Catching Up! Already 35 weeks!

Wow do I have a lot to catch up on for this blog. At the beginning of this pregnancy I thought for sure I would be updating this constantly, documenting my pregnancy every step of the way. Little did I know that I would become too busy and otherwise exhausted to maintain my blogging.

Anyone who has been pregnant knows the first trimester drains you of all energy and when you aren't working you just feel like sleeping.  Once the second trimester hits, you are still small enough to maneuver around and a burst of energy comes back.  This means hurry up & get things done you weren't able to accomplish in the past three months! Then you grow and suddenly the third trimester hits.

That's where I am now, feeling huge & ready for this baby to be born! Others have said subsequent pregnancies are harder than the first and I agree.  My pregnancy with Sofia was great- I was happy the entire time and excited at each new phase & milestone. After suffering the loss of her at 40 weeks then another loss (miscarriage of Sam early on), this pregnancy has been different.  I can't complain too much but the nervousness, anxiety & worry this time has been hard. The first trimester I worked myself into a frenzy at every Dr. appointment, expecting the worst.  I was surprisingly calm during the 2nd trimester.  Now, as baby's arrival approaches, I find myself back to that scary place of worry & fear.

My last ultrasound was at 32 weeks.  Baby was measuring a week ahead (33 weeks) and to my happiness, she was no longer breech! (STAY THAT WAY, BABY!!!!) I had a different person who did the ultrasound this time and she was fun to talk to, although she made me cry... She asked about our loss (Sofia) and how far along I was.  When I told her, she teared up and started telling me about a good friend of hers who also lost a baby in 2010.  Turns out that baby is buried at the same cemetery as Sofia (she died a few months earlier, during the summer) and that BLM is also pregnant & due in January! We had lots to talk about.  We have seen her baby's grave and at Christmas time Tim fixed the wreath that had fallen down at her stone.

I started my NST's (non-stress tests) at 33 weeks (Dec. 20th was the first one that week).  I go in twice per week for these.  The first one was a bit nerve-wracking because it took some time for the nurse to get the heart beat.  I knew baby was OK because I had just felt her move in the waiting room however once you've been scarred like we have, all rationale goes out the window.  It literally took 5 minutes to find the right spot!  Little girl has proven to be quite mischievous at each appointment.  She clearly does NOT like to be monitored as she kicks and moves away from it constantly.  The good news is, so far at least, the results have been "perfect" and there were plenty of movements for me to record.

A good friend & fellow photographer took some maternity photos of me (and a few with Tim). It's hard to set a self-timer and do it myself so I appreciated her doing this for us.  Here's a link to a few of the photos on her site: click here

Today I am 35 weeks and feeling pretty darn uncomfortable. I'm not sure if baby has officially dropped but let's just say when I sit, she (my belly) rests on my legs. I think she's dropped. I think/hope she is still head-down but it's hard to tell. I'm looking forward to the ultrasound next week to know for sure. I've been having braxton hicks contractions for much of the pregnancy (just feels like my belly is super hard/tight) but lately they've been more uncomfortable. I really wonder if my body is getting ready and if I'm dilated at all. I had another pregnancy massage last Friday - the kind with the belly cut-out on the table (padded for comfort). It was great.  I was in need of another one by end of day!

Acid reflux is something I didn't experience with Sofia. This time- even water does it. Bleh. Not fun to wake in the night with a dry mouth, take one of many pee breaks, drink water, then have to sleep sitting up so the water stays down. My hips and everything hurt so much more this time. So bad that I'm nearly in tears some days. I suppose my body never really recovered from a full term pregnancy before diving back in.  I don't regret it at all and it is all worth it. I told Tim though, not sure I'm ready to have another one any time soon!!  This body needs a break!!

My actual due date is Feb. 6th but the plan is to do an amnio at 37 weeks. It isn't set in stone, but we're shooting for the amnio on Jan. 19th. If her lungs are mature, we will induce the next day, Jan. 20th. I requested to be admitted to the hospital on the 19th for monitoring rather than come in the morning of the 20th and my Dr. was OK with that.  Now, if her lungs are NOT mature, that means I will have to wait until 39 weeks for the induction. Please, oh please, have mature lungs!!! Not sure I can handle waiting until 39 weeks.

Early on in this pregnancy I was given a gift from my cousin's mother-in-law.  (Side story- this woman sadly lost a grandchild years & years ago. She was babysitting the child when the baby died from SIDS) She gave me a religious book called "The Original Mothers Manual" By A. Francis Coomes, S.J. It was a very thoughtful gift and honestly I had set it aside for awhile.  Recently I pulled it out and read from it. Here is one prayer I thought was fitting:

For an expectant mother
Dearest Mary, I look to you now for the help of your maternal love.
You understand my trials as an expectant mother. You bore Jesus in your womb. You know the doubts and anxieties that beset me; you know the bodily suffering I endure.
Like you, may I turn all these sorrows into joy. You overcame anxiety by a loving trust in God; you overcame doubt by gentle resignation to his will. Your motherhood lifted your mind above earth and kept it close to God.
So speak to Jesus now with me, beloved Mother, as I seek prayerfully to learn to bear the trials of motherhood with joy.
Mother of Perpetual Help, 
Pray for me!


Photo update:

This is old news by now, but here's a couple ultrasound pics from 24 weeks:
Her right arm is in front of her face:

From Our Rainbow

Her left hand is up over her head:

From Our Rainbow

Here is my 'belly art' from the baby sprinkle (smaller version of a baby shower). My sister-in-law held the shower & had this as an activity. My mom drew the outline around my belly profile.

From Our Rainbow

Before Christmas I went out with some friends from work to a pottery place where you can glaze pre-made ornaments. One of them I made for baby on the way:

From Our Rainbow

Here are the most recent ultrasound pics from 32 weeks. (Next ultrasound is next week, at 36 weeks)
face profile:

From Our Rainbow

Her nose is smooshed and it looks like she might have a dimple on her chin but it could just be the distorted ultrasound pic.

From Our Rainbow

We think she's pretty darn cute- big lips & all!!

From Our Rainbow

Here's me on Christmas Eve:

From Our Rainbow