31 Weeks

It has been an uneventful week for me so far. Which is a good thing.

I had an appointment with my doctor on Friday. It went well. My blood sugars are still low and stable, which is great news. My doctor wants to check on Kaylee's growth sooner than 36 weeks, so she is sending me for a Fetal Growth Scan at 32 weeks. Oh, and a funny thing happened at the appointment. Every appointment, my doctor measures the fundal height and listens to Kaylee's heart beat with the Doppler microphone. While she was listening, Kaylee gave a great big kick and literally kicked the Doppler microphone away and off my belly! She was quite shocked and we all had a giggle over it.

Chris and I went to the Padres game on Monday night. It was fun. I think little Kaylee enjoys the games as much as we do. She always moves around so much. Or maybe it's the opposite. Perhaps it's too loud for her? At one point, Chris had his hand on my belly as Kaylee was moving and bumping around, and she gave him a nice big kick! It's obvious we have quite a strong little future black belt growing here.

I have been feeling Braxton Hicks contractions more often and stronger, but I am told this is normal. It's just my body preparing for the real thing in a few short weeks. The third trimester is really hitting me hard now with all the aches and pains. I am really looking forward to this pregnancy ending and finally meeting our little Kaylee Bria.

Here is an update on Kaylee -

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She is around 17 inches long and weighs in at just about four pounds—about the size of a soccer ball. Although the rate of physical growth is slowing, she is beginning to gain weight in fat deposits and muscle. In fact, she will begin to grow in weight at about a half pound per week.

Her lungs are the only major organ left to complete development. Although we may be anxious to meet our little one, these last few weeks are vital. With each day, she increases her ability to breathe on her own.

The layers of fat are changing the hue of her skin from red to a rosy pink. Calcium, phosphorus, and iron are being stored and her bones are hardening.

She can now perceive information from all five senses. Sure, she can't smell anything right now, but that's only because she is still submerged in amniotic fluid and needs to breath air to get a whiff of anything. Although, my scent will be one of the very first she breathes in—a scent that will quickly become her very favorite.

So what is Kaylee doing all day? Making faces, hiccuping, swallowing, breathing, pedaling with little hands and feet along my uterine wall, and even sucking her thumb. In fact, some babies suck their thumbs so vigorously while in the womb that they're born with a callus on their thumb!

Another Milestone

Nothing really new to report. So far my Gestational Diabetes is under control just by giving up sugars and counting carbs so that's good news. I am also still checking my blood sugar levels 4 times a day. I am getting used to it fairly quickly and easily.

The Diabetes Specialist called me this morning to tell me my blood sugar levels are perfect and its hard to believe I even have GD according to the blood sugar numbers. Also my diet is perfect and since I have GD this the best kind to have...easily controlled.

She also said she would like to have the next Ultrasound, Non Stress Test, and consultation with a Neonatal Specialist scheduled for Sept 5th..no later as that puts me in the 36th week and we would need some answers by then.

I have an appointment with my regular OB Doctor tomorrow. If I am measuring ahead or behind they might want to schedule the ultrasound sooner.

Update on Kaylee -
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Kaylee now weighs around 3 pounds 3 oz and is nearly 16 inches long already!

It's in with the new (brain cells, red blood cells) and out with the old (lanugo). Much of the early lanugo — the soft, downy hair covering your baby's body — is beginning to disappear now because both fat and the brain are regulating your baby's body temperature. Her blood is now being produced from the stem cells in its bone marrow. Brain cells continue to grow at a very fast pace as well.

She is now sleeping most of the time and has periods of REM sleep. You may even notice a pattern of when she likes to sleep and when she likes to play.

Her eyesight continues to develop, though it's not very keen; even after she's born, she'll keep her eyes closed for a good part of the day. When she does open them, she'll respond to changes in light but will have 20/400 vision — which means she can only make out objects a few inches from her face.

Her toenails are also entering their final growth stage. Only 9 weeks to go!

What a Week!

It has been quite a long and frustrating week for me. Luckily, it is slowly getting better and easier.

After last Thursday's three hour glucose tolerance test, I had to wait for the results. I wasn't expecting to receive the results until Monday, but I got a call on Friday from my doctor. The news was not the greatest. I do indeed have gestational diabetes.

My doctor wanted to see me as soon as possible and for me to start testing my blood glucose levels at home with a glucose monitor. She told me that she sent a request to my pharmacy and to go get it, because she needed to know my blood glucose levels by my next appointment. Well, needless to say when I went to go pick it up, the pharmacy told me they needed her to call them back and give them a specific brand before they could fill the request. Well, unfortunately to say this turned into a HUGE fiasco with the doctor, the pharmacy and the insurance company.

I had a follow up appointment on Tuesday with my doctor, and she ended up giving me a glucose meter they had in the office. The issues finally got solved, but not before I had a complete breakdown from frustration, from dealing with the doctor, pharmacy and insurance company not all being on the same page and being yanked around by all of them.

On Wednesday I went to a class for diabetes during pregnancy and met with a nutritionist. The class was very informative and I feel better about the whole thing now. Now that I am more informed about what I should be eating and what I should be avoiding, I feel like I can do this. I can deal with this. I just need to take it one day at a time. It is going to be hard giving up my favorites like ice cream and even fruit at certain times; however, it's not forever.

Since my doctor now considers this pregnancy high risk, Kaylee and I will be more closely monitored. I was told to expect to have a LOT more appointments from now on. I am already seeing this. I was supposed to see my doctor every two weeks for regular OB appointments, but looking at my calender, I have had four appointments just in the last two weeks. And this will continue. I have another appointment next week. So at this point I am seeing the doctor at LEAST once a week. Starting at 36 weeks I will have appointments twice a week for ultrasounds and non stress tests, to make sure Kaylee is not growing too fast. If she is, then I may have to be scheduled to have an induction or a cesarean section early. But we will cross that path when we get to it.

Update on Kaylee -

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Kaylee is around 15 1/2 inches long and weighs about 2.75 to 3 pounds already!

Her brain can now control body temperature and primitive rhythmic breathing (although her lungs are not yet fully developed). Also, her brain is continuing to grow billions of neurons, ready to make new connections with everything she sees, feels, touches, or hears. She is becoming increasingly sensitive to changes in light, sound, taste, and smell and is already developing her preferences and dislikes for particular tastes and odors. She may be a picky eater before she even comes out of the womb!

Our little girl has arduously managed to accumulate enough baby fat to account for nearly 3.5% of her overall body weight. Yeah, compared to we adults, it’s not a lot, but when they’re little like that, it's certainly a healthy (and warming) accomplishment in its way.

At this stage a baby's eyes are almost always blue and can distinguish bright sunlight or artificial light through the uterine wall.

Her wrinkled skin is smoothing out as more fat is deposited under the skin surface. This fat, called white fat, is different from the earlier brown fat that she accumulated. Brown fat is necessary for body temperature regulation while white fat (the fat mom has) actually serves as an energy source. Which explains why your Energizer baby feels so, well, energized!

Space in Kaylee's living quarters is now at a premium, so I'll be feeling jabs and pokes from elbows and knees mostly. But those kicks will be more vigorous than before (and also less erratic) because she is stronger and excitedly responding to all sorts of stimuli—movement, sounds, light, and that candy bar I ate half an hour ago (if I were allowed to eat such things).

Week 28: Ups and Downs

I had a regularly scheduled appointment with my doctor on Monday, along with the one hour glucose tolerance screen, which was not too bad. They had me drink something called Glucola - a sweet, orange-flavored, soda-like drink. I was instructed to down it in five minutes or less, and to keep it down - and yes, it is carbonated. They note the exact time the the drink is finished, and then do a blood draw in exactly one hour. The drink really wasn't as bad as I was told it was. Don't get me wrong, it was by no means pleasant! But it wasn't horrible, either.

My doctor also ordered a complete blood count to check for anemia, since red heads have a tendency to be more anemic than others. I mentioned to her that I was having Braxton Hicks contractions more often and that they were lasting longer, so she did an exam to make sure my cervix was holding up and I wasn't dilating just yet. Blood pressure was good. Temperature was good. Kaylee is once again measuring a little ahead. I was scolded for not gaining enough weight for now... *shrug*.

Unfortunately, Wednesday morning I got a call from my doctor, saying I failed the one hour test, and I have to come in and do the 3 hour test! This was scheduled for Thursday morning. I was seriously dreading this. I had to fast this time around. Get a baseline blood draw, drink a twice-as-sweet Glucola syrup in the same five minutes or less. Then comes the fun part... a blood draw every hour thereafter for three hours and having to sit in the waiting room for those long three hours without eating anything. I now feel like Swiss cheese! Whew - five blood draws, all in one week! Oh the things one does for the love of their child. Hopefully, I pass this time! I will have another routine ultrasound at 34 weeks. So, in late August we get to see our little Kaylee bug again!! Yay!

Update on our ever-growing Kaylee -

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She is now around 15 inches long and weighs in at about 2.5 to 2.75 pounds (1100 - 1250 g). Kaylee's brain continues to develop and is now forming the folds and grooves of a fully developed brain. The amount of tissue within the brain also continues to increase in large amounts. Brain waves show rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, which means she may be dreaming.

Her muscle tone is improving. Just preparation for the Olympics that feels like it is taking place in the womb! And she is now using all of her senses. She can see, taste, recognize touch and the sound of our voices!

Our baby is picking up body fat and filling out. She is able to partially control her own body temperature now. During the last trimester, our baby will receive antibodies from me through the placenta that will provide immunity from many diseases.

The Third Trimester

Wow!! So I hit the third trimester this week! I can't even believe how fast it's going. Kaylee will be here before we know it! We have just 12 short weeks before her estimated date of arrival! AHHH!!!

So Chris and I went to the Labor and Delivery tour last Wednesday night. It went well... got a lot of good information. I was thrilled to hear that UCSD offers ANY woman laboring at the Hillcrest a Doula... free of charge! I was seriously contemplating seeing how much a Doula would cost us. I have heard wonderful things about them and apparently it's proven that women who labor with a Doula are more likely to have a shorter labor, and less likely to need medical interventions. So that's news I was happy to hear. Anyway, being at the tour and seeing where Kaylee will be coming into this world... made it all so much more real.

One not-so-fun thing happened though. We were going through the tour, looking at one of the rooms and all of a sudden I felt really weak and dizzy. Great, just what I need. A scene in front of all these other people. It turned out it wasn't too bad. I just needed to sit down for a few moments and drink some ice water. Also, turns out I was coming down with a really bad cold so that didn't help. The cold is almost gone now. Let me just tell you though, being sick, while it's hot and you're pregnant... not being able to take much of anything... is not fun. Luckily I am slowly getting better and it hasn't seemed to affect Kaylee at all.

I also had a regularly scheduled prenatal appointment last week. I had the glucose tolerance test scheduled then, but since I wasn't feeling well I will be getting that done at my 28 week appointment instead. Everything looked good with Kaylee and myself. The doctor says Kaylee is head down, so that's good news too! I start going to the appointments every two weeks now. Yikes!

Anyway... sorry to bore you all with those details... on to Kaylee's update -

She is getting bigger as always! Now weighing around 2.3 to 2.5 pounds (1100 G) and 14.5 inches long! Her size is comparable to... a Sock Monkey! hehe

If she were to come into this world now, Kaylee would have an 85% chance of surviving!

Thumb-sucking is calming to the baby and strengthens her cheek and jaw muscles. And get this... she is already practicing for her entrance into the world and is able to cry already! She can also feel pain and respond to it in the same way as a full term baby can!

The neurons in her brain are making new connections every day, and her brain will be like a sponge in the next few years, absorbing more and more information. The more she is exposed to, the more her brain will grow and thirst for more knowledge. Exposure to different shapes, colors, and textures during the first few months of infant-hood will really sharpen her senses.