Testing, Testing

Yesterday was my big blood test day. I did an iron test, antibody test, and the glucose test.

I checked in at the lab, and the check-in lady said "you are so much happier than most of the mamas I see! They're all hungry (fasting for their glucose test) and in a bad mood." I have never really felt ravenous during this pregnancy, though, so I was fine. (I did bring a Clif bar, though, for afterwards.)

After the first blood draw, I settled in with my iPad and a book (Ina May's Guide to Childbirth), and did some people-watching as well, as most people are in and out of the lab and don't stay for three hours (except for two other glucose testers). The glucose drink wasn't bad at first but got worse as I drank it. It hadn't been refrigerated and I think that made it a little worse. Then for an hour afterwards I felt kind of like a lava lamp with a blob of sugary syrup floating around in my belly. After that I felt better. One of the other mamas had waited for over an hour, rather than half an hour, after her first blood test because they forgot to bring her glucose out to her - I was glad I wasn't her! The book and iPad made the three hours go by pretty quickly, but I did stand up and walk around a couple of times.

For my second draw, the phlebotomist took some extra so that they could use it to update their "normal level" calculations for various blood tests.

Cory was so busy at work (we're leaving tomorrow to work a conference) that he couldn't leave the office until I was finished, so I walked in his direction as he drove in mine. It ended up being a good excuse to get some exercise in.

This morning we had our 28-week appointment, which was strange timing as I'm going back for my monthly appointment in two weeks. The doc said that everything looked great with the bloodwork. She measured me, and it was crazy how far up my uterus is now - almost to my ribcage. It was kind of nice because I've been measuring around my waist and the measurement hasn't really grown all that much, so it was nice to know that things were still looking normal for fundal height. She also Dopplered me, and the heartbeat was loud and sounded faster than last time. She said it was on the low end of normal though - maybe she was asleep?

Tomorrow we head to Dallas for our conference. I have the middle seat and Cory has windows the whole way, so hopefully I either know the person on the aisle (a group of us from work are going on the same flight) or they understand that I'll have to get up a fair amount.

"When are you Due?"

It's such a taboo thing to ask a stranger. I've seen so many articles and web comics about how you should never mention pregnancy to a stranger, in case they're not pregnant. But I have to say that today, when I was picking up my prescription refill, the pharmacy counter lady leaned in and whispered "when are you due?" and it made my day.

What's Going On, in Bullets

* I'm getting to that point where I'm HOT. It mostly happens at night - I go to bed with a couple of blankets, and when I get up to pee for the first time in the middle of the night, I get all overheated and spend the rest of the night with no blankets. Some days are that way too; hopefully it won't happen too often 'cause I get cranky when I'm hot.

* Ivy's kicks are always lower down in my belly, close to my pelvis. Last night, though, I felt it higher up a bit. I think maybe she was punching me!

* I feel bigger but I measure myself here and there and haven't actually gotten tons bigger. I think it's just the way I'm carrying.

* After big meals, especially dinner, I feel extra gross. I need to remember to eat more slowly, and a little less in the evenings, 'cause ugh.

* Things that were easy for me to do before are starting to get harder. I was trying to sit on the floor to do some work and it killed my back. Child's pose in yoga (as well as lots of other things, like kicking up into headstand) is no good anymore. I was putting signs on pallets today and tried to turn sideways to fit between a couple of them, and that totally didn't work either. I think I'm about as deep as I am wide now.

* I got my urine test results. My protein level was 128, I think, and normal is 50-150, they say. I'm happy that it's in the normal range, but I don't know if it being on the higher end of normal is good. Next Thursday is my glucose test, and on Friday I go in to talk about the results. And then we're off to Dallas next Saturday to work a Conference.

Urine Test and 25 Week Appointment

Yesterday the OB's office called to tell me that my midwife was out and they needed to reschedule for this afternoon. It was actually fortuitous because at lunch I was able to run and grab the jugs for my urine collection, so I'd be done in time for the appointment. Woot! There were good things and bad things about the collection - mainly that I was able to increase my water intake when I noticed I was a little dehydrated, but I did it too late in the evening and was sorry later: I was up every two hours. And in-between that, I had all kinds of bad dreams, including one where I accidentally peed in the toilet instead of the sample catcher thing. Heh.

I just got home from dropping off the sample and having my appointment. It was pretty routine, they measured me and Dopplered me and all that fun stuff. I've only gained 3 pounds since last time, which was surprising. Ivy's heartbeat sounded perfect. And now I have more tests - the glucose test, iron test, and an Rh antibodies test (though I think I'm A positive so I shouldn't need that one), and another ultrasound. I'll do the first three right before we head to Dallas on the 28th, and the ultrasound right after we get back. I'm excited to see Ivy again, but I'm not excited to see if the fibroid has grown. Leave me alone, fibroid.

Well, Crap.

I procrastinated all month with this 24-hour urine test thing. I was going to do it two weekends ago, but forgot, and then last weekend was my birthday, so I resigned myself to doing it when we had friends over for the weekend because it was my last chance before my next appointment on Monday (and the midwife said "do it in the next month!")

The midwife had told me that the lab was open on Saturdays from 8-noon so I headed over there shortly after 8 this morning, and the doors were all locked and the posted hours were Monday-Friday. Crap. So I went back to the car and cried for awhile (the hormone-fueled emotions are coming back!) and got mad at the midwife for giving me wrong information and at Cory for not going with me to the appointment and at myself for being an idiot. Hopefully I don't get in trouble at my appointment.

Speaking of our friends being over, it's been fun to chat with them because they're 10 days further along than we are, so we've been comparing symptoms and talking about heavy future-parenting stuff. Makes me wish we lived closer to each other.

Also, I finished Ivy's sweater. I still need to wash it before it's REALLY finished, so I'll throw a picture up here when that's done.

Time to start thinking about dinner.

And March is Here

24-and-a-half weeks pregnant, birthday come and gone, and we're running headlong into the third trimester! Time is flying!

We have friends visiting in the next couple of days, so I've spent the last few evenings after work cleaning the house. It has really needed it - the sun we've been enjoying lately keeps shining on all the dirt that accumulated in here over the winter, by muddy dogs and hairy cats and having better things to do than clean. Today was bathroom day; I cleaned two of them, and it was harder than I thought it was going to be. Not because they were particularly terrible, but the belly was getting in my way and I got tired before I was finished. I bonked my knee on the toilet and cried over it too, which was dumb because it didn't hurt very much. I think it's just fatigue and hormones.

This weekend I HAVE to do my 24-hour urine collection. I put it off all month, and now I get to do it with visitors here. That's what happens when you procrastinate, kids. Then Monday is my next appointment. I think this is the happiest and least stressed out month that I've had so far; it's been really nice to just enjoy everything.

I did an impromptu, unofficial kick count last night in bed. I'd been slightly worried that Ivy's not as active as she should be, which is not based in fact at all, but more based on comparing myself to people who are farther along than me. I know, real rational. So I timed (in my head) how long it took for her to kick me ten times last night, and it was something like 5 minutes tops. I think she's OK.

The birthday present I bought myself arrived today! I wanted a piece of baby-name jewelry, or her birthstone, or something to wear, and I settled on a tiny silver ivy leaf. Hopefully it's subtle, I didn't want it to scream I'M WEARING A NECKLACE FOR IVY!