Last time it was tonight

During my pregnancy with Blaise tonight was the night that I woke up having cramps.  They weren't too bad, but uncomfortable enough I couldn't sleep anymore.  I labored at home all day, went to the hospital in the evening and Blaise was born at 2:30am the next morning.  Nothing's happening yet - here's to waking up in the middle of the night...

Pregnancy Update 38w 4d

This pregnancy has been a roller coaster.  We've surely had more ups than downs, but nothing has remained static.  When I went back to the doctor a week ago, the baby had turned again and was back in breech position.  This was something I really thought we had left behind us, but here we were again dealing with the "what to do with a breech baby?" question.  I had a follow-up appointment at the hospital this past Tuesday, still with a breech baby.  We made and action plan and I (finally) left.  As of yesterday (Friday) baby is back to starting position.  I can now obsess about the possibility that Baby will turn yet again.

The current plan is that I will not be allowed to go over 40 weeks, which is November 9th according to my records (really November 10th if we want to get picky, but I don't think the doctors will grace me with one more day).  I will be cut off at 40 weeks because of the gestational diabetes - which seems to have gotten much better recently.  As long as baby is still head down then I will be induced on November 9th, if not I'll have to have a c-section.  If I go into labor before 40 weeks (please, please, please) and the baby is head down - great!  If the baby is again breech and the attending at the time is on board, we're going to try a natural birth.  This baby is much smaller than Blaise at about 6.4lbs as opposed to over 9lbs, so the doctors feel there shouldn't be a problem getting out.  Still hopin' to get this baby moving before 40 weeks and in the right position!

On a positive note, the baby looked healthy, which in the end is all that really matters.

Pregnancy Update

I am 37 weeks today - officially full term!!  Still three weeks until my due date (although I am having a hard time believing that it is ONLY three weeks).

I had an appointment this morning with my diabetic doctor and he said everything looks good.  My sugar numbers and blood work were good.  I go back in two weeks and then three months after birth.  Thursday is my next check-up with my doctor.

My Mom gets here next Monday in order to help us with Blaise and the transition to a 4 person family.  We have a back-up plan in case I happen to be in labor when she arrives - Jen's husband Martin would pick her up.

I can't believe I only have a few more weeks of Blaise as an only child.  I know this baby is going to love him so much.  It is going to be fun watching Blaise fall in the love with the baby.

The Adventures of Alexander and Blaise x 2

We met up a couple times this summer with our friends, Parthena and Frank (retrace our steps here and not here, because I apparently never blogged about our get-together earlier this year).  Their son is just a few weeks younger than Blaise and they are great playmates.  Recently we went out to Hanau for lunch and their yearly Volksfest and earlier in the summer they came to Ingelheim for lunch and a visit to the Tigers, Bunnies and Goats.

Blaise ready for lunch

My baby

Riding on the story telling bus at the Volksfest

Manning the bus

Two busy bus drivers

Who's driving the bus?

Riding the train with Mommy

Frank and Alexander

Sadness ensues after our turn is over

Earlier this summer:

Two monkeys

Story Time

Blaise ♥'s Alexander

Kinder Cappuccino

Parthena and Alexander checking out the goats

I think Parthena had more fun than the boys at our mini zoo

Here is a belly picture - I think from July

Alexander and the Bunnies

Quick Update on Me

I don't have much time, but for those of you waiting for an update:

I went back to the hospital today and got good news.  The baby has turned and is in start position, so hopefully no more turning back (and therefore almost no "risk" of c-section).  The baby's growth has stayed on the curve which was really great news - a drop-off would have been indication that growth had slowed and that doesn't seem to be the case.  The baby was measuring at about 4.8lbs, which is in the norm.

Thanks for everyone's thoughts and prayers - they seemed to have worked! :)

Update on Me

I thought I would take a break from my attempt to catch up on my summer posts to give a little update on me.  Pregnancy number 2 has turned out to be a bit different than pregnancy number 1.  It all started pretty much the same - no morning sickness (don't hate me), major meat cravings and a rush on pregnancy stretchy pants.

Recently though, there have been some unfortunate developments.  It started with gestational diabetes.  That started quite randomly - my sister-in-law, who is pregnant and due 2 days ahead of me, was diagnosed with it.  My mom always suspected that I had it last time because Blaise was so big (over 9lbs).  Seeing as she is diabetic and I have (had?) PCOS (which often comes with insulin resistance) I seemed like a likely candidate.  Because of my Mom's suspicions she brought me a blood sugar measuring device which I didn't use until one evening when my sister-in-law was here for dinner and she was monitoring her sugar.  Mine sky-rocketed after pizza then again after cereal and again after oatmeal.  I mentioned it to my doctor and he sent me to the diabetes doctor right away.  I passed the 2 hour glucose test with flying colors, but my sugar will only stay stable (they don't want it over 140 one hour after beginning to eat) if I am very careful with what I eat.  The diabetes doctor said to keep watching what I eat and come back in 3 weeks.  No sweets, no white bread/flour and small portions of carbs.  My A1C was 5.1 which was good news.  So, basically, I'm in the clear here as long as I can control my sugar with diet - so far so good.

Also, the baby is a little over two weeks behind in growth.  Since Blaise was over 9lbs there is cause for concern as to why this baby is so small.  It is only in about the 26%, which wouldn't be bad in and of itself, but it seems every time I go back to the doctor the developmental due date has been pushed back even further.  If this continues then we'll be forced to deliver the baby early.  The concern is that the placenta has become/will become insufficient to take care of the baby.  I am at 32 weeks and 3 days today, and even though the survival rate at this stage of pregnancy is very high for our part of the world, it still would not be welcomed.  Our goal is to make it to at least 36 weeks (40 weeks being full gestation).  In order to help facilitate this, I have been instructed to lay as much as possible which is good for the circulation of blood to the uterus and drink a lot of non-carbonated water.  I am being checked every week - every two weeks at my doctor's and on the off weeks at the hospital.

In addition to all this, the baby hasn't turned yet.  I have (sort-of) tried to maintain a positive attitude that the baby will still turn, but it seems I'm not capable of that right now.  Worst case scenario the doctors decide the baby needs to come and if s/he hasn't turned they will take the baby by c-section.  Which surely isn't the end of the world, just a longer recovery time and with a 20+ month old and a newborn possibly in the NICU that seems daunting.  Of course priority is the health of the baby no matter what - I haven't lost sight of that.

Adding to the pressure is that we are still searching for a girl name and time is ticking faster than expected.

If you can spare any good thoughts or prayers for us and Baby S.2 we would surely appreciate it.  In five years this will all be behind us and it will all be fine.