I had a doctor appointment last Friday. Everything seems routine now. Go in, give a sample, get blood pressure checked, hear heartbeat, doctor comes in, measures belly, looks at chart, and sends me on my way. My last appointment took me 30 minutes...and that was checking in and everything. Everything is still going well. The baby is still growing like he should be. I gained 9 pounds in a month! I asked if that was ok since it is quite a jump from the 3 pounds I gained the month before. The doctor said it is not that unusual to have that big of a jump during this time because the weight is not just me, it's the baby growing too. I think I read somewhere that he's now about 1.5-2 pounds. Anyway, now I have to start going every 2 weeks. My next appointment I have to do a sugar test. I have to drink this huge glass of sugary liquid stuff and sit for an hour and then they draw my blood. I guess it's supposed to make sure I"m not developing gestational diabetes, which can be common in pregnant women.
I finally got my scanner to work this weekend, so I scanned three pictures from the 18 week ultrasound. (I'll post them at the end.)
I have been really achy lately. My ribs, tail bone, back (of course) and lower pubic region. I asked the doctor about this and of course it is normal. Normally, these areas (not the back) are held taught with cartilage. But due to the progesterone being produced, the cartilage is softening so that things can move around to make room for the baby. When you think about it, it really is amazing what the female body goes through and how it changes to accommodate another living being in there. So, although I am constantly sore, it's worth it!
I feel movement every day. I feel bad for Ryan because the baby isn't kicking hard enough to really feel it on the outside, and when he does, it's super quick and really spontaneous. I think I got Ryan's hand there quick enough to feel it one day, and he thought he felt it again another day. I'm hoping pretty soon, though, it will be more pronounced. I've heard people talk about seeing the baby moving over the tummy or seeing a hand or foot stick out. Perhaps we'll see that when I'm even bigger.
I think I've pretty much got things straightened out with the short term disability. I really wanted to be able to do that because then I get paid, as opposed to FMLA where you get 12 weeks off but unpaid. Anyway, my firm is small and they pay the short term disability as opposed going through an insurance company, so they have already said they will let me take it. It's just a matter of how long. I got the doctor note at my last appointment saying 6 weeks for vaginal delivery and 8 weeks for c-section, but that I can stay out 12 pursuant to our policy. So, I'm not sure yet how much paid time they will actually let me take off, but even if it's just 6-8 weeks, I have enough sick days rolled over and vacation to make sure I get 12 weeks.
Ryan and I visited a day care center last Wednesday. It seemed good, but it was our first one, so we really had no frame of reference or anything to compare it to. We are vising one this afternoon and another one on Wednesday. These were our top three choices from the information I got on the internet and by e-mail, so hopefully we like them as much in person as on paper and can get another thing checked off our list!
Speaking of lists, it seems like we really have a lot to do to prepare for the baby! I mean, before we kept thinking, oh there's plenty of time. But now, it's July 11, and before you know it, it will be August, and the time just keeps flying by! I mean it seems like we have time, but in reality, we really don't. I need to get moving on making a registry and picking out stuff. I know I have trouble getting motivated because (1) I'm afraid I"m not going to pick good things and (2) there's so much out there it's kind of overwhelming to make a selection. But, hopefully in the next couple weeks I will hunker down and make some decisions. At least we've picked out the paint colors for the baby's room, right?
I just finished getting us registered for various classes. We're taking a maternity ward tour in August. Then we're going a class on childbirth preparation and one on parenting a baby. I signed up for a nursing class...I'm not sure yet if Ryan will go to that one or not. I think he'd be a little uncomfortable, but it says it's for mothers and their partners...so we will see.
Well, I guess that's all my ramblings for now. Until next time!
"Hi Mom and Dad!"
Can you see it?
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