Week 29 doctor visit We had a visit with Dr. Dorn yesterday morning and overall it was a good one. My blood pressure was lower than it has been for the last several appointments; it was 132 over 78... still borderline but down from what it had been averaging.
Chris and I were both shocked when I stood on the scale and it showed that I gained 8 pounds since my last visit... which was only 2 weeks ago! Um? WHAT?!? Up to this point I haven't gained 8 pounds TOTAL in over six months of pregnancy, so to jump that much in two weeks was really surprising. Luckily Dr. Dorn was very calm about it and said that unless I had been just packing away some food (unlikely since I am very meticulous about what I'm eating these days AND my blood sugar numbers have been RIGHT ON TARGET! WOO!) then most of this weight is probably from fluid retention in my legs. He checked out my legs and showed me how if he pressed on my shin it would "hold the dent." That means fluid retention so as long as it stays in my legs and doesn't move to my hands and face and my blood pressure remains stable like it has been, then there is nothing to worry about. He was very reassuring that this can be a normal part of pregnancy at this stage. WHEW!
At Dr. Dorn's recommendation, I decided to get a flu shot yesterday. I don't think I've ever had one before, but since I come into contact with so many kids every weekend at work, he thought it would be wise to have one this year. My arm was really sore last night from the shot so I iced it and kept moving so the muscle wouldn't get too tight. It's still sore today, but it doesn't feel hot or swollen and I feel just fine. I'm not a big fan of over-vaccinating, but I also want to do the smartest things to keep myself well and healthy for this last trimester. I've never read about any adverse effects to the baby from the mama having a flu shot and knowing how Dr. Dorn feels about interfering with nature during pregnancy, I fully respect his opinion about giving me the shot.
Baby Wilder's heartbeat sounded good and Dr. Dorn felt his position through my tummy and said all is well. Chris and I are really anxious to see our little buddy again, but again, Dr. Dorn isn't big on unnecessary tests and interventions so we probably won't have an ultrasound with him until week 34. I'm totally ok with this since I do appreciate not having an alarmist doctor who wants to mess with everything constantly. It makes me feel much more confident that he won't be poking around excessively during Wilder's birth.
But on the other hand, I just can't deny the fact that I REALLY want to have a 3D/4D ultrasound! There is a place in Greensboro that does them for about $160, but Chris and I just don't have it in our budget right now. Here's the long story short: My old health insurance was one of those ridiculous high deductible plans which means we had to pay for EVERYTHING completely out-of-pocket (doctor visits, lab work, prescriptions) until we met the $2000 annual deductible, after which point everything would have been covered 100%. As of September 1, I switched insurance to a traditional PPO through Chris' job (you know, good old co-pays and such) BUT we still owe several hundred dollars to medical bills from earlier in the pregnancy... blah blah blah... but that's why I don't have much "fun money" these days to go towards a luxury like a 3D/4D ultrasound of Wilder! Bummer. I'm just being impatient to see his little face! hee hee hee!
2008-08-25 (24 weeks)
Finally got my bump?
On Friday I looked in the mirror and realized that I might actually be starting to look pregnant and not just fatter and fatter. Super exciting! I can still fit some of my prepregnancy jeans, although they aren't terribly comfortable. I find this to be pretty weird considering I've put on 9 inches around my waist since April... my guts must rearranging and redistributing because weight-wise I'm still below what I was when we started growing Wilder.
It's all SO fascinating and thrilling! I feel like my very own personal science experiment. One of my pregnancy books said that around this time mothers start to feel a little bored with being pregnant. WHAT?!? I'm still just as thrilled, amazed, and totally enjoying it everyday! Even when my hips ache so bad in the morning and my feet swell a little in the evenings and I have to poke myself with needles 8 times a day, I just don't care! I am so happy to have to deal with this stuff because I know it means my buddy is growing and thriving. AND it means we're one day closer to meeting him! YEAH!!!!
So in the photo gallery, I've added the first pregnant-Andi-belly-picture I've taken that I've been willing to put on the web. Go, Wilder, go!
