Maternity Photos

I am lucky to know a couple of photographers in the St. Louis area.  I called around to see who offers a first year package (usually a maternity, newborn, 6 month, and 1 year session) for a reasonable price. Right now as much as I would love to have the most professional photos ever, I just can't afford them with all the other things that need to be bought and done.

My friend Danielle has a photography company that is just getting started.  She loves talking pictures of babies and kids and is very nicely priced. Plus you get a copy of the disc with the rights to the photos within a week. Check her out at dtinneaphotography.com  The first time we had planned on an outdoor maternity session, we had a blizzard.  I mean, don't get me wrong, I would have loved snowy pictures, but not when the temperatures are below zero.  So we did the next sunday, which was much warmer but so windy.  Here are a few of the pictures she took.

Side note:  In some of them, I think I really just look heavy and not pregnant.  I promise, I am only 5 weeks away from my due date..

33 week appointment

I feel like I am always driving the 30 minutes to the doctor’s office.  I know, I should have changed doctor’s when we moved out to St. Charles, but I was starting to go meet with the fertility doctor or was just referred to him when we moved.  I really didn’t want to go through a whole find a new doctor kind of thing when I really like the doctor I have and how he was on board with not making me wait much longer before referring me to a specialist.

I gained 2 pounds in 2 weeks so I was happy about that.  (When are you ever happy to see a +2 on the scale???  I was actually coaxing the scale to move in the up direction.)  My belly grew and I measured 32 weeks (a week behind is an ok measurement)!  However, I really do not have that big of a belly people say.  I mean I am up 17 pounds this week so it is not like I haven’t gained any weight. I just must be putting it on all over the place. I know my face is fatter which I do hate…I feel puffy all the time.  I also know I have an ass for the first time in like 10 years (when I started my weight watchers journey.)  My boobs have grown again and I just hate that I had to buy another new bra for not much longer.  I wish there was some pill, I could have taken at the beginning of my pregnancy to stop my boobs from growing and the whole shebang.

Side note:  I am not planning on breast feeding.  I have never ever wanted to.  I am not remembering if I have mentioned this in past posts before.  My mother did not breast feed my sister or me (maybe that has something to do with my thoughts on the matter.) Yes, I know that it is good for the baby, yes I do know that there are antibodies passed in breast milk that are not passed via the placenta.  (If you want to get technical, the IgG form passes the placenta and the IgA form is passed in breast milk).  Mind you, the IgA only lasts 30 days…hell I do have a masters in Immunology.  I turned out just find and was not a sick child or really a sick person in general.  Breast feeding makes me uncomfortable.  I am all for people breast feeding in privacy.  I have problems with breast feeding in public, even when covered up. I just wish people would pump and bottle feed breast milk in public.  However, that being said, it is your right to do so and it is my right to formula feed.  Until now, I have not vocalized my thoughts on breast feeding, so what betting place where I can be open and honest. I would appreciate the same gesture….I have been lectured over and over by people, strangers mainly. I smile and politely end the conversation.  So if I offend you on my side note, I am sorry, not my intentions. 

Back to my appointment:  Nolan is still breech.  I swear to you, he is doing the opposite of turning downward. He is moving straight up into my ribs.  I guess they make a fun jungle gym.  I am surprised he hasn’t knocked a rib out yet.  I discussed this with my doctor. I  will have another ultrasound at my next week’s appointment, I will be 35 weeks or almost 36 depending on which due date you go by, and if he is still breech we will go ahead and schedule my c section for February 20^th.  I think I may have had a little panic attack in the room.  Holy hell, that is only 5 weeks away……now 4 and a half weeks.  There is so much I still need to do.  That is a week before my LMP due date of 2/27.  However, the ultrasound put my due date at 3/3.  However, my doctor is out of town at a conference for both of my due dates, so if I want him to do the c section we will do 2/20 (which I do want him if possible).  So stay tuned to the January 28^th ultrasound.

Seriously.....Move

I need to back up and do some updating.  When we left off,  I had been scared that poor Nolan was not growing.  J and I went the next day for an ultrasound and my stubborn boy is breech and curled up. But weighing in at 4 pounds (they estimate) in the 55%. This was on a Friday.  By the next Thursday, we had our next scare. 

Nolan is pretty active and for the most part I love this about him.  I was told  by my doctor that I should feel him move about 10 times per hour.  Now, when I am up and moving about, I may not notice it. So two times a day I need to pay attention and do kick counts.  Well Thursday by 3:30 when J got home,  he had not moved all day.  I came downstairs, had some caffeine and an orange (both things that usually get him moving) and nothing.  I laid in every position that usually works to get him moving and got nothing.  J looked at me and by 5 o’clock told me to call the doctor’s office.  I am very impressed with the exchange because I had a call back within 10 minutes. The doctor on call told me it would be a good idea for me to come on in and get monitored.  J and I made our way to St. Mary’s.  I can’t lie, I was pretty freaked out.  I have been pretty calm for most of my pregnancy, but for a boy that was so active, I couldn’t imagine why he was so still.  I had done pilates in the moring and hoped that was not the cause, since I had not done PiYo in a while.

We went up to the 5^th floor of the hospital which is the labor and delivery floor and headed straight to the women’s evaluation center.  They quickly took my info and vitals and got me in a hospital gown and my belly hooked up to a heart rate monitor and some other monitor for my uterus.  To my relief, there was a strong steady heart beat.  However, the resident doctor wanted to do an ultrasound to make sure baby was ok.  Nolan is still breech and I guess having a lazy day in utero.  He was moving a little bit but nothing to where I could feel him.  They also noted that my placenta is anteriorly positioned which could make me feeling him more difficult.  They did a quick measure of the amnionic fluid space and all was good.  They had me drink some apple juice and walk around the labor and delivery halls to see if we could get him to where I could feel him.  I felt like J and I were wandering around trying to get my labor going.

Once we got back to my room, they rehooked me up to the heart rate and uterus monitors.  I finally felt him kick.  A few minutes later the nurse and doctor both walk in the room and say simultaneously, “Are you not feeling that?”  I, of course, thought they meant the kicks.   I said yes he has started to kick a little.  Their reply was no, not the kicks…..the contractions.  Well my uterus tightens up every now and then, but I just thought they were Braxton hicks and since they didn’t hurt, I didn’t think much about them.  Apparently, I had had 3 or 4 contractions I didn’t even know or feel.  Gosh I hope that is how labor goes, but I know that will not be the case.    The doctor checked my cervix and it was closed so we were able to go home.  I was not ready to be admitted to have this baby yet. 

Since our quick dash to the hospital, Nolan has been cooperative and active.  I guess he really just wanted a lazy day.

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32 weeks.....Holy crap!

How far along? 32 weeks

Total weight gain: 16 pounds at my 31 week exam. I was actually down a pound from my 29 week appointment. However, I feel huge.

Maternity clothes? I am in love with my maternity leggings. If there is elastic in it....I am loving it!

Stretch marks?  I may have some up higher on my sides by my rib cage but I can't see there very well any more.

Sleep:  Good nights and bad nights. I am having such weird dreams also.  I have to sleep with a pillow between my legs too..

Best moment this week:  Well this was a bad moment that ended up being good.  When i went in for my 31 week exam, the nurse practicioner measured my belly as they do now and it only measured 28 weeks, which is what I measured at my 29 week exam.  At 29 weeks that was ok, but I didn't grow at all for 2 weeks which made her schedule me an ultrasound for the next available appointment.  Luckily that was the next day at 10am.  Nolan is just fine.  He is coming in around 4 pounds right now which puts him in the 55%.  He was being stubborn and not letting us see his face too much.  He kept sticking his tongue out also. The ultrasound tech said he looked like he was licking the placenta.  Our only concern is that he hasn't turned yet, so hopefully this stubborn boy will turn soon and not be breech.

Miss Anything? Sleep and having energy

Movement:  It comes in waves. Some days he is really active and others not so much.

Food cravings:  anything and everything.....I am always hungry. But pizza always sounds good.

Anything making you queasy or sick:  not at all

Gender prediction: Boy

Labor Signs:   Not yet, thank goodness but I am getting the Braxton Hicks contractions.

Symptoms:  my belly is definitely out......and my boobs are huge 

Belly Button in or out?  In.

Wedding rings on or off?  On.

Happy or Moody most of the time:  Happy but very easily stressed with work

Looking forward to: playing with my new nephew!  J's sister just had her baby yesterday and he is just the cutest thing ever.

Next appointment:  I see my doctor January 15th..