32 Weeks!

I keep wondering how we got here. It seems like these past four weeks just flew by.

 I did try to keep my gestational diabetes under control with diet but unfortunately I wasn't able to do so. I have to take insulin before bed to help with my waking numbers. So far that seems to have done the trick. I have also only gained 5 pounds since I became pregnant. I think the key was to get heavy before I got pregnant! LOL

Sadly I had to leave my midwife practice. Once I was an on insulin they could no longer handle my prenatal care or deliver the baby. I found another practice which is very popular and has very good doctors but it's quite the culture shock.

When you work with a midwifery practice they give very personalized care. At this big OB practice I see them for maybe seven minutes and then they're out the door. They do have a midwife that works with the practice. I've seen her once and I really like her. I've only met one out of three of the other OBs. She was kind of quick and had dry humor so I didn't really know how to take her.

It seems like a majority of our natural birth plan is out the window. I'll be hooked up to a monitor and have my sugars tested every hour and cannot labor/birth in the water. I'm hoping to just stave off all the other interventions such as an epidural,  Pitocin and a possible C-section. I would still like to have as natural birth as possible. As long as Everly comes out healthy that is all that matters.

So far Everly is growing normally. One side effect of gestational diabetes is a larger baby. She seems to be right on track. We got her 3-D ultrasound and boy did she look like her brother! We really just can't wait to meet her.

Look at those cheeks!

28 Weeks

Again its been quite awhile since I have updated this blog

I am now 28 wks pregnant. Things have been coming along smoothly with the exception of being diagnosed with gestational diabetes.  I really was completely shocked. Even though diabetes is prevalent on both sides of my family, I really didn’t think I would get it.  I failed both my 1 hour and 3 hour miserably.

For the past week I have taken my glucose levels 4 times a day.  My morning waking numbers are always high (they need to be under 90, but are always 105-109). My numbers during the day which are affected by my diet are usually very good.  My ketones which need to be negative or trace are always high which means I need to eat more carbs, but when I do, my glucose levels go up. So basically it looks like I will need to go on insulin.  I meet my endocrinologist tomorrow for the first time and I think he will recommend insulin.  I feel like it may take some stress off of me as I am very anxious every time I take my levels in the morning.

The absolutely disappointing part of all of this is I will now need to switch practices. I will be considered high risk once I am put on medication, which in turn means I cannot deliver at the birth center and have a water birth. My current midwifery practice can refer me to a natural birth supportive OB which would deliver me at a big hospital. I really am trying to avoid that so I am seeing about switching to another local midwifery practice who delivers at a smaller hospital.  I am speaking to her today so I hope she will take me so late into my pregnancy.

On a positive note, we get out 3D ultrasound again in a few weeks. It will be the first one where we might get a good glimpse of her face and what she may look like at birth.

Keep your fingers crossed!

21 Weeks

I am trying so hard to keep up on this blog! My days seem to run together and I am just busy as ever!

I was getting a little sad that I couldn't feel her move too much and then BAM! I have felt her move like crazy all day.  It is an awesome yet surreal feeling.

I am finally starting to "feel" pregnant!

We have also picked her name:

Everly James Hazelton

Here is her latest ultrasound (20 wks):

Its a side view and she is tilting her head to the left while sucking her thumb. She is measuring perfectly!

19 Weeks & Counting!

I need to start paying more attention to this blog.

I don’t know if its because I am busier this time or that this is baby #3 so you document less?

When Lauren was pregnant with Jamesen I must have blogged every day. When I was pregnant with Brianna blogging was not really a “thing” yet so I didn’t keep track that way. Not to mention I was 19 and tried to separate myself from the realization I was having a baby.

I will be 19 weeks tomorrow. Since I was a little fluffy to begin with, I am not really showing yet. Oddly enough this is making me feel “not pregnant”. I haven’t gained any weight yet either which my midwives are happy about. My belly is feeling harder and I can no longer sleep on my stomach. That sucks because I am a definite stomach sleeper! Sleeping is also an issue as I wake up to pee around 3:30 am every night and most times cannot fall back to sleep.

Now enough with this complaining! 

I am so very grateful to be pregnant. I read so many blogs where women are still TTC. I offer words of encouragement but I wonder if me saying anything (as a pregnant woman) makes them sad. I remember feeling sad when others would get pregnant when I was still trying. I was happy for them but slightly envious (which is a sucky emotion to have).  It is nice though when I start seeing a lot of my fellow lesbian bloggers getting their BFPs!

I am still in shock we are having a girl. For some reason I was sure I was having a boy. I am just happy she is healthy!

Having the access to 3D ultrasounds is very cool, but when you have them done early the baby is so alien like. It is still really nice to see her grow. My next ultrasound is in about a week or so and then I don’t get another one unless I pay for it somewhere around the 34 week range.

Below is her latest one.  Tomorrow I have my monthly appointment. I look forward to them.

Wowza!

figures..

I guess I spoke too soon.

A few hours after I posted a started to bleed....a lot heavier than before.  It has since slowed down and Lauren found the baby's heartbeat on the doppler. I try to relax but it is almost impossible. My OB/GYN and my midwife both said I might just be a bleeder. Yay!

There is nothing worse than seeing blood when you are pregnant.

13 Weeks and Counting!

Yes I know I haven't written in quite some time!

As of tomorrow I am 13 weeks pregnant. How the hell did that happen?

In the past 6 weeks I have had two cases of bleeding. Of course I freaked out and thought my pregnancy was over. My dear wife Lauren stayed calm and reassured me this can be totally normal. After 2 ultrasounds and lots of blood work, I am delighted and relieved to say I have a nice healthy baby doing flips in my belly. I may just have a vascular cervix which is prone to some bleeding.

We have switched over from my Dr. D my current OB/GYN to a birth center with an awesome group of midwives. Lauren had our son J at a similar birth center and we both really liked the care and experience.  The only reason why I chose a different birth center is because I want to have a water birth and this is the only birth center in the area that offers this.

http://thebirthcenter.com/

I am 100% dedicated to having as natural of a birthing experience as possible. Water has always been very soothing to me and from what I read it is very helpful in pain management and with the prevention of tearing.

May 3 we will find out what we are having! I am so very excited.  Of course we will be happy whether it’s a boy or a girl and we really only want a healthy baby, but I am hoping for another boy. It would be a tad easier as we have everything packed away from J. Having a teenage daughter right now does now make me yearn for another female in my house.

Hopefully I will update more but I will leave you a picture of our 10 week ultrasound of “Speck”.