Friday, March 28, 2014

34 Weeks


So the last few pregnancy updates have been done on a more month to month basis, but things are happening and changing so fast as we near the end, that I felt I needed to do an update sooner. So here’s my 34 week update:

How far along? 34 weeks
Total weight gain: 33lbs.
Ultrasound/ECHO/Dr Appt updates: I officially have an ultrasound and OB appointment every week (they use to be about every other week), and this is due to a few reasons, for which I’m about to explain. Here are the latest medical updates:
1) I passed my fasting glucose gestational diabetes test with flying colours! Such a relief as its one less thing I have to worry about. Bring on the ice cream!
2) Baby girl is 5lbs, 6oz already! That’s so scary because in my head she’s officially full grown and could be born at any moment. Yes that’s on the smaller side for a newborn, but it’s not abnormal. The doctors are very happy with her weight, and her being above average, because the bigger she is, the better it will be for surgery.
3) My amniotic levels are high, and above the normal range. I believe the normal range is 8-18cm (according to Google). At our Edmonton appt on March 5th I was sitting at 24cm. Last week I was 27cm and this week I’m now sitting at 29cm. This didn’t come as a total surprise to me, as it’s kind of a family trait. My mom, sister and aunt all had higher levels of amniotic levels, and had to be monitored. At first they were worried the effect this would have on her heart, as it can add pressure making the heart work extra hard and can lead to heart failure. On Wednesday they checked and so far baby girl is doing well. They can’t see any problems with her swallowing, and her heart seems to be doing just fine. The only thing they’re now worried about is that high amniotic levels often lead to earlier deliveries, so the perinatologist said to be prepared for my OB to ask me to relocate to Edmonton earlier then what we had already planned. Stay tuned….
4) I’m measuring at 36 weeks. The nurse said this is completely normal given the baby’s size, my high amniotic levels, and my body type (I’m short, so there is nowhere else for the baby to go). Friends and co-workers have definitely commented on how much bigger I gotten within just one week. If you compare my 32 and 34 week photos, it’s amazing to see the difference.
Maternity clothes? It’s all I wear. At the mall the other day, I was totally lusting over the regular clothing and can’t wait to not be pregnant anymore so I can buy normal clothes again.
Stretch marks? I’m sad to say that a few small ones have appeared. I have upped my BioOil applications (I was starting to get a little lazy in doing this), and I’ve been trying to drink as much water as possible – which I have found has stopped the appearance of more within the last week. I hope that once baby girl is born, with the continued use of the oil, drinking lots of water and exercising, it will help them fade.
Sleep: Still not sleeping that well, but a friend gave me this essential oil for new mom’s that’s supposed to help soothe the mind and body, and I feel that it has helped me get a better night’s sleep when I apply it before bed. Still, as the days go by, I find I'm getting more and more tired and just want to sleep all the time!
Best moment lately: My beautiful baby shower that my sister Danika and best friend Whitney put on for me. You can read and see pictures from it here.
Miss Anything? Good sleep, regular clothes, walking up the stairs without losing my breath, eating without getting heartburn, standing for 10 minutes without my legs hurting, sitting comfortably, etc.
Movement: She’s still super active, and I have a feeling it won’t end anytime soon, considering she has lots of room and amniotic fluid to move around in. I love it when you can see her move from the outside.
Food cravings: This has changed quite a bit in the last few weeks. I use to like salty fries, potatoes, and cheeseburgers, but I find they just intensify my heartburn. As much as Nick thinks I’m just making up excuses, ice cream has been my best friend. So lots of milk, ice cream and ice water have been what I’ve been gravitating towards lately.
Anything making you queasy or sick: Nothing really at this point. I just find some foods make my heart burn in the evening much worse, so I try to avoid them if possible.
Gender: GIRL! I find it funny how they confirm it at every ultrasound appt (we have a lot). I guess it’s nice to know there won’t be any surprises at delivery.
Labor Signs: Nope.
Symptoms: So the evening heartburn looks like it’s going to stick around for a while, and not only that, but my body has begun to display other lovely “symptoms”. Nick has told me that I have begun to start snoring at night. Great…. Let’s just say that I know my husband loves me very much to put up with my gassy, burping and snoring self. My hands and feet have also begun to start swelling. Some days are worse than others, and it can vary throughout the day. There not as bad as my sisters (sorry Danika) got, and I’m hoping they don’t get that bad (they were seriously pillows! lol). Lastly, I’m now at the point where I have to run to the washroom every hour, and it’s gotten very annoying.
Belly Button in or out? Still in, but it’s small.
Wedding rings on or off? On, but I can’t get them off…. (big oops on my part). It’s not cutting off any circulation, so maybe I can just keep them on. Nick is seriously not impressed with me at the moment.
Happy or Moody most of the time: I’m still being pretty optimistic right now, but I’m now at the point that I just want baby girl to come! I'm done with all this waiting around.
Looking forward to: Only one week of work left!

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