Stephanie's Pregnancy Journal

NEW! check back for Kaitlyn's birth story! NEW!

 

August 20, 2001 -  I am about 5 ½ weeks past my miscarriage in July, and was waiting for my first period. I was feeling pretty hormonal, so I decided to take a home pregnancy test. The result was POSITIVE!! Ok, I didn’t believe this, so I went out and purchased another test, and that result too was positive.

 

August 21, 2001 – I am still in denial, and purchased yet a third HPT, which also comes back positive. We are pregnant…but how far along??? Do I consider my miscarriage to be my last period…or do I now go by 8/20/01 as being the date after my period was due, since that’s when I found out???

 

August 22, 2001 – Since we currently have no medical insurance, Brian and I make several phone calls inquiring about self pay medical insurance, or any prenatal programs at area hospitals, where we can pay as we go.  This is a tough process, and lots of phone calls later, I find that pretty much, there is nothing!

 

Morning sickness sets in pretty good, UGH! I get this every time, and it pretty much stays with me for the duration of the pregnancies. We look at various pregnancy calculators, and figure that my due date is somewhere between April 11, and May 1, 2002.

 

October 1, 2001 – I am pretty much in nothing but maternity clothing now, so I am pretty much leaning towards the April 11 due date!

 

October 26, 2001 – My first prenatal check up. I’ve gained less than 10 pounds so far, and it’s determined that I’m 16 weeks (almost half way there!) and am due on April 11, 2002. The baby’s heartbeat sounds good, in the 150’s (the old wives tale says over 140 it’s a GIRL!) and We schedule my next appt. for November.

 

November 1, 2001 – The doc’s office calls back with some blood work results. My thyroid isn’t functioning properly. I’m Hypothyroid, and will have to take synthetic hormones for the remainder of the pregnancy. Apparently there is a risk of miscarriage, or mental retardation with hypothyroid, but our spirits are high, that nothing is wrong.

 

November 7, 2001 – I can feel the baby moving! Not a lot, but it’s definitely moving in there!! Make me feel better, that the baby’s ok.

 

November 21, 2001 - My second doctor's visit. I've gained about 14 lbs so far this pregnancy, and the baby's  heartbeat is strong, and loud! We are scheduled for a sonogram next Wednesday! I'm hoping we get to find out if it's a girl or boy!!!

 

November 28, 2001 - We had our ultrasound today, and the news is...

IT'S A GIRL!!

Brian and I are very excited about this....they have moved my due date from April 11, 2002...to April 16, 2002...only 5 days. I am 20 weeks along, which is half way! 

 

November 30, 2001 - I went back in today for another check up, and so that they could check my thyroid again. Other than that, everything is going great, and baby's heart beat is running in the mid 150's and loud and clear! :)

 

Me, December 9 (at 21 weeks 6 days)

 

December 23, 2001 - ITCHING!!! OMG...it is horrible! I'm hoping that it's not the jaundice condition that I've heard about, but I am itching like crazy, and taking antihistamines to help with it. I have a check up on the 27th so I'll have some relief soon (I hope)

 

December 27, 2001 - another check up today, 25 weeks, and not really any weight gain. My thyroid is doing fine, but we are now checking for kidney function. Otherwise, baby is doing great! Heartbeat in the 140's to 150's, and she kicks like crazy!

 

January 16, 2002 - I have a new provider, so I went in for a check up. No real weight gain since November. However, this time....I had my thyroid checked again, and this time it's normal...and since I've been off the meds, the itching has stopped! (thank goodness) I did a regular glucose tolerance test, and I apparently failed it, so I go in this week for the 3 hour test, after a "loading" diet. I also will have a check up with a doc with internal medicine, and another check up with my OB doc....so I guess I'll have another update then! Baby's heartbeat is nice and loud, and she is kicking like crazy lately!

 

February 4, 2002 - I went in for a sono today of my thyroid, and that was looking good, so the tech gave us a sneak peek of the baby! It's definitely a GIRL!! I'll be posting these pic's shortly!

 

February 5, 2002 - Had another check up, and this time I lost 3 pounds! My 3 hour glucose tolerance test came back borderline, but I don't have GD...and my thyroid is still looking good, and functioning normally. I am however, spilling a little bit of protein in my urine this time, but my BP is looking good! Baby is getting big, and the Heartburn is HORRIBLE!! guess she'll have a head full of hair! My appts are every 2 weeks now...so I'll have an update then!

 

This is me at 30 weeks, taken February 5, 2002

 

February 11, 2002 - My SIL Jenny gave birth to a baby boy today! Jacob Dylan Douglass! 7 lbs 5oz!! Congrats Jenny & Shawn!!

 

This is me at 32 weeks....February 17, 2002

 

February 21, 2002 - My 32 week check up, all is well....gained back the weight I lost with the last check up though! LOL...and my BP is fine. Doc want's to check my thyroid again, and I'm still spilling a little protein in my urine, but we'll keep a check on that.....next update in 2 weeks!!

           

34 weeks, and counting! March 5, 2002

March 7, 2002 - 34 week check up, no weight gain, and everything is looking good....Doc even said since I have a history of going past my due date, that assuming I make it to my due date, we could schedule an induction! I'll be going every week from now on....Thank goodness it will be over soon, cause I've got the waddle down, I can't breathe, and I have to pee every 5 seconds!

 

March 19, 2002 - I'm 36 weeks along today. We had an unscheduled appt. yesterday, seems I'm swelling quite a bit, and we are watching this development. I am also measuring large for dates, and this is a sudden development too.....but, too look at me, I seem to have doubled in size in a week. Baby sounds good, everything else is as scheduled! We are pre-registered at the hospital, and ready for our little girl!! Our next appt. is Thursday, our regularly scheduled appt......oh...I've gained 3lbs in 4 days, doc says it's all water weight, considering the swelling. I hope so...

another pic of me at 36 weeks

 

March 21, 2002 - Another weekly check up, baby is growing well, moving lots....I'm going to start taking evening primrose oil today, hopefully that will help my cervix *ripen* for an easy labor this time! Have Black & Blue Cohosh too but....UGH, that stuff is NASTY! my swelling seems to have slowed some, or at least it's not so bad. and I've only put on 1/2 pound since Tuesday, perhaps my weight is slowing down (I hope so!!, keeping my fingers crossed...) And I'm feeling like I'm gonna pop. My pubic synthesis is very tender/sore....and pop's now, much like knuckles would, hopefully that will dissipate when baby arrives!

This is me at 37 weeks....only 3 weeks left!

March 28, 2002 - 37 1/2 week check up. Well, still pregnant....and 2 1/2 weeks to go! I've dilated to ONE, 50 % effaced, but that's about it on the baby news. Tonight's the full moon, got my fingers crossed, and hoping that something will happen soon! I didn't gain any weight this time around, but as you can see from my pic's.....I don't need to gain anymore, this baby is big enough. Told our Doc today, that I thought this one would be over 9 lbs for sure, and he agreed. 

 

I'm having contractions all the time, day and night. Pretty much 4 an hour or so, and some of them are strong enough to wake me up, but still.....we wait.......soon, I hope! We are sooooooo ready for baby to arrive!

April 9, 2002 - only one week left! We are having a few high bp issues this time around tho, and the swelling is really bad, as is the heartburn!

April 11, 2002 - We had to make a trip to the hospital, as my bp is high 156/106, and they monitored us, and my platelet count is off too, so we go back to the doc's for more blood work tomorrow.

April 12, 2002 - baby is looking good, bp is still high, but thru sono, baby is looking healthy and fine, and they estimate her weight between 7 1/2 and 9 1/2 lbs.

April 12, 2002 - back to the hospital again tonight, my bp shot back up, and I had to go  back in for monitoring. Doc says I am scheduled on the 16th for an induction, as my bp is still high, so they will take her then.

April 13, 2002 - back in to the doc for a bp check, and it's up again at 149/97

April 16, 2002 - Today is the day! I'll be posting about the birth/labor story later.....please check back for updates!

me, on my due date, in the hospital, pitocin already going, in LABOR!!

Brian and I are already talking about another baby.....just in the talking stage for now, but if and when it's time, it will be a couple of years at least! Probably when Kaitlyn is about 2!

 

 
Hosted by www.Geocities.ws

1