Ultrasound (from 13wks 2dys) Official Stats

It appears this babies measurements are all over the place. Ranging from the femur measuring at 13wks exactly to the Abdominal Circumference at 13wks 4dys, the Head Circumference measuring 14wks 1dy and the Biparietal Diameter (another head measurement) at 14wks 2dys! Weight was 73 grams (which is, if accurate, indicate of closer to 15wks).

Heartbeat was fantastic at 158!!!

My placenta is anterior, as I suspected when viewing the U/S. It looked to be placed similarly to my pregnancy with Nolan. Just means I won't feel much til later in the pregnancy, again. Also, if it hangs out low during the pregnancy it could cause an issue if it is placed on my scar, but no point in worrying about things we don't know yet.

Blood Pressure Update - 13wks 4dys

Well, after nearly two full weeks of taking CALM (and a missed dosage or two) my blood pressure appears to have come down a little bit. I took it while I was at Wal-Mart yesterday, after walking around for a good 15-20 minutes, and it was 136/85. It was 140/90 last time I took it at Wal-Mart, so a bit of an imporvement. Under 140/90 puts me at pre-hypertensive, instead of hypertensive. The difference? Hypertensive status means OB intervention/transfer. Pre-hypertensive means we keep working on it in a natural capacity.

From what I read it takes a full month of CALM to see a complete improvement, so I am hoping that we continue to see a downward trend. I am going to up my dosage to the full recommended 2, here in the next day or so. Once the sickies are gone I am going to start walking per the midwives recommendations as well.

Also! All the focus on my blood pressure had me forget that my iron levels have been in the normal range! Low-normal, but normal! The Nettles Leaf Tea must be working! So woohoo for that! I am trying my best to reduce my stress and anxiety surrounding this pregnancy. I just need to find a place where I am OK with whatever happens. If we do everything we can and my blood pressure is still an issue and I have to transfer - I have to make peace with that. I have too.

Ultrasound Update - 13+2weeks

Do I even need to say anything? Our baby is doing fantastic. It was the most profound feeling to see he/she moving around as well as can be. We officially know why the midwife was unable to get a heartbeat - apparently we have a little acrobat on our hands! The poor U/S tech spent twenty minutes chasing the baby trying to get the heartbeat. He/She was just doing flips the whole time. Head, butt, head, butt, occasionally hand, that's all you saw! LOL!

While she was unsuccessful in getting a good listen at the heartbeat, daddy and I definitely couldn't have been happier. Just to know everything is OK and that he/she is happy and healthy in there, that is all that matters at this moment.

Still keeping up with the daily Nettles Leaf Tea and I am up to 1.5tbls of CALM. I am hoping beyond hope that this is assisting with my blood pressure. Though blood pressure tends to go down during the second trimester anyway, so I have that on my side as well - FOR NOW.

First Midwife Appointment - 11weeks 5ishdays

Well, my midwife appointment came and went this past Thursday. On the upside, I adore Marianne, she is sweet and compassionate and really easy to talk too. The difference in the way I felt in her MW care compared to when I was seeing and OB was remarkable. I was a part of the whole process, I was seen immediately, without an hour long wait in the waiting room. She listened  to me, she talked to me, she explained things to me when I asked a question without appearing annoyed in the least. Loved her. No doubt.

To the not-so-good stuff. My BP was up already (130/90), but honestly before walked in I felt a mild panic attack coming on before taking a moment to breathe. So, I was not surprised. Urine showed nothing interesting - all clear there. What was quite nerve wracking was the lack of a heart beat. She tried so hard, at two different intervals, to try and find it, but no luck. She didn't seem overly concerned, I do have a tilted uterus which can cause these problems. Does this make me any less worried? Hell no.

She asked if I wanted a referral for an U/S and I did. It is scheduled for the 15th (so far away!) and hopefully we will get some reassurance that this little one is OK. On the BP note she suggested that I try CALM (a Calcium Magnesium supplement) and Nettle Leaf Tea to help with the BP, anxiety, and anemia. I found the CALM at my local health food store and started it last night, I managed to find tea bags (but not the loose leaves she wanted) so I grabbed those. Drank my first Nettle Tea (with added honey) today, bearable, but most definitely not enjoyable. I'll be ordering the loose Nettle leaves online as soon as I find them.

We thoroughly enjoyed our first real Easter (previously we didn't do much since Nolan wasn't walking). Once Nolan figured it out, he really enjoyed himself!!

I think hubs and I did pretty well with the eggs! Nolan added the stickers!

Get Ready, Get Set, GOOOOO!!

aaannnddd.... Distracted by the truck!

 







Noooow we get it!!!














Checking out the booty with daddy!!!

Pregnancy Update - 8wks 4dys

Or at least I think that's how far along I am (if not, I am close ;-)

Nausea had been rough for the past couple weeks, if I wasn't eating, I felt sick.  So far, the past few days have been ok.  Little boughts of nausea when I go too long between meals or eat too much, but that's about it.  So, I am hoping that means it's over!!

I am bloated beyond belief.  My belly is probably nearing the size it was in my second trimester with Nolan!  It's crazy!  It'll be quite a while before this mama takes any belly pictures, it's much too jello-y still!

Still having lots of growing pains, but they are better than what they were.  My boobs still hurt randomly and will feel really full out of nowhere, but that is to be expected.

My plan is to make my first Mid-Wife prenatal appointment for between 11-12 weeks.  I tried calling yesterday, but no answer.  Leaving a message would be pointless, considering the hours that I work.  If given the chance, I plan on trying to take a break this morning and try again.  It is amazing how nervous I am to make a prenatal appointment!?!?!  I am baffled by the knot that comes up in my stomach everytime I make the call.

Why am I so nervous?  It's beyond me.  Something I need to work on though, if I am to have any hope of getting the birth that I want. 

I just need to remember my 'word of the year' ((positive thinking speaker idea))

FAITH

Faith in my body, Faith in my abilities, and Faith in myself.

VBAC Community - In An Uproar

Recently a woman was threatened by a USF doctor to have police drag her out of her own.  You can read the news story here.  It was frightening to say the least, as a woman hoping with every fiber of her being to get that VBAC I so desperately want.  What's worse?  This is my locale.  If I become too 'high risk' (and yes, I will always use that term as 'high risk') and risk out of home-birth, USF will be the only place I have to turn too. 

So, how does that make me feel?

Scared.  Even more scared than I was a few weeks ago, when I discovered my pregnancy, and knew that my VBAC journey was going to be rough.

What would I say to Dr. Y given the chance? (we know I'll never get the nerve to bring this up in person if I were to meet him)

I know from many woman whom you have assisted in their VBACs, from midwives with whom I have spoken, and even from USF staff that you are supportive of VBAC.  It even appears, selflessly supportive.  While a hospital scared me, the idea of birthing in a room, stuck to monitors, on my back, gave me anxieity I could not describe - You did not.  Until now. 

Can I trust you to know I would do anything and everything in my power to get my baby here healthy?  No matter how badly I want my VBAC, there is not ONE mother on this earth that will tell you that is more important than her childs health. 

Did you forget this for a moment?
 
Would you make those threats to me?

We are all human and we all make errors in judgement (or did you think you would not get caught?).

These are the matters that cross my mind

Ultimately, my goal is to pretend like it didn't happen.  To attempt to see you as the same VBAC supportive man I had heard so much about previously.  That way, if I end up in your care, the stress of it alone doesn't send me over the brink.

Because the real truth is Dr Y..........
If we can't trust you, who can we Tampa mamas trust?

Mid-Wife Consultation

I met with an amazing MW named Mariann today.  It was astonishingly refreshing to speak to someone who really had a passion for birth and understood the desire to birth free of interventions.  I didn't feel, as though with my husbands sometimes, like I am speaking to a brick wall.  While supportive and loving, he doesn't really 'get it' in the way that I need him to do sometimes.

The basic run down, is pretty much what I expected.  As long as I don't experience any blood pressure issues, like I did with Nolan, than all should be a go for a home birth if I choose.  If my blood pressure issues resurface, which honestly I think they will, than my care would have to be transferred to an OB.  While I understand why this has to be done, I do not like it.

One thing I was quite thrilled about is her ease and understanding of transferring in and out of care if need be.  I can start with her and she'll help me transition to an OB if I need too or I can start with an OB and if no blood pressure issues arrive and I am confident in a home birth, I can transfer back to her at about any point in time.  I found this incredibly reassuring knowing that the decision I make now is not the ultimate decider for the remainder of my pregnancy.

She also informed me, which I didn't know, that TGH will do gentle induction for VBAC patients.  That was quite a surprise to me and another source of relief.  While I hope that BP issues aren't a problem, it's nice to know that IF they are, we have options.  I won't have an OB in my face screaming C-SECTION, C-SECTION!!  They will actually attempt to induce me first and let me try for a vaginal birth.  Albeit, hooked up to monitors and IVs and the like, but still.  ((See, this is me trying to be optimistic))

Ultimately the consultation brought me a lot of answers and some clarification on things and I am beyond happy that I got up the nerve to make the appointment.  She was amazing and I hope that this pregnancy is picture perfect and I can have her as my MW, but only time will tell.

To end today on a very happy note.  A few pictures from Nolan's 2nd Bday!!

On the way to the zoo!!! ((2 and still RF FWIW ;-))

 '




 Nolan and Daddy

He seriously loved this turtle. He kept following it along the bottom of the glass!!

He kept staring every time kids walked by <3 br="">

Daddy wimped out on feeding the Rhino's so I took it for a spin!! Kind of.... slobbery! An interesting experience, for sure!