24 weeks

This week is a big milestone in pregnancy, baby is a fully developed little person and our doctors are very pleased with our progress. We do have some updates from our recent appointments.

A couple weeks ago we went for a second opinion about the Vasa Previa at a large hospital is downtown Chicago. The specialist was soooo nice and did a very thorough ultrasound and confirmed our diagnosis. She gave us her recommendations and plan for managing our care. We were happy to hear that her recommendations were the same as our specialist here in Naperville.

It is a pretty simple plan:

26 weeks-Amelia will take leave from work and begin activity restriction (stay off feet as much as possible)

32 weeks-Check in to hospital

34-36 weeks-C section will be scheduled some time in this 2 weeks period depending on how well we are doing at the hospital

For now we will continue monitoring with our specialist every two weeks.

This morning I woke up feeling a point of pressure in my belly. When I reached down to touch my belly I felt a nobby little projection. When I touched it, it moved away!!!!!! Holy cow, that was the coolest thing ever! My belly has started to morph a little lately. Sometimes it will stick out a little on the right or the left and I can feel a round smooth object (either a head or bum I'm sure). But feeling that little foot or knee or elbow this morning was just too amazing! I love falling asleep and waking up to this little girl dancing away in my belly, it is the most unbelievable experience I've ever had!

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Anatomy & Monitoring

It is still a girl! Our little lady looked so big during today's ultrasound! She was squirming around and kicking me all over during the scan but they still managed to see all the crucial parts they were looking for. She is measuring on target and developing according to schedule.

On another note, we were given some concerning news. The perinatologist noticed the umbilical cord is directly in front of the cervix (where baby is suppose to exit at birth). This condition known as vasa previa, it is very rare and potentially dangerous putting us at the top of the high risk delivery list. This condition requires very close monitoring and delivery by C-section before the mother goes into labor.

They are also suspecting something called velamentous cord insertion. Which means the umbilical does not connect directly to the placenta. This leaves a portion of the cord blood vessels exposed and vulnerable to rupture, especially if the mother goes into spontaneous labor. This was all very scary but we are glad to have wonderful specialists monitoring our pregnancy.

It is possible for the umbilical cord to move up and away from the cervix over the next several weeks and we will keep our fingers crossed that all will be well. We will have ultrasounds every 2 weeks for the remainder of the pregnancy to keep an eye on baby's growth. Please keep us in your thoughts. xoxo

Braxton Hicks = Anxiety

Okay, I need the advice of all my formerly pregnant friends out there again. Today I had a strange sensation that the baby was stretching out in all directions and I felt a pressure/tightness in my low belly. No pain. This happened to me last night while driving home from work too. So I hopped on google and read through many different descriptions of Braxton Hicks contractions and determined that's what it was.

At 17 weeks, I felt like it was a bit early to have BH. So I called my Dr. and he assured me it is okay at this point if I only have one or two per day. He is so nice but my anxiety level is still through the roof! My pregnancy has actually been quite an uphill battle since day one and every little "ping" puts me in high alert.

I did read that BH can be brought on when the baby is very active. Well we know this little lady is quite the mover, at 3:30am it felt like she was having a dance party in my belly. I really hope the BH are just a result of all her activity.

If you could please share you stories of when you started to experience BH, how frequent were they, what you did (if anything) to keep them away....or any helpful/reassuring info you might want to share. I would greatly appreciate it.

Thanksgiving, Ring test, and....

Thanksgiving weekend was special and memorable for so many reasons. We spent the holiday in Indiana with my grandparents and had a wonderful time eating and eating and eating! I started to feel the baby right around 16 weeks, maybe a little earlier but it took me a couple days to realize this really is the baby! I appreciate all the descriptions everyone contributed to help me figure out what it might feel like. I have to say that I think everyone is very different. The most accurate way to describe my experience is having the sensation of popcorn popping in my belly. I'm pretty sure these are actual kicks...I don't think I ever felt "flutters" just the kicks. We've been told this is a very active little one but I'll get to that in a minute.

While we were in Indiana my family performed the "Ring Test" on my belly. For those of you who are not familiar, the ring test is supposed to predict the gender of the baby (according to some people). You place your wedding band on a very thin necklas chain and hold it steady over the belly (or some people have told me you can do it over your wrist). The ring starts moving (all by itself, it's true and very freaky). If the ring starts moving in a circular motion the baby will be a girl, if it moves back and forth in a line it will be a boy. Here is my ring test.

Or you can see it here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J4OFlx5xl58

It definitely moved in a circle! Sure enough, last night we went for our gender ultrasound and we are having a little GIRL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! She is quite the active little lady according to the ultrasound technician. She was bouncing all around stretching her arms and legs, arching her back, practicing her kicks, yawning and putting her hands in her mouth! It was so amazing, I can't even explain. Greg was completely mesmorized by our tiny little girl and possibly a little intimidated at how active she is! I tried to tell him that ever since I started feeling her move it seems like she never slows down! We are so thrilled and feel so blessed to have a little daughter on the way :)

Flutter:

to wave or flap rapidly in an irregular manner

As a first time prego I feel so clueless. At my OB visit last week the nurse asked me, "Are you feeling any fetal movement?" Ummm....I dunno. I'll be 15 weeks tomorrow and I feel little pokes and jabs in my "low belly" all the time, but I think that is called round ligament pain (because I am growing....rapidly).

The nurse explained that I will start to feel flutters. Ok, that doesn't really help me either. All you previously prego ladies know gas and constipation are pregnancy's two best friends. I feel all sort of things going on in there! My pregnancy book says it can take longer for 1st timers to feel movement so I'm trying to be patient but I am so excited!

Please share with me your stories about "flutters" and "kicks". I would like to think I'll be able to distinguish my baby from say gas but I just don't know what I'm looking out for!

Goodbye First Trimester

Today I am 14 weeks pregnant. Some people say the first trimester is over at the end of the 12th week, and others would argue it is the end of the 13th week. Either way, the 1st third of my pregnancy is officially complete. I noticed the change in my symptoms right at week 12. It was almost like someone had pressed a button allowing my unpleasant symptoms to magically subside. I can not express how thrilled I am to have the 1st trimester behind me. I will not miss the:

-nausea
-barfing
-loss of apetite
-constant worry/anxiety
-zombie like fatigue
-20 nightly trips to the bathroom
-migraine headaches

The second trimester has brought on many new (more pleasant) experiences:

-extreme hunger attacks

-an intense love for salty foods
-reduced worry
-3 maybe 5 nightly trips to the bathroom

-my new bedtime of 8:30
-much more energy

-my highly emotional mushy side
-my round BELLY!

Whoa Baby!

What we have really been up to...

...trying to keep this cutie a secret for 13 whole weeks!

For those who have not yet seen the news on FB, Baby Polheber is expected to arrive in May 2011. Words can not express how thrilled we are. This baby is such a little miracle and we can not wait to meet him/her!