30 weeks...and all's COOL!

I took the plunge earlier this week and changed OB/GYNs! This was hard for me. As I said in my earlier entry, I didn't want to switch to yet another OB/GYN this late in the game; but the more I thought about it, the more I realized it was something I needed to do. I mean this could be my last pregnancy...I'd like to look back with fond memories! ;) His name is Dr. Kuhl (pronounced, I kid you not, Dr. Cool). That's the real rason for the change, I just wanted to say, "I'm seeing Dr. Cool." He came highly recommended by my neighbor, Lisa (but my previous OB/GYN came highly recommended by several girlfriends, too). I met him yesterday for the first time. I can say after one 15 minute session, I feel like I already have more of a rapport with him than after two months with Dr. Jacobs. I guess it's personal preference. I'm a talker--relationship means a lot to me. If anything else, I've learned that about myself through this experience.

Here are the numbers from my 30-week appointment (which is confusing because I hit 31 weeks today--my appointments are on Fridays and my swap-over day is Saturday):

• Blood pressure: 98/64
• Weight gain: Just over 25 pounds so far
• Fundal height: 29 cm
• Baby Girl's heart rate: 163 bpm (he repeated several times, "strong heart beat")
• I guess my blood sugar is normal because they didn't say anything about my glucose test (I meant to ask).

We did talk about what I call my nesting-induced insomnia. I'm having problems getting back to sleep when I wake up in the middle of the night to change position or go to the bathroom. For about 10 days now, I've averaged between 5-6 broken hours a night (and I'm an 8 1/2 hours-a-night sort of gal). I fall asleep no problem--I'm so exhausted, then wake up at 2 or 3 o'clock with my mind racing. I lie in bed for awhile then decide I might as well get up and do something productive--like type on my web log or surf the net for nursery ideas and birth plans. ;) He suggested hot tea, a hot bath, exercise or, if all else fails, Benadryl--you've got to love such a universal drug. His take? It's been around for a long time, if there were going to be side-effects during pregnancy, they would've surfaced by now.

Baby Girl is a mover. I think she's much more "roley" than Nate--Nate kicked me (jab! jab!..."oooh!"). She gurgles around massaging every internal organ (then kicks me). It's about time to start counting this movement, I suppose. I was never very good at that with Nate.

I also mentioned my short stretch of moderate/severe indigestion last week. I think I actually caught this stomach bug that's going around here in SA. I had that in the first trimester, too--terrible stomach cramps that I attributed to pregnancy...until I took my temperature.

Nursery Status:
I knew it would be an undertaking to transform the craft/storage/miscellaneous room into a bonifide nursery. I mean this is where I stash the booty in my life that I neither want to deal with nor have proper storage for. That being said, I'm making slow progress. Jason put the shelves up over break and I've started purging. That's step one. However, it will be a continual growth process. I've decided on a nursery theme--it's mostly a color scheme: black furniture, white walls and pink accents (bedding, valances, baskets, wall art and even the pink shelf from IKEA). I think I labeled the over-all feel "shabby-Parisian-harlequin-chic." Step two, "check!" I picked out the bedding, too. Initially my mom was going to make the crib bedding, but I found a set on clearance for a lot less time (and probably less money) than my mom could have made it for. Plus, I couldn't find the right fabrics. Everything in the stores is pink and brown right now. Mom is going to add some frilly details like ribbons and bows to give it a less sterile feel. Crib bedding: step three complete. Jason primed the crib for it's coat of black paint today. We're holding off on the final coat of paint, however. Apparently, there will be a NO-VOC paint on the market by the end of the month (as opposed to the low-VOC paints out now). For a baby's crib, the paint master at Home Depot couldn't stress the benefits of waiting enough. OK, we'll wait.

As for my cravings? white starches again--cake, donuts or the delicious raspberry scones Jason and I shared last night on "date night;" hot tortillas with butter; cereal; fruit snacks; and cottage cheese with walnuts and tomotoes or strawberries also rank as one of my go-to snacks.

Pregnant During the Holidays...blessing or curse?!

So, I had the 24-week OB appointment on Tuesday the 18th (yes, I started this entry before the appointment but didn't get back to it until now). Remember we switched insurance (and therefore OB/GYNs) last month. This is only my second visit with Dr. Jacobs; we're still working on building a rapport, I guess. I was a little frustrated because she answered my 4 questions/concerns with one-word answers or just listened to me talk (in silent non-responses) until I eventually babbled something about what I think the problem is or what my course of action will probably be. Then she'd nod. Hmmmmm. I guess I am experienced, having had one baby and all...

She didn't tell me what the heartrate was, she just said, "strong heart beat." I should've asked, but I was distracted (and maybe she was, too). Jason wanted to meet her (since she's the doctor who will most-likely be bringing our daughter into this world), so we brought Nate to the appointment and made it a family event. He was pretty well-behaved (Nate, that is), but wanted to turn the table light on & off or hide in the dressing room most of the appointment--distracting.

The two things I took away from the appointment is that my next appointment will be longer--more bloodwork & tests AND I've gained 18 pounds. (I'm not obsessing about my weight gain, just keeping track.) That's a few pounds more than I'd like. I'm blaming it my Holiday baking craze for my cookie exchanges, luncheons and Christmas parties--almond-cornflake wreaths, peanut butter blossoms, fantasy fudge, magic bars and the various samples I took home from said parties. Yummy! This leads me to my question. Is it a blessing to be pre-pleasantly plump with Baby during the one-month open Holiday buffet? I think it makes popping that extra cookie easier ("I'm eating for two!"); but, on the other hand, it's harder to stay accountable ("Baby wants just one more cookie, what can it hurt?!") Hence the "few pounds extra."

I'm doing very well physically. I've had no joint pain or nerve pain...yet! I'd love to be doing a little more aerobically (I'm out of breath a little more quickly these days), but the yoga is still keeping me flexible and strong. I was having some intense round ligament pain (when the belly ligaments stretch to accommodate my growing uterus) for a few days, but that's subsided for the time being. She's starting to kick a lot more inside there. I love this phase. "Hey, Mommy! Here's another love tap to let you know I'm here!"

As for cravings--cookies (see above paragraph..."Betcha can't eat just one!"), pickles, lemonade, cereal, crisp apples, crunchy baby carrots, cookies, ice cold water (I am always thirsty), and cookies.

That's life at the 24-week mark (give or take a few days).