Third Trimester!

Well, here we are at 28 weeks; the third trimester. The end is (kind of) in sight. Okay, its not but I am starting to wish it was.

I had my 28 week check up today. All with baby is going well. Blood pressure is great, no noticeable swelling, baby and uterus are at the perfect growth. Only problem...my weight. I wholeheartedly disagree with the scale at the doctor's office. I weigh myself about every two weeks, just to keep tabs and make sure I am not gaining so much I can't take it off in the spring. I weighed myself Monday morning and according to my scale at home I have gained 6 lbs since my last appt. Not great, but not terrible either considering Thanksgiving happened, my shower, holiday potluck and the string of treats that have been making their way through the office. I get to the doctor's office today and get on the scale...hmmm, that doesn't seem right. I weight for the NP to come in. She starts shaking her head and going no, no that's not good. Okay, don't say that to a pregnant woman, now I am worried. She turns to me and starts lecturing me about my weight gain, according to them I gained 12 lbs this month. 12!! I don't think so. We go over my diet, what I am eating, how much, if I have swelling or extra water retention. I am now feeling pretty humiliated and pretty fat...more so than I already feel since I have lost all control over my body. She then starts asking me about my workout routine pre-baby and now. I tell her I played sports, was an avid runner, spin class, triathlons, etc but I can't do most of that now since it is painful for me to run these days and with having to watch my heartrate my workouts are WAY less intense. She then starts to calm down a bit and says okay, that is fine, you were very active and starts to let up on her tirade. I tell ya...I was feeling pretty pathetic and low about myself after that appt. But, everything with baby is going well, thankfully so that is all that important. She then had me drink the wonderful orange flavored glucose drink and sent me off to the lab. I sat in the lab for 45 min. waiting for the glucose drink to kick in and then they took my blood and I was off. As long as nothing is wrong I will find out the test results at my next appt. If my blood work was bad, meaning there is cause for concern regarding gestational diabetes then they will call me and I will have to do follow up tests. I am thinking I will be fine but we'll wait and see.

Other highlights (and low lights) from the last month...

We had a bit of a scare about 3 weeks ago. I hadn't felt the baby move in almost 24 hours, so I called the doctor's office. They said to drink cold water or something sweet and wait an hour, if still no movement to go to the Labor and Delivery floor at the hospital for monitoring. I am now freaking out, as I am pressing and prodding at the baby, drinking everything in sight and no movement. I couldn't wait the hour...way too stressed so Derek and I headed off to the hospital. They had a strong heart beat on baby right away and finally about an hour after being hooked up to the monitors she/he finally started kicking away. All was fine, I guess just a restful day for baby thankfully. Since then, I have had gymnastics class in my stomach at least once a day, sometimes not the most comfortable thing but I will take it over silence any day.

I was also blessed with a wonderful winter cold. I started feeling crappy the Sunday after Thanksgiving. Starting out with a sore throat for about a week and then progressed into a nasty head cold. I was sick for probably 2 almost 3 weeks. I am finally feeling much better (and about to get on a plan again...great).

Derek and I took our birthing class this past month also. We went for two Saturdays, 6 hours each day to learn about Lamaze breathing, birthing techniques, pain management and preparation for the big arrival. It was very helpful and we learned a lot. Most of which I will probably forget in the next 2 months because baby continues to eat my brain. We had some really nice couples in our class and already had the first birth. Lily and Oscar's baby girl arrived 3 weeks early, the Tuesday after our first class. We are the last due date of the class so once our baby arrives they plan a reunion for everyone to meet each other's babies and share their birthing stories.

Derek and I also did some wonderful holiday things in the past month. A few weekends ago we went to the Gaylord Texan hotel to see the ICE show. They close off one of their convention centers and create a winter wonderland all made of ice. The theme this year was the Grinch, so they told the story in ice, it was all very cool (no pun intended). I have pictures of the display on my facebook page...check them out. We also celebrated our Christmas together since we will be in Seattle for Christmas. Derek surprised me with a dinner out to my favorite restaurant, The Melting Pot and we exchanged gifts when we got home. It was a very wonderful evening.

I have about 2 1/2 months until my due date. I am starting to feel pretty uncomfortable these days getting up and down off the ground, out of bed, etc. Aches and pains are popping up in places that are just so uncomfortable and I officially do not have an innie belly button anymore. I don't have an outie yet either, it is just kind of flat. I just keep reminding myself 11 weeks till my due date, it will go by fast but I am starting to lose hope. I am getting ready for this pregnancy to be over and parenting to begin.

Have a very Merry Christmas to you and your families.