34 weeks! 34 weeks! So glad to be at this point. Of course, the longer we can keep going, the better, but this is such a huge milestone for me. Maybe it's because I was born as a 34-weeker preemie, so it doesn't feel so scary to me. We really are in the final countdown now, as it isn't likely we would go past 38 weeks. Eeeek! In this next month, we are going to have our babies!
Mood: Definitely more hormonal this week. Just ask DH and he will confirm that. I've cried over ridiculous things, got mad at him for dumb things, and been anxious in general. Whew! Add in feeling homesick, a bit lonely, and transitioning out of the hospital and I've been a sweet mess (maybe I'll write more on the emotions later on). Fortunately, DH is taking it in stride and keeps telling me he loves me just the same.
Food: Suddenly my stomach has stopped working. Okay, maybe it's been pushed out of the way and flattened into a pancake, but I just can't seem to eat! It's so disappointing because I'm out of the hospital and just want to eat all sorts of things... but I literally take 5 bites and I'm full. Also nothing really sounds or tastes good to me right now. And it is Canadian Thanksgiving this weekend. Guess I won't be enjoying my turkey this year.
Body: Hmm... where to begin! I think this past week has been the toughest on my body so far. My belly is so heavy. I have terrible pelvic pain that goes down through my crotch and into my inner thighs. The nighttime seems to be the worse and I flip positions a million times at night and have to prop myself up with all sorts of pillows (in addition to now getting up to pee 3-4x per night). My bowels are all over the place (including the start of the dreaded "H" word, which I won't expand on at this point). The stretch marks are coming out all over. I am just uncomfortable all over! But, I still love the look of my growing belly and it fascinates me every time I see it.
Movement: I thought these babies would be running out of room in there, but it turns out less space = more violent movements. At least that is how it feels on the outside. Jabs and pokes and limbs all over the place! I do love it, but there are times it does just hurt. I think I have been having more braxton hicks lately too. The time is drawing nearer...
Notable Moments: Being discharged from the hospital! Reaching 34 weeks.
Countdown: So, now the question goes out to you... how much longer do YOU think these babies will stay in here for? Now that we have reached this point, I have no idea whether to expect them in the next week, or whether they will stay put a bit longer. I'd love to hear your guesses!
Showing posts with label braxton hicks. Show all posts
Showing posts with label braxton hicks. Show all posts
Friday, October 11, 2013
Friday, August 9, 2013
25 Weeks and going strong!
I can't believe 25 weeks is here. The time just keeps ticking by! Now that I have calmed down a bit, I am enjoying life more and trying to embrace the summer the best I can, even while on bed rest. To show you what I mean, check this out.
DH bought me a kiddie pool this week so that I can lounge around in our backyard and stay cool (it's been hot, hot, hot around here!). Unfortunately my dog claimed the pool before I could get in, but I'll try to keep her out as much as possible (she tracks dirt and dust from the yard right in). I also picked up a snazzy wheelchair from our local Red Cross (I'll post a pic later - forgot to get one). Last night my mom took me to Target and I did a nice big shop stocking up on supplies that are just hard to send a man to get (make-up remover, lotion, pads, etc.). It was great to be out and about for the first time in 3 weeks (apart from sitting in the car while DH does errands for me). I also finally started the second quilt for the babies. Here's a sneak peek!
Other than that, just a normal week around here! Oh, we did have a colossal failure with our plumbing over the weekend, just before friends arrived in town. It was a long weekend so the plumbing companies were charging double time and a half, so the 5 of us (and the dog) moved into my parents house since we couldn't use any running water. Fortunately, that got taken care of right away on Tuesday.
Here's my weekly update for all those interested in seeing.
Mood: Since my doctor's appointment last Monday, I have been feeling SOOOO much better! Not an ounce of anxiety, and I have actually been able to just enjoy my week and life again without worrying all the time.
Food: This week I have all of a sudden lost the desire to eat again. Sure, I am hungry, but absolutely nothing seems appealing! I'm trying to keep up the calories. Dr. Luke's book says that I need to gain another 13-15lbs in the next 3 weeks, but that is a lofty goal. I've hovered around the last 5lbs gained for quite a few weeks now. I tried to limit my sugar too, as I had my gestational diabetes screen this week, but somehow sugary foods seem to be what I am gravitating to (though they don't always make me feel good afterwards). I've been thirsty like crazy in this heat, so trying to drink up lots too. I'll have to start taking my Ensure drinks again to boost up calorie intake.
Sleep: Sleeping like a baby! I've only been waking up once in the night to pee (hallelujah!) but even then I have to force myself up because I am so. freaking. tired. I can't get by a whole day without a nap sometime in the middle.
Exercise: Even though I can't exercise, I am doing a 20-minute yoga video (found here) every night before bed. This really helps me unwind from the day and loosen up. I think that contributes to having a great night's sleep!
Body: No new aches and pains to report. I've had a few more small stretch marks on the side of my belly. Some days I have pretty bad ligament pain, and other days it is fine. I do notice it more after the times that I have pushed myself too much (walked around too much, done a lot of bending over, etc.) so I just try to take it easy and it usually goes away. I've been trying to figure out if I have braxton hicks, but I really don't know. It's usually only if I'm walking too much, or in cold water that my stomach seems to harden up. I don't really think I get them otherwise. When are they supposed to start again? I do feel like my hips and thighs are starting to get huge. So much that if I wear a skirt without tights, I am in trouble with this heat (chafing). My doctor actually prescribed me some cream due to a bit of a heat rash I have developed down there (sorry for TMI). Just saying...
Movement: The past few days the babies are starting to be more active throughout the day. I've had a few good jabs that have startled me. I love feeling them move!
What I miss: Going for walks in the cool evenings, drinking wine, eating sushi, going to the gym... but I'll be sure to catch up on all of that in a few months. Keeping these babies settled and healthy right now is good enough for me!
Notable Moments: I was lucky enough to get the experience of drinking the sickly sweet orange beverage for my gestational diabetes screen this week. Honestly, it really wasn't that bad. I pretended I was a kid again, drinking that orange McDonald's drink (remember that stuff?). It was super cold, so that probably helped a lot. We'll get my results at my next appointment.
Oh, and check out the bump pics for a limited release photo of me in a bikini with my baby bump!
DH bought me a kiddie pool this week so that I can lounge around in our backyard and stay cool (it's been hot, hot, hot around here!). Unfortunately my dog claimed the pool before I could get in, but I'll try to keep her out as much as possible (she tracks dirt and dust from the yard right in). I also picked up a snazzy wheelchair from our local Red Cross (I'll post a pic later - forgot to get one). Last night my mom took me to Target and I did a nice big shop stocking up on supplies that are just hard to send a man to get (make-up remover, lotion, pads, etc.). It was great to be out and about for the first time in 3 weeks (apart from sitting in the car while DH does errands for me). I also finally started the second quilt for the babies. Here's a sneak peek!
Other than that, just a normal week around here! Oh, we did have a colossal failure with our plumbing over the weekend, just before friends arrived in town. It was a long weekend so the plumbing companies were charging double time and a half, so the 5 of us (and the dog) moved into my parents house since we couldn't use any running water. Fortunately, that got taken care of right away on Tuesday.
Here's my weekly update for all those interested in seeing.
Mood: Since my doctor's appointment last Monday, I have been feeling SOOOO much better! Not an ounce of anxiety, and I have actually been able to just enjoy my week and life again without worrying all the time.
Food: This week I have all of a sudden lost the desire to eat again. Sure, I am hungry, but absolutely nothing seems appealing! I'm trying to keep up the calories. Dr. Luke's book says that I need to gain another 13-15lbs in the next 3 weeks, but that is a lofty goal. I've hovered around the last 5lbs gained for quite a few weeks now. I tried to limit my sugar too, as I had my gestational diabetes screen this week, but somehow sugary foods seem to be what I am gravitating to (though they don't always make me feel good afterwards). I've been thirsty like crazy in this heat, so trying to drink up lots too. I'll have to start taking my Ensure drinks again to boost up calorie intake.
Sleep: Sleeping like a baby! I've only been waking up once in the night to pee (hallelujah!) but even then I have to force myself up because I am so. freaking. tired. I can't get by a whole day without a nap sometime in the middle.
Exercise: Even though I can't exercise, I am doing a 20-minute yoga video (found here) every night before bed. This really helps me unwind from the day and loosen up. I think that contributes to having a great night's sleep!
Body: No new aches and pains to report. I've had a few more small stretch marks on the side of my belly. Some days I have pretty bad ligament pain, and other days it is fine. I do notice it more after the times that I have pushed myself too much (walked around too much, done a lot of bending over, etc.) so I just try to take it easy and it usually goes away. I've been trying to figure out if I have braxton hicks, but I really don't know. It's usually only if I'm walking too much, or in cold water that my stomach seems to harden up. I don't really think I get them otherwise. When are they supposed to start again? I do feel like my hips and thighs are starting to get huge. So much that if I wear a skirt without tights, I am in trouble with this heat (chafing). My doctor actually prescribed me some cream due to a bit of a heat rash I have developed down there (sorry for TMI). Just saying...
Movement: The past few days the babies are starting to be more active throughout the day. I've had a few good jabs that have startled me. I love feeling them move!
What I miss: Going for walks in the cool evenings, drinking wine, eating sushi, going to the gym... but I'll be sure to catch up on all of that in a few months. Keeping these babies settled and healthy right now is good enough for me!
Notable Moments: I was lucky enough to get the experience of drinking the sickly sweet orange beverage for my gestational diabetes screen this week. Honestly, it really wasn't that bad. I pretended I was a kid again, drinking that orange McDonald's drink (remember that stuff?). It was super cold, so that probably helped a lot. We'll get my results at my next appointment.
Oh, and check out the bump pics for a limited release photo of me in a bikini with my baby bump!
Friday, July 26, 2013
23 Weeks
First off, thanks for all the encouragement and kind comments! I'm up and down with this bleeding/bedrest thing, but I know I'll make it through and that these two precious babes will be worth it all!
In case you are paying attention, I've switched back to counting my pregnancy based on my last period, rather than from my IUI. These are the dates they use in the hospital, ultrasound lab, etc. so it just makes it easier to say. So, today I've reached 23 weeks! One week to go to viability (though many more to go till I have peace of mind about these babies). Despite all that has gone on this past while, here is how I am doing:
Mood: Up and down, up and down. I felt pretty good last week, even with everything that was happening. This week I've hit a wall. I'm super emotional and teary, and irritated very easily. It's funny now, but this morning DH jokingly made a comment about April O'Neil (from the cartoon Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles - he totally had a crush on her as a kid, shh... don't tell him you know!), and I burst into tears. Can you say sensitive? I'm kind of staying away from people because I just don't know how I'll respond.
Food: My eating patterns haven't changed much throughout this last trimester. Typically I will eat a breakfast as soon as I'm awake, a second breakfast around 10, then have lunch, maybe an afternoon snack (depending on how late dinner will be), dinner and then a bedtime or a midnight snack. My meals are not that huge and I don't usually find myself ravenous. Mostly I can just tell when the babies are hungry and I know I need to eat something. Candy still makes me nauseous. I still love cold drinks. I probably need to up my protein intake, but I find this very hard. My go-to foods are grains (bread, cereal, crackers), cheese, yogurt, smoothies, and lots of fruit! I have had a bit more morning sickness lately and even puked one morning (weird!).
Sleep: Same old... I'll take as much as I can get! Still sleeping mostly through the night with usually one awakening to pee. About once a week I'll have a bout of insomnia from 2-4, but that is about it.
Exercise: Since I'm on modified bed rest, I'm being very careful, specifically about how much I am on my feet and moving around. I'll do my yoga stretches since they are done on the floor, and once things settle down I'll try a bit of swimming (or floating, I should say). My doctor gave me a few muscle toning exercises I can do with an exercise band, but I can't do anything that would put pressure on my uterus/cervix.
Body: Belly continues to grow! I discovered my first small stretch mark on the side of my belly this week. It's only about 3cm long. My OB was impressed that I haven't had many more, based on how big I am (and how quickly I am growing, I guess). I did mention before that my poor boobs suffered the worst with the quick growth and are covered in stretch marks now. Hopefully those go away! I haven't really had any other aches and pains to report. I think I have quite a few braxton hicks (BH) these days. Sometimes my belly just feels so hard and heavy! It doesn't always go away within just a few minutes like BH should so I don't know if it is that, or gas, or just my irritable uterus. I just make sure to get off my feet when it happens and usually it subsides.
Movement: Feeling these babies moving a lot more! Last week I was worried as Baby B does not seem as active, but I am pretty sure it is just where he/she is placed. I felt some movements this week that I don't think were Baby A. And then just before the latest bleeding episode, Baby A was moving around like CRAZY! We will see them next week on u/s so I hope to figure out their movements more then! DH has felt them moving quite a bit now. It never grows old.
What I miss: Right now, I would love, love, love just to go for a walk! This morning I was up early, and the air was a bit crisp, with the sun shining and all I could think about was how much I miss walking. I can't wait to do that with the babes once they arrive! Also, these warm summer evenings are just made for a nice glass of fruit wine to end the day with. I'll be looking forward to that next summer too.
Notable Moments:
- Well, last week was the whole bleeding/L&D/bed rest fiasco, which was quite notable. This week has involved settling into bed rest and a new limited activity routine.
- I stopped working at my counselling job this past week, which was slightly unexpected.
- The night Baby A was moving like crazy, DH was there to feel her and couldn't believe how strong her kicks were. I just lay there and couldn't stop grinning!
- Oh, I ordered the wallpaper for the nursery, and all the baby bedding! My parents are picking up cribs for us in Vancouver this weekend. We just have to wait till the wallpaper arrives so we can match a paint colour for the other walls and then we (meaning DH and my parents) will get to work. I can't wait.
In case you are paying attention, I've switched back to counting my pregnancy based on my last period, rather than from my IUI. These are the dates they use in the hospital, ultrasound lab, etc. so it just makes it easier to say. So, today I've reached 23 weeks! One week to go to viability (though many more to go till I have peace of mind about these babies). Despite all that has gone on this past while, here is how I am doing:
Mood: Up and down, up and down. I felt pretty good last week, even with everything that was happening. This week I've hit a wall. I'm super emotional and teary, and irritated very easily. It's funny now, but this morning DH jokingly made a comment about April O'Neil (from the cartoon Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles - he totally had a crush on her as a kid, shh... don't tell him you know!), and I burst into tears. Can you say sensitive? I'm kind of staying away from people because I just don't know how I'll respond.
Food: My eating patterns haven't changed much throughout this last trimester. Typically I will eat a breakfast as soon as I'm awake, a second breakfast around 10, then have lunch, maybe an afternoon snack (depending on how late dinner will be), dinner and then a bedtime or a midnight snack. My meals are not that huge and I don't usually find myself ravenous. Mostly I can just tell when the babies are hungry and I know I need to eat something. Candy still makes me nauseous. I still love cold drinks. I probably need to up my protein intake, but I find this very hard. My go-to foods are grains (bread, cereal, crackers), cheese, yogurt, smoothies, and lots of fruit! I have had a bit more morning sickness lately and even puked one morning (weird!).
Sleep: Same old... I'll take as much as I can get! Still sleeping mostly through the night with usually one awakening to pee. About once a week I'll have a bout of insomnia from 2-4, but that is about it.
Exercise: Since I'm on modified bed rest, I'm being very careful, specifically about how much I am on my feet and moving around. I'll do my yoga stretches since they are done on the floor, and once things settle down I'll try a bit of swimming (or floating, I should say). My doctor gave me a few muscle toning exercises I can do with an exercise band, but I can't do anything that would put pressure on my uterus/cervix.
Body: Belly continues to grow! I discovered my first small stretch mark on the side of my belly this week. It's only about 3cm long. My OB was impressed that I haven't had many more, based on how big I am (and how quickly I am growing, I guess). I did mention before that my poor boobs suffered the worst with the quick growth and are covered in stretch marks now. Hopefully those go away! I haven't really had any other aches and pains to report. I think I have quite a few braxton hicks (BH) these days. Sometimes my belly just feels so hard and heavy! It doesn't always go away within just a few minutes like BH should so I don't know if it is that, or gas, or just my irritable uterus. I just make sure to get off my feet when it happens and usually it subsides.
Movement: Feeling these babies moving a lot more! Last week I was worried as Baby B does not seem as active, but I am pretty sure it is just where he/she is placed. I felt some movements this week that I don't think were Baby A. And then just before the latest bleeding episode, Baby A was moving around like CRAZY! We will see them next week on u/s so I hope to figure out their movements more then! DH has felt them moving quite a bit now. It never grows old.
What I miss: Right now, I would love, love, love just to go for a walk! This morning I was up early, and the air was a bit crisp, with the sun shining and all I could think about was how much I miss walking. I can't wait to do that with the babes once they arrive! Also, these warm summer evenings are just made for a nice glass of fruit wine to end the day with. I'll be looking forward to that next summer too.
Notable Moments:
- Well, last week was the whole bleeding/L&D/bed rest fiasco, which was quite notable. This week has involved settling into bed rest and a new limited activity routine.
- I stopped working at my counselling job this past week, which was slightly unexpected.
- The night Baby A was moving like crazy, DH was there to feel her and couldn't believe how strong her kicks were. I just lay there and couldn't stop grinning!
- Oh, I ordered the wallpaper for the nursery, and all the baby bedding! My parents are picking up cribs for us in Vancouver this weekend. We just have to wait till the wallpaper arrives so we can match a paint colour for the other walls and then we (meaning DH and my parents) will get to work. I can't wait.
Friday, June 7, 2013
Overdoing it
Today I had my first scare after possibly overdoing it, in terms of energy exertion. I think things are fine, but I'd love your input if anyone has experienced this.
I've generally been feeling much better this past week, and wanted to start to tone up my muscles, so I became a bit more active this week. I was going to go to the pool today, but missed the early swim and didn't want to wait, so I went to the gym instead. This was my first time at the gym since I found out I was carrying twins. I kept it light and did the elliptical, a tiny bit of biking, and some weights (maybe a few too many?). I was there for almost an hour but didn't think I had overdone it. Afterwards I was tired, but carried on with the day, and met a friend this afternoon for a small walk. As we were finishing the walk, I started to cramp a bit. I thought I had to use the washroom, but that was not it. On my way home, I seriously started to get what I think were contractions. They came in waves, and had a period of intensity the peaked for about 10 seconds before they subsided. What was scary is that they were coming every 2-3 minutes and I actually had to breathe through them. They mainly were on the left side of my uterus. I made it home and collapsed in my room where they continued but gradually got less. I think I had them for about a half hour but I kept resting for over an hour, as my uterus felt very tight still. We did call my doctor's office, but they weren't too helpful. My doctor wasn't in, and the doctor who was, told me to contact my midwife and gave me the number for labour and delivery, in case I needed it over the weekend. I didn't end up calling my midwife (long story about the midwives for another day), because things started to settle down. After it all, I was so exhausted. DH was freaked out too. He said he felt so powerless and was stressed out.
So here is what I am wondering. I have read about braxton hicks, and they could have been an intense version of that, maybe amplified due to overdoing it, being out in the heat, not drinking enough water, etc. I have noticed that every time I exercise my stomach gets super rock hard. A friend just told me that could be braxton hicks. I've also read that they do show up earlier in twin pregnancies too. I had no other signs of preterm labour, like bleeding or discharge (though my lower back was sore when the contractions were happening). It was quite scary. I plan to take it easy for the rest of the weekend, and probably cut out the gym for now. I'll talk to my doctor about it more at my next visit too.
Has anyone else experienced anything like this? Any other thoughts?
I've generally been feeling much better this past week, and wanted to start to tone up my muscles, so I became a bit more active this week. I was going to go to the pool today, but missed the early swim and didn't want to wait, so I went to the gym instead. This was my first time at the gym since I found out I was carrying twins. I kept it light and did the elliptical, a tiny bit of biking, and some weights (maybe a few too many?). I was there for almost an hour but didn't think I had overdone it. Afterwards I was tired, but carried on with the day, and met a friend this afternoon for a small walk. As we were finishing the walk, I started to cramp a bit. I thought I had to use the washroom, but that was not it. On my way home, I seriously started to get what I think were contractions. They came in waves, and had a period of intensity the peaked for about 10 seconds before they subsided. What was scary is that they were coming every 2-3 minutes and I actually had to breathe through them. They mainly were on the left side of my uterus. I made it home and collapsed in my room where they continued but gradually got less. I think I had them for about a half hour but I kept resting for over an hour, as my uterus felt very tight still. We did call my doctor's office, but they weren't too helpful. My doctor wasn't in, and the doctor who was, told me to contact my midwife and gave me the number for labour and delivery, in case I needed it over the weekend. I didn't end up calling my midwife (long story about the midwives for another day), because things started to settle down. After it all, I was so exhausted. DH was freaked out too. He said he felt so powerless and was stressed out.
So here is what I am wondering. I have read about braxton hicks, and they could have been an intense version of that, maybe amplified due to overdoing it, being out in the heat, not drinking enough water, etc. I have noticed that every time I exercise my stomach gets super rock hard. A friend just told me that could be braxton hicks. I've also read that they do show up earlier in twin pregnancies too. I had no other signs of preterm labour, like bleeding or discharge (though my lower back was sore when the contractions were happening). It was quite scary. I plan to take it easy for the rest of the weekend, and probably cut out the gym for now. I'll talk to my doctor about it more at my next visit too.
Has anyone else experienced anything like this? Any other thoughts?
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