Equality In the House!

It's a girl!! 

The ultrasound took over an hour because the little one just wouldn't comply. I had to to jumping jacks, spot running, bending, walking etc. so the tech could get her pictures and measurement. Like the nurse I am, I asked to see what female genitalia looked like on a screen...is that weird? haha. It's much easier to 'know' it's a female than it is to tell if it's a boy! So far, the kicks just under my belly button are because her (!!!) legs are all stretched out and possibly 'walking' in utero, her head is also just under by right rib which explains these weird spikes I get when I try to get up after sitting in funny positions.

meet our baby girl!
if you're also interested, Max's ultrasound can be found HERE

First Midwife home visit (nothing exciting)

One of the midwives came over today (she insisted on it) just for follow up from Jan 3rd's visit.

• BP 116/82 ---> she's content with it
• baby's HR 135
• Liver function test all normal (except my Alk Phos which was at 245- normal as placenta has an affect on this)
• CBC profile all normal
• Urine protein:creatinine ratio all normal
• GBS Negative!
• baby's position great

That's it! Ready for baby!

37 weeks...FINALLY full term!

Happy New Year!!

You are considered full-term now and your baby's final touches are being made. The crown-to-rump length of your baby is now 14 inches and the total length is around 21 inches. Your baby weighs approximately 6.5 pounds. Your uterus may be measuring about the same as it has been and is probably about 6.5 inches from the top of your bellybutton.

• had another midwife appt yesterday with someone I never met before, but i think she's quite competent and really matter of fact with a somewhat nurturing demeanor...i say we clicked alright
• my weight has blossomed to 179.4lbs! WTF! i could NOT have gained closed to 3lbs in a week, either last weeks scale was wrong or this weeks scale was wrong. anyhow, the only noticeable swelling ive noticed is that my hands get swollen after a few hours of shopping (this isnt new, probably from my arms dangling as i walk) and this results in tight wedding rings- which im going to stop wearing this week before i can no longer take them off. otherwise, either this fluid or fat weight is dispersed quite evenly or im retaining SOMEWHERE that's not obvious
• my BP was 116/88 something like that and she took it from both arms...in my opinion, that's awesome, but i guess to a maternal health expert like a midwife, the diastolic was way too high (shouldn't really be close to the 90 range) and she got worried, so i was sent for bloodwork CBC and LFT's, plus a urine protein:creatinine ratio- she's essentially worried about pre-eclampsia (read more about pre-eclampsia HERE)
• my fundus was measuring about 35cm, "normal range"
• baby's heart rate was at 140bpm
• BCBio LOST my GBS swab from last week- or rather, the word was, "never received it" ...so had to do another one and i personally handed the swab culture to SPH myself
• my hgb 131
• and i got a copy of my mw health records to put in my suitcase in case we needed to go, but im not sure why I needed a copy?! oh well

This week your baby should engage into your pelvis. If this is not your first pregnancy, it may happen later. When your baby engages, his head drops down into your pelvis and you might feel a slight sensation called `lightening` as the pressure on your ribs eases. As your baby drops into the final position for delivery, you may experience a buzzing feeling and shooting pains in your groin and leg. Normally, you will be able to breathe and eat easier. However, your uterus pushes down harder on your bladder and you will have an increased urge to urinate more frequently. Even if your baby engages now, you still possibly feel his feet in your breastbone around week 40.

• my last day of work was Jan 1st...thank the LAWD!! but once in a blue moon, i do feel like i can do maybe an easy 8 hour shift on OT every now and then.  last day was great, did the best i could, didn't blow up on any patients (just kidding, this doesnt happen), but soooo tired after! i think i had a carb crash from the cake, coke, and the most amazing spinach dip! my shoes are still missing though...what the fck is up with that?!!?!
• ive been taking a few naps these last few days...is it just me or have textbook symptoms been revealing themselves since i stopped working? anyhow, i just need to lie reclined on the couch, and im out! haahaha...and i can still have a good nights sleep afterwards a few hours later. much to my dismay, i admit i feel kind of tired lately! yowza!
• im not sure if baby has dropped though, like right now it feels like moderate pressure, but baby bounces back up i think after a good nights sleep. i was at park royal dilly dallying and im sure all the walking just pushed baby down some
• i find it really interesting that after i wake up from my night sleep, there is a definite and pronounced lopsidedness in my abdomen...like the baby's entire torso is on my left side (again, hence stretch marks) and just a light pronouncation on my right side...by the time i get moving and up, my abdomen evens out. but it is really cool to just picture baby's position with the obvious lopsidedness
• speaking of DISCOMFORT (TMI Warning!), im not sure WTF happened but i must've eaten something horrible on jan 2nd. like, all i can think of was hummus (unopened, expires feb 2012)?! take note, don't eat hummus for breakfast with a bowl of cereal! anyhow, that hummus was the only different thing i ate all day ...and i was feeling weird all day afterwards. couldn't really pinpoint it as nausea, just that i felt off. anyhow, at 10pm that night i puked a most massive wonderful puke. i was watching Slumdog Millionaire and i got up from a lying position, and was like, "uh oh, tie up your hair, go to the bathroom" in my head...so i raced to the BR and just had some major projectile vomitting (projectile, but it was still in the sink and toilet). LOL! i had 2 tacos at dinner, and it was alllll there! i think i spewed about 2-2.5L of food and fluid within 5 minutes or less...seriously...I wow'd myself! then i felt great after and had a great night sleep
• on jan 3rd, i was having contractions all frickin day, and some remnant ones continue to occur even now though not as bad yesterday. the only reason i went out yesterday was for the midwife appt. i think the contractions really caused my "high" BP but whatever, better be safe than sorry right. and yesterday was great in the sense that Gene came along for the first time to one of my appts.  since my water hasnt broken and i've had no bloody show or mucous plug coming out...neither her or i thought it was necessary to do a cervical exam. so she logged the info, and that was the end of that.
• What do contractions feel like you ask? well my contractions...which i now think were false labor contractions (read more about false labor vs. true labor HERE), probably was brought on by dehydration secondary to my most amazing emesis the other night. i guess that late of a night of puking, and the amount, just drained me and i didnt compensate enough prior to going to bed (who wants to pee all night anyways right?) so yes...dehydration = contractions. anyhow, my contractions were irregular about 8-20 minutes apart ALL frickin day. lasting 5-35seconds each one, and not really increasing in intensity from day to evening, but i thought was pretty uncomfortable. it feels like someone just grabbed your arm (but in this case your uterus) and was doing an "indian rub" on it, but not as hard as you think they can. because i never had menstrual cramps, the internet said it feels like bad cramps. sometimes i even had this "blooming" feeling in my lower back...which i previously described as a "stretching" feeling with every contraction. i think i coped pretty well, drug free, did some breathing and position changes...a magic bag warmed up took the edge off...so i guess ill be requesting some hot blankets when im in true labor. better stock up maternity unit!! haha. anyways, i was able to have another good nights sleep with the odd cramping here and there...so hence the conclusion of false labor. the midwife says it's all normal and the cervix is preparing itself now...anytime now! with previous braxton-hicks contractions, i just felt tightness, but the scheduling of actual PAIN is right on target with being term...mother nature!

 

magic bags are awesome

Your baby is now fully mature and ready to be born. However, your baby is still growing and developing every day. Fat is still being laid down at a rate of a half ounce a day. If this is your first pregnancy, you can expect to deliver closer to 40 weeks or shortly thereafter. If this is not your first baby, you might go earlier than 40 weeks! Make sure that your bags are packed for the hospital and remember to preregister for admission.

• bags aren't fully packed that's for sure, but this recent "scare" really makes me want to get sheit done ASAP. ok, maybe tonight even! Gene seems to think this baby is coming early, i think it'll be on time if not overdue by a few days

Your doctor may begin doing weekly pelvic exams to evaluate your cervical changes and progression. Your healthcare provider will make sure that you are not leaking amniotic fluid and will also examine your cervix to check for effacement and dilation. Before labor, your cervix is thick and 0% effaced. During labor your cervix thins out and right before delivery it will become very soft and 100% effaced.

• maybe the cervical exams will come at next week's appointment? honestly, i dont even know where they would do it at the midwife's office as there's a fabric couch there!! can we say NASTY?!?! ok, i do imagine they put some disposable soaker pad on the couch, but still...this is when i miss the sterility of a doctors office when you can easily imagine someone wiping down whatever you're lying on, on top of ripping that waxy/paper cover they usually have on top as an added layer of protection!

Research shows your baby can be affected by stress hormones. Make time to relax, to have fun, and to rest. Your baby has learned to coordinate sucking, swallowing and breathing so it can do all three when breastfeeding after birth. Babies practice shallow breathing before birth, using amniotic fluid.

• definitely resting, but this is im part because im experiencing some shopping burnout post holidays. i went to park royal mall today, something new something different, but i only wanted to go to staples and future shop for a cheap DSLR camera deal- none found. Good! im not even sure why i even bother thinking about buying such a camera to begin with when 1) i hate getting my pics taken, 2) it's expensive, 3) when i borrow my sisters DSLR, I don't use it as much as i plan to. weird weird weird. i think im in the "i want it, for the sake of having one" stage. blah!
• as for BABY HAUL, i bought some stuff this week with the help of my parents and coworkers (thank you xoxoxo)

SKIP HOP Duo diaper bag in the Wave Dot pattern

• diaper bags are on sale at TJsKids until Jan 15th (20% off, i rarely see these bags on sale!)...so my parents got me this for Christmas
• and for the pragmatic part of me, i also ended up buying the BORN FREE microwave sterilizer with high recommendations from Sarah.  she's right, who wants to wake up in the middle of the night and turn on the stove? microwave it for 4 minutes!

• and finally, as breastfeeding still seems to be something im feeling im not exactly on top of yet...but need to be ready for...i bought a Medela Swing Pump. Recommended by many! honestly, i was still on the fence about which breast pump to buy even just minutes before paying...but Gene says to make life easier and devote the time to the kid instead of pumping for who knows how long it'll take.

How your life's changing:

Braxton Hicks contractions may be coming more frequently now and may last longer and be more uncomfortable. You might also notice an increase in vaginal discharge. If you see some "bloody show" (mucus tinged with a tiny amount of blood) in the toilet or in your undies, labor is probably a few days away — or less. (If you have heavier spotting or bleeding, call your caregiver immediately.) 

• yes!

Also be sure to ask your caregiver about the results of your Group B strep culture. That way, if the result isn't yet on your chart when you get to the hospital or birth center, you'll be able to give the staff there a timely heads-up if you need antibiotics.

• like i said previously, BCBio LOST my GBS swab! maybe ill know tomorrow as the midwife wanted to follow up with me

It may be harder than ever to get comfortable enough to sleep well at night. If you can, take it easy through the day — this may be your last chance to do so for quite a while. Keep monitoring your baby's movements, too, and let your caregiver know immediately if you notice a decrease. Though her quarters are getting cozy, she should still be as active as before.

• im still getting left hip pain at night but it doesnt wake me up per say. when i do wake up is when i feel it and thus reposition. right now my left shoulder is also achy if i've slept on that side for long periods. but in general, ive been sleeping great! the worst part of the nights are when i need to get up to pee and then cannot get back to sleep even after an hour of restlessness...then i move to the living room where i eventually fall asleep, but end up feeling bummed out for the rest of the day. so last night/this morning i actually just sucked it up and let myself be restless in bed, and eventually fell asleep. all good, no bummed out feeling. im averaging maybe 9-10 hours of sleep a day for the month of dec and so far in Jan. pretty good!! believe me, im savoring every hour of it!
• im definitely on top of the kick counts, like DEFINITELY.

While you're sleeping, you're likely to have some intense dreams. Anxiety both about labor and about becoming a parent can fuel a lot of strange flights of unconscious fancy.

• havent really had any dreams about baby recently...or even within the last month or so. i am having dreams, but cant remember 99% of them. i do remember dreaming about Donnie Wahlberg in the NKOTB days a few days ago...dont remember what it was about, but i remember waking up thinking he was my new fave NKOTB member hahaha

the 9th month!! Yowza!!!

By this week of pregnancy your baby's crown-to-rump length reaches about 13.5 inches and the total length is approximately 20.7 inches. Your baby weighs about 6 pounds now. The top of your uterus has moved further up under your ribs and is about 5.5 inches above your bellybutton. Your uterus has grown a lot in the past few weeks as your baby has gained weight. You may have gained about 30 pounds by now and it is common for your weight to stay about the same from this point onwards.

• had my midwife appt the other day, seems like this midwife (Carolyn Saunders) will be the one on my January team when D-day occurs...good, I like her and she lives close so she can come over pretty quick when Gene is panicking LOL!
• BP 110/70
• weight 176.6 (up 3lbs from last time) ...ouch!
• baby's heart rate was nice and clear and easily found on the left lower quadrant of my abdomen. i was asking her if she found the baby's HR there, what it meant for positioning and she said that wherever it's clearly found, it's usually where the back of the baby is at.  so this is to say, in my situation that the baby's back is against my left side and all the extremities are on my right side. this makes TOTAL sense as i've been always feeling the movement on my right side...DUH! don't know why i thought the back was against my right side?!
• anyhow, this also explains (well in my opinion), why my stretchmarks are more severe on my left side, that's where the baby's entire torso is stretching me out...and what i thought was the bum on my left side/ribcage was probably me being kneed, or hipped, or something involving lower extremities beating me from the inside hahaha
• we did the GBS (group B strep) swab yesterday...it's a vaginal/perineal swab that basically will be/can be harmful to your baby if it's not caught early. so if one was positive, id have to take antibiotics once i start labor. read more about Group B streptococcus HERE. ill find out my results next week...yes...as in next week as my m/w appointments are not every week until i give birth! wow!
• she also mentioned some positions i should start doing to promote the baby into a position that will be beneficial for labor. she essentially said to form a bridge with my head resting on the couch, and my back straight, knees on the ground...90 degree angle from back to knees. kind of something like THIS..but with a 90 degree angle...know what i mean?

• she asked me if i was having any braxton-hicks contractions aka BHC (read more HERE), and i basically told her about feelings of stretching in my back that i was having intermittently. so yep, she said everyone was different and that it sounded like BHC to her. when she examined my belly, she thought it was quite firm even when lying down and said i was probably having a BHC right then and there. in hindsight, what i thought couldve been bums pressing against my xyphoid process and creating this pressure sensation, was probably BHC's. of course i told her i dont even know what in the world a contraction felt like (so true) so how would i know when d-day is about to arrivei? she said it was tightening (not always pain) that you've never felt before and you would seriously know. interesting. anyhow, speaking of BHC's im sure i had one today, nice and irregular! no baby yet!
• she also talked about natural things that would help prepare my uterus for birth (some teas i can buy from them or finlandia)...interesting but im not interested, not sure why? again, the laissez-faire mode of thinking. she also mentioned something called anarca, anaka, ananka (?!?!?!) i already forgot, something natural to help with swelling in the perineal area. again, interesting but not interested..i think i need to be fed some hype from various people to make me buy the products, right now im in the "gimme a spray bottle" type of product mood...and just keep things natural. just need time!
• i also mentioned that i didn't want an episiotomy and the thought of that was freaky...but that i also felt somewhat guilty about saying "no" to this because i really needed to be open to whatever options i may need to do to get the baby out safely. she said that if i wanted to go through a more natural route, then an epidural was something that i should think about (as in not consider) as most often epidurals lead to a cascade of interventions such as an episiotomy/foreceps etc. Carolyn mentioned that it's not often that midwives do episiotomies, and in fact, she's only had to do one in her career so far, and that was with a home birth where the baby was needing help. sounds reassuring...i ended the topic with the "id rather tear...or id rather nothing first and foremost, then tear, then do what needs to be done in that order" comment hahaha

Because the top of the uterus is high as it will be, breathing may be getting very uncomfortable at times. You might notice jabbing pains from your baby's kicks. However, within the next few weeks, your baby will drop into the birth canal and this will make breathing easier again. Most doctors like to see their patients weekly from now on to check for labor progression. Your prenatal classes are probably coming to an end and you should have already made a birth plan and discussed available options for pain control during pregnancy.

• i wouldnt say breathing is "very" uncomfortable, as 97% of the time im pretty comfortable and can tolerate a steady mobilizing rhythm. definitely though, im a lot slower than i was and i dont give a rats arse if people behind me are ticked off at how slow i walk hahaha (i personally hate slow walkers, so i know how they would feel)
• speaking of DROPPING. i worked a night shift the other day and im not sure if it was a combo of me just not used to being this big and working ...or that MY WORK SHOES WENT MISSING, but man i barely made it home after that shift. there was a lot of pressure in my lower pelvis after that shift and it was like every step i took just kept baby bouncing and bouncing lower and lower. i would say i was mild-moderately worried that my water would break sometime in the next 24 hours. but alas, after some rest, everything was good...i think baby bounced back up into a better position so i dont feel that constant pressure anymore. however, the midwife did say that the baby's head felt like it had descended down (i agree), as even every now and then when im walking...that lower pelvic pressure feeling comes and goes and i feel like i need to put my hand down under the belly just to support the region and baby
• speaking of work...i feel like i can still work a few more shifts...if i had my stupid shoes!!! but no, they just had to go missing, so i think im just going to call it a day and work one last shift with my friends on Jan 1st
• as for pain control, im open to gas aka ENTONOX (read more HERE), and well im not sure what else. Fentanyl? Demerol? (something my mom requested/loved when she was in labor...and reminds me of it). i really don't want to be drugged up or have a drugged up baby. but again, im reminded that "it hurts a lot" by many many women LOL! maybe im crazy for thinking i can do without?!?! like i told the midwife, im just going to "wing it" and see what happens or how i will feel. im making/telling/reminding Gene to read the Baby's Best Chance book...he literally just said to me, "it says, husbands to wait in the waiting room" LOL! what a goon! anyhow, he likes to remind me that he's a "weak man" and that he feels quesy and shivers just thinking about cutting the cord. he likes to remind me that he'll be there for support whether it means helping with breathing exercises or distraction techniques but will stay above the equator...oh and that maybe the nurses should have a wheelchair ready for him?! haha! i think he'll be fine...im thinking he may not know what he's capable of until that time comes...sometimes overeducated is just that..overeducated and one may end up disappointed when something doesnt work. if Gene becomes totally useless, my mom is a phone call away, or that I am so unrealistically OVERconfident at my abilities to cope right now that maybe ill even makeup for what Gene is lacking. is this a mean thought?!

Your baby's face has filled out significantly and looks smooth and plump. Because your baby has powerful sucking muscles and has had layers of fat forming for quite some time now, the cheeks have filled out like a newborn's. Your baby's skull is firm, but not hard. Every baby's head has the ability to give slightly so that there is room for her to fit down the birth canal during delivery. Some babies are born with cone shaped heads from the pressure of delivery, but this will go away after delivery. The amount of amniotic fluid is at its maximum amount now and your baby may not be moving as much as she had been. As long as you still feel her movements every day, there should be no cause for concern. The placenta is now one-sixth of the fetal weight.

• i definitely continue to be in state of heightened awareness re: baby's movement. at this point, i actually know now what would make the baby move and be active and it's "schedule." if i dont feel baby when i should be feeling baby, whatever i need to do or think about is set aside until i get the kick counts quota!! im sure i'll be paranoid for the rest of my life..but at least i can see the baby when it's out...right now, who the heck knows what baby is doing inside! right now, i need to feel the baby move just after i wake up, and i need to feel the baby just prior to me sleeping or i wont be sleeping until that happens!
• baby's movements are strong and pronounced, it's not a lot, but boy are they strong. makes the whole stomach shake and some are a little painful in a jab and internal stretch type of way
• if i palpate my belly (or really just the right side), i can feel some hard prominences but i cant actually make out what it is

baby is the size of a crenshaw melon (never heard of this fruit)
• im getting a lot of looks from people as i walk around...they look at my belly first, then me. some looks look kind of mean (only women)...some look like sympathy glances (only women)...some looks are smiles (men and women)...and some are just looks of acknowledgement (men and women). unlike other people's experiences, no stranger has come up to me and rubbed my belly...not even asked if they could!
• voiding quite often lately...and it's not even just small bladder empties, i am emptying a moderately full bladder everytime i go
• my areolas are looking bigger...like breastfeeding ready

• my right boob STILL has a dry skin patch that is still so fckin itchy! WTF!? im putting oils to moisturize for now!
• whoever said drinking lots of water, creams, and that stretch marks can be prevented was WRONG,  no one drinks as much water as i do and ive been putting oils/moisturizer on my belly since at least the very early first trimester days and i still have stretchmarks! Seriously, if you had stretchmarks before, you will get stretchmarks when you're pregnant!  save your money! my belly is itchy every now and then and really, all that means is skin is ripping/stretching/tearing = stretchmarks.
• baby has hiccups every so often, and yep...belly is shaking!
• i can still hoist my leg up on the counter top and cut my toe nails!! however, it's becoming increasingly difficult to stand up and lift a leg to put underwear on post shower LOL! it's even hard to yank up my compression stockings
• i had the two sheitiest sleeps ever on dec 23 and 24th. dont know why...not like i was anxious about christmas or anything? i thought it was a sign of an impending birth or major changes... but i have since recovered post dec 25th. i would seriously wake up sometime in the middle of the night and have to void, and i couldnt get back to sleep afterwards- just watching the clock and getting annoyed at Gene for snoring and having a good sleep. i had to haul my arse to the living room and sleep on the couch which was not bad as i did fall back to sleep eventually...but was nowhere near the quality sleep i need to load up on and savor every moment of! i think on the night of the 25th, i told Gene to not come near me cuz if i get woken up AT ALL, i used the line from Russell Peters' material- "somebody's gonna get hurt around here." LOL!!

• I had a work baby shower this week (thank you Sarah and Syma, and to all that came and took the time to join us on a rainy night, and thank you to those that were very generous and thought about the baby even though times are tough and the holidays were here/coming). it was awesome and I had a great time! pictures to come eventually! im pretty sure this baby has more clothes than Gene! hahaha. lesson for momma's to be..dont buy too many clothes...everyone gives you clothes! so irresistable though...i love buying baby clothes! 
• no major baby haul...except for the fact that ive washed/laundered most of the stuff i need to use for the baby in that newborn to 3month stage of life...so i just need the baby to wear it and lie in it! Christmas decor came down early (like today) this year as Gene didn't want that to be something he needed to do if the baby came early.  he thinks baby is coming early..i think baby is coming on time!

How your life's changing:

Now that your baby is taking up so much room, you may have trouble eating a normal-size meal. Smaller, more frequent meals are often easier to handle at this point. On the other hand, you may have less heartburn and have an easier time breathing when your baby starts to "drop" down into your pelvis. This process — called lightening — often happens a few weeks before labor if this is your first baby. (If you've given birth before, it probably won't happen before labor starts.) If your baby drops, you may also feel increased pressure in your lower abdomen, which may make walking increasingly uncomfortable, and you'll probably find that you have to pee even more frequently. If your baby is very low, you may feel lots of vaginal pressure and discomfort as well. Some women say it feels as though they're carrying a bowling ball between their legs!

• i would say i do have some sort of waddle happening. i definitely take the time every now and then to watch my posture as i feel that im jutting out my abdomen and thus a very concave (or convex spine depending on how you want to picture it). so i do take the time to adjust. im definitely slow, and my walk is different.

You might also notice that your Braxton Hicks contractions are more frequent now. Be sure to review the signs of labor with your practitioner and find out when she wants to hear from you. As a general rule, if you're full-term, your pregnancy is uncomplicated, and your water hasn't broken, she'll probably have you wait to come in until you've been having contractions that last for about a minute each, coming every five minutes for an hour. Of course, you'll want to call right away if you notice a decrease in your baby's activity or think you're leaking amniotic fluid, or if you have any vaginal bleeding, fever, a severe or persistent headache, constant abdominal pain, or vision changes.

Even if you're enjoying an uncomplicated pregnancy, it's best to avoid flying (or any travel far from home) during your final month because you can go into labor at any time. In fact, some airlines won't let women on board who are due to deliver within 30 days of the flight.

• 4-1-1 rule: 4 minutes apart, contractions lasting 1 minute, for 1 hour. when this happens, watch out!!

GTT results

my BCBio report:

Gestational Tolerance Glucose Load 75 g Fasting glucose      4.5 (<5.1 mmol normal) Glucose after 1h     6.1 (<10.0 mmol normal) Glucose after 2h     6.6 (<8.5 mmol normal) Final: Normal glucose tolerance

SWWEEEETTTTTTTT

my E-health

Thanks to Sarah for this tip!

Did you know you can find out your bloodwork results online?
if you got your bloodwork done at Lifelabs or BCBio, sign up for my E-health and your results will be available to you!

The bad news, Canadapost has to email you your PIN #, and that I have no idea how far back they keep the results for.
The good news, you can check your results and keep yourself informed and it's nice to actually have the patient incorporated in their health care, right!?

Sign up!
I personally want to know if I passed my GTT!

Glucose Tolerance Test

Photo Credit

What is the glucose tolerance test?

• done between 24-28 weeks of pregnancy, the closer to the 24th week the better as the later it's done, there is a higher chance of false positives
• my paternal grandparents both have diabetes, so this was rather important that I get this checked out
• tests glucose tolerance (obviously), and more specifically, my risk/likelihood for gestational diabetes- not diagnostic, but the results may require me to get further tests and liase with a dietitian
• 2-5% of pregnant women get gestational diabetes with no major symptoms except for GTT test results

How was the test?

• fasting at least 8 hours prior. as in NO food, and NO WATER when I wake up (this already made me irritable in the morning)
• went to the lab at 7:08am ...they opened at 7:00am and there were already 8 people ahead of me! WTF!
• got fasting bloodwork done at 7:30am
• given a clear 75g (maybe 200mls?) glucose-fructose drink that I had to down in 5 minutes (an orange flavor was optional, but the tech said this was more of a favourite amongst patients)
• the drink was alright if you sipped at it, but because I had to down it, it was N-A-S-T-Y ...all i can taste was chemicals, citric acid, sugar, water, and more chemicals! my front teeth hurt actually for the next 1/2 hour after drinking it
• didn't feel nauseated, but i did burp a few times, which made me taste the fluid again, which then made me feel nauseated
• after downing the drink...i had to stay at the BCBio lab for 2 hours! Next bloodwork at 0830, and then 0930. You weren't allowed to leave the lab or do anything that would be stress inducing. you were also only allowed to drink max 2 cups of water during that 2 hour period, and it had to be at least 10 minutes after the gtt drink was given
• I got 3 pokes...and they hurt!
• if the test results are high...i have to go back for another gtt test...a THREE HOUR TEST!!..and that one will definitely tell me if I have gestational diabetes

please be normal! ugh!

why is it bad to have gestational diabetes?

• babies can get too big- harder birth, riskier birth
• trauma to mom and baby because of big babies
• low blood sugars for baby once born as they no longer have the placenta to feed off from
• potential for  baby to have long term obesity and glucose intolerance
• higher risk of pre-eclampsia for mom
• high blood sugars and low blood sugars are bad for mom and babe in general

October 1 u/s ...It's a....

BOY!!!

profile shot

feet

vertebrae

another profile, appears to be a future boxer

freaky frontal face shot

• Greig and associates were AWESOME. Came in at 8:30am, done by 9:15am...as in done, here are your pictures, patient satisfied to the highest degree
• I saw the little weiner...as in dink...as in penis + scrotal sac! It's a boy! The tech who was friendly and talked an appropriate amount said the baby wasn't shy about showing the genitals LOL!
• baby is still facing my spine
• placenta hasn't moved...still in the anterior position. basically running down my abdomen but not low enough to cover the cervix
• my cervix was at a good length
• baby is measuring ahead aka "a little big" at 24W 1D, and i'm currently at 23W 4D. Um, maybe I should stop eating like sheit and I DEFINITELY need to get the glucose tolerance test done sometime this week (say NO to gestational diabetes!!!)
• feet and toes were good, femur was at a good length
• saw the umbilical cord and they can show colors so you can see the blood flow
• 2 kidneys, 4 chambers in the heart w/ good blood flow- also with color visual
• mouth was good, no cleft palate
• brain, and eyes were good
• heart rate at 155bpm
• baby was measuring appox 1.5lbs (+/- 4oz)

Awesome and uneventful in the "no news is good news" kind of way (ok well maybe the "measuring ahead" part is something I should be somewhat worried about).  Otherwise, it's been a good day and I can finally say F-I-N-A-L-L-Y! 

oh and the Chinese gender predictor was wrong for me!

The Results Are In!

It's HUMAN!!

the side profile

frontal alien

feet

Alright, had my detailed ultrasound today.  Told to go to the u/s place at 845am for a 9am appt, the tech took us in at 10am! WTF?!!! Even though I wasn't foolish enough to fill my bladder to the max, I needed to void ASAP!

The detailed ultrasound took approx 1 hour, the tech said I had an anterior placenta- which means that the placenta is in the front of my uterus.  This can result in me not feeling the baby as early as others.  Also, as babies often face the placenta- I possibly have a posterior baby postion - which means that the baby is facing my abdomen rather than facing my back (optimal).  However, the tech kept saying "baby is facing my spine" which DOESNT make sense as that would be ideal position to see what he needs to see. Maybe he meant, "baby is against your spine." ?!  Or maybe it was just a compounded problem of anterior placenta with baby facing spine?!  HUH?! I really need a second opinion, thanks professional ultrasound tech!!

So I got a kink in my neck as the u/s guy didn't exactly face the monitor so that I can see in an optimal position. But I saw stuff, like the heart flickering, the scanning and measuring of the brain and femur.  Saw two hands, two feet, a real BABY! He had to dig in hard press quite firmly on my left side, again because of the positioning.  I even had to lie on my right side, where then he pressed harder on my left side just to get pictures of the baby's profile.  Again, because of the baby's position, and the fact that the baby wasn't turning, he had a "hard time getting a good picture of the heart and profile."  Perhaps i'm privy to another ultrasound?!  PLEASE oh PLEASE! haha!

At the end of the ultrasound, he said, "I think you're having a boy." "80%." i'm like "Can I see?" and he's like, "we're not allowed to print it out."
Um ok.  I want to see on the screen how you came to that conclusion!
Why I didn't vocalize that I don't know! (Maybe because i've been at the u/s dept. for almost 2.5 hours that I was sick of the place?)
Maybe he could've showed me when he saw the little weiner!  Now I totally am second guessing his expertise!  However, I am told that girl parts are harder to figure out as boy parts are pretty obvious. hmmm...
Gene seems to think he saw it all...YEAH, Right...i really believe you Gene!

So I can't say i'm super excited as i'm drawing an inconclusive on the gender! I really need to see things to believe it!! However, saying this makes it seem like i'm feeling some sort of gender disappointment- which I definitely am not.  I just need to see the little penis! LOL!  i'm contemplating on paying for a gender u/s scan at that 3d ultrasound place.  It's like $50 lousy dollars...but $50 lousy dollars I can use to buy something fabulous for the child.  Hmmmmm! I'm going to see if I can get a third ultrasound just because of that whole positioning issue. 

Going to stick to Green items until Jan 2012!

Damn midwife appt isn't until Sept 23rd! UGH!

p.s. it may seem like i'm fixated on gender, but the detailed ultrasound is really to measure the baby's progression which can show a lot of abnormalities.  of coure the radiologist has to read it still...and i don't know whether someone will call me or if I should go with the "no news is good news" philosophy.

Heart rate 145bpm!  And according to Baby bpm, on Aug 29 ..at 18W 6D ..w/ a heart beat of 145bpm ...it's a boy! haha

Aug 31st addendum: According to this person I spoke to, the tech was right in having said it was "hard to get a picture of the heart and profile because the baby is facing your spine." If you picture it, the baby's back is against my abdomen, and since the u/s is on my abdomen, the baby's back is in the way! Can't get good pics when the back is facing you.  AHA!

Connection Made!

 

Click the picture to Enlarge! The dark space above is my full bladder!

Went for my first ultrasound today!  How exciting!  The only non-exciting part was going there on a full bladder and having the tech use moderate pressure on my about-to-burst bladder to visualize the uterus.   "Air interferes with sound waves, so if your bladder is distended, the air-filled bowel is pushed out of the way by the bladder and an image of the uterus and fetus/embryo is obtained."  Why does it say "....Mitzi R?"  My middle name starts with A.  (i'm trying to let this go.) Lucky for me, things were easily visualized and I didn't need a transvaginal ultrasound to see any of this stuff!

The tech said that the little "peanut" was at an appropriate size.  About the shape of a cashew (as illustrated) and had a raging normal heart beat of 170bpm.  I didn't hear the heart beat, but husband/tech/I saw the heart beat- or at least a flickering thing in the center of the blob!  Because the kid is measuring at par, my EDD (estimated due date) remains at Jan 24, 2012.  It was very surreal, and super cool!  Damn, maybe I should actually start accepting that all of this is FOR REAL!!!

The tech gave me a printer print out of the ultransound- I was mildly disappointed as I always thought it was a photo-paper image like you see in the movies!  hahaha whatever!  Of course, it has now been scanned and digitalized, moreover, a copy has been made for my parents.  Perhaps I should notify them this Sunday for Father's Day.

I took a picture of the ultrasound on my phone and have used it as a wallpaper/background on my homescreen.  It REALLY helps in the realizing factor.   As addicted  connected I am to my phone, everytime I check for a random whatever, seeing the homepage is a constant reminder that something is growing inside and really strengthening this mom-fetal connection!  I even find myself just staring at the picture sometimes, and then feeling a sense of giddiness or elation.  Sometimes I even catch my self just giggling to myself, or just grinning if not smiling wide from ear to ear.  Creepy yet Cute!

On a side note, I got off work Saturday morning.  The next shift included 3 pregnant women (not including myself), in one unit, of various stages ranging from 11 weeks to 24 weeks!  Now I know of 6 women total pregnant at work.  Something is definitely in the water! haha

Denial

So my period is late by a good ol' 1 day! LOL and I have been contemplating on my next move if this day ever came.  For most that know me well, i'm pretty frugal aka cheap, and the thought of spending $20 or so on a home pregnancy test was really something I wasn't planning on doing EVER!   I've been watching my body this last week or so, watching and waiting for symptoms of AF (aunt Flo, aka period) like spotting or just pink in the toilet paper (TMI I know), and nothing has shown up these last couple of days.  Per my previous post, I was having random gag/wretching moments which was totally out of character for me, but I rationalized those symptoms with my body finally returning to normal.

So today after my boring "Tips from a Coroner" course (really not as exciting as it sounds), I headed to a walk in clinic on Davie St. - "it'll be about a 3.5 hour wait."  WTF?  It was so sunny out, and there were 4 people in the waiting room, and 3.5hr wait..again...WTF?  I went shopping. 

On my way home, I decided to go to another walk in clinic on Comm. and 10th, and there, with 4 people in the waiting area, "it'll be a 1.5 hour wait."  WTF?! ok.  So I decided to go to another walk in clinic more closer to the Broad and Comm. intersection and there, a decent "20 minute wait."  I slipped a white lie to the female doctor and told her that I took a home pregnancy test and it was very vague, "not light, but not dark."  And would like to take a "pregnancy test to rule it out or confirm."  I think if you've seen those pregnancy tests before, you'd know what I mean.  How conclusive are those things anyways?  It says 99% but I really distrust it!  She asked me to give her a urine sample, and the receptionist dipped the stick for her.

A very solid argument was going through my mind, "if you were negative, that's ok, your period will come anytime now and you can try again." and "if you're positive, this isn't a joke, holy shit!"  LOL!  I was also thinking about all the symptoms I was having, or lack of, and that could really be explained by either argument.  I was content.  The Doctor came in after, the longest 3-5 minutes of my life!  She said, "well congratulations, you're positive!"  I felt a sudden surge of heat in my face and head.  "I'm shocked."  She asked if we were trying to get pregnant, and I said, "not really, but if it happened we would be very happy."  It's kind of a lie, but in hindsight, I can see that as a statement of emotional protection.   So she told me to take some prenatal vitamins, and make an appt. with my GP.

I don't know about this.  I'm in a state of glee, caution, and denial.  I really need some serum bloodwork to prove this!  I honestly tell myself that she left that stick developing for too long and that's why it's dark as it is.  I didn't mention that to her, but she said she was absolutely sure I was positively with child.  YOWZERS!!  She asked me when the first date of my last period was and I said "April 19th," after calculating it on her wheel, she said I was 4 weeks pregnant exactly today,

WHAT THE HECK?!  OMG!!!

My GP is annoyingly fully booked this week so I will see her next week.  UGH!  I wonder if I should go to a walk in tomorrow and get some bloodwork done?  I'm so happy but also can't believe it!