Almost 40 Weeks!

I figured I needed to do at least one more post before I had this baby! I'm due in two days, although things are looking very similar  to when I was pregnant with Lily: I started making progress between 36 and 37 weeks, but I've been stuck at 1cm dilated, 25% effaced since 37 weeks. Last week, my OB said, "It looks like you are going to go past your due date again." And we are already thinking I may have to be induced again, which scares me after my labor and delivery experience with Lily.

My OB said I will have three non-stress tests this week, and, if I make it to 41 weeks, I'll either be induced or do daily non-stress testing until I either go into labor on my own or make it to 42 weeks, at which time I will definitely be induced. This is a hard decision for me because I don't want a repeat of last time, but my OB also told me the risks of problems associated with post-term infants starts going up after 40 weeks (which is why it is now standard for OBs to induce at 41 weeks). I'm making Greg come to tomorrow's appointment because I want us to make this decision together.

In the meantime, I am trying every natural remedy that might possibly work. Evening primrose oil, red raspberry leaf tea, acupuncture, sex, squats, riding the elliptical...I even ate chicken parmesan the other night!

The pregnancy has been going well. My lung function only dropped 2% (FEV1 118% at CF clinic three weeks ago), and I've gained over 40 lbs. I didn't WANT to gain that much weight, but it's a good thing in the CF world. I also haven't had any illnesses (:::knock on wood:::). The biggest thing has been that I have been so tired the entire pregnancy - I don't sleep well and I can't survive the day without a nap. And my back has been killing me!

I am feeling very excited to meet this girl!

Long Overdue Update

It's been ages since I've blogged! I'm now almost 28 weeks pregnant and doing well. My only complaints are that I am having trouble sleeping and am tired all of the time. I still take a nap every afternoon, which means I don't get much done around the house, but it's become the new normal around here. Being pregnant while chasing after a toddler hasn't been too bad. Some days I feel like I am just dragging myself around, but it's totally manageable. I am so thankful that Lily still naps.

I've also been having some hip pain. I also had it with Lily, so I decided to see a chiropractor this time, and it has really helped! I don't need 800,000 pillows or an extra mattress topper this time, so that is nice.

I am gaining too much weight (although, in the CF world, that is not really a complaint) - I'm already over 25 lbs. I gained over 40lbs with Lily, and I was hoping to gain less this time, but I guess my body just likes to gain extra weight during pregnancy. I will admit that I am not eating perfectly, but my diet isn't horrible. I am just starving all the time! Oh well, I guess I will just go back on Weight Watchers after this one is born.

CF-wise, I am doing great, for which I am so thankful. However, I am very nervous about how things are going to go once the baby arrives. February through April seem to be my sick times of the year, so it should be "interesting" to see how I do with a new baby and a toddler bringing germs home. I know, whatever happens, we will get through it, but it may suck, especially if I end up needing IVs.

I am planning to look into Kalydeco once this baby arrives, but I am not very optimistic. I am extremely confident that it will work for my mutation, based on the in-vitro data, the fact that Vertex is currently doing clinical trials on my mutation, and the results one woman (who has my mutation) experienced. But, my doctor hasn't seem to keen on the idea. Before I got pregnant, he didn't seem to really want to write the script because it's so expensive, but he said he would because my insurance would cover it and he "didn't want to the be roadblock". However, now my insurance is requiring pre-authorization, so I think my doctor will have to fight to get me on it, and I'm not sure he will be willing to do that. And, even if he is, I'm not sure insurance will cover it.

And, I can't believe I forgot to mention that it is a GIRL!!!! I am so excited to have two girls. I grew up in a family of two girls, and I just love having a girl, so I am really excited to have another. Now we just need to decide on a name!

12 Week NT Scan

Today I am 12 weeks and I had the NT scan. Everything looked good! The baby was very chill - just laying on its side, not wanting to be bothered. I still can't believe everything is going well!

One thing I forgot to mention about the second time around is how I am so distracted by Lily that I almost forget that I have a baby in my belly :)

I'm still very tired and feeling nauseous, but I'm hoping it will get better soon. My hips started aching last week, so I decided to visit a chiropractor. I had my first visit on Monday and I really liked the chiro.  I can't say yet if it helped (my hips felt better when I left, but they ached last night). I'm going to see her again tomorrow so we can talk about my treatment plan.

The Second Time Around

So, can I just say that the second time around has been hard? The first trimester exhaustion has been kicking my butt! I'm not sure if it's actually worse, or if it just feels that way because I have am now a SAHM to a toddler, which means I can't sleep in, sit at a desk all day, or leave work to rest. Lily doesn't go to bed until 9:00, so I rarely get to bed before 10:00. And then I've had insomnia, and I keep waking up to pee. And the sun usually wakes me up at 6:30. On the plus side, I do get to take a nap while Lily does every afternoon, so I'm usually EXHAUSTED until 2:00, but then I feel better until I go to bed (although I still feel very lazy).

I also can't work out like I want to. It's too hot to go for a run (bad for the baby), and I'm too tired to workout while Lily is napping. So we make it to they gym about two days a week. The other days we either have errands or doctor appointments. And, once in a while, I like to do something fun with Lily. I'm also feeling guilty about not being able to do as many fun activities as we usually do.

To top things off, Greg has been traveling for work like crazy.  That just sucks and I hope it gets better by the time the baby gets here.

I've been counting down the weeks until my energy may come back! I'm hoping I'll be feeling better by 14 weeks (although my fingers are crossed for 12 weeks). I'm 11 weeks today, so hopefully there are only three more weeks to go!

First OB Appointment

Today was my first OB appointment. It was also my first appointment with this OB because my previous one moved. This OB was a sweetheart and I'm glad I picked him.  I am going to get a lot of ultrasounds, which is nice! I even got one today, and the baby was measuring 9w0d, which is only one day off based on ovulation and exactly right based on my last u/s. The baby's heartbeat was 174 bpm and everything looked good! He said the risk of miscarriage low enough (5%) that we could start sharing the news, but I am still nervous and will probably wait until after my 12 week appointment.

I am still in awe that the baby is doing well - I just can't get over how easy it was this time around. :::fingers crossed it continues to go this way:::

6w2d Ultrasound

We saw a heartbeat! The ultrasound went great. The little bean was measuring 6w3d and had a heart rate of 124 bpm. I'm finally starting to relax a little and actually believe we might be taking home a new baby in February :)

The coolest part of the ultrasound was when the tech said to Lily, "You're gonna be big sister." And Lily looked a bit confused and said, "Big Sister...."

The RE gave each of us a hug and said we were ready to move on to the OB, but we could have another u/s in a few weeks if we wanted one. I am on the fence about that, mostly because I already have enough doctor appointments. But, I may schedule it just for the peace of mind.

I can't believe I may never see my RE again. That seems just crazy (and a little sad).

Ultrasound Today

I ended up having a "surprise" ultrasound today. This morning I called the RE's office because I've had a pain in my left upper back for three days, and I had read shoulder pain could be a sign of an ectopic pregnancy. My RE was glad I called and told me to come in right away.

I was fairly confident that it wasn't ectopic because I hadn't had any other symptoms, but I was so glad he told me to come in because I wanted the extra piece of mind! I just can't get over the disbelief that it could happen so easily this time around, and I was feeling nervous because some of my symptoms had disappeared.

We saw a gestational sac with a yolk sac, in my uterus, which was perfect for 5w1d. No signs of ectopic. Yay! I feel much more relaxed now!

As far as symptoms go, I had been experiencing some mild morning sickness, but that went away a few days ago. I had a few days where I felt nothing other than bloat. But the past two days I have been so sleepy, and I've been hungry!

As far as the back pain goes, I also called CF clinic because I thought it could be lung related. Because I'm not having any other symptoms of a chest infection, they think it's probably just a sore muscle and suggested I get a massage ;) I'll take that diagnosis!