My daughter and my belly at 21 weeks!

My belly @ 22 wks. (also in the process of trying on a new bathing suit...

23 weeks

Thursday, May 10th: My name is Meagan. I'm 22. I've been married for 4 years (crazy...). Our daughter was born on February 15th, ten months after we got married. We're now expecting our second child - a boy. We moved in Feb of this year so far from everything I've known. My mom lives two counties away and I have no friends here. I don't go anywhere. No one visits. I literally have no one to talk to besides my daughter. I stay at home while my husband works for the apartment complex that we live at (they "give" us the apartment). But we've moved into a two bedroom w/a den so we're paying for it now. I shouldn't be staying at home because we're poor as shit (which is why there's no pictures) - but I don't trust babysitters. Both me any my husband have been abused by previous sitters. P.S. The people here are assholes for the most part.

It's not my second pregnancy, though. I lost the last pregnancy this past Halloween, just two months before we got pregnant again. The due date for the little one was May 24th and I'm not having an easy time with it.

This pregnancy has been so scary. At first just because we could barely afford to eat. But we're getting some help now. And then I started bleeding when I was 14 weeks along. I went to the hospital because I started bleeding. Just a day after a sonogram was done w/a different doc. I was switching OBs because she delivered at a hospital further away. They got a heartbeat and then sent me down for a sonogram. I waited for about 5 hours before I got word of whether or not he was okay. (The ER was really busy and I ended up waiting in the hall.) He was alright. They told me that I had a tear near the placenta and I was put on bedrest.

Two days later I was back in the ER but with more blood than last time. The same ER doctor gave me an internal exam and told me that my cervix was slightly open and that there was more clotting than "they like". He told me I was probably going to miscarry. Another ultrasound was done and when the results came back they told me he was fine. I was constantly spotting for the next two weeks. I even had a couple bleeding epsiodes, but since they told me there was nothing they could do until I was 20 weeks, I stayed home.

As I was at an appointment at the prenatal clinic (at the hospital), I was being sent down to get some bloodwork done. I was standing in the elevator when I felt a gush. I thought I was pissing myself at first. I kept squeezing though, but it wasn't stopping. I looked down and my jeans were wet. I went back to the nurse, still leaking, and she told me to go to the ER. I walked there, leaking, and got back there pretty quickly. When I took my pants off, it was "just" blood. Seeing a doctor wasn't easy because it was apparantly shift change and the doc didn't want to see anymore people. Ass.. I was kinda glad though when I saw the same Dr. from before. Another ultrasound was done. But this time I got to see him. She even printed up a couple pics for me, even though she could have gotten in trouble... thank you! It was the same problem, but they were going to admit me (even talk of transfer to another hospital).

I didn't get transferred and was released the next day because the bleeding had slowed down. Before I went home though I was sent to get some $3,000 blood work done to try to find the cause of the bleeding. I had to switch OBs again a few weeks after I was discharged due to insurance reasons. The OB I have now took me off of bedrest. He said that if anything were to happen, it would have by now. Which isn't very reassuring (but it still is in a way). I got the results of my test last week and they told me I have a protein s deficiency. I don't really know what it is...but it's what's causing me to bleed. I have to see a perinatologist on the 16th.

Everyday I hope and pray that he makes it to at least 36 weeks.

And that's what's been going on so far. Sorry it was so long. If you read it all, thank you.

"Momma, I'm scared of the spider."

There's my Dia monster!

Friday, May 11:Hey, where and how are you guys putting in backgrounds?

This morning I woke up to the biggest mess ever! A big ole Pringle mess all over the floor by the computer! Yes, my 3 year old knows how to turn on the computer, get on the internet, and find one of her websites...Scary... I also discovered later on while I was pulling out the garbage bag from the bin that she had still continued to use the bin from the last time. This terrible smell came up and punched me in the face! It's a good thing she's so darn cute! That's why she's my Bucket...

I also found out today that I don't need to be testing my blood sugar that often. I was testing before and after each meal (like I did with Dia). Until I tried to get a refill and they wouldn't because they needed prior authorization. I don't have gestational diabetes yet but we're kinda acting like I do. It sucks. The diet sucks mostly. I can handle everything else except the diet.

Sunday, May 13: Happy Mother's Day to all! My baby boy's started moving around so much lately. He actually started moving at around 14 or 15 weeks. It started off feeling like someone was taking a pencil tip and lightly tracing it over my insides. At first I wouldn't him every day, but it surprisingly didn't worry me that much because I knew this was normal. The movements gradually got stronger and more frequent over the weeks and now I can see him move - when I can catch it. I've even felt him hiccuping last night! My husband still hasn't really been able to feel him yet though. :sad face: But that's because every time he puts his hand on my belly - he'll stop moving! He's probably going to be just a fiesty as Dia. Oh no! I hope I'll have the energy! :laughs:

We couldn't really do anything for this Mother's Day. But I got to sleep in (sort of), I didn't have to clean, I didn't do anything. Which is a good enough present.

Tuesday, May 15: I finally got a digital camera. It's one of those tiny ass keychain ones. The quality is crappy, I can't see the pics until after they're downloaded and the view finder's really weird...bu tit was only ten dollars so....I figured it'd be cheaper than buying film and disposable ones. Yay! I'm so excited!

Wednesday, May 16: I saw the perinatologist....for like 3 seconds....I didn't even get a chance to ask any questions... But I got another sonogram and more pics! Yay! The sonographer told me that there was blood in my amniotic fluid, which is probably from the bleeding...He weighs 14 oz. Um...and it's definitely a boy. I took a few pics with my garbage camera. I'm going to ask my mom to scan em for me and eventually I'll get em up.Weds. night Thurs morn: Dammit! I started bleeding again! Only (ok this may be gross) I passed a 5" long blood clot.It scared the crap out of me last night too. I couldn't go back to sleep. I started cramping and having contractions but they weren't regular. I though it might've also been a part of the placenta or something. So needless to say I had a nightmare after. I showed it to a nurse at the prenatal clinic at my appointment this morning and she was just like "Oh, it's just a blood clot..." Huh? I'm no doctor but to me a 5" blood clot isn't something you just shrug off. You're not supposed to bleed during pregnancy, let alone pass something like that! I want to change OBs so bad, but my health insurance isn't widely accepted...I'm so sick of being treated like crap or like I'm ignorant just because I'm on Medicaid. Oh, and I don't get to find out how we're going to treat this and whether or not I actually do have a protein s deficiency. Apparently it only occurs in like 1 in every 20,000 pregnancies...

May 24th: Well today was my estimated due date for the miscarriage. I named the baby Riley (because I didn't know the gender). I cried...a lot... But, everything happens for a reason, right?

Wednesday, May 30th: This past weekend my husband played a show out in Oberlin. I had a lot of fun. Only thing was, all my old friends kept saying "You're pregnant again?" or "You're having another?" It was so condescending. I got so fed up with it...I was about to hit someone. But my next appointment is tomorrow. I'm so nervous. I'm hoping to finally find out what's going on and how we're going to treat this. I hope I haven't gained any weight. Last time my OB told me I was gaining too much. Ugh...I need to update my blood sugar log...I haven't recorded any of them for about a week.

Saturday, July 14th: Well, I met up with my perinatologist again. I'll continue taking baby aspirin to treat the protein S, and they'll test again for it once I have the baby. Protein levels go down anyways when you're pregnant... I passed my glucose tolerance test..But almost all of my fastings have been above 90 these past couple weeks. Not good...I'll probably have to take another test... We're still broke as hell and it occasionally drives me to tears...But I've had some wonderful mamas here to help me through them. Thank you! He's growing bigger and stronger. I sometimes get concerned with his movements though. He's not terribly active the way Dia was. He does a lot of rolling. Dia kicked mostly. But this may just be his personality. His hiccups still aren't enough to make my belly jump the way it did w/Dia either. But they're getting there... Dan's finally been able to feel him move. He was amazed by it. He said it felt like he was trying to escape. He's been "singing" to him, and so has Dia. It's soo cute! It makes me soo happy to see them do that. I've got a video that I'll try to embed here. It doesn't show a whole lot because the video's washed out. He's doing a lot of rolling that you can't really see. I also had to stop and start again often because he'd go inactive for a minute...But here it is..

A 4D (gratis) It looks like garbage but it's taken w/the camera and it was also a little early to do so (this is at 21 week) He also wouldn't sit still. He's got his finger up his nose.

This one is REAL hard to see. But he's got his finger up his nose.

Hee hee..There he is sucking his thumb

August, 22: Man, oh man...Lots of stuff has been going on.. I had my baby shower, but no one came (except my mom, my SIL and her husband and kids, and a friend of mine). I also wasn't able to control my blood sugars with diet and exercise. My blood sugars went as high as 444 and my fastings were typically in the 170s. My OB, Dr. Funk, sent me to see my perinatologist on the 6th. I get there and the do another sonogram. I've got pics which I'll post in a second. He was measuring at 33 weeks (2 weeks ahead) and there's extra fluid (which is probably why I've had such trouble capturing him on camera moving). And I guess my due date is actually on October 3rd. And then I have a consult with my perinatologist. He offered oral meds, but oral medications are too new (I don't want to risk any possible harm to my baby) and I opted for insulin injections. They put me in a room, I talk to a nurse (about nothing really), and then the perinatologist tells me that he doesn't think Akron Hospital accepts my insurance...so I have to switch doctors. I get set up w/a new one in Cleveland (although I go an entire week w/o seeing anyone because the stupid gestational diabetic clinic is only open on Monday mornings). It took about 2 hours for me to see anyone...But when my new OB came in, he looked at my log and told me that I was going to be admitted to the hospital to get my blood sugars under control and that may take a few days... When I tried to fill the prescription for insulin they gave me, I was told that my insurance doesn't cover the brand...It took a couple days and a lot of calling around, but the doctor switched the script to the brand that Wellcare does cover. And then two days later I dropped one of them on the floor and it broke open. Luckily, Wellcare covered a replacement. But I found out that my friend killed himself yesterday. I'm so sad. And very mad...It was such a selfish reason and now his kids will only have pictures to remember Daddy by. RIP Felix.

But here's the 3D pics I got at my last sonogram. He looks like Daddy and Dia. I can't wait to meet him. I'm getting so anxious. I guess though that the clinic I go to now likes to induce gestational diabetics 2 weeks before their due date. So I'll probably be having him on the 19th! I can't wait. I'm extremely uncomfortable...

I had to make this and the next one small because they're blurry (I don't have a scanner)

the stuff you see around his face is the cord (which kinda scares me) and the placenta and stuff...

Other symptoms I've had

Nausea's just started again

2-4 am bathroom trips (I thought that was supposed to stop in the 2nd trimester?)

braxton-hicks contractions (since about 14/15 weeks)

panic attacks (I think this is the shortness of breath they talk about)

Pregnancy Survey
About You
Name?:	Meagan
Age?:	22
Height?:	5'2''
Pre-pregnancy weight?:	123
About The Father
Name?:	Dan
Age?:	29
Height?:	5'10
Are you still together?:	Yup yup!
About Your Pregnancy
Is this your first pregnancy?:	Nope...number four (but only one live)
When did you find out you were pregnant?:	January 29, 2007
Was it planned?:	Yeah...kinda
What was your first reaction?:	Extatic! Scared too w/my history
Who was with you when you found out?:	My husband
Who was the first person you told?:	My mom
How did your parents react?:	Not too happy or not too surprised (considering I was pregnant a couple months before)
How far along are you?:	Right now, I'm ALMOST to my 21st week!
What was your first symptom?:	My period was a day late.
What is your due date?:	September 25, 2007
Do you know the sex of the baby?:	Yup!
If so, what is it?:	It's a BOY!
Have you picked out names?:	We've narrowed it down to 2. It was 1, but we found another we liked!
If so, what are they?:	Dillinger or Killian
How much weight have you gained?:	So far 20 lbs
Do you have stretch marks?:	Yup. A bunch from my pregnancy with Dia...I gained like 50 lbs w/her
Have you felt the baby move?:	Yeah! I'm so amazed by it...
Have you heard the heartbeat?:	Sure have...
About the birth
Will you keep the baby?:	Duh!
Home or hospital birth?:	Hospital - I've got a bleeding disorder
Natural or medicated birth?:	I'd LIKE to try natural. I slept through labor with my daughter.
Who will be in the delivery room with you?:	My husband, mother, step-father, and sister.
Will you breastfeed?:	Yes
Do you think you'll need a c-section?:	I'm hoping not, but it doesn't really matter as long as I have him.
Will you cry when you hold the baby for the first time?:	Definately
What's the first thing you might say to him/her?:	I've waited so long to meet you...
Would you let someone videotape the birth?:	Yeah.
Are you excited about the birth, or scared?:	Excited
Take this survey |

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