March 4th, 2002 Because I had previously been pregnant & miscarried, I kind of knew the feeling of being pregnant. So, I tested 2 days before AF was due. I got a very light 2nd line. March 6th, 2002 1st thing in the morning I tested & got a darker 2nd line. I had no doubt I was pregnant. MONTH 1 During this first month I felt some "stretching" and somewhat started to lose my appetite. I scheduled my Dr's appointment & was extremely tired! MONTH 2 This month I felt extremely nauseous most of the time, was very tired, had hardly any appetite for 3 weeks, and basically I was on the couch feeling very disgusting. I reached week 7 & had mixed feeling because that was the week I had miscarried previously. Getting past that point & to the nurse visit was an accomplishment for me. The last week of the 2nd month, my appetite returned & I had my 1st visit with the nurse @ the Dr's office. My medical history was discussed, my prenatal vitamins were prescribed & diet & exercise were discussed. MONTH 3 During my nurse visit she suggested I go for the glucose blood testing because diabetes runs in my family, as well as my husbands. So I had the blood tests done & all came out within normal limits! I had my very 1st ultrasound @ 10 weeks/5 days. I was very anxious & nervous......just hoping the baby hadn't stopped growing or that there would be an empty sac. The Dr. did a trans. vag. u/s & immediately said that I have a really active baby here! S/he was doing somer-saults! It was amazing! Then the Dr. said "There's a very strong heartbeat!" Her tone of voice was almost amazement, so I'm not sure that these things are this strong @ this stage or not! The Dr. then showed me the heart beating on the monitor & yes it was beating away! This visit was a major hurdle for me after dealing with a miscarriage. I feel like I can finally let myself feel happiness, where as before this ultrasound I was terrified that something would be wrong. My 1st Ultrasound Picture Week 13 This is the last week of the 1st trimester! Yeeaaahhh!!!! Finally, this week I have regained some of my energy back & had more of an appetite. My belly is harder, but pooching out......no weight gain yet though! Next week I start the 2nd trimester & go for my 2nd Dr's visit.......Jim is coming too! Our EXPECT.NET Game is now Closed! The game is locked & your gueses may not be changed any longer. Once baby is born I will enter the birth statistics into the game & an e-mail will be generated from the expectnet site & you'll be able to see how close you guessed! Thanks to all our friends & family who participated in the game! The 2nd Trimester MONTH 4 June 17th, 2002 Today was my 2nd Dr's appt. Jim went with me because I thought I would be getting an ultrasound, but I didn't! They did use the Doppler & we heard the heartbeat......158 bpm. I decided to take the Triple Screen blood test (1st or 2nd week in July). My next Dr. appt, is 7/17 and the next ultrasound is 7/24.......this will be when we can find out the gender of the baby! I have lost a total of 5 lbs since the beginning of my pregnancy, but the Dr. said not to worry, it will start to come back within the next month. July 17th, 2002 Had another Dr. visit & heard the baby's heartbeat. At first The Dr. couldn't find the heartbeat right away & I was very, very nervous about something being wrong. When she did get the beat, it was 146 bpm, then 150 bpm, then back down, then back up. My Triple Screen blood test came back negative (this is a test that check for Downs Syndrome & Spina Bifida, but it's not always 100% accurate & is optional to have it done). I had the test done because one of my husband's brother's has Spina Bifida & I just wanted to be safe in knowing the possibilities of baby's problems. Next week is the "BIG ULTRASOUND".......let's hope baby cooperates so we can find out if it's a boy or a girl! July 24th, 2002 My "BIG ULTRASOUND" was a let-down! The baby is breech, his/her back facing my tummy! The technician said this is "the worst possible position the baby could be in to determine the gender". She tried to thump my tummy w/the ultrasound "thingy" to get baby to move. She said she got 2 good looks & didn't see any appendages. However, the baby's one foot was in it's crotch! She said she'll say 80% girl, but I'll probably be getting another ultrasound because the baby is breech & my placenta is a little low......which is giving baby the room to move around, hence the position he/she is in! I would think I woud probably have that next ultrasound by September......I hope! The good news is I saw the baby's heartbeat, it's spine, it's skull, & hands. I also got 3 more ultrasound photos. The baby was measuring 18weeks/3days......one week behind of what I actually am today. She said the due date would be 12/22/02, but the Dr's probably won't change it to that & keep me @ 12/18/02. So, until next month's visit, that's all for now! This baby better move into the correct position & soon! This is probably why I haven't felt baby move yet because he/she is in the wrong direction! MONTH 5 August 14th,2002 Today was the monthly Dr's visit & everything is "on target" as the Dr put it. The baby's heartbeat was 152 bpm & made a little kick when the Dr. had the doppler on my stomach. He said "They don't like us invading their space." I gained 3lbs this past month, so now I'm 2 lbs more than my pre-pregnancy weight----which is sometimes hard to believe because over the past week 1/2 I've started to "blossom" a bit. Baby is located 1 cm above my belly button & the Dr said I shold gain about 1 lb a week from now until the due date---which would be about 20 lbs. Next month I will go for the blood count & glucose test (to test for gestational diabetes). I asked "when" I can get another ultrasound......Doc said "8 weeks". 8 weeks!!! UUUGGGGHHHHHH! I can't wait that long.....that's October! MONTH 6 September 11th, 2002 Gained 3 lbs since my last visit! So now my total pregnancy weight gain is 5 lbs. Baby's heartbeat was 145 bpm & as soon as the Dr. put the doppler on my belly she found the heartbeat......as always, what a relief. I asked about an ultrasound again (of course, because I'm impatient!) The Dr. said "Remind me @ your next visit in 3 or 4 weeks." Believe me I'll remind her! The next apontment is October 3rd & this baby better cooperate because Jim & I really want to know if it's a boy or girl! September 12th, 2002 Went for the Gestational Diabetes blood test. Made a dumb mistake & went food shopping afterwards & felt so dizzy & had cold sweats near the end of my shopping trip. Then when I finally got home I was ravenous & felt like I couldn't get enough to eat. The results from the test should be available any day now.... The 3rd Trimester MONTH 7 October 3rd, 2002 The Gestational Diabetes results were negative & my iron levels were fine. I gained 5 1/2 lbs since my last visit & my belly is measuring right on target (I'm 29weeks/4days today & belly is measuring 30cm=30 weeks). My blood pressure is good.....100/60 & the Dr. said to just keep doing whatever I'm doing. The baby isn't breech any longer, head is towards the bottom wher eit should be, the placenta is still low-lying, but not in the way of where baby will come out. The Dr. had an open leg shot but didn't say she could tell 100%. As far as she saw there aren't any appendages=GIRL. She did say not to buy any pink or frilly clothes just yet though. I most likely won't be getting anymore ultrasounds (especially since I wasn't even supposed to have this one) because I'm not having any difficulties; which is fine by me! My next appointment is October 24th, so until the next update.......I'll see ya! October 20th, 2002 My BABY SHOWER pictures (access by invitation only)!!!!! October 24th,2002 Gained 2 lbs since my last visit......that makes a total gain of 12 1/2 lbs so far! My blood pressure is good & my belly is measuring right on target! I asked the Dr. if she thought I would go near my due date & she said most likely not...more like a week or 2 after my due date! Ugghhhhh! Christmas or New Years! This will be a holiday season I will never forget I'm sure! Baby's heartbeat was 137 and all is looking good! I now start going for Dr's appointments every 2-weeks! November 7th, 2002 Gained 2 lbs, blood pressure good & baby still is measuring on schedule. November 18th, 2002 Gained 4 lbs within a 1 1/2 week time frame! I've had a bot of swelling @ the ankles & calves & the Dr said it has to do with the weight gain, as well as salt intake. The Dr did said I'm not swelled too badly & to just watch the salt & make sure I elevate my feet in the evening. Blood pressure is good & baby's heartbeat was 148. I asked how much she thought baby weighed & she said about as big as a football & around 6 lbs. Jim & I finished Lamaze class last week, so now really all we need to do is finish up things around the house, do a little decorating for Christmas & rest as much as I can. I seem to be getting tired a lot more easily than I usually do. My Dr's appointments are now every week & we've only got a month to ho until my due date......sometimes that's hard to believe! November 25th, 2002 No weight gain this week! Yipppeeeee!!!! My blood pressure is good, baby's heartbeat was 158 bpm & my Strep B test came back negative (means I don't have a bacteria, which if I did I would just need to take antibiotics before the birth). The Dr actually said it could be any day now! I don't think so though because I haven't had any contractions.....not even Braxton Hicks contractions. I've been sleeping horribly, ankles & feet still swelling up by the end of the day, my tummy is pretty achey & I'm getting some "pinching" feelings down below!! All in all though, everything is going well. December 2nd, 2002 Had my 1st internal exam today! The Dr said I'm 2cm dilated & 70% effaced! He said "You can't get any better than that for a 1st time Mom!" He also said he would be very surprised if I went until my EDD! Now for the part that scares the Heck out of me.... He said that my uterus is very "long" & I'll probably have a long baby. I was very surprised @ this being I'm all of 5'1 & Dh is 5'9! Guess one has nothing to do with the other. Then I asked him how much he thought baby weighed & he said it'll probably be around 8 1/2 lbs! What the heck?!?!?!?!?!?! I am just shocked & scared to have something that big come out of me! I was 6lbs 12 ozs & Dh was somewhere around 8 lbs when we were born. I then asked if he could tell if my pelvis was too small (my Mom had me & my sisters c-section because she has a small pelvis). The Dr said not to worry about it because we won't know until I'm dilated, the cervix is totally softened & everything comes together at once. The Dr did say I haven't really dropped any & that will be a concern if baby doesn't drop. At this point I guess I have it in my head that I may be a candidate for c-section. Oh well, whatever it takes to get baby here right! So, I just may get my guessed due date of 12/12/02! That would be something! In case I don't get to update for awhile I hope everyone enjoys the holidays! |
