29 Weeks - GTT and Check Up

This week I had my 28 week GTT done (Glucose Tolerance Test), which involves 3 hours at the hospital. I am given a blood test, then have to drink a glucose drink, have another blood test an hour later, and then again another hour after that. I had to fast from 10pm the previous night, and by the end of the 3 hours, I thought I was either going to pass out or eat my own arm off!!!
I also had my check up with the midwives, who were concerned about my fundal height, which is the measurement between my pelvic bone and the top of my uterus. I started to panic when the midwife called in another midwife for a second opinion, and then she in turn called in a doctor for a final opinion. I ended up having a AFI scan, which is an ultrasound to measure my amniotic fluid index, just in case I was suffering from pre-eclampsia and was retaining too much fluid, and also had the baby's heart rate monitored. Bubs and I passed both tests, thankfully.
So, the outcome is I am back in a few days time to get the results of my GTT test, and to see a doctor. They think that there may be a few reasons for the large fundal height - I could have gestational diabetes, which causes the baby to be large; I could just have a large uterus due to my previous pregnancies; there could be something else wrong with the baby, causing it to be larger than normal; or I could just have a very large baby (fingers crossed!!!).
So, Tuesday was a bit of a horrible day, with a few tears, but I am more positive after reading up on the net about fundal height, gestational diabetes, etc. I have however decided to be prepared in case it is the worst case scenario, and for some reason I am admitted to hospital. I have washed all the baby clothes & cot sheets/blankets, and I have even started packing my suitcase for hospital. JUST IN CASE!
The cot was delivered last week, and I set it up with some help from the kids (hubby was off doing the Oxfam Trailwalker 100km walk), and I absolutely love it! It is set up next to our bed, and I find it extremely terrifying to look at it and imagine a baby sleeping in it - OH MY GOD!
After the upsetting appointment at the hospital, I decided that I would finish up work 3 weeks earlier than expected. I am just so exhausted and am really struggling with all the running around I am doing with school, kinder & taking hubby to & from work, which is the difficulty with being a one car family. I am really finding it difficult to be bothered, or even have the time to cook our dinners at night, and although I don't enjoy cooking, I feel guilty about it!
I am therefore finishing up at the end of April and taking 2 years maternity leave. Very scary, but I am soooooo looking forward to just being a Mum & housewife. Hopefully the finances won't be too stretched and I will be able to enjoy it. The kids are looking forward to me not going to work too. Not sure hubby is, as he is stressing about the xBox time he will miss out on now!!!

Week 28 - Panic Stations!!!

Oh My God - only about 10 weeks until this little person arrives, and I have started to panic! I am worried that I won't have everything ready in time.

I have been madly cleaning, but unfortunately get so tired so quickly and my ankle has been playing up, so it takes me days just to do the vacumming - very frustrating!!!!

Week 27 - I Have Exploded!

My Lord, you should see the size of me! It seems like this last week someone has cut open my belly & stuffed a watermelon in there! Talk about a growth spurt! Nothing is fitting me, I can hardly move without puffing and I am just enormous! My groin is now starting to ache ALL THE TIME, not just when I am sitting for extended periods. I don't just look overweight anymore, I definitely look pregnant! And of course, I love being pregnant - there is no better feeling in the world to feel the movement of your baby inside you!

I weighed myself today (which I am trying to avoid as the inevitable weight gain is depressing me), and I have put on 3.4kg in 2 weeks! ARRGGHHH!! I was horrified, but as hubby so kindly reminded me, this is the time in the pregnancy when the baby starts piling on it's weight (as do I!). I am pretty happy overall that I have only put on 6.6kg in total since conceiving - and I will try not to put on too much more (I say as I munch on a Tim Tam with my cup of tea!). So much for my goal of not gaining any weight at all!! It's so hard when all you want to do is stuff your face all day long!

Well I have been definitely "nesting" as in getting prepared for the baby, and my excitement is definitely growing (along with my belly). I have ordered a new 3 wheeler Bertini jogger pram, in the hope once I have my ankle surgery I will be able to walk every day like I did before my car accident. I have paid for and will have next week a second hand cot & matching wardrobe. I have been buying lots of boy's clothes (God help me if it turns out to be a girl!) and some new cot sheets, blankets, etc and a new bouncer, which is now sitting proudly in Paige's bedroom with a stuffed bunny in it!!! She says she is minding it til the baby comes.

Week 26 - Walking Like a Baby Hippo!

We are heading away for the Labour Day long weekend to our caravan and I am sooooo looking forward to a three day of relaxation and sunshine - cannot wait!

Week 26 today, and I cannot believe that I will have a baby in just 3 months time - very daunting, although exciting. We have 2 friends who we have just found out in the last couple of weeks are pregnant also and they are both due in September, so lots of babies on the way!!

Apparently the baby is now about 35cm long from head to toe and weighs about 950 grams with a good chance of survival should it arrive early. I am suffering from the dreaded sciatia (the shooting pain down my right buttock and leg), which I had when pregnant with Paige. It is terrible when for some reason I lie on my back or if I have been sitting for too long. I have also started weeing a lot more now, especially during the night when I can't get comfortable and the baby pushes up against my bladder. Ah, the joys! And, just walking from one room to the other has made me start to puff!!! I am unable to bend down now as my belly gets in the way and find I am starting to waddle when my broken ankle becomes sore. I honestly feel like a baby hippo!

Paige is giving the baby (well, my belly) daily kisses and cuddles. I can't wait to see how the kids are going to be with a baby. I know I will have to give them a few days off school and Kinder when I first get home from hospital as they will be so excited. My sister told me that when I was born (she was 4yo) she didn't want to go to Kinder as she wanted to stay home with Mum & the baby - very cute! Following is a pic of Paige with the chalkboard. Will get a recent photo of Callum & post shortly.

Week 25 - Feeling Great!

Had another checkup a the hospital this week & everything is going well. I have only gained 400g in the last month according to the scales there (yippee!). Paige and I listened to the baby's heartbeat, and everything checked out fine. I am going back in 4 weeks time to have my Glucose Tolerance Test and another check up. I will be then nearly 29 weeks! The time is really flying by, but probably so because I am feeling so well!

The one thing that is knocking me about it tiredness. If I don't get the right amount of sleep then I am absolutely ruined for the day and struggle to get through it. Otherwise, everything is fine, sore boobs and all.