32 Weeks and Nervous

It's been a pretty eventful week.  It started last Wednesday night/Thursday morning at work.  It was a pretty busy night and it flew by! But by the time the next shift started showing up I started feeling off.  I can't really explain it any other way.  I was having quite a few braxton hick's contractions throughout the night but they were never back to back, so I didn't worry.  But 7am came around and I started feeling worse.  It got to the point where I started feeling like I was going to get sick and pass out.  I figured my blood pressure was just pretty low and I needed to sit down.  I had my friend check my blood pressure, still at work, and it was 140/70.  I usually run 90-100/60.  So I was a bit shocked and began to get a little nervous.  My doctor's nurse had been wanting me to check my BP often in between appointments to watch for signs of Pre-Eclampsia*.  I still have a ton of swelling, and that morning it was particularly bad.  So when I was finally done with work (an hour late) I called my OB's nurse.  She wanted me to go ahead and come in to the office.  They just opened and they don't have appointments until 9am, so I would be able to get checked out quick and get home to bed. 

*Pre-Eclampsia is a condition some pregnant women can get.  It is associated with high blood pressure, abnormal swelling and protein in urine. It is also called toxemia or pregnancy induced hypertension.  If untreated it can lead to a stroke, so it's pretty serious.  The only way to really 'treat' it is to deliver the baby.   

When I got there she checked my urine, like always, and like always I had a UTI (this would be the third time this pregnancy).  She also said I am starting to spill a little protein in my urine (a sign of Pre-E) but that it wasn't bad yet.  Not to mention I was very dehydrated.  (I tried to drink water throughout the night, but I didn't get as much in as I normally do).  She weighed me as well, and I gained 8 lbs since I weighed myself two days prior at home, I thank the swelling.  Next was my BP check.  I had been trying to relax and deep breath for the past 30 minutes to lower my BP.  Luckily it was 120/70.  Still high for me, but much better!  She also checked my swelling.

We discussed my work schedule.  She felt very uneasy with me going back to work that night, so she wrote a note for me stay home due to all the problems (high BP, dehydration, increased edema, and UTI).  She wanted me to take it easy this weekend and go back to work tonight (Monday), since I have another doctor appointment tomorrow afternoon.  When I went back to work to give my charge nurse the note I was able to talk to 3 of my charge nurses.  They obviously were upset that I would not be at work that night (we were very busy and needed the help), but they understood...I hope.  They also did not want me to go to work tonight.  I tried to fight it but they were adamant.  I told them I would let them know what happened at my appointment Tuesday, whether or not I would be back at work.  I'm only scheduled 6 more nights this next month, but I feel very nervous about working.  I've been taking it easy this weekend and I'm still swelling a ton, and not to mention every time I get up and move around a lot I start cramping.  Sunday morning I woke up feeling like crap.  I guarantee I am still pretty dehydrated.  Too bad I can't take the fluid from my legs and ankles and move it...

So week 32 has been a tough week so far.  Pregnancy symptoms so far have gotten a little worse, and better at the same time.  I'm not craving as much anymore...other than ice (thanks dehydration).  I swear I'm getting more and more stretch marks on the front of my belly everyday.  For the longest time I only had a few on my sides from where I had some from years ago. But now...there's no hiding them. :(

I also get so uncomfortable!  Tanner really likes my right side, especially my ribs/lung.  Sometimes I can't catch my breath and I have to stretch out just to breath.  Last night Nick had his hand on my right side, by my ribs and he said he felt what he thought was a foot move.  I think that's pretty awesome, I still haven't felt anything like that yet. 

I'm trying to make myself relax a little more around the house. So thanks to some YouTube tutorials, I am working on crocheting Tanner a hat.  I think I will also try to make some little booties, just because they are so darn cute!

I'm going to head to bed now.  I will post again tomorrow after my doctor's appointment. 

Here's this week's bump shot.  Sorry, Mom...maybe next week I will show my super swollen face. :)

Daydreaming

I'm really looking forward to having some time off this next week.  I'm about 4 1/2 hours away from being able to go home from work and sleep.  This was my hard stretch at work.  I was scheduled to work two nights on, two off, two on, two off, and two on.  I was luckily enough to be able to get one of the days in the middle off.  It was a MUCH needed break, although it caused a lot of problems for other people at work because a few emails got "misread".  But I really needed it.  I apparently cant handle this type of work as well as other pregnant people, but whatever.  My priority is the health of my little baby. 


Anyway...once I get back to a somewhat rested self, I'm looking forward to getting into the nursery and playing around a little more.  There really isn't much I can do, but I feel like nesting.  I might wash some sheets and clothes or something.  I'm really anxious to get the glider in.  We ordered it at the beginning of August and it should be coming anywhere from 45-60 days after.  I get so excited thinking about the future in that chair.  I remember my mom rocking me to sleep, singing, and those are some of my best memories!  To this day if I hear my mom sing certain songs I will immediately get tired and want to take a nap. :)  I can't wait to sing to my baby!


Alright, now only 4 hours and 15 minutes til I can go home!

Doctor update

Got back from the doctor today.  It was a pretty good appointment, nothing too much to report.  My blood pressure is still great, and I no longer have a UTI.  I did get a note from my doctor to give to my boss though.  I'm not going to work more than 2 nights in a row, because by the third night my swelling is out of control.  I've lost 4 lbs since my appointment last week...4 lbs since I last worked.  My doctor said he could put me on bed rest but I would get so sick of it and want to get up.  I'm hoping upping my water intake, one less 12 hour shift, and some compression stockings to wear during work will help my swelling.


I also had my glucose tolerance test.  The drink wasn't as bad as I was thinking it was going to be.  It was like a super sweet, flat orange soda.  I didn't care for it very much, but Tanner enjoyed it.  His heart rate was much faster today and he kept kicking the doppler when my doctor was listening to his heart rate.  I couldn't help but giggle each time.


My next appointment is in 4 weeks.  By that appointment I will be in the third trimester! :)

Long overdue post and 22 weeks?

I am a complete slacker! Not really, but I feel like one.  It's been a while since I've updated.  But I think I have pretty good excuses.  I worked all week long, then a friend of ours came into town and stayed with us for a few days.  Before he left, my parents visited! It was a fantastic week with them! When they had to leave, I had to go back to work.  But here I am finally updating.


Since having our anatomy scan and finding out Tanner is measuring 2 weeks ahead I was wondering how I would do these updates.  I would get my update emails saying he should be 10.5 oz when two weeks prior he weighed 13-15 oz.  I had finally figured out I would just give a general update on how I was feeling and how Tanner is growing and moving.


I had my monthly appointment today and not only did the ultrasound results look great, he truly is measuring way ahead so tanner is now due on November 30th, not December 10th.  It was so neat to think I was 20 weeks pregnant...half way...and then find out I get to skip two whole weeks!  I am 22 weeks pregnant exactly today.  So now my update day is Wednesday, not Saturday.


I am feeling pretty good most days, just some slight nausea here and there.  I can't stand the fact that I have to eat every few hours or else I feel sick...the scale hates the fact as well.  I was so overwhelmed at what the scale said today. Let's just say it's a lot more than I planned.


I am having a lot of swelling already.  By my 2nd and 3rd day working my ankles no longer exist.  I am also worried I am going to have to remove my rings before too long.  I'm going to up my water intake and try to stay off my feet when I can (which is going to be hard because I can feel my nesting instinct wanting to start up).  My doctor doesn't seem worried at all about it, so that helps a little.


Tanner is moving around all day and night!  I absolutely love the feeling!  I'm starting to feel kicks higher and higher on my belly.  I'm also able to feel him from the outside more often now.  If Nick puts his cheek to my belly he gets kicked too. :)


I love shopping for Tanner!  We've gotten so much already, which will be a separate post, I promise! I can imagine what the nursery is going to look like, and I am so excited!


Well, sitting here thinking about eating often to keep myself from getting sick, and watching Food Network is making me hungry.  So I will post a couple bump pictures from this week and last week since I was a slacker.

This first picture is from last week.  We spent the day outside in the 100+ degree weather looking at the different planes our base has.  I was so hot and so thirsty by the time we got home.  I plopped down on the couch and couldn't move.

This next picture is today at 22 weeks. 

Oh, and by the way, Tanner is the size of a spaghetti squash! :)

Update?

So I know I've been slacking this week.  I will not have an update for 15 weeks, mainly because I'm almost at 16 weeks.  I've been pretty busy this week to say the least.


Well, I guess I can do a little updating.  Baby is the size of an orange at 15 weeks.  I've started feeling a little bit better. Still having some nausea here and there.  I was so happy to not have thrown up in 4 weeks...but then Tuesday morning came around. I hate brushing my teeth.


My belly is growing.  I didn't take a 15 week picture, but I can tell.  Much of my scrub tops don't fit anymore.     And my belly hangs out when I wear old tank tops.  I've felt a few flutters here and there. I don't think I have felt much the past few days because I've been working all day.


I do get hungry really fast though.  It seems like it just comes on immediately.  Snacks are my friend...but probably not so much a friend to my waist line.


I started my actual job on Monday.  I'm working 12 hour shifts now, which I'm not use to.  But I've actually handled it pretty well  (I don't think I will be able to say the same once I switch to nights...).  The one thing that has been hard to get use to is my feet.  They are angry with me for standing on them for so long.


I am so lucky, though.  Nick has been so great the past few days!  Monday when I got home from work he had completely rearranged the living room! I wanted to try to do something different but I was going to wait until the weekend.  Yesterday he had dinner ready when I got home!  He is amazing, and I couldn't imagine my life without him!


I will try to get an update up on Saturday.  Baby will be the size of an avocado! (WOW!)