Later in January, my daughter was born via C-section at UCSF. The experience was not what we had hoped for, but since we had tried so many other methods to turn her, it was not unexpected. And that made it more easily accepted. It was the best for us all. We obviously had a stubborn (where on the earth did she get that from?) child on our hands. From the beginning, it had to be her way.
The first four days in the hospital were hard. I mean, HARD. We weren't getting a proper latch, and because my daughter was born via surgery, my body hadn't gone through the same process as it would have had I given birth naturally. My milk took a few days to come in. I was "convinced" by weekend nursing staff that I needed to try doing a feed of formula as I nursed in order to maintain my baby's acceptable weight decline.
The final nursing nurse we had brought me back from the edge. She said it was all a numbers game, and it didn't matter the circumstances, and that was wrong of them. It had been wrong to make me feel guilty for my milk taking longer to come in. It had been wrong to make me feel guilty for having a C-section, which is part of the reason why my numbers were bloated. Literally. Because I had the IV pumped in me, and essentially, the baby in utero, when my daughter was born she had a lot of water weight. So of course she "lost" more weight post-birth than a baby who was working hard to make it out of the birthing canal over hours.
Tired and still having trouble with the breastfeeding process, when we made it home, I cried. I didn't know how to be a mom. I couldn't even guarantee I could feed my child (although I know in hindsight, I would have gone to formula if things didn't pick up by the first pediatrician visit). Life just got a bazillion times scarier, and more amazing.
But that is all in the past. We all survived. How I don't really know. But that is for another day, and another blog, https://onelittlegirlgrowsup.blogspot.com.
Jan 27, 2016
Jan 10, 2012
Time Flies...
Happy New Year! Although the year started off with a family loss, we are looking forward to the upcoming birth of our little one. I'm at 36 weeks, 5 days now. Occasionally I will feel nauseated again, especially if I am trapped on BART or in a car for too long. I did have a bout of stomach flu in December but I don't think it was related.
I feel the baby move regularly and she is breech still (at the last antenatal appointment). She'll push out my belly in the upper right-hand side with her feet. She is already not listening to her parents who keep telling her to turn head down now! I am really hoping she will on her own so I won't need the external versioning or a c-section. I went to a chiropractor to align my hips and pelvis, and while I felt her move during the Webster Technique, I still think she's head up, butt down. :-( I will find out on Wednesday what my next step is. I plan on signing up for acupuncture and moxibustion before I have to get the versioning, although the versioning will need to be scheduled.
I feel the baby move regularly and she is breech still (at the last antenatal appointment). She'll push out my belly in the upper right-hand side with her feet. She is already not listening to her parents who keep telling her to turn head down now! I am really hoping she will on her own so I won't need the external versioning or a c-section. I went to a chiropractor to align my hips and pelvis, and while I felt her move during the Webster Technique, I still think she's head up, butt down. :-( I will find out on Wednesday what my next step is. I plan on signing up for acupuncture and moxibustion before I have to get the versioning, although the versioning will need to be scheduled.
Nov 28, 2011
30 Weeks!!!
I am feeling it. Moving around is harder. Getting up and sitting down is harder. Sleeping is harder. At seven and a half months, I am trying not to imagine what my body will be complaining about over the next two and half. I'm at about 150 lbs now, but fortunately it all seems to be in my belly. Maybe in my thighs a bit too.
I took the regular glucose test at 26 weeks and failed by one point. So I had to take the three-hour fasting glucose test and passed all of the hours, but my fasting number was again 1 point higher than the cutoff. I tested my glucose for one week with a finger prick four times a day and came back with good results. They determined I do not have gestational diabetes. Yay! Which was good because I was on a plane to NJ when I got the voicemail. Finding low carb meals in South Jersey is difficult. Brown rice was not to be found and many items only come deep-fried. But that's a different issue.
With the glucose screening behind me, I was feeling great until the week of Thanksgiving. No aches or pains out of the blue and then one day I woke up and it hit me. I started to feel more sluggish, my back felt achy after standing too long washing dishes, picking up stuff off the floor is difficult, and getting in and out of the car is a pain in the butt, nevermind reaching out for the handle once I am in.
My next dilemma is the flu vaccine. I have an OB appointment today and I am going to get the shot most likely. I am not 100% sure of how the vaccine is transmitted to the baby too. Will the baby be protected by my breastmilk? That's my big question I guess.
I took the regular glucose test at 26 weeks and failed by one point. So I had to take the three-hour fasting glucose test and passed all of the hours, but my fasting number was again 1 point higher than the cutoff. I tested my glucose for one week with a finger prick four times a day and came back with good results. They determined I do not have gestational diabetes. Yay! Which was good because I was on a plane to NJ when I got the voicemail. Finding low carb meals in South Jersey is difficult. Brown rice was not to be found and many items only come deep-fried. But that's a different issue.
With the glucose screening behind me, I was feeling great until the week of Thanksgiving. No aches or pains out of the blue and then one day I woke up and it hit me. I started to feel more sluggish, my back felt achy after standing too long washing dishes, picking up stuff off the floor is difficult, and getting in and out of the car is a pain in the butt, nevermind reaching out for the handle once I am in.
My next dilemma is the flu vaccine. I have an OB appointment today and I am going to get the shot most likely. I am not 100% sure of how the vaccine is transmitted to the baby too. Will the baby be protected by my breastmilk? That's my big question I guess.
Nov 3, 2011
Counting Carbs
On October 24 I took the 1 hour glucose screening test and failed by a measly 6 points (cutoff is 140 and I had 146). Could have been because my breakfast took place within the hour of the testing and then I drank the orange syrup. The syrup wasn't bad; it tasted like the syrup they put on snow cones. It gave me a slight upset stomach about 15 minutes in but after that, no problems.
For the 4-hour test, I had to fast and my baseline number was 95. The cutoff is 94. All of the other numbers were fine and within range for the three hours after I drank the syrup. Had no stomach problems despite nothing else in my tummy. The night before I had a "I am Whole" bowl at Cafe Gratitude and a piece of hazelnut mousse cake. That may have contributed to the high number, plus back to back wedding weekends before the tests. :-( Wedding cakes were not my friend, but they tasted so good going down.
Now I am counting carbs for a week. I am testing my blood sugar four times a day (once fasting in the morning and then after every meal). It's a pain but has made me realize after one day that I was overeating the carbs and portions in general. We'll see if fruit is a trigger for high sugar too. I had fruit salad as a snack before lunch yesterday and my numbers ended up on the higher end of the range, but for dinner I had three small mandarin oranges and ended up below the target range.
For the 4-hour test, I had to fast and my baseline number was 95. The cutoff is 94. All of the other numbers were fine and within range for the three hours after I drank the syrup. Had no stomach problems despite nothing else in my tummy. The night before I had a "I am Whole" bowl at Cafe Gratitude and a piece of hazelnut mousse cake. That may have contributed to the high number, plus back to back wedding weekends before the tests. :-( Wedding cakes were not my friend, but they tasted so good going down.
Now I am counting carbs for a week. I am testing my blood sugar four times a day (once fasting in the morning and then after every meal). It's a pain but has made me realize after one day that I was overeating the carbs and portions in general. We'll see if fruit is a trigger for high sugar too. I had fruit salad as a snack before lunch yesterday and my numbers ended up on the higher end of the range, but for dinner I had three small mandarin oranges and ended up below the target range.
Oct 14, 2011
At 24 weeks/6 Months
So far the issues I seem to be having are typical. No cholestasis, yay!! Tossing and turning to get comfortable in the middle of the night, booo! Gas overload, random itchiness and dry skin but not too bad, slightly swollen feet at the end of the day, and I'm walking slower than usual and more hungry.
Oct 4, 2011
Flippity-Flops and Other Pregnant Health Issues
We're at 22 weeks incubation now and I'm more consistently getting the flippity-flop feeling after I eat or when I am lying in bed on my side. Not so much when I just sitting on the couch though. I'm about 144.5 lbs, and I guess on target for being almost 5 mo 3 weeks pregnant.
I ended up calling my doctor about the itching two Fridays ago. Last Monday I went in for bloodwork but haven't heard back either way if the itchy palms and soles are being caused by cholestasis. I still get it occasionally (last night my outer palms were slightly itchy and Sunday night my soles were a little) but nothing like the intensity that I had the few days before I made the call.
I did experience some random hive-like welts on my back and hips last Friday night. We had eaten Japanese noodles (soba with mushrooms and carrots). I got the itchy welts about two hours later when we got back home. They lasted a few hours and the next day they were gone. I looked up PUPPS and other skin rashes but nothing really showed as being some come and go. Hopefully they won't return.
Because...this past weekend I think I began a path toward pregnancy carpal tunnel in my right arm. All day Saturday I was sitting on the ground for 20 minutes and getting up to move to another stage at the Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival in Golden Gate Park. After a long day, my hand started hurting like it was bruised almost. Then my forearm started aching like it does after bowling with a ball that is too heavy. This is all after we got home. Then in the middle of the night my right shoulder ached and was kinda numb feeling but not like it was falling asleep. Just weak. Like I had bruised my bone or had arthritis (which is also a possibility as it rained yesterday). Sunday I wore my magnet bracelet for CT at work and that night it was less painful but still sort of present. Monday my arm still ached (but no longer up to my shoulder). Last night I slept with my bracelet on and my arm feels better today. I'm trying not to sleep on my wrists at all but since I am supposed to sleep on my left side and not my back it is hard NOT sleeping on a part of my arm. I hope to get another massage soon!
I ended up calling my doctor about the itching two Fridays ago. Last Monday I went in for bloodwork but haven't heard back either way if the itchy palms and soles are being caused by cholestasis. I still get it occasionally (last night my outer palms were slightly itchy and Sunday night my soles were a little) but nothing like the intensity that I had the few days before I made the call.
I did experience some random hive-like welts on my back and hips last Friday night. We had eaten Japanese noodles (soba with mushrooms and carrots). I got the itchy welts about two hours later when we got back home. They lasted a few hours and the next day they were gone. I looked up PUPPS and other skin rashes but nothing really showed as being some come and go. Hopefully they won't return.
Because...this past weekend I think I began a path toward pregnancy carpal tunnel in my right arm. All day Saturday I was sitting on the ground for 20 minutes and getting up to move to another stage at the Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival in Golden Gate Park. After a long day, my hand started hurting like it was bruised almost. Then my forearm started aching like it does after bowling with a ball that is too heavy. This is all after we got home. Then in the middle of the night my right shoulder ached and was kinda numb feeling but not like it was falling asleep. Just weak. Like I had bruised my bone or had arthritis (which is also a possibility as it rained yesterday). Sunday I wore my magnet bracelet for CT at work and that night it was less painful but still sort of present. Monday my arm still ached (but no longer up to my shoulder). Last night I slept with my bracelet on and my arm feels better today. I'm trying not to sleep on my wrists at all but since I am supposed to sleep on my left side and not my back it is hard NOT sleeping on a part of my arm. I hope to get another massage soon!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
