Wow....today I hit the big 3-0! 30 weeks!! (Not 30 years...I wish since my big 4-0 birthday is only 8 months away). It is hard to believe, in some ways, that I'm this far along. It often feels as though the days and weeks have been dragging along and that I've been pregnant forever. Don't get me wrong, I'm grateful! :-)
The odd thing to know is that we found out we were pregnant when I was 4 weeks. So, we have known for the past 26 weeks that we will be parents. Half a year!! The nice thing to know is that we only have 9 weeks more to go until we deliver (9 weeks plus a day or two, possibly).
Chris and I are so looking forward to meeting our little gymnast. The baby seems to love doing acrobatics. I'm looking forward to the birth for more than just seeing our little angel. I'm also excited because it will finally mean a complete end to morning sickness, back aches, and the need for Tums (which have recently become my best friend)! ;) I would say it will mean the end of fatigue (which has recently restarted), but, while technically true, we will soon go into sleep deprivation mode. However, to me that is more than worth it.
Happy 3-0 to me! :-)
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Saturday, January 29, 2011
Why I'm Having a Scheduled C-Section
Yes....I'm having a scheduled c-section for those who don't know. Some people give me odd looks when it comes up or automatically ask why, while others try to be polite and not say a word.
Let me first say this. I'm not having a scheduled c-section by choice. If I had my way, I would go for it--all natural, well, almost--hello epidural! ;) LOL! But, I would do the vaginal birth if I could. When Chris and I went on a tour of the hospital where we will have our baby, I was so envious of all the women who are able to have their baby in their rooms. That won't be me though.
On Friday, Sept 13, 1996, when I was just 5 1/2 weeks shy of my 25th birthday, I was in a major fall (I won't get into what caused the fall, etc., now). The fall affected my life in many ways for a variety of reasons, but the most apparent one was my physical condition. I was teetering on the edge of life and death. I can honestly say that my life is a miracle from God and the angels who saved me on that day. However, while I survived, it wasn't without physical consequence. I broke 6 ribs (one punctured a lung causing the other lung to collapse), broke my upper left arm, caused internal damage, had a slight skull fracture, shattered my right hip and broke my pelvis in 4 places.
Needless to say, I spent a long time in the hospital. Soon after the surgery repairing my hip and pelvis, I developed what is called compartment syndrome in my right leg under my knee. Basically, what that means is that a limb starts blowing up like a balloon. If it isn't taken care of quickly, one can lose the limb or worse. The doctors had to relieve the pressure and did so by performing something called a fasciotomy (basically, they made a large cut in my right calf and 3 smaller ones in my right foot). They were able to save my leg, but...the swelling killed 40% of the muscle which had to be removed and damaged/killed many nerves in my leg. So, to this day, I have something called drop foot (I literally cannot lift my foot with my ankle). Ever since that day, my balance has not always been the greatest.
One year after this, on Sept 11, 1997, I had a total hip replacement for my right hip and spent even more time recovering.
One of the concerns my sister and mom addressed while I was in the hospital was if I would be able to still have children. The doctors said yes. However, they said I would require a c-section due to my broken pelvis. My pelvis will not expand as it needs to during birth. So...I will have a scheduled c-section. Also, in my research, even if my pelvis hadn't been injured, due to my hip replacement I would have chosen to have a c-section because many women end up having to replace their hips again within a year of giving birth.
I'm just so thankful to God that my injuries, my fall, will not prevent me from becoming a mom. I am willing to go through whatever I need to in order to have this baby. The good news, for me I suppose, is that my cousin, a Labor & Delivery nurse, thinks that a c-section will be a piece of cake for me because it will be nothing compared to any of my past surgeries. I hope she is right! :-)
Let me first say this. I'm not having a scheduled c-section by choice. If I had my way, I would go for it--all natural, well, almost--hello epidural! ;) LOL! But, I would do the vaginal birth if I could. When Chris and I went on a tour of the hospital where we will have our baby, I was so envious of all the women who are able to have their baby in their rooms. That won't be me though.
On Friday, Sept 13, 1996, when I was just 5 1/2 weeks shy of my 25th birthday, I was in a major fall (I won't get into what caused the fall, etc., now). The fall affected my life in many ways for a variety of reasons, but the most apparent one was my physical condition. I was teetering on the edge of life and death. I can honestly say that my life is a miracle from God and the angels who saved me on that day. However, while I survived, it wasn't without physical consequence. I broke 6 ribs (one punctured a lung causing the other lung to collapse), broke my upper left arm, caused internal damage, had a slight skull fracture, shattered my right hip and broke my pelvis in 4 places.
Needless to say, I spent a long time in the hospital. Soon after the surgery repairing my hip and pelvis, I developed what is called compartment syndrome in my right leg under my knee. Basically, what that means is that a limb starts blowing up like a balloon. If it isn't taken care of quickly, one can lose the limb or worse. The doctors had to relieve the pressure and did so by performing something called a fasciotomy (basically, they made a large cut in my right calf and 3 smaller ones in my right foot). They were able to save my leg, but...the swelling killed 40% of the muscle which had to be removed and damaged/killed many nerves in my leg. So, to this day, I have something called drop foot (I literally cannot lift my foot with my ankle). Ever since that day, my balance has not always been the greatest.
One year after this, on Sept 11, 1997, I had a total hip replacement for my right hip and spent even more time recovering.
One of the concerns my sister and mom addressed while I was in the hospital was if I would be able to still have children. The doctors said yes. However, they said I would require a c-section due to my broken pelvis. My pelvis will not expand as it needs to during birth. So...I will have a scheduled c-section. Also, in my research, even if my pelvis hadn't been injured, due to my hip replacement I would have chosen to have a c-section because many women end up having to replace their hips again within a year of giving birth.
I'm just so thankful to God that my injuries, my fall, will not prevent me from becoming a mom. I am willing to go through whatever I need to in order to have this baby. The good news, for me I suppose, is that my cousin, a Labor & Delivery nurse, thinks that a c-section will be a piece of cake for me because it will be nothing compared to any of my past surgeries. I hope she is right! :-)
Thursday, January 20, 2011
End of the 2nd Tri
It is hard for me to believe that I'm at the end of my 2nd trimester and about to begin the 3rd trimester! I'm so grateful to God that we are still carrying this precious bundle--our Baby G!
One thing I have discovered in pregnancy is that time seems to inch forward slowly. Some people might be saying, "Wow, you are already that far?" Whereas I'm like...."This is taking forever." LOL! I am greatly anticipating meeting Baby G. I am looking forward to hold him or her in my arms for the first time.
The bad thing about my pregnancy is that I'm still suffering from morning sickness. I'm counting on having it my whole pregnancy at this point. After all, I've now had it for 21 weeks (over 5 months), and at this point it has become part of my morning routine. ;) It isn't as bad as it was in the 1st trimester though. I'm thankful for that. I have dry heaves every morning still and on a random occasion in the evening. Throwing up is much rarer, but at least once every 2 weeks I still get sick.
One thing that amazes me is watching my belly grow. I LOVE it! I'm one of those women who doesn't feel fat or awful...granted I might feel that way later. I actually feel thinner and sexier in some ways. I didn't not start this pregnancy off thin--far from it actually. I expected to feel awful and fatter than usual, but I would accept it because that is what being pregnant is about (I honestly have never understood the women complaining about being fat because they are pregnant.). However, I feel amazing! Because my belly keeps growing, I have no fat rolls on my belly any longer. My stomach is firmer and tighter than it has been in years! I love that! I know it is because of the baby, but I can work with that. I love my pregnant body, so far!
Another thing I love is feeling the baby move. I first felt the baby around 15 weeks. I wasn't sure if that was what I was feeling though. But over time I learned it was definitely the baby. At first, it felt like a goldfish swimming in my belly. Little flutters on random occasions. It wasn't every day. Sometimes I would go 2-3 days without feeling a thing. Over time, I began to feel the baby more frequently and more clearly. Now, I feel the baby every day, multiple times in the day, and I can often "see" the baby! It really can be entertaining. Especially since Baby G really seems to like to party it up around 10:30 or 11 p.m. Last night, for example, Baby G & I were playing with each other. I would feel a kick or movement in one place then I would poke that same place and I would get a response from the baby. I then saw the baby rolling from one side of the belly to the other. I laughed out loud (amazingly, I didn't wake Chris). It was so awesome! One day, I may wake in the morning and see a bruise on my belly, and I'll have to explain to Chris that it was because I was playing with Baby G.
As I enter this 3rd trimester, I'm beyond excited. We will continue to get the nursery ready (which is in part done already), and attend a breastfeeding class in February. I'll also be attending my baby shower. Then of course, we'll schedule the c-section in the next few weeks and wait with great anticipation for the baby's arrival! Life is grand, and God is good! :-)
One thing I have discovered in pregnancy is that time seems to inch forward slowly. Some people might be saying, "Wow, you are already that far?" Whereas I'm like...."This is taking forever." LOL! I am greatly anticipating meeting Baby G. I am looking forward to hold him or her in my arms for the first time.
The bad thing about my pregnancy is that I'm still suffering from morning sickness. I'm counting on having it my whole pregnancy at this point. After all, I've now had it for 21 weeks (over 5 months), and at this point it has become part of my morning routine. ;) It isn't as bad as it was in the 1st trimester though. I'm thankful for that. I have dry heaves every morning still and on a random occasion in the evening. Throwing up is much rarer, but at least once every 2 weeks I still get sick.
One thing that amazes me is watching my belly grow. I LOVE it! I'm one of those women who doesn't feel fat or awful...granted I might feel that way later. I actually feel thinner and sexier in some ways. I didn't not start this pregnancy off thin--far from it actually. I expected to feel awful and fatter than usual, but I would accept it because that is what being pregnant is about (I honestly have never understood the women complaining about being fat because they are pregnant.). However, I feel amazing! Because my belly keeps growing, I have no fat rolls on my belly any longer. My stomach is firmer and tighter than it has been in years! I love that! I know it is because of the baby, but I can work with that. I love my pregnant body, so far!
Another thing I love is feeling the baby move. I first felt the baby around 15 weeks. I wasn't sure if that was what I was feeling though. But over time I learned it was definitely the baby. At first, it felt like a goldfish swimming in my belly. Little flutters on random occasions. It wasn't every day. Sometimes I would go 2-3 days without feeling a thing. Over time, I began to feel the baby more frequently and more clearly. Now, I feel the baby every day, multiple times in the day, and I can often "see" the baby! It really can be entertaining. Especially since Baby G really seems to like to party it up around 10:30 or 11 p.m. Last night, for example, Baby G & I were playing with each other. I would feel a kick or movement in one place then I would poke that same place and I would get a response from the baby. I then saw the baby rolling from one side of the belly to the other. I laughed out loud (amazingly, I didn't wake Chris). It was so awesome! One day, I may wake in the morning and see a bruise on my belly, and I'll have to explain to Chris that it was because I was playing with Baby G.
As I enter this 3rd trimester, I'm beyond excited. We will continue to get the nursery ready (which is in part done already), and attend a breastfeeding class in February. I'll also be attending my baby shower. Then of course, we'll schedule the c-section in the next few weeks and wait with great anticipation for the baby's arrival! Life is grand, and God is good! :-)
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