Our Second Little One

Week 39

2009-12-01T18:30:00.000-08:00

With Darling Daughter:

With Natalie:
My last belly photo! My c-section is scheduled for two days from now. I can't believe we're going to meet our little girl so soon. This pregnancy went by so quickly. We're really excited to get to bring her home so soon. It will be so fun to see her and Natalie interact. I'm also looking forward to being done being pregnant.

I had my 39 week appointment yesterday. Originally it was scheduled for today but I have been feeling so sick since last Wednesday that I wanted to get into see someone soon so I could start to feel better soon. I have an upper respiratory infection that Dr. Anya gave me an antibiotic for. Hopefully I'm feeling better by Thursday before my c-section. Our little girl's heartbeat sounded good on the Doppler and I'm still measuring on track. I didn't bother to have her check my progress because she's breech so the c-section is my only option at this point.

I started maternity leave today. I figured if I got this far without going into labor having a few days off before my scheduled c-section would be helpful for getting a few last minute items taken care of and spending some extra time with Natalie. Plus, I have my pre-test appointment at Rex tomorrow afternoon anyways. It was nice being able to sleep in a little bit more and to take a nap.

Our baby is about 21.5 inches long from head to toe and weighs a little more than 7 pounds. Toenails and fingernails have grown to tips of toes and fingers. Muscles of our baby's arms and legs are strong, and she's practicing lung movements.

Week 38

2009-11-24T18:11:00.001-08:00

With Darling Daughter #2:

With Natalie:
I had my 38 week and c-section pre-op appt today with Dr. Gaines. I had him do an internal even though I have a c-section scheduled for next week since I had still hoped to try for a VBAC if I went into labor on my own before then. I wanted to know if I've made any progress which like last week, I haven't. Only fingertip dilated still.

Because of still wanting to possibly try for a VBAC we started discussing whether she was actually head down. Last week he said he wasn't sure she was head down. In order to attempt the VBAC, she would need to be. He decided to do an ultrasound to double check. Sure enough, she's breech! That explains why her hiccups feel more like they're at the top of my belly and her kicks feeling more like they're hitting me in the pelvic bone. Plus, there is a hard lump at the top of my belly which turns out to be her head and not her butt (way to hard for her butt).

I now feel validated in making the decision to go forward with the scheduled c-section. I feel like a huge weight has been lifted off my shoulders from wondering if I was making the right decision in not committing to doing a VBAC.

Here's a photo of my 38 week ultrasound. Late term ultrasounds look so different than early on. It's hard to make out her image because she takes up so much of the view. Your actually looking at her head on the left.

Dr. Gaines said everything else looked good also. I'm measuring on track for 38 weeks and her heart rate was great.

Our baby is about 21 inches from head to toe and weighs about 6.8 pounds. Most of the her downy hair, lanugo, and whitish coating, vernix, is disappearing. She is getting her antibodies from me to protect against illness. Our baby's growth is slowing, but fat cells under skin get plumper for life outside the womb. Almost ready for birth, she would do well if born now.

I'm exhausted all the time now and have pretty intense lower back pain. I have to go to the bathroom constantly. I'm definitely looking forward to meeting our little girl and being done being pregnant. I've forgotten what it's like to not be carry around all this extra weight.

Week 37 - Full Term

2009-11-17T18:15:00.000-08:00

With Darling Daughter #2:

With Natalie:

I had my 37 week appointment with Dr. Gaines today. He confirmed that my Group B Streph test was negative which is great -- no antibiotics needed during delivery. He also did an internal check; I'm only finger tip dilated. This was about where I was with Natalie at this time. I'm feeling so crampy. I wish these were actually doing something towards progress. Even though I have a scheduled c-section, I'm still holding out hope that I will go into labor on my own. I'm ready to go into labor, meet our little girl and be done being pregnant.

Dr. Gaines stated he wasn't 100% sure that she was head down (which won't matter if I end up in a c-section). He thought the top of my belly seemed harder than he'd expect for her butt etc. so it's possible she's actually breech. No way to know at this point without doing an ultrasound. I'll see what he says next Tuesday at my pre-op and 38 week appointment.

It's amazing to be already full term. This pregnancy has gone so much faster than it did with Natalie.

According to what I've read, our baby is now surrounded by a peak volume of 1,000 mL of amniotic fluid which is approximately equal to 4 cups. From this point on this amount will decrease gradually. Her nervous system is maturing now, almost ready to be on her own. The lanugo on our baby's skin is wearing off. In addition, the cortisone that is being produced by her endocrine system will help her lungs to take over the job of delivering oxygen to her blood stream after birth.

We put the car seat back in the car this past weekend and have finalized our top three choices of names for her. We're looking forward to finding out which name fits her the best.

Week 36

2009-11-10T17:44:00.001-08:00

With Darling Daughter #2:

With Natalie:

As I've mentioned before, this pregnancy has been pretty low key which is great. It's actually probably been less problematic than with Natalie in that I haven't had hip pain, very much of an itchy skin rash or swelling, and not being that uncomfortable. But I'm now getting stretch marks which I didn't get with Natalie. I realize I'm lucky I didn't get any with Natalie but it doesn't take away from the disappointment that I'm getting some now. Luckily there aren't too many but there are enough for me to notice and being bother by it. Hopefully I don't get many more before I'm finished.

I had my 36 week appointment with Dr. Placide today. Emile and Natalie came with and got to hear the baby's heartbeat (~140 bpm). Dr. Placide did the Group B Streph test on me which I should find the results of in the next few days. He also checked to see if I've progressed any yet and as I expected given how things went last time, I haven't. I now start weekly appointments and so I'll be going in again next Tuesday.

We've gotten a lot of things set up for the new baby -- nursery is ready, infant car seat is back in the car and the Pack N Play is set up in our room. I only need to pack my hospital bag.

Our baby's fat is dimpling on the elbows and knees as well as forming creases in the neck and wrists. Her gums are now very rigid.

Week 35 - 8 Months!

2009-11-03T17:55:00.000-08:00

With Darling Daughter #2:

With Natalie:

It's hard to believe that I have finished my 8th month of pregnancy! I can't get over how quickly this pregnancy has gone. Within one month from today, we will have another child. Very exciting and overwhelming at the same time. Especially now that one of my friends, Suzi, had her second daughter yesterday -- I'm the next one due out of the woman I know. It makes it feel much closer now! I'm definitely getting ready to be done being pregnant again. I feel huge and cumbersome.

This week I've noticed that I'm starting to get more of a itchy skin rash, mostly on my hands. Definitely not too bothersome yet but noticeable. Mostly I've been dealing with the crotch pain, especially when sleeping and rolling over. I am starting to feel more crampy now -- just some subtle achiness.

I've started moving my projects at work over to others for my upcoming maternity leave. I want to make sure everything is taken care of well before I head to the hospital. My plan is to work up through November 30 assuming I don't go into labor before my scheduled c-section on December 3rd. This will give me two days to relax and spend some special one on one time with Natalie. The weekend before is Thanksgiving and my parents will be here. With the long weekend and only working the following Monday, I'll only be working one day in week before my scheduled c-section.

We have officially moved Natalie over to her big girl room so I've started setting up the nursery again for the baby. We made some minor changes with how it looks compared to how it was set up for Natalie. We've moved my rocking chair from my childhood to the room and added some new green (instead of purple) curtains that Riet made. I still need to get some stuffed animals and some picture frames for baby girl #2. Kinsey helped get all of the baby clothes washed, organized and put away. Natalie likes to pull out the baby toys like the bouncer and exersaucer to play with them while I'm working in the room. Hopefully she shares well when the baby arrives.

Our little girl is probably around five and a half pounds now! Her crown-to-rump length is about 13 1/2 inches. The fat accumulations plump up the arms and legs this week. She has gotten big enough to take up most of the uterus, and there's less room to move around. She continues to punch and kick me frequently. My belly frequently has body parts pushing out of it.

Week 34

2009-10-27T19:04:00.000-07:00

With Darling Daughter #2:

With Natalie:
I am definitely wobbling a lot now and feel the weight of my pregnant belly. We had such a busy weekend that by the end of each day I was so sore and beat; I couldn't get into bed fast enough. Plus, my ankles started swelling. And the crotch pain is starting to get pretty bothersome like last time. There have been a few times that my hands have started itching. I'm hoping this is not the beginning signs of the itchy skin rash forming that I got while pregnant with Natalie. It's hard to believe that in no more than a little over 5 weeks our little girl will be joining us!

Two big milestones this week -- Airlines will no longer allow me to fly on their planes and most importantly, if our little girl comes early, I won't need steroid shots to speed up development of her lungs. Her lungs should be developed enough to handle it if she comes early. Relieving news!

Our baby responds as a newborn with its eyes open while awake and closed while sleeping. She is developing immunities to fight mild infection. Those sharp little fingernails are at the ends of the fingertips already. She probably weighs close to 5.5 lbs now.

My book club friends threw me and another friend, Suzi (she's having her baby no later than Nov. 2 -- very soon!), a baby shower for both of our second babies. It was very sweet of them and I had a great time. They all gave me board books for baby #2 which was such a great idea for a book club group. I'm sure baby girl #2 will enjoy having new books that haven't been chewed on by Natalie. And it turns out we didn't have any of the ones they got it. And of course, the cake and baked goods were delicious.

Some of the woman brought their little ones. We got a cute photo of the five of them hanging out together. I decided not to bring Natalie because she had a costume party that afternoon that she needed her nap beforehand. She would of had fun though hanging out with Brandon, Lily, Jude, Emma and Lucy.

Week 33

2009-10-20T06:17:00.000-07:00

With Darling Daughter #2: With Natalie:
I had my 33 week appointment yesterday with Dr. Gunter. Given that my pregnancy has thankfully been low key and I've worked out my approach to VBAC vs. c/s, my appointments are pretty quick. He checked for her heartbeat with the Doppler (140 bpm), measured my fundal height (on track for 33 weeks) and confirmed that she is head down right now. He said everything looked good. I also got my seasonal flu shot during my appointment but will need to wait on H1N1 since they didn't have any available. I also saw Nurse Hilbert last Thursday; I was pretty sick with a cold last week. She put me on an antibiotic since it appeared like it was leaning towards bronchitis. I'm feeling much better now.

I got together with some other mothers last Wednesday for a Mom's-night-out dinner. They surprised me with a homemade cake that said Baby on it (made by Marie!), cupcakes from Callie and a few gifts for the baby from Callie (a dress) and Jen (a board book). It was very sweet of them and totally a surprised! We had a great time hanging out and chit chatting.

The baby is constantly punching and kicking me. It feels very different than it did with Natalie since the punches are all along my pelvic area -- it feels a little weird when she does it. I'm glad she's so active though. I am starting to get a little bit of the crotch pain that I got last time; however, it's no where near how it was before. Mostly I feel a little sore when I stand up from sitting or laying for too long. And I can feel it when I roll over. I have to support my belly with a pillow pretty much all the time now when I'm laying on my side unless my belly is resting directly on the bed or couch. Although I took my rings off a few weeks ago, I can still wear my middle finger ring and my engagement ring without it being too tight yet. I definitely can not wear my wedding band -- it feels so uncomfortable and hard to get on and off. Overall, my pregnancy is going great. We're looking forward to meeting our little girl soon!

Because of the swine flu (H1N1) that is going around, Rex Hospital has a new policy that anyone under 18 is not allowed in the hospital unless being admitted so this means we can not have Natalie come up to visit me and the baby after delivery. I'm sad about this as I always envisioned her getting to meet her little sister in the hospital with us. I'm slightly worried about being gone a few days and then just showing up at home with a new baby - that she might not react well to this but we're thinking we might have her at least come to the lobby when we are getting checked out. That way she can see the baby and me at the hospital and we can all drive home together. I suppose one good thing about her not coming up to the hospital is that she won't have to deal with separation anxiety of seeing me for a little while and then having to leave again while I stay there. Also, if I have a c-section, she wouldn't be able to climb all over me like I'm sure she would want to once she sees me.

Our little girl is probably about 4.5 to 5 lbs now. She will gain more than half her birth weight in the next seven weeks. She'll begin to move less now as she runs out of room and curls up with knees bent, chin resting on chest and arms and legs crossed. At this point, the amniotic fluid is at the highest level in the pregnancy. The amount will remain constant until delivery. Rapid brain growth has increased the baby's head size approximately 3/8 of an inch this week. Fat continues to accumulate which turns the baby's skin color from red to pink.

Week 32

2009-10-13T18:23:00.000-07:00

With Darling Daughter #2:
With Natalie:

I'm starting to get pretty uncomfortable sleeping. I have to get up frequently to use the bathroom plus turning over in bed is very tedious. My tailbone hasn't been hurting that much which is a nice relief but my hips are a little sensitive while sleeping. DD#2 is still punching and kicking me a lot more than I recall Natalie doing. A lot of weird pelvic punches/pushes. The lower part of my belly is feeling very sensitive and a lot of pulling sensations. And not surprising, but my c-section scar itches a lot now. But overall, it's still been a very low key pregnancy which is a relief.

Our little girl is probably about 4-4.5 pounds now! Her irises are now responsive to light, dilating and contracting as needed. Due to deposits of fat under the skin, her skin is now pink rather than red. Her nails are now long enough to reach to the tip of her fingers or beyond and may need trimming as soon as she's born so she doesn't scratch herself. A loud noise near me may actually cause our little one to jump. She pushes back when we push on her feet or butt that pushes out of my belly.

Week 31

2009-10-07T18:12:00.001-07:00

With Darling Daughter #2:
With Natalie:

Technically I'm 31 weeks 1 day today. Yesterday we were flying back from MN where we visited Natalie's Oma and Opa; I didn't get a chance to upload my photo. Last Thursday, I had an appointment with Dr. Gaines to discuss my VBAC vs. c-section decision. As I expected Dr. Gaines was very clinical and too the point about my options. In retrospect, I was pretty emotional about my decision and probably should have had Emile come with me to the appointment. In general, I came to the conclusion that I would schedule a repeat c-section. It was a hard decision for me; however, one of the main reasons for my decision was I don't think I was emotionally on-board for committing to the VBAC like I thought I should be for getting over my fears of the potential complications. My c-section has been scheduled for December 3rd at 12:30 p.m. I have a pre-test appointment the day before and a pre-op appointment on November 24th. If I go into labor before then on my own and I actually progress (unlike last time) quickly, then I may still decide to try for the VBAC. If I don't appear to be progressing, I will more than likely still end up in a c-section. I will be full term as of November 17th so I could of course still go into labor on my own between then and December 3rd (of course, hopefully I don't go into labor before 37 weeks). At the latest, our little girl will be here by the 3rd.

Having the c-section scheduled definitely makes her arrival seem so much closer. It's very exciting and coming up sooner than I keep thinking.

My tail bone pain has subsided thankfully. My belly feels pretty heavy when I lay on my side if it is not supported. My Braxton Hicks contractions are still pretty consistent -- a few everyday. She kicks and punches me constantly, making her presence known.

Our baby probably measures about 18 inches long from head to toe and weighs about 3.5 pounds right now. Rather than hearing vibrations, her nerve endings in her ears are connected now so that she can hear distinct sounds, like familiar voices and music. This week, a layer of fat will form underneath the thin, wrinkly skin. She'll also start practicing opening her eyes and breathing.

Week 30 - 7 months

2009-09-29T17:54:00.001-07:00

With Darling Daughter #2:

With Natalie:

I am shocked that I'm now 7 months pregnant and starting my 8th month! Time has flown by. The biggest change for me recently has been that I'm starting to get a lot of pain in my tail bone. It's not exactly the crotch pain that I got last time but it's getting close. I don't think I mentioned previously but I've also started snoring again, on and off. I'm getting a ton of Braxton Hicks contractions all the time. And she's a big kicker and puncher.

Our little girl measures about 17 inches from head to toe and weighs about 3 pounds. She is growing plumper and beginning to control her own body temperature. Eyebrows and eyelashes are fully developed, and hair on her head is getting thicker. Her head and body are now proportioned like a newborn's. Hands are now fully formed and fingernails are growing.

Week 29

2009-09-22T16:50:00.000-07:00

With Darling Daughter #2:

With Natalie:

This past Friday I had my 28 week appointment with Nurse Hilbert. Blue Ridge has two nurse practitioners that they like everyone to see in addition to the doctors. She was very friendly and comforting. She administered my RhoGam shot, although this time in my hip instead of my arm. It hurts a lot more in the hip! I had planned to schedule a c-section date for 40 weeks. I am comfortable going with a c-section then if I haven't started to progress or go into labor on my own and thus, attempt a VBAC. However, Blue Ridge likes to schedule c-sections for 39 weeks (which would be around December 1). Because I was proposing a different time, Nurse Hilbert needed to clear it with the doctor I would like to do my c-section, Dr. Gaines. He instead wants me to come back into the office in 2 weeks (October 1) in hopes that I will have either committed to doing a c-section (and thus, schedule it around 39 weeks) or go for the VBAC with out pre-scheduling a c-section. I have been going back and forth on this for 29 weeks -- what is 1-2 more weeks going to do for me! I honestly don't get why it matters when I choose to schedule my c-section, assuming it's later than 39 weeks. If I decide at this point to fully commit to doing a VBAC, I could still change my mind come 39 weeks if I have no progress and schedule a c-section for a week later at that time. I could also wait it out for labor to start on its own and if it doesn't by 40-41 weeks, I'd still have to schedule a later c-section date so I'm not sure why he wants to discuss this more with me.

I am still very torn about doing a VBAC. I have many reasons for wanting to try for a VBAC and other reasons for wanting to just go with a c-section. VBAC: getting to experience a vaginal birth, not having to deal with recovery from surgery; c-section: having a date set, knowing how I respond to surgery already (recovery went well for me last time), getting my previous raised c-section scar removed (which I have to say is really annoying how much it always itches with it rubbing on my clothes), and getting two extra weeks of STD. And then of course there are reasons that I'm scared to choose either option: VBAC - potential complications, not knowing how my body will respond to a vaginal birth (since I never progressed on my own previously), the pains of vaginal birth which I haven't experienced fully yet; c-section - another major surgery, missing out on knowing what it feels like to push my child out, once I have another c-section I will have to have a third if we have more children. I'm also so unsure of going forward with the VBAC because I feel unprepared and unsupported by the doctors at Blue Ridge. They don't really give me a good cozy feeling about attempting a VBAC. Even those who say it is possible to try for a VBAC still make it sound like they'd recommend a c-section. To me, it seems most say this because scheduling a c-section is the easy thing to do. I'm really unsure what to do.

As always I'm exhausted all the time. I can't get my pants or socks on very easily and it's a struggle just to turn over in bed. Luckily, I'm still not experiencing the hip pain I had my last pregnancy and am able to sleep pretty well except for having to get up to use the bathroom once at night. My fundal height (pelvic bone to top of my uterus) is actually measuring one week behind my EDD which is within normal range (and yet people still say I look so big for how far along I am in my pregnancy).

Our baby now weighs about 2 3/4 pounds and has a crown-to-rump length of about 10.5 inches. Space is getting really tight for the baby. She will have her knees tucked up to her chest now all the time in the 'fetal position'. Nurse Hilbert thinks she is head down located more on the left side of my body which is consistent with where I feel most of the kicks, pushes and her butt.

Her bone marrow has now taken over production of red blood cells. Now that almost all of the our baby's organs are functioning, her growth will focus on maturing those organs and growing muscle mass and fat stores. She should more than double her weight again between now and birth. All 300 bones in the little one's body are present and accounted for now, though some of them will fuse after birth, leaving a grand, lifetime total of 206.

Week 28

2009-09-17T18:50:00.000-07:00

With Darling Daughter #2:

With Natalie:

I'm actually 28 weeks 2 days today. I was in California this week for work and didn't bring my camera with to take a photo on Tuesday. The biggest change I've noticed is that I have to pee all the time now. She's definitely sitting on my bladder all the time. I'm getting up 3-4 times a night to use the bathroom. She is moving all the time now. I can feel her butt and head pushing out at different times.

Many people have been commenting on how I look further along than I am as if I'm about to give birth tomorrow. Not the most flattering comments but oh, well. This is how I carried Natalie and apparently how I'm carry this daughter too.

Our baby's eyebrows and eyelashes are now present, and the hair on the head is growing. The eyelids open, and the eyes are completely formed. Her body is getting plumper and rounder (weighs about 2 pounds) and is composed of around 2 to 3% body fat. Muscle tone is gradually improving. Her lungs are capable of breathing air.

Week 27

2009-09-08T16:45:00.000-07:00

With Darling Daughter #2:

With Natalie:
To sum up this week, I've just been exhausted! It is getting very tiring trying to keep up with Natalie and work requirements at this point -- I could sleep all day if allowed. But I'm still trying to be as active with Natalie as I can. Not so much rolling around and chasing each other but we have been coloring, playing with play-do and chalk a lot. Plus, there's always the fun of pretending to feed and cover up her babies. We got her a big girl (twin) bed this weekend in preparation for the transition to the her new room before the baby arrives. We're planning to see how she do with a twin bed starting the last weekend in October. This will give her about a month to hopefully get used to it before the baby arrives. I'm planning to start taking out the baby items (swing, car seat, etc.) around then also so she starts to get used to seeing the items and knowing that they're for the baby to use.

Our baby measures about 9.6 inches from crown to rump and weighs a little more than 2 pounds. Hands are active and muscle coordination is such that she can get her thumb into her mouth. Thumb-sucking calms the baby and strengthens her cheek and jaw muscles. She can also cry now.

So far I'm a few weeks past when the linea negra line on my belly showed with Natalie and also from when I started getting pretty bad hip pain. I'm curious to see if either of these show up again with this pregnancy at a later date.

Week 26 - 6 months

2009-09-01T19:01:00.000-07:00

With Darling Daughter #2:
With Natalie:

I can't believe I'm already 6 months pregnant and I have less than 100 days till my due date! I'm now starting my 3rd trimester!! I can't believe how quickly this pregnancy is going compared to last time. Now that it's September and I have roughly 3 months to go, I think I should start tackling my list of things to do which include coming up with a list of names for this little one, getting Natalie's big girl room set up, buying the additional baby items and clothes we'll need, and then a few projects around the house. Given I'm due the beginning of December, I think I'm also going to tackle Christmas shopping beforehand; I'm sure I won't be up for going to the malls right after my delivery! Laura Brett will also be coming to our house after the baby is born to take her newborn photos so I want to get Natalie and DD#2 some Christmas dresses for the photos. I need to get moving!

I had my 25 week appointment last Thursday with Dr. Corvin. Everything went well -- the baby's heartbeat was very strong and she has been kicking up a storm. I also was tested for gestational diabetes at that time in which I had to drink this very sweet orange drink fairly quickly and then get my blood drawn an hour later. I got my results on Monday -- everything looked normal; I don't have gestational diabetes which is a relief! Dr. Corvin was more towards me doing a c-section but only because she thought it was easier to just plan it than wait to go into labor. She did say that because my c-section last time was not due to Natalie not fitting in my pelvis (and given that 2nd babies tend to be bigger) that she thought it was possible to try for a VBAC. She did state that if I decide to do a planned c-section, they like to schedule them for week 39 so that I would possibly avoid going into labor on my own. They would like to get it on the books at my next appointment which is in 2 more weeks. I'm still very torn! I've also put on more weight since my last appointment than I had between previous appointments. Dr. Corvin said my weight is still within range but I should expect another 10 pounds before delivery. I'm hoping it doesn't go over that. Now if I could just figure out how to fit in working out with hanging out with Natalie and resting at night.

I've been come much more tired with everything I do. When I sleep at night, my belly now feels heavy while laying on my side. I definitely can't get up and down as easily anymore. Luckily I'm still doing ok with carrying Natalie around but get tired if I do it for too long.

One difference I've noticed with this pregnancy compared to my first is that I feel more like I'm going through it alone. Not that others aren't support and Emile has been great but because our focus during the day is more on Natalie playing and running around, that others around me are not as focused on me being pregnant since Natalie is more of an immediate focus. Plus the doctor's treat me differently, or at least that's how I've perceived it. I don't have as many questions so it feels more like I'm rushed through my appointments quicker; there's no time to get the warm fuzzy feeling from my doctor's like I did before, even though I've meet them all previously during my pregnancy with Natalie. This pregnancy is just more internal for me (which has it's own advantages). But we're all excited to meet our new addition at which point I'm sure she'll be showered with as much affection as Natalie is.

Our baby measures about 9.2 inches from crown to rump and weighs almost 2 pounds now. Her hearing is fully developed. As she reacts to sounds, her pulse increases. Our baby will even move in rhythm to music. Lungs are still growing but are not yet mature. Patterns of our baby's brain waves appear like a full-term newborn. It also has patterns of sleeping and waking.

Week 25

2009-08-25T14:07:00.001-07:00

With Darling Daughter #2:
With Natalie:Our little girl has now formed all 33 rings, 150 joints and 1,000 ligaments in the structure of her spine. The surfactant that is essential for lung function after birth is also beginning to develop. All five senses are fully developed. She's close to 1 1/2 to 2 lbs now and starting to fill out!

I'm definitely having a harder time bending over and so forth now. I make a lot of grunting noises which Emile finds entertaining. She's kicking a lot which I feel really low -- I'm guessing she's breech right now. And the never ending need to pee has started! My Braxton Hicks continue to be pretty frequent, although not painful. Tomorrow I have my next appointment in which they'll test me for Gestational Diabetes. I'm looking forward to hearing her heartbeat again and finding out how everything is going.

Natalie finds it amusing to push on my belly button that sticks out pretty predominately now. We captured a photo of her doing it recently:

When we ask her where her belly is, she'll pull up her shirt and point to it and then come over to me and pull up my shirt to point to my belly button.

Week 24

2009-08-18T17:31:00.000-07:00

With Darling Daughter #2:
With Natalie:
I'm getting a lot of Braxton Hicks contractions now, at least 3-4 a day. It's mostly just a tightening of my uterus that goes away in about 30 seconds. It seems to occur less if I drink more water so I'm trying to stay well hydrated. I can feel her kicking all the time now which is a great feeling. She's more active in the afternoon and evening. I can now see her kicking from the outside as of last Friday (23w 3 d). Emile felt her kick on Sunday (23w 5d). I'm glad he was finally able to feel her. It helps make it feel more really for him (not that my big belly doesn't help).

She now weighs about a pound and a half and is probably around 8.5 inches long. Her lungs are gaining blood vessels now, preparing them for taking over the task of getting oxygen into the blood stream. Our baby is working out her own waking and sleeping periods.

Week 23

2009-08-11T17:13:00.000-07:00

With Darling Daughter #2:

With Natalie:
Sound sleep is a thing of the past. I'm now waking up a few times a night from both being uncomfortable and to pee. Of course, Natalie waking up and turning her Rainforest crib soother on hasn't helped. I'm definitely feeling the baby a lot more right now. A few times a day I can feel her kick and roll around. I think I may be starting to get Braxton Hicks contractions -- at least once or twice a day my belly starts tightening up, just like with Natalie (it started around week 25 with her). My c-section scar itches a lot lately also.

Our baby's pancreas is developing well and is even beginning to produce insulin. The bones in the little one's middle ear are hardening now. She weighs about a pound and is about 8 inches in length - she's the size of a small doll.

Week 22

2009-08-04T17:12:00.000-07:00

With Darling Daughter #2:
With Natalie:

I'm definitely starting to feel our baby more. Not every day, but more frequently than before. I even felt her kick with my hand from the outside of my belly last week Wednesday (21w 1d). I'm starting to feel more sluggish and am making more noises when I get up.

She's probably around 7.5 inches long now and by the end of this week getting close to, if not more than, a pound! She's starting to get plumper now. Her body and face are starting to take on more of an appearance of what she'll look like as an infant -- how exciting! Our baby's liver is now starting to function also.

Week 21 - 5 months!

2009-07-28T14:02:00.001-07:00

With Darling Daughter #2:
With Natalie:I am now 5 months pregnant!

I had my 20 week appointment last Thursday with Dr. Gaines. Everything looked good -- he was able to find her heartbeat right away. We discussed how I'm not feeling her as much as I did with Natalie. If I'm not feeling her within 2 weeks, I can call in to get another ultrasound just to be sure my placenta isn't blocking her kicks etc. I am starting to feel her a little bit more (maybe every few days) but I may still go in for the extra ultrasound if she doesn't pick up more -- just for the added reassurance that all is good.

We also discussed my VBAC vs. c-section options. As I expected from him, he's more for going straight for a c-section mostly because my last c-section was not due to fetal distress (which would be dependent on the baby) but rather my body not laboring on it's own. I'm still planning to wait and see how things are going come 37-38 weeks.

I'm starting to get sore hips at night sleeping (so it begins!). I have to keep rolling over periodically throughout the night. I expect this to only get worse here on out.

My belly is starting to feel harder with my uterus up much higher.

Our baby girl is about the size of a large banana right now. She probably weighs around 10.5 ounces by now. Baby's legs have grown longer and are now in the proper proportion to the rest of his body. Our baby can now swallow and has started swallowing amniotic fluid.

Week 20 -- Half Way!

2009-07-21T18:27:00.000-07:00

With Darling Daughter #2:

With Natalie:
Wow...half way already! I can't believe how much faster this pregnancy is going compared to my pregnancy with Natalie.

This week our daughter should be about 9-10 oz. and have a crown-to-rump length of about 6 inches. The amniotic fluid has reached a volume of about 12 ounces. Our baby's heart is beating at a rate of 120 to 160 beats per minute. The baby's sense of smell is present now.

I can feel that the top of my uterus is now right at my belly button. I have to pee all the time -- especially at night. I've started getting up 2-3 times a night now. I think I've started feeling her move around as of last Wednesday (19w1d); however, the feels are very different than they were with Natalie that I'm still not entirely sure. I'm looking forward to my doctor's appointment on Thursday to discuss the type of movements I think I'm feeling and to find out if he thinks I have an anterior placenta.

Week 19

2009-07-14T16:55:00.000-07:00

With Darling Daughter #2:

With Natalie:
This week has been a very emotional week for me. For some reason, I've felt more emotionally effected by things going on in my life than I typically do. I know pregnancy hormones cause a lot of mood changes which I'm sure is the main reason for this (work being incredibly slow right now doesn't help either) but I definitely didn't have this type of emotional roller coaster with my previous pregnancy. Hopefully, these hormones level off soon.

Another difference I've noticed compared to my last pregnancy is that my nose is dry constantly!!! Sometimes if I rub it the wrong way, it actually hurts! This was not something I experienced last time.

My belly is getting pretty big now although I think my uterus is starting to slow down in it's expansion because my belly is starting to look more in lines with the size at 19 weeks with Natalie. As mentioned previously, the uterus expands quicker in the beginning with a second pregnancy; however, the baby is not actually growing faster etc. Eventually the uterus stops it's rapid expansion and continues on a normal growth rate as with a first pregnancy.

Our baby probably weighs close to 7 oz. now and is 5.5-6 inches long. Buds for permanent teeth are now forming behind the buds for baby teeth. Baby's toes are not quite as developed as her hands, but they'll catch up. The baby spends about 6 hours a day awake and 18 or so asleep. This is about the same ratio as a newborn.

Week 18

2009-07-07T11:42:00.000-07:00

With Darling Daughter #2:

With Natalie:

I still don't feel like I'm feeling the baby yet. A friend suggested I may have an anterior placenta where it's in front of the baby with the baby closer to my spine and thus, I may not feel her as quickly or as much as I did with Natalie. I was reading more on the anterior placenta and it sounds very possible especially given that Dr. Anderson had such a hard time finding the heartbeat at my last appointment. I'm going to have to ask about this at my next appointment on July 23. I really hope I start feeling flutters by then. It's hard to not worry during this stage of the 2nd trimester. There aren't all the aches and pains of 1st trimester to remind you constantly that you're pregnant but yet you're not feeling the baby kick yet! I know all is fine based on my last ultrasound last week but it'll just be reassuring once I can feel her move around.

My weight gain has been much less than it was with Natalie at this stage even though I look much bigger in the belly. So far I've only gained 1/8 of what I gained total with Natalie, and I'm almost halfway through my pregnancy! I think one reason is that I recently weaned Natalie from breast feeding. From what I've read, the body tends to hold onto about 5 lbs while breastfeeding so it's possible that extra weight fell off after I weaned and thus, lowered my overall weight gain that would have occurred from being pregnant. My doctor said the amount of weight I've gained looks fine so I'm not worried. I'd love to gain less overall than I did with Natalie -- easier to get it off later.

The baby should be about 5-5.5 inches long and weigh around 6.5 ounces. You should be able to see the chambers of our baby's heart in an ultrasound now. His/her vocal cords should be fully formed also. Over the next week, our baby will start forming hair on his/her head and forming teeth buds.

I'm thinking of decorating the nursery for daughter #2 in green/pink elephant theme. Here's the one I like the most, Bella Bedding by Cocalo:

We would keep the bottom of the walls below the chair rail in the nursery the cream color it is now and paint the top a light green. Natalie will be moving into a larger bedroom, which is now her playroom. We had already painted it the light lavender that the nursery is now in preparation for her moving into it eventually. We're thinking of transitioning Natalie to a toddler bed the month before DD#2 will probably arrive to give Natalie time to get used to her new surroundings before getting used to a sister. We're looking into a toddler bed and new bedding for Natalie -- the bedding will still be lavender color like what she has now.

It's a...

2009-07-04T17:15:00.001-07:00

Girl!! Natalie's is going to have a little sister! We're very excited. I think it will be wonderful having two girls close in age. Unfortunately, we can't re-use much of Natalie's clothes given they're different seasons (Natalie's newborn short-sleeve jumpers just aren't going to work in December) but that just means I get to pick out more cute outfits!

I had my "big ultrasound" this past Wednesday. We waited till today to show the photos because we wanted to tell our parents first. Emile's parents were traveling this week so we waited till they got home today. We told both sets of our parents that we were having a girl by having Natalie show them her new toy on the webcam -- a little baby girl doll! They loved it.

The doctor said everything looked great on the ultrasound. Everything is where it should be and measuring on-track. We were relieved. Here are some photos.

Thumbs up!

Hand and leg.

Week 17 - 4 months!

2009-06-30T18:18:00.000-07:00

With Darling Child #2:

With Natalie:
Not much has been going on this week for me as far as the pregnancy goes. I've had a few aches and pains there and there; some stretching but nothing that is uncomfortable yet. I'm still not sure I'm feeling the baby yet. With Natalie, I felt her for sure at 17w5d -- that's coming up quickly here. As with Natalie, I find the first part of the second trimester to be stressful -- I don't have the abdominal achiness I had in the first trimester to remind me I'm pregnant but yet I can't yet feel the baby kick. I'm looking forward to our big ultrasound (anatomy scan) to confirm that everything is fine (and hopefully to find out what we're having!). I'm definitely not complaining -- it's nice not having difficult pregnancies. I hope it continues this way.

Our baby is now roughly the size of my hand outstretched. He or she has a much more normal "human" appearance now. Our baby is now able to hold his/her head more erect and his/her body and limbs are longer in proportion to his/her head. Pads are forming on the tiny fingertips and toes. Soon those individual swirls and whorls will be apparent. Our baby's eyes are looking forward now, but they are still firmly closed. Our baby's skeleton is transforming from cartilage to bone. The bones remain flexible to make the journey through the birth canal easier.

I decided today to buy a maternity swimsuit -- wow, they really don't make those to be flattering! The top looks cute over my belly but those shorts just don't help the look of the thighs!! But I want to start taking Natalie to the pool and lake so I'll suck it up. I was actually contemplating just wearing my halter-top bikini. I don't have stretch marks from Natalie so I don't mind others seeing my belly but I was more worried that others around me might be uncomfortable seeing a pregnant belly (although they shouldn't be).

Week 16

2009-06-23T12:22:00.000-07:00

With Darling Child #2:

With Natalie:
Last Thursday, I had my 15 week appointment with Dr. Anderson. Natalie came with me :). She got to hear her sister/brother's heart beat. It took a little while for Dr. Anderson to find the heartbeat because it turns out our baby is sitting higher than he originally thought. He/she was already up under my belly button. Overall the appointment went well. Everything looks good. Dr. Anderson and I also discussed his thoughts on attempting a VBAC. He saw no problems with me trying a VBAC based on my history. He also said there is not much difference between the risks due to c-section vs. risk due to VBAC (although I'd like to avoid all risks of complication!). He suggested waiting to see how I'm progressing around week 37 or 38. If I haven't progressed at all, I may have to plan for a c-section given they can't induce (because I've had a prior c-section). If I have progressed some, then just to ride it out and see how things go for a VBAC. Sounds like a good plan to me.

I don't think what I was feeling last week was the baby as I haven't felt really anything since before my appointment with Dr. Anderson. I'm hoping the baby kicks start soon! Overall, I'm still feeling pretty good. Much less tired now which is nice. I definitely have a nice baby bump formed now! Emile had gotten me a gift certificate for a massage for Mother's Day and our anniversary. Now that I'm out of the first trimester, I was finally able to use it last weekend -- it felt wonderful! I can't wait for my next one.

The baby weighs probably about 2 3/4 ounces right now and by the end of this week will be about 3 1/2 ounces and the size of my hand spread open wide! Our baby's nails are well formed. He or she has to emptying his or her bladder every 40-45 minutes. The limb movements are becoming more coordinated and vigorous. The head is erect and the legs are developed.

Week 15

2009-06-16T16:00:00.000-07:00

With Darling Child #2:

With Natalie:
There hasn't been much of a change for me this week on how I'm feeling. I'm still tired although I think it's starting to get better. I'm starting to notice some tingly feelings in my abdomen -- it may be the baby I'm feeling. It's mostly to the left of my belly button. We'll see how things progress by next week before I'll say for sure. :)

Our baby's bones are getting harder each day. His/her skin is very thin and transparent; you can see blood vessels through the skin. Lanugo, a very fine hair, covers the body and will continue growing on our baby until around the week 26. Our baby will be about the 4 1/3 to 4 2/3 inches by the end of this week. Between this week and week 17, our baby will have grown from about the size of a softball to the size of my hand stretched out.

My next appointment is this Thursday with Dr. Anderson. I'm looking forward to hearing our baby's heartbeat on the Doppler again. Natalie will be going with me to this appointment. :)

Week 14

2009-06-09T16:54:00.000-07:00

With Darling Child #2:

With Natalie:
My friend, Jimmie, suggested I show pregnancy photos for each week side by side to see the difference. I thought I'd give this a try with this blog. As you can see, I'm already much bigger at 14 weeks than I was with Natalie -- and there is no mistaking that I'm pregnant. I've decided to stop trying to suck it in -- being pregnant with the second means I'm more than likely going to look pregnant much sooner. Not that I don't want to look pregnant, I'm just not yet ready for the weight gain. But I can't deny it anymore -- a woman at the store last night asked me whether Natalie was going to have a brother or sister! Looking back at my pregnancy photos with Natalie, I think I may already look 17 or 18 week pregnant.

And on top of it, the top of my belly button is already starting to stick out. With Natalie, that happened at around 21 weeks!

I'm still pretty tired a lot and am starting to get more hungry. Plus, I've noticed when I lay on my side, my hips are starting to hurt again. I'm really going to need to increase my working out (or stick with it!).

Our baby is now the size of my fist and by the end of this week will be close to the size of a softball. S/he is beginning to practice inhaling and exhaling movements. The eyes and ears continue to move and develop, the neck is still getting longer, and our baby's chin no longer rests on his/her chest. The hands are becoming functional, and the baby is beginning to learn to move/use them (such as flexing them). At this point, our little one is receiving all of his/her nourishment from the placenta.

Week 13 -- 3 months

2009-06-02T18:13:00.000-07:00

Today has been an interesting day -- a bit scary! I fainted in the shower this morning. Natalie had slept in so I thought I'd jump out of bed and get a shower in before she woke up. Well, I forgot I typically need to eat before taking a shower, especially when pregnant. I started to feel light headed so I sat on our tile seat in our stand-up shower. As I was asking Emile to get me something to eat, I fainted, slide off the tile seat while scraping my back along the seat and then hit my head. The next thing I know, Emile was tapping my face with me on the floor of the shower. Apparently I was out for about 15 seconds. It took me a while to feel ok with getting up off the floor -- I laid there eating crackers. I managed to get into the kitchen to have a bowl of cereal but unfortunately, about a half an hour after fainting, I threw everything up. I've been feeling queasy all day long.

I had Kinsey, our nanny, take me to my OB's office in the afternoon. Dr. Gaines checked my eyes to make sure I hadn't had a concussion. He also checked for the baby's heartbeat with a Doppler -- the first time I heard the heartbeat! Unfortunately, Emile wasn't there to hear it although we've seen it twice now. Everything is fine -- baby's fine, I'm fine. It was just a blood pressure issue with getting up from bed and into the shower too quickly and not eating anything beforehand -- pregnancy just makes it worse. Plus, apparently I have pretty low blood pressure to begin with so I need to make sure to drink a lot of fluids and not get up from things too quickly.

Dr. Gaines also commented on my c-section scar. He stated that if I have a c-section again, they'll remove the raised bump but in order to avoid it again (he stated it is a Keloid scar) that I would need to have steroids injected into my skin before the incision to avoid it forming again. Apparently, it's genetic and could form again.

I can't believe I'm starting my second trimester already. Time is flying by. Our baby is now the size of a peach, and has started to resemble a baby with well formed fingers and toes! Our baby's vocal cords have begun to develop, and more and more of the organs are functioning every day. All twenty baby teeth are formed beneath the gums. Our baby's bone marrow, liver and spleen have taken over the production of red blood cells. Although our baby's intestines were originally formed inside the umbilical cord, they are now moving into the abdomen. Fuzzy hair is beginning to form on our baby's head and is white (unpigmented) right now.

NT Scan

2009-05-27T12:12:00.000-07:00

I had my NT scan today. Everything went great. The ultrasound technician measured the fluid level behind the baby's neck -- it was within normal range which is wonderful! This means the chance of Down Syndrome is low. We still need to get the results of my blood work back but so far everything looks good.

My main reason for wanting to do this ultrasound is to make sure the baby is doing well. Without this ultrasound, we wouldn't get to see him/her until my anatomy scan so about 3 months between my first ultrasound and the anatomy. Given I haven't had morning sickness or many other First Trimester symptoms (which is great), sometimes I don't feel pregnant so I get worried something is wrong. But as Emile expected, everything was great! Our little bean was moving all over the place - much more than Natalie did! His/her heartbeat was similar to Natalie's at this stage - 159 bpm (Natalie's was 160 bpm). We could see his/her arms, legs and hands -- it was wonderful! It's finally feeling very real and I'm super excited!

The ultrasound technician also checked out the cyst on my ovary. Turns out there are two of them. She said one for sure is a pregnancy cyst which provides hormones until the placenta takes over (which should be around now). She couldn't tell on the second one but expects that it is. They'll continue watching them. Apparently this is very normal.

The anatomy scan is scheduled for July 1 -- 5 weeks away. I'll be 17 weeks pregnant. Wow, that's coming up soon!

Week 12

2009-05-26T17:22:00.000-07:00

Almost at the end of the First Trimester already! I seem to have escaped morning sickness again. I know I'm one of the lucky ones! My c-section scar still itches a lot as my belly starts stretching. A number of friends that had c-sections and subsequent births have said the itching around the scar just gets worse as the pregnancy goes on. Hopefully it won't be as bad as the itchy skin rash I had with Natalie. I'm still tired but not nearly as much as I have been the last few weeks which is surprising given that Natalie has started to walk so I'm chasing after her much more now! :) I do still have to urinate frequently but hopefully that will start to subside now that my uterus is moving out from under my pelvic bone. It's pretty much impossible to suck in my belly anymore. Comparing to my pregnancy photos with Natalie, I feel like I already look about 16 weeks pregnant! So it goes I suppose with a second pregnancy.

I forgot to mention that during my first u/s my doctor noticed I have a cyst on one of my ovaries. She said it's nothing to worry about and they usually go away over time during a pregnancy but that she'll be watching it to see how it progresses. This apparently is very common.

By now, nearly all of our baby's organs, structures and systems are fully formed. The heart has begun to pump several quarts of blood through his/her body every day. Our baby has also begun to develop nerves and a spinal cord, allowing him/her to feel some types of pain. While our baby's brain is not the same size it will be at birth, it does have the same structure. Fingers and toes have separated and hair and nails continue to grow. Our baby is approximately 2.5 - 3.5 inches and weighs about 12 - 14 grams. Also, the external genitals can now show definite signs of male and female gender. Before, where there was only reflex movement, our baby now moves spontaneously and at random, although his/her movements are still too slight to be felt.

Tomorrow is our NT scan. I'm looking forward to seeing our baby again and hearing the heartbeat.

Week 11

2009-05-19T18:13:00.000-07:00

My appetite has changed lately. I'm just not as nearly as hungry as I normally am. A lot of things don't sound appealing. I'm more repulsed by smells and the thought of certain food than I was with Natalie. Unlike last time, I actually haven't gained any weight yet even though my belly is starting to stick out. My uterus is already the size of a grapefruit and I'm pretty sure it's already moving up given how my belly feels. My c-section scar has been itching like crazy lately. I'm sure it's only going to get worse as time goes on and my belly starts really stretching. It probably doesn't help that I have a raised c-section scar (hypertrophic scar). I'm also still extremely tired all the time.

Our baby's organ systems are now functioning and s/he has a skeleton, nerves and blood circulation. Our baby's tiny feet are fully formed and shaped and could stand on an adult's fingernail. The most critical part of baby's development is now over, and the remainder of the pregnancy is about rapid growth, organ maturation and getting ready for delivery. Our baby's eyelids are fused now and the irises are developing. S/he will begin to get baby teeth, fingernails, toenails and hair follicles this week, too.

Week 10

2009-05-12T16:21:00.000-07:00

I'm roughly 25% of the way done! This week marks the beginning of the fetal period, which lasts until birth. Our baby's body systems, such as circulatory, nervous, reproductive and digestive, are fully formed during this time. His/her heart is beating approximately 160-170 beats per minute. Our little one is now the size of a small plum and weighs less then 1/2 ounce, or 4 paper clips.

Our baby will become much more active then before, but unfortunately, his/her movements are still too small for me to notice. Our baby will be moving his/her arms and legs, which can be seen on an ultrasound. The baby's joints are fully formed, as are his/her tiny hands, feet, fingers and toes. At this age, our baby would be able to grab an object, if it were placed in his/her hand. Our baby's eyes are open most of the time but the eyelids are beginning to fuse - they will stay that way until I reach approximately 25 to 27 weeks. The external genitalia are beginning to be able to show our baby's gender and both the external ears and upper lip are completely formed now. In addition, our baby is breathing, "breathing" amniotic fluid.

For me, it's been pretty much the same as the last few weeks. Mostly just some abdominal achy-stretchy feelings. Still no morning sickness!!! So far, this pregnancy has been very similar to my pregnancy with Natalie. With working and taking care of an almost 1 year old, I haven't gotten that much time to use my prenatal work-out DVDs. I'm hoping to get more into exercising soon! I do manage to get a few walks with Natalie during the week though.

Week 9

2009-05-05T16:29:00.000-07:00

I am now finally 9 weeks pregnant. Because Dr. Anya moved my EDD, it felt like it took forever to move onto the next week. Not much has been going on for me this week since my ultra sound. I still have the achy abdominal feelings on and off throughout the day and so far, no morning sickness (yay!). It's getting harder to suck in my belly (even though I'm only 9 weeks). I'm hoping to make it to at least 10 weeks before I pull out my maternity pants but it's definitely getting uncomfortable sitting in my jeans. Natalie has been sick today and yesterday, and I think I picked up what she has because I've been feeling pretty awful all afternoon and evening but this isn't really pregnancy-related. Hopefully we both start feeling better tomorrow.

I am still breastfeeding Natalie but will be starting to wean her in about 2 weeks. I had planned to wean around 12 months (I'm pretty excited that I made it to my goal!) and if all goes according to plan, she should be fully weaned by the middle of June (I'm planning to take a month to wean her from her four feedings). I was starting to feel sad about weaning because I enjoy the time together with Natalie but now that I'm starting to feel sore and tender from being pregnant, nursing has not been as comfortable. Plus, her top teeth don't help! But I'm very glad I was able to nurse her this long and we had this close bonding time together!

Our baby's cartilage and bones have begun to form. The basic structure of the eye is well underway and the tongue has begun to develop. The intestines start to move out of the umbilical cord and into the abdomen as our baby's body grows and makes room. His/her fingers and thumb have appeared but are short and webbed.

First Ultra Sound

2009-04-30T17:13:00.001-07:00

I had my first ultrasound today (Natalie is 11 months today!). Everything looks good -- we got to see the heart beat and confirmed that there's only one baby! As I expected, Dr. Anya thinks I ovulated later than regular cycles and so the baby is measuring smaller than based on my last menstrual cycle (LMP). Based on my LMP, my EDD would be December 3 and I would be 9 weeks pregnant but based on the size of the baby, I'm only 8 weeks 2 days pregnant. So Dr. Anya has moved my EDD to December 8, 2009. My next belly photo will not be until next Tuesday now.

Unfortunately, Dr. Anya only gave me one u/s photo and it's not even a close up. If you look back at my ultrasound with Natalie, we got to see a really close-up view of her but not today. This is a different office than when I was 8 weeks pregnant with Natalie --

maybe they have different quality of equipment. I think with Natalie I had to go to a separate place for my u/s whereas this one was in the doctor's office.

Dr. Anya also didn't tell me the heart rate; she only said everything looked good when I asked after. I know the heart rate doesn't tell you what you're having but I would have liked to have it for my pregnancy book and to compare to Natalie's. I'll have to make sure to ask at my next appointment. I will be going in for an NT scan in the next few weeks (not sure of the date yet) and my next doctor appointment is not till June 18th (I'll be 15 weeks).

We did discuss the probability of me doing a VBAC (vaginal birth after cesarean) - something I'd really like to try given I feel like I missed out on something by having a c-section. Dr. Anya thinks my chance of success with a VBAC is only 40% (meaning I'm more likely to end up with a c-section anyways) based on how my body responded to labor last time. She believes that because my body didn't start picking up my contractions after I went off pitocin (because Natalie wasn't handling pitocin well) that my body may not labor well this time either. She does think we can wait and see if my body goes into labor on its own by my EDD and then, if not, schedule a c/s. Or I could plan to schedule a c-section up front (between 39 and 40 weeks). We have plenty of time to think about it though.

Week 8 -- 2 Months Completed!

2009-04-23T16:33:00.001-07:00

Wow...2 months already. This week I met with the OB coordinator at my doctor's office. She went over the insurance information, gave me a bunch of reading material on being pregnant (obviously not something I need), and went over the schedule of tests and appointments for the next 7 months. Then I had to give quite a bit of blood and a urine sample. I really dislike giving blood and four vials of it is a lot! My next appointment is with my doctor next Thursday when she'll do my first internal ultra sound.

I'm definitely starting to feel more pregnant now. Mostly I'm pretty bloated and moody (I'm sure Emile can attest to that one). Although my weight hasn't changed from before I got pregnant, it sure seems like my stomach is already sticking out further. Given the baby is the size of a piece of rice and under my pelvic bone, this belly is all related to bloat and my uterus growing. I'm guessing it also has something to do with the fact that I had a c/s previously and my ab muscles were cut apart so they pretty much have no strength to hold anything in. Plus, I've heard you start looking pregnant sooner with the second and subsequent babies.

So far I haven't really had any signs of morning sickness. Like with Natalie, I've really only had a few days were I felt a little queasy but nothing more than that. I hope that remains the case!

I did start doing prenatal pilates again this week. Unlike with Natalie, I'm also hoping to still run on the weekends until it's uncomfortable to do so. The OB coordinator said this fine to do and I did run this past weekend with no problems.

An ultrasound done at this stage should show a fluttering heartbeat. Elbows are beginning to form in the arms and fingers are starting to develop. The leg buds have begun to show feet with tiny notches for the toes. Our baby's face continues to change as the ears, eyes and the tip of the nose is appearing. The intestines are starting to form in the umbilical cord. Teeth are developing under the gums.

Week 7

2009-04-16T17:44:00.000-07:00

I'm 7 weeks pregnant today. There haven't been a lot of changes this week (as expected). I do feel more bloated, and I've become very emotional and moody (I swear I wasn't like this with Natalie). My abdominal muscles are still feeling achy but other than that, I can't really tell I'm pregnant (nor could I at this stage when I was pregnant with Natalie). It still doesn't feel that real to us but I'm sure it will kick into high gear after my first ultra sound in two weeks.

I've been slacking lately with working out (it's not easy with a 10.5 mo old; I can't imagine how I'm going to get in shape after baby #2). I'm hoping to still run on the weekends and start doing prenatal pilates again soon. Natalie and I do go for walks after work when the weather is nice.

Our baby is about 1/3 of an inch right now, the size of a grain of rice. Development of the arms and legs continue although the fingers and toes haven't yet formed. The brain is growing as well as the lenses of the eyes, nostrils, intestines, pancreas and bronchi.

Like last time, I've added a poll to the side of this blog for everyone to take a guess as to what gender Natalie's little sibling is going to be. We hope to find out around July.

Week 6

2009-04-09T17:00:00.000-07:00

My first belly photo! Although I'm back to my pre-Natalie weight, my abdominal muscles still aren't back in shape since having a c-section. So it goes! Although I'm still weeks away from showing, I have read that women typically start showing earlier with subsequent pregnancies. I started showing with Natalie at 15 weeks. We'll see if I show before that with this one.

I go into meet with the OB Coordinator at Blue Ridge OB/Gyn on April 20th. Unfortunately, this appointment is to just go over my history, sign some forms and for them to give me pamphlets, prenatal vitamins and answer questions. I think this appointment is unnecessary given that I've been pregnant before, already take prenatal vitamins because I'm still breastfeeding, I don't need a pamphlet and I don't have any questions. My first appointment with Dr. Anya is April 30th (Natalie will be 11 months old that day!) in which she'll do my first internal ultra sound to date the pregnancy. Emile will be going with me to that appointment.

At 6 weeks pregnant, our baby's heartbeat will have begun! The baby is now an embryo and is about 1/17 of an inch long. Growth will be very rapid this week. The umbilical cord is developing. Our baby's eyes and ears are beginning to form as well as an opening for the mouth. The heart has begun to pump blood and most of the other organs are well under construction. Buds form on the body that will become the arms and legs. --- Wow, it's starting to feel more real now!

We're having another baby!

2009-04-05T18:14:00.001-07:00

Wow! We have just entered the "2 under 2" parenting group! I'm pregnant! Natalie is going to be a big sister. I'm a bit in shock right now. We're very excited but didn't think I would get pregnant so fast given I am still breastfeeding Natalie. My OB, Dr. Anya, seemed pretty relaxed about the whole idea of me going off the mini-pill when Natalie was 9 mo. old. She thought it would take a few months before my cycles were regular and because I'm breastfeeding that more than likely I probably wouldn't get pregnant until closer to Natalie's 1st birthday when I plan to wean her. But apparently that's not the case -- I got pregnant the first month trying!

We had wanted our children to be close in age -- between 18 and 24 months apart. Looks like Natalie and our next little one will be 18 months apart. Right now, my due date is December 3, 2009 - day after my nephew, Hayden's, 5th birthday, but I think it will be pushed out a week after my first ultra-sound. I had been testing since cycle day 28. If I was back to my normal 28 day cycle, I should have gotten a positive test result much sooner than I did. Instead, I didn't get a positive until CD 38 which more than likely means my cycle was still irregular from breastfeeding and I probably didn't ovulate until CD 21 or so. Typical EDD (estimate due dates) are based on a regular 28 day cycle with ovulation occurring around day 14 or so. I'm expecting that the u/s will show the baby to be smaller than the calculated EDD would imply due to ovulating later (and thus, conceiving later). It doesn't look like I'll be getting in for my first u/s appointment until around 8-9 weeks. Things work a little different here at the NC office I go to than in NYC. Based on a December 3rd EDD, I am 5 weeks 3 days today.

So far my only "symptom" has been the achy abdominal feeling I had when I was pregnant with Natalie. And I also had implantation spotting around CD 35. I'm hopeful that I have a laid back pregnancy again like I did with Natalie, minus the itchy skin rash.

We told our parents, Kendra and Hayden over the webcam again. This time, we had Natalie put on a shirt that says "I'm going to be a Big Sister". I also told my brother over the phone (we need to get him a webcam). They were all pretty excited.

I decided to start a separate blog for my second pregnancy. Given that I don't yet want to tell everyone I'm pregnant (not until after the first trimester), I thought this would be a way to still post belly photos and update everyone on how I'm doing without putting it on Natalie's blog.