2009 Pregnancy/baby thread

[finn's mom]

Boooo...I found out today that I do have gestational diabetes. I have to make an appointment to do a more extensive three hour test (drink the glucose solution and then have blood drawn every hour on the hour). I'm going to do some reading up after I post this, but I'm pretty sure I'll be fine with just controlling the sugar that I take in. But, dang it, I was so happy that I was having a healthy pregnancy. Grrr...

[beeniesmom]

I'm sorry Kari. If you have any questions, Lord knows I can help you on this one.

[finn's mom]

I'm sorry Kari. If you have any questions, Lord knows I can help you on this one.

Thanks, Carmen. I'm not going to get too concerned until I take the three hour test. I've talked to several women and most of them said that they failed the one hour and passed the three hour. So, here's hoping! I do need to step up my healthy eating, though, so even if I'm in the clear, this has been a bit of a wake up call.

[cassiesmom]

No, I'm NOT pregnant!

I just wanted to say 2 things -- Pembroke Corgi and Sabies, what sweet pictures! and I hope all the 2009 PT moms and babies will be healthy and blessed.

That's all.

[NoahsMommy]

I'm not pregnant either, but was just catching up on this thread and all you're beautiful babies and tummies!!

I've drawn a number of 3HGTTs (sorry, 3-hour glucose tolerance tests) at work and the worst part, as I'm sure you all know, is the waiting while hungry part. I'm pretty sure you have to just sit there and not move (too much) as well, right? I guess that's a good time to get your reading in? Good luck to all you...I can't wait to "meet" your beautiful angels. I'll be praying for healthy, quick, uneventful births AND for happy, healthy babies.

Hugs,
Kelly

[finn's mom]

I know I'm not to eat anything after midnight tonight, but does fasting mean no water as well? I'm not going to drink any just in case, but if I can get a definitive answer before bed, I may drink water tomorrow morning. I am going in for the test at 8am. I have to work for about an hour and a half before going in, and then go back to work for a few hours afterwards. Gonna be a fun morning.

[NoahsMommy]

Fasting means nothing by mouth from (usually) midnight on. NOTHING by mouth means not even chewing gum or sucking on a mint. You can only brush your teeth if you DON'T swallow anything.

But, with you being pregnant and with a glucose test, I'm not sure on the water. Usually, I'd say NO WATER, but...pregnancy tends to change the rules. If they were doing a 3HGTT on a non-pregnant person, I'd say no water at all. It can dilute anything you're adding to the body. They want a reading of how your body handles glucose, and I'd imagine that if you drank water, it'd effect that.

You can call a hospital lab and ask. The labs are open 24/7. Or you can talk to an ER nurse - they SHOULD know the answer...but I'd bet you'd get a better answer from the lab.

[prechrswife]

Water should be fine. They actually let me drink water in between parts of my 3 hour test last time--don't know if that is normal or not.

[sabies]

Soon after my last post I was in labor. Despite being baby #2 labor lasted long. I went to the hospital about 20 hours after contractions started and of course once there they broke my water to try to get things moving. I almost went without drugs but at 8cm I needed an epidural! I'm thankful I still had a natural birth - turns out baby boy was 10 lbs 8 oz!! No wonder my belly was so big. I'm feeling much better now, like a great weight has been lifted off my belly, well seriously recovery overall has been good and I'm just building up arm muscles so I can carry my heavy newborn. His name is Stratton, born 5/14.

Good luck to all the other pregnant pettalkers! Have patience in the end - it's not easy wondering day after day if today is it!

[Karen]

Welcome to the world, Stratton!

[caseysmom]

Congratulations Sabies, I think Stratton deserves his own thread!

Good luck to all of you pregnant pettalkers...

Finn's mom...I never looked that cute when I was pregnant.

[finn's mom]

Wheee!!!! I'm getting excited. I head home to South Carolina on Saturday! My aunt is coming down from Maine and will be there while I'm there, so that's super cool. The shower she, my mom and my mom's best friend are throwing for me is this Sunday. I'll get to see my family and friends back home, and spend time with everyone that I don't get to see often enough. I'm really excited!

My doctor is pleased with the way things are progressing, and is confident that I won't have to go on meds to manage my gestational diabetes. I had another class/meeting with my educator, and she says I'm doing a great job. I have definitely learned a lot and know what to do to keep my levels right. I can pretty much eat what I want if I exercise enough.

We are working on the nursery and I'm really excited about how it's turning out, too. I'll post photos when we're finished painting!

My waist is now at 41 inches! Woo hoo!

[finn's mom]

I have had a great time so far in South Carolina! It has been so nice seeing my family and a couple of my friends. The baby shower was a lot of fun, and non traditional again. It was originally going to be all girls, but it ended up being for everyone. It was great! I was able to eat a little bit of cake, and my numbers were still good! We got a lot of beautiful and cute things, plus $600 in gift cards and cash. Unbelievable. I am still a little shell shocked. I can't wait to share photos of the dress and blanket my aunt made. They are unreal. She is incredibly gifted in crafts, and the gifts she made for our little girl are exquisite. Even the cake she made was gorgeous! I'll have to post photos of the decorations on the cake, they were great!

Anyway, things are going really well, and I feel great! Still keeping up with my diet and taking my blood sugar levels. I was not sure if I was going to do a good job of it, being out of my element and routine. But, I'm proud of myself!

I am here for a couple more days, and will just enjoy my family. We are planning to go to a couple stores and really look at nursery furniture. My mother is buying it, and will have it shipped directly to us, so this is our chance to shop together and for me to get my hands on the items to see what I really like! I'm leaning more towards white furniture as opposed to light wood...but we'll see!

[beeniesmom]

That's great Kari! Wow! Your family is generous! You deserve it! It's a special time in our lives. If we don't get spoiled now when will we be!

Well time for a little update:

I have started the biweekly drs. visits. I go in on Tuesday to get fetal monitoring and to check for contractions (if I am having any). On Friday I get ultrasounds to monitor amniotic fluid AND fetal monitoring. It's standard procedure for the hospital I go to if you are diabetic.
I will get to see my little lady every Friday.

The last attempt at 4D wasn't great. She was not wanting to turn and show her face. We could see her profile and the fact that she was munching on the chord....

My blood pressure was up a little on the last two visits and they told me to stay off my feet and avoid too much work. I need to stay off the salty foods.

Other than that, I am feeling pretty good. Just a little heavy and my feet and legs hurt if I am on them too much.

I am working on the nursery a little every day. I finished placing the ladybug decals around her crib yesterday and will put the wall hangings up this week. I purchased drapes yesterday. This weekend hubby will install the rods and we'll hang them up to see how they look. I'll post pictures when it's all done.

I can't believe I will be holding a little baby in more or less 6 weeks.

[finn's mom]

Just kicking this up...how's everyone doing? Feeling? How are the new babies? How are the babies on their way?

We just went to the pool tonight, swimming is great. My gestational diabetes is under control, although I still mess up once in awhile and eat too much or not enough carbs or protein. I still feel awesome, I have no problems getting to and staying asleep at night. I think I've gained about 11 or 12 pounds, my "waist" is about 41 inches. Things are going well. We have our next appointment on Thursday and then we start going every two weeks (the next appointment after Thursday's will include a sonogram, yay!)

We have a baby shower on the first at David's office. The invite ended up being emailed to over 2000 people, hahaha, so we'll see who shows up. It's a huge corporate headquarters, and it wasn't intended for that many people, but someone messed up and sent it out to everyone. Should be interesting.

Our baby shower at the house is on the 11th, and then we'll go shopping with the gift cards to get the things we need that we didn't get from friends and family!

We are putting the finishing touches on the paint in the nursery, and just ordered furniture. Can't wait to get it! The paint looks amazing, and I can't wait to see the crib, glider and dresser in the room. We won't get the bookcase and toy chest until my parents come when baby arrives. David doesn't think the little lass is going to wait until August, he had a dream that we're having a July baby.

And, just for the record, I think we're leaning more towards Clara Elizabeth.