Bryson's Journal

2007- Hey, this is my second pregnancy... my son is 9 1/2 years old now. How time flies, he still feels like my little baby. Having him was the greatest joy and I am so excited to be able to do the baby thing all over again. My husband and I just got married in Sept. I stopped taking the pill in August thinking it would take us a while to get pregnant since I had been on the pill so many years (the Dr said it could take up to a year) but nope, the way we figure it, we got pregnant on our honeymoon! He was away at some Navy training when I found out so I had to wait a whole week until he got home to tell him. I didn't want to tell him on the phone.

My fears, we all worry about m/c, but at 10 weeks now, that fear is subsiding a little bit. My bigger concern is preterm labor. With my son, my water broke at 32 weeks. They held off my labor for 2 more weeks so his lungs could develop more, but he was still born 6 weeks early. He was very healthy for a premie baby and I was very fortunate. But I know the fact that I had him early, makes me likely to deliver this baby early as well. I just hope not too early.

I went to the Dr on Nov 7th but all they did was confirm my pregnancy. I don't go to my first real prenatal appt until Dec 11th, my 12th week. They said they like to wait until the 12th week because they can tell so much more by then. Plus they said if something is going to go wrong before then, there is not much they can do about it. So for now I just wait, but I know everything is ok now because my symptoms are so strong, but still that first ultrasound will be so comforting.

Week 11- Im thinking that I should update this weekly. I see a lot of women doing that. This way I can look back at it as sort of a journal. I feel ok this week. Still very tired though. Not as sick as last week... All I can think about is getting through this week and getting into my 12th week. I go for my first appt and scan next Tuesday, Dec 11th. I think Ill feel better after that. I really want to know the baby is ok. Having to wait so long has been torture. I decided yesterday that I am beginning to show a bit. No one can tell through my clothes, but I can tell my jeans are tighter and I cant suck in my stomach anymore!

Week 12- We went yesterday for my first prenantal appt. It was a long visit and they drew lots of blood. Now I hope that all the results from everything come back okay. I need to worry less. I got very frusterated when we went for the nuchal scan. They said the baby was measuring at only about 11 weeks so they said that I might have to come back and redo the scan. However, the midwife said I was measuring right on at 12 weeks. My due date wasnt changed, so Im guess its just a small baby... getting to redo the scan isnt all bad, I mean I get to see the baby again but I would also have to redo the blood work eeekkk. I am still not even sure that a nuchal scan is necessary for me so I may not redo it anyway. We will see. Anyway, Im posting the babys first pic. The heartbeat was 173! WOW I think its a girl!! It was so good to see the baby bouncing all around being healthy! I was told I should keep seeing midwives because apparently they do all the vaginal births. I am free to see who ever I want for prenatal care, but a midwofe will deliver me unless I have to have a c-section. Thats crazy. I hate not knowing who will deliver me. I will have to get to know them all I guess.

Week 13- Ok well I waited until today to post my update for this week because I thought it would be best to see if I could get all the lab results back first. Well I did get most back finally and they are all fine. The only thing is apparently my Drs office messed up the Nuchal test. They sent me back to the specialist today to redo the scan but never told me why. The specialist couldnt explain it either so they told me they could either redo everything from scratch or I could just forego the test completely. In the end I opted to forego the test. I hope I made the right decision but she said it wasnt really needed and it had gotten way too stressful for me. I was bawling in their office because the nurse for my midwife wouldnt talk to me and give me a stright answer. At least the specialist was willing to sit and explain things. She said that everything from my ultrasound looked great, the baby appeared to be fine so she said if doing the nuchal test was getting this stressful, then it wasnt worth it. I hear terrible stories of false positives anyway so I said forget it! The nuchal measurements they took last time she said were way within range anyway. It was just the bloodwork that got messed up and the bloodwork and scan have to be done together so redo both or none apparently. It totally SUCKS that I did that bloodwork for nothing last week. Whew, ok I vented. Im just so mad at my Drs office. I would have loved to have gotten another ultrasound, but nothing was worth all that stress and foolishness. At least I got the one from last week. Yeah =) Im feeling better this week. Still queasy at times but ok... I just love this little baby so much! I cant wait for it to be born so I can look after it myself and hold it and know that it is ok at all times. Thats about all for this week. Im just feeling very emotional.

Week 13 update- I just heard from the midwives nurse finally... apparently there was a big confusion. Nothing was wasted. They have everything they need, bloodwork, scan measurements everything. They will go on and run it. I will have to have blood redrawn though at 16 weeks still though. I may still decline that. We will see. At least everything isnt terribly wasted like I thought earlier. Ughhhh

Week 16- I didnt update for a while because there just wasnt much to report. I think this is the calm part of pregnancy which is good. I feel good, energy back a bit, etc. Starting to show now for sure. I wear all maternity pants. Some maternity tops, but my normal tops still fit and actually they show off my bump better. I went back to the Dr today. I saw the Dr not the midwife and I really like her better, shame she can't deliver me. They said the Drs only do C-Sections. Shame, oh well. I still scheduled my next appt with her anyway. I know I need to meet more midwives since they will deliver me, but I prefer to see Dr Kidd and I wanted Dr Kidd to be there for the BIG ultrasound next time. next appt is Feb 5th! Thats the big one! I get to find out boy or girl! I really have decided its a girl, but now I just dont know. Im second guessing myself. The heartrate is lower 140's-150's so it could be either one at this point. Still probably a girl though. We will see. I did not do more blood work... I turned it down, I still dont even know what it was for exactly. The nuchal scan said my chances for downs were 1:10,000 so you cant get better than that. This baby is perfect and thats all there is to it. The scan next time will show more anyway. Now just waiting to feel some movement...

Week 17- So I think Ive felt the baby move a couple of times now. Im not completely sure, but I think it was the baby. It doesnt feel like flutters really, but dont know what else it could be. I cant wait for it to get stronger. I went shopping this weekend and bought a few little things for the baby! Mostly yellow and green of course... but I did get 2 little pink outfits, so I probably jinxed it now. LOL, if I have a boy I will give them to someone that is having a girl. Im just so excited! I was thinking this morning though, if I were to have this baby at the same time I had my son, I would be halfway though my pregnancy already. I hope not though, I want so badly to carry this baby full term and go into labor naturally. This is probably my last time being pregnant so I want to just enjoy it. We have tentatively decided on names... I know I will likely change my mind, I changed my mind on my sons name again and again right up until like a week before he was born. But, we are thinking Kylie Grace for a girl and Bryson Jacob for a boy. I cant wait to find out he or she so the real shopping can begin! LOL.

Week 18- Well I still think I have felt the baby move a few times, I dont think it was gas or anything, but its nothing regular or strong yet. The only thing new these days is hip pain!! My lower back and tailbone hurt so bad these days, Im hobbling about. I didnt have this with Brenton, this is new to me. Ive just been using a combo of ice and heat at night. Thats about all that I have to report this week. My belly is growing, I put a pic up, but I dont feel very preg yet. I know it will come though. I cant wait 2 more weeks until the big US!!!

Week 20- Had the big ultrasound and as you can see.... ITS A BOY!!!! I just about fell off the table! I just knew it was a girl! But, there was no doubt about it, those were some definate boy parts! Everything looked ok, but they said he has a bright spot in his intestines. They said it could be as simple as merconium developing in them already, but they said they want a perinatologist to check it out anyway. She said it was probably nothing and would probably just go away but it was worth checking on. She said I had to go see a perinatologist anyway since I was at risk for pre term delivery. I dont know. Im trying not to be worried. Everything else looked great! His heart, brain, lungs, spine, everything else looked great so I know hes fine in my head. Still in my heart I want to her the perinatologist say everything with the intestines is fine. Then I can relax. I fell so in love with him, I could see his face perfectly on the scan. I just want him to be perfectly healthy!!! Im so excited, a little boy!!!!

Week 20 update- WHEW just got back from the perinatologist. He said the baby looks fine. He said he could see the bright spot they were talking about, but he said it was not really that bright. He didnt think any further testing was necessary. He said it was just an artifact of something the baby swallowed. So no more worrying! Im having a beautiful healthy baby BOY!!!!

Week 21- Just a quick update... Russ felt the baby kick for the first time last night!!! How exciting, now he believes me that theres really a baby in there. LOL

Week 25- Had my Drs appt yesterday. I saw a new midwife but I really liked her. Maybe I will get lucky and she will do the delivery. I mentioned the Braxton Hicks contractions that I have been having to her and she actually got concerned. Think they are monitoring me closer now I have to go back next week and the week after. Also had the dreaded glucose test yesterday, hope that comes back negative. Baby is doing great! Growing bigger all the time! The bright spot in his bowel has completely disappeared so thats wonderful! Hes kicking so much now and moving all around. During the u/s yesterday he kept jumping making it hard for her to take measurements, LOL he really was just slinging himself around in there though. I can see my tummy bounce when he kicks now. Ive got his bed, his travel system and his swing. I cant wait to paint his room and get it all set up for him. Im getting so anxious for him to be here. I also had the hospital tour last night and the hospital looks fine so thats good.

Week 27- Time for an update. The last 2 weeks has been very stressful. I failed my glucose test so they made me do the 3 hour test. WORST day of my life. It was horrible. Great failed that too, so now Im anemic and diabetic. (oh yeah and they put me on complete pelvic reat, fun) This pregnancy has lost all its fun unfortnately. At least Im into the final stretch. I just want Bryson to be healthy. I cant wait for him to be born now so I can just hold him and know that this was all worth it. I go back to the perinatologist tomorrow. They will check on him, measure my cervix and get me going with monitoring my diabetes. Im going to try to cut back at work to part time so I can focus on my health and Bryson's health a little bit more. Nothing is more important to me at this moment than having him born completely healthy.

Week 29- I needed to update, I need to add pics too but havent had time. Things are looking better. My GD diabetes is causing me no problems at all! I can really eat whatever I want which is making me feel better. Hopefully things stay that way. Not starving has made me feel better though. Also I havent had to go to the Dr since last Monday which has helped me relax. I go back Friday but I dont think anything bad will happen (knock on wood). So for this week no news is good news. Im feeling happier and relaxed and Im eating foods that I like!! Im only 3 weeks away from when my water broke with Brenton, thats so crazy to me!! I cant imagine being that far along! But I dont think this baby is going anywhere anytime soon. He seems cozy where he is at! Im getting so excited for him though. Ive gained about 10 lbs now, Im hoping that they will say he is gaining too at my appt on Friday. He was 1 lb 15oz last time. Ill update his weight after my appt on Friday. UPDATE- everything was great at the Drs for once!! YEAH Hes up to 2 lbs and 11 oz!! 36% percentile! Everything about him looks great. Still no signs of going into early labor either!

Week 32- Havent updated in a while. Everything is still going good. Still no signs of pre term labor. Yup hes in there for the long run I know it! He weighs 3 lbs and 13 oz!! SO hes getting big! So am I!! LOL Ive got his nursery all done except for a few small decorations I would still like to add. AT the last ultrasound he was sucking his little thumb it was so cute! Plus he had his eyes open and was looking around! Im getting so excited! I go back to the Dr in 2 weeks then after that I start going every week until I deliver.

Week 35- Everything is still good. I went to the Dr last week and the baby weighed 4 lbs and 12 oz so hes getting big! He scored an 8 out of an 8 on his biophysical so hes nice and healthy which is all that really matters. Unfortunately he had turned over though and was laying traverse. I go back this week to see if he has moved back into the correct position, if not I think they will schedule a C section. I have made my peace with whatever happens. I just want him born safely at this point. I will update after my appt. I had my shower on Saturday. It was pretty good. It was a fun time and Im very grateful for what everyone did. I didnt get hardly anything I had registered for... but I was able to use gift cards and exchange some things to get the rest of what I needed. I feel pretty ready now. His room is ready and his bag is packed. I should probably start packing mine pretty soon! About 4 more weeks to go though. I dont think anyone thinks I will have him early anymore... guess what happened with Brenton was just a fluke. Because of my GD they plan to have me deliver between 39 and 40 weeks.

Week 37- Everything is good this week, well other than the fact Im still preggo. Im so ready to have this baby. I went back to the peri on Monday, baby has moved back into the right position heads down so thats good. He weighed 6lbs and 7oz. OMG I hope he doesnt get too much bigger!!! Also today the midwife checked me and said Im 3cm and 50% thinned out. Oh I hope I go into labor soon. Im totally ready!!! It could be anytime! She said though that at 39 weeks if I hadnt gone into labor then they would set up an induction for my due date. So no matter what, within 2.5 weeks Ill be a momma again!!!! YEAH I cant wait to see him!!

Week 38- Well what a big week! At my Drs appt they set up my induction for 39 weeks on June 19th and she also stripped my membranes. BUT before the induction could happen, Saturday on a trip to Michaels with Brenton my water spontaneously broke! Bryson Garrett was born on June 14th at 10:17, 5lbs and 15.8ozs! Tiny Tiny, they were way off on the u/s. He is absolutely perfect in every way!!