heading to week 34 and preterm labor.

So yeah, I never thought I'd be one of these people.  High risk pregnancies are not uncommon.  I know people that have experienced them and I feel horrible saying that I've never paid much attention to it.  I had a perfect uncomplicated pregnancy my first time around.  I'm young, generally in good health and there never seemed a reason to worry.  I didn't think I'd be joining this club.

Here's the story:
Probably around the time I last posted, I had started experiencing some braxton hicks (BH) contractions.  Again, not uncommon in your third trimester.  Unfortunately I seemed to be experiencing them more often than I should have been.  I let it go for quite some time, pushing it off to the back of my mind and continuing on with my very hectic life.  A week ago Friday while sitting at work I had been feeling okay and was hit by several BH right in a row accompanied by sudden intense back pain.  Normally I wouldn't think anything of the back pain as that's been present for most of my pregnancy but I had a mother to be massage earlier in the week and my back was actually feeling quite good.  My sister said she thought it was time I called the doctor.  We go to the same OB/GYN and her having 4 kids herself, I trusted her judgment.  I know she's like me and tends to push herself more than she should so if she thought I should call, then I should probably call.  My midwife was on call as it was already after hours and she told me to leave work, take some tylenol, a nice hot bath, drink a lot of water and rest.  Doing these things seemed to help some and I went on with the weekend as normal.  Monday morning was my scheduled appointment.  We discussed the contractions I'd been experiencing and the Friday night incident.  She decided to check me and do a fetal fibronectin test since I was still pretty early along.  The check proved that my cervix was still long and closed (great news) and the test results would take a few hours to come back.  I was informed that if I did not hear from her, the results were negative and everything was fine.  The downside to this appointment was that I failed my second 1 hour glucose tolerance test by a few points and they wanted me to take the 3 hour one plus I was slightly anemic and needed iron supplements. 

Side note:  A fetal fibronectin test is a better indication that preterm labor will NOT occur.  It is usually used to rule out this possibility.  If positive, that really only means that there is a chance the woman will experience preterm labor in the next 2 weeks. 

I did not hear from my midwife on Monday afternoon so I assumed the results were negative and everything was peachy.  On Tuesday morning she called me.  She said the lab did not contact her with the results and she followed up that morning.  My test showed positive (a chance I could experience preterm labor) and because I was still early at only 33 weeks, they wanted me to to get steroid shots to help develop the baby's lungs.  I was sent over to the OB triage unit at the hospital for the first shot and monitoring.  The shots must be given 24 hours apart so I knew I would have to make a trip on Wednesday as well.  So Tuesday was fun.  I spent about 5 hours in l&d.  Once hooked up to all the monitors they could see that I was contracting quite often, even ones I didn't feel.  I was put on IV fluids and given two doses of some other medicine (can't remember the name) to help stop the contractions.  This medicine made my heart race like crazy.  I was checked again and had no change in cervix.  After the second injection of this medicine, they agreed that I could go home. 

Tuesday night I was awake all night with consistent, long BH.  They weren't necessarily painful but they were strong.  I didn't call because I knew I was going back in the next day, but perhaps I should have.  I was back at triage around 12:30-1 on Wednesday, hooked up to monitors, getting more shots and just hanging out.  I was checked again and was 30% effaced and 1 cm.  Not good because that means it happened overnight.  My OB came in to see me and decided she wanted me to stay for monitoring until at least 8pm.  They were going to continue with fluids and try some meds to stop contractions.  It became apparent pretty quickly that these methods weren't working so the next step was magnesium.  I've heard some things about this and I wasn't excited.  Apparently it's very beneficial for the baby but not a party for the mom.  It made me hot, weak and gave me flu like symptoms.  I did fairly well on it for the first 12-15 hours but after that I was starting to lose my positive attitude.  I couldn't get out of bed during that time so that means a catheter :( and I couldn't sleep.  I was on magnesium until about 4:30pm on Thursday and then they started an oral medicine called procardia.  My contractions had not been eliminated completely but they had definitely spaced out.  My OB felt that should they be held at bay overnight during observation, I would be allowed to go home.  Friday I was released with a prescription to take procardia every 4 hours and bed rest. 

That leaves me here, living by an alarm.  I'm really not allowed to do much but go to the bathroom.  Fortunately we have one on each floor.  I can't do steps more than 2-3 times a day.  It's really hard to stick to these guidelines but Seth has been amazing and my sister Kelsey is staying with us for the week.  My doctor would really like me to get to Tuesday - 34 weeks - and then work on making it to the following Tuesday at 35 weeks.  She said she won't keep restrictions on me at that point even though it will still be early.  It will give the baby sufficient time to have the steroid shots do their job and there will be a greater chance he won't spend any time in the NICU.  Of course there could still be issues but I'm trying not to think about all of that.  I'm leaning on the support of all my wonderful family and friends.  I know that other than following the doctor's orders, this is out of my control.  Some women experience these things and then go on to carry full term.  I honestly don't believe that will be the case for me because I do still have some contractions, although not consistent.  I have a strong feeling that once I'm off the meds and moving around again, things will kick into high gear.  A preterm baby is never anyone's expectations but it happens.  I just want him to be as healthy as possible when he does finally arrive.     

Hopefully these aren't the last few pictures!

what week am I at again?

With this pregnancy, I find myself constantly forgetting how far I am without actually thinking about it first.  I guess that's what happens when you are working a full time job, taking care of a toddler, trying to still be a decent wife AND deal with extra, outside things.  Man, it was so much easier the first time around.

I'm 30 weeks, 5 days.  More than 3/4 way there.  Tomorrow I have a doctor appointment and then I go every 2 weeks.  At 35/36 weeks I start going every week.  When I think about it in those terms, I realize how close I am to the end.  I find myself somewhere between excited and anxious.  Excited to meet my little boy and be a mom to a newborn again.  Anxious because we aren't ready for him to arrive at the moment.  I still have nothing to report on the progress of his room other than the fact that I ordered some super adorable crib sheets and a matching blanket. 

I know I talked about it last time but I am growing increasingly uncomfortable.  I'm sitting for many hours a day at a desk and typically end up with a sore back.  Seth just gave me the go ahead on a mother to be massage so I'm looking forward to scheduling that.  I'm thinking sometime the first or second week of October.  The acid reflux really picked up too.  It was getting so bad that it was keeping me awake in the middle of the night.  I called my doctor and they gave me several over the counter things to try as well as raw cauliflower (?) and papaya.  I bought the zantac and started taking one before bed.  It's made a huge difference and allows me to get several hours of sleep in a row.  He is just as active as ever.  He tends to prefer my right side and occasionally will curl (what feels like) his whole body up on that side.  It does not feel good at all.  I also know he's getting bigger in there because I've had moments where I'm unable to breathe properly because of how he's situated.  These are the wonderful aspects of the 3rd trimester.  :)   

I also had to go buy two new pairs of jeans.  I needed the ever so attractive full panel this time since I am carrying more in front and lower.  Most of the pants I had from Delia were under belly and they were very, very uncomfortable.  I wasn't thrilled to have to spend money but it seemed necessary to get me through to the end.  

And of course a picture recap...29 weeks

30 weeks.

weeks 26-28.

Did I mention that all of a sudden my pregnancy seems to be in fast forward?  Going back to work full time leaves less time to actually bask in the moments that are left.  This makes me sad as we will go from a family of 3 to a family of 4 in less than 3 months.  I know I'm not the first mother ever to be concerned about how their firstborn (and currently only) child will react to a sibling.  I'm glad that Delia is young enough not to have been an only child for too long yet worried enough that she will feel pushed to the side.  While she can't possibly understand how special of a place she holds in my heart, I hope that she will always feel my love.  She MADE me a mother.  Any additional child will just add on to this wonderful experience.  Thoughts on this topic come and go, but I'll just leave them there for now. 

As far as the pregnant part, it's beginning to get pretty tough.  I feel large (which I sort of am since I have gained 30 lbs), I tire easily, and most movements are difficult.  Sitting in a computer chair 8-10 hours a day is not comfortable.  Walking for long periods is not comfortable.  Sleeping is not comfortable.  This little guy is quite the mover and his little jabs and kicks are sometimes painful.  As I type this he's been kickboxing right behind my belly button which is the WORST spot to do that.  I don't know why but it really hurts.  I try to push back at him in hopes he will move positions but it doesn't seem to be working.  He is much more active than Delia ever was and I never considered her to be a lazy baby.

We still have a ways to go with being prepared for his arrival.  At the moment he doesn't have a place to sleep.  I'm starting to feel anxious about this, but I should know from previous experiences that it will all be worked out before it needs to be.  I just like to feel ready and I don't yet.  Knowing I have less time to do things does not help the cause.  I really need Seth to get motivated though because he has to do most of the work.  I guess I'll just keep on nagging, haha.  Hopefully by next update I will have something to report.

Picture recap:

26 weeks.

27 weeks.

28 weeks - 3rd trimester!

weeks 24, 25... things are getting harder.

I'm not sleeping well at all.  I feel huge.  Little boy likes to get in weird positions and force terrible pressure on my sides which in turn makes my back hurt.  These are the (not so) wonderful parts of pregnancy that I fully expected.  I did not expect them to happen this early on though.  I still tell people I feel good and in all honesty, I do most of the time.  But when I compare this pregnancy to my first, it's definitely not as easy.  For one, I'm mom of a toddler.  I've also started working again and our life is very hectic. 

Good news is that my glucose test came back normal.  I met with the doctor again this past Monday and I had no weight gain in 2 weeks.  She would like me to "watch" my carb and fruit intake.  Two of my favorite things, unfortunately,  I'm trying to be a little more mindful of it, but it IS hard when I know that I don't have gestational diabetes and am just trying to slow down the weight gain.  I am still measuring ahead by 2 weeks right now.  This could explain why I feel so big.  It's beginning to look like I may have a very big baby.  Yikes.  Delia was only 7 lbs at birth.

Picture updates:

24 weeks

25 weeks

weeks 22, 23.

Guess I'll have to settle for an update every 2 weeks if it's all I can manage.  Real life is getting a little hectic over here so while I do remember to snap a quick photo on my weekly day change, that's about it. 

My transverse little boy has definitely not moved.  I feel his feet kicking me waaaaay over on my right side.  Punches happen towards the left side, down low and up high.  I really hope he doesn't decide to become too comfortable in this position and that he moves before he gets much bigger.  Some nights I'm very uncomfortable with pressure out both sides.  This in turn ends up making my back hurt.  First babies tend to not move as much because there isn't enough room to.  Second, third and so on babies have more room because the ligaments and such are already stretched out and "broken" says my OB.  Thanks.  Thanks for letting me know I'm broken. Really, I appreciate that. 

My monthly check was on Monday and I saw the OB.  Our office rotates you between the OB, midwife and nurse practitioner during pregnancy.  I've mentioned it before, but at this appointment just a day shy of 23 weeks, I have gained 25 lbs.  This is a much quicker gain than I had with Delia and the doctor was just a bit concerned that it's happening.  She sent me early for my glucose test just to make sure there isn't anything wrong.  The original script they gave me said to go between weeks 26-28 but she told me to go right away.  So yesterday morning I went for the 1 hour test. For those who don't know what this is, basically you have to drink a super sugary flat soda like liquid, sit for an hour and then have a blood draw.  If the results are above a certain number, they send you for a 3 hour test.  If you don't pass that test, you are diagnosed with gestational diabetes and put on a specific diet to help control your sugars.  In some cases diet alone doesn't help and meds or insulin may be needed.  I'm not jumping ahead that far but it all has crossed my mind.  If I'm lucky, just a diet will be needed.  I have a follow up appointment with the doctor in 2 weeks and we'll go from there. 

22 weeks.

23 weeks.

time for camo, trucks, trains and sports....

Yup, it's a boy!   I feel a little sense of pride knowing my mother's intuition was right a second time (despite only having two choices).  Our family of four will be rounded out with a new baby boy and I am thrilled.  As exciting as it would have been to have a second little girl, I don't have an ounce of disappointment.  Our baby is healthy and active and that's what truly matters to me.  I am still measuring ahead (22 weeks, 1 day) when I am only 21 weeks today.  That seems to be the trend though.  Delia was 6 days early and I have a feeling I won't go the full 40 weeks with this one, but we'll see.  I'll do my best to avoid an induction because honestly, pitocin scares me.

So now we move on to actually talking about names.  I had a handful of girl names in mind that I really liked which of course I won't need now.  Boy names always seem to be harder for me though.  Seth and I looked at a few lists last night and we both kind of liked one or two, surprisingly.  We will be keeping the name a secret until the birth as we did with Delia so no revealing here, but I'm wondering if this will be easier than I thought!  

Here are a few u/s pictures from last night....

Profile and hand.

Itty bitty feet.

Baby's first little onesie bought by me.   :)

weeks 19 & 20...halfway there.

I made it to 20 weeks.  For whatever reason, making it halfway always seems like a huge milestone.  I still don't feel like my pregnancy is flying by or dragging.....it's just floating along.  Baby Artie is moving a lot more these days and it's comforting.  It's something I know I'll miss when I'm not pregnant anymore.  I'm also really thinking of him as a "he".  I'm gaining weight steadily and I feel like it's all going to my belly (and maybe a bit to my butt and thighs;).  I've been comparing some pictures of this far along with Delia to now, and I am carrying differently too.  Fortunately, I only have 4 more days until we hopefully find out the gender!  My ultrasound is Monday evening.  Honestly, I'm not very anxious at all.  I think I've come to terms with waiting so it will just be a nice surprise.  I will be very happy with boy or girl, despite thinking having two daughters would be fun.  Delia is going to be a big sister regardless! 

At this point, I've said goodbye to all forms of regular pants/jeans/shorts.  I can still pull off some non maternity shirts since they make them so long now but I'm limited even there.  It's been hot (very hot) so tank tops, skirts and shorts are my friends.  Thank goodness I won't be in my 3rd trimester until September. 

And now for a photo update....

19 weeks

20 weeks...taking advantage of the suit I bought!  The pool has been our friend this summer.  :)

And now here's the comparison that makes me think boy.  On the left is 21 weeks along with Delia.  On the right is 19 weeks with this baby.  I'm so much more belly this time around.