Oops, I accidently put my baby post on my other blog last night, I must have been out of it since it was later than I usually stay up. So I reposted today on Tree of Life. Enjoy!
Today is the start of 28 weeks and I have reached a new milestone, no doctor's appointments this week! Ha! For the past four weeks, I have had to go to the doctor's once a week. Blah, that really messes with the routine. Plus then I have to work late on the other nights, which brings me home late and then I miss my yoga or eliptical time.
However, with my new blood sugar testing I've been getting up in the morning and doing the eliptical. I did an experiment this weekend. I took my blood sugar before I did the eliptical and then after. It actually lowered it by about 10 -12 points. That really confirmed to me that I should be doing some morning workouts to get the blood pumping and the sugars down. This weekend hubby and I went to go see 2012, it was pretty cool, a must see for the big screen. Well, we had movie theatre popcorn. We only go see about two movies a year in the theatre so I didn't feel guilty having some yummy popcorn. However when I got home and tested the blood sugar, it was pretty high at 143. I balanced it with two hours of yard work and a low carb dinner. Blood sugar was back to normal by bedtime.
I've been getting normal numbers, they consider anywhere between 60 - 120 'normal'. At 80 though sometimes I feel really tired and hungry. Mine has only gotten to 80 one time in four days. The other times I'm hovering around 90 - 110. This makes me feel better after all the fear it caused by them creating so much anxiety and telling me I have gestational diabetes. It seems that if I had it full blown, my blood sugar would be testing WAY out of the range of 'normal'. A woman I talked to at work said that her's never went down below 200 and they made her get on the pill. Well, if they say mine is still too high, I'll tell them where to put that pill and find a new practice.
A new week with Thanksgiving coming up. We have our third meeting with our doula Michelle Wednesday night. I really need to get on here to talk about our homework and the birth art project. Mine's almost done, but Dan's been procrastinating.....LOL.
I better get going. It's 10:30 and it's a miracle I am even up at this time. Must have been the chai I had at 7pm, but it was worth it. Sometimes it's nice to be able to actually stay up until a later time instead of falling into bed at 9pm in a deep sleep.
La Sirena and my little tadpole
Monday, November 23, 2009
Friday, November 20, 2009
Before & After
I had my gestational diabetes class this week on Wednesday. I had written a post before the class on Tuesday and one after the class on Thursday. As you can see, I was not in a good place on Tuesday, but after the class, some much needed soul searching, and loving support from hubby, I am doing much better now. Here are the posts I have been meaning to put on here!
Before – written on 11/17/09
I’m really trying to find a good place in my heart for this. I struggle because I have a huge problem trusting doctors. I always feel like they are so impersonal, looking at my numbers against a ‘norm’, which may not be the norm for all people. I’ve heard horror stories about how insurance companies have a huge influence on statistics and procedures doctors use, that I am frightened that my care is not the best care for me, but rather for the insurance company. How does one start to trust what is going on?
I went from low risk, easy pregnancy to high-risk high-alert pregnancy in the eyes of my Dr. All with just a test of borderline numbers which say I have gestational diabetes. My first meeting with my diabetes nurse is tomorrow. It’s two hours long, they will go over meal plans and glucose testing. The nurse said that if I can’t control this disease with a meal plan and exercise, then I will have to start taking some pill. And if the pill doesn’t work, then insulin shots. This may not sound like a big a deal, but what woman wants to go on a diet when they are pregnant? What woman wants to be told to get in an hour of rigorous, yet not-too-rigorous, exercise every single day when they are in their third trimester? What woman wants to be told to eat at the same time everyday and check her glucose levels four times a day while holding a full time job? I know I’m freaking out because I keep thinking “What if I fail? What if I can’t control it through diet and exercise? What if my baby turns out to be macro size and I can’t vaginally birth it? What if they make me get induced too early thinking the baby is big which causes complications for my baby? What if the baby is still born? What if, what if, what if, what if?” My insurance doesn’t cover ultrasounds so I have to pay $330 every time they do one and with GD, they do a couple in the last month to check the baby’s size. I can’t afford $330 each time. What if I deny the U/S and my Dr. turns around and denies me care saying I am putting my baby at risk by not allowing U/S I can’t afford? UGH!
Plus this is all happening in the last trimester where things do get a little harder like sleeping, walking, heart burn, etc. Plus the holidays and my showers are coming up and I can’t partake in anything a person considered ‘normal’ will get to partake in. This sucks and I hate it. Change is hard, especially hard when you know you are eating for two. I was trying to eat a balanced diet, getting all food groups in and exercise, but I was also allowing my body to tell me when it’s tired, when it’s hungry, what it’s craving. Now I have to be a meal plan and exercise nazi and this does not fit into my idea of pregnancy. It causes me way too much stress and I don’t know why. Maybe it’s the constant “Oh I am so sorry to hear that” or the “I’m sorry you are dealing with such a bad diagnosis” or the “I’m sorry you are suffering from this disease”. Well, the only suffering I’ve been doing is mental, physically I’m feeling great, despite the occasional hip pain at night. I haven’t had any ‘symptoms’ per se.
I wish I could find a non-angry place about this. I hate it too because it’s a huge warning sign that I will have diabetes as I get older, or maybe this GD will never go away, it will just transform itself into regular Type II diabetes. I feel like such a loser, a diagnosis, a pre-existing condition, a number. I no longer feel like the beautiful curvy woman that is awed by the magic and wonderment of pregnancy and birth. A little bit of my excitement has been turned into dread. We’ll see what happens tomorrow though.
After – written on 11/19/09
The clouds have lifted and I can see the horizon. It’s a bit brighter than I thought it was, especially when I was in a dark place Tuesday. I went to my gestational diabetes education class yesterday which was held privately with a registered nurse and a dietician at the hospital, both very nice and empathetic women. The nurse went over the science behind all diabetes, Type I, Type II, and gestational diabetes (GD). The nurse gave me a glucose testing meter from Walgreens, which I need to buy the strips and lancets (pokey needles) for. She showed me how to do it. I have to test my urine in the morning for ketones, then test my blood before breakfast, 2 hours after breakfast, 2 hours after lunch, and 2 hours after dinner. It is a lot of scheduling. She also would like for me to exercise in the morning, take a half hour walk after lunch, and a half hour walk after dinner. More on my new routine later.
In looking at my numbers, they both agreed that I am borderline and this can easily be regulated through diet and exercise. The dietician looked at my food intake the past 5 days and said I was already doing relatively good. She rearranged eating fruit and yogurt to the afternoons and eliminated all candy. She said I could keep having my Kashi cookie and milk at night, I love those cookies! They keep me regular and it’s so nice to have a dessert at night. We also discussed the holidays. She said to just eat all day and not all at once, make good choices, take a long walk after the meal, and maybe forget my meter……. I was happy to hear that because I was scared about what would happen with the holidays and my showers coming up. At least I know what I can have, not have, and what I need to limit now.
As for a schedule. Let me just say Virgos do well with a schedule, however on the flip side we have a tendency to go crazy if they are not perfectly followed. We are perfectionists at heart and that is what I have been working on for many years now, letting go of the rigid structure and beating myself up for going astray or not following it. I have given myself enough flexibility to be comfortable. As of yesterday I had to introduce a very structured and rigid schedule that I have to follow up through six weeks after baby’s birth – apparently that is when the sugar levels should go back to ‘normal’. I wanted to share what this schedule looks like, I tried to find other women’s blogs and posts about GD and their schedules, but there wasn’t much out there. Maybe it’s from embarrassment because it is kind of embarrassing to say you have diabetes as a pregnant woman and have to follow a diet…….
Good thing is, they are not limiting calories, they are limiting carbohydrate intake and when to eat them. They said I was already pretty much on a good eating routine, which was nice to hear. The dietician said some women are scared to eat the carbs and they will bring in their schedules and food logs and not have eaten breakfast or just eat lunch and a snack in the evening. Nope, not me, I was trying to eat balanced anyway, plus exercise, so really, this new routine isn’t so bad, I just have to make sure to follow it, no matter what.
I sat down this morning and it took me a half hour to plan out my day’s worth of eating. It shouldn’t be that way soon, once I get used to knowing the carb counts and foods, I can do all the planning on the weekend and have everything ready to go. So here is a typical schedule they want me to follow, which is based loosely off what I was already doing – except for the morning exercise:
6am: Wake and check Ketones in Urine
6am – 6:30am: 15 minutes elliptical, stretch and some weights
6:45: Check fasting blood sugar and record in book
8am: Eat breakfast - 30 grams of carbs, plus protein
10am: Check blood sugar and record in book
10:15am: Eat snack – 15 grams of carbs plus protein
12pm: Eat Lunch – 45 grams of carbs plus protein and veggies and fats
2pm: Check blood sugar and record in book
2:30pm: Eat snack – 15 grams of carbs plus protein
5pm - 5:30pm : yoga, stretch, breathing
6:30pm: Eat dinner – 45 grams of carbs plus protein and veggies and fats
7pm: Half hour brisk walk
8:30pm: Check blood sugar and record in book
9pm: Eat snack – 30 grams of carbs plus protein
When someone has diabetes, any type, eating a snack in the evenings will help keep their fasting blood sugar from spiking over night. A person eats all day, however at night you can go without food for 8 – 10 hours, which is when your liver would kick into producing your blood sugar for you and sometimes can’t regulate as well as food and therefore, a spike in blood sugar will happen come morning. Interesting as I had never know that. So for most people a small late night snack is actually a good thing……..
As for the extensive amount of exercise, I will keep up the walking. With working all day, I will try to walk at lunch although that may not always happen because of meetings. My department has been really great about this, they are making it especially fun too because they are making sure I am eating my snacks and they think it’s cool how I check my blood sugar with the little meter. I totally was embarrassed all day, but they have lightened the mood. Plus we have a couple ladies in my team that have similar issues, they are either allergic to something or they have some health things they need to watch closely. I don’t feel so alone.
It’s a bit of a struggle and today I am feeling relatively positive. I know this will change with days to come and I will have bad days where it’s hard to follow the schedule and I’ll feel bad for going astray, but that’s something to work on. If the majority of days are done right, then I won’t feel so bad about a few bad days. I am anticipating what my Dr will say in two weeks, I have an appointment with her the day after my check up with the dietician and nurse. They will be reporting my numbers back to my Dr. I have a lot of questions and comments for her and I need some feedback from her. From what I’ve heard from two other woman that used that practice and also had GD, they are pretty good about being lenient and not too freaked out about it, especially if my numbers are good. They both gave birth naturally to 7.5 and 8 lb babies. That was some good news I had to hear!
This has been an adventure and an eye opener. I can remember my grandma checking her sugars all the time and her little book she had to write in. She had type II diabetes and had to take insulin shots. I think back to what it must have been like for her, she was diagnosed much later in life. I think about her a lot when I do this and ask myself “do you want to be doing this the rest of your life?” No of course not, but it is in my genetic makeup and what I can do now, will only help prevent it in the future.
Before – written on 11/17/09
I’m really trying to find a good place in my heart for this. I struggle because I have a huge problem trusting doctors. I always feel like they are so impersonal, looking at my numbers against a ‘norm’, which may not be the norm for all people. I’ve heard horror stories about how insurance companies have a huge influence on statistics and procedures doctors use, that I am frightened that my care is not the best care for me, but rather for the insurance company. How does one start to trust what is going on?
I went from low risk, easy pregnancy to high-risk high-alert pregnancy in the eyes of my Dr. All with just a test of borderline numbers which say I have gestational diabetes. My first meeting with my diabetes nurse is tomorrow. It’s two hours long, they will go over meal plans and glucose testing. The nurse said that if I can’t control this disease with a meal plan and exercise, then I will have to start taking some pill. And if the pill doesn’t work, then insulin shots. This may not sound like a big a deal, but what woman wants to go on a diet when they are pregnant? What woman wants to be told to get in an hour of rigorous, yet not-too-rigorous, exercise every single day when they are in their third trimester? What woman wants to be told to eat at the same time everyday and check her glucose levels four times a day while holding a full time job? I know I’m freaking out because I keep thinking “What if I fail? What if I can’t control it through diet and exercise? What if my baby turns out to be macro size and I can’t vaginally birth it? What if they make me get induced too early thinking the baby is big which causes complications for my baby? What if the baby is still born? What if, what if, what if, what if?” My insurance doesn’t cover ultrasounds so I have to pay $330 every time they do one and with GD, they do a couple in the last month to check the baby’s size. I can’t afford $330 each time. What if I deny the U/S and my Dr. turns around and denies me care saying I am putting my baby at risk by not allowing U/S I can’t afford? UGH!
Plus this is all happening in the last trimester where things do get a little harder like sleeping, walking, heart burn, etc. Plus the holidays and my showers are coming up and I can’t partake in anything a person considered ‘normal’ will get to partake in. This sucks and I hate it. Change is hard, especially hard when you know you are eating for two. I was trying to eat a balanced diet, getting all food groups in and exercise, but I was also allowing my body to tell me when it’s tired, when it’s hungry, what it’s craving. Now I have to be a meal plan and exercise nazi and this does not fit into my idea of pregnancy. It causes me way too much stress and I don’t know why. Maybe it’s the constant “Oh I am so sorry to hear that” or the “I’m sorry you are dealing with such a bad diagnosis” or the “I’m sorry you are suffering from this disease”. Well, the only suffering I’ve been doing is mental, physically I’m feeling great, despite the occasional hip pain at night. I haven’t had any ‘symptoms’ per se.
I wish I could find a non-angry place about this. I hate it too because it’s a huge warning sign that I will have diabetes as I get older, or maybe this GD will never go away, it will just transform itself into regular Type II diabetes. I feel like such a loser, a diagnosis, a pre-existing condition, a number. I no longer feel like the beautiful curvy woman that is awed by the magic and wonderment of pregnancy and birth. A little bit of my excitement has been turned into dread. We’ll see what happens tomorrow though.
After – written on 11/19/09
The clouds have lifted and I can see the horizon. It’s a bit brighter than I thought it was, especially when I was in a dark place Tuesday. I went to my gestational diabetes education class yesterday which was held privately with a registered nurse and a dietician at the hospital, both very nice and empathetic women. The nurse went over the science behind all diabetes, Type I, Type II, and gestational diabetes (GD). The nurse gave me a glucose testing meter from Walgreens, which I need to buy the strips and lancets (pokey needles) for. She showed me how to do it. I have to test my urine in the morning for ketones, then test my blood before breakfast, 2 hours after breakfast, 2 hours after lunch, and 2 hours after dinner. It is a lot of scheduling. She also would like for me to exercise in the morning, take a half hour walk after lunch, and a half hour walk after dinner. More on my new routine later.
In looking at my numbers, they both agreed that I am borderline and this can easily be regulated through diet and exercise. The dietician looked at my food intake the past 5 days and said I was already doing relatively good. She rearranged eating fruit and yogurt to the afternoons and eliminated all candy. She said I could keep having my Kashi cookie and milk at night, I love those cookies! They keep me regular and it’s so nice to have a dessert at night. We also discussed the holidays. She said to just eat all day and not all at once, make good choices, take a long walk after the meal, and maybe forget my meter……. I was happy to hear that because I was scared about what would happen with the holidays and my showers coming up. At least I know what I can have, not have, and what I need to limit now.
As for a schedule. Let me just say Virgos do well with a schedule, however on the flip side we have a tendency to go crazy if they are not perfectly followed. We are perfectionists at heart and that is what I have been working on for many years now, letting go of the rigid structure and beating myself up for going astray or not following it. I have given myself enough flexibility to be comfortable. As of yesterday I had to introduce a very structured and rigid schedule that I have to follow up through six weeks after baby’s birth – apparently that is when the sugar levels should go back to ‘normal’. I wanted to share what this schedule looks like, I tried to find other women’s blogs and posts about GD and their schedules, but there wasn’t much out there. Maybe it’s from embarrassment because it is kind of embarrassing to say you have diabetes as a pregnant woman and have to follow a diet…….
Good thing is, they are not limiting calories, they are limiting carbohydrate intake and when to eat them. They said I was already pretty much on a good eating routine, which was nice to hear. The dietician said some women are scared to eat the carbs and they will bring in their schedules and food logs and not have eaten breakfast or just eat lunch and a snack in the evening. Nope, not me, I was trying to eat balanced anyway, plus exercise, so really, this new routine isn’t so bad, I just have to make sure to follow it, no matter what.
I sat down this morning and it took me a half hour to plan out my day’s worth of eating. It shouldn’t be that way soon, once I get used to knowing the carb counts and foods, I can do all the planning on the weekend and have everything ready to go. So here is a typical schedule they want me to follow, which is based loosely off what I was already doing – except for the morning exercise:
6am: Wake and check Ketones in Urine
6am – 6:30am: 15 minutes elliptical, stretch and some weights
6:45: Check fasting blood sugar and record in book
8am: Eat breakfast - 30 grams of carbs, plus protein
10am: Check blood sugar and record in book
10:15am: Eat snack – 15 grams of carbs plus protein
12pm: Eat Lunch – 45 grams of carbs plus protein and veggies and fats
2pm: Check blood sugar and record in book
2:30pm: Eat snack – 15 grams of carbs plus protein
5pm - 5:30pm : yoga, stretch, breathing
6:30pm: Eat dinner – 45 grams of carbs plus protein and veggies and fats
7pm: Half hour brisk walk
8:30pm: Check blood sugar and record in book
9pm: Eat snack – 30 grams of carbs plus protein
When someone has diabetes, any type, eating a snack in the evenings will help keep their fasting blood sugar from spiking over night. A person eats all day, however at night you can go without food for 8 – 10 hours, which is when your liver would kick into producing your blood sugar for you and sometimes can’t regulate as well as food and therefore, a spike in blood sugar will happen come morning. Interesting as I had never know that. So for most people a small late night snack is actually a good thing……..
As for the extensive amount of exercise, I will keep up the walking. With working all day, I will try to walk at lunch although that may not always happen because of meetings. My department has been really great about this, they are making it especially fun too because they are making sure I am eating my snacks and they think it’s cool how I check my blood sugar with the little meter. I totally was embarrassed all day, but they have lightened the mood. Plus we have a couple ladies in my team that have similar issues, they are either allergic to something or they have some health things they need to watch closely. I don’t feel so alone.
It’s a bit of a struggle and today I am feeling relatively positive. I know this will change with days to come and I will have bad days where it’s hard to follow the schedule and I’ll feel bad for going astray, but that’s something to work on. If the majority of days are done right, then I won’t feel so bad about a few bad days. I am anticipating what my Dr will say in two weeks, I have an appointment with her the day after my check up with the dietician and nurse. They will be reporting my numbers back to my Dr. I have a lot of questions and comments for her and I need some feedback from her. From what I’ve heard from two other woman that used that practice and also had GD, they are pretty good about being lenient and not too freaked out about it, especially if my numbers are good. They both gave birth naturally to 7.5 and 8 lb babies. That was some good news I had to hear!
This has been an adventure and an eye opener. I can remember my grandma checking her sugars all the time and her little book she had to write in. She had type II diabetes and had to take insulin shots. I think back to what it must have been like for her, she was diagnosed much later in life. I think about her a lot when I do this and ask myself “do you want to be doing this the rest of your life?” No of course not, but it is in my genetic makeup and what I can do now, will only help prevent it in the future.
Sunday, November 15, 2009
Hello Third Trimester!
27 weeks starts today, hello third and final trimester! Is it becoming more real every day? YES. Am I starting to freak out a little bit? YES. Can I believe this is really happening? YES.
There have been some pretty fun things happening lately and some not so fun things. Hmm, what first to discuss? Let's do not-so-fun so we end this blog post with a positive BANG! I heard back from my three hour glucose test and yes, thank you heritage and age, I have gestational diabetes. According to the nurse, mine really isn't that bad compared to other women who have had a lot worse numbers. When I looked up my numbers on a few websites, I am just barely above abnormal. I have to go to a two hour diabetes class with this nurse on Wednesday 2-4pm. She runs a private diabetes education class at the hospital. Of course my insurance won't cover it because I haven't reached my deductible and I have to pay $130 out of pocket. I don't know if that even covers the glucometer though. Yes, you heard it, they are making me test my blood sugar four times a day. The nurse said this could be temporary though because if I prove during my two weeks that my meal plan and testing and my blood sugar looks good, I won't have to then everyday. But who knows, I'll learn more this week. I'm a bit freaked out because I don't want to go on pills or insulin though. I hate that while I am pregnant, I've been exercising and watching what I was eating and I still have to crack down even harder. It sucks because we are heading into the fun holidays and I have other things to focus on and now this will most likely take over my frickin' life up until baby is born. Shoot, the stress of having to do this probably effects baby more than a little sugar rush.
On to brighter things. Someone actually touched my tummy the other day at work, it was so cute, then she leaned down and started talking to it. I think it's funny and I like it whereas I know some other women hate it. I was at Kohl's yesterday and the cashier asked me when I was due. That was the first public stranger that has asked or recognized I was pregnant. So fun! Then this is crazy. Friday night baby was especially active, she was all over the place. I wish she was like that everyday because it is so reassuring. Dan has this super powerful flashlight, it has a very small tip, I think it's for electrical work or something. Well, since we've read baby can now see and hear, he put it to my tummy and guess what?! She kicked at it!! Maybe it was just coincidence, but that was pretty darn cool!!
At Border's I got myself a pregnancy journal called The Belly Book. I thought it would be fun to track the pregnancy in a book, where I can put the ultrasound pics and jot down a bunch of stuff. They prompt the mama to answer all kinds of questions, some things I have forgotten about and would love to remember one day. I thought it would be fun to share at my showers too. Speaking of showers, my sister Hil made these absolutely beautiful invites to my baby shower on December 12th. My aunt is holding an authentic English tea service for it. One of my best friends Adrienne will also be visiting that weekend and I can't wait. They are also going to hold a Blessingway on December 27th. It's getting so exciting!
Well, I've got tons more to write about, but I've had just enough of this computer this morning. Time to move onto housework and chores that must get done this wintry Sunday. I'll be back to write about my Doula classes, the homework I've been doing for them, birth art, and I would love to share some of the books I've been reading.
La Sirena and her wee little tadpole
There have been some pretty fun things happening lately and some not so fun things. Hmm, what first to discuss? Let's do not-so-fun so we end this blog post with a positive BANG! I heard back from my three hour glucose test and yes, thank you heritage and age, I have gestational diabetes. According to the nurse, mine really isn't that bad compared to other women who have had a lot worse numbers. When I looked up my numbers on a few websites, I am just barely above abnormal. I have to go to a two hour diabetes class with this nurse on Wednesday 2-4pm. She runs a private diabetes education class at the hospital. Of course my insurance won't cover it because I haven't reached my deductible and I have to pay $130 out of pocket. I don't know if that even covers the glucometer though. Yes, you heard it, they are making me test my blood sugar four times a day. The nurse said this could be temporary though because if I prove during my two weeks that my meal plan and testing and my blood sugar looks good, I won't have to then everyday. But who knows, I'll learn more this week. I'm a bit freaked out because I don't want to go on pills or insulin though. I hate that while I am pregnant, I've been exercising and watching what I was eating and I still have to crack down even harder. It sucks because we are heading into the fun holidays and I have other things to focus on and now this will most likely take over my frickin' life up until baby is born. Shoot, the stress of having to do this probably effects baby more than a little sugar rush.
On to brighter things. Someone actually touched my tummy the other day at work, it was so cute, then she leaned down and started talking to it. I think it's funny and I like it whereas I know some other women hate it. I was at Kohl's yesterday and the cashier asked me when I was due. That was the first public stranger that has asked or recognized I was pregnant. So fun! Then this is crazy. Friday night baby was especially active, she was all over the place. I wish she was like that everyday because it is so reassuring. Dan has this super powerful flashlight, it has a very small tip, I think it's for electrical work or something. Well, since we've read baby can now see and hear, he put it to my tummy and guess what?! She kicked at it!! Maybe it was just coincidence, but that was pretty darn cool!!
At Border's I got myself a pregnancy journal called The Belly Book. I thought it would be fun to track the pregnancy in a book, where I can put the ultrasound pics and jot down a bunch of stuff. They prompt the mama to answer all kinds of questions, some things I have forgotten about and would love to remember one day. I thought it would be fun to share at my showers too. Speaking of showers, my sister Hil made these absolutely beautiful invites to my baby shower on December 12th. My aunt is holding an authentic English tea service for it. One of my best friends Adrienne will also be visiting that weekend and I can't wait. They are also going to hold a Blessingway on December 27th. It's getting so exciting!
Here's a 27 week picture!
Well, I've got tons more to write about, but I've had just enough of this computer this morning. Time to move onto housework and chores that must get done this wintry Sunday. I'll be back to write about my Doula classes, the homework I've been doing for them, birth art, and I would love to share some of the books I've been reading.
La Sirena and her wee little tadpole
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Tuesday Morning Filled with Needles!
Tuesday morning I arrived at the Dr’s office at 8:30. The nurse pricked my finger to draw a little bit of blood and said that if the sugar levels were high, I wouldn’t have to do the glucose test. They would just confirm I have gestational diabetes and send me to nutritional counseling. Thank god they were low though because I would rather do the test than have this from just fasting. She then drew a vial of blood and had me drink about 12 oz of glucose. I sucked it down. She said that was the fastest she had ever seen anyone drink it. I told her I pretended it was an Irish car bomb, she about died, probably thinking I’m a drinker now. Ha! I didn’t go on and tell her I was craving one because they taste like a milkshake! Next St Patty’s day I’ll be enjoying one for sure!
Then I had to go back to their office at 9:30, 10:30, and 11:30 to have blood drawn. This is all done while fasting, only water was allowed. I didn’t feel too bad at first, but then I was really tired near the end. The office is connected to the hospital so I just stayed in the hospital lobby during the time between blood draws. They have a fireplace in there, I sat and read and watched the people go by. It was pretty relaxing. I am glad it’s over though and I should have the results on Friday. If they do find that I have it then I have to classes on nutrition and education for it.
Sleeping is getting a bit more uncomfortable. Pregnant women can only sleep on their sides, preferrably the left side so the uterus doesn't squish the liver. This is hard though because the pressure on my hips is almost unbareable by 3am. There is this hormone called relaxin that makes your bones softer when pregnant, preparing the pelvis and hips area to open up and be flexible in order to slide a baby through. Well, that makes for a long and painful night. Sleeping on the sides is essential because sleeping on the stomach hurts and then sleeping on the back can cut off blood flow to you and the baby in the vena cava - the artery going from the heart to the legs. Ugh! Since my bed has these backrest things, I sometimes sit up with my pillows and look out, just resting, letting my hips settle down and then about a half hour later I slide back down to my left side and sleep about another hour, then switch sides and sleep another hour or so. All this tossing and turning makes for a very long night. I do feel a little tired during the day, but not too bad that I can't function. I guess it's just practice for what's to come. Ha! Poor hubby, I always ask if I am bothering him, but from the sound of it, he doesn't even notice. Most of the time he is just snoring away.
We have our second meeting with our Doula Michelle tonight. I haven't been doing all of my homework though and I feel bad. I'm just going to be honest with her that it's been a long and trying two weeks. With two Dr's appointments, friends in town, tons of stuff to get done, yardwork, and a full time job, it was hard to focus on exercising, kegels, pelvic rocks, tailor sitting, squatting, and logging my food intake, not to mention all of the workbook activities. But I did get a few walks in and most of my kegels. My schedule has not been conducive to keeping a routine. Plus we've had to take the van into the shop a few times for a few minor things for winter and we had a huge blizzard. Anyway, I hope she's understanding, which she probably will be as she's been through it all herself.
La Sirena and her little tadpole
Then I had to go back to their office at 9:30, 10:30, and 11:30 to have blood drawn. This is all done while fasting, only water was allowed. I didn’t feel too bad at first, but then I was really tired near the end. The office is connected to the hospital so I just stayed in the hospital lobby during the time between blood draws. They have a fireplace in there, I sat and read and watched the people go by. It was pretty relaxing. I am glad it’s over though and I should have the results on Friday. If they do find that I have it then I have to classes on nutrition and education for it.
Sleeping is getting a bit more uncomfortable. Pregnant women can only sleep on their sides, preferrably the left side so the uterus doesn't squish the liver. This is hard though because the pressure on my hips is almost unbareable by 3am. There is this hormone called relaxin that makes your bones softer when pregnant, preparing the pelvis and hips area to open up and be flexible in order to slide a baby through. Well, that makes for a long and painful night. Sleeping on the sides is essential because sleeping on the stomach hurts and then sleeping on the back can cut off blood flow to you and the baby in the vena cava - the artery going from the heart to the legs. Ugh! Since my bed has these backrest things, I sometimes sit up with my pillows and look out, just resting, letting my hips settle down and then about a half hour later I slide back down to my left side and sleep about another hour, then switch sides and sleep another hour or so. All this tossing and turning makes for a very long night. I do feel a little tired during the day, but not too bad that I can't function. I guess it's just practice for what's to come. Ha! Poor hubby, I always ask if I am bothering him, but from the sound of it, he doesn't even notice. Most of the time he is just snoring away.
We have our second meeting with our Doula Michelle tonight. I haven't been doing all of my homework though and I feel bad. I'm just going to be honest with her that it's been a long and trying two weeks. With two Dr's appointments, friends in town, tons of stuff to get done, yardwork, and a full time job, it was hard to focus on exercising, kegels, pelvic rocks, tailor sitting, squatting, and logging my food intake, not to mention all of the workbook activities. But I did get a few walks in and most of my kegels. My schedule has not been conducive to keeping a routine. Plus we've had to take the van into the shop a few times for a few minor things for winter and we had a huge blizzard. Anyway, I hope she's understanding, which she probably will be as she's been through it all herself.
La Sirena and her little tadpole
Sunday, November 8, 2009
26 Weeks.....Missed 25 Weeks!
26 weeks now. I was going to write a 25 weeks post after my Dr's apt last Wednesday, but I got some stinky news and couldn't muster up the motivation to post. For some 25 week development information, click here. This week starts my 26 weeks. I unfortunately have to go back to the Dr. this Tuesday because last week I didn't pass their glucose test. I got a 170, which 140 and under is considered passing. At least I didn't have a 200 because that means it's full on gestational diabetes. If your not sure what this is, it is a temporary form of diabetes some women get while pregnant. It can cause some health issues and needs to be monitored. But it can be helped with diet and exercise. Geesh, I'm talking as if I already have it.
I've gotta tell you the truth, I really thought I would pass that test. I feel like I've failed myself and my baby. I am disappointed because I eat pretty good and exercise and have so called symptoms, which yes, I know, some women don't. So now on Tuesday, I have to go in at 8:30am and stay until noon, drinking glucose and having my blood taken four times. This totally sucks. I really really really hope I pass because I have zero symptoms and I am feeling great. I don't want to be put into the category 'high risk', because Dr's can turn that around on you, use it as an excuse to do a cesarean.
One reason I am upset too is that they said my hemoglobin was low at 12.3 and I should start taking an iron supplement. Well, from what I have read on the American Pregnancy Association website (and a million other websites and books), any score between 12 - 14 is a normal level. I called my Dr back and spoke with the nurse who acknowledged that yes, 12.3 is a normal level, it's just low normal and they like to supplement when that's the case. Ok, no, sorry. I'm not anemic. I'm not going to go spend a bunch of money on iron supplements, which make most women nauseated. They didn't even suggest iron rich foods or anything, just go get yourself a pill. Now, if my future blood tests are to show lower levels or that it does keep decreasing, yes, of course I will supplement, especially since you need a good level for delivery.
That is just another reason why I don't like or trust Dr.'s. I do have a slight tolerance for mine, but I would much rather be using a midwife. However since insurance doesn't have any in network in my county, that's impossible. Gotta love insurance, hopefully one day we'll have better more affordable options.
It was a rough week last week to say the least. I am sorry to say, but I'm not looking forward to this week either, but attitude is everything. Seriously, it's everything and if I want to make this week tolerable, I'm going to have to buck up and make it more positive. The hormones have been in overload these past weeks so I've been more sensitive to things, crying and feeling stressed. I have some really great things to write about though soon and I know that will lift my spirits. I'm going to take it day by day. Breathe in breathe out.......
Stretch, laugh, love, sleep, and exercise........
La Sirena and her tiny tadpole
I've gotta tell you the truth, I really thought I would pass that test. I feel like I've failed myself and my baby. I am disappointed because I eat pretty good and exercise and have so called symptoms, which yes, I know, some women don't. So now on Tuesday, I have to go in at 8:30am and stay until noon, drinking glucose and having my blood taken four times. This totally sucks. I really really really hope I pass because I have zero symptoms and I am feeling great. I don't want to be put into the category 'high risk', because Dr's can turn that around on you, use it as an excuse to do a cesarean.
One reason I am upset too is that they said my hemoglobin was low at 12.3 and I should start taking an iron supplement. Well, from what I have read on the American Pregnancy Association website (and a million other websites and books), any score between 12 - 14 is a normal level. I called my Dr back and spoke with the nurse who acknowledged that yes, 12.3 is a normal level, it's just low normal and they like to supplement when that's the case. Ok, no, sorry. I'm not anemic. I'm not going to go spend a bunch of money on iron supplements, which make most women nauseated. They didn't even suggest iron rich foods or anything, just go get yourself a pill. Now, if my future blood tests are to show lower levels or that it does keep decreasing, yes, of course I will supplement, especially since you need a good level for delivery.
That is just another reason why I don't like or trust Dr.'s. I do have a slight tolerance for mine, but I would much rather be using a midwife. However since insurance doesn't have any in network in my county, that's impossible. Gotta love insurance, hopefully one day we'll have better more affordable options.
It was a rough week last week to say the least. I am sorry to say, but I'm not looking forward to this week either, but attitude is everything. Seriously, it's everything and if I want to make this week tolerable, I'm going to have to buck up and make it more positive. The hormones have been in overload these past weeks so I've been more sensitive to things, crying and feeling stressed. I have some really great things to write about though soon and I know that will lift my spirits. I'm going to take it day by day. Breathe in breathe out.......
Stretch, laugh, love, sleep, and exercise........
La Sirena and her tiny tadpole
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
