NST # 7

Well, baby was a little quiet for this test today...drank apple juice, water, and chomped on ice chips to get him going. He would move, but his heart rate didn't "jump" the way it needs to on the monitor (actually saw it dip down twice under 100- his heart rate seems to be 125- 140). Rubbed my belly some and FINALLY...I was able to leave after 1 hr. 45 min. I like going right after lunch, because I am usually out of their within the hour. Had a young Chinese couple in there..she had the mini TV so loud...just wanted silence! Deb was my nurse tonight- haven't seen her since she helped deliver Jake. Good thing we went over my appt.s for next week- I only had Tuesday down, when I am actually scheduled to go Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.

Feeling eh. Slept through the night thelast 2 nights though. Have been training this week at work which has thrown my eating and testing off balance a bit. Kind of get tired and irritable around 7ish. Just want QUIET..but not really getting it. Have an "itchy" patch of skin on the inside of each thigh- HATE IT!

8 DAYS OF WORK LEFT

NST #6

Passed my test within the first half hour. Linda, my nurse looked a little familiar- I checked Jakob's baby book and she was actually the nurse that cared for him right after he was born.
There was another couple in there while I was and all they did was yip-yap...I really enjoy when I get to relax in peace and quiet. Had the nurse check the book and I am scheduled for the induction on 12/4 at 7:30 a.m.!!!!

NST #5

Passed within the first 20 minutes- it goes so much better when I have the test right after lunch or I request apple juice (especially if I have a later appt.). By the time I was finished, it was about an hour after I got there, which is fine- got a chance to wind down from work and to read a bit. Scheduled my appt.s out through 11/25. The head nurse had come in to look at the scheduling book- good thing I mentioned the date I am supposed to be induced (it wasn't in the book!)- she was going to call my doc about another patient and mention it to him...

Will be back on Monday...

Baby Update {November}

Could not wait for my appt. today. As you can tell from the baby ticker, I am approx 35 weeks and 5 days. Dr. decided to keep the 12/15 due date (the tech had 3 different assumptions on how far along I was from the US last week..so he sent it back to the dept. head and told him to get with the tech and figure out which one it was). So, still looks like we are being induced on 12/4 unless Kaleb wants to come sooner. As of last week, he weighs approx. 6.2 lbs. I gained 1.5 lbs. in the last 2 weeks (I have had Chinese 2 x's in the last 2 weeks within moderation and my sugar level was ok); did splurge a few times on some goodies (no further comment...but small amounts of course) . I did explain the crampy feeling and he decided to check me...not dilated (was bummed)- all of the soreness, cramps is from the baby moving further down into position. So, overall, it was a good appt., just not what I thought I was going to hear. Head back 11/21 for my next appt. Oh, 15 MORE DAYS OF WORK.

That horrible pain in my left upper leg is back...I feel like a cripple when I walk. Atleast I enjoyed 2 full nights of sleep- back to approx 4 hours Sunday night- we will see what tonight brings. Have also woken up sick to my stomach since last week...I am oh so motivated to get ready for work when I feel like this.

I estimate the baby will weigh approx 8.7 lbs.

Weekend & NST #4

Most of our weekend was spent cleaning out Jake's room to make space for Kaleb's dresser and crib. Todd was a good sport about getting up early Saturday morning and cleaning out most of the room (I did help before I had to take off to get my hair cut!). After attending Shawn's birthday party, Mom watched Jake and we went to Target (bought new bedding...below) and looked at car seats- we will get each child a new seat; then to Babies R Us to get the crib/dresser and all of the little things we needed (of course Todd found a new stroller/infant seat-below). Sunday was spent getting the furniture together and the room pretty much the way it needs to be (would still like a smaller book case). All of the bedding and baby clothes have been washed and put away- need to pull out the totes for the 0-3 month clothes (of course, it is buried at the bottom of Jake's closet that is only used for storage). Kaleb's bag is packed and mine is 75% done. I AM READY!

Had crampy/contractions on and off Saturday and Sunday, but not as bad as Friday. Actually slept through the night Friday and Saturday, not waking once to go to the bathroom or just wake up.

NST was rescheduled from Wednesday to Monday as I learned that I cannot go more than 3 days without having a test. Headed over there after work. Passed within the half hour (I am requesting apple juice right off the bat for the later tests so I am not there too long). Shared triage with a "girl" scheduled for a c-section soon after I got there; wasn't pleased with the nurse that checked me in today. Had to wait around until approx 5:30- Dr. Cooper was assisting in the c-section and Nurse Dawn wanted to give him the report. He came in to see me and asked how I was feeling- told him about the cramps (I see him tomorrow). Next appt. scheduled for Thursday afternoon.

NST #3

Went in for my third test of the week. I really like the nurses I have seen so far. Got a chance to see the twins born on Wednesday- they were so cute, sharing the same bassinet; a baby girl had just been born 5 minutes before I got there, so I got to hear her crying for the first time...got me all teary eyed!!

Test went well...had just eaten a good lunch, so Kaleb was moving all around. Passed within 15 minutes, but have to stay "attached" to the monitor for a min of 30 minutes. After the nurse spoke with my doc, she told me that per his instructions I am to go twice a week until I deliver.
Made my appt. for Wed/Fri (reg doc appt. on Tues).

Started having cramping/braxton hick-like contractions tonight before we headed to Aileen's party. VERY uncomfortable! Had one every 2-3 minutes for about 15 minutes and they went away for the most part...had a couple at the party. Just didn't feel "wonderful" tonight.

NST #2 & Ultrasound

Was a little apprehensive about todays appt. at first. This time was just under an hour and I barely passed. Nurse Gina was really nice. I opted for the APPLE JUICE to "kick start" things today. She poke with my dr and let him know how the reading was (the nurses call the doctor to advise if the patient passes or fails- if they fail, the doctor can order and immediate ultrasound to make sure the baby is ok)...because I barely passed, he wants me to go back Friday. Scheduled next appt. for late afternoon.

Walked down to my ultrasound appt. The tech was the one I first had in July (much better bedside manner this time around- apparently a few doctors commented to the dept. head on how "not so friendly" the staff was). She measured Kalebs head first and was a little baffled...she wanted to know how far along I was....and then needed to go review my records because something wasn't adding up (hmmm....). After going over the history of the pregnancy, she confirmed that I am farther along than I am (yeah, um..I know when I got pregnant!) and that she feels we should be going by my original due date of 11/15 rather than the second one (she gave!) of 12/15...HELLO!!!! That would explain A LOT (why I am big, the way I feel, etc.). So, that kind of throws out the date I am supposed to be induced (12/4..which is 38 wks.)- because, if we go with the 11/15 date, I am 38 weeks today. Yeah, getting a little panicky here- nothing is ready (we atleast bought the crib/dresser on Sunday, which we need to pick up this weekend)- furniture, room, nothing! We did buy diapers, some new clothes, and of course a new diaper bag. **BIG SIGH** I didn't get a picture of him this time around, but I was able to watch him practice his breathing- it was neat.

Ended up rescheduling Fridays NST to the early afternoon to get it over witha s we have plans at night. The nurse asked how I made out and did comment on how much bigger I looked for 34 weeks and that it looked like I was carrying kind of low.

I did call my nurse tonight just to give her a heads up- she had already gotten the US results and handed them of to my doc; he is supposed to call me tonight (I want to know what the plan is...don't want to wait until my appt. Tuesday and then have him say "We need to induce you tomorrow").

NST #1

Went to the birthing center for my first non-stress test:

What is a nonstress test?This simple, painless procedure is done during pregnancy to evaluate your baby's condition. During the test, your healthcare practitioner or a technician monitors your baby's heartbeat, first while the baby is resting and then while he's moving. Just as your heart beats faster when you're active, your baby's heart rate should go up while he's moving or kicking.The test is typically done if you've gone past your due date, or in the month leading up to your due date if you're having a high-risk pregnancy. Here are some reasons you might have a nonstress test:
• You have diabetes that's treated with insulin, high blood pressure, or some other medical condition that could affect your pregnancy.
• You have gestational hypertension.
• Your baby appears to be small or not growing properly.
• Your baby is less active than normal.
• You have too much or too little amniotic fluid.
• You've had a procedure such as an external cephalic version (to turn a breech baby) or third trimester amniocentesis (to determine whether your baby's lungs are mature enough for birth or to rule out a uterine infection). Afterward, your practitioner will order a nonstress test to make sure that your baby's doing well.
• You're past your due date and your practitioner wants to see how your baby is holding up during his extended stay in the womb.
• You've previously lost a baby in the second half of pregnancy, for an unknown reason or because of a problem that might happen again in this pregnancy. In this case, nonstress testing may start as early as 28 weeks.
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What's the procedure like?You may be advised to eat a meal just before the test in the hope that eating will stimulate your baby to move around more. Although there's no hard evidence that this works, it can't hurt. It's also a good idea to use the bathroom before the test, because you'll be lying strapped to a monitor for up to an hour.During the procedure, you lie on your left side, possibly with a wedge under your back that allows you to lean back. A technician straps two devices to your belly: One monitors your baby's heartbeat and movement; the other records contractions in your uterus. The technician listens to and watches your baby's heartbeat on an electronic screen while your contractions are recorded on paper.If your baby's not moving, he could be asleep. You might be asked to drink some water, juice, or soda to get him going, or the technician may nudge him gently through your abdomen or try to wake him with a buzzer. In some cases, you'll be asked to press a button when you feel the baby move. The test usually takes 20 to 60 minutes. What do the results mean?If your baby's heart beats faster (at least 15 beats per minute over his resting rate) while he's moving for at least 15 seconds on two separate occasions during a 20-minute span, the result is normal, or "reactive." A normal result means that your baby is probably doing fine for now. Your practitioner may want to repeat the test every week (or more often) until your baby's born.If your baby's heart doesn't beat faster while he's moving or your baby doesn't move after about 90 minutes, the result is "nonreactive." A nonreactive result doesn't necessarily mean something is wrong. It just means that the test didn't provide enough information and you may need to take it again in an hour or take other tests such as a biophysical profile or contraction stress test.However, a nonreactive result could indicate that your baby isn't getting enough oxygen or that there are problems with the placenta. If your practitioner thinks that your baby's no longer doing well in the womb, she'll probably decide to induce labor.

Appt. was at 4 pm and needless to say, I did not leave until 6:15 pm. The baby was active, his heart beat good, but things were just not coming together for me to pass the test. I ended up having to drink 4 8 oz. glasses of ice cold water and eating 1 glass of ice. Nurse Dawn even sat with me for the last half hour trying to get the baby to move. She called my doc (routine) to tell him I failed and he wants me to go back Wednesday (day of ultrasound).

Update #2 {October}

Pretty interesting appt. today...belly measured 36 wks. and I am 32 1/2. Little panicky for a second. I gained 1/2 lb. in 3 weeks (had my shoes on this time too). Baby's heart beat and my blood pressure were good. Got my flu shot too. First non-stress test scheduled for 10/30 and ultra sound scheduled for 11/1.

Hiccups

Kaleb had hiccups for the first time tonight.

Update {October}

I have seen the dietitian (nurse was unavailable) on my progress...numbers are low and I have lost 7 lbs. so far. For the most part, have felt so good that I have cooked and cleaned the house just about everyday. She decided that because my numbers are "high" (low 90's!) that she would take away 15 of the45 carbs I am allowed for breakfast and give me another snack in the morning (usually am close to 80 and not feeling too hot between breakfast and lunch). She's a whack and I will not comment any further "geno" (her way of saying do you know?...annoying).

Results from my A1C (blood sugar level for the last 3 months) test was: 5.6

Had my appt. today with Dr. Cooper. He was really pleased with what I have accomplished as far as the weight loss and actually sticking to the diet plan (some people can't/don't). Kind of got a little upset when we were talking about the dietitian and the diet plan...but that is part of how I need to manage the diabetes so Kaleb is born healthy. (If the option was there to stop the diet/monitoring, there is a risk that something could happen and the baby could be still born). My blood pressure and baby's heart beat were good. Belly measured 31 (was going into week 30 a few days later)- I had been measuring right on for every appt. except this one. Next appt. they will schedule an ultrasound to look at Kaleb's kidneys and they will also measure the size of the baby (part of having the diabetes). Next appt. will be in 3 weeks, then 2 weeks, then 2 after that and then we are possibly looking at delivering the following week (week 38)- I hope the baby decides to keep that schedule and not come early!!

Coming in the next couple of weeks, we need to purchase a crib and dresser...can't wait to get his half of the room ready.

Update {September}

Before heading off to my appointment today, the nurse phoned to tell me my blood test results came back....positive for Gestational Diabetes. My near-fainting spell last Tuesday triggered a blood test that showed my sugar level too high. Because of this, I had to pass on my 1 hour glucose test and go right to my 3 hour (we did this Saturday).

(Saturday's test wasn't as bad as I remembered with Jakob. Had to fast after midnight...wasn't so bad, not too hungry- and Todd didn't eat 6 Coney Island Dogs in front of me like last time! We got there around 8 a.m.- the lab at the hospital was packed. By the time they took me in to draw for the first time it was 9 a.m. Chose the "Spritish" tasting drink that wasn't all that bad...guzzled within the 5 minutes allowed. Felt a little queasy here and there. Gave blood again at 9:50 (late due to some WT obnoxious girl/brother), at 10:00 (we left and came back for 11), 11:00, and the last one at noon. Had to top it off with some french onion soup from Buster's).

This visit the doctor went over what GD entailed (see entry below). I will be in contact with a dietitians; will have to check my sugar level periodically during the day; will require non-stress tests twice per week until the baby is born; will be induced approx 2 weeks before the baby is born (if he doesn't come early).

My blood pressure was good. Baby's heart beat was good. Belly measured 27 (I am 26 weeks, 4 days...just about there). So far, the diabetes has not affected the baby's growth. Guess I forgot to mention I gained 8 lbs. (which I am sure will come off with the "diet" I will be on).

Next appt. got moved up to 10/3 (Dr vacation 10/10). Need to go for more blood work- will probably schedule that for Saturday again...have to fast.

Results are back

Test results came back positive for gestational diabetes.

What is gestational diabetes?
Pregnant women who have never had diabetes before but who have high blood sugar (glucose) levels during pregnancy are said to have gestational diabetes. Gestational diabetes affects about 4% of all pregnant women - about 135,000 cases of gestational diabetes in the United States each year.

We don't know what causes gestational diabetes, but we have some clues. The placenta supports the baby as it grows. Hormones from the placenta help the baby develop. But these hormones also block the action of the mother's insulin in her body. This problem is called insulin resistance. Insulin resistance makes it hard for the mother's body to use insulin. She may need up to three times as much insulin.

Gestational diabetes starts when your body is not able to make and use all the insulin it needs for pregnancy. Without enough insulin, glucose cannot leave the blood and be changed to energy. Glucose builds up in the blood to high levels. This is called hyperglycemia.

How gestational diabetes can affect your baby
Gestational diabetes affects the mother in late pregnancy, after the baby's body has been formed, but while the baby is busy growing. Because of this, gestational diabetes does not cause the kinds of birth defects sometimes seen in babies whose mothers had diabetes before pregnancy.

However, untreated or poorly controlled gestational diabetes can hurt your baby. When you have gestational diabetes, your pancreas works overtime to produce insulin, but the insulin does not lower your blood glucose levels. Although insulin does not cross the placenta, glucose and other nutrients do. So extra blood glucose goes through the placenta, giving the baby high blood glucose levels. This causes the baby's pancreas to make extra insulin to get rid of the blood glucose. Since the baby is getting more energy than it needs to grow and develop, the extra energy is stored as fat.

This can lead to macrosomia, or a "fat" baby. Babies with macrosomia face health problems of their own, including damage to their shoulders during birth. Because of the extra insulin made by the baby's pancreas, newborns may have very low blood glucose levels at birth and are also at higher risk for breathing problems. Babies with excess insulin become children who are at risk for obesity and adults who are at risk for type 2 diabetes.

Treating gestational diabetes
Because gestational diabetes can hurt you and your baby, you need to start treatment quickly. Treatment for gestational diabetes aims to keep blood glucose levels equal to those of pregnant women who don't have gestational diabetes. Treatment for gestational diabetes always includes special meal plans and scheduled physical activity. It may also include daily blood glucose testing and insulin injections. You will need help from your doctor, nurse educator, and other members of your health care team so that your treatment for gestational diabetes can be changed as needed.

For you as the mother-to-be, treatment for gestational diabetes helps lower the risk of a cesarean section birth that very large babies may require. Sticking with your treatment for gestational diabetes will give you a healthy pregnancy and birth, and may help your baby avoid future poor health.

Gestational diabetes -- Looking ahead
Gestational diabetes usually goes away after pregnancy. But once you've had gestational diabetes, your chances are 2 in 3 that it will return in future pregnancies. In a few women, however, pregnancy uncovers type 1 or type 2 diabetes. It is hard to tell whether these women have gestational diabetes or have just started showing their diabetes during pregnancy. These women will need to continue diabetes treatment after pregnancy.

Many women who have gestational diabetes go on to develop type 2 diabetes years later. There seems to be a link between the tendency to have gestational diabetes and type 2 diabetes. Gestational diabetes and type 2 diabetes both involve insulin resistance. Certain basic lifestyle changes may help prevent diabetes after gestational diabetes.

Losing weight Are you more than 20% over your ideal body weight? Losing even a few pounds can help you avoid developing type 2 diabetes.

Making healthy food choices Follow simple daily guidelines, like eating a variety of foods including fresh fruits and vegetables, limiting fat intake to 30% or less of daily calories, and watching your portion size. Healthy eating habits can go a long way in preventing diabetes and other health problems.

Exercising Regular exercise allows your body to use glucose without extra insulin. This helps combat insulin resistance and is what makes exercise helpful to people with diabetes. Never start an exercise program without checking with your doctor first.

Keeping worry in perspective
While gestational diabetes is a cause for concern, the good news is that you and your health care team - your doctor, obstetrician, nurse educator, and dietitian - work together to lower your high blood glucose levels. And with this help, you can turn your concern into a healthy pregnancy for you, and a healthy start for your baby.

~American Diabetes Association

Peace of Mind

Doctor called and said that the blood work came out normal....took 3 days of phone tag to find out.

Kaleb has been moving around a lot; Jakob thinks that he plays blocks in my belly.

Baby Update {August}

Check-up was a little different today...my nurse was busy, so Dr. Cooper did everything (including checking my urine!!). Before we did all of the happy stuff, he wanted to let me know the results of the ultrasound. Everything appeared normal, with the exception of the baby's bladder being a little fuller than they like to see (he explained that they really do not have normal "flushing" patterns at this stage), but they would like to do another ultrasound in 9 weeks to follow up. If things stay the same, there may be a chance of kidney issues and I may need to deliver at another hospital (i.e. UMASS). He said not to worry, that out of all of the pregnancies/deliveries he has handled, there was one case where what they saw was something. OK, so I am going to worry..

After that news, he took my blood pressure and was a little surprised that it was not elevated. I gained 6 lbs.- I can feel it, but was a little shocked as I still continue to have issues with eating/nausea. My belly measured 23 1/4 (I turn 23 weeks Friday). Baby's heartbeat sounded good- he said like a boy this time...funny.

Coming up: Sugar test will be scheduled after next visit, ultra sound in 9 weeks

Cravings: Genoa grinders from Pizza Pizazz, oatmeal

I enjoy feeling and watching him thump around my belly! It is a cool thing to feel, see.

Baby Kaleb

Now that we know "IT'S A BOY!!", Baby Kaleb will have his own page where we will keep family and friends updated on his upcoming birth and his mile stones as he grows older.

We decided in a few short seconds that Kaleb's middle name will be Lincoln after his Daddy. (Jakob's middle name is after mine). We may be adding another middle name, but are undecided (Kaleb Lincoln-Davis).