solofallop

no.172: 32-week check-up

Another uneventful check-up, which I'm thankful for! I'm making my rounds to all the other doctors in the group. I saw dr. l. this time, and I really like her too. Since she's new in the practice, I'd never met her before.

Appointment: 32-week
Blood pressure: 112/70
Weight: +3 lbs. (+11 lbs. total for the pregnancy)
Baby's heart rate: 150s
Measuring: 32 cm.

Question I asked, Answer she gave:

Q: Do I need a flu shot?
A: Yes! We'll go ahead and get that done today.

After a shot and scheduling an appointment in 2 weeks, I was on my way in less than 30 minutes!

 

no.171: molly is 3!

I have a 3-year-old. And it blows my mind. It seems like just yesterday, I was lying on an operating table, looking over my shoulder at a big, chubby baby screaming her head off. Crazy!

Then:

And now:

(photo by Johanna!)

This was my Facebook status on her birthday, which pretty much sums her up:

Happy 3rd Birthday to my awesome, smart, silly, sassy, bossy, opinionated, sweet, loving, funny Molly Beth. You're pretty amazing, kid. And we love you to pieces!

Things she’s up to right now:

• She’s into pretending and has a great imagination. She will also play by herself for periods of time, instead of having to be entertained. Of course, she would always rather someone be playing with her.
• She loves all art projects. She’s becoming quite good at using scissors and cutting paper. She can wield a glue stick like no other!
• We continued her swim lessons throughout the summer, although she complains now and doesn’t want to go as much. She LOVES to swim, but she doesn’t like to be told what to do. Coach makes her work. She would rather float around and play. She isn’t actually swimming yet either, but she’s so very close! She can barely touch the bottom in the shallow end of the pool, and she thinks it’s the most awesome thing ever.
• She’s been in her new room for a couple of months now, and she really likes sleeping in her new bed. I love it too, because now we can cuddle up and read books together in bed. We still have a bit of decorating to do in her room, but it’s such a nice and cozy space to be.
• Her language skills surprise me every day. She makes up long, complicated stories. She will repeat stories that she’s been told. She knows all the words to multiple songs. And she makes up songs. She gets very frustrated if she’s talking and can’t remember a word. Like, throw-yourself-on-the-floor-and-scream kind of frustration. I remind her that she’s still learning new words every day, and sometimes you forget, even I forget words!
• She can easily count to 20 and say her ABCs. And she recognizes numbers 0-9 and letters. She and my mom have “school” in the morning when Molly is willing, and they practice writing letters and numbers and drawing shapes.
• We’ve started reading chapter books in the last month, and she loves it. (Charlotte’s Web was first!) It amazes me that she will sit and listen when there are no pictures! She also loves my fairy tale books from when I was a kid, which also have little to no pictures. She can sit for 1-2 hours listening and reading books. It’s definitely one of her favorite pastimes.
• She has great good manners and knows how to use them. Of course, she has her bad manners too, and she recognizes and announces when she uses them as well. In all, she’s a well-behaved kid and a joy to be around. She has her moments, but she also knows how to take some time and collect herself and try again. Very rarely is her behavior ever a problem.
• She picks out her clothes in the morning and is actually really good at matching. Given enough time, she could dress herself, but I usually help her.
• She’s potty-trained and has been for months. She still wears a pull-up at night, because she wakes up wet almost every morning. But as for the day, she’s on it! She can go all by herself too, including washing her hands when she’s done.
• She loves bugs and butterflies. She loves unicorns and fairies right now too. And dolphins.
• Her favorite television shows are Jake and the Never Land Pirates, Tinga Tinga, Bubble Guppies, Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, The Cat & the Hat Knows a lot About That and Chuggington. She likes to watch nature programs and Animal Planet a lot too.

Stats from her 3-year check-up:

Height: 38 in.
Weight: 32 lbs.
Blood pressure: 89/48

There’s so much more, I’m sure, that I’m forgetting. Like I said in my Facebook status, we just all love her to pieces! She is so excited about being a big sister and asks me daily if “Scully” can come out yet. I’m sure we will have some challenges once that actually happens, but I’m also confident that she’s going to love helping us take care of her little sister. I can’t wait to see their relationship grow!

Click here to see pictures from her 3rd birthday party!

no.170: 24-, 28-, 29- and 30-week check-ups

(28-week baby belly)

Wow! Am I ever behind. If I don't get these written down, they will be lost forever! Here goes:

***

My 24-week check-up included my gestational diabetes test. I have to say, this was probably the worst prenatal appointment I've had to date. First of all, the appointment was at 8 a.m., which come to find out means that my nurse isn't there yet, and more importantly, neither is my phlebotomist.

You have to drink the sugary sweet drink an hour before your appointment, and there is a 15-minute window when they can take your blood. When I only had about 8 minutes left in that 15-minute window, I had to go find the nurse and tell her that I needed to get my blood drawn. She should have been on top of that, as I told her as soon as I got there what time the draw needed to be. Well, she then proceeds to stick me not once or twice, but FOUR times. She was finally able to get a vein in the top of my right hand. Needless to say, I was pretty much in tears by the time I finally got away from her. (She was also terrible at taking my blood pressure, and it was completely wrong. dr. k. took it again and it was fine.*)

The actual appointment was quick and to the point. I did complain to dr. k. about the nurse. I also told her had I known that my regular nurse and phlebotomist wasn't there until later, I would have gladly made the appointment later. We talked again about the likelihood of me failing the 1-hour test and having to come back for the 3-hour again. I was prepared for that, but then my nurse called the next day and I had passed the 1-hour! Yay!

Appointment: 24-week
Blood pressure #1: 128/88*
Blood pressure #2: 100/70
Weight: +4 lbs. (+4 lbs. total for the pregnancy)
Baby's heart rate: 140s

***

I don't remember much of anything about my 28-week check-up. I did see one of the other doctors in the practice to begin making my rounds to see everyone for this pregnancy. The chances of going into labor and one of the other doctors performing my c-section aren't very high, but they still want you to make your rounds. dr. w. is my second favorite in the group.

Question I asked, Answer dr. w. gave:

Q: I'm having pelvic pain all the time and hip pain during the night. Is that normal?
A: Yes. All normal. I can heal you in about 12 weeks!

Appointment: 28-week
Blood pressure: 110/78
Weight: +7 lbs. (+11 lbs. total for the pregnancy)
Baby's heart rate: 140s
Measuring: 28 cm.

***

You aren't supposed to have a 29-week appointment, but I was feeling really bad at work one morning and ended up having to go in that afternoon. I was dizzy, my chest was tight, my belly was tight, I had cramps and pelvic pain, just overall feeling bad. I thought it might be due to dehydration, and that's what it ended up being. I drank lots of water, and I felt amazingly better later in the evening. Imagine that. Drink water!

Appointment: 29-week
Blood pressure: 112/60
Weight: +0 lb. (+11 lbs. total for the pregnancy)
Baby's heart rate: 140s-150s

***

My 30-week appointment was super quick. I was in and out in about 20 minutes.

Questions I asked, Answers dr. k. gave:

Q: Would sitting on an exercise ball at work help with some of the pelvic pain I'm having?
A: It might help a little. You will probably have to alternate between the ball and your chair because the ball might make your back hurt. You can order a maternity belt and that might help some too. (I ordered one, we'll see!)

Q: I have a work trip in October, and I will be 36 weeks. Is a 4-hour car trip to Nashville okay?
A: It should be fine. Let's talk closer to 36 weeks, and I will check your cervix and make sure you aren't going into labor or anything right before you go.

Q: My hips are super painful at night, and I'm barely sleeping. Can I sleep propped up on my back?
A: As long as you aren't having any shortness of breath or headaches when you're on your back, it's fine.

Appointment: 30-week
Blood pressure: 100/60
Weight: -3 lbs. (+8 lbs. total for the pregnancy)
Baby's heart rate: 140s-150s
Measuring: 30 cm.

***

And that's how the past four appointments have gone! I'm writing this at 31-weeks, and I'm a bit in denial that a baby is coming in 9 weeks. This pregnancy has flown by, and I'm sure the next 9 weeks will be a blur as well. We are all super excited to meet her though, so I'm okay with it going by quickly (especially since I know I'll be able to sleep better once she gets here!).

Next appointment: 32 weeks!