April 1, 2010

Big Baby on Board?

I had yet another ultrasound this past week. I’ve counted six ultrasounds so far! This past one was the last step to determine why my blood results may have come back positive for neural tube defects. I was told by the genetic counsellors that I could have the amniocentesis to be 100% sure my baby is in the clear or I could undergo another ultrasound to be sure the placenta wasn’t damaged. Apparently a damaged placenta can provide high test results.

As expected, my baby and the placenta looked perfect. So much worrying for nothing! Although who am I kidding? I’ll be nervous now until the day I lay eyes on my son and look him over with a fine tooth comb. For now though there has been nothing but good news causing me to believe those test results were false.

Apart from learning my baby boy is doing fantastic, I learned he is measuring a week ahead. Instead of measuring 24 weeks, I was measuring 25. The doctor looked at me and said he’s either further along than we expected or I’m going to be delivering a big baby! I was told considering both my husband and I are tall (he’s 6”2 and I’m 5”10) we can expect our child to be tall and will weigh in at 7 ½ pounds at least! Yikes, I hope he’s not over due otherwise labour could be more difficult than I imagined!

March 31, 2010

5 Pregnancy “Symptoms” Your Girlfriends Forgot to Tell You

Sit down and discuss pregnancy with any woman and the same symptoms associated with having a baby will often come up; lack of a period, consistent trips to the bathroom, morning sickness, weight gain, and insatiable hunger.

Many of us are told of the usual changes our bodies will experience while pregnant but what about the unexpected, like a hairy belly or swollen ankles? Or dare I even say it, a sudden lull in our sex life? My girlfriends with kids never mentioned the real “dirty” details until I became pregnant and brought it up to them, then their memories seemed to return and I heard a few “oh right…I forgot about that!”.

So for all future moms, I’ve compiled a top five list of pregnancy “symptoms” my girlfriends (and doctors and books) neglected to tell me:

1. Crazy Dreams – I started having vivid dreams before I even knew I was pregnant. No one warned me of the crazy nights jumping across oceans and flying with Dr. Evil to visit Charlie Chaplin in Never Never Land (odd, I know!).

2. Growing Feet – Those cute Spring shoes I purchased at the end of season sale last year? Still in the box. My feet simply won’t fit in them! I’m looking forward to flip flop weather.

3. Extreme Gas – Let’s just say it’s been uncomfortable.  

4. All day sickness – Forget about “morning” sickness, I’ve been sick in the afternoon and evenings too! Being sick also never stopped at three months. I still throw up sporadically and I’m six months now!

5. A Runny Nose - I’ve gone through countless boxes of Kleenex since becoming pregnant. It turns out feeling congested is something many pregnant women feel. A pregnant woman’s body creates more mucus, creating stuffy noses, phlegmy coughs and congested chests.

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