Belly Pic and Update

So the belly continues to grow - the pictures at 28 weeks. The baby is measuring 2 weeks ahead of schedule which is a good thing. I'm still having all sorts of issues though. Last week I had to go into the hospital to be monitored since I was having regular contractions. They did another ffn test which was negative and there were no other signs of labor - just the weirdness of contractions every 6 minutes. I'm still getting the hormone shots, which may be causing all the heart issues and dizziness. I went to the cardiologist and basically just got more tests scheduled. I'll have to wear a heart monitor to see what's up with all that. I'm hoping it's all just strange pregnancy/hormone related stuff. So I'm getting along. I still don't drive because of the vertigo and limit going out because I get so worn out (and dizzy, can't breathe...). I feel huge and am tired of not doing much of anything. Anyway, that's the status at the moment.

Update

So the contractions have slowed and things looked okay at my check-up today. As my doctor put it, "well, at least nothing's worse." So it's the status quo around here.

I did get referred to go see a cardiologist to try and figure out why I can't breathe, have a racing heartbeat, and and dizzy all the time (could be the hormone shots that are preventing/slowing the preterm labor...). But of course, that's in a couple of weeks (gotta love non-emergency appointment scheduling). Anyway just thought I'd give an update.

Preterm Labor Issues

It's been a long day. Since early this morning I'm been having lots of regular contractions - not a good thing at this stage. I did all the "how to stop contractions" things, but they kept going. So I had an emergency trip to the doctor this afternoon. Thankfully the contractions aren't productive (causing real labor signs) at this point. They did a fetal fibronectin test which thankfully came back negative, which basically tells us that there is a 99% chance that I will not deliver the baby within the next week (um, I need like three more months!). Anyway, I'm stuck feeling really crappy, having to lay down, and drink massive amounts of water in hopes the contractions stop (they've been going all day). I see the doctor again in a couple of days. It's just really frustrating and I'm not really sure what's going on.

My Pregnancy Diet

So for the first time in months I am finally able to eat somewhat normally again. This whole pregnancy takes over my body, appetite, smell thing is really overwhelming. I spent over four months not being able to eat or drink hardly anything. I lost a lot of weight, was hospitalized for dehydration, and took drugs to prevent me from throwing up what I did manage to put in my mouth. Most days that was a very small selection of carbs. I could do potatoes and bread (with no crust). For awhile the only things that I could force myself to eat were tator tots and Cinnamon toast crunch. sounds yummy, doesn't it?

Slowly the nausea subsided to the point where I can now stand the taste of water and eat basic food. And by basic food that means I can tolerate most typical American food (i.e. junk food) - hamburgers, pizza, grilled cheese, ice cream. Veggies and fruits still make me gag. So I feel like I am 5 and it's driving me nuts. I am so into eating healthy and organic and here all I can eat is the worst sorts of foods for me. I eat freaking processed coffee cake for breakfast because super-sweet stuff is all I can handle in the mornings. I feel like I'm betraying myself at just about every meal and yet I need to eat. It's just really weird.

The Meaning of Easter

This disturbs me



(currently displayed on the Amazon baby frontpage...)

Sick

So now on top of everything else Mike and Emma passed the nasty headcold on to me. Just when I thought I couldn't feel any more miserable my head feels like it is going to explode and I can't swallow. Bah.

Emma's Tummy

So during this whole pregnancy Emma has wanted to be like mommy and have something in her tummy. She at first said she had a baby in her tummy too and said her tummy hurt just like mommy's. Then as we tried to clear that up she just talked about how she had a bebo (a belly-button for the non-Sandra Boynton initiated) in her tummy. Well now for some reason she has started insisting that she has kittens in her tummy. Oh the joys of the three year old mind...