Sugar induced coma a.k.a gestational diabetes test

I took the lovely GD test this morning. Since I live close by to the birth center, I got to drink the orange stuff at home, instead of having to wait there for an hour. After my blood was drawn, I had to lay down so the midwife could measure the fundal height, hear the heartbeat, etc. A few seconds into it, I started to feel extremely dizzy and lightheaded. I started sweating and felt very hot. I told the midwife and she said it was probably from the sugar rush and then laying flat on my back (my heavy-ass uterus cutting off the main artery) causing blood pressure to drop. She told me to lay on my side, so I did. The hot feeling got worse, and I started fading out. Talk about creepy. I knew why it was happening, but it was an awful feeling. It felt like I couldn't breath and my vision was speckled with black and purple dots, as well as my hearing fading out.

I had thankfully brought some trail mix and water with me--I told the midwife and she got it from my bag. I must have passed out for a second or two, because the next thing I know the midwife had me sitting up. She put a cold washcloth on my forehead and neck. I started feeling better soon after I started to eat some nuts.

The midwife told me that it happens from time to time. I did not experience it with Mason, so this was new to me, and pretty fucking freaky. I knew I wasn't dying, but it felt like it. Hopefully I won't go through that again. I remember a few similar passing out episodes in my crazy party days--but not like this and not while pregnant.

Afterwards, the midwife brought up my follow up ultrasound. I told her it was scheduled for 32 weeks. She seemed surprised. "Oh," she said,"they usually schedule them for 28 weeks". (This wasn't the same midwife I had spoken to a few weeks ago about wanting to have one earlier than 32 weeks). I told her 'oh well', I would wait. I am not worried about it anymore.

27 weeks

26 weeks

I love these profile pics. I should do one every week, maybe more artsy though, so I can actually frame them. Maybe black and white.

Ultrasound scheduled

The OBGYN office called me yesterday, and told me the doctor will not see me until I am 32-34 weeks along. I then called the birth center midwives and left a message with them asking if they could try and get me in sooner. They called me back, and told me no one would see me sooner. She told me that if I get the ultrasound too early, and the previa hadn't moved, it would just make me more nervous and it would expose my baby to more ultrasounds. She says they like to keep exposure to a minimum. She also told me that the insurance may not cover too many ultrasounds, etc etc.

Talking to this midwife (the one I like) really did help me though. I told the midwife that I really want to gestate in peace, and have time to emotionally prepare myself for a VBAC. I just don't want to wait 6-8 more weeks. She told me that she totally understands why I would feel that way. She also went on and took the time to go over my chart about the previa, which I am really glad she did. Apparently the placenta is 22mm away from the center of the os (cervical opening) and 2mm away from the outer rim of the os. So the placenta is not covering the os by 2mm like I thought--it was the other way around! She told me my placenta was posterior, which is great since I have a cesarean scar. She told me this greatly increases the chances it will move up. She told me, if you were to have a previa, mine is the most optimal to have. She said previas like mine almost always move up. She made me feel so much better.

So, my follow up ultrasound is scheduled for February 23rd at 1:30 pm. I will be exactly 31w 3d. That's fine with me. I can wait. It will be here before I know it. I know the placenta will have moved up by then. Everything will be fine. Homebirth--here we come.

More waiting

Okay, the receptionist at the OBGYN office said that since I am "not bleeding", it really isn't an emergency, so when the doc is in tomorrow, she will talk to him and see when he wants me to come in. She said I will know by Thursday the latest.

I am hoping he will want to see me by 28 weeks. The midwives said that was the time they usually schedule ultrasounds to check placenta location.

I really hope they don't make me wait until 30-something weeks. I just want a fucking ultrasound to check the location--to check if it is even moving away at all. That's all I want. Yeah, I know I am not bleeding, but I am trying to plan for a vaginal birth this time--having some time to do do would be nice. I don't want to wait until I am weeks away from full term to finally get the ultrasound. I don't even want to deal with them anymore--I just want to go on with my homebirth.

So, now we wait.

The waiting game

I went for my appointment yesterday at the Birth Center. I called this morning to schedule an appointment with the OBGYN to get the follow up ultrasound for the previa. They said they didn't get my info faxed over yet from the midwives...so now I have to wait for them to fax over info, and then wait for the OBGYN to call me and schedule.

ARGHH. I just want this over with. I hope I get to come in this week. This wait sucks. I just want to get on with it and not think about it ever again.

Hopefully I get a call back soon. I will update with the ultrasound date.

25 weeks

Happy Birthday Mason!

Yesterday was Mason's birthday. He is two! Where the hell does the time go? I thought I'd share some pics of Mason from womb terrible two's.



ultrasound pic at 18 weeks. When we found out it was a boy, we were so freaking excited. We had his name picked out within a day.



Just a few hours old.



Smiling at 3 weeks!






I miss breastfeeding him sometimes...



3 months old







1st birthday



14 months old



20 months old





...and some pics from yesterday.


He loves his Brobee doll! Thanks auntie Angel!




How he reacted when we sang Happy Birthday.



patiently waiting for daddy to cut up his cake.



My big boy with his big boy fork. :)

Here we go again

I thought I wasn't going to think about it much this year since it is now going on 2 years since the cesarean. last year I was totally expecting it--everything was a 1 year anniversary--getting my BFP on April 20th 2006, thinking things like, "this time last year I was x weeks pregnant", this time last year I was checking into the hospital etc. etc.

Well, I had just posted my 24 week pictures, sat back and just happened to glance at the clock. I saw it was 2:30 pm. This time 2 years ago, I was being hooked up to the pitocin. I was hopeful. In about an hour, my OB will come in and give me a vaginal exam, and attempt to break my water-but instead just nick it (she wouldn't actually break them until 7:30). In 9 hours, I will be wheeled to the OR, and the incision will be made at 11:59 PM. Mason "born" at 12:04 am January 4th.

And so it begins.

24 weeks

Happy New year

Happy New Year!

I cannot believe it is 2009 already. Somebody slow down time, please. At a certain point in your life, don't know exactly when, it suddenly seems to go extremely fast. Crazy fast. I remember marrying Jason...we are now going on 9 years of marriage. I remember being pregnant with Mason....he is 3 days away from being two. I remember trudging my ass to high school (well, when I would actually go)....and here I am, soon to be mother of two. I remember getting my long-awaited BFP after a year of depressing TTC.....and here I am, almost 24 weeks pregnant.

2008 was a good year.....it was a year of lots of change. We bought a house, and got pregnant again. Those are two really big changes; two really great changes.

last night, as Jason crawled into bed after midnight and woke me up in the process (yup, I missed the ball drop, my lazy pregnant butt fell asleep at 11 pm!) he said,"Happy New Year" and kissed me. I replied, out of the blue,"This is the year we meet our daughter". He stopped. "Wow,"he said,"it really seems crazy when you put it that way".

And it is.

Christmas is gone, New Year's Eve is gone, it's 2009. Hannah is due this year. The holidays passing really snapped me into reality....wow, April is coming, and fast. I can't wait. I am excited, I am anxious, I am over the moon.

I can't help but think that 2009 will be an amazing year. I hope yours is too.