4 Months Ago...

Four months ago I last blogged about my growing belly and our unborn baby, being showered with love, progress in Puglet's room and was looking forward to Thanksgiving, maternity photos, and meeting our new little lady.  Believe it or not, a whole heck of a lot has changed since then!  I'll try to sum up the last four months in a single post but may break it into a series if things turn from a blog post to book (who am I kidding...a single post is totally impossible).  So, without further adieu, here goes...

Oct. 23 - Nov. 26, 2012
A friend from college, Seng Nickerson/Sengerson Photography took maternity photos.  We spent the afternoon at a local park and LOVED the finished product.

Our 3D Ultrasound

Sweet 8+mo Pregnant Jumping Skills

We finished decorating Puglet's room...FINALLY!

We shared our last pre-babyThanksgiving with loved ones.  I always hoped that she would make her entrance on the holiday itself but that didn't happen.  Instead, I stuffed myself full of turkey, all the fixin's, and enjoyed family and football.

The last month of my pregnancy, I continued feeling pretty darn good.  I had regular adjustments at the chiropractor and stayed as active as possible.  My mom, dad and I spent a good majority of Thanksgiving night/the morning after shopping.  I've always loved day Black Friday shopping and figured the exercise would help the 10,000 calories I ate during the day...as well as the baby eviction process.

The Monday after Thanksgiving (11/26), I visited the OB who seemed to think labor was still a ways off and headed to work after my appointment.  After work, JPug and I made dinner and put together a grocery list so I could shop the following evening.

Tuesday, Nov. 27
Tuesday morning I awoke at 5a, about half an hour before my alarm was set to go off.  For a few minutes I pondered...do I get up and go to the bathroom now or tough through it for the next 30 minutes?!?!  My bladder won out and I swung my feet to the floor and stood up.  It didn't take any time to realize I had either become instantly incontinent or my water broke.  Not the rush of water you see in the movies but enough water that my pants were a mess and I knew something was different.  I made my way to the bathroom to assess the situation and do my business.  Everything seemed ok, save my pants puddle, so I made my way back to bed and hit the internet to read about water breaking v. late pregnancy incontinence.  The best info I could find said to put a pad in your underwear, wait half an hour, and stand...if the pad is saturated when you stand up, it's your water.  Half an hour later, the pad was saturated but I started the process over just to be sure.  By the time the second half hour was up, JPug was awake and I explained the situation.  We tried the pad test together...same results...and we called our doula around 7a.  She confirmed my water likely broke and told me to get up and moving around because I wasn't feeling any contractions.

I didn't take the doula's suggestion lightly...we got up and got moving.  It was too cold to take a walk around the block so instead we baked Puglet's birthday cake, did some laundry, and I took a shower.  The OB practice's policy is to go immediately to the hospital once your water breaks due to the risk of infection...I stalled as long as possible and we finally made our way to the hospital around 9a.

By 10a, I was all checked in and the nurse confirmed my water had indeed broken...with litmus paper (water is basic so the litmus paper turns blue)!  Once I was all set up...changed into a hospital gown, baseline vitals taken, and saline lock (IV starter)...the doctor came in and recommended starting Pitocin as my body wasn't contracting regularly.  Hoping for a natural labor and waiting for our doula to arrive, we asked the doctor for the ability to walk around and try some other natural methods before starting the meds.  The doula arrived soon after and JPug, she and I walked miles in the hospital over the next 4 hours.  I'd walk for 40 minutes and head back to our room for monitoring to ensure the baby and I were still doing ok.  I tried squats, hip exercises, long strides, fast and slow pacing, and a hot shower but Puglet wasn't getting her eviction notice.  About 2p, a different doctor came in (shift change at 1p) and recommended starting Pitocin as my water had been broken for 9 hours.

Sigh...not was I was planning but I agreed to the Pitocin to play nice...typically once your water has been broken 24 hours doctors introduce the idea of a c-section and Pitocin was the lesser of 2 evils in my mind.  After a quick discussion between the doctor, doula, and TeamPug, we agreed to starting Pitocin at 6 units and letting me go for an hour to see how my body responded.  A typical starting point for Pitocin is 2 units, increased by 2 every 20 minutes but women's bodies usually process the drug more slowly...basically, by the time your body starts responding the dose is already too high.  For me, 6 units was appropriate and my dose never increased.  Over the next 4 hours, my contractions got progressively stronger and I dilated from a 2 (at 2:30p) to a 4 (possibly a 5 around 7pm).  The doula and JPug practiced different methods to keep me comfortable but the pain became unbearable.  Knowing I had been checked recently and was only about halfway dilated, I did some quick math...50% dilated means 50% pain and 100% pain would be excruciating so I made the decision to get an epidural.

Unfortunately, the anesthesiologist wasn't able to come for an hour.  Around 8pm, the nurses sat me up to get the epidural but before they did, they checked my progress one last time.  In 60 minutes, I had progressed from a 4 (possibly 5) to a 9.5...and by the simple action of sitting me up, I'd be at a 10.  Well, what's a girl to do?!?!  It seems pretty silly to get an epidural when you're fully dilated but that's just what I did.  I used the next hour to relax and prepare for Puglet's birth.  Just before 9pm, the baby started showing signs of distress which wasn't too concerning as the doctor said distress would be the baby's sign that's she's ready to come.  I started pushing a few minutes after 9 and at 9:11pm (less than 10 minutes) our little lady was born.  Lillienne McGuire Puglisi "Elle", 7lb6oz, 19.5in

Baby's First Picture

Well, at  least I got as far as Elle's birth...I have a lot more to share but I'll do it another time.  I promise my next post won't be 4 months from now.

One Month and Counting

Mark your calendars, folks...Thanksgiving is officially one month from today.  For TeamPug, that means our little Puglet is due in just 31 days.  Technically speaking, she could arrive anytime between now and the first week of December...talk about a 6+ week window of uncertainty?!  Ultimately, I really don't care if she comes tomorrow or 6+ weeks from now...JPug and I are so happy to be expecting a little one that we won't complain.  To be completely honest, my hooha would probably appreciate a delivery sooner than later but whatever happens, we'll make it work.

What's New?
Over the past month, we've made some real progress in Puglet's room.  My mom visited the last weekend in September and we made a mobile, curtains, and a bulletin board.  The same weekend, JPug put the glider back together and configured a cherry blossom tree decal on Puglet's wall.  As far as decor goes, we still need to make some shelves but otherwise, it's good to go.  Once we're all finished (hopefully this weekend), I'll be sure to blog & post pictures.

I'll have to devote a separate post to this topic but the first two weekends of October we had 3 AWESOME showers.  The first was for friends and family in KC, the second was for friends and family in STL and the third was a surprise shower thrown by my co-workers that caught me totally off-guard.  JPug and I are so thankful to be surrounded by such wonderful, supportive people.  We are so appreciative and can't wait for everyone to share the love they have for us with our little one.

Here's a picture of JPug and I (with friends Mark, Jayme & their son Maclin) from our shower in KC

Quick Update

How far along: 35 weeks, 5 days

Size of baby:  Approximately 18 inches long and 5.25 pounds (the size of a honeydew melon).

Total weight gain: 20 pounds

Maternity clothes: Anything maternity...stretch band pants ROCK!

Sex: Still a girl!

Movement: Depends on the day...sometimes she's pretty active and other times she seems lazy.  As long as I feel her moving every day, the doctor said I shouldn't be concerned.

Sleep: Still pretty good.  One night last week I didn't even wake up to potty (probably indicative of the fact that I didn't drink enough water in the evening but it was still glorious).

What I miss: As fall and winter approach, I have to say that I miss O'Fallon Pumpkin Ale and Bailey's.

Cravings: Any type of food...I've been a hungry, hungry hippo the past two weeks!

Symptoms: Sticking with the chiropractor for regular adjustments, bananas for potassium, milk for calcium and tennis shoes to ensure my leg cramps stay gone.  Just this morning I noticed a bit more pressure on my pelvis...I think she may be headed south for the winter ;)  I should know for sure at my next OB appointment on Friday.

What I’m looking forward to: Maternity photos this weekend, finishing Puglet's room, and welcoming our little Puglet into the world

12 Weeks Later…

In case you haven’t noticed…I’ve been an epic blogger failure over the past 12 weeks.  On one hand, it seems as if not much has changed but on the other hand I can think of all sorts of new things.  First things first…still no legitimate belly pictures.  I’m ridiculous…I know…I promise to have a picture in my next post. 

So, what’s new?!

TeamPug is officially 32 weeks along!  Puglet has furniture…a bed, dresser, and changing table.  Oh, and a sweet $25 glider that my aunt and cousin scored from a garage sale.  I’ll have to devote a separate post to furniture bargains because I’m pretty proud of TeamPug in this department.

After finding out Puglet’s gender, one of my best friends from high school, Sarah, put together an awesome Mizzou Black & Gold gift set consisting of a hand crafted headband & bow, newborn hat, 12 mo. hat and car seat blanket.  I’ll have to devote another post to her creations because they’re just plain awesome.  In the mean time, you can check out her work/purchase items via Facebook > B.I.B.S. (Baby Items By Sarah) or the B.I.B.S. blog.

JPug and I decided on a theme for Puglet’s room.  Instead of going for a character theme, we went for colors.  The main colors are bright pink, brown, and a muted lime green…with a little rust and a bit of cream mixed in.  Sounds potentially horrendous, huh?  The palate was inspired by Zoe Pearn’s Indian Summer fabric line…I found some swatches at a local quilt shop and fell in love.  Right now Puglet’s room is a lot of ideas and not much execution so we have quite the task ahead of us.

We registered.  The registry process is fun but ultimately more difficult than I would have ever imagined!  Talking to friends, reading reviews and making decisions on products your child may or may not like was exhausting.  For every good review/highly recommended product, there was a doomsday review that made us think twice.  We’re not picking a blender here folks…you don’t want the baby swing that will catapult your little one across the living room!  Ultimately we did the best we could…I’m sure we’ll swear by some products and others won’t work for us…eh…that’s life.

We found some serious end-of-summer clothing bargains.  Besides room décor, JPug and I haven’t purchased much of anything for Puglet.  We’re pretty frugal and are waiting until after our showers to make purchases.  This rule of thumb went right out the window when both Kohl’s and JCPenny had their summer baby clothing 70% off…AND it was tax-free weekend.  I mean, who can pass up outfits at 70% off sans taxes?!?!  We ended up purchasing about 20 outfits in a combination of 6mo. and 9mo. sizes that should get our little Pug through next summer.

We had our 3D ultrasound!  Our specific experience was a bit underwhelming (awesome experience, didn’t get great pictures) because Puglet decided to keep her knees on her chest and feet and hands over her face almost the entire time.  She literally looked like a contortionist movie star trying to block the paparazzi’s view…haha…go figure!  We caught glimpses of her little face here and there and were able to see her open her eyes, yawn and even saw a bit of hair growing on the back of her head.  I’m really interested to see how much she’ll look (and act) like her ultrasound pictures/video once she arrives.

On a more serious note, August marked our infertility processes’ 2 year mark.  It’s really incredible to think back 2 years and see how far we’ve come.  August also marked the due date of the baby we lost in December.  When we originally lost the baby and feelings were still raw, I was sure the approaching due date would be hard for me.  Luckily, I was busy at work and immersed in happy Puglet thoughts so I didn’t even realize the due date until it had already passed.  I’m not sad to have experienced our loss and I believe I’m a stronger and more compassionate person because of it but I’m beyond happy and thankful that we’ve moved forward and are expecting.

Quick Update

How far along: 32 weeks

Size of baby:  The size of a large jicama (about 3.75 pounds) and about 16.7 inches long.

Total weight gain: 14 pounds

Maternity clothes: Empire waist dresses, maternity pants and a combination of maternity tops and pre-pregnancy tops.

Sex: It’s a girl!

Movement: I definitely feel her moving every day but the type of movement is hard to describe.  Maybe once every 10 days she’s really active…kicking, punching and changing positions.  Most of the movement I feel is strong flutters here and there and what my friend Courtney described as “rolling”…more changing positions than discernable kicks or punches.

Sleep: No complaints.  There was a week or so where I was pretty uncomfortable sleeping but a combination of suggestions from the chiropractor and OB have me sleeping pretty comfortably these days.  Rather than have a mountain of pillows around me (which JPug dubbed Mt. Pillowmanjaro), I sleep with a single king size pillow under my head/neck and another king size pillow between my legs.  I’m not sure how effective the set-up is…it’s not uncommon for me to wake up and find myself sleeping square on my back (a no-no for pregnant women) but I’m still sleeping pretty darn well so why fix what’s not broken?!

What I miss: Until Labor Day weekend…SKINNY JEANS.  I found some skinny jeans with my cousins and good friend from high school over Labor Day weekend so I’m a happy, skinny jean wearing pregnant gal!

Cravings: Still none.  I may truly be one of the most boring pregnant ladies ever!

Symptoms: About 6 weeks ago I started having trouble with my sciatic nerve on my right side.  Almost immediately, I started seeing a chiropractor as a preventative measure.  I’m happy to report that my weekly adjustments as well as exercises he gave me to do at home have kept my back…my entire body actually…feeling pretty good.  I also started getting pretty severe calf cramps just over a month ago.  The OB attributed the cramping to a water, potassium or calcium deficiency…I’m sure it wasn’t water (I drink more than 120oz./day) so I increased my potassium and calcium intake to rectify the problem.  The potassium and calcium helped a bit but the cramps and pain reared their ugly heads  at times so the OB recommended switching to tennis shoes exclusively at my last appointment.  Yep…rocking tennis shoes everywhere (with no calf pain) J  Last but not least, my belly button is nearly gone.  I still have the slightest innie but I’ll be honest, it’s not long for this world.

What I’m looking forward to: Seeing Puglet’s room come together, spending time with friends and family at our upcoming showers, and meeting our little lady

Whooah, We’re Half Way There…

I can’t even believe it…TeamPug has officially reached the half way mark!

Last Friday, our third OB appointment started with a sonographer who preformed my mid-gestation ultrasound.  During the procedure, she took various measurements to ensure Puglet was on track growth-wise and confirm there were no obvious developmental issues.  We were able to see all sorts of awesome stuff…such as Puglet’s entire spine and 4-chamber beating heart…it was really incredible!  She also snuck a look at gender without JPug or me knowing!  She concealed gender in an envelope which we took to our local party store along with a huge cardboard box and asked them to fill it with the appropriate color balloons.  After our visit with the sonographer, we met the second of six doctors we’ll see over the next 20ish weeks.  I really liked this doctor and the experience at the office was better than our previous two visits…things are looking up!

That evening, we planned to have dinner with my folks (who came in from STL) and JPug’s folks.  Before heading to the restaurant, we opened the box all together and found out we’ll be having a little GIRL!

It's a Girl!

Other than the ultrasound, I don’t have much new information.  A friend of mine provided this short/regular survey to update folks on her pregnancy.  I really liked the idea so I’m totally stealing it…thanks Courtney!

How far along: 20 weeks

Size of baby: The length of a banana and about 10.5 ounces.

Total Weight Gain: 5.5 pounds.  I was down 5 pounds during the first trimester and I’ve gained that back plus an additional 5.5.  Although some of you may think 5 + 5.5 = 10.5, I’m sticking with 5.5…and pounds DO NOT round up.

Maternity Clothes: I’ve transitioned to empire waist dresses and maternity pants at work.  Some of my pre-pregnancy summer shorts still fit so I’m enjoying them while I still can.  I purchased a few belly bands but I find them to be uncomfortable…so it’s mostly dresses or maternity pants for me.

Sex: It’s a girl!

Movement: None yet…the sonographer said I have an anterior placenta (it’s along the front) which means Puglet will have to kick harder for me to feel her move.  From what I’ve read and what the doctor told me, it’s common for moms with anterior placentas to start feeling baby around 22 weeks.

Sleep: Pretty excellent…some nights I even sleep through the night without needing a potty break!  I find that I still sleep on my stomach or a version of stomach/side even when I try not to.  I doubt I’ll be able to sleep on my stomach much longer because my belly will get too big. 

What I Miss: Nothing really.  I’m definitely a gal who enjoys a good craft beer or margarita on hot summer days but I don’t find that I’ve minded the switch to lemonade or water one bit.

Cravings: None.

Symptoms: None…man, I’m boring and lucky at the same time!

What I’m Looking Forward To: My growing belly (and hopefully boobs), choosing various items for baby (the process is fun and exhausting/overwhelming at the same time) and our 3D ultrasound on Tuesday, 9/4.

Busy Bee - Part 2

Mother’s Day (Sunday, May 13^th)

Mother’s Day 2012 was an interesting one.  JPug and I knew we were expecting for nearly two months…went to numerous doctors’ appointments, ultrasounds and lab draws…but our parents had no idea.  We decided to keep the news from them so they wouldn’t worry…if we got to the 12 week mark and everything seemed to be ok, we’d share the news at that time. 

The Wednesday before mother’s day, 12 weeks came and went but we didn’t share our news.  As luck would have it, my mom was extremely busy and couldn’t get away from St. Louis for an entire weekend and TeamPug was pretty busy in KC too.  We decided to meet in Columbia, MO…half way for both families…to celebrate the day.  We enjoyed a yummy brunch at the University Club…the same place where JPug and I got married in 2007 and shared our news before the meal began. 

We pulled out gift bags for each person…JPug’s mom and dad, my mom, dad and stepdad.  In each bag was a baby gift customized to the recipient’s personality and pictures of our growing Puglet.  It was pretty special…and a great surprise…tears, laughter, excitement and a kooky story from my mom.  I would share video of the big reveal but JPug was in charge of the FlipCam and somehow managed to videotape my boobs for an entire minute so I’ll spare everyone that show.

All-in-all, it was a Mother’s Day the 7 of us likely won’t forget!

Second OB Appointment (Wednesday, May 23^rd)

Our second OB appointment went better than the first.  Still no…this is definitely the place for me…type feelings but at least I wasn’t as put off as I was the first time around.  After a few quick checks with the care assistant, she took us into the exam room and we heard Puglet’s heartbeat on a doppler…144 beats per minute.  This was the first appointment with Dr. K or the OB office that we didn’t have an ultrasound.  It’s too bad we weren’t able to see how Puglet is developing but hearing a strong heartbeat was definitely comforting.  After a waiting a few minutes, we met with the first of 6 doctors in the practice…I was happy to meet with a doctor rather than the nurse practioner.  All in all, the visit went pretty well…the provider was nice and answered our questions thoroughly.  Our next appointment, on Friday, June 29^th is a biggie.  We’ll have our mid-gestation ultrasound where the sonographer checks to ensure the baby is developing properly and if Puglet cooperates, we’ll find out if the baby is a boy or a girl.

Second Round Genetic Testing (Saturday, June 9^th)

On Saturday, June 9^th, I had my second and final round of labs drawn to complete our genetic testing series.  The draw itself was remarkably quick…once I checked in, I was finished and walking out of the building less than 10 minutes later.  The second round of testing checks for markers that could potentially signal genetic issues and is a more sensitive than the first round.  The genetic counselor we worked with at our previous appointment called the following week with good news…for all markers, my bloodwork came back as good as it could have been.  She said in lab result terms, we got an A+!

Present Day/19 Weeks (Wednesday, June 27^th)

As pregnancies go, I think I’ve had the easiest pregnancy imaginable.  If it wasn’t for my growing belly and lack of monthly cycle, I would never even know I was expecting.  After the tiredness of the first trimester wore off (which was truly my only symptom), I’ve been back to my normal self.  I started showing the past few weeks…transitioned to belly bands to make my regular pants more comfortable last week and took my first trip to Motherhood Maternity this past weekend.  Now I have some sweet maternity pants with a stretchy band that reaches all the way up to my bra.  Stylish?  Heck no…but wonderfully comfortable! 

I don’t think about being pregnant or the baby a whole lot.  I’m sure it’s because of our initial struggles and the fact that I’ve seen firsthand how things can fall apart in the blink of an eye.  I’m by no means consumed with fear nor am I blindly, wildly excited...I’d say I’m more cautiously optimistic than anything.  I go about my normal routine but take it easy if/when it’s necessary.  If we’re lucky enough for the entire process to work and I deliver a healthy, full-term baby in November, that’ll be amazing/wonderful/ fantastic but should a glitch in the process arise, we’ll take it all in stride.  For now, we’re just chugging along and hoping for the best.

Busy Bee - Part 1

It’s been over a month since I’ve blogged…about anything…much less our growing Puglet.  The posts you’ve read over the past few weeks were written as we experienced the process.  Looking back, I’m really happy that I blogged (although I didn’t post) in real time because you know exactly what I was thinking and feeling in the moment.

Unfortunately, work got incredibly busy and my evenings were consumed with an urge to sleep that I just couldn’t fight which means blogging came to a complete halt.  Now…weeks later…I have my energy back and LOTS to catch up on.  I’m going to try and regurgitate everything in one post…so I apologize this will officially be the LONGEST post ever.  If it gets too bad, I’ll split it in two.  Happy reading!

Search for a Birth Doula (early May)

After a round of positive blood tests and multiple and promising ultrasounds, TeamPug’s first order of business was searching for and securing a birth doula.  The quick and dirty regarding a doula…a doula is a person who meets with the expectant family during pregnancy to discuss beliefs and concerns about labor and delivery.  She’ll provide continuous support during labor and delivery using comfort measures and positioning and assists with beginning breastfeeding.

Our quest for a doula was three-fold…

The OB practice we’re visiting has a rotation of 6 providers we’ll see throughout the pregnancy.  When I go into labor, whoever is on-call doctor will be the person to deliver our baby.  The provider may or may not be someone I’ve built a relationship with during my pregnancy.  Having a doula ensures that someone we have a connection with and are very comfortable with is present come delivery day.

Speaking of delivery day, the doula will come to our home and help me through early labor in a more comfortable environment.  Once we move to the hospital, the doula will serve as a supporter and advocate and will help us understand the medical jargon and various questions/decisions that come our way.  Going the doula route isn’t right for everyone but the lady we chose seems to be a great fit for Team Pug.

12 Weeks (Wednesday, May 9^th)

I hit the crucial, 12-week mark on Wednesday, May 9^th…yay!  All-in-all, I’ve felt great.  No nausea or sensitivity to smells or tastes.  There were a few days I felt the slightest bit nauseous but I’d have a glass of Sprite or Ginger Ale and eat more frequent, smaller meals which did the trick.  My only real side-effect was being tired.  Most evenings, I’d come home from work…nap for a couple of hours…get up for an hour (maybe two) and sleep the rest of the night.  Plus, when I was “awake”, I definitely wasn’t productive…sitting on the couch was sometimes the extent of my productivity.

Genetic Testing (Friday, May 11^th)

During our first appointment with the OB, the nurse practioner offered the option to have pre-delivery genetic testing completed.  TeamPug is of the “Knowledge is Power” school of thought so we didn’t think twice about having the tests done.  On Friday, May 11^th, we went to another hospital in the KC metro for testing. 

Our appointment started with a consultation with a genetic counselor.  She took about 45 minutes discussing family and health history as well as our various risk factors given age and cultural background.  Next, we had an ultrasound to check the fluid measurement at the back of our baby’s neck (fluid accumulation, which would lead to a larger measurement could signal a genetic issue) as well as blood tests to check for markers for Down Syndrome, Trisomy 18 and Cystic Fibrosis. 

The ultrasound gave us another opportunity to see our growing Puglet.  It’s incredible because in just two weeks, the short, gummy bear-like arms and legs have turned into much longer and clearly distinguishable arms and legs…and you can easily see the makings of hands and feet.  After a little coaxing, Puglet got into the correct position and the sonographer was able to get the neck measurement she was looking for.  The “normal” range for my age and gestation was anything below 2.5 and Puglet’s neck measured 1.4.

From there, we met with a Perinatologist to discuss the results of my initial blood draw at the OB’s office.  The results showed that I was positive for RH sensitivity which can cause issues for the baby if the baby’s blood mixes with mine (if both blood types aren’t negative) during pregnancy.  Although the results were positive for sensitivity, my blood couldn’t be titered which is a really good sign.  Basically, once the lab gets a positive result from a sample, they cut the sample in half and test it again...and repeat the process until the result is negative.  My initial sample was positive but they were unable to get a positive reading after they cut it in half (the processing of titering) so the Perinatologist thought the positive result was likely a fluke.  I’ll have my blood drawn to check for RH sensitivity again at a future appointment…the OB office and Perinatologist will determine a course of action based on the results.

Goodbye, Hello

Friday , April 27^th – 10W, 2D

This has been a busy busy week in the life of our growing Puglet.  Monday morning we had our final appointment at Dr. K’s office; it was definitely bittersweet.  Over the past 9 months, we formed a bond with Dr. K, the nurses and the ultrasound technician in the office.  Knowing this was the last time we’d see them in a long time was wonderful but a little sad at the same time.  Through the process, they were awesome…patient, kind, caring, compassionate.  I truly believe they treated TeamPug the way they would want to be treated themselves and we couldn’t have asked for anything more.  During the appointment, Dr. K preformed our final transvaginal ultrasound…checking growth (still right on target) and heartbeat (160 BPM) one final time.  She answered a few questions and asked to see pictures or bring the baby to the office once he or she is born.

On Wednesday, we had our first appointment with the OB/GYN practice we’ll see throughout the pregnancy.  I didn’t choose them based on recommendation…I found the office closest to our home that also accepts our insurance and figured we’d start there.  The office and associated hospital I’ll likely deliver at are about 5 minutes away...convenience was obviously my driving force.

In one word, the visit was underwhelming.  The office was nice and the admin staff seemed friendly enough as they asked me to complete some paperwork and took my insurance.  The first person we saw was an ultrasound technician who seemed annoyed she had to wait an extra minute for JPug to sign in.  From there, she escorted us back into the ultrasound room where she logged our information into the computer and asked me to take a seat.  She asked that I pull my pants down to my hips and my shirt up just below my bra.  I’m so used to transvaginal ultrasounds I didn’t even think that I’d get to have the more traditional, top of the belly kind.  She squirted some jelly on my abdomen and went to work with her magic wand. 

The picture from this type of ultrasound is different…rather than seeing planes (body and hands/feet but maybe no arms/legs), we could see the whole baby.  She took some measurements, which continue to be right on target (10 weeks exactly) and the heartbeat was 153.  At one point, she found a clear, open picture of the baby and showed how it was moving around like crazy.  It was really amazing…little Puglet having a private dance party.  Although the ultrasound technician was never rude, she wasn’t friendly and seemed to rush through every step the process.  As we finished up, she asked us to wait in a different waiting area, but seemed annoyed we didn’t know where we were going.

A few minutes later, we were escorted to an exam room and waited for the nurse practitioner to arrive.  A care assistant asked some basic questions and the practitioner came in about 15 minutes later.  She went over my health history, discussed current medications, the lab tests they’d be running, whether we wanted to complete the recommended birth defect testing and talked a few minutes about the practice itself.  When she was finished, she answered our questions.  Just like the ultrasound technician…she seemed uninterested in us…like she’d rather be seeing her next patient.

Once we were finished, we moved back into the waiting area for my final stop of the day, the phlebotomist.  Of all the blood I’ve had drawn since we started with Dr. K…this lady was the worst drawer by far.  Considering it was only one needle, I have quite the bruise on my arm.  If my experience with the lab technician isn’t any better in the future, I’ll either have blood drawn through the hospital I work at or at a local Quest lab…neither of which have caused discomfort in the past.

I’m interested to see how our next appointment…on Wednesday, May 23^rd...will go.  We’ll see an actual doctor for the visit and I’m anxious to see if their bedside manner is any friendlier than our initial experience.  If not, we might forego convenience and look for another OBGYN practice that seems to be a better fit.  One note, I’m not looking for a best friend or someone to hold my hand and coddle me through the process.  But, I am looking for a physician or group of physicians who treat me the way I would treat them if the roles were reversed.

Friday the 13th

8 Weeks, 2 Days

Today is Friday, April 13^th…eek!  JPug and I went in for our 3^rd ultrasound this morning and I resisted the urge to come in a different day to avoid Friday the 13^th altogether.  Although the appointment date was the slightest bit unnerving, I had no signs that something might be wrong and figured I might as well face my “fears” head on.

We arrived to open office hours just before 7:30a and were first in to see the ultrasound technician, Sarah.  It didn’t take her any time to find our little baby…she took some measurements, thoroughly answered each of our questions and measured Puglet’s heartbeat.  It’s crazy to see the changes in our little white blob from our first ultrasound at 6+ weeks to today’s ultrasound at 8+ weeks.  Now, you can clearly see which end will eventually become the head, which end will be the butt and the slightest buds where arms and legs are beginning to form.  At one point Sarah joked that the baby resembles a gummy bear at this stage of development and proceeded to stick her hands up by her shoulders and wiggle around to simulate the tiny arms…haha!  Something new this week, this was the first time we could clearly see the umbilical cord on the screen.  We’ve been taking video of each of our appointments with our FlipCam…hopefully I can snap a picture from each ultrasound to show Puglet’s progression.

In my last few posts, I mentioned the gestational sac and yolk sac and I finally had a few minutes to research both.  Per Wikipedia (the most reliable source on the internet…wink wink), the gestational sac is “the only available intrauterine structure that can be used to determine if an intrauterine pregnancy exists, until the embryo is identified”.  During our ultrasound, Sarah explained that the yolk sac is where Puglet gets his/her nutrients until the placenta takes over around 10 weeks.  During today’s appointment, Puglet measured 1.7 centimeters/the equivalent of 8W, 1D development-wise (right on track) and his/her heartbeat was 164.

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Judy, Dr. K’s nurse, called in the afternoon to review the ultrasound findings; I wasn’t at my desk so she left a message.  I’m very glad to report that she said everything looked good and to keep doing whatever I have been because we’re on a great path.  Man, it’s like we might really have a real baby before the end of the year!

UltraSOUND

Friday, April 6^th – 7w2d

Happy Friday everyone!  Or…whatever day this post ends up being published, happy that day.  This morning, JPug and I went in for our second prenatal ultrasound.  We arrived before 7:30a and were the first patients in the office…yes!  Dr. K’s office has open hours from 7:30a – 8:30a for labs and ultrasounds which means first come, first served.  First in means first out and we can get on with our day.

Hit the breaks…Sarah, the sonographer, called in sick and Dr. K was on vacation so the nurse asked if we could come back at 8:30a to have the other Dr. K (our Dr. K’s partner) perform our ultrasound.  It was only a minor hiccup in our day so JPug and I headed to breakfast and returned about an hour later.

Dr. K came into the office, introduced himself and got down to business.  Let’s just say that the fastest I’ve ever moved with a gentleman…luckily, it was for good great reason!  He performed a transvaginal ultrasound…big wand in the hooha...and after a few wiggles of the stick, you could see the big black circle, smaller hollow circle and a little white blob.  This time, I remembered to ask what each of the circles is…the big black circle is the gestational sac, the smaller, hollow circle is the yolk sac and the white blob is the baby (I didn’t have to be reminded of that part).  At this point, I'm not exactly sure what each of those sacs is or does...stay tuned...hopefully I'll figure that out soon.

Thanks to the wonders of the internet, here's an idea of what today's ultrasound looked like.  Big black circle (or kidney bean) is the gestational sac.  White ring with hollow center (on the right) is the yolk sac and the white blob to the left of the yolk sac is the baby.

  

I had some trouble seeing the little flash/heartbeat on the machine but JPug seemed to see it without issue…it was probably just the awkward angle of trying to look at the monitor while laying on my back, head tilted to the side.  At one point, Dr. K asked if we wanted to hear the heartbeat and before we got a chance to respond, he clicked a button on the machine and you could hear our little baby’s heart pumping clear as day.  The ultrasound picture reduced in size and a cardiac monitor filled the bottom of the screen…you could see our baby’s heartbeat…constant and strong…it was truly amazing!

This morning I measured at 7w1d which is right on target given the first day of my last cycle.  Technically today is 7w2d but the ultrasound was in the morning so 1 day difference is totally ok.  The baby’s heartbeat was 145…28 beats per minute more than last week’s measurement.  We’re by no means in the clear but today’s appointment was definitely a step (or maybe a giant leap) in the right direction.  Next up is our 8 week ultrasound next Friday…the 13^th.  I’m typically superstitious but I’ve decided to face Friday the 13^th head on…BRING.IT.ON!

A Whole New Journey

Day 35 - Wednesday, March 21st


TeamPug has officially known we're expecting for 1 full week...I'm exactly 5 weeks pregnant today.  Although 5 weeks probably isn't a milestone for most, it is for us.  Back in December, 5 weeks is when my body started cycling naturally and our first baby was gone in the blink of an eye.  This time around, I've had 3 really good blood tests and am hopeful we'll make it to the next big benchmark...12 weeks.

Although I'm only 5 weeks along, I have noticed some changes in my body.  I started dropping weight almost immediately and have lost a total of 5 lbs.  I don't have much of an appetite/fill up quickly and don't have the sweet tooth I usually do.  I'm trying to eat more regularly and am enjoying healthy snacks between meals.  I haven't experienced any sensitivity to tastes or smells which I'm very thankful for.  I get up at least once a night to go to the bathroom and have had some trouble sleeping through the night which is very uncharacteristic for me.  My breasts have become tender and I've noticed some changes in my nipples (Probably TMI but I've been open and honest throughout the process so why stop now?  I'm trying to stick with the facts here folks!).  I've also had spotting on and off for the last week which is really unnerving.  I read online about 30% of women experience spotting...sometimes during implantation and sometimes it lingers throughout the entire pregnancy.  I haven't had any other symptoms that would signal a problem and my blood tests last week were good even though I was spotting...I'm trying not to get myself worked up over nothing.

Yesterday, Dr. K increased my synthetic thyroid supplement to 75mcg/day (which should reduce my TSH) and I had my 4th blood test in a week...this one checked Free T4.  From what I read on www.labtestsonline.org, providers typically check Free T4 as a follow-up to a TSH test that was abnormal.  The Free T4 test allows providers to see a more complete picture regarding thyroid function.  Dr. K's office should have my results later this week...hopefully the nurse will call with good news.

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Dr. K's nurse Jamie just called this afternoon with my Free T4 results...the normal reference range is between 0.7 and 2.0.  My result was at 1.1 which is totally normal.  I'll stick with the increased thyroid supplement dose which will hopefully lower my TSH and they'll probably test me again in about a month.  Last but not least, I asked about my spotting and Jamie said although it's not common, it is normal.  As long as i don't experience cramping or blood that's bright red in color, I should assume things are progressing nicely.

Next up is our 6 week ultrasound next Friday!