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!

26 weeks

So I skipped week 25.  I really didn't mean to, it just seems like my days are all meshing together, especially working nights.  I forget what day it is and before I know it a week has gone by.


This week I've doing pretty good, I guess.  I haven't worked in a week (which has been amazing), but I go back tonight.  My sleep schedule is completely screwed up, and I know it's not pregnancy related, at least not all related.  I don't like this.


Tanner is still very active! The kicks, punches, and rolls are getting stronger.  The other night I was laying in bed and trying to think of the last time I felt him kick.  I was pretty busy all day so I hadn't paid much attention to it.  So I push on my belly a little bit and BAM he kicked right back. I was able to rest a little better knowing he's still moving around in there. Thanks, buddy, already a Momma's boy!  I can see my belly move at times too.  It's easier to see kicks when I'm on the couch with my lap top on my belly and it will jump around.  It really never gets old.


I'm starting to realize how squished my stomach is.  I get hungry and after eating a normal amount I feel like my stomach is going to explode.  It's so miserable at times.  And almost immediately after I digest a little I get hungry again!  I'm trying to snack on fruit more than bad things, but I still have some chocolate everyday.  That's my 'normal', not pregnancy related. :)  I do love my lucky charms though.  I'm also starting to like cream cheese (preferrably the strawberry kind) on bagles.  That's never been something I've wanted before, but it's good!


I'm really having a hard time adjusting to this new body.  I'm so jealous of the girls that have the adorable baby bump.  I'm realizing my body just doesn't work that way.  I gain weight in my face, hips, butt, belly, and boobs.  I don't see myself in the mirror anymore.  It's very depressing.  I know it's worth it, and I really wouldn't trade anything, but I'm extremely nervous about how my body is changing and how hard it is going to be to loose weight after Tanner is born.  I already had a negative self-image of myself, and never really liked the way I looked, so this isn't making it any easier.  But now, after taking my weekly bump shots, I see myself at the beginning and I actually see myself different than I did then.  I would love to get back to that size.  It's amazing what you're mind can do to you.


A positive note...this is the last week in the second trimester! :)


Here's a little comparison. 6 weeks and 26 weeks.

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! :)

24 weeks! Viability! AND Nursery!

Today I am 24 weeks 4 days.  It's amazing to know that at 24 weeks, a baby has a chance to live if, God forbid, it is born this early. I can't believe we're this far along already! 


Other than the constant swelling, back pain, heartburn, and sciatica, I'm feeling great! (I would be feeling better if I didn't work nights and actually had decent sleep).  I went to the doctor's office to my my doctor's nurse on Wednesday morning.  She did a few checks, said I'm not spilling any protein in my urine (yet), but I do have a UTI that I had NO idea I had.  No symptoms.  My blood pressure is also just fine.  She advised me to continue watching it, and if it ever rises to 140/90 or more to come get checked out.  She also mentioned how she doesn't know how much longer I'll be able to work because I'm swelling as much as a full term pregnancy can.  And I have 15 +/- more weeks to go!  She checked my hands and ankles for my swelling.  I was swelling more than I thought as well, because it was all the way to my knees. (I had just gotten off work, as well).  She moved my appointment that was scheduled for the 25th to this Tuesday, the 16th.  I also have my glucose testing that day.  Not looking forward to that one.  I have to go to work that night and I've heard after drinking the glucose drink you can feel pretty crappy. But, I'm looking forward to getting a check up to see how little boy is doing!


 I absolutely love the daily kicks, punches, and hiccups. I can't help but smile every time!  Lately I will feel this strange sensation and movement in my belly, I'll put my hand on that spot and I can feel Tanner.  I don't know if it's a baby butt, or head or maybe even a back but I love it!  I'll rub it a little, especially if it feels a little uncomfortable, and he'll move away.  


The nursery is coming along very nicely!  It's actually very adorable, and I can't wait to spend time in there with my little guy. I'll add quite a few pictures of the nursery project:

Here is a dresser that needed a little fixin' up.  We took the colors in the crib bedding to match colors.

Here's the crib my sweet hubby put together!

I had a few extra little pillows I figured would help during feedings, so I took the paint chips from the dresser to Hobby Lobby and found a great fabric.

Here's our little big helper.

And a few pictures of what we have so far...

AND.......A bump picture...