28 Weeks & on Bed Rest

28 Weeks & Pre-Term Labor!

So remember how I said I was participating in that research study? Well, last Thursday I went for my last appointment and while doing a vaginal ultrasound, the technician discovered that my cervix was measuring at .5 cm. She said at this point in my pregnancy, it should be measuring between 2.5 and 3 cm. So I was admitted to Labor and delivery and the monitoring process began!

Baby is doing really well, he has plenty of amniotic fluid, so my water didn't break. I received 2 betamethasone shots (steroids) to help baby's lungs develop faster in case he decided to come early. After my cervical exam, it was discovered that I was dilated to a 1. Now who knows how long I've been walking around with a .5cm cervix and being dilated to a 1, but as soon as the doctor discovered that I was dilated, I was put on bed rest. I spent the night in the hospital with more monitoring to ensue. 

The next day I had to wait until 7pm to receive my 2nd round of steroids and also have another cervical exam to make sure I hadn't dilated any further. During this time, I had a few contractions, a few sharp pains (felt like menstrual cramps), and I went for more fetal monitoring and the baby is just fine. I was discharged at about 10pm Friday night and came home to my own bed to sleep like a baby. I was also prescribed progesterone for the remainder of my pregnancy to strengthen the cervix and keep baby inside! 

I saw about 4 different doctors over the course of my stay and each one of them had a different explanation of what "bed rest" meant. I told them that I have a desk job and could I still go to work, they all seemed to agree that I would be OK at work, as long as I took it easy and listened to my body. If I needed to rest, then I needed to go home. 

My regular doctor told me that I can't even walk my dog around the block anymore. So I had to have my parents come and pick her up and watch her for a while. It's a good thing because I live on the 3rd floor and I just don't think I could go up and down the stairs all night with the dog while I'm supposed to be resting.

Penny! 

Over the weekend I took my bed rest seriously. I have been on the couch or on my bed. It's very hard to be told that I shouldn't be active when I'm a very active person! I have had a few contractions every day, probably between 4-6 contractions. They usually happen right when I stand up after lying or sitting down for a long time. 

Today, I went to work and I was totally fine all morning, but when I went to leave, I had about 3 contractions in 15 minutes. I have a lot of lower back pain and a lot of upper back pain in my ribs and can't seem to get comfortable at all. 

Anyway - that's where we are at now! My doctor put me at ease and said I'll most likely make it to 38 weeks, but they're thinking I might be closer to 34-36 weeks. I guess all my "power of the secret" hoping for a July baby worked a little too well. 

Until delivery, I have to go to the hospital 2x a week for fetal monitoring and have weekly checkups with my Doctor to make sure the progesterone is working and that I'm not dilating more than I'm supposed to. 

Now, I could have been walking around like this with a .5cm cervix and being dilated for the last few weeks, who knows - but it's because of the research study that I was able to be treated immediately and that the hospital took extra precautions to make sure me and baby were ok. Apparently, I am the 15th girl the study has caught with a short cervix and this is something they're trying to diagnose as a sign of pre-term labor. For me, it could be genetically related as my sister also had an incompetent cervix. 

26 Weeks

26 Weeks

So I went on a little hike over the weekend and it was amazing! I really felt great. I didn't know how I would do on the hike, so I packed extra water and snacks. I feel like it was such a great way to get some exercise - I can't wait to do another one. It was about 4 miles total, and took about 2 1/2 hours. 

26 Weeks pregnant - Hiking to lower falls - Bells Canyon

So hike not included - I have been feeling those Braxton Hicks contractions everyone talks about during pregnancy. My uterus gets really tight and it's a little uncomfortable, but it doesn't hurt. I have also been getting sharp pains in my lower right abdomen, almost like it's below my belly in my upper hip area. I usually get these pains while walking my dog around the block on my lunch break or doing something totally easy.

I have been telling everyone who asks that I'm due in July because when I say I'm due in August, people have the worst looks on their face. They just say "oh honey, that is terrible, oh to go through the summer...." and if I say July - people's reactions are totally different. They are excited and they smile and they say "oh I have a sister/brother/grandchild that was born in July!" It's so interesting.

24 & 25 Weeks

24 Weeks:

I think baby is having a growth spurt because I'm hungry ALL THE TIME! It seems I can't get enough to eat... I need to watch it though because today I had a LOT of junk food and that is not what the baby needs - not to mention my weight or my potential stretch marks (I don't have any yet...). 

24 Weeks pregnant

Clothes: My clothes are really getting uncomfortable. I went on a little shopping spree this weekend to get more clothes - I caved and bought some maternity shorts (heaven), and also some maternity leggings. Clothes are tight, jeans are still held together with a rubber band and I have fallen in love with maxi dresses. 

Gym Time: Working out - it's best for me to stick to the treadmill and the stair stepper, then I do weights and some machines. I'm obviously not working out as hard as I was when I wasn't pregnant, but I'm trying to keep toned. 

Weight Gain: I've gained 12 lbs so far, and that is right on track!

25 Weeks:

The baby moves around a lot and kicks me all the time! I love it - he's very active. Sleeping has gotten pretty difficult, so has bending over, tying my shoes, painting my toenails and getting in and out of the car. I'm just not as graceful as I used to be! 

Gym Time: I've still been going to the gym about 3-4 times a week. I power walk now on the treadmill and walk on an incline. I still lift weights but I feel like I can't do that much and that my arms and legs aren't as toned as they used to be. But I guess that's to be expected. 

Getting ready for bed is a process with my pre-natal vitamin & slathering myself with stretch mark oil. Still no stretch marks (yay)!

Weight gain: I've gained about 16 lbs. What did I tell you about that growth spurt? I wasn't kidding! I think I gained the most weight in just the last few weeks. 

16-22 Weeks

16 Weeks: 

So far so good! Baby boy has started to be very active! I first felt him at 15 weeks when I was having a chair massage at work. I didn't know what the feeling was at first - it was so slight...but then I realized the little flutters I was feeling (that felt like popcorn, or gas bubbles) was my little guy moving around! I like to feel these little movements because it lets me know this little man is alive and active!

This sweet photo is of me at 16 weeks. At this point I'm thinking EVERYONE can tell I'm pregnant...but big flow-y shirts and stretchy pants have become my partners in crime, and really - no one can tell I'm pregnant. Still only 2 people at work know at this point. 

Still no morning sickness, but now that I'm in my 2nd trimester, I don't think that will be a problem. 

18 Weeks:   

Still feeling really good - I have had sharp little pains when I twist or stretch, but they go away and I read that it is my ligaments stretching and my uterus growing. I have started to get headaches, but they aren't too bad and tylenol helps. I have also started to get heartburn, but Zantac is great for that. 

So far I've gained 4lbs! I feel like I'm right on track. I have been eating healthy (mostly) and going to the gym so I feel like that is helping with the weight gain. 

Clothes: My pants are definitely tighter and there are a few people at work who still don't know I'm pregnant, but I'm definitely starting to show. It's small, but I can really see a change in my body. 

Cravings: Nothing too crazy - but I am starting to give into my sweet tooth here and there...better be careful with that one!

20 Weeks:

I had to go to Las Vegas for a week for a work convention. I had strangers asking me when I was due... I guess the cat's out of the bag! I didn't realize I was showing that much. 

I'm holding a sign that says "20 Weeks ~ Baby Boy!"

When I got home from Vegas, my husband couldn't believe how much I had changed in just one week. It was like I had "popped" overnight! When I went to work the next Monday, the rest of the office found out I was pregnant because it was obvious I was showing. 

My lower back is killing me - and on top of everything, I have a sinus infection. I talked to my Doctor and he prescribed me Amoxicillin, which you're not supposed to take while pregnant, but he gave me the "OK" and it cleared up. 

22 Weeks:

My jeans don't really fit anymore...I rig them with a rubber band. I have gained 10 lbs and I feel like that's ok! Work is going really well and I'm able to keep up with everything. I'm not as tired as I was in the first trimester and my breasts have FINALLY stopped hurting. I still don't run on the treadmill or anything, I stick to the stair stepper and the walking on an incline on the treadmill. I am also still lifting weights to keep toned. 

14 Weeks - it's a .....

It's a boy! 

How do I know this so early in my pregnancy? Well, I joined a research study for first time moms called NuMom2Be. I went in for my genetic testing (cystic fibrosis & down's syndrome), and they asked if I wanted to do a cell free DNA test to also find out the sex of the baby. I thought, sure why not? The nurses said that it was a relatively new procedure and it can detect Y chromosomes in my blood. 

I thought for sure I was having a girl. 

14 Weeks:  I'm officially in my 2nd trimester and I still haven't been sick. I feel so lucky. I guess the baby has been growing a lot because I've had a lot of pains and cramps, they don't last long - but they're noticeable. I've been able to go to the gym about 3-4 times a week and lift weights and do cardio. Mostly the stair stepper or the treadmill on an incline since running seems to really really be uncomfortable for my blossoming bosom. 

I've been tired and sometimes I've totally had to talk myself into going to the gym, but I always feel better when I go. I've started to have a few headaches but nothing too bad. 

Cravings: I want orange juice like crazy! That is the only thing I can think about it orange juice. I have acid reflux and normally orange juice sounds like the most unappetizing thing ever, but I can't get enough of it lately - and I haven't had any symptoms of acid reflux during this pregnancy. 

Work is good - I told my boss I was pregnant - and he promoted me. WOW, right? Right. Good things happen when you work hard and have something to show for it. 

13 Weeks

Alright!! I'm starting this blog because I have a lot of family who wants to see pictures of my and my pregnant belly and I'm not about to put that stuff on facebook. So - now that I'm on bed rest - I can create this sweet blog and let all of you know how amazing being 35 and pregnant is. I have to go back to my journals to figure out my symptoms, but I think it will be a cool blog - at least for me.

Also - I never thought I would be pregnant at 35. I thought I'd be done having kids by now, but sometimes life throws us curveballs and we take what we can get!

So in this picture, I am about 13 weeks pregnant - and of course I totally feel like I'm showing...even though it's clear that I'm not showing (that much). 

13 Weeks: 

So blessed and lucky to not have any morning sickness! I feel great. I have been able to work full-time and no one knows at work that I'm pregnant, except for 1 person, B, who I share an office with. She's pregnant too, so we compare stories and symptoms all day long. For the first 8 weeks I was completely exhausted. I would take little naps during the day, and that was about my only symptom. 

I have had a little bit of nausea, but nothing to keep me from going to work, or going to the gym - I'm able to do my regular workout - except I can't really run because my breasts are so sore! People keep asking me why I don't just "strap them down..." ummm because I've never had to "strap them down" before. I'm barely a B cup. 

Clothes: I can still wear all of my normal clothes, I'm not uncomfortable yet, and they're not too tight. 

Cravings: Haven't been too crazy - just the occasional fast food fix every now and then. I had Taco Time for the first time in about 5 years...yikes. I quit drinking coffee and have cut WAY back on Diet coke. It hasn't been too hard actually. I don't usually get headaches and I still haven't gotten them, so I feel good.