Testing, testing, 1, 2, 3....4,5,6...

Being preggo means lots of testing.  Especially in California.  California health organizations now strongly recommend that all preggos undergo the same tests that were once only ordered for high-risk pregnancies.  

On top of the multiple blood tests, monthly appointments, glucose testing, genetic testing, and anomaly scans, I have also had to recently begin twice-weekly fetal stress tests.  These tests aren't actually a part of the every-preg repertoire.  At about 26 weeks along I started noticing Braxton Hicks contractions - a tightening in the uterus just above my pelvic bone.  These are 100% completely normal.  But then I started noticing that I was having multiple - about 1 every 15-20 mins for about 2 hrs at a time.  And they were hardening my belly.  I shared this with my doctor and she suggested I come in and get some (more) tests done.  The first was the fetal stress test.  These are to monitor the baby's heart beat for a period of about 20/25 minutes - enough elapsed time to monitor her while I contract.  Heart beat great.  We also ran a quick sonogram to look for fibroids.  Sonogram clear.  Then we swabbed for a fetal-blah-blah-blah test *I swear I have heard them say the test about  4 times now and still only come up with 'fetal-blah-blah-blah'.  This test is a bit pointless - even my doctor says so.  The fbbb test can only tell you if you have a 16% chance of delivering in the next 2 weeks.  Yep, thats it.  And my test - negativo.  The diagnosis?  My baby's big head is right behind my belly button and she's not exactly  in an up-down position.  That is good news.  Despite my discomfort at her position, she is healthy.  And even though I still have to do fetal stress tests twice a week, it means I get to relax for 20 minutes to the sound of baby girl's heartbeat.  AND at 31 weeks I am at the point of getting a sonogram, etc appointment every two weeks to measure her growth.  She is now 3 lbs, 7 oz and about 16 inches head-to-foot!  It's estimated that at this point babies will top out at about 1/2 lb gain a week...meaning she could get huge! 

AND, because of all of these medical advancements and requirements, we can be sure that our little girl is healthy and safe.  I guess I can't complain.  :-)

Roundin' third and headed for home!

Roundin' third and headed for home!

That's right!  At 28 weeks along, we are now in the third trimester!  This is a pivotal point in the development.  Her eyes open and close, rounding out all her sense development - touch, taste (we have more tastebuds in the womb than any other point in our lives), smell (though I am not sure how this works in-womb), sound and sight - yep, she can even recognize bright and dark light from in there!

Even more importantly, baby girl's lungs are learning and preparing to breathe on their own.  During this prep, she coughs, sucks in and sucks her thumb - she may even hiccup!  At this point we shart measuring her head-to-toe, and at this point the general baby estimate is 15-16 inches and 2.5 lbs.  Though, that will change each week as she starts to gain 6 ounces as each week passes.  This is also the time when most preggos start to gain weight as well, so it's an important time for me to eat healthy and keep up my lil exercises.  Whenever I have a free minute, at home that is, I do squat-knees (I may have made this up).  I squat down and then stand up lifting one knee up and crunching down to the side (behind my hip) with that elbow.  I feel this move helps my lower body as well as my core.  I also do door-frame push-ups and lots of stretching.  Every now and then I attempt the plank - or the kneeling plank...though I am such a wuss, I hardly stay up very long.

All these little things will hopefully keep me in shape enough to be in my best form when she decides to greet us...in roughly 12 weeks away!  :-)

We (the Hubs, actually) painted the baby room!



Olympic Paints "Pitter Patter"

 Though the color is a little brighter once all over, I still love it and think it will accent the other items nicely...I have a habit of assuming the painted walls will look exactly like the swatch...and being wrong.
Anyway - still excited!  Hoping to get the crib and changing table put together by this weekend.  Maybe put up some sheer white curtains too or some little white shelves too.  Don't have anything else - the hubs was convinced we should put it all on the registry and see what's left after the baby shower(s).   I sure hope that works out to our advantage - we will have the 'registry completion' discount at the end, so that will help.  I will post pictures later!

26 weeks down, only 14 to go!

OK, so the image is a bit...creepy...but that is the estimated image of my baby at 26 weeks along.  Her development is is coming along and her lungs are beginning their final stages.  She even takes practics breaths. She is gaining 6 ounces a week and now just about tops 2 pounds and is about 12 or so inches in length.  I am feeling every inch of that, each time she kicks!  She is kicking a lot more internally now (a lot to the bladder) so I get the feelin, literally and figuretively that she is facing my spine.  Sometimes I think I can feel her back...but I could just be imagining things.  The belly feels very firm after I eat, so it could just be that.
I am rounding the corner and I can see the third trimester.  I am 'officially' 6 months along this coming Saturday.  Crazy, right?  I am now at the point where everyone is trying to make me sit in the back seat.  I also go a little bit of VIPreggo treatment at the airport when we got shuttled to the front of the security line when the woman saw that I was pregnant.  Unfortunately, we only got that the first flight, and the shortest security line.  Oh well, I will only get bigger, so I guess we will see where it goes from here.