February ICLW

I am so sorry to all of you ladies that have stumbled on to this space via ICLW only to be welcomed by newborn baby shots.  My little girl is like a spell over me, causing very little else to exist in my world right now.  I very much usually try to be more sensitive than that.

I'm Jamie, I'm 32 (very nearly 33) years old, married to JP  for just under 2 1/2 years (but together for 6).  I am 18 months post-op, roux-en-y (RNY) gastric bypass surgery; there's a link above if you're interested in reading more about it.  Since beginning my weight-loss journey (before pregnancy), I lost 146 pounds, though I regained 36 during my pregnancy.  I suffer from Non-Classic Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia (NCAH), which effects my fertility very similarly to PCOS.  Untreated it causes elevated testosterone levels, insulin resistance, anovulation, etc.   

Despite these hurdles, on 2/20, I gave birth to a healthy, though tiny, baby girl!  Our journey through pregnancy was not without it's drama.  I had some spotting scares, which were eventually explained by placenta previa.  IUGR was our biggest concern.  We started at 8th percentile, had some highs and lows, but at 36 weeks she fell to the 2nd percentile, and induction was schedule for 38 weeks. More of my IF history and US pictures of my little peanut, if you're in to that kind of thing, can be found in the tabs toward the top of the page.  If you have any questions for me, please feel free to ask!

For those of you following along, I promise to have a much more detailed birth story very soon!

5 lbs, 2 oz and 19 inches <3

My beautiful baby is here, via "emergency" cesarean when her heart rate was indicating stress from the pitocin. She is healthy and wonderful!

Checking In

Hi ladies! I checked in to the hospital last night at 6 pm, had cervidil administered shortly after, and settled in for an uncomfortable and restless night.

I am currently rocking an epidural and a pitocin drip, 2 cm dilated, and they broke my water about 45 minutes ago. I hope there is a nap in my very near future!

Sigh

I'm 22 hours from being in the hospital, and I'm sitting at WalMart because we blew a tire on the way home from our growth scan at the MFM.

The good news is that baby girl gained a pound in the last two weeks, and is an estimated 5 lbs and 7 ounces. She's ready to join the world!

37 Weeks, and A General Update

Happy Valentine's Day kids!  I'm not big on singles-awareness day.  I never have been, and neither is JP.  We got each other a card and some chocolate, and took his mom to lunch (I know, bad girl!  Bed rest!).  I've been craving grilled cheese and tomato soup, so that's what I had!  Now I'm sitting here watching HGTV and JP is putting down transition strips in the doorways from the new floor.

My sister got married today in Colorado.  I was supposed to be able to watch it via web-cast.  Instead, I sat and watched an unoccupied DJ table for over an hour.  Then some random dudes walked in the room talking about the ceremony being over, and how many couples turned out (it was a mass wedding), and etc.  I broke down in tears because I'd missed it.  Luckily, a few hours later, photos and videos were posted, and I finally got to see.  I was still massively depressed for a few hours because I'd been SO looking forward to watching it happen.  I can't wait til she moves back closer, and we have a big reception party that I can actually go to!

I had my last NST today.  I love the nurse that administers these with me, so I took her a bag of Ghirardelli chocolates.  She gave me a hug before I left, and made me promise that I'd bring the baby by when I could.  So sweet.

Work is...  not doing well in my absence.  I'm still getting SEVERAL emails and phone calls.  Tomorrow is my last day "on call", and I'm starting my leave on Monday.  I won't be able to access my work email at that point, but I'm sure they'll still call.  My boss has given me the "ok" to record whatever time they spend picking my brain, and take it as unrecorded vacation time when I get back.  I gave them fair warning, though, that I don't intend to answer the phone every time it rings.

So far I haven't panicked about the little amount of time I have left before induction.  What will be, will be.  What will get done, will get done.  What won't, won't.  I *almost* actually believe that!  I still can't believe how tired I am just laying around all day.

Here are the stats, the last one!  As usual, I'll understand if you skip right on by.

* Belly - It has taken on a life of it's own!

* Weight gain - I'm up 33 lbs

* Symptoms - No change here.  Still having frequent heartburn and sore hips.  I am having increasingly more trouble sleeping through the night, as well.  I'm having more Braxton Hicks, as well.

* Cravings/Aversions -  Grilled cheese and tomato soup.  Yum!

* Clothes - I feel like even my maternity clothes are getting too small.  This is slightly depressing.

* Movement - I'm going to be honest.  A kick in the ribs doesn't feel too hot.  I still love feeling her move, though!

* Meds - Morning:  Regular multivitamin, iron supplement, 2000 ui Vitamin D, 1600 mcg Folic Acid.  Mid-day:  600 iu Calcium x2.  Evening:  Prenatal, 800 mcg Folic Acid, Rhino.cort , Advair, 450 mg DHA, 40 mg Hydrocortisone, Gylburide.  

* Mood - So.  Tired.

* What I miss - Not a thing.

* Appointments - Our final growth scan is on Monday, as well as my final visit with the OB.  Tuesday, Cervidil.  Wednesday, induction!

* Medical concerns - My petite little baby (IUGR), nutrition/calories, vitamin levels, CAH, Placenta Previa, gestational diabetes.

* Coming up - Do I even need to say it?!

Induction: Scheduled

I'll do a 37 week post, hopefully sometime tomorrow.  It's amazing how doing virtually nothing all day, makes me so tired.

Last week at the OB I was 1 cm dilated and 50% effaced.  This week, still the same.

The plan:

I check in to the hospital next Tuesday, 2/19, for administration of Cervidil, and an overnight stay.  Wednesday morning they'll start Pitocin.  I should have a baby sometime on 2/20.  Oh my goodness.  I am terrified.  I am excited beyond words.

The Puppies Love Bed Rest

Can you tell?

Please be kind and ignore my stark white legs.  I've been living in my nightgowns when I'm at home!

36 Weeks (and 2 days)

Work has kept me busier than I would like.  They're willing to pay me a full week to sit here and just be available if they need me, so I can't complain a whole lot, but geez.  They're going to be in trouble when I can't pitch in and help.

I've been getting up and out to go to doctor's appointments, but otherwise I've been sticking to my bed and my recliner, which JP moved in to the bedroom.

At my regular OB appointment, I had my first cervix check.  I am apparently 1 cm dilated, and 50% effaced.  This should make it a lot easier to be induced, when the time comes.  We'll schedule the induction at my next appointment, which is next Wednesday.

My NST at the MFM's office yesterday was still fine and normal.  I'm sad that I'll only have one more of those.  I love them so much!

Here are the stats.  As usual, I'll understand if you skip right on by.

* Belly - Being in bed has allowed me to watch her movements a lot more than I could when I was stuck behind a desk.  It's so bizarre sometimes!  I love it.

* Weight gain - I'm up 31 lbs.  Eep.

* Symptoms - Still having frequent heartburn and sore hips.  I am having increasingly more trouble sleeping through the night, as well.  I'm having more Braxton Hicks, as well.

* Cravings/Aversions -  Yesterday was a "must have pasta!" kind of day.  Chicken alfredo, yum!

* Clothes - I'm kind of living in my nightgowns, as I don't really have much reason to get dressed unless  I'm  heading to an appointment.

* Movement - Tons and tons.  I love this more than I could ever describe.  My mom and grandma finally got to feel her move at my shower!

* Meds - Morning:  Regular multivitamin, iron supplement, 2000 ui Vitamin D, 1600 mcg Folic Acid.  Mid-day:  600 iu Calcium x2.  Evening:  Prenatal, 800 mcg Folic Acid, Rhino.cort , Advair, 450 mg DHA, 40 mg Hydrocortisone, Gylburide.  

* Mood - I'm doing my best to not let bed rest get me down.  I'm slowly accepting that there are things that just aren't going to get done.  And you know what?  That's ok.

* What I miss - Not a thing.

* Appointments - Monday is our regularly scheduled BPP, as well as my rescheduled appointment at the endocrinologist.  Wednesday is the regular OB, and scheduling induction. Eep!

* Medical concerns - My petite little baby (IUGR), nutrition/calories, vitamin levels, CAH, Placenta Previa, gestational diabetes.

* Coming up - A whole lotta nothing, and then birth!

Hello From Bed Rest

Baby girl only gained 10 ounces between growth scans, making her about 4 lbs, 6 ounces, and right about in the 2nd percentile.  Everything else in the BPP looked fine.

What this means:

* I've been put on bed rest, though not overly strict.  I can get up to go to appointments, shower, and eat, in addition to potty.  He mentioned that there's no real evidence that it will help her growth, but it certainly can't hurt.

* I will be induced no later than 38 weeks, which is in 15 days (HOLY CRAP).  If anything starts to look abnormal on the BPPs (Mondays) or NSTs (Thursdays), though, I'll be induced immediately.

* Because I didn't officially finish training my substitute at work, I will remain on payroll and available to be called and emailed through the end of next week.  I can't argue too much with being paid while laying in bed, even if it means that my phone is going to ring several times a day.  Honestly, I have a feeling that it would have anyway, even if they hadn't wanted to keep me on payroll.  This also allows me to not have to start my maternity leave right away, giving me the full 12 weeks after she's born.

* I am trying really super hard to relinquish control to other people.  I had so much still that I wanted/needed to get done.  I've always been the "it's just easier to do it myself, so I know it's going to be done right" kind of person.  Baby girl comes first, though.

* I am currently working my way through Monk on Netflix.  I'm thinking about starting Numb3rs or Supernatural next.  Anyone have any thoughts or suggestions?  I also had digital cable installed last week, in anticipation for maternity leave.  So far it hasn't left HGTV, when it's on.

* The puppies are super happy to have me at home all day.  One is between my legs, and the other is between me and the laptop.

In other news:

* The shower and JPs office was really great.  They had it decorated really super adorably, had lots of great finger food, and gave us lots of wonderful, practical gifts.  I'll share some pictures really soon, as well as the rest of the pictures from our maternity/Christmas photo shoot.

* I have just a very few more things I want to get before she's born.  I ordered some via the web last night, using up some of the gift cards I've gotten.  At least I know I can still shop from bed!

* I found a $320 Medela double pump (one of the Pump In Style models, I'm pretty sure) on ebay, only used once, for $87 (including shipping).  I'm SUPER excited about that.  I'll have to get some new accessories for it, but for that price, how can I argue?  I just hope I'm not tempting fate about my ability to breastfeed.

* I'm kind of scared out of my mind.  Excited to meet this little life that has been living inside of me for 9 months, but frigging terrified about parenting, and about whether or not she'll be healthy.  I'm not as scared of the birth as I thought I would be, but there's still time to start to get really nervous about that, too.

* I'm sure that, as I have little else to do, I'll be posting quite a bit through the next 2 weeks.

My Pregnancy Must-Haves

For the sake of posterity, mostly, I thought I would compile a bullet list of my favorite things throughout my pregnancy.  Every gal and every pregnancy is different, so some or all may not apply to everyone.  But if you happen to be somewhat like me, maybe they will!

*Full-panel maternity jeans.  Still carrying around more weight than "normal" and having all kinds of unattractive loose skin, full-panel pants are not only super comfy for me, but they hide my lumpiness and allow me to look like an actual pregnant person, and not just like I have a bad beer gut.

*Saline nasal spray.  I have year-round nasal allergies already, but my congestion has been even worse throughout my pregnancy, especially at night.  A few squirts of saline and a short wait, and I can usually vacate my nasal passages successfully, and get back to sleep.

*Kleenex Cool Touch and Puff's with Vicks.  Both are amazing, all of the time.  I need to remember to throw a box in my hospital bag.

* Sandwich cookies dipped in dark chocolate, chilled.  I do these myself.  My personal favorites have been Nutter Butters and Mint Oreos.  The very important part is KEEPING THEM IN THE FRIDGE.  This not only keeps them from melting, and makes them more delicious, it prevents me from eating more than one at a time.  Out of sight, (mostly) out of mind.  I never had such a terrible sweet tooth pre-pregnancy.  But damn, ladies, is it bad now.

*Aveeno Daily Moisturizing lotion.  This is really a general favorite thing, though it's been great for the weird dry patches that have been popping up on my skin.  It lasts all day, except on my hands, where it still does a decent job lasting through several washes.  I don't have any stretch-mark related advice, as I haven't sprouted any new ones, because I had so much extra skin leftover from weight loss.

*Burt's Bees Beeswax Lip Balm - Another all-time favorite, just thought it was worth a mention.  I may leave my cell phone at home on occasion, but I never forget my Burt's Bees.

*A plain-old, firm, standard-sized pillow.  I have a rather soft memory-foam mattress, which does a decent job of supporting and hugging my protruding belly.  I tried a body pillow and found it way too cumbersome in a queen-sized bed with two adults and two small-ish dogs.  So, I bought a regular old pillow and I keep it between my knees as I sleep.  This doesn't completely alleviate hip pain in these last several weeks, but I'm fairly confident that I does help.

*Bath tub/shower treads.  If you don't have these, or a bath mat, get them/one.  My balance is not what it should be!

*Shower seat/bench.  My new shower has a seat in it, and I LOVE IT.  Sometimes I just need a break!

*Tums.  Keep a roll in your purse, by the bed, and at work.  Even with the part of my stomach that produces acid being connected to a lower part of my digestive system, I still get heartburn.

*A travel-sized pillow for lumbar support while driving.  This was more for 1st and 2nd trimester, as I'm so short that I can't fit it behind me and still not hit the steering wheel these days.  It was a back-saver early on, though.

*The notepad and reminder apps on my smart phone.  I have days where I can't remember something 2 minutes after I thought of it.  I take down notes as often as I can!

I'm sure there are some other things that  I'm forgetting at the moment, but this is a start!  Happy Monday everyone!