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! 

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! 

12 Weeks Pregnant and Finally Heard the Heartbeat!

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: 12 weeks!

Total weight gain:  Around 14 pounds, but I was weighed on a full stomach having just eaten prior to my doctors appointment. 

Maternity clothes: Still just my shirts for the length.  Definitely can't button my pants anymore.  

Stretch marks: Same old same old.

Sleep: I ran out of Magnesium Citrate which I take for my adrenal fatigue and I'm actually sleeping better without it.  

Best moment of this week:  Hearing the baby's heartbeat at my appointment.  Our 4 year old still doesn't officially know there is a baby in my belly yet.  Our doctor was really good about not letting on either.  When she listened to the heartbeat my daughter was full of questions and she simply told her that sometimes we use a stethoscope to listen to mommy's heart and sometimes we use the Doppler.  My daughter quickly said, "Or a baby."  I think she is on to us.  

Miss anything:  A nice glass of wine to relax with at the end of a hellish week.  

Movement: Not yet, but we could hear baby kicks along with the heartbeat! 

Food cravings: No, just hungry all of the time.  

Anything making you queasy or sick:  Chicken and pork, sometimes salad.  

Have you started to show yet: I think I am!  

Gender:  Still thinking it is a boy since this pregnancy is far less brutal than my last.  

Labor signs: No!

Belly button in or out: In

Wedding rings on or off: On

Happy or moody most of the time: Tired.  Just really tired.  

Looking forward to:  Our anatomy scan where we find out if this is a boy or a girl, is set for January 30!

* 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! 

10 Weeks Pregnant and Impatient to Spill the Beans

Disclaimer: This is my second pregnancy.  With my first pregnancy my daughter was born preterm (36 weeks), 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: 10 Weeks!

Total weight gain: I'm guessing still around 10 pounds of bloat.

Maternity clothes: Yes, but only because of the length.

Stretch marks: No more than usual.

Sleep: Eh, it's not great. 

Best moment of this week: Getting as much rest as possible while on Thanksgiving break. 

Miss anything: My friends.  I feel like I've been avoiding them so I don't have to spill the beans. 

Movement: Just gas bubbles.  

Food cravings: Anything sweet and carby.  I really just want comfort foods. 

Anything making you queasy or sick: Chicken

Have you started to show yet: I definitey look bloated. 

Gender: Not sure yet.  

Labor signs: No!

Belly button in or out: Still in.

Wedding rings on or off: On

Happy or moody most of the time: Just plain tired all.the.time. 

Looking forward to: Sharing the good news with everyone at Christmas.  It is getting harder and harder to keep the secret lately especially with all the holiday parties and everyone wanting to pour me a drink. 

8 Weeks Pregnant and I Look Like I've Popped!

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: 8 weeks although at my 8 week ultrasound baby was already measuring 2 days ahead so I'm closer to 9 weeks now.  

Total weight gain: 10 pounds of bloat!

Maternity clothes:  Some shirts, but I wear them mostly because of the length.  I can't button my pants that well so I need the length to hide them.  

Stretch marks: Just what was there before.  

Sleep: If I didn't need to pee after 6 hours then I'd be sleeping all of the time!

Best moment of this week:  Getting to see baby on the ultrasound.  There really is a baby in there! 

Miss anything: I miss not having terrible stomach pains.  

Movement: Nope!

Food cravings: Bagels and cream cheese.

Anything making you queasy or sick:  Chicken.  This happened the last time.  Even my daughter's chicken nuggets make me want to barf.

Have you started to show yet: I look like I've popped even though I know it is mostly just bloat.

Gender:  Still thinking boy just because this one isn't trying to kill me like his sister.   

Labor signs: Dear lord, no!

Belly button in or out: Still in, but it never popped out the last time.  

Wedding rings on or off: Still on, but my fingers are already starting to bloat out.  

Happy or moody most of the time: Just tired and tired of having a belly ache. 

Looking forward to: Telling our family over Christmas.

* 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! 

The Beginning: 6 Weeks Pregnant!

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:  6 weeks

Total weight gain:  I've probably put on a good 10 pounds of bloat and indigestion 

Maternity clothes:  I don't need to wear it yet, but I invested in 2 long sleeve maternity shirts mostly for my bump photo shoots but also to add to my existing collection since my last pregnancy was mostly a summer one. 

Stretch marks: Just the ones I already have! 

Sleep: Eh, I could sleep 24/7 if I could, but I don't get great sleep.  It doesn't help that I had to stop taking Valerian root early on since it is a herbal medicine and doctors are unsure of how that would affect the fetus.  

Best moment of this week: Sleeping and the few times that I can manage to get a workout in.  The horomones are just wreaking havoc with my body when I try to extert any amount of energy.  

Miss anything: Beer and wine, of course! 

Movement: Just gas bubbles.  :)

Food cravings: Sugar, but I've mostly been able to overcome it unlike my last pregnancy.  

Anything making you queasy or sick: Not eating every 2-3 hours or, just the opposite, sometimes when I think about food I want to barf.  

Have you started to show yet: Just bloat.

Gender: Nothing confirmed yet since it is so early but I am thinking boy simply because this pregnancy is already so different than the last one.  Scarlett really wanted to kill me from 5 weeks on.  

Labor signs: No, thank God!

Belly button in or out: Still in.

Wedding rings on or off: Still on. 

Happy or moody most of the time: I'm a big ball of emotions right now.  

Looking forward to: Seeing baby at our 8 week appointment on November 16.

* 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!