I am sleeping a little better now which helps a lot. I feel tired all the time but I was like that with Zoey too.

Weight gain: 1 lb. I am hoping I won't gain very much this time.

Cravings: Lately I have really wanted Stuffing with cranberry sauce, Popsicles and fruit of all kinds. Luckily I haven't really had many food aversions yet.

Dr Apt: I had a check up on Monday. My mom came with me since Mike couldn't. The doctor said everything looked good after the cerclage and we got to hear the baby's heartbeat. Mike and I heard it at my 12 week ultrasound but not for very long.

Monday, May 9, 2011

Mothers Day..

My Mothers day was pretty low key.  I didn't really do a whole lot. I got up watched TV and went to my parents for dinner. I didn't realize that mothers day would be a little hard for me. I guess it kinda hit me Sat night that I am celebrating a mothers day without my baby here in my arms. As I was going to bed I took a minute and looked at the pictures of Zoey we have at the end of the hall outside our door.  I'm sure being pregnant and emotional doesn't make it easier but it does make me sad to think about. I keep telling myself that next year should be better. I guess I am nervous that it won't be, but as scared as I am of having another loss I am doing well with staying positive. Part of that I think is because my doctor is very positive and attentive.

Mothers day for me is probably similar to many people who have had a loss. It is a reminder that although we don't have a baby here to take care of we are all still moms. I didn't expect people to wish me a happy mothers day or anything. I know for many people who haven't been in this situation it may seem awkward or an area that people aren't sure what to say. Mike sent me a beautiful bouquet of flowers which was so thoughtful. It was a pleasant surprise when I got my first Happy Mothers day from a friend in a text message. Her message said "Happy Mothers day girl, for your angel and the one on the way". It was simple but really made me smile. It is a nice reminder that other people think of it the same way Mike and I do.

My mothers day bouquet

Tuesday, May 3, 2011

Cerclage

Yesterday I got up around 7:45 and called L&D at 8. They said come in at 9:30. Mike and I got some things together and headed over to Stanford. We live about 40 minutes from the hospital and with traffic it took us a little over an hour to get there. I got there and they got me right into a gown and bed. I was in a room with 4 other women separated by curtains. Most of the women that came and went while i was there were having c-sections. Once i was there things started going pretty fast. I got an IV, then the doctors came in to talk to me and the anesthesiologist came in, all while the nurses were asking me a million questions. We asked if Mike could come with me into the operating room and although I'm sure we could have pushed a little more for them to let him they said it wasn't their normal procedure so no. They wheeled me into the operating room which is the same room they do C-sections in. It was really cold and bright. They had me switch beds and sit up for an epidural.

This time it was a short term epidural so it was just a one time shot not a catheter like you get during delivery. It took a little while for it to kick in all the way (they had to tilt the bed in different directions and the Anesthesiologist had to hold me knees up for a while but it worked). The whole epidural thing seems like something most women either don't talk about or forget about because they are in labor. From my experience this process sucks. the first time was exceptionally bad but this time was better at least. In case you don't know they start with a few shots to help numb the area then they insert the shot or catheter with the medication. This whole process hurts a lot. It is very uncomfortable and feels like someone is pinching your back hard. During the procedure I couldn't help but tell them when it was hurting I didn't scream but I was saying oww.. Luckily the anesthesiologist was in a good mood and was singing and stuff so it helped me to relax.

Once the doctor got there they put my legs into these straps that were held above the bed with poles. It was a little weird but I couldn't feel anything. All i could feel during the whole thing was pressure. When someone touched my legs or stomach it felt like they were just pushing lightly. The whole procedure from when I left mike to when I got out was about an hour.

I ended up being there until about 4pm because it took that long for the epidural to wear off enough for me to go to the bathroom. I felt sore kinda like someone punched me in the stomach until this morning. The Dr. gave me a prescription for some pain killers to help keep my uterus relaxed. I also had some spotting which is all normal after a cerclage is placed.

There are two types of cerclage one is less invasive and is placed around the cervix and pulled tight to keep it closed. The other type is where they have to go through the cervix and stitch it shut. Lucky I was able to have the first one. The Doctor said everything went really well. But there is still a chance that the cerclage won't work. In that case they could add a second one. I have a check up next week and then I will start seeing the doctor or ultrasound tech every 2 weeks.

Wednesday, April 27, 2011

I'm Back

So I know I have been MIA for a while now but I have a good reason...

I'm Pregnant!!!

Mike and I found out in Feb that I was expecting again. I am about 12 weeks pregnant. The doctor keeps changing my due date so I say it is between Nov 10 and Nov 13. I think it would be cool to deliver on 11/11/11 but we'll see. We are very excited and nervous at the same time. Mike puts it as we are cautiously optimistic.

This time around is very different than last time. I have already had 3 ultrasounds. one with my regular OB to verify the pregnancy then two with my perinatologist. I have another one tomorrow for the Nuchal Translucency test. All of my care is through Lucile Packard Childrens Hospital at Stanford.

Since we started eating Vegan this time around (not because of the pregnancy it just happened to be at the same time) my doctor wanted me to see a nutritionist just to make sure we knew how much of what we needed to eat. Mike and I went together and found out that we actually knew a lot about what we were doing and felt good that most of what she was telling us was stuff we had already been doing. 

One Monday next week I will be going in to have a cerclage placed, which I am very nervous about.  Ironically I am more nervous about having to have a epidural than anything else. After my last bad experiences with needles in my back I am not looking forward to it again. For those that are wondering a cerclage is a stitch that they place around my cervix to keep it closed during the pregnancy. I will be going in Monday morning to L&D at Stanford and expected to be able to go home that afternoon. The doctor said they usually do the epidural in the operating room and that I would normally be alone during all of it but since I am so scared I can ask the anesthesiologist about having Mike there with me. I really hope they let him.

So far I haven't gained any weight which I am happy about. With Zoey I had gained about 10lbs already, although I started out about 20lbs more this time around. Other than feeling tired and queasy a lot I am feeling pretty good. I do have many cravings which added to the cravings from going vegan can get a little intense sometimes. But I think I am doing well with it still.

Sunday, April 3, 2011

Spring Cleaning

Today I decided my blog needed a spring update. I changed the background from rain to flowers. I am so glad that the weather has improved and we are getting Sun again. It makes me want summer to come so bad. I am trying to get inspired to give my house a good spring cleaning too. It's hard because cleaning isn't my favorite. I don't know many people who love to clean but I think I dislike it more than most. I don't mind the picking up and stuff but I hate dishes, vacuuming and laundry. Usually I have Mike do that stuff but he also has to do outside chores now too. Luckily he actually likes mowing the lawn and gardening.

The start of April also means the start of competition season for my scout group. This weekend we went to Martinez and they participated in the first regatta of the season. It was a little rough but they seemed to have fun and got a chance to practice many of the events. The month of may we have 2 more competitions which means lots or work for me. I help train them to compete along with our other adults and I organize and help with the biggest one on memorial day weekend. My task right now is to hire a DJ and get the decorations for the dance.