Week 30 -- We Want a Pitcher, Not a.... Well, Me

So much to talk about today!

If you didn't guess from the title of this post, my new ailment is an itchy belly. Not all the time, but every once in a while. I guess my skin is as stretched out as it wants to be. Oh, well.

I had a doctor's appointment today! Bagel is measuring well. The doc says his back is hanging out on the left side, with his arms and legs on my right side. He is definitely transverse, meaning he's stretched out sideways, rather than being head up or head down. He's on his way there, I guess!

The good news first -- I passed my gestational diabetes test from my last appointment. She said my numbers were great and there were no issues there at all. Good job, Bagel. The bad news -- my platelets were low again. Sigh. The doc and I discussed this at length today. When I first came in and was pregnant, my numbers were below normal, and so the doc has been testing my blood periodically to make sure they're coming up. That means I've had a needle in my arm almost every appointment I've gone to. Good times.

What does this mean? Well, if my numbers are crazy low, my blood won't clot properly. Doc says if it gets below a certain number, they won't give me an epidural during labor because they worry that I'll bleed from the needle. Hold. The. Phone.

Yeah, you read that right. It's possible I might not be able to have the sweet, sweet drugs I've been looking forward to in the delivery room. Let's break down the numbers. A normal range for platelets is 140K - 480K. The doc says they really will be concerned about my levels if they go below 50K. They won't do an epidural below 90K. Three weeks ago, my platelets were 136-138K (I can't remember which). So we're not talking anything too far below normal. When I first had my platelets tested, it was 125K. It later went up to around 144K. So the doc is not too concerned, because my numbers are hovering around normal and aren't changing all that drastically. This may just be how my body responds to being pregnant. I got more blood drawn today and we're going to keep an eye on my numbers.

My next appointment is in two weeks. At that appointment, I'll get to meet the other doctor in the practice who could deliver Bagel if my doc isn't available.

Now, before you go telling me to eat spinach like my mom (LOL, Mom), you can't replenish your platelets through diet. It's not like iron or calcium. If they get really low, they can do a platelet transfusion. But so far, it doesn't look like I'll need anything like that.

My doctor mentioned today that she was happy that we're back in even weeks, because she's into numerology. That surprised me, since she seems a no nonsense sort of woman and not into airy fairy notions (shout out to Val's mom) like numerology. Since this week seems to be all about numbers, let's break some down:

Number of times morning sickness has made itself, uh, evident: 0. Go Bagel!

Number of times I have been ill this pregnancy: 2. Not so great. Let's cross our fingers that there will be no more instances of that here, shall we?

Number of stretch marks: I was all excited to put 0, but I think I might be getting one! Lest you chicks reading out there think you can prevent stretch marks with lotion or something, please realize that, due to my eczema, I have the most well-lubricated skin known to man. I put lotion on all over 2-3 times a day. Seriously.

Number of scary low points: 1.

Number of elated high points: Where's the infinity button?

Number of pounds I've gained: Yeah right, nosy! Let's just say I'm on track to gain exactly as much as I'm supposed to gain. Though I've definitely been packing on more this trimester. Gotta fatten up Bagel.

Number of times Rob has felt Bagel kick: Countless! Bagel's actually starting to push a lot more than kick, and you can see my belly dance around. His favorite game right now is to make my belly go all crazy, and then when I say to Rob, "quick, look!" he stops. Hilarious.

Number of hormone fueled BST (I'll let you figure that out) moments: 1. I had my first earlier this week. I would tell you that you can ask Rob all about it, but he probably doesn't want to relive it and would immediately go into the fetal position and start sucking his thumb. Where did all those hormones come from?! I felt like I was fifteen again. The upside is I was happy to realize I'll never be fifteen again.

Now that the numbers have aligned with the planets, or whatever, let's see what Bagel is up to in there this week. He's growing all kinds of grooves and ridges in his brain now, and his bone marrow has taken over production of red blood cells. This means he's better able to thrive on his own once he's an outside baby. That furry coat he had before is starting to come off, now that he's getting nice and fat, and his brain and that precious blubber are now regulating his body temperature.

Ok, that was exhausting. Please, no pictures.

Week 29 -- I'm Sick...Again

I came down with another cold this week and worked from the couch for a few days with some soup. Let's hope that does the trick. I just hope this cough doesn't linger for weeks on end like the one I had back in March. That was just awful. No more bruised ribs, please. I think Bagel got tired of my coughing, because he seems to have migrated lower down. This would be fantastic news, as it means he's moved away from my diaphragm. But the congestion isn't really letting me enjoy that. Plus, he's started using my bladder as a trampoline again. Good times.

I've started noticing that Bagel has a tickle spot. If I lightly rub my belly button, he'll start squirming around a bit. It's pretty cool. This is not an invitation to lift up my shirt and rub my belly button. Let's have some boundaries here, people. The other day, I was doing that, and this huge lump emerged to the right of my belly button. I've seen it again since then. I'm pretty sure that's either his head or his butt, I just can't tell which it is.

I had an interview appointment with a pediatrician today. For the most part, it went really well. They have separate sick and well waiting areas, an on call nurse 24/7, nurses available to answer phone questions at any time, 2-3 lactation consultants, about half their appointments are same day sick appointments, and they take both my and Rob's insurance. The only problem is the doctor was 20 minutes late for my appointment. The problem with that is that they close for lunch every day, and I was the first appointment after lunch. I'm going to give her the benefit of the doubt and assume she took a few minutes to look at a last minute sick kid or two before she came and talked to me. The doc answered all my questions and seemed pretty cool, but I don't think I'll really know how I feel about the place until I walk in there with a baby. I think I'm going to stick with this place and see how it pans out.

You would not believe what size the baby is this month. He's the size of a squash! Seriously? First they give me eggplant and then squash? I hate squash! Except butternut and spaghetti. So let's pretend it's one of those. He weighs nearly three pounds this week and measures about 17 inches. This month, all five of his sense are fully functional, and his brain and nervous system are going through major developments. What are those major developments? The website I was reading didn't say. It's a mystery. According to another website, my amniotic fluid has reached its maximum amount -- about 2 pints. Drink up kid!

I've started doing kick counts this week. This means that twice a day, I have to count every movement Bagel makes until he hits ten, and that should take less than an hour. No problems here so far, except half the time when I remember to do them, he happens to be napping, so not a lot is going on and it takes a while. Other times, like this morning, I catch him during an active period, and it takes all of 5 minutes.

Who wants pictures? I had Rob take a few of me before I went over to the pool with Kate and Erik and Jeremy this weekend.

Of course, I couldn't just pose nicely, I had to play around like a doof. Kinda like this:

And this:

Whooooaaaa! What am I doing? And this:



Then I finally settled down and took a normal photo. You can't really tell how big my belly is though, because of the angle. Oh, well.

Week 28 -- Diana's Belly Becomes a Canvas...For Food

A few weeks ago, my mom asked me if I'd started spilling food all over my belly yet. Despite the fact that such behavior sounds like me even without being pregnant, I told her I didn't know what she was talking about and told myself that just because it happened to her didn't mean it would happen to me. Well, nevermind. Not a day has gone by in the last 4 or so when I haven't spilled some sort of food all over my belly. Maybe Bagel is like a food magnet and is trying to attract food through my skin. Eating through osmosis? Maybe I'm just a slob. So far, today's masterpiece has been created with chicken salad and chocolate.

I reached another milestone this past week: my last air travel until after Bagel arrives. I had an awesome weekend in Seattle at a fun farm wedding (why yes, I was just in Portland, what of it?). Bagel and I went hiking by the ocean and checked out an art festival, as well. Here's a picture of the awesome view on part of my hike:

And here's a picture of a cool slug I saw:

Jealous? I know you are.

I'm excited to have no more travel plans, other than a quick drive down to Richmond in September, until Bagel arrives. No more dealing with airlines. No more sitting for 5 hours of turbulence. No more empty fridge because I didn't have time to shop for groceries. It's time to spend the next few months feathering my nest and hopefully enjoying close proximity to a bathroom, since Bagel has started using my bladder as a trampoline in earnest this time. TMI? DWI (deal with it).

He also seems to have moved, or rather his growing is growing upwards. I can tell because I can't breathe as well anymore. I read that this is normal as he's starting to push on my diaphragm. It's definitely starting to slow me down in terms of my activity level. My sporadic jogs at this point are more like walks and I'm far more likely to cut a workout short if I'm not feeling up to it. The pool is really feeling great these days. I can still move pretty easily and Bagel is well supported in the water.

The downside is that maternity suits are not made for lap swim. Even Speedo finally started selling maternity suits, but they're tankinis. Too much dragging fabric. So instead, I just bought a suit that's way too big for me otherwise. It's like a 16. I look hilarious in this thing. It's way too huge in the butt and the chest. I look like a freak in it. But whatever gets the job done....

Now that you know how Mama is doing this week, how's Bagel? We're in the final week of eggplant! Actually, I just read somewhere that he's the size of a Chinese cabbage, whatever that is. He's between 2 and 2.5 pounds and is 15 to 16 inches long. His fat cells are increasing, so he's putting some meat on those bones and prepping to be a little Michelin baby. Until now, Bagel's brain was smooth, but now, it's starting to form grooves and indentations. I remember from psych classes in college that the smarts are in all the grooves. That's why (arguably) smart species like humans have groovy, bumpy brains, while the dumber ones, like rats, have smooth brains. So wrinkle away, Bagel. Cram some smarts into those grooves.

Week 27 -- Into the Home Stretch

I'm officially in my third trimester! Let's take a moment and savor that, shall we? I can see the finish line off in the distance.

I had all kinds of excitement with my doctor's appointment today. First, I'm no longer measuring small. I was 27 cm, exactly where I should be. Way to grow, Bagel! I also got my rhogam shot so Rob's Rh positive blood doesn't mess me up. Finally, I got my glucose test for gestational diabetes. I don't have my results yet, but I told my doctor I was really hungry (I had to fast for the test, so I didn't eat breakfast). She said that meant I probably didn't have it. Good news there. And I heard Bagel's heartbeat thump thumping away. He's hanging out on my right side today.

From now on, the doctor's appointments will be closer together. I've got one scheduled for three weeks from now, and then I'll have three more that are two weeks apart. Two appointments from now, I'll meet the other doctor in the practice who does deliveries.

Still in the eggplant month (yuck), this week Bagel is measuring in at over two pounds and about fifteen inches (this is because he's more fully formed, so he's now measured from head to toe, rather than from head to booty). He can suck his thumb now, and can also cry, though we can't hear him, of course. I'll enjoy that while I can. His hearing is getting better, and he might be able to recognize my voice and Rob's. Also, his taste buds are very developed now, and in fact, he has more taste buds now than he'll ever have once he's an outside baby. I'll have to make a concerted effort to get a wide variety of flavors in there for him.

I didn't even notice until it was pointed out to me that the name poll has closed! Thirty days was just way too long for that poll. But the winner is (drumroll please)....Diana Jr.! Thanks to all who voted. We will be considering our options, and Diana Jr. will now definitely be near the top of the list. There's something about the name that just sounds nice to me. I can't figure out why....

I know what you're thinking. "We were promised pictures! Where are the pictures?!" I finally took one! Here ya go:


Also, note that I updated last week's post with some pictures of my Portland trip. There! You are practically swimming in pictures.

Week 26 -- It. Is. HOT.

I'm in Portland for a hearing, and it's been about 105 degrees. And it felt like it. Thankfully, today was a cool, breezy 98. For the most part, I've felt that people are full of it when they give you that sympathetic tripe about being pregnant in the heat of summer. First, I was happy to be pregnant at all, and would gladly have carried him to term on the surface on Venus, if needs be. Second, I've decided I'm much happier with summery maternity clothes. They're flowy and cool and easy. Bundling up in seven layers when I'm pregnant sounds awful to me. However, being a human incubator today is probably making me feel even hotter in this apocolypic heat wave. No fun.

But Portland has been great. I've had some wonderful seafood and even picked some fresh blackberries on a walking trail outside our hotel the other day. Reminded me of summers back home when we'd pick blackberries across the street. For weeks we'd have blackberries on our cereal. In pies. In tarts. In cobblers. Great, now I'm dying for some blackberry pie again. That would be the second time this pregnancy. Maybe I can find it somewhere to satisfy my craving this time.

Speaking of fruit, what size is Bagel this month? Apparently, he's the size of an eggplant. Ew. They just had to go there. I hate eggplant. So you don't have to picture a such nasty foodstuffs, I'll tell you he's about 2 pounds and measures more than 9 inches. This month, Bagel is soaking up my antibodies, getting his imune system ready to be INVINCIBLE (knock on wood). Bagel is also starting to have a distinct sleep/wake cycle. I haven't paid close enough attention to the exact times, but he does tend to be a lot more active about 10:30-11pm and then very early in the morning. I think he just does whatever he wants though. I was just out with my friend Amy, and he was just not interested in kicking when she had her hand on my belly. Punk.

His eyes are also starting to open! I hope it looks nice in there, Bagel. I read that if I shine a flashlight on my belly, he might kick in response. I may try this just to annoy him. His iris doesn't have much pigment yet, so it's too early to guess his eye color, though it's most likely to be brown given Mom and Dad's eye color.

I wish I had pictures or something awesome for you guys, but I'm not equipped for that out here in PDX. Maybe when I get back, I'll update with a picture of the bald eagle my parents and I saw on our river lunch cruise. That was awesome.

UPDATE: Here are some pics from the Portland trip. Better late than never!

Here's the bald eagle we saw. It was so cool. If you squint, you can see the white feathers on its head.

Mom and I were so excited, that we went crazy with some bloody marys. Ok, virgin bloody marys. They were good, but they really could've used some vodka.

Week 25 -- OMG where are the pictures?!

See, I say that because I know I spoiled you all last week with so many pictures. Sorry, I got nothing for you today. Maybe next week. Though I must say, my belly is getting quite pronounced. One of my coworkers just told me he thinks I'm bigger since he saw me last Wednesday. I think he may be right. Of course, I also just ate a chicken burrito. But seriously, I'm already growing out of some of my maternity clothes in the belly. Time to shop again!

I actually had my first comment from a stranger trying to tell me what to do with my body. Very interesting, but a far more positive experience than I would have thought. We were leaving the airport parking lot, and the cashier said, "Are you pregnant? How far along are you? Should you be flying?" I told her I was due in November and was fine to fly, and she just laughed at herself for trying to be my doctor. It was pretty funny. Far better than if some stranger had said, "you shouldn't eat that" or something along those lines. I keep expecting someone to say something obnoxious at the gym or something. But so far, nothing. As an aside, I'd like to point out to all you friends and family that this paragraph is aimed solely at stranger comments. If you see me eating something that contains toxic waste, I'm not going to chew you out for informing me about it.

Rob and I had a great time this past weekend in Charleston with the whole family. There were lots of games, lots of good food, and lots of baby tickling. Gaby entertained us all with a game that involved giving out and taking away tennis balls (I'll have to see if I can find the home edition in stores), and Chloe had fun shrieking and trying to rip my face off. We can't wait to see everyone again in a few short months.

And how is Bagel this week? He's great! He has been kicking up a storm the past two days or so. Mostly aiming at my bladder. Thanks buddy! I got some more of those big pushes out on my belly last night that felt like an alien trying to break out. Pretty cool. This week, Bagel is a little more than a pound and a half and almost 9 inches long. I've read that this is a bit taller than two juice boxes stacked one on top of the other and almost as heavy as four juice boxes. In your mind's eye, please confine your images to boxes that contain 100% juice. We're not talking Capri Sun here, tasty though it may be. Bagel gets only the best and most nutritious juice boxes, and I don't want him bouncing off the walls (aka my internal organs) on a sugar high.

This week, Bagel's skin is turning pinker because capillaries are forming under the skin and filling with blood. Later this week, blood vessels will also develop in his lungs, bringing him closer to being able to breathe on his own (but not there yet). His nostrils are also starting to open. For all I know, he's practicing picking his nose. Let's hope not. I'd rather you leave your temporary home as spic and span as it was when you got there, Bagel. He's now taking practice breaths, though they are of amniotic fluid rather than air.

The most awesome change this week? If you put your ear to my belly, you might be able to hear Bagel's heartbeat. Rob and I tried it this weekend with no luck, but it was still a bit early. We'll try again soon. Rob has also been talking to Bagel quite a bit, saying hey, it's your daddy and I love you and all manner of vomit inducing things. It's sweet and could be the reason for the kicking increase. Maybe Bagel wants to break out and come meet his dad. :)

I know, I know. You're still pissed after reading this whole big post with all these scary, complex words like "capillaries" and "burrito" without any picture to look at as your reward. Ok, fine. Here's a picture:

Week 24 -- HAPPY V DAY!!

No, not that V Day. V Day is Viability Day. At 24 weeks, it's more likely than not that, if the baby were to come now, he would survive. Of course, I've also read 23 weeks and 27 weeks, but 24 seems to be the most common number to use. Yay! Coinciding with V Day, Bagel has gotten much more active lately, or at least I can feel it a lot more now, usually in the middle of the night. It seems around 4 am is his favorite time for Tae Bo.

So many things to post about today! First, I had a doctor's appointment last week, which went very well. The doc didn't seem too concerned about my fall, with the happy results of my ultrasound in front of her. I asked her if I could keep running and she told me as long as I still felt comfortable and had no cramps or shortness of breath, I could continue without a problem, but that this wasn't the time to push myself. While pushing myself is just part of who I am, I have been very mindful of this and have already started to cut back a bit and do shorter runs with more and longer walk breaks.

We learned from the ultrasound that Bagel is breech right now. But the doctor says they usually don't flip over until a few weeks out from the due date, so we've got some time.

For the first time this appointment, the doc measured my belly with a tape measure. You're supposed to be approximately the same number of centimeters as you are weeks along, and I was a bit more than 2 cm small, so she told me I'm "measuring small." Given that I just had an ultrasound on the previous Saturday, she wasn't too concerned. She knew the amniotic fluid was good. But she was annoyed that the ultrasound I got didn't tell her how big baby was measuring. I don't think she was worried about it, just wished she had all the information in front of her. She said we'll probably do another ultrasound after my next appointment, just in case. That would be a month from now. I also read online that women with good muscle tone can tend to measure small anyway, so it could just be my abs of steel causing all this fuss. To be on the safe side, I'm downing the liquids like Chevy Chase in ¡Three Amigos!

I asked if I was gaining enough weight, and it looks like I'm on the low side of normal. The doc said I was doing "ok" and "could do a little better." So I've had a few cheeseburgers since last Wednesday. :)

Our next piece of news is that we put the crib together!


Ok, I put the crib together. As poor Rob stood in the doorway on Sunday, about to leave for several more hours of work, he said, "you know I would do that for you, but I think you'd be really upset." And I would be really upset! I love putting together furniture. It's like a puzzle! Now I know what you're thinking. How did she get her carpet so beautifully clean? I did that with our wonderful new vacuum, which I bought that morning. Ok, I know, not baby related, but I'm excited about it nonetheless.

And what's the Bagel up to this week? He's starting to produce white blood cells, so he can fight off infection, like cooties (it's an epidemic). He weighs about a pound and a half and is about eight and a half inches long. So I'm about to pass the point that I can mail him in a standard envelope for visits. He can hear our voices, which Rob is taking advantage of by putting his hand on my belly and saying, "baby, if you love me, kick your mommy." They're already ganging up on me.

I'll leave you with some belly shots, since you haven't had any in a while: