Week 38, Baby 2

So here we are...still waiting to meet Baby Mousel even after being very far along last week. My doctor had not even walked into the room at my appointment yesterday and was already saying she was sure that she was not going to see me this week and thought I would have delivered last weekend! Everything continues to move in the right direction and baby is moving the best it can in its tight quarters. Luckily, I am feeling really good and sleeping wonderfully for the 3rd trimester. We are just so ready to meet our new little one and I am ready to be done with work.

Here are the stats from the appointment:

• Baby bpm: 135 (As she showed me the monitor, I noticed that the heart rate ranged from 122-145 in a matter of 20-30 seconds...I learned that the heart rate should fluctuate greatly, and if it doesn't they could worry about neurological issues. Amazing what you can learn, when you ask questions!) 
• Measurement: 40 weeks
• Weight: Steady (no gain/loss...which again is typical as the body readies for labor)
• Dilation: 5cm (half-way there!)
• Effacement: 80% 

My doctor also commented that she has another patient that basically parallels me right now...similar due dates, and we are both measuring and dilating at the same rate. And we have both proven her wrong about delivery. She said she is going to end up running between our two delivery rooms as we will end up delivering at the same time. The other funny part of the comment: I figured out who the other patient is!

In other BIG news...
Isabel pooped for the first time in the potty at Barbie's yesterday so she got to wear big girl panties! The rest of Friday she did awesome, so we will see how today goes...crossing our fingers!

Isabel cuddling and resting on Mama's bump (for the time being)

Week 37, Baby 2

Like I said last week, I didn't mind seeing a different OB, but there is something comforting about seeing my doctor who knows what this pregnancy has brought. My shortness of breath and heart palpitations have greatly subsided since the baby has dropped so that has brought relief leading us to believe everything will go back to normal after baby is born. I am not big on the "how much weight have you gained?" game in pregnancy, but I have to laugh as the doctor I saw last week said that I put on exactly what she would want me to be; whereas my doctor would have liked me to put on a little more weight. I truly believe having stomach bugs three different times during this pregnancy is the main culprit of lower weight gain...I would totally have put on more weight if I could have avoided the misery of being sick! 

Contractions are still random and mild. The most consistency I have had is three contractions each 20 minutes apart. Baby is growing and moving like a champ. He/she likes to move most at night when I crawl into bed, around about 4:00pm (when I am done with work), and in the early morning hours 4-5:00am. I am measuring at 40 weeks, dilated to 4cm, and 70% effaced...sounds good to me! She informed me of the on-call doctor this weekend and when she was on call next so maybe that was her telling me her prediction. Not that I want her to, but she said she cannot strip membranes until 39 weeks so really it just becomes a waiting game at this point until my body and baby say everything is ready...not just when mama, dada, Isabel, and the rest of us are ready!

Oh and by the way, the overwhelming prediction is Baby Mousel will be a boy probably by 95% to 5%...here is praying we will find out soon, very soon!

36 Weeks, Baby 2

So now that we are almost 37 weeks, I should catch you up on 36 weeks, but in order to do that we should probably quick discuss week 34. I started really feeling those early, low contractions right at 34 weeks so I knew things moving along, but much too early to meet the little one (however, I have been ready since then). For most of the pregnancy, I have been measuring two weeks ahead, which is in the normal range; however, when I went in for my 34 week check-up, I was measuring four weeks ahead so an ultrasound was scheduled to check measurements and fluid levels. It was fun to peek at baby and, of course, again, he/she was very active so it was hard to get good shots. Nevertheless, the tech got what she needed and told us everything was good. Actually, according to her measurements baby was at 33 weeks, 3 days (at the time I was 34 weeks, 4 days) and baby was 4lbs, 10oz. So she was saying, I am just BIG. I am a little skeptical of the mathematical formula used to decipher weight, but I am not the expert so we will just wait and see what the little one comes out at.


On to 36 weeks...

I saw a different doctor than usual, which I was a little nervous about as I had not heard great things about her. We were pleasantly surprised, and I am glad I had seen her because now between both pregnancies, I have seen all the OB doctors at the clinic. It is interesting how every doctor conducts the check-ups. She didn't tell me what I was measuring at, she just said that is looks it good; probably because I was measuring way big and it contradicted what she just went through with us from the ultrasound. Okay, no more sassy pants from me. The baby's heart rate was around 145bpm. She also didn't tell me if I was or what percentage effaced I was, but did make the comment that I "ripen early." The word ripening is often used to describe effacement, which refers to cervical lining thinning. Last, but not least, I am dilated to 3cm. So all in all, I am moving towards labor, which is a good thing as I feel that this pregnancy has been very difficult and uncomfortable. I do keep in mind, though, that it could be a lot worse, and I am very fortunate.

I think we are all ready for baby to come and have been gearing up in different ways. Isabel has been soaking up every little second she can with mama and dada...needing to be carried, big hugs, and many kisses. She also asks about baby all the time.

Butter got all the "just in case" stuff done at work; however, he still needs to get a few things ready for the big day (cameras, bag packed, and choose which 3 books he is going to bring this time because you know he had sooo much time time to read the first time). As for me, I have definitely been nesting...random loads of laundry, cleaning bathrooms at 9:00pm at night (mind you, I am normally crawling into bed at 8:00pm), and my bags as well as Isabel's are packed waiting by the front door. We are ready!  

32 Weeks, Baby 2

The journey between week 28 and week 32 has been an eventful one, which is not always good when it comes to pregnancy. In my case, though, I am hoping it is just another wonderful "side effect" of pregnancy rather than any long term condition.

So let's get to the heart of the matter: I had mentioned on my 28 week post that I was experiencing completely normal shortness of breath, but new to me for this pregnancy as I was having it when relaxed adn lounging around after work. Along with the shortness of breath, though, I was having heart palpitations. When I told my OB, she first suggested I go see a family practice doctor, but as I continued to describe it and that Butter was able to feel the difference in heartbeat, she referred me to the cardiologist. Since, you know, the heart is kind of a vital organ and it is a little stressed during labor and delivery. :)

The cardiologist didn't seem overly concerned, but heart conditions and pregnancy share many similar symptoms so it was hard for her to feel confident in a diagnosis without further tests. The heart palpitations were pretty isolated to the evening hours so she was not able to hear/feel those, but she did say I had a heart murmur, which I have never been told I had before. She said the murmur could be something brought on by pregnancy and correct itself similar to how a baby born with a murmur can correct itself. In the next few days, I had blood drawn for lab tests, an Echo cardiogram, and wore a heart monitor for 24-hours. All tests came back "normal."

Pregnancy can do some crazy things, but to say what I am experiencing is normal just doesn't seem right to me. However, I am not the doctor so I trust her expert opinion, and the symptoms and results are in my file so when the time comes to have this baby, the doctor and nurses will be aware of this lovely side effect.

There is comfort that this is happening to me and Baby Mousel is a growing, stretching, healthy little one, and all comfy-cozy in my tummy!

My 32 week appointment was an interesting one as I think my OB is still a little concerned with the heart symptoms along with the swelling that has started within the last week or so. She is not concerned with pre-eclempsia as my blood pressure was excellent, but she won't mind seeing this baby come at 37 or 38 weeks. There was no talk about induction or anything, but I think she just wanted to put out there that going early would not be a bad thing. She did say that we would re-evaluate my symptoms after Spring Break, and she might consider ordering a work hour reduction. I really do not want that happen so I need to start saying no to all the "extras" I seem to take on work.     

Like I said earlier, baby continues to grow and heart rate is staying consistent. Fundal measurement is at 34in and baby's heart rate was at 145bpm. I now go back every two weeks for my 34 week and 36 week appointments then we start weekly appointments for weeks 37-40. When you start looking at the rest of this pregnancy in doctor visits, I cannot believe Baby Mousel is almost here!

24 Weeks, Baby 2

As 25.5 weeks are here, I thought now would be a good time to post about 24 weeks. Ha! When I look back on the last week and a half, I guess this is really the first time that I have had time or not completely exhausted to put together a post. A persons day is cut very short when they go to bed shortly after putting their child to bed!

So 24 weeks...my doctors appointment went well and everything is looking great. The baby's heart rate was averaging at 148bpm and my fundal measurement was at 26in., which means I am measuring two weeks ahead of schedule.  I am already playing the comparison game between my children (that is crazy to say, by the way!), but Isabel measured right on time and little below average at 20 weeks so a little worry is starting to creep in as Baby 2 is measuring ahead and was a little bigger than average at 20 weeks. I really wouldn't mind this baby coming early, but could be interesting if I go all the way to 40 weeks or beyond! We will just have to wait and see...

Pregnancy the second time around has been, for lack of better description, more intense than the first time. All the beautiful "side effects" that come along with pregnancy just have seemed greater. Maybe it is payback for me often forgetting that I am pregnant, not due to my size, but just so busy with everything else (particularly a wonderful 22 month old who is in full "terrible twos" mode!) that I don't have the time to just sit and think about what is to come. Right now, my hips and back are almost unbearable. Well, truth be told the worst was over Christmas break and the week back to school. To try and self-remedy that I have had to stop picking up Isabel as often and stop dancing at dance team practice. However, it doesn't help slipping down five stairs while carrying Isabel...yes, instead of falling outside in the winter on the fresh snow we received yesterday, I go down inside on the steps and land on the kitchen floor. The right side of my body is not liking me right now!

Believe it or not, in a week and half we will be in the third trimester already! We have a few projects on our to-do list, but the big one that has slowly started to take shape is Isabel's new room. Off to look at paint today...

20 Weeks, Baby 2

So here we are over half way through this pregnancy, and our house is healthy again (at least for now). With the exception of the flu bug, I have been feeling pretty good, relatively speaking: energy level is up, getting enough rest, and eating well. I have been having some aches and pains related to my ever-growing tummy, but that is to be expected (hip pain and back soreness here and there). Something different that I am more aware of this time around is more acute pain in the lower abdominal which, according to doctor, could be ligament stretching or contractions...neither to be concerned about as it normal with second pregnancy to feel more as your body knows whats going on this time. I am not sure how much sense that makes, but as long as it is normal, I am fine with it.

Our ultrasound was last week on Tuesday, December 13, and we had a much better and experienced technician this time around. Even with the experienced tech, baby was not all that cooperative. No, we did not find the gender of the baby, and even if we wanted to the tech said it would have been very difficult as Baby Mousel decided to have some fun of his/her own: twisting, turning, and somersaulting all through the visit. When we were all done, the tech even said so she had no idea what we are having...so its a good thing we didn't plan on finding out anyway. One nice surprise was that I got to go to the bathroom during the ultrasound...when pregnant there is very little more uncomfortable than told to drink a lot of water, not go to the bathroom one hour prior to the exam,and then have someone press and jiggle into your stomach. The tech thought my distended bladder was irritating the little one, but obviously, that was bearing no weight on his/her decision to be a trapeze artist at that time.

On Thursday, we went in to see the doctor and find out results of the ultrasound. Everything is normal, normal, normal...yeah, yeah, yeah! Currently, baby is in the breech position (but lots of time for baby to move and change positions from now until due date), heart rate was at 141bpm (at the doctor visit it was at 145bpm), and my placenta is anterior, which means it attached in the front like last time (no big implications there other than people on 'the outside' don't get to feel baby as soon or as often). At this point, baby is measuring at the 57th% (as a comparison Isabel was measuring at the 44th%), which is perfect. My clinical due date and ultrasound due date are 4 days apart, which as we know makes no difference as babies come when they are ready. Just for reference, though, my clinical due date is May 2 and my ultrasound due date is April 28.

Okay, on to the good stuff: pictures! Since the baby was so active, some of the pics did not turn out as good as we would have hoped and she was not able to get a lot of different shots. We did get some cute profile pictures, one picture of both the legs (like he/she is sitting on top of the lens), and one mid-somersault. Enjoy!

 

Profile...such a cutie!

 

Legs...so muscular! A dancer or a cyclist?

Somersault (legs are at the top)...showing off, are we? No idea where that trait comes from!

16 Weeks, Baby 2

Since I am now 18 weeks, I thought it would be a good time to finish up this post I started a week and half a ago about being 16 weeks!!

We hit the 16-week marker with little peanut #2! The doctor appointment went well and we even got to hear the heartbeat (4 weeks earlier than with Isabel; however, most people get to hear the heartbeat by around 12 weeks). Baby's heart rate was 140bpm, which is very similar to what Isabel's was most of her pregnancy. I am still growing quickly and measuring much bigger at this point on this journey, but I don't mind it as long as it evens out eventually! Other than the utter exhaustion that so nicely disappeared the first time around once I hit the second trimester but definitely not this time,this mama is feeling much better.

12 Weeks, Baby 2

So here we are 12 weeks into the pregnancy of Baby 2 and slowly, but surely I am feeling a little better each day. The start to this pregnancy was much harder than the last. There may be many reasons: the heart of my first trimester fell at the exact timing of school starting back up (I can honestly say this has been the hardest start to the school year for me yet); I was feeling nauseous most of the day unlike the first time where it was just at night; and pregnancy exhaustion takes on a whole new meaning with an 18 month old running around. The bright side is that I can tell the end of the first trimester is coming soon as I am now only feeling icky similar to the same time of day as when I was pregnant with Isabel...evening. Since this pregnancy has felt quite different so far, I am leaning towards this one being a boy right now, but with my love of surprises we will wait until May 2 (or around there) to find out. Put on your patience hats we are in for the long haul!

12-week photo...be careful the shadow can be a little deceiving;

however, comparing to the first pregnancy I look pretty darn close to 16 weeks.

Our 12-week appointment was short and sweet just as it should be as everything looked great. My normal OB was not in so we saw someone else, who we hadn't seen before. We have now seen all the OBs in the clinic except one, which is nice come delivery time when you never now who will end up catching the little peanut. As with Isabel, we could not hear the heartbeat so another quick visit to the ultrasound machine showed a healthy little babe. Hopefully, the notes Isabel left for Baby 2 are not too clear as we would love to hear the heartbeat of this little one sooner rather than later, like before 20 weeks!

For Sale!

Are you in the market for a bike trailer?  If not, you should be.  We have a smoking deal on this little gem (not the adorable child, but willing to negotiate on the dog):

As you can see, both adorable child and the dog love it!

This little beauty is no longer our style.  As the Krieg family may say, it is a little too "main stream" for us.

A bike trailer that looks a little more like this, is more our style:

 

Confused?  Perhaps you did not look at the pictures in the previous post closely enough.  You did, READ, the previous post, right?!

Maybe this one will help.

May 2nd now joins January 18, March 30 and August 11 as one of my favorite dates.  We can't wait to meet you Baby Mousel #2!

Now what the heck are we going to name this blog???