34 Weeks and "On the Healthy Side of Normal"

Disclaimer: This is my second pregnancy.  With my first pregnancy my daughter was born preterm, breech and via C-section.  Due to my age, my medical history (hello, incompetent cervix!) and my daughter being delivered preterm I am being classified as high-risk.  Things could get a little crazy in here so proceed with caution.

How far along: 34 Weeks

Total weight gain: 44

Maternity clothes: Yes!

Stretch marks: Nope

Sleep: Now that I am back on the magnesium I am sleeping much deeper for much longer.

Best moment of this week: Seeing our little Vivienne's face at my 34 week growth scan!  The tech was even nice enough to show her in 3D although she didn't really cooperate because she kept putting her hand up in front of her face.  She might even have been sucking her thumb!  She has some real cute chubby cheeks and a giant Horton head too.

Luckily, the growth scan didn't reveal anything scary.  They wouldn't check my cervical length because it's a mute point at 34 weeks.  She has all the amniotic fluid she needs, but still plenty of room to flip around.  Unlike her sister was at this point, she is head down.  My placenta is ageing as it is supposed to and the umbilical cord has all 3 chambers.  There were really no concerns.

She is measuring in the 82 percentile which means she is on the "healthy side of normal."  Anything over 90% is classified as a huge baby.  Not sure what the next steps would have been if she'd been "huge" because it is not something we need to worry about.  With her giant head, big round belly and long legs, she is measuring ahead at over 35 weeks and is roughly already 5 lbs. 8 oz.!  

Miss anything: Being able to relax.

Movement: All the time!  She's crazy. I'm supposed to be doing kick counts but they really aren't necessary.  

Food cravings: My stomach is so squished that I barely want to eat, but I keep gaining weight!

Anything making you queasy or sick: No

Have you started to show yet: I'd say so.

Gender: The tech double checked for us and she is most definitely a girl.  

Labor signs: No and I hope it stays that way for at least 2 more weeks.  

Belly button in or out: Still in but it has almost disappeared

Wedding rings on or off: Been off for awhile now

Happy or moody most of the time: I'm too tired to be either one.  

Looking forward to: Meeting this little girl in 2-5 weeks!

* Since we did not spill the beans on this pregnancy to our family until I was 14 weeks pregnant, there will be a fair amount of backtracking until I can get caught up.  Hang in there! 

32 Weeks and New Concerns Arise

Disclaimer: This is my second pregnancy.  With my first pregnancy my daughter was born preterm, breech and via C-section.  Due to my age, my medical history (hello, incompetent cervix!) and my daughter being delivered preterm I am being classified as high-risk.  Things could get a little crazy in here so proceed with caution.

How far along: 32 Weeks

Total weight gain: 39

Maternity clothes: Yes!

Stretch marks: Nope

Sleep: Uncomfortable

Best moment of this week: I don't know if it is the best moment this week, but I'm still measuring 2 weeks ahead and the doctor I saw at this week's appointment seems more concerned about it than the last especially considering I've already had one preemie who weighed over 7 lbs.  She's being proactive by ordering a growth scan for my 34 week appointment which will check how big baby is, how much amniotic fluid is in there and how well the umbilical cord is feeding the baby.  I'll be pushing for them to check my cervical length too which might give us an idea as to when this baby will arrive.  

Miss anything: Being able to relax.

Movement: All the time!  She's crazy. I'm supposed to be doing kick counts but they really aren't necessary.  

Food cravings: My stomach is so squished that I barely want to eat.  

Anything making you queasy or sick: No

Have you started to show yet: I'd say so.

Gender: Still a girl as far as we know.  

Labor signs: No and I hope it stays that way for at least 4 more weeks.  

Belly button in or out: Still in but it has almost disappeared

Wedding rings on or off: Been off for awhile now

Happy or moody most of the time: I'm starting to get grouchy now because I am barely sleeping.

Looking forward to: Getting some answers at my next appointment to put my anxiety at ease.

* Since we did not spill the beans on this pregnancy to our family until I was 14 weeks pregnant, there will be a fair amount of backtracking until I can get caught up.  Hang in there! 

30 Weeks: 6-9 Weeks to Go!

Disclaimer: This is my second pregnancy.  With my first pregnancy my daughter was born preterm, breech and via C-section.  Due to my age, my medical history (hello, incompetent cervix!) and my daughter being delivered preterm I am being classified as high-risk.  Things could get a little crazy in here so proceed with caution.

How far along: 30 Weeks

Total weight gain: 36 pounds. I actually lost weight!

Maternity clothes: Oh yeah.

Stretch marks: Nothing new

Sleep: So much pain!  If it is my sciatica than it is nerve damage from my previous c-section keeping me up.  Lately, the bulging disk is my lower back has been making it hard for me to bend over.  I'm finally investing in a pregnancy belt.  

Best moment of this week: Taking Scarlett to her big sister class.  Honestly, she was a pain the whole time, but I do think she absorbed some information.  She also got to take her second hospital tour so if nothing else she'll be really comfortable when she comes to visit me.  

Miss anything: Not being in pain?  

Movement: This little girl is strong!  So strong that she kicked me so hard on the left side that she must have hit a nerve and it aggravated my bulging disk in my back.  

Food cravings: Nah.  

Anything making you queasy or sick: Just really strong smells.  

Have you started to show yet: YES!

Gender: Female

Labor signs: No, but I worry about how my cervix is holding up although nothing can be done.  

Belly button in or out: In

Wedding rings on or off: off

Happy or moody most of the time: Happy

Looking forward to: Getting stuff done!  There is so much to do.  I need a week to clean and organize this house, but that isn't going to happen with my back giving out.

* Since we did not spill the beans on this pregnancy to our family until I was 14 weeks pregnant, there will be a fair amount of backtracking until I can get caught up.  Hang in there! 

24 Weeks and Things Just Got Real

Disclaimer: This is my second pregnancy.  With my first pregnancy my daughter was born preterm, breech and via C-section.  Due to my age, my medical history (hello, incompetent cervix!) and my daughter being delivered preterm I am being classified as high-risk.  Things could get a little crazy in here so proceed with caution.


How far along: 24 weeks

Total weight gain: 29 pounds.  Over the last month, I just haven't been able to do much.  I move around a lot at work, but once I am home I am usually parked in the sitting position.  I know, I know, not good.  Once I get us into a new normal routine and the weather warms up, I'll be taking out dog, Leia, for lots of walks.  

Maternity clothes: Yes!  And I hate them.  No matter what size I buy my shirts ride up while my pants slide down.  

Stretch marks: Nope.  

Sleep: Not bad.  I usually wake up once during the night.  

Best moment of this week: Scarlett kissing my belly and saying, "I love you Vivienne.  I love you so much!"

Miss anything: Just the usual stuff.  Going for a run regularly and relaxing with a drink with my husband.  

Movement: Boy, is she a wiggle worm!  I just went through a 4 day period where she non-stop flipped, kicked and punched me.  Luckily, she seems to have slowed down now.  

Food cravings: No, although sugar is hard to resist!  

Anything making you queasy or sick: Just nasty smelling things.  

Have you started to show yet: Yes!

Gender: Still a girl!  I had another ultrasound this week and I had the tech checked. She assured me that nothing had "sprouted" yet.  

Labor signs: Here is where things get sticky.  At the start of my pregnancy, my OB laid out a plan to check my cervix at the 20 and 24 week mark.  Why?  Well, I have an incompetent cervix and my daughter was born a month early when my water unexpectedly broke.  She felt this was the best plan of action since I had no other signs that my body would deliver early.  

My 19 week ultrasound showed that I had 4 cm of cervix - "oodles of cervix" my OB said.  Then, my 24 week ultrasound showed that my cervix had thinned to just under 3 cm.  I had "lost" about a centimeter of cervix thickness in 5 weeks.  

At this point, my OB assured me there is nothing to be done.  It is still thankfully closed, but it has thinned.  I'm not in the danger zone yet, which is less than 2.5 CM, but I'm getting close.  Given this information, it is not hard to surmise how it happened that my daughter was born a month early.  If logic dictates, which it rarely does with our pregnant bodies, I'll continue to lose another centimeter a month which leads me to believe that by 36 weeks I'll be having a baby again.  Let's just hope she waits until AFTER Memorial Day so I can help her big sister at her big yearly dance recital.  

Belly button in or out: In

Wedding rings on or off: Off

Happy or moody most of the time: Happy, but getting stressed with everything that needs to be done before this bambino arrives.  

Looking forward to: I can tell you what I am NOT looking forward to:  My blood glucose test at my next appoint at 28 weeks.  Yuck to drinking that stuff.

* Since we did not spill the beans on this pregnancy to our family until I was 14 weeks pregnant, there will be a fair amount of backtracking until I can get caught up.  Hang in there! 

22 Weeks and Feeling Great!

Disclaimer: This is my second pregnancy.  With my first pregnancy my daughter was born preterm, breech and via C-section.  Due to my age, my medical history (hello, incompetent cervix!) and my daughter being delivered preterm I am being classified as high-risk.  Things could get a little crazy in here so proceed with caution.

How far along: 22 weeks

Total weight gain: 30 pounds still

Maternity clothes: Oh yeah, you know it.  

Stretch marks: No new ones.

Sleep: Not bad but my arms are starting to go numb while I sleep.  

Best moment of this week: Matt got to feel Vivienne kick for the first time.  

Miss anything: Things have gotten very stressful here lately, but it is all for the greater good and I will share at some point.  I do miss working out - I just don't have much time except to do a few squats here and there.  

Movement: Mostly when I am sitting or lying down.  

Food cravings: No, my hunger has slowed down if that makes sense.  

Anything making you queasy or sick: Anything with too much flavor. I'm still preferring bland food.  

Have you started to show yet: Oh yeah, there are times I feel huge and other times that I feel not so big.  

Gender: Female

Labor signs: No!

Belly button in or out: Still in.  

Wedding rings on or off: I took them off at the request of my husband who feared for the survival of my fingers.  

Happy or moody most of the time: Mostly happy.  

Looking forward to: Taking our hospital tour!  Since we moved here from the West Coast when our first daughter was about 16 months old, we haven't seen the hospital where we will be having Vivienne.

* Since we did not spill the beans on this pregnancy to our family until I was 14 weeks pregnant, there will be a fair amount of backtracking until I can get caught up.  Hang in there! 

18 Weeks Pregnant and SO CLOSE To Finding Out the Gender!

Disclaimer: This is my second pregnancy.  With my first pregnancy my daughter was born preterm, breech and via C-section.  Due to my age, my medical history (hello, incompetent cervix!) and my daughter being delivered preterm I am being classified as high-risk.  Things could get a little crazy in here so proceed with caution.

We now know what the gender of our summer baby will be. To watch the video of when our daughter found out click HERE.  

How far along: 18 weeks!

Total weight gain:  25 pounds?  Too much in my opinion!

Maternity clothes: Oh yes, all of the time.

Stretch marks: Just the usual.

Sleep: I take what I can.

Best moment of this week:  I had to take Scarlett into the baby room at school so she could see what a little baby looked like.  She made a comment that the baby was going to come out of me walking.  Pretty sure she is confused on the difference between a toddler and a baby.   

Miss anything: I miss being able to workout all if the time and eating healthy foods.  I feel like I've been eating too many carbs and sugar.  

Movement:  Starting to feel some movement, little kicks and punches. 

Food cravings: Not really. I do get in moods where I could eat and eat and eat some more. 

Anything making you queasy or sick:  Still can't stand chicken.  

Have you started to show yet: Oh yes!

Gender: Everyone is still Team Pink!  We find out on January 30 .

Labor signs: Nope. 

Belly button in or out: Still in. 

Wedding rings on or off: On, but not sure for how much longer. 

Happy or moody most of the time: Happy but tired of feeling gross.  

Looking forward to:  Finding out if we are having a boy or a girl and then telling everyone!  


* Since we did not spill the beans on this pregnancy to our family until I was 14 weeks pregnant, there will be a fair amount of backtracking until I can get caught up.  Hang in there!