9 Days Overdue

Today marks exactly 9 days past my due date. This past month has been such a challenge for me and as each day goes by that I am still pregnant I feel more and more frustrated and hopeless. It feels like there is no end in sight. I try to remind myself over and over again that this will be ending soon, that all this pain and discomfort that I am feeling will all be worth it when I finally have my daughter in my arms. Any day now my beautiful Chloe will be here, any day now.

The good news is that this week we have a plan. At my appointment with my midwife on Thursday we talked about our plan of action for this week since I cant go past 42 weeks. On Monday I have to go in for a BPP ultrasound to check on Chloe and make sure she is still healthy and growing properly. If everything looks good with her then I wouldn't have to worry about an induction until I get to Friday. On Tuesday I have another appointment with my midwife, at that appointment they will do a nonstress test, check to see if I am progressing, give me a membrane sweep if they are able, and then send me home with a mixture of castor oil and lemon verbena to drink that will hopefully put me into labor. If that doesn't work then they want me to take a stronger version of the mixture again. My midwife also suggested that this week I really focus on all the natural ways to induce labor even though nothing will actually put me into labor unless my body is ready it will still help get my body to be thinking more about labor.

If by Friday I still have not gone into labor then I will have to be induced and labor and deliver at the hospital instead of at the birth center. We are really hoping that doesn't happen and that we will be able to have the natural un-medicated birth that we planned at the birth center. In all honesty though I will be ok if we have to go to the hospital and be induced, whatever it takes to have my beautiful healthy baby girl in my arms! I know that no matter what God is watching over us!

3 Days Overdue

Today I am 3 days past my due date. I'm not surprised at all, I figured Chloe would be late. I'm really hoping that she will be here by this weekend!! Today I feel pretty good so far, I actually got a couple hours of sleep last night! These past couple weeks have been very difficult for me. I haven't been able to sleep much, I'm so uncomfortable, I was having really bad heartburn everyday, and my stomach is so itchy and sore from stretching so much. Some days seem harder then others to get by. I just cant wait to be done being pregnant!

On Thursday if I am still pregnant I have my 41 week appointment with my midwife. I get to be checked for the first time, which I am kinda excited about. I have been having contractions almost everyday for the past 3 weeks so it would be very exciting if I was actually progressing along. I will also be getting a membrane sweep as well and hopefully that will put me into labor  If I make it to 42 weeks then I will have to get induced which is something we really want to try to avoid.

 I just have to share something that's really cute. Chloe loves to stick her little butt straight up in the air all the time. It's so funny to see, my stomach gets all lopsided and you can totally see that her butt is just sticking straight up. Mike and I think its so funny and cute! Every time I have an appointment with my midwives Chloe always has her butt in the air for them to see and everyone thinks its the funniest thing. I think its pretty darn cute!

Great News

On Friday I will be 30 weeks! Seriously, I cant believe I am already this far along. This pregnancy has gone by so fast, way faster then I imagined it was going to go by. It's strange, I am at this stage in my pregnancy were it almost feels bitter sweet that it's nearing the end. On one hand I absolutely cant wait for the day my daughter is born, when I can finally hold her in my arms and look into her eyes and just stare in amazement that God himself would give my husband and I this incredible gift! Then on the other hand I have really loved being pregnant, and selfishly I feel sad that it's coming to an end. I know that I will never forget these 9 months, it's really been a life changing journey for me, and for the first time in my life I have so much appreciation and respect for my body.

Ok on to the good news lol. Today I had an appointment with my midwife. She told me that the results for the glucose test came back negative and that I don't have gestational diabetes! I cant tell you how good it felt to hear her say that. We talked about preparing more for the birth and my postpartum care and the tests that they will run after my daughter is born. She also suggested that this would be a good time to start researching pediatricians in our area and to choose the one we like for our daughter. I guess they need to know by 37 weeks the name of the doctor we have picked for our baby. The rest of the appointment went great, my blood pressure was perfect, she felt for the baby's positioning, and we got to hear our little girls heartbeat. My midwife measured me, which she started doing once I hit 24 weeks, today I measured at 31. I have consistently been measuring a little bit bigger but they figure that's due to the extra fluid I have so there not at all worried about it.

So thats my wonderful news, It's been a busy day, but a great day!

Pregnancy Update

Last Thursday I was scheduled to take the glucose test. I fasted for 3 hrs, drank the glucose sugar drink they gave me in under 5 minutes and then Mike and I drove to the birth center to get my blood taken. When we got to the birth center one of my midwifes was there to take my blood and send it to the lab to get tested. Unfortunately my veins are really small and she couldn't get any blood, she tried twice, one in each arm and then also checked my hands, but none of my veins worked. To much time had passed after I drank the glucose drink (they have to take your blood exactly 1 hr after you drink the sugar drink) so she couldn't try anymore to find a vein that would work. Tomorrow I have to fast and drink that disgusting drink again, and go to an actual lab to get my blood drawn. I was definitely frustrated when my midwife told me I had to take the test again. As much as I love my midwife's I have to admit they kinda suck at drawing blood, lol.

Tomorrow is going to be a busy day, I have to go to the lab and get my blood drawn, then I have to go to the hospital to do a non stress test and have another ultrasound, and then after that I have my regular prenatal checkup with my midwife. I am praying everything still looks great with my daughter when they do the ultrasound tomorrow and that she is still growing properly. I have been feeling her move all the time so that's been a huge relief! I still don't know why I wasn't feeling any of her movements for a couple days last week. 

I should find out the results from the glucose test hopefully on Wednesday or Thursday, and if I do have gestational diabetes then I can learn what I need to do to ensure that Chloe will continue to grow and be healthy. I will keep everyone updated when I find out the results.

Everything Is Ok

 My beautiful daughter in 4d at 26 weeks and 4 days

So yesterday we ended up having an unscheduled ultrasound. Yesterday morning I called my midwife and expressed to her that I was feeling concerned because I hadn't felt any movement from Chloe since Saturday afternoon. I was really worried because I feel my baby's movements everyday, and her movements have been getting much stronger to the point were I can see my belly move when she is kicking. So it was really scary to all of a sudden not be able to feel anything for several days. My midwife told me to come in at 12:30 to possibly do a non stress test and to hear the baby's heartbeat. I called Mike while he was at work and told him that our midwife wanted us to come in that afternoon. Mike left work early and came home and we were able to go to our appointment together which was such a huge relief to have him there with me.

When we got to the birth center my midwife had me lay down immediately so we could check for the baby's heartbeat. She found Chloe's heartbeat right away, and it sounded nice and strong. It was such a huge relief to her heartbeat! My midwife suggested though that we go to the hospital next door where we had gotten our 20 week ultrasound and have another ultrasound done to really see what was going on with our baby.

Luckily there was an opening right away at the hospital and we didn't have to wait to be seen. It was amazing to see Chloe again through the ultrasound, she already looked so much bigger then the last time we saw her almost 7 weeks ago. The ultrasound technician took all of Chloe's measurements and looked at all the necessary things to make a complete assessment on Chloe's health. We could clearly see that Chloe was moving around, kicking her little legs and feet, and moving her arms and hands. At one point in the ultrasound we could see that Chloe had her feet all the way up by her head lol, It was so cute! We also got to see Chloe's face in 4d which was beyond the most amazing thing I had ever seen. Seriously I cant even describe how incredible it was to see my daughter's face so clearly, it really was so touching and it left me completely in awe!

The doctor came in a little bit later to go over the ultrasound. She said Chloe looks completely perfect, that she weighs 2.4 lbs and is moving around a lot. The doctor told us that baby's usually don't have a routine yet until at around 28 weeks and that most mothers do not feel all of their baby's movements. She also told us that I have a little more amniotic fluid then I had before which could be what is causing me to feel less of Chloe's movements. I asked the doctor what is causing me to have more fluid, and she said that the extra fluid is Urine from Chloe which could mean that I have gestational diabetes because Chloe is peeing more then she should. I am scheduled to take the glucose screening test next Tuesday with my midwife but the doctor I saw today suggested that I take the test sometime this week instead. She kept reassuring me that Chloe is completely healthy though, and that she is not worried at all but that she does want me to come in again next Tuesday for another ultrasound and a non stress test.

Mike and I both felt so relieved that we were able to see Chloe, hear her heartbeat, and to know that she is perfectly fine and healthy. I will admit though that I am really worried about taking the glucose test, and I am worried that they are going to tell me I have gestational diabetes. All I want is for my baby to be healthy.

6 Months Down

Today I am exactly 6 months pregnant! I really cant believe how fast this pregnancy has gone so far. Our little girl will be here before we know it! I have been feeling pretty good at this point in my pregnancy and only have morning sickness once or twice a week now. My energy level is much better these days but no where near what it was like before I got pregnant. I am however struggling a lot with leg cramps and back pain, but I know that's a normal symptom of pregnancy. I am also struggling with bending over now that my belly has gotten much bigger, its pretty funny actually to see me try to bend down and pick something up off of the floor, its not an easy task these days.

Yesterday Mike and I had an appointment with my midwife. While we were at the birth center there were 2 births going on. We didn't see anything obviously but they always light a candle that's on the front desk when a baby is being born, and Mike and I heard one of the newborns crying!

Our appointment was great, we talked about how I was feeling and any questions Mike and I had for her. For my next appointment which is on March 10th I have to take the glucose screening test to find out if I have gestational diabetes. I'm not looking forward to taking that test at all, I have to make sure not to eat anything for 2 hours before my appointment and then 30 minutes before my appointment starts I have to drink a really sugary drink that they give me in 5 minutes, then 30 minutes later they draw my blood. It's not that bad, I have it really easy because most people I have taken with say that when they took that test they were not allowed to eat all day.

 My midwife measured me, checked my blood pressure, we got to hear Chloe's heartbeat, which is always my favorite part. Chloe's heartbeat sounded strong and beautiful, and with the doppler we could hear her kicking in there! My midwife also showed us by pressing into my belly how Chloe was positioned in my womb. That was really amazing to be able to know where her head is, back, and cute little legs and feet!! After my next appointment which is in 4 weeks, my appointments will then move to every two weeks instead of 4!

Our childbirth class starts March 30th, we are so excited about starting that class. So many people have told me that the class we are taking is amazing and eased a lot of their fears about having a natural childbirth. Oh, and some other really exciting news, Mike finally felt Chloe move for the first time last Friday evening. That was so exciting to be able to share that experience together. Since then he has felt our daughter move a couple more times!

16 Weeks

Today I am exactly 4 months and 6 days pregnant! I cant believe how fast time is going. In 3 weeks I will be 20 weeks, which is halfway through my pregnancy! December 16th I had an appointment with my midwife, which went really well. They said my blood pressure was perfect, and everything feels right on track. I also got to hear the baby's heartbeat! My midwife said the heartbeat sounded strong and healthy, and she said it felt like the baby was moving around a lot! I haven't felt the baby's movements yet, I keep waiting in anticipation for it everyday. My midwife said that I probably wont feel the baby until I am around 18-20 weeks.

 I also asked her how far along I need to be for Mike and I to get an ultrasound to find out the gender, she said she would like me to wait until 20 weeks to get an ultrasound. We are so excited to be able to see our baby for the first time through an ultrasound, and to finally find out what we are having! Everyone we have asked has said they think we are having a boy, which has also been my guess, but ya never know, we could all be completely wrong. Either way I am so excited whether we have a boy or girl.

Everyday I am feeling better and better, which is so amazing. I finally have energy again and can actually be productive. I am enjoying life a lot more now!

Second Trimester

I am now in my second trimester! I am so excited about that, and I am really, really hoping that the morning sickness will soon come to an end. On Thursday our midwife asked for us to come into the office. Mike had called them on Wednesday to let them know that I am not able to keep much food down (this has been going on for a couple months now), and he told them I have lost about 20 lbs.

Mike and I were really worried, and just wanted to make sure everything is ok with our baby. Our midwife told us that the baby will take what it needs first, and that experiencing morning sickness into the second trimester is normal for some woman. She gave me a lot of different tricks to try out to help with the nausea and vomiting. She also said that if I cant keep anything down (food and water) for 24 hrs to call them immediately.

We got to hear the baby's heartbeat for the second time, it is already starting to sound so much stronger and louder then the first time we got to hear our baby's heartbeat. It was so reassuring to be able to hear the heartbeat, I felt like I could breath again. The first time we heard the heartbeat the heart rate was 160, now it's 120. I am pretty convinced it's a boy, but we wont know for sure for another couple weeks.

This week is a busy week for our baby, lot's of growing! Our baby is now 3 1/2 inches long and weighs 1 1/2 ounces. He/She can now squint, frown, pee, and suck his/her thumb. It's amazing how fast our little baby is growing everyday. I cant wait till I can hold him/her in my arms, look into their eyes and give them lots of kisses all over!

Our First Prenatal Appoitment

Our favorite birth room
Image Via

Before I even became pregnant I knew that I wanted to have a very natural pregnancy, labor and delivery. It's just something that has always been very important to me. Mike and I decided to go with a midwife for my prenatal care and deliver our baby at a birth center with the help of our midwife. We had our first appointment with Puget Sound Midwives on October 21st. At our first appointment I mostly filled out a lot of paperwork, asked a lot of questions, and they took my blood so they could do some lab work on me and make sure everything is looking good with my baby and I.

 We also got to take a tour of the birth center, there are 3 birth rooms, all 3 rooms are decorated differently and range in size. The rooms are very intimate, warm and cozy and include a large bathtub and bed that you can use. Which ever room we want to use for our labor and delivery is up to us. We have our second appointment on November 16th, at that appointment we finally get to hear our baby's heartbeat! I am so excited, I know it is going to be such an amazing and special moment for Mike and I! We plan on videotaping it so we can show our families and friends. I know I will probably watch that video a million times!