Unexpected visit to Labor and Delivery

Last night, Papa Bear and I made an unexpected visit to Labor and Delivery. I had been having some contractions that were coming every 10-12 minutes and they were really hard to breathe through. I would have 6 an hour. I called my doctor and he told me to drink water and rest on my left side and if it didn't stop to go to the hospital. So I followed his orders and it didn't stop so Papa Bear and I made our way to the hospital. The hospital is 2 minutes from our house, it is just a block away.

We got there and fortunately we had already been on the hospital tour so we knew where to go and I had my registration papers already filled out. They put me in a room and hooked me up to a couple of monitors to monitor Baby Bear's heart beat and my contractions. The nurse checked my cervix and it was closed, so that was good. She ran a test and gave me a shot to stop the contractions. I can't remember what the test was, but it came out negative, which meant I was not at risk for pre-term labor. So that that was more good news. After we received those test results, I was sent home.

Papa Bear was great and asked many questions. It turns out that this is pretty normal and that it is my uterus toning and getting ready for the big day. The nurse gave me some signs to look out for. So it was a little nerve racking especially since it is too early for Baby Bear to make her appearance. Hopefully we won't be back at the hospital for another 8 weeks or so.

Crazy leg cramps!

This morning I woke up with a crazy painful leg cramp in my left calf. I got up to feed Chase Monster and could barely walk it was so painful. I went and laid back in bed and stretch and massaged my calf and it got a little better. It was better enough for me to get up and get ready for work. It is still pretty sore, but I can walk very slowly. I thought that maybe it was because I went to my step class last night and worked out. I called the OB's office and spoke with a nurse. It is normal and she suggest that I eat more bananas and take some more calcium. I am glad that it is normal, but ouch!!

Everyone at work has been really great. It was my boss who told me to call the doctor to be sure that it wasn't a blood clot or anything. I guess if it doesn't go away in a day or two then it may be a cause for concern. In the mean time, I have my leg propped up on the trash can and have moved my meetings into my office for today. I am lucky to have co-workers who are very accommodating and understanding. My boss told me if I need to leave and go home, to do so. Fortunately, my work is not very strenuous so I think I will be fine.

Good and bad news

The good news is that I passed!! I got a call from my doctor's office and I passed my glucose test, so I do not have gestational diabetes. That is the good news.

The bad news is that the blood tests showed that I am anemic. Not a huge deal, my doctor prescribed additional iron supplements in addition to what is already in my pre-natal vitamin.

Some symptoms of anemia include:

• being tired
• feeling weak
• pale skin
• palpitations
• breathlessness
• dizziness

These also happen to be symptoms that many women have anyway during pregnancy, anyways. I have been especially tired the last week or so. But then again, I have been working really hard and being pregnant on top of that. The anemia does help to explain a lot. I also have felt dizzy from time to time and felt weak. I all thought it was just a part of being pregnant. Hopefully, the additional iron will help me feel a little better.

Baby Bear should be fine, since she will get her share of iron before I do. But the risks I face from iron-deficiency is a higher risk for having a preterm delivery or a low-birthweight baby. So I will take my iron supplements 2 times a day as I have been told. I will also try to incorporate more foods rich in iron, like red meat, spinach, and dried fruits. I do love a good steak. And this might help to explain why I crave cheese burgers all the time.

A snoogle and maternity support

My back was beginning to hurt more and more each day. I continue to take yoga, which has always been a great help and does help. But I know that as I sleep I was having a more difficult time despite the 4 pillows I had on my bed. I had heard about a special pregnancy pillow called the snoogle. In the beginning, I didn't think I would need to spend money on such a thing. I had a ton of pillows and that would suffice. Well, last week I broke down and spent money on a snoogle. I needed something and was willing to give it a shot.

It took about a week for me to get used to it. Now, I love it. It has been such a help on my aching back and discomfort during sleep. It is a little big and takes up a lot of room on the bed, but it was totally worth the money. It is very comfy to sleep with and my back feels much better.

I have been feeling it as I continue to workout and after some research and reviews, I found that a maternity support belt might help while I continue to be active. I purchased a maternity support belt by Gabrialla. I found that this support belt was highly recommended by doctors and popular among runners. It is designed to help promote proper posture and balance while allowing to continue an active lifestyle. It not only support my lower back but also my abdominals and claims to help reduce the risk of stretch marks (hey I am all for that!). I have been using it for a week when I workout and run (more like slowly jog). It has definitely made me feel more comfortable during my run and cardio activites. I like the support that it gives my baby belly. I think as my baby bump continues to grow, this will definitely be very helpful and allow me to continue to be active longer. I want to continue to workout for as long as I am able and my OB allows it, exercise really helps me feel better and will help me in the long run with labor and delivery, as well as with my postpartum recovery.

Where are my toes?

Umm, I think my toes have disappeared. When I look down I can't seem to find them without leaning forward a bit. I know they are still down there because when I put up my feet up there are still toes attached to those feet. You would think they wouldn't be that hard to find since my feet seem to be swelling as well.

In fact, as I have my feet up right now and look at them I realize that I am in desperate need of a pedicure. I used to be able to give myself one on my own but I think the time has come for me to understand that this is just not a possibility anymore. My toes look pretty sad, I guess it was good that I could not find them. But then again, I do feel bad for neglecting my poor toes. I promise to make it up to them very soon.

I think I can feel Baby Bear move!

On Friday, putting me 16weeks 6days, I thought I felt Baby Bear moving early in the morning. I wasn't quite sure. It felt like a vibration on the lower right side of my belly. It happened for a few seconds then stopped and then I felt it again a few minutes later for just a short period. Since Friday I had been trying to feel around when ever I was sitting still. Well this morning I felt it again. I am pretty sure it was Baby Bear moving around!!!

That was so amazing and it is so refreshing to feel Baby Bear. Everyone has been asking me if I could feel Baby Bear yet. It is also reassuring. The last few weeks there hasn't been any consistent pregnancy symptoms to indicate I am pregnant (except for my ever expanding baby bump). My morning sickness and nausea is gone; and though I am glad it is gone that was a little reminder that my baby was well. It is nice to feel Baby Bear move to know all is well and this is way better than nausea and feeling nasty all the time!!

The worst pregnancy symptom

I have been pretty fortunate. I have not been extremely sick or vomiting. I deal with the fatigue and the nausea. But constipation really sucks! I have never really been constipated in my life. This is awful. Ugh! I have been taking Metamucil and more fiber and I really hope it kicks in soon. It really is the worst pregnancy symptom. I know if I could just poop, I also wouldn't be so bloated. I am just full of shit as Mr. Bear told me this morning.

I am a large breasted starving woman

My boobs are huge! Mr. Bear noticed yesterday that my boobs have grown. I have always worn "miracle" padded type bras. Not anymore, I have to tone them down a bit so that it is not so noticeable. Wow!

On top of that I am starving all the time. The students I work with must think I am a little piggy. I am constantly snacking at my desk because I am starving. I need something pretty much every hour and it seems like there is no end in sight. Funny thing is even with all this eating, I haven't gain a pound yet. Very strange to me. I better be pregnant, because if I am not there is something wrong with me.

Feeling pretty good

I have been feeling pretty good. The pregnancy symptoms this week are not so bad. They come and go. I guess I should enjoy this time because who knows when that could all change and I can end up being sick as a dog. All I care is that Baby Bear is healthy and growing and developing. I am lucky for now.

Tonight we are going out to L.A. to celebrate a good friend's birthday. No drinking for me! Somehow I will have to hide the fact that I am not drinking. Fortunately I am not a big drinker so no one will probably notice. I just need to make sure no one buys me a drink or anything. I so wish I could tell people. I want people to know but we will wait until after Thanksgiving. By then the first trimester will have past and all should be well. We are, however, planning to tell our parents very soon. We are just too excited to keep this from them any longer. Tomorrow, we are having dinner with my parents to let them know. I can't wait!

Hungry, hungry hippo

That's me! This week, I am hungry all the time! Last week, I was nauseous so I could never tell if I was hungry. That is definitely not the case this week. I am not so nauseous and definitely hungry. I seem to really love carbs! Pasta and crackers are so yummy to me.

A new pregnancy symptom I have been experiencing this week is back pain and cramps. I am not liking those so much. They make me worry that something is wrong. But from all I've read cramps are very common. I need to not worry and realize that my body is going through so many changes and that is a sign of pregnancy. I am positive that all is good. I can't wait until my first appointment.

I am still way tired in the afternoons. The last two nights I have gone to bed before 10pm. I still wake up several times a night to head over to the bathroom though. I guess uninterrupted sleep may be a thing of the past, sigh.

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I am sooo tired all the time

I just can't seem to get enough rest. I wake up a couple of times each night to go pee and sometimes have a hard time getting back to sleep. I was experiencing this in the weeks before I found out I was pregnant. At the time, I could not figure out why I kept getting up in the middle of the night so often to go to the bathroom. Now I realize it was because of pregnancy and hormones.

In the afternoons, I am am so so tired. I can barely stay awake to get through work. I am constantly yawning. I am yawning as I write this post. Well, I better work up some energy since I rode my bike to work today. I got to get home and my means of transportation today is the bike. I hope the exercise will give me some energy.

Blood test confirmed!

I am definitely pregnant! Wohoo!! I just set-up my first appointment with a nurse practitioner for October 30th. I will be about 8 weeks then. It will be an orientation and then I will get an appointment for my first ultrasound. OMG, this is real!!

It better be real because I have been feeling queasy and I am tired a lot. But I am willing to deal with those not so great symptoms. Luckily, I haven't been vomiting or having awful morning sickness like stories I have heard. I hope the queasiness is the bulk of my morning sickness and doesn't go much further than that. What I have found to help is eating little snacks and working out.