Th-th-th-thirty Weeks! ...Say Wha?!?!

I feel like just yesterday I was taking a pregnancy test.

And here I am now... 30 weeks of pregnancy behind me.

Less than 10 weeks to go.

In two months from now, I will be holding/cuddling/snuggling/oooohing and ahhhhhhing over my sweet baby boy. I feel like we are officially in the home stretch!

 

How Far Along? 31 weeks today

Size of Baby: As of my high risk doctor's appointment on Friday, the ultrasound indicated that the baby is approximately 3lb, 7oz.

 

 

Total Weight Gain/Loss: Since meeting with my OB doc last Monday and learning that I should be eating significantly fewer carbs than I was consuming before, I have lost 4lbs. My high risk doctor was not happy about the fact that I've lost weight, and he wants me to start consuming more calories. So, fewer carbs but more calories... Ugh. Not an easy task.

Maternity Clothes: I've really come to love my maternity clothes wardrobe! I'm going to hate to pack it all away in a few months. I don't even remember what my pre-baby wardrobe looks like :-/ Just praying some of it fits semi-well when the baby is here! I might be living in yoga pants for the first few months of his life ;-)

 

Gender: Baby boy!

Movement: Lots of kicks and rolling around going on in my belly! Love to feel him move around. At first, it kinda freaked me out to watch my belly do 'the wave' when the baby rolled around... but now I watch my belly just waiting for those crazy little movements. Love it!

What I miss: Two words - SWEET TEA. The end.

Cravings: Chocolate :-/ Thankfully, I've found a few diabetic-friendly ways to incorporate chocolate in my diet... snack bars with chocolate, nut & chocolate trail mix, chocolate milk, etc. The key is to combine it with protein!

 

Symptoms: Frequent urination... check! I have to pee. A LOT. It probably has something to do with the 90+ ounces of water I'm drinking every day (which, by the way, I think has helped to keep my swelling to a minimum! I still have ankles!!!). I usually try the whole double-elimination thing when I go to the bathroom. You know... go once, stand up, wash hands, wait a minute for bladder to fill up again, and then sit back down for round #2! Usually if I go twice, I can get by longer periods without running to the loo.

Best Moment This Week: Well, I met with my high risk doctor on Friday to go over my diagnosis of gestational diabetes and to check on the growth/development of my baby boy. Thankfully, the doctor found everything about the baby's anatomy sonogram to be completely normal, including his size. As I mentioned, he's weighing about 3lbs, 7oz and is in the 47th percentile for his weight (50th percentile would be considered average, so he's right where he needs to be!). The doctor said that I obviously have not had gestational diabetes for very long, and he suspects that with proper management of my blood sugar numbers, I will deliver a perfectly normal-sized baby at the end of April. The only thing he was not happy about was my weight loss. He doesn't feel, at this point in time, that it is necessary for him to see me again during the pregnancy unless my OB suggests I follow up with him again. So - great news! ...And, I walked away with this sweet picture of his adorable profile:

 

 

Also got a cute foot picture :-) He had his foot in his hand for a little while during the ultrasound. So cute!

 

 

And then Saturday night we had our 4D ultrasound at Belly Vision! It took 40 minutes (a little longer than expected) because baby boy is in an awkward breech position, with both his hands and feet around his face. So... it took a lot of moving, turning, probing to get a few pictures. You can see his hand by his face in the first two pictures. I just can't wait to cover his sweet little face in kisses!!!  

 

 

 

 

Looking Forward To: My baby shower is on Saturday! I am so looking forward to celebrating my little boy's upcoming arrival with my closest family and friends. :-)

 

30 Weeks Pregnant:

 



Sugar & Spice!

Well, as I mentioned in my {{last weekly post}}, I am going to be an aunt to a sweet baby girl in July! As you can imagine, our families are over the moon with happiness. My hubby and I are having a boy, and my brother and his wife are having a girl. It could not be more perfect!

 

My brother and sister-in-law had their big ultrasound last Friday and then invited the family over on Saturday night for the big reveal. All details of the reveal were kept SUPER top secret. We took Team Blue and Team Pink pictures, and then we were told that we were heading outside for a firework show! The first 16 fireworks would be just for fun. There would be a pause... and then there would be 3 huge fireworks - either blue and green for a boy or red and yellow for a girl.

 

Team Blue:

 

Team Pink:

 

 

The Big Show!!!

 

  IT'S A GIRL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!   Afterwards, we came inside and watched a DVD of my precious niece. She totally melted my heart when she SMILED in her ultrasound. She even had the cord draped over her shoulder like a purse strap... a true mini-me of her Mommy :-)  

  We had a wonderful evening with the family, celebrating the fact that a baby girl is coming in July. We couldn't be happier!  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

So happy to share this exciting time with my sister-in-law!!!!  



High Risk with High Hopes

 

I mentioned in my {{last post}} that I have been diagnosted with gestational diabetes. I wanted to give everyone an update on my situation, now that I've met with my OB doctor and feel a little more educated about what's going on with my baby.

 

No, I didn't get gestational diabetes because I drank sweet tea.

 

No, I didn't get gestational diabetes because I ate chocolate and skittles.

 

Gestational diabetes can happen to anyone - it all depends on how your body reacts to the pregnancy hormones. If you have a family history of diabetes (as I do), you are at an increased risk for developing gestational diabetes. Unfortunately, my body is not metabolizing sugars the way it did before I got pregnant. Here's what is happening to the extra sugar that my body isn't processing:

 

 

After meeting with my doctor Monday night, I have learned the following things:

 

1. I am now considered "high risk" because of the gestational diabetes. I will be followed by a group of doctors of maternal & fetal medicine from Harrisburg for the remainder of my pregnancy, in addition to my regular OB appointments.

 

2. I will have more ultrasounds throughout the remainder of my pregnancy to check the baby's growth, development, and activity.

 

3. Starting at 32 weeks (not next week, but the following), I will need to report to Labor and Delivery at the hospital for one hour every week. During that hour, I will be hooked up to monitors and the baby's heartrate will be watched closely. If he shows any kind of distress, I will immediately be admitted to the hospital for bed rest for the remainder of my pregnancy. This means that every week I have to be prepared to go into the hospital and stay, if that ends up being the case. Talk about pressure to get stuff done!!!

 

4. I am measuring 34 weeks instead of 30 weeks.

 

5. I will deliver before my due date. At the very latest, I will deliver one week before my due date.

 

Am I nervous?

 

Yes.

 

Am I scared?

 

Yes.

 

Am I ready?

 

Not in the least bit.

 

But, I feel like I have a great team of doctors to support me through the remainder of my pregnancy. My baby boy and I are going to be watched very closely over the next several weeks. I'm praying that God will help me keep my blood sugar numbers under control, so that there is as little risk to the baby as possible. I know that He is faithful and He will make a way. Please keep my baby boy and I in your prayers!

 

And... to make you smile after a long, serious post: a video of my baby boy kicking around in my belly last night!

 

 

 

 



29 Weeks Down, 10 More To Go!

How Far Along? 29 Weeks, 6 Days

Size of Baby: A little over 3 pounds! He's the size of a butternut squash.

 

 

 

Total Weight Gain/Loss: +1 pound... no change this week.

Maternity Clothes: Yep! Bought a new pair of jeans yesterday for my upcoming maternity photo shoot... very excited!

 

 Gender: Baby boy!

Movement: Wowzers... this boy has some STRENGTH! His kicks and punches are getting more and more powerful by the day. My belly will completely jolt to the left or right, depending on which side he's kicking at the time. It's crazy to watch! I try to catch it on video, but as soon as I get my camera ready he gets still. Love his sense of humor ;-) He's so much fun to interact with. I will tap on my belly a couple of times in a certain spot, and a few seconds later I will get a love tap back from my baby boy. He's becoming a lot more active at night too. I fall asleep each night (usually on my left side) with my hand wrapped around the bottom side of my belly, feeling him move all around. He hasn't woken me up with his kicks yet, but he's usually wide awake when my alarm goes off.

What I miss: I have officially been diagnosed with gestational diabetes.  I have started tracking my blood sugar levels with a glucometer, and watching the number of carbs I have at a given meal/snack is super important now. No more candy, no more sweet tea, no more unnecessary sugar in my diet. While I do miss some of those things that I have been craving throughout my pregnancy, I will glady give it up if it means a healthier baby boy in a few weeks! On a side note, this is what my hand looked like after the pharmacist and I spent 20 minutes trying to figure out how to work my glucometer... ouch!  

 

Cravings: Haven't really had any strong cravings this week. It's been an emotionally-trying week as I am learning to cope with the gestational diabetes, and I just haven't had the appetite that I had before.

Symptoms: Well, my bathroom sink has taken on the appearance of a crime scene when I brush my teeth... holy bleeding gums! Should get better after I have my baby boy.

Best Moment This Week: I had a few! First of all, I got my hair done on Tuesday night with my cousin Beth and there's just something about 'fresh hair' that makes you feel 10 times better about yourself.

 

  Secondly, I found out last night that I'm going to have a niece in July!!! More details about the gender reveal at my brother and sister-in-law's house coming soon ;-)  

  Looking Forward To: My 30 week appointment tomorrow evening, part-one of my maternity photo shoot Thursday night, and my 3D/4D ultrasound with our families on Saturday night! Lots of fun things to look forward to in the upcoming week. :-)

A message from the baby:

 

 

 

29 Weeks Pregnant:

 

Valentines Tea Party

Love was in the air last week! Valentine's Day came and I got showered with love at school. My sweet, sweet students brought me several boxes of chocolates... the good stuff. Too bad, Valentine's Day fell 24 hours after finding out I failed my glucose test - LOL. No chocolates for me!

 

 

My hubby and I celebrated by going out to dinner at our favorite Mexican spot here in town. Nothing fancy... just spending time together at our favorite restaurant. Here's the front of his card... he thought my ''artwork" was pretty cool, LOL.

 

 

My friend Amy invited me to a Valentine's Tea Party at her house this past Saturday. We were supposed to bring a Valentine-themed breakfast item to share. I opted to bring a red velvet cake roll with cream cheese filling. No, I didn't MAKE it. But.... I made it happen! LOL. I sliced it into servings and arranged them in the shape of a heart. I thought it looked rather festive :-)

 

 

We had quite a spread of yummy breakfast items to enjoy, as well as a variety of Keurig coffees and teas.

 

 

Lots of cute decorations :-)

 

 

The hostess-with-the-mostess ;-) Her sweet little Valentine princess is sitting on her lap.

 

 

Amy & I :-)

 

 

 

Amy has another tea party planned for April - can't wait!!!

 

Hope everyone had a great Valentine's Day.

 



28 Weeks... 7 Months!

    How Far Along? 28 Weeks, 6 Days

Size of Baby: About 17 inches long and almost 3lbs!

Total Weight Gain/Loss: +1 pound
 

Maternity Clothes: Every day! Leggings and yoga pants are my absolute favorites.

 

Gender: BOY!
Movement: More than ever!!! He's moving around so much these days. As my doctor said, "He's one active little guy... He's all boy!" as she tried to get him to hold still while she was checking his heartbeat.
What I miss: Well, my first glucose test came back a few points higher than it was supposed to be...so I'm watching my sweets this week! I go for the 3-hour test on Friday, and I'm praying for a good report. So, you could say that I'm missing my Skittles and chocolates and sweet tea these days. 

Cravings: Since I haven't been allowing myself to splurge on the sweets like I was, I have found how much I really love ice-cold water... without ice. We have a refrigerator in our garage where we keep bottled water and sodas, and the water gets SOOOO cold out there. It's so refreshing!

Symptoms: I haven't had much heartburn during this pregnancy. Although, there were a couple of nights this past week where I woke up in the middle of the night and needed to munch on a couple of TUMS to settle my belly. Hoping this isn't becoming a trend! I've also been super emotional lately. As I was walking out to my car from work the other night with my arms full of papers to grade and lesson planning materials, I felt my eyes welling up with tears. I have been so blessed... to have my dream job, a nice car, my baby boy kicking away happily in my belly, and to be on my way home to a man who loves me more and more each day. So much to be thankful for! All my dreams are coming true.

Best Moment This Week: I had a great doctor's appointment on Monday. I met another doctor in the practice and really felt at ease with her. She is super pleased with my weight gain (four pounds by their records, one pound by my scale - and I weigh myself first thing in the morning before my shower) and said I am measuring right on track. Baby boy is now head-down, and she estimates that he will weigh 7lbs 4oz. Also, I'm LOVING how much my baby boy is moving this week! Check out {{this post}} to see his kicking in action.
Looking Forward To: Finding out if I'm going to have a neice or a nephew in July!!! Gender reveal is Saturday evening and I can't wait! The more I think about it, I kinda want to wear pink AND blue. Not because I think they're having twins, but because I would honestly be thrilled for either a girl or a boy! I already stated in my last weekly update how neat it would be for them to have a little girl... but it would also be great for us to have boys together! They could go fishing together, play sports together, and become best buddies. I guess we shall see! By this time next week, we will know ;-)
 

28 Weeks Pregnant:

 

Kickin' it with Mommy

Yesterday was my glucose test. Still waiting to hear the results, by the way.

 

As soon as I drank the sugary orange stuff, baby boy started kicking up a storm. Yesterday was the most active he's ever been! I had the remote sitting on my belly and just watched in amazement as he would kick and the remote would wobble with his movement.

 

It might not seem like much to you, but it was probably the highlight of my week.

 

Just feeling so very blessed to have a healthy, active baby boy growing away in my belly. I've waited so long for these moments, and I just want to cherish them while they last!