Journal: June 12, 2008
I can't express how relieved I am to have seen that beautiful fluttering of our baby's heart. We have so longed for this moment, that I find it difficult to believe that we're finally reaping our blessing. My goal this week is to continue to eat nutritiously and to relax, having faith that everything will work out wonderfully. Today's ultrasound will help me to keep my worries at bay. Every time a doubt creeps into my head, I will visualize that tiny, fluttering, STRONG heartbeat and know that we are perfectly healthy and peaceful.
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Journal: June 19, 2008
Pregnancy comes with its unique blend of symptoms. I have been enjoying each of my discomforts as a reminder that we are finally pregnant, and will soon deliver another beautiful child to join our loving family. Among these blissful signals are nausea and fatigue. I have yet to experience actual morning sickness (or evening sickness, for that matter), but I have relished gut-wrenching stomach pain, gassiness, and queasiness. My nights include tossing, turning, and strange dreams, so I require a nap mid-afternoon. I am glad that I'm dealing with these symptoms in the summer time. I don't think they would appreciate my napping in the teacher's lounge.
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Journal: July 8, 2008
As I near the end of my first trimester, my nausea has decreased. I seem to feel worse in the evening, after dinner. I'm still exhausted and enjoy sleeping throughout the day, but I'm getting surges of energy from time to time. My newest symptom is moodiness, so I am again thankful that it is summer time and I do not have to deal with many people. The ultrasound today was amazing! As soon as Poof appeared on screen, we could see the baby jumping and swimming around. Ben said, "It looks like a frog!" We were pleased to hear the strong heartbeat again!
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Journal: August 8, 2008
Firmly in my second trimester, I feel so wonderful. The nausea and heartburn are now almost nonexistent. I have more energy, and am more relaxed. I am definitely feeling the baby move every day. If I don't feel movement, all I have to do is rest on my back and poke around. Poof (as Ben calls the fetus) does not like to be disturbed, and will move away from touch. Even the doctor said at my last appointment, as he was searching for the heartbeat with the doppler, "This kid doesn't like me!" I am still reluctant to do much to the nursery. We have two dressers in the room, along with most of Ben's stuffed animals. (Their position is temporary to free up room in Ben's closet.) The ultrasound scheduled for September 9 should tell us the baby's gender, at which time I'll bust out the sewing machine and get to work on curtains!
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Journal: September 13, 2008
It was an exciting week for baby! We think we're having a girl, and we're still trying on her name to see if it fits with this little one's personality. She is kicking and moving quite regularly, and Brandon was able to feel her for the first time Thursday night! It's so exciting to be experiencing pregnancy again, and it's unbelievable to be halfway there.
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Journal: September 26, 2008
I'm feeling kicks every day-always in my pelvis. From time to time I feel a faint motion around my belly button, but I assume that's a fist or elbow. This kid seems to be using my bladder as a step stool, and is most active at around 8:00 AM, 11:30 AM, 4:00 PM, and bedtime. Check out these amazing statistics on Visembryo-the baby's HUGE!!!
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Journal: October 11, 2008
Baby's still kicking, and I love the constant reminder that she's okay. With some effort, we have gotten the baby to move positions in the womb, so the kicks are not always in the same place. Last night before bed, I was trying to determine where the head and rear were located. After a few moments of my poking and prodding, the baby finally pushed off the front of my belly with a huge kick as if to say, "MOM-lay off!" Then, she disappeared to the backbone to avoid being bothered again. I laughed, then went to sleep. It's so strange getting to know someone we can't even see. Tomorrow, I'm excited to tour the brand new hospital here in town where I may have to opportunity to stay during this one's birth!
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Journal: October 23, 2008
The news is that I'm almost to 26 weeks! I've been holding my breath for this milestone, and I'm hoping to be a bit more calm and relaxed now. I have definitely "popped," and I'm pretty obviously pregnant, even to strangers. Even my largest t-shirts are struggling to cover my belly. The baby's sleep patterns are changing. I now feel her most at night, when I'm trying to sleep. Luckily, the kids aren't too hard, and I just toss and turn. I'm usually able to go right back to bed.
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Journal: October 29, 2008
I met my new doctor on Friday. I'm excited about delivering at the new, state-of-the-art hospital in town where the new doctor (but not my old one) has privileges. I was so excited to find out that I do NOT have gestational diabetes, and I'm looking forward even more to having a baby around again. Honestly, though, it's getting harder to stay calm. I told the kids today that my patience is waning as my abdomen is waxing. They just laughed, thinking I was making a joke about body hair removal. Oh well, they can't say I didn't warn them! :)
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Journal: December 6, 2008
We're getting very close to the big day. It's hard to believe that we're going to have a baby again in our home. The pregnancy is going very well. I've had some irritable moments and have burst into tears a few times, but I've been generally happy and healthy. Yesterday, I felt supremely uncomfortable for the first time in my pregnancy, and I believe the little one has finally turned it around! I'm feeling kicks right under my breastbone, and most often I feel stretches down the length of my belly. It's weird that if I push or bump my chest, it makes me feel the urge to go to the bathroom! I'm excited to have the baby in position, because that means that she knows it's almost time to meet us, too!
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Journal: December 13, 2008
What an exciting week with baby! We visited the doctor and found that my belly measurement had jumped from 30 cm to 37 cm in two weeks: 5 cm more than average! The doctor sent us for an ultrasound to see why there was such a change. It seems that baby may have moved, because everything in the scan looked perfect!
Sleeping Heart Rate: 138
Estimated Weight: 4.5 pounds (right on track)
Estimated Delivery Weight: 7.5-8.5 pounds, depending on delivery date
Head, abdomen, femur measurement: 31-33 weeks gestation (I'm 32.4)
Full head of hair
Liquid in bladder
Placenta high and NOT on my uterine scar!!!!
Cervix is long and thin-closed.
Amniotic fluid is at a good volume.
Baby's head is down and tucked, rump under my left ribs, and legs stretched around the uterus.
Oh yeah, and there are DEFINITELY girl parts!!
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How's the baby doing?
Follow this link, which I will update from time to time, to see the baby's current stage of development.
www.visembryo.com/baby/32_weeks.html