31 weeks 5 days

We had another appointment today, this time with the perinatologist. I cannot express how much I adore Sam. He really is a fantastic doctor and his bedside manner is wonderful.

So far, things are going pretty good. Blood pressure is within acceptable levels. No sugar or protein in my urine. He's not concerned about my blood sugars AT ALL. And didn't say a word about my cinnamon roll, or brownie notes. In fact, we laughed about it. "Back away from me, I am eating the damn brownie!!" LOL

I did have to toss out my old bottle of insulin and start using a new one. I think that has helped to lower my fasting numbers a little bit. The other bottle was more than a month old. I don't know if they 'go bad' but it seemed like my numbers were remaining elevated, but came down again as soon as I switched bottles, which is kind of weird, but maybe that's normal. I don't have anyone to ask, so I don't know.

The baby is doing GREAT. He's measuring 3lbs 10oz via ultrasound, which is the 29th percentile, which is totally acceptable and within baby's normal range for this pregnancy anyway. This puts him at approximately 6lbs 10oz at 38 weeks, which is what we are now aiming for at this point in the game.

I've booked the remainder of my appointments out for the pregnancy for the most part. I will be having an amniocentesis done at the end of August, two days before my 37 week mark, so that we can check baby's lung development.

Baring any further complications, we are aiming for that 38 week point. He said it was perfectly safe for us to go to that point, which is literally the only time that we have available to have this baby, without forcing me to be in labor ALONE. Being alone to have this baby is literally one of my biggest fears. Without someone to watch the other kids, that is what would happen. If we were able to take baby out at 37 weeks, and lung development wasn't an issue, we 'could' do that. However, because of my mother's previously arranged plans, she has a very narrow window of opportunity to be here for us, from out of state, to take care of the other kids so that I'm NOT alone during the labor and delivery. It's better for us to push the pregnancy another week, if we can, for lung development, and to assure my not delivering alone. Something that has caused an extreme amount of anxiety for me, not to mention countless tears.

So the plan, at this point, is to take baby out some time between Sept 6th and Sept 9th. We are keeping our fingers crossed that everything goes smoothly between now and then. Personally, I'm NOT worried about delivering early. I have yet to go into labor on my own, or have my water break on it's own either. My last pregnancy was the exception. My midwife stripped my membranes and then I started leaking, but wasn't aware of it until two days later, when they brought me in for the induction and she asked me if I'd been leaking and I told her I thought it was PEE!!!

We are not at all concerned about the baby getting 'TOO BIG' at that point in the pregnancy....even though mother's with diabetes or gestational diabetes run the risk of having babies in the 10lb range. Given baby's current size, there's just not a concern that he will get anywhere NEAR 9lbs, which, for me, would mean a c-section. There's just no other way around it. My pelvis literally cannot accommodate a baby of that size. 6 1/2 to 7 1/2lbs is perfectly do'able for us.

The ultrasound (BPP - Biophysical profile and NST - Non-Stress Test) went REALLY well. Baby was SO active that she had a hard time getting the readings for his heart and his cord because he kept moving and then it would blip off. She said they would have been much more concerned if he was moving LESS! He is going to be a busy little guy, that's for sure.

Here's a couple of 3D pictures. He looks just like Matty, that's for sure. I can't wait to kiss those little cheekies.

31 weeks 4 days

Yesterday was a long day from the word go!

I had my second appointment with my OB scheduled for 11:10. They got me back in the room and I waited more than an HOUR for her to come in. I usually don't tolerate waiting well, but I did it because I 'get' the fact that she is an OB and delivers babies half her day in the hospital next door. And one day, she will be dropping everything to run down and deliver ME.

We went over my birth control issues again. I REALLY need to have a tubal ligation, however our hospital is owned by the catholic hospital and they are not allowed to do tubal ligations at this hospital. Without my being 110% positive in my desire to do the tubal, it's just something that we are not ready to do yet anyway. Also, with my being diabetic, the infection risk of having ANY type of implant or foreign object inside of my body is too great to make it a viable option. IUDs are out, the implant is out. The essure procedure is out, as is any clamping of my tubes with titanium, or silicone clamps or clips. Meaning when I DO have a tubal ligation, it has to be the old fashioned cut, tied in a knot and burned type of tubal, where no foreign objects are left in my body.

Due to my getting pregnant, consistently on the traditional hormonal birth control pills, I am not able to take them. I would literally just get pregnant again, even with my diligence of taking my pills on an alarm every single day. She refuses to do the DEPO shot on anyone who isn't a skinny 12-13 year old girl. I didn't get into it, I would really only have taken the DEPO shot as a LAST alternative. Due to allergies, latex, spermicides, foams and such are not something that I can use. I exceed the weight capacity on the patch.

That basically leaves me with three options. Abstinence. Which is NEVER going to happen in this lifetime, nor my virgin alter ego's lifetime. My partner getting a vasectomy....which goes back to the fact that we aren't 110% positive that we wouldn't change our minds later. And something called the NuvaRing. The NuvaRing is safe while breastfeeding, so the NuvaRing is it, and what I will be using post-partum.

After several other necessary discussions, including bruises and injuries that aren't healing, questions about who does the circumcisions and when, and some stuff about weaning off of my fasting insulin, and a few other things....I spent another 20 or so minutes making my appointments for the next six weeks, which include an NST, an ultrasound and an OB check at each visit. Then I literally had to RUN to my next appointment over at the hospital (at 12:45) so that I could make it in time. I didn't have a chance to eat lunch until almost 3pm, and was feeling seriously ill by that time because my sugars were so low. Anyway, I had my EKG and Echo cardiogram. According to the gal that did it, everything looked good, but we will still be waiting on a report from the radiologist.

Baby sounds good. Urine was fine, so no protein or sugar issues this week. Blood pressure was VERY good in the office too. My next appointment will be tomorrow, with the perinatologist in Austin.