Thursday, February 28, 2013

14 Weeks Pregnant: Baby #2

Well, here we are at 14 weeks!  I can remember being 14 weeks pregnant with August.  I remember that I was actually starting to look a little pregnant at 14 weeks with him, not just fat.  Haha.  This past week has been a very interesting one. I don't have a picture to show you today, because I'm still in my pajamas.  That's how I roll.

If you remember in my last pregnancy update at 13 weeks, I told y'all about my blood pressure.  I have really been keeping an eye on it since I had preeclampsia with August.  High blood pressure is 140/90.  It is considered high if either the top or bottom number is high; they don't both have to be up.  At my first midwife appointment on 2/6 it was 137/76.  A week later, I wasn't feeling well so I went to Walgreen's and had it checked.  It was 124/83.  A week and a half after that, which was this past Saturday, I had been feeling really bad since Thursday or Friday.  I was having trouble breathing, and my head was hurting.  I felt very jittery.  So we went to Walgreen's on Saturday and had it checked again.  It was 118/94.  Too high.  I didn't call my midwife since it was Saturday.  I stayed home from church on Sunday and just rested all day.  It seemed to help because a nurse that goes to my church came by and checked it on Sunday and it was 124/74 and then a few minutes later was 101/71.  I called my midwife Monday morning to let her know that it had gotten high, and she had me come in on Tuesday afternoon.  My BP was 134/86, and she checked it again an hour or so later, and it was 128/82.  So it had gone down some while I was there. 

Sorry for all the numbers!  I'm documenting this for myself mostly, so I can look back and see where my numbers have been.  They weighed me at my appointment.  The scale said I had gained 1 pound, however, my appointment was in the late afternoon, whereas it's normally in the morning, so I had eaten more that day than I would have on a normal appointment day.  Plus, she weighed me with a full bladder.  I chugged water on the way to my appointment because I knew they would take a sample, but I thought they would do that before they weighed me.  So I'm sure I haven't actually gained anything.  My scale at home has stayed the same.  I have really been watching it this time, since I'm starting with an extra 10 pounds from last time.

My midwife switched my next appointment to one of the doctors in the group. She wants him to be familiar with me in case I have to switch to him.  I really don't want a male OB, so if she ends up switching me I may switch practices so I can see a woman.  I'm not sure.   However, I have heard good things about the male OB she wants me to see.  My next appointment is next Wednesday.  I'll be 14 weeks and 6 days. 

My PUPPPS rash is starting to get out of control.  I can't believe it's affecting me this early!  My midwife prescribed me a topical ointment for it.  I read the insert that came with it, and it says that this is a Category C drug.  The insert said that 1/5th of the human dosage given to rabbits caused the baby rabbits to have cleft pallets, umbilical hernias, and cephalocele (protrusion of the brain through part of the skull).  Oh my goodness.  I used a little bit of it the day she gave it to me, but after reading the insert, I won't be using it anymore.  It is SUCH a shame too, because I think the stuff actually took the itch away.  It burned a little, but I welcome that.  Itching is horrible.  So now I don't know what to do.  I am going to take the cream and drug insert to my appointment next week though and ask why they gave this to me.  That is so scary to think that any of those conditions could happen to our baby. 

I haven't had any morning sickness this week.  (I'll have it tomorrow since I said that.  It always happens.)  I have really been trying to get things done around the house since that seems to be ending.  Yesterday, I deep cleaned our bedroom.  I will attribute that to nesting.  I dusted the furniture, laundered the curtains (yeah, that's nesting for sure), washed all of the bedding, washed at least 4 loads of laundry (it piled up with my high BP), and today I am going to sweep and mop the floors since I didn't get to that yesterday.  I am really wanting to tackle the spare bedroom.  You wouldn't believe the junk in there.  We actually have a pull out sofa, filing cabinet, desk, and coffee table in there (that's not the junk part, just taking up a lot of space).  If you need any of these items, let me know!  We will be more than happy to pass them on. 

I think we have decided that if the baby is a girl, she will get the spare room.  If the baby is a boy, we will let him sleep in the spare room until he can sleep through the night, and then we will probably move him into August's room.  I think it would be so neat for them to share a room.  Plus, that will leave the spare room available for future daughters, guests, and the elliptical!  That elliptical has been bothering me.  I really don't want it in the garage.  If the baby is a girl, we are going to try to fit it in our room.  If the baby is a boy though, we will leave the elliptical in there and I will set up a little area for the kids to play in there while I work out.  I have a little wooden table and chairs set that needs a little sanding and painting.  It would be a great place for August to color and play while I exercise. 

Ok, this whole post was probably way more info than you cared to know.  I have all of these thoughts in my head constantly, and it makes me feel less all over the place to get them down into words, haha.  Well I think August finally fell asleep for his nap, so I need to get busy.  It's hard to get anything done while he's awake.  I can't believe he will be 10 months on Sunday.  That's crazy!  I hope y'all have a great weekend!

8 comments:

  1. WOW! I am so sorry this blood pressure stuff is going on, what else can you do to keep it lower? And what causes it to be so high? I am so unfamiliar with all of this.

    And good for you for saying no to that cream. How scary! I am interested to hear what they say when you ask about it. I am so sorry that PUPPS is so bad, I wonder if its diet related? Like maybe something you're eating makes it appear? Just a thought, I know nothing about PUPPS either!

    I LOVE pregnancy nesting and cleaning!! It feels so obsessive but then I feel so lazy when I'm not pregnant and have no motivation to clean. Ha! I heart your pregnancy posts. So glad you haven't been feeling too nauseous! Thats a plus!

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  2. Thank you! With the blood pressure, they can put me on medication, but my midwife thankfully said she wasn't going to do that just yet since it's still fluctuating and not just staying up. I have no idea what causes it to be so high. I have never had HBP in the past. It's always been low. A friend told me that eating bananas instantly lowers your BP, so I have been doing that when I feel like it's getting high. Another friend found some research that Hibiscus tea can lower BP. I'm still researching that one.

    The PUPPPS rash is a condition that 1% of pregnant women get! Ahhh! It's when the mother's body is "allergic" to the fine hair that grows on the baby while he/she in the belly. It's more common in women having boys. So maybe I'm having another boy? We will see! I have a friend who makes all-natural, homemade diaper rash cream, and I actually tried it on the rash last night and today, and it seems to be helping! The only thing is that it is somewhat thick so I have to wear old clothes when I wear it so I don't ruin my good clothes. I have another friend (lol, this is starting to sound funny, I'm glad to have so many knowledgeable friends!) who suggested trying a mixture of apple cider vinegar and water and rubbing that on the rash. She uses that mixture for burns and things. I will give that a try. She said if you use 8 parts water to 1 part ACV that it shouldn't leave a residue.

    I love pregnancy nesting and cleaning too! I am never more productive than when I'm pregnant. My mind is also constantly thinking about everything! Some nights I lay down and pass out from exhaustion, but most nights I lay there planning and organizing in my head (and scratching my rash). I'm glad you are enjoying the posts! I loooove reading your blog as well! I'm glad we can be blog friends! :)

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  3. I love hearing your updates! I highly recommend going to Nature's Finest and having them suggest something for your PUPPS. I was able to get Lillie-Mae's eczema under control mainly through my diet and taking supplements that she received through the eczema. I know that it's not eczema, but I really think that the owner, Jim, could suggest something naturally that is safe during pregnancy for you. You must be miserable! So sorry you're having to deal with that- why can't pregnancy be easy ;)

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    1. Thanks Danielle! I will look into that. I am going to try Grandpa's Pine Tar Soap. A lot of preggies with PUPPPS swear by it, so I will give it a shot. I wish pregnancy could be easy! It would be so nice to just enjoy it!

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  4. Hey girl!! I am sorry this has been so rough. The good news is all the trouble is for a good cause :) Just to let you know, I had a male OB, and although it was a little awkward at first, he was amazing! Carter went with me to the first two visits, and he was really nice and lovely. I don't think I'd ever want a woman now (and I always said I would never have a man OB!) Anyway, hope we can get together soon!!

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    1. Hey! I'm glad your male OB experience was good! It's probably just whatever your used to works for you. I'm sure I'll adjust if I have to be switched to him. Yes we do need to get together soon! Text me! We can take the kiddos for a walk in their strollers one day!

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  5. Hey Amanda, I've been stalking your blog to find out how your appt. went on Wed.! lol Hope it went well :)

    Lisa Focht

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    1. Hey Lisa! You motivated me to finally write an update! Haha! 15 weeks update is posted!

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