32 Weeks (8 Months Pregnant!)

Wow!  Today I am 32 weeks along...or 8 months pregnant!  Time is going by so quick.  I've had all my showers and feel so blessed by the generosity everyone has shown me in welcoming our daughter to this world. We pretty much have everything we need now, minus a few things.  We are very blessed. :-)

Mommy Update:

32 Weeks

So, I have been officially diagnosed with gestational diabetes (GD).  Some of my blood glucose levels were high so my doctor wants to be cautious and continue monitoring my levels and the baby.  I saw the dietitian yesterday and she gave me some good advise on changing a few things in my diet.  She also explained to me about insulin and glucose and how it affect me and the baby. So the main thing I need to change is increasing my non-starchy vegetable servings per day and making sure each meal is balanced with protein, veggies, and carbs.  I feel more confident in the choices I need to make now so I'm not feeling as devastated as I did at first when diagnosed with this. I also know that I will be able to control it with diet and some increase in activity throughout the day.

So, last week I was feeling a little overwhelmed since we didn't have anything prepared for our daughter.  Also, I was overwhelmed thinking about finances, work, how quick time was moving....it was all coming to a head.  But, thank God I have family, friends, and a husband that prayed me through it and I do feel better this week.  I know I can trust God in everything and He hasn't let us down yet so I need to continually remind myself of that.

Also, I know I am feeling better because on Saturday and Sunday we finally cleared her room out and set up the crib and the dresser.  Thanks to our cousin (Joel) and the boys, we were able to get everything accomplished fairly quickly.  The only thing left is to get the armoire put together which will be happening this weekend.  Also, yesterday I received the cloth diaper prefolds and covers that I ordered from Green Mountain Diapers. The covers are so adorable!  I can't wait to see her in them! 

Baby Update:
So, this week she weighs around 3.7 pounds and is about 16.7 inches long from head to heel.  She now has toenails, fingernails, and real hair (or at least respectable peach fuzz). Her skin is becoming soft and smooth as she plumps up in preparation for birth.  Also, now she is able to smile and stick her tongue out!

She has been moving very well this past week.  A new thing I noticed is more of a rolling sensation of her moving a leg or foot across my uterus.  When she stops, I will touch her there and then she will move it again.  It's a fun little game I play!  It amazes me that when I am able to touch where she is that I am actually feeling her...it blows my mind! Hopefully I am not getting on her nerves! Ha!

So, that is all for this weeks update. I thank you, as always, for your prayers and support.  Take care!

- Lisa 

31 weeks -- Baby girl is moving ALOT!

Welcome to week 31!  I know I say this every time, but I can't believe how fast time is flying. We are in single digits now..only 9 weeks left! That is...if she holds out until 40 weeks!

Mommy Update:
I am feeling pretty good.  I am still monitoring my glucose levels since I had a couple of higher levels. At first the doctor wanted me to see a dietitian and was going to diagnose me with gestational diabetes...however, he changed his mind since most of my numbers are good.  He decided he wanted me to continue monitoring my levels for another week and I will see him on Thursday so he can determine what to do.  I think he is being extra cautious because he knows I want to have a natural birth and if I do have gestational diabetes, then I need to control what I'm eating so our baby girl doesn't get too large. At the same time, he doesn't want me to stress out about it because if I do have gestational diabetes, then my levels are actually very good since they are just above normal levels only a few times during the week.  The good thing about all of this is that I am able to see what foods affect my glucose levels and what foods my body responds well too.  So, in the long run, maybe this will be good for my overall health.  At least, that is the outlook I choose to take.

I am feeling very blessed by my friends and family as well.  I had another shower over the weekend and received so many gifts for our daughter.  I am so blessed by their generosity and thoughtfulness.  Now, we just need to get the room set up so we can put everything away.  We plan to start doing that this weekend.

Lastly, I realized that I have forgot to give an update on my weight gain in the last few posts.  So, right now, my total weight gain so far since being pregnant is 13.4lbs.  This really surprises me since I am really showing (at least in my opinion).  So it must all be baby weight since I've been eating fairly healthy this whole pregnancy.  I also praise God for this because one of my fears was that I would use pregnancy as an excuse to eat more and load up on sweets...but it's actually been the complete opposite.  I crave healthier foods instead of sweets...so that's a good thing!

Baby Update:
She most likely measures over 16 inches long. She weighs about 3 1/3 pounds (about the size of a coconut) and is heading into a growth spurt. She can turn her head from side to side, and her arms, legs, and body are beginning to plump up since layers of fat are accumulating underneath her skin. In the next few weeks, her arms, legs, and body will start to fill out, and her skin will become less wrinkly.

The last few days she has been moving like crazy! And it's weird because now, instead of just feeling her on one side, I now feel her movements on both sides of my stomach sometimes.  I just wish I knew what she was doing in there sometimes!  It feels like she's stretching out..ha ha! Jesús said she's probably dancing and "raising the roof"...Ha! Either way...she's moving and making herself nice and cozy.

Well, that is all for now.  Thank you again for all your prayers.  Take care and God bless!

-Lisa

30 weeks -- On the home stretch!

Wow! Today I am 30 weeks pregnant!  Only ten more weeks to go! That is so crazy to think about...we are getting so close!

Mommy Update:
So, I had my 3 hour glucose tolerance test last Thursday.  My doctor called and told me that there are two standards that are highly controversial. One standard is not so strict, where the other is strict.  He said he normally goes by the stricter standard just to be safe.  So...with the "not so strict" standard, I do not have gestational diabetes.  However, with the strict standard I am on the borderline of having it.  So, to be safe, he asked me to monitor my blood glucose levels for a week.  So I have to keep track of my numbers before I eat breakfast and then again 2 hours after each meal of the day (breakfast, lunch, & dinner).  So, four times a day.  So far, my numbers are good.  So I am betting on Thursday when I see him that he will not diagnose me with gestational diabetes.  Praise God!

I had my first baby shower on Sunday! So now that I have little girl clothes, bottles, etc. at home it feels more real that she is actually going to be here soon!  When I got home, Jesús looked at all the cute clothes and he said "We're having a girl!".  Ha! So I think it made it more real to him too.  I have another shower this weekend (back home in Indiana) and am looking forward to that as well.

Overall, I am feeling really good.  I still have numbing in my hands, but I will not complain since this pregancy has been so easy so far.  I think I have been experiencing some braxton hicks contractions as well. It doesn't hurt at all and they are not intense...it just feels like tightening pressure on my lower abdomen.

I stated last week that I was nervous that we didn't have anything set up for her nursery yet.  Well, thank goodness, I ended up finding a dresser and an armoire that I really like and it's at IKEA.  So we will be picking those up within the next week or so and will be setting her room up then! Yippee!


Baby Update:
This week baby is about 15.7 inches long and weighs about 3 pounds (probably a little more since she was 3 pounds a couple weeks ago!). A pint and a half of amniotic fluid surrounds her, but that volume will shrink as she gets bigger and takes up more room in my uterus. Her eyesight continues to develop, though it's not very keen.

The bridge of her "button" nose is more apparent now than in earlier weeks. The tip of your her nose still looks upturned, but as the pregnancy continues, her face will lengthen and the tip of the nose will make a downward tilt.

The nerve cells in her brain continue to mature this week. The neurons of the brain's cortex (the area of the brain that controls memory, coordinated movement, vision, emotion, and thought processes) start to develop into six distinct layers, each with specific functions.

She is poking and prodding alot lately....making herself known! Nothing is hurting yet, but she has given me a couple kicks that have shocked me because they were so strong and unexpected.  I just laugh and talk back to her and ask if she's comfortable now. :-)

So that's my 30 week update...thank you again for all your encouragement and your prayers!  Love you all...

-Lisa

29 Weeks Pregnant -- Only 11 more weeks to go!

Can you believe it is almost November already?  Wow, time sure does fly by! Today marks 29 weeks of pregnancy.  It's been such a wonderful and easy pregnancy so far.  God sure has blessed me with that.

Last week was a busy week...we finished up getting our bathroom re-done the day that Jesús' brother and his family came into town to visit.  So we were busy cleaning and getting all the dust out of the house so it would be clean by the time they came.  Then, we had a great time visiting with the family and spending time with them for the 4 days they were here.  So now, I am a little tired and catching up on some rest.  But it is all worth it. :-)

Mommy Update:

Week 29 Bump

Last week, as you know, we had a 3D ultrasound done on Sunday.  Well, on Wednesday, we had another ultrasound scheduled so that they could check to make sure my placenta was positioned well (which it is now) and also to check on baby.  Everything checked out well, she is growing and doing well and looks completely healthy.  Also, on Wednesday, I did the 28 week gestational diabetes (GD) test.  My doctor called me back and told me my numbers were a little high, but not to worry.  However, he wants me to take the 3-hour GD test just to confirm whether or not I have it.  I am a little anxious about the outcome of the test, but am trusting God that whatever happens He will help me through it.  So I take that test this Thursday morning...please pray that I will have good results and not be diagnosed with GD.

I had my normal checkup with the doctor last week as well.  My blood pressure is good and everything else checked out well.  I told him about the numbing in my hands and also the pain I have in my pelvic area and he said that this is all normal.  Which I figured. :-)  So, he said not to worry as long as when I rest the pain subsides a little...which it does.

Lastly, I am starting to get a little nervous that we don't have anything for our daughter yet...as far as furniture goes.  Her room isn't set up at all...or cleared out yet.  We are 11 weeks away!  We need to get going on this.  We do have the crib....but it's in Indiana.  So we will pick that up in November sometime.  I just need to get a dresser or two...or maybe an armoire.  I don't want to spend alot of money on it so I'm checking craigslist every day!  So hopefully I will find something I like soon!

Baby Update:
So, at the ultrasound on Wednesday, the doctor told us that she was approximately 3 pounds 2 ounces!  So she is larger than what the websites say is average...which is about 2 1/4 pounds.  When I asked the doctor about that, she said that those websites are normally low on their averages.  So we'll see...who knows how large she will get in the next 11 weeks!  I just have a feeling that she's going to be a 9 pound baby...

So, right now, she is a little over 15 inches long from head to heel.  Her muscles and lungs are continuing to mature, and her head is growing bigger to make room for her developing brain. Her sleep-wake cycle is now well developed, but she spends most of her time sleeping. She has started to develop REM (rapid-eye-movement) sleep, or the dreaming stage of sleep.  (I wonder what they dream about??)  From now until birth, she will be packing on the body fat and weight.

She is moving around like crazy now.  I think since she is bigger I just feel more of her movement.  I started counting kicks at night (since the doctor told me to start keeping track).  I am supposed to feel at least 10 kicks within an hour.  Well, I felt 10 kicks within 5 minutes each time!  So she's a mover!  Either that, or she already has that competitive spirit that mommy has (thanks to the Herring side of the family! ha!).  Last night she was giving me combo punches...it was hilarious!  None of them hurt yet...so I'm thankful for that.  :-)

So...that is all for now.  Please keep my in your prayers on Thursday morning.  I will let you know the results in my next blog.  Take care!!

Love
Lisa

28 Weeks (7 months) Pregnant Today!

Today marks the 7 month mark of my pregnancy.  I can't believe I am this far along already! We had a 3D ultrasound on Sunday morning and I had a regular checkup yesterday (Monday).  The 3D ultrasound was AMAZING! We were able to see what our little girl looks like and to me she looks like her daddy.  The first thing I noticed was that she had daddy's nose and then after a few more minutes I noticed that her jawline and chin were like her daddy's.  I can't wait to see her in real life and meet her!


Mommy Update:
As I said above, I also had my regular checkup on Monday morning.  Everything is good -- my blood pressure is good and her heart beat is still strong.  Also, I was able to ask my doctor about the numbing that is happening in my hands (primarily my left hand) and the pain in my pelvic area and he said this was all normal.  He suggested I wear the braces for carpal tunnel on my hands as that may help a little.  Also, for the pelvic pain, he said as long as it gets better after resting (which it does) then it is completely normal.  So, all if well with me.  Tomorrow I will be taking the test for gestational diabetes (the 1-hour test) to make sure that I don't have it.  Also, we are getting a second Level 2 ultrasound to make sure all is well with baby and my placenta.  Overall, I still feel good, but I noticed I am walking a little slower now...and a little wobbly :-)

Baby Update:
This week, she weighs about 2 1/4 pounds and measures 14.8 inches from the top of her head to her heels. Her hair is growing longer, and her beautiful eyelashes and eyebrows are also growing longer and thicker. She can also blink her eyes. With her eyesight developing, she may be able to see the light that filters in through the womb. She's also developing billions of neurons in her brain and adding more body fat in preparation for life in the outside world.  I have been able to feel her movement more and more this past week since she is getting bigger and stronger.

Well, that is all for this week.  I hope you are enjoying these updates.  Until next week....

Wishing you many blessings,
Lisa

27 Weeks -- I am in the 3rd trimester!!

So, today I am officially in the 3rd trimester! [At least, according to most calculations I am...there are some websites/doctors that calculate it differently.]  So we are on the final journey of this pregnancy.  I still can't believe I'm pregnant...God is so good!

Mommy Update:
I was able to go home to Indiana last weekend and see my family.  That was a nice visit and they were excited to see me and my belly! Jesús had to stay back at home because we are getting our bathroom re-done and he wanted to be there in case any questions came up.  So it was just me (and our little girl) visiting this time. I was able to find a couple new shirts at my favorite resale shop (The Revolving Closet) so I am happy about that! I hate paying full price for maternity clothing (actually, any clothing!) so I always love it when I find something there.  Physically I am still feeling the same and overall I feel really good. :-)  I weighed in today and I am up 4.8lbs from last weeks weigh in!    The last weight gain like that was back in week 24.  So total weight gain so far is 18.2 pounds.

Baby Update:
This week our little girl should weigh about 2 pounds and is about 14 1/2 inches long with her legs extended.  She is waking and sleeping at regular intervals, opening and closing her eyes, and maybe even sucking her fingers. Her brain is very active now since more brain tissue is developing. If I feel any rhythmic movements, then most likely it is her hiccuping!  Her reproductive organs are now in their proper place and her ovaries contain all of the egg-producing follicles that they will ever make in her lifetime (this is amazing to me!).

It's funny because I was just telling my family that she has regular times of movement now.  Normally I feel her move first thing in the morning when I wake up.  Then again, I feel small movements right before lunchtime.  Then, around 8-9pm she really starts moving! She gives me some big kicks in the evening.  Then, like clockwork, I wake up at around 1am because I have to use the bathroom and she moves after that as well.  So it's pretty cool that she is on a somewhat regular schedule now.  I wonder how much that will change after she is born? I know it will have to change since she'll need to be fed more often...but I will be interested to see if she is more of a night person since she is more active in the evening....I guess we shall see!

Next week we have 2 ultrasounds scheduled.  The first one is not with the hospital.  It is a 4D ultrasound. I can't wait for that!  The second one is another level 2 ultrasound to make sure all is well.  So it's a busy week next week and we'll get to see our little girl twice :-)  Yay!  Have a good week!!

God bless,
Lisa

26 Weeks -- Baby is the length of a scallion!

We are at week 26 already! Six and a half months pregnant...I can't believe it!

Last night we went on a tour of the birthing center at Sherman Hospital.  It was very informational and lasted about an hour.  We saw the labor/birthing rooms, which are all private rooms.  In the room there was the bed (of course), a chair that turns into a bed that can be used by Jesús if he needs rest (ha ha! I'm sorry, but I can't imagine him sleeping if I'm in pain...that is not him), the warming table/scale for baby, TV w/DVD player to help pass time by, a shower that can be used during labor (I
can have warm water streaming down on my back to help with pain), and I can request a squatting bar for the bed that will assist us during labor.  Also, they have a whiteboard where I can put all my "requests" of how I want my labor/delivery to be.  That way all the nurses see what my desires are.  I can bring in my own music as well and have lights dimmed to make the environment more calming. However, honestly, my plan is to labor as long as I can at home before we go to the hospital.  We have timed our drive to get there and it only takes 10-12 minutes to get there.  So hopefully I won't have to be in the labor/delivery room for more than a few hours.

After delivery, she told us that they have a policy that they call "The Golden Hour".  Where the baby is placed directly on mommy's abdomen/chest, skin-to-skin, for an hour so that baby and mommy can bond and also begin breastfeeding right away.  It also is the best way to regulate baby's body temperature.  This made me so happy! This is something I was going to request in my birthplan, but it eases my mind knowing that they already have this policy so they understand the importance of the skin-to-skin contact right after birth.  During this time, it is uninterrupted time between mommy, daddy, and baby. Then after the Golden Hour, the baby is assigned a nurse that is called "Baby's First Friend" or BFF.  The BFF will put the baby on the scale/warmer (which is located right next to mommy's bed) and take all the measurements and give her her first bath. During that time they will be cleaning me up and packing all of us up to transfer us to the mother/baby room which is a private room as well.  So all in all, we will have about 2 hours before visitors can see our baby.

Once I am in the mother/baby room, then visitors can come in.  However, they do have a time designated between 1-3pm where they request that visitors don't come because it is "nap time" for mommy and baby.  It just gives mom's and dad's a break from visitors so that they can nap or bond with the baby without being interrupted by anyone, including nurses. They said for a normal delivery that we would be in that room for 2 nights and then will be discharged.  Sometimes, if everything is good, they will discharge after only a one night stay at our request.


She also took us to see the Special Care Nursery for babies who are sick or might have fluid in their lungs.  She explained that to us.  Then she showed us where c-sections were performed and explained procedures concerning c-sections. She was able to show us where the regular nursery was, however, I wasn't able to look at any babies because they had the blinds closed for privacy issues. Bummer! :-)

Lastly, she explained the security measures that are taken to protect the baby.  Jesús and I will both have wristbands that match the bands that are on each ankle of our baby.  Also, our baby will have a magnetic band that will set off an alarm if the main door is open an
d our baby is too close to the door or is taken outside of the maternity area.  If that happens, all elevators will go to the 3rd floor (maternity area) and be stuck there so no one can leave.  So, it is pretty secure.

So, all in all, I feel very good about having my delivery at Sherman.  Also, I feel so relieved to know that our baby girl will be with us as all times unless we request she be taken to the nursery (which is highly unlikely to happen!)

Now, for the updates:

Week 26

Mommy Update:
I still feel good, even though I do still have ligament/joint pain. Also, my left hand is bothering me a bit because it keeps getting numb if I have my arm bent for too long or if I am laying down and it is above my head (if that makes sense).  I know this is normal because the blood isn't able to get down to my hands which is causing the numbing effect.  I think it is carpal tunnel syndrome which can happen to women who are pregnant, but normally the symptoms go away after birth.  So, that is what I am hoping!  I am just massaging my forearms, wrists and palms to try to lengthen and loosen any tight muscles and tendons and that has helped alleviate most of the numbness.  Other than that...all seems to be good.  I am still doing my nightly exercises (squatting, pelvic tilts, and kegals) to help prepare for delivery...so I feel confident I will be ready!

Baby Update:
The network of nerves in baby's ears is better developed and more sensitive than before. She may now be able to hear both mommy and daddy's voice as we chat with each other. She's inhaling and exhaling small amounts of amniotic fluid, which is essential for the development of her lungs. She's continuing to put on baby fat and now weighs about 1 2/3 pounds and measures 14 inches (about the size of a scallion) from head to heel. Her face is getting rounder and fatter, as her fat reserves are giving her face a more rounded appearance. By now she can make coordinated hand and feet movements. She frequently brings her hands and feet to her mouth. If born early, she now has a 60 percent chance of surviving!

Well, that is all for this week. I know this was a long post, but I had to tell you about the birth center tour.  Thanks again for all your prayers and support.

God bless,
Lisa