32 Weeks

32 weeks! Feeling blessed to have made it this far and trying to enjoy this because it's going to be my last pregnancy, EVER. The enjoying part hasn't been especially easy but I am hoping from here out it only gets better.

Being a gestational diabetic brings a whole level of frustration I never imaged. I could eat the same meal two days in a row and end up with vastly different numbers. My fasting numbers were slighly over and breakfast was a disaster no matter what I ate. I discussed that with the midwife at my appointment on Thursday and she felt that starting a low dose of Glyburide would help. I didn't want to start medication because that moves one into a 'higher risk' and it increases the chance that the baby might be hypoglycemic at birth, but the risk of leaving my sugar levels to run wild is greater. Now, I'm just battling my lunch and dinner numbers which seem to have also crept up, though it's not surprising because 32 weeks is the 'magic time' for that to begin. On the diet, I've lost 3 lbs so I'm up to a total of 12lbs gained for the pregnancy. My blood pressure was great at the last appointment so that's one less thing to worry about for now. I have a follow up appointment for this Thursday so she can make sure that my sugar levels have responded to the Glyburide.

The weekend of March 14th, I pulled into my driveway after work and my Mom's vehicle was here. She lives 6 hours away in VA so it wasn't like she just 'stopped by' to say hi. I was shocked. I came in and she told me that she was here because she hasn't seen the kids since Christmas, won't see the kids for Easter and she had gifts for them. Not terribly strange. Sunday- we were invited over to Chop's aunts to see her remodeled kitchen. We headed over and when we pulled in- she said she needed Chop to look at the thermostat in the Rec center because they were having an event and the heat wasn't working right. We walked in and SURPRISE!

Chop's Mom and 2 cousins had planned a surprise shower for me. I guess the look on my face was priceless. I'll post a few other pics on my Facebook when they finally arrive in my email from my phone. They did such a great job and the food was delicious. Baby S is certainly loved already. <3

                                                                       30 Weeks:                                                                        

31 weeks:

32 weeks:

Ultrasound Update and Advice Needed

My ultrasound to determine babys size was actually a week earlier than I thought- so at 29 weeks. We got 2 pictures that were decent and he had no problem showing that he's very much a little boy. *Insert sigh of relief*. I had a doctor appointment immediately afterwards which resulted in some good news and bad news.

Good news: He's perfect. He has all the parts he needs, he's growing and his heart rate looks good. I've gained a total of 14lbs which is perfect and I'm on target for about a 20lb gain for the pregnancy. That is pretty much what the baby is going to weigh, plus the fluid, placenta, etc. I should be back to pre-pregnancy weight pretty quickly. My c-section is officially scheduled and in the books. I got the paperwork for my pre admission bloodwork and we're ready to rock. I can't believe this is almost over!

Bad news: He's big. Not just big, but VERY big. 4lbs 3oz at 29 weeks. Typically around 30 weeks they are reaching the 3lb mark. He's at 95+%. Knowing his size and what my glucose tests results were- the doctor told me to cancel the 3 hour glucose tolerance test because it would be torturing myself and I very likely wouldn't pass it. Baby is big for a reason, and especially in his belly which is one of the markers for gestational diabetes. I'm officially diagnosed as a gestational diabetic.

The news hit me like a ton of bricks. I'm not exactly sure why because I knew it was possible but I guess I hadn't really thought about what it would be like to actually hear that everything I was eating was 'hurting' my baby. It's not anything that I could ever control since it's the placenta and the hormones changing the way my body handles insulin- but I was the one eating and giving my body things it couldn't handle. After the shock wore off, I was miserable for a few days. I immediately cut out added sugar, sweets and started to curb my carb intake. I felt like I was starving and had no idea just how much I should actually be eating as far as carbs/sugar.

Yesterday, I met with the dietician and I feel better about it. It's still going to be a big change in my life to have to wake up early enough to eat at home (I usually ate at work) and to eat within an hour of waking up. I'm so not a morning breakfast person that early. I also need to test my sugar 4 times a day (immediately upon waking, after each meal) and eat 3 meals and 3 snacks. The diet as far as carbs go isn't bad, but every single time I eat I need to have a protein with it. That means I have to be eating things I don't particularly like and have to be eating on a fairly strict schedule. I am anemic so this will help in that regard but I don't usually have a ton of protein in my diet so this is a challenge.

If anyone out there has any experience or is in the medical field- maybe you have some advice/suggestions:
I have not yet met my deductible for my insurance, so I'll pay out of pocket for all my testing supplies. They gave me 2 meters for free to find out which ones would be cheapest for me to use. I prefer one of them but the strips are $143 for a 1 month supply. Someone at work told me about a cheaper meter from Walmart called Reli On and the strips are only $20 for a month supply. I bought the meter for $15 and $9 worth of strips. I used it today after lunch and also tested with my preferred meter. The preferred meter gave me a 93, while the one from Walmart gave me a 104. That's only an 11 point difference but what if I'm at the threshold one day and the Walmart monitor gives me a number over but I'd really be under with the more preferred monitor? Does anyone know anything about these monitors? Is it worth the risk? I've never dealt with high sugar before- I've always been hypoglycemic. I can't afford to keep testing with both so I need to pick one and stick with it for consistency. HELP!

Iron, Sugar and Picas...oh my!

My 28 week appointment proved to be rather informative. Blood pressure is good, up to 14lbs gained and babys heartbeat is 155. That's about where the good news ended. Haha.

I am measuring 4 weeks ahead which could be a big baby, a uterus that knows what to do so it just stretches out easily, or I have to much fluid. they have ordered an ultrasound for the 16th to find out how big the baby is and what my fluid levels are. Excited to see what the little guy (or maybe not so little) looks like at 30 weeks since our 20 week ultrasound he wasn't very cooperative. He's running out of room so hopefully he will be still this time.

Lately I've been craving the smell of certain things that really aren't normal to crave: the smell of a car exhaust (I don't like diesel exhaust), the plaster/putty smell in the basement from Chop building Tyler's room, and permanent markers. Clearly that's not normal but thankfully I have not tried to eat any of it and I can fight off the urge to keep breathing it in. It's considered a 'pica' but I had no idea why it was occuring. At my appointment on Monday I found out that I'm anemic. I have a hard time taking my prenatals because either I don't remember to take them or when I do I have a hard time choking them down. I also don't eat red meat so I'm not surprised that I'm anemic. I am going to start taking the chewable Flintstones Complete and hoping that helps- time for lots of raisins and nuts I guess too.

I also found out that I failed my 1 hour glucose test. That's not real surprising either since I failed with Tyler and Kallie, but this time I failed with 172mg instead of the 142 that I failed with Kallie. I now have to take the 3 hour test especially because of the possibility that it could be why the baby is so big. Praying I pass because a diagnosis of GD would mean I have to change my eating habits in a big way. I've always loved carbs, and usually my sugar is to low so it's not that much of an issue. Of course there's also my Oreo craving but that could easily be stopped as I've not been having them every night. The carbs are going to be the killer for me.

Today is a snow day for me and the kids, and it's MUCH needed. I like my job but I can't handle training someone anymore. She's not catching on very quickly and with everything else going on, I feel like I am running out of time. It's taking me twice as long to get my work done while I'm stopping to answer her questions. And it's not something I can just let her figure out because if it's done wrong- someone could be falsely arrested or seriously injured.

Calgon- take me away!

Nothing exciting...

Nothing exciting to share, but that's not a bad thing considering how much went on in the early weeks. Just a picture post. Doc appt on Monday for glucose testing and hoping I pass the 1 hour test because the 3 hour makes me sick. I'm interested to find out how much farther the little guy is measuring ahead. This starts my biweekly appointments and I have to say that I'm glad to have the time "off work". March has no federal holidays so I don't get a paid day off until Easter. I think I am going to have to take a mental health day for my own sanity. 

Please excuse the horrible stretch marks all over my stomach. Those are all from Tyler, he did one heck of a job on me. This guy is certainly a mover and shaker, and this video is from 3 weeks ago. He moves even more now, and it's not quite as amusing now that I can feel him up under my ribs. LOL.

Viability!

We made it to viability (24 weeks- last week) AND double digits (99 days-today)!

Thank you to everyone who messaged me and also commented on the breastfeeding post. It really helps to have others input and ideas. I didn't get a chance to message everyone back, but I definitely did read all of your posts and messages. I'm going to give it a go and at least if it doesn't work out- I can say I tried.

My next great venture is to start buying cloth diapers. I cloth diapered Kallie for a few months while we dealt with horrible diaper rash. This time, we're going to cloth diaper primarily and only use disposables when he is in daycare or we are out for a really long road trip. The first 2 weeks or so will probably be disposables because it's easier when the umbilical stump has fallen off. If you cloth diapered- share with me some of your favorite diapers! I used Fuzzi Buns and one or 2 Bum Genius 2.0's with Kallie. I can't do pre-folds, I'm more of an all in one or pocket kind of momma.

We went and did a registry at Babies R Us so that we can make the purchases and get money back on them--mainly the big stuff like a crib, car seat, swing, etc. Chop was so cute. He was all into checking out the stroller with the shocks. I had to try to persuade him that a stroller with a parent tray was much more useful.

Last week I had some contractions that were probably brought on by not drinking enough. This week, the doctor asked me if I have had any Braxton Hicks yet. I must be completely oblivious at times because other than last week I can't say I've felt much of anything. I think I probably pass it off as baby moving when it's really a contraction. Here's hoping I never have to feel real contractions again, I don't think you ever forget that feeling.

I'm up to a 10lb gain (fully clothed with sneakers), which is awesome considering I have an Oreo addiction and eat them every night before bed with a glass of milk. The doctor asked if I typically have big babies, and I told her Tyler was 7lbs 9oz and Kallie was 8lbs 5oz. Apparently I'm measuring big and I'm not surprised considering he was 15oz at 20 weeks when most babies are 10oz at that time.

Found out at work that the girl I had just finished training is going to be doing another job in the office. I now have to start all over. I'm annoyed because I literally just finished training her (not her fault!) and now I have to struggle to be in court for at least another 2 months with someone new. It's not easy to be trapped in a courtroom for 3 hours without a bathroom or snack break. I plan on telling my boss that I'm leaving in early May regardless of how trained the new person is. I hate to be like that- but I just don't think I'm going to be able to work up until my c-section date as I had originally planned. Some days I can't even walk because the pressure is so bad. I told Chop that if I had nuts, it felt like I had been kicked in them. LOL. I have a new sympathy for men.

I finally got rid of my fetal doppler. I made one last recording before I sold it. I nearly cried when the lady came to pick it up. LOL. Hormones are ridiculous. I'll save my name freak out for next time. Those hormones were worse than ridiculous. I needed an exorcism.

Breastfeeding- Yay or Nay?

Our next 'decision' is "to breastfeed or not". I don't know a darn thing about it.  I'm a planner, I need to have things planned well in advance so that when the time comes, I already know what's going to happen.

We've all heard it a million times that breast is best, and it's pretty much rammed down your throat when you are pregnant. I didn't breastfeed Tyler and Kallie for a few reasons- some of them selfish, some of them not. With Tyler I had planned to formula feed from the beginning. I had an awful pregnancy and delivery was equally as awful. I don't remember much from his hospital stay so me being able to breastfeed from the get go was not an option. I was on heavy duty pain meds, I was throwing up all over, and I was so out of it. My milk never came in anyway so I considered that a blessing- one less bit of pain to deal with. With Kallie, I was a single parent when she was born and I didn't have the time or patience to learn to breastfeed while still trying to chase a 2 year old around. It would have been more of a stress for me and probably her, than what I felt was worth it. This time might be different. I still have a few hang ups to work through. I've made a list of the pros and cons for us (this will not apply to all families)-if anyone has any words of encouragement or suggestions, I'd be glad to hear them.

Pros:

• It's FREE! I'm not going to be getting paid for the 12 weeks that I am on maternity leave, so not having to buy formula would be a blessing. 
• It's healthy. Everyone knows breastmilk supplies baby with immunity and the perfect balance of nourishment.

Cons:

• Pain! I don't do well with pain and between engrogement, horror stories of plugged ducts, etc. I'm petrified. 
• Not having any help with feedings. After a c-section the last thing I typically feel like doing is struggling with something, and it's going to fall all on me to feed the little guy. Can you even pump the colostrum the first few days to give Chop the chance to help out while I'm recovering? And if I do pump, I'll end up with the next con on my list.
• Nipple confusion. I know that I won't make it without pumping the first few weeks- I know I'm going to need help with late night feedings. And if I give him a bottle during those weeks, I'm going to end up having to continue with a bottle forever, right?
• My diet isn't always what it should be. A least 2 nights a week I end up with a bowl of cereal because what I've made for dinner isn't appealing to me. If I'm not eating properly it will decrease my supply as well as not provide nourishment that baby needs. I'm also a super picky eater which compounds the issue.
• This one isn't really MY issue, it's more an issue of finding someone who will comply. Most daycares around here prefer to give formula because it doesn't need to be stored in a fridge. I do have to go back to work at 12 weeks so I'm going to need to pump if we are to continue with breastfeeding.

I've been reading all kinds of things on the internet to try to prepare myself for this. Things like this are why I think many first time Mom's don't even attempt to breastfeed because the whole thing seems very stressful. 

It's A ______!

Our anatomy scan was on January 5, 2015 at 20w4d. Baby was very very uncooperative during the whole thing. He was laying face down (spine at my ribs) which made it very hard to get pictures of his heart. The tech was trying so hard to be able to determine boy or girl, but he just wasn't having it.She got the measurements that she could and then had me lay on my left side. Finally, he moved but his legs were still sealed shut. Of course they were, this is my child and my children never cooperate. Finally, he opened them for about 3 seconds. She managed to snap a picture, but it wasn't a very good one. She was able to tell us that we'll be having a little boy. I WAS FINALLY RIGHT! With T & K, I was wrong- I thought they were the exact opposite, but for this one, I was finally right! Introducing J.R. Sweitzer (his name is not really J.R., we aren't sharing the name quite yet)

                                           

Next, we had an appointment with the doctor. She said that everything looks perfect. I gained 6lbs so far in 21 weeks. I think a pound of that is probably because I had shoes on and clothes- but whatever, it's a good estimate. Baby is weighing in at 15oz which is a decent size compared to the 'average 10oz' that most babies are at 20 weeks. Chop was 9lbs when he was born, so we could just be in for a big baby. I'm having a c-section so I don't mind either way- but I don't think I'll be walking if he ends up being 9lbs! The second best news (next to hearing that everything looks perfect) was that the placenta has moved. I no longer have to worry about bleeding from previa or be on pelvis rest. WOOHOO!

We are now debating whether or not to switch doctors. The hospital that I will be going to now is about 20 minutes from home and the biggest in the county. I've heard some horror stories from some of Chop's family and a good story from a girl I work with. The local hospital is smaller and 2 of his cousins have had their babies there. Without the risk of placenta previa and issues that may come along with it- I don't need to be at a huge hospital. The perk of being at the smaller hospital is that it's a mile from the house which would give Chop some time to come home and shower in his own house, grab something to eat, etc. It's such a hard decision. I think we're going to schedule a tour of the hospital by our house because I've never been there and they don't have a tour online like the bigger hospital. I don't want to wait to long to switch because I want to get to know the new doc if that's the way I'm going.

21 week belly pic--I took another because I think my shirt kind of blends in with the bed, but I hate that my khaki pants make me look fatter than I really am. The joy of maternity clothes. :)