ARRRGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHH......
Man, I am really, really, really sick of being pregnant. Not just the soreness and the sleeplessness, but the size! I really am at the point where I can't even stand looking in the mirror anymore. At 34 weeks I have only gained 19 pounds, but why does it look like I have gained 50? I am starting to see it in my face, and don't even me started on my thighs! For the LOVE!
I know what you're all thinking... "It's all going to be worth it once you see your precious baby girl..." Yes, it will be worth it. But I haven't seen her yet. And she is still in there making me fat.
I think (but am not certain) that maybe my husband is getting tired of the largeness too. The other day he called me a beef cake and today he said I have a pregnant butt (whatever that means).
I am sure that 90 percent of this rant is due to my hormones, and tomorrow I may look back on this blog and ask why the heck I put this vain, self-focused rant on the internet for all to see. Blame it on the h-ho-hormones!
I've also been super sleep deprived lately. For some reason it's impossible to fall asleep at night (no matter how tired I am) and I have to take lots of naps during the day. Luckily I am not working right now so I have time to catch up on the missed rest.
Baby is moving so much as I am typing this that I see my stomach moving all over the place from the corner of my eye. I am staring at the computer screen, but I can still see my belly moving like it's a goopy gelatin mold. WEIRD! Maybe that's one thing I WILL miss about being pregnant... feeling baby girl dance inside me!
Well, that's all I have for now. Guess I'll try and get some shut eye.
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
Monday, March 26, 2012
Hospital Tour
Last Monday we toured the hospital! Man, it was SO awesome! Maybe I just felt that way because I am not one of those people who is creeped out by hospitals or the sight of people in wheel chairs or the smell of latex gloves. I am cool with it.
I am going to be delivering at St. Joseph's Medical Center in Tacoma (and no, that is NOT an invitation for you to come visit me and the baby). Even though we live super close, I had never even been inside and I was shocked to find out the hospital is really hard to navigate. The tower is a super bizarre shape, and all of the floors are divided into quadrants. I don't even think that taking three tours would familiarize me enough with the layout... I am going to get lost regardless!
(Look: really weird shaped building)
Anyways, the nurse who showed us around was super sweet and helpful. I hope I get a nurse like her when the big day finally comes! She showed us around the Labor and Delivery floor first, and I was very happy to find out that each room has a jacuzzi tub! If I don't have a scheduled induction or have any complications, that is definitely an amenity I fully plan on utilizing. Then, she showed us the recovery floor which is two floors down. She said that if mom and baby are doing well, they are both moved down to this floor within two hours after birth. EEK!
The recovery rooms are much smaller than the delivery rooms... I don't see how there could be more than two visitors at a time (get the hint?). Each room has a bed, a bathroom with a shower, a crib for baby, and two plastic chairs for guests. You would think these would be bigger than the L&D rooms since this these are the ones you spend the most time in, but whatever!
After that, our nurse took us downstairs into the lobby and showed us where to check in (if we come during regular hours). The valet is right up front (and free) which is super convenient. She also showed us the ER entrance in case we come in the middle of the night or on the weekend.
All in all it was a very positive experience and I feel much more comfortable with knowing how things will go down on D-Day. It made Jacob very excited and even more anxious for baby to come... I think we were both kinda close to shedding some happy tears!
I am going to be delivering at St. Joseph's Medical Center in Tacoma (and no, that is NOT an invitation for you to come visit me and the baby). Even though we live super close, I had never even been inside and I was shocked to find out the hospital is really hard to navigate. The tower is a super bizarre shape, and all of the floors are divided into quadrants. I don't even think that taking three tours would familiarize me enough with the layout... I am going to get lost regardless!
(Look: really weird shaped building)
Anyways, the nurse who showed us around was super sweet and helpful. I hope I get a nurse like her when the big day finally comes! She showed us around the Labor and Delivery floor first, and I was very happy to find out that each room has a jacuzzi tub! If I don't have a scheduled induction or have any complications, that is definitely an amenity I fully plan on utilizing. Then, she showed us the recovery floor which is two floors down. She said that if mom and baby are doing well, they are both moved down to this floor within two hours after birth. EEK!
The recovery rooms are much smaller than the delivery rooms... I don't see how there could be more than two visitors at a time (get the hint?). Each room has a bed, a bathroom with a shower, a crib for baby, and two plastic chairs for guests. You would think these would be bigger than the L&D rooms since this these are the ones you spend the most time in, but whatever!
After that, our nurse took us downstairs into the lobby and showed us where to check in (if we come during regular hours). The valet is right up front (and free) which is super convenient. She also showed us the ER entrance in case we come in the middle of the night or on the weekend.
All in all it was a very positive experience and I feel much more comfortable with knowing how things will go down on D-Day. It made Jacob very excited and even more anxious for baby to come... I think we were both kinda close to shedding some happy tears!
Friday, March 23, 2012
Glucose Test...For the Birds!
Yep, you read right! That darn glucose test is for the birds!!!
The test is usually performed around 24-30 weeks, but I put it off until 32 weeks. I really didn't think it was something I needed to do because a) I am not showing any signs of gestational diabetes, b) My mother never had it, c) I do not have any of the risk factors and d) I really didn't want to sit in a hospital lab for three hours. I tried to convince my doctor to let me bypass it, but she basically said that a mom can still have GD and not show any of the signs! When a mom has GD, the baby in utero is used to getting a certain amount of glucose, and when that changes when he/she is born, it can really throw things off and be quite dangerous. I decided it wasn't really worth the risk, so I finally caved in at 32 weeks and got the darn thing done.
Let me tell you. No one prepared me for what I experienced! Let me give you the rundown of my story. I am sure this will not hold true for everyone, but it's just how my body reacted.
So they ask you to fast before your test. Because of this, I knew I wanted to get my test out of the way in the morning so I didn't spend the whole day starving! I ate my last bit of food at around 8pm on Sunday night, and went in for the test at 10 am on Monday morning. First, they drew four viles of blood. Not too bad, just annoying.
Then, my tech guy (I don't remember what his official title is) asked me what flavor of glucose drink I wanted; fruit punch, orange, or grape. I figured orange would be the least foul of those three options. I was expecting to take a shot of some strange liquid with the consistency of cough syrup, but I was totally wrong! He came out with a 12 oz bottle of gatorade like liquid. I opened it and started drinking (seriously, it was so sweet it burned my throat and it was room temperature--why couldn't they chill it?) when he said "hey, you only have three minutes to drink that whole thing!" Are you kidding me? I started chugging.
Once I finished (gag me) he said to come back in an hour for my blood draw. I felt okay at first, but within 10 minutes I felt like the room was spinning. Within 30 minutes, I was nauseous and light-headed. I had a quick check-up with my OB at this point, and after it was done it was just the right time for me to go back and get my blood drawn again. When I sat down in the seat, I literally thought I was going to toss my cookies all over the lab and all over my poor technician. I was feeling all flu symptoms--shaking, goose bumps, nausea, and an absolute pounding head ache! When he finished the blood draw, I got up and went out to meet Jacob (thank goodness he was with me) and actually started to feel worse with time. I was sweating profusely and my whole body felt hot. I kept covering my mouth because the urge to gag or throw up was so strong!
To keep this story from going on for too long, I will just say that I did my third round of blood drawing and was SO ready to go home when it was done. I was out for the entire day, and immediately took a two-hour nap. I can't even describe to you the exhaustion that I felt. Like I had been run over with a dump truck!
**(PSA for my pregnant friends who haven't done this yet: TAKE THE WHOLE DAY OFF when you take this test, just in case you react like I did)**
Turns out that experiences like this are not uncommon among people who are asked to fast before their test. Especially if you are someone who does not eat a lot of sugar (like me), your body has to work overtime to produce enough insulin for the crazy amount of sugar you just took in on an empty stomach. I have heard the drink has as much sugar as six bags of Skittles, but I really have no way of confirming that as true.
I honestly don't know why they don't come up with a better way to do this, because it was simply God-awful. A lot of people don't have these sort of reactions, but I did! Some people actually enjoy the sweet drink (weirdos)! I have also read that some doctors don't ask their patients to fast before the test, and these people do not have as bad as reactions.
Outtie like my belly button for now,
next post I will talk about our hospital tour!
Oh, and here is a quick 33 week bump shot:
The test is usually performed around 24-30 weeks, but I put it off until 32 weeks. I really didn't think it was something I needed to do because a) I am not showing any signs of gestational diabetes, b) My mother never had it, c) I do not have any of the risk factors and d) I really didn't want to sit in a hospital lab for three hours. I tried to convince my doctor to let me bypass it, but she basically said that a mom can still have GD and not show any of the signs! When a mom has GD, the baby in utero is used to getting a certain amount of glucose, and when that changes when he/she is born, it can really throw things off and be quite dangerous. I decided it wasn't really worth the risk, so I finally caved in at 32 weeks and got the darn thing done.
Let me tell you. No one prepared me for what I experienced! Let me give you the rundown of my story. I am sure this will not hold true for everyone, but it's just how my body reacted.
So they ask you to fast before your test. Because of this, I knew I wanted to get my test out of the way in the morning so I didn't spend the whole day starving! I ate my last bit of food at around 8pm on Sunday night, and went in for the test at 10 am on Monday morning. First, they drew four viles of blood. Not too bad, just annoying.
Then, my tech guy (I don't remember what his official title is) asked me what flavor of glucose drink I wanted; fruit punch, orange, or grape. I figured orange would be the least foul of those three options. I was expecting to take a shot of some strange liquid with the consistency of cough syrup, but I was totally wrong! He came out with a 12 oz bottle of gatorade like liquid. I opened it and started drinking (seriously, it was so sweet it burned my throat and it was room temperature--why couldn't they chill it?) when he said "hey, you only have three minutes to drink that whole thing!" Are you kidding me? I started chugging.
Once I finished (gag me) he said to come back in an hour for my blood draw. I felt okay at first, but within 10 minutes I felt like the room was spinning. Within 30 minutes, I was nauseous and light-headed. I had a quick check-up with my OB at this point, and after it was done it was just the right time for me to go back and get my blood drawn again. When I sat down in the seat, I literally thought I was going to toss my cookies all over the lab and all over my poor technician. I was feeling all flu symptoms--shaking, goose bumps, nausea, and an absolute pounding head ache! When he finished the blood draw, I got up and went out to meet Jacob (thank goodness he was with me) and actually started to feel worse with time. I was sweating profusely and my whole body felt hot. I kept covering my mouth because the urge to gag or throw up was so strong!
To keep this story from going on for too long, I will just say that I did my third round of blood drawing and was SO ready to go home when it was done. I was out for the entire day, and immediately took a two-hour nap. I can't even describe to you the exhaustion that I felt. Like I had been run over with a dump truck!
**(PSA for my pregnant friends who haven't done this yet: TAKE THE WHOLE DAY OFF when you take this test, just in case you react like I did)**
Turns out that experiences like this are not uncommon among people who are asked to fast before their test. Especially if you are someone who does not eat a lot of sugar (like me), your body has to work overtime to produce enough insulin for the crazy amount of sugar you just took in on an empty stomach. I have heard the drink has as much sugar as six bags of Skittles, but I really have no way of confirming that as true.
I honestly don't know why they don't come up with a better way to do this, because it was simply God-awful. A lot of people don't have these sort of reactions, but I did! Some people actually enjoy the sweet drink (weirdos)! I have also read that some doctors don't ask their patients to fast before the test, and these people do not have as bad as reactions.
Outtie like my belly button for now,
next post I will talk about our hospital tour!
Oh, and here is a quick 33 week bump shot:
Less than two months to go, update!
I know it's been ages since I have updated this thing, but I think I have sort of been in a weird slump and felt like I have nothing to write about. I guess I can update you on my health and how the pregnancy is going thus far:
To make a long story short, my blood pressure has been getting higher and higher as I go father along in the pregnancy. Every appointment it's up by a good 10 numbers or so, so I am basically on house arrest to prevent it from rising. My doctor had me collect urine for 24 hours this week to test me for pre-eclampsia,and I have yet to hear back on those results. My doctor believes that my chronic hypertension will lead to pre-E eventually (because it most often does), but at the rate it's going up, I won't need to get baby out for another 3-4 weeks. That puts me at full term (37 weeks) if and when my BP gets too high for my body and baby to handle.
On top of that, I am still having some funky issues with my abdominal muscles, and they really aren't loosening up one bit and making room for baby. She has about 30% less space to grow because the top portion of my abdomen is so tight and closed off. This issue has proven quite painful for me, because whenever I do ANYTHING that even remotely tightens my muscles (i.e. walking), they tense up and make me feel like my stomach is exploding. I run out of room to breathe, and the baby starts moving lower and lower (and it feels like my pelvis is cracking, even though I am sure it's not). I am able to write in such vivid detail because unfortunately, I experienced this weird phenomenon last night and was in horrendous pain for a good four hours. It's like one giant contraction that never goes away! I don't know what I would do without the muscle relaxers my doctor prescribed me!
What's misleading about this whole thing is that I truly do feel great. I feel energized and healthy, which tricks me into thinking I will be fine to go for a walk around the neighborhood or shop around Target. WRONG. I think my Target trip yesterday is what triggered my very painful evening. My body REALLY just needs to lay low until baby is ready to come out.
In some other happy news, I am having a family baby shower tomorrow! My sister-in-law Lexi and my mom are throwing it for me, and lots of the Canada fam is coming to celebrate with us! I can't wait! (It might get a bit chaotic since ALL of Jacob's extended family and my family will be there). I will have to post pictures after the event!
Well, that's all I have for now. Baby Sipes is going to be here soon... Dad and I are so very anxious to meet her (and name her).
To make a long story short, my blood pressure has been getting higher and higher as I go father along in the pregnancy. Every appointment it's up by a good 10 numbers or so, so I am basically on house arrest to prevent it from rising. My doctor had me collect urine for 24 hours this week to test me for pre-eclampsia,and I have yet to hear back on those results. My doctor believes that my chronic hypertension will lead to pre-E eventually (because it most often does), but at the rate it's going up, I won't need to get baby out for another 3-4 weeks. That puts me at full term (37 weeks) if and when my BP gets too high for my body and baby to handle.
On top of that, I am still having some funky issues with my abdominal muscles, and they really aren't loosening up one bit and making room for baby. She has about 30% less space to grow because the top portion of my abdomen is so tight and closed off. This issue has proven quite painful for me, because whenever I do ANYTHING that even remotely tightens my muscles (i.e. walking), they tense up and make me feel like my stomach is exploding. I run out of room to breathe, and the baby starts moving lower and lower (and it feels like my pelvis is cracking, even though I am sure it's not). I am able to write in such vivid detail because unfortunately, I experienced this weird phenomenon last night and was in horrendous pain for a good four hours. It's like one giant contraction that never goes away! I don't know what I would do without the muscle relaxers my doctor prescribed me!
What's misleading about this whole thing is that I truly do feel great. I feel energized and healthy, which tricks me into thinking I will be fine to go for a walk around the neighborhood or shop around Target. WRONG. I think my Target trip yesterday is what triggered my very painful evening. My body REALLY just needs to lay low until baby is ready to come out.
In some other happy news, I am having a family baby shower tomorrow! My sister-in-law Lexi and my mom are throwing it for me, and lots of the Canada fam is coming to celebrate with us! I can't wait! (It might get a bit chaotic since ALL of Jacob's extended family and my family will be there). I will have to post pictures after the event!
Well, that's all I have for now. Baby Sipes is going to be here soon... Dad and I are so very anxious to meet her (and name her).
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