Tuesday, April 14, 2009

Portrait Of A Pregnancy After A Preemie: Part 6


So there I am! Seven months pregnant and wearing my most "pregnant-looking" top. I have a most definite bump now and my husband and I are both very aware of it. The rest of the world? Not so much, apparently. Yesterday I dropped my son off at preschool and ran into someone I hadn't seen since January. She exclaimed, "Oh! And you obviously had your baby!" Um, no. Still seven months pregnant here. And very happy to be so!

I'm doing another little dance of joy now that I've passed the 28-week mark. Twenty-eight weeks was my "big goal" to hit when I went into labor so early with my second child. As you all know, I only made it to just barely 24-weeks. But I've never forgotten all the statistics they threw at me that went with these weekly milestones. I take nothing for granted.

As delighted as I am to be this far along, I am even more thrilled at the prospect of two more months of carrying this precious life. While I tend to have rough first trimesters (I usually end up hospitalized at some point because I just get so sick), I seem to have very comfortable third trimesters. I don't retain water or have issues with swelling. I don't suffer significant back pain. I sleep very well at night. As a result, I really have nothing to complain about and get to just enjoy every moment of letting this baby grow and thrive.

I had my last "monthly" OB check-up today. From here on out, I go in every two weeks. My blood pressure was down a bit, which is more typical for me (and good!). I did manage to gain a few pounds, so I'm at a net gain of 14 pounds right now. I won't lie-- I think our Easter feast helped nudge me along in that area! ;)

I got the results of my gestational diabetes test and the doctor was thrilled with my levels. To be truthful, I really never had any concerns about those results, but it's still always nice to hear that things are as they should be.

Baby's heart-rate is in the 140's and strong. I measure spot on. My OB laughed because she could watch the baby move all around my belly while she took the measurements. And that's how things always are with this little one! All three of my babies have been very busy in utero... but this one? This one takes the cake. Even through a fleece pull-over, this child's acrobatics are perfectly visible to the outside world. I love it!

In case you can't tell... everything's great. I still get told I look small. People remain unimpressed with my bump. But knowing that baby is growing and thriving is all I need to know....

Grow, baby, grow!

6 comments:

Lynn said...

How tall are you? Just curious b/c people could never tell I was preg. until at least 7 months along. My car broke down when I was 8 months preg with my first and the guy that stopped to help me wanted me to help him push it. I was like, I am 8 months preg. and he did not believe me. It was like this with all three for me. I am 5ft 10 inches and carry in my back so I really just looked like I gained weight. I never really looked preg. Sorry for the long comment. I am glad things are going so well.

Amy @ Finer Things said...

So glad things are moving right along. Here's to another 2 months!

JessieLeigh said...

Lynn- I'm 5'7"... I'm often referred to as "kind of tall". ;) I have to laugh when people tell me I don't look pregnant... because, to be honest, if I looked like this and wasn't expecting? I'd be very disappointed in myself! I find it fascinating how differently all women seem to carry...

Jessie said...

Congrats on making it to 28 weeks! I think you look great! I am so jealous that you don't swell and retain water in the 3rd trimester. I had awful swelling!

Heather Benza said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Heather Benza said...

oops, had to delete--multiple typos!
I am 28 weeks Friday and have gained 13 1/2 pounds. I saw someone I haven't seen in awhile this week and she thought I must be due in May! NO, July actually, just gigantic! I'm so happy you've made it this far! My first was born at 29 weeks, so I'm a week away from my milestone and I feel confident we'll make it into the 30s. Though I can't really imagine my body can stretch any further!!! The docs think it's likely this baby was already bigger than my first was at birth as of last week (2 weeks younger!) so hooray, we're doing better this time! Here's hoping neither of us have another preemie!