hoosiermommy
	Age: 38 Country: US Province/region: Indiana City: Indianapolis Partner: husband of two happy years Children: Yes, 2 Pregnant: Not anymore Occupation: freelance writer
	Online: 5 hours ago. Last updated: 6 days ago. Member since: 244 days
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I'm thrilled to be becoming a first-time mom at age 38!

Congrats and best wishes to all the other expectant mommies who are growing a little one inside, and good luck to those who hope to be soon!




Jan. 31, 2008

I have to say, this pregnancy is turning out to be much more eventful than I could have imagined! I figured there might be a few hiccups along the way because I am an older first-time mom, but it seems like everytime I go to the doctor, there's something new to worry about!

My husband and I found out I was pregnant Aug. 13, 2007. I don't think anything before or since has compared to the feeling I got when we had our very first ultrasound and saw that little 1/2 inch blob inside me with the heart beat fluttering away.

In my first trimester, I had a UTI, a high thyroid level and got stung by a bee all the same week. After seeing an endocrinologist and having some further blood work, they determined my thyroid level had corrected itself and was fine. Then came a high nuchal fold measurement during my first-trimester screening. I was told our odds of Down Syndrome are 1 in 10 and trisomy odds are 1 in 200. We opted not to do the amnio or CVS because we knew we wouldn't terminate the pregnancy no matter what, and I was scared to death of both procedures! Fortunately, all of the baby's measurements have been spot on ever since. All the 20-week ultrasound measurements were right on target and there were no soft markers for Downs or any other problems, which was hugely reassuring.

Perhaps my biggest concern has been my cervix. I had a LEEP procedure done in my early 20s, so my OB's been monitoring my cervical length all along with transvaginal ultrasounds every two weeks or so. All looked good - my cervix length was 4.9 cm at my 20 week scan, but then had thinned down to 2.4 cm at 25 weeks, which earned me 24 hours in the hospital for monitoring. There, they discovered I was also having contractions, and had no idea! After a fitful evening on IV fluids, my cervix measured 3.8 the next morning and I got to go home the next day to strict bed rest.

One week later, my cervix seemed to be holding steady at 3.9 cm and I was upgraded to restricted activity, but yesterday, it was down to 2.7 again and I was having more contractions. So it was back to the hospital for more monitoring. Fortunately, I wasn't admitted this time, just monitored in triage for about six hours and got a shot of terbutaline that seemed to calm down my "irritable uterus!" Also found out I failed my initial glucola test on Monday, so now I'll have to take the 3-hour test to determine if I have gestational diabetes, along with weekly doctor visits and more cervical length checks.

So here I am, back home on bed rest again! The good news is that the baby looks great, measuring 3 pounds, 1 oz. yesterday and moving around like crazy. I want to do everything I can to assure this little one enters the world in as safe and healthy a way as possible. It's just frustrating that my body doesn't seem to want to cooperate with me very much...

We don't know if we're having a boy or girl, although it's been tempting to find out, and the thought of meeting our new little son or daughter for the first time is what's keeping me going through it all.




My belly at 12 1/2 weeks!





the bump at 15 1/2 weeks!




The bump - 19 and a half weeks! Halfway there!!


nearly 24 weeks...

Feb. 2, 2008
Thought for sure I was headed to the hospital again last night! The contractions started up again around dinnertime and I counted 4 or 5 within an hour. Called my OB office and the doctor on call called in a prescription for terbutaline, since it seemed to work for me at the hospital the other day. My wonderful husband ran out to pick it up and I took one immediately. A few hours later, I was super jittery and my heart was racing, but no more contractions. Yay! I'm a little concerned about some of the stuff I've read online about terbutaline, so I think I'm going to just hold off and take it only if I need it. Haven't had any more contractions since last night, so hopefully it won't be something I'll have to take constantly.

Monday morning is my 3-hour fasting glucose test, another ultrasound to check my cervix and then a meeting with the doctor. I'm glad they're monitoring me so closely, but at the same time, I feel like I just can't relax and am on the verge of panicking at any moment at the thought of going into full labor! "Thumper" continues to kick and move, though, which always makes me feel a whole lot better. If I can just get through another 6 to 8 weeks, I feel like the baby should be in really good shape development-wise.

Being on bed rest has thrown a wrench into my nursery preparations, but hubby and I just ordered our crib and dresser/changing table online, which should be here in a week! My husband is Irish, so we're doing an Irish countryside theme with little lambs and bunnies on green backgrounds. I can't wait to start getting things ready, that should make all this seem much more real!


Feb. 4, 2008

Just back from my 3-hour glucose test. It really wasn't as bad as I expected - I got the fruit punch flavored drink and it actually seemed to go down easier this time than last even though it's twice the amount of sugar! Maybe putting in a cup instead of trying to drink it out of the bottle made the difference... the lab technician who drew my blood was VERY good, she did a great job, it was quick and nearly painless. Still, I was starting to feel like a human pincushion after four sticks! I didn't have any nausea or any problems until about 30 minutes following my last blood draw. We were waiting to see the OB and all of sudden I started feeling very warm. I got shaky and sweaty and had to lay down on the examining table, but was much better after I ate some nuts and cheese crackers and drank some cold water. The doctor said it was just the drop in my blood sugar after the test.

My cervix measures 2.4 cm now, down about 3 mm from last week. I'll be on bed rest until 36 weeks. Six more weeks seems like a long time, but it does help to have a goal date in mind. I'll also be getting the two Celestone steroid shots next week to help mature the baby's lungs just in case and am instructed to keeping taking the Terbutaline as needed for any contractions. Just relieved that the 3-hour glucose test is over, my cervix seems to be holding and today's exams are over! Now it's time to nap!


Feb. 5, 2008

Got a call last night that my 3-hour glucose results were fine. I was really surprised they called so quickly, was expecting to wait a few days to hear. Finally, one less thing to worry about!

Things I wish someone had clued me in on and prepared me for before I got pregnant:

1) You get to skip 9 months worth of periods, but you have discharge. LOTS of discharge. Like you feel like you're leaking all the time. NOT pleasant. I'm keeping Carefree pantiliners in business.

2) You will have to get over any needle phobia you might be harboring in a big hurry. I used to be the biggest wimp in the world when it came to blood work; now I've lost count of how many times I've been stuck, poked or prodded in the past eight months or so. I've become a human pincushion! I've started automatically rolling up my sleeve anytime I go to see the doctor.

3) If this if your first pregnancy, there will be two or three friends in your circle who will immediately turn into complete know-it-alls and constantly say things like "oh, you just wait..."

4) When the baby starts getting bigger, it can settle over toward one side of your belly or the other and make you look like a lopsided freak!

5) You get the best boobs of your entire life, but chances are no one will notice because they'll be so focused on your tummy! OK, maybe your husband will notice... although it may only be to point out how veiny they've suddenly become. And not only do your boobs get bigger, so do your nipples. One friend of mine said hers got to the point they looked like two Archway oatmeal cookies.

6) All the things you can't eat! I knew I'd have to cut out beer and wine, but I sooooo miss soft cheese and lunchmeat! (Do Greek women REALLY not eat any feta cheese during their entire pregnancies?? Come on!) My first nice post-pregnancy meal is going to be a big medium-rare steak with tons of bleu cheese crumbles and a bottle of cabernet. My mouth is already watering thinking about it...

7) Bed rest SUCKS after the first three days. And when your husband steps up to the plate and pitches in and help, you won't be grateful - you'll be resentful because he doesn't wash the dishes the way YOU do it and puts the cheese slices on the wrong shelf in the refrigerator. Then you'll realize he's doing all this without any hope of getting sex afterward, merely out of the kindness of his heart, and you'll feel like a big whiny bitch.

8) That cervical length can go up and down like an elevator. Mine's been everywhere from 4.9 cm to 2.4 cm at different points. Also, that your cervix can start thinning without dilating, and vice versa. I had no idea. I thought it just went away when the baby was ready to come out and that was that. Who knew there were so many intricacies?

9) Trying to get your nursery ready can be a completely overwhelming experience. I had a ten-minute window from the time I set foot in Babies R Us and the time my eyes would totally glaze over, I'd start sweating and have to leave. Maybe it's not such a bad thing that I ended up having to rely on friends to help me do my registry online after all...

10) That it is physically possible to have to pee every 10 minutes for a solid hour and a half.


Feb. 11, 2008

Just home from my latest doctor's appointment and was relieved to get a good report! My cervix is slightly longer (between 2.7-3.0 cm as opposed to 2.4 cm last week!) and baby's still measuring a little ahead of schedule. The head is measuring several weeks ahead of schedule, which I'm interpreting to mean either our baby's got a huge brain and going to be very smart, or it's going to be that much harder to squeeze out through my pelvis when the time comes! Baby weighs 3 lb. and 7 oz., heartbeat was 150, and all looks well. We can even see more of the face on the regular ultrasound now - it's so amazing to get a sneak peek at those adorable little eyes, ears and lips!!!

Had the first of my two Celestone corticosteroid shots today, and that sucker HURT. I've been so proud of myself for steeling through all the blood draws, terb shots and an IV, but man, this steroid shot started stinging like crazy as soon as the needle went in and my butt is still sore! NOT looking forward to having to get another one tomorrow, but then I can rest assured that the baby's lungs have gotten a good jump start in the event of an early delivery.

Also had the fetal fibronectin swab test today to see if we can get any prediction of how soon labor might actually occur, but the doctor says a negative result only guarantees a few days of breathing room. Should get the results later today. In any event, the bed rest continues...

Feb. 12, 2008

Got my second (and final, thank God!) Celestone shot today. It was easier than yesterday's in that it seemed to be quicker, but worse because I already knew beforehand how much it was going to hurt! I had some weird seriously flushed cheeks and jitters this morning and I wondered if it was perhaps a delayed reaction to yesterday's injection, but have since decided to chalk it up to the real-deal non-decaf cup of coffee I drank this morning (first one I've had in ages!!!)

Also got my fetal fibronectin results back - negativo! From what I'm reading online, it sounds like a negative result buys me a week or two of breathing room in knowing I most likely won't go into labor within that time frame, but my doctor says it's really only more like several days. ?!?!!?

the belly at 28-29-ish weeks!

Feb. 19, 2008

Just got home from another fun-filled afternoon at the hospital. My cervix shortened again this morning, down to 2.3 cm with a little bit of internal funneling, which alarmed the doctor enough to order me back over to triage for my third visit. I spent five hours on the monitors, but fortunately, didn't register a single contraction all afternoon. My latest fetal fibronectin test also came back negative, good news. "Squirmy" got a major case of the hiccups (as he/she has been doing about once a day for the past week) while on the monitor, which sounded hilarious! Poor dear!

With no major drama happening, I was released to come home, but am now instructed to REALLY up the ante on my bed rest vigilance. I thought I'd been doing as well as I possibly could with it lately, but now have to be super careful about keeping any kind of pressure off my cervix - lying down instead of sitting up, keeping my feet elevated, etc. I've really been having a hard week mentally, and this doesn't do anything to improve my mood. But, I am trying to look on the positive side by reminding myself that the baby's doing well, it won't be much longer, and at least I'm able to be at home and not in the hospital hooked up to an IV and a bunch of medication.

I'm happy that I've only gained 22 pounds so far, but after six weeks of resting, I can feel my muscle tone turning to complete mush. Even being on feet for a few minutes now gets me winded. My daily schedule goes something like this - wake up about 8:30 or 9 a.m., have some breakfast, put on some normal clothes, get my two bed rest stations set up with laptop computer, books, crocheting and remote control. Lunch around 1 p.m., nap around 3 p.m., dinner around 7 p.m., bath and then reading before bedtime at 11 p.m. I have an entire schedule of daytime tv viewiing mapped out in my head, and it scares me. And I can pretty much sleep on command; I figure I'm already in bed - why not!

While I definitely hope to keep my little one baking for another month or so, I am really starting to look forward to getting the pregnancy part over with and all the ongoing worry it's entailed for me... every week feels like a huge accomplishment at this point. Doc will check my cervix again on Monday and do another fetal fibronectin test then. Sadly, my poor hubby's the only one who's NOT getting all up in my vajayjay lately!

I've held up with a roller coaster cervix for six weeks now and I'm still going strong, hopefully I can get through a few more.


Feb. 25, 2008

FINALLY, an uneventful OB visit (hope I'm not jinxing myself by saying that...). My cervix is holding steady this morning at 2.5-2.7 cm and no new funneling. YAY! I never thought I'd find myself getting so excited about two or three measly millimeters! They did another fetal fibronectin swab and I should hear back about that tomorrow.

Have been having a few episodes of contractions again this past week, but apparently they're not causing any new significant change to my cervix. In fact, I had a contraction this morning on the exam table. I told my OB my tummy felt tight and she said "yep, that's a contraction!" I've had to break down and take my terbutaline pills a couple of times, which I try to resist if at all possible because they make my heart race and give me the shakes. But, as long as they do their job, I'm happy to oblige. I'm starting to get really uncomfortable now, too. It's hard to walk without waddling, and I can't find an agreeable sleeping position to save my life. I guess it doesn't matter so much as I'm up every two hours to pee anyway.

My hubby has the worst case of the flu right now. I've quarantined him to the guest room. I feel so bad, I know he feels awful but there's not much I can be doing to help take care of him right now from bed rest myself. Poor guy!

The first of my two baby showers is this coming Saturday. Two of my cousins are organizing it as a lunch, and then two of my girlfriends are having a couples shower/cocktail party for us the following Saturday night. Fun, fun! After that, all that's really left to do is wait... the nursery is coming together and we've completed our childbirth class. I can't believe I'm 32 weeks along! It still doesn't seem possible that there will be a new baby in my house two months from now (if not sooner)!

My professional photographer buddy made a house call last week to take some "hot mama" pics of me, and it was the most fun I've had in weeks. He is sooooo awesome and made me feel like a supermodel, NOT an easy thing to do with a 8-months-pregnant hormonal woman who's been on bed rest for the past 6 weeks. I highly recommend the experience for a great emotional pick-me-up. Check out a little sample below...


31-32 weeks!!


another pic from my 31-32 week "hot mama" photo shoot!




Feb. 29, 2008

I seem to be having a lot more contractions lately, have been taking a terbutaline pill just about every other night. My body must be getting used to the medication because I don't seem to be having any side effects anymore when I take it. Oddly, the contractions seem to pick up again most often at night. Not sure why, I'm trying to drink lots of water during the day and am continuing to stay off my feet as much as possible. My latest fetal fibronectin test was negative again this week, so I guess if my cervix continues to remain about the same length, I will just chalk them up to Braxton-Hicks. Still, they're no walk in the park! They were getting so bad the other night, I thought we might have to make another trip to the hospital, but fortunately they subsided. As much as I want to meet my little one, I'm not mentally or emotionally prepared enough yet to give birth if it were to happen today!

First baby shower is tomorrow and I can't wait! After being bed-rest quarantined with my husband and my dad for the past seven weeks or so, I could really do with a good dose of female support!

The baby continues to kick like a champ. The head has already been down on my cervix for the past month and the little feet are positioned way over on the left side of my tummy. Sometimes I can press on my stomach with my hand and feel them there just below the skin, like I could just reach in there and grab one! I can feel him/her stretching and it pooches out both sides of my belly at the same time - so funny!

Happy Leap Year, fellow mommies!


March 2, 2008

Can't believe another month is here! I know we really have no say in when the labor will get underway, but my birthday is coming up March 23, and my baby would be the best present ever! Most everyone in my family has a "3" in their birthday, so it will be interesting to see if our baby carries on that tradition. Also, my father-in-law passed away two years ago on March 16, so that would be another special day for us this month for baby to appear... but of course, we'll be happy anytime our little one shows up as long as he or she is safe and healthy.

Had the first of my two baby showers yesterday, and it was wonderful! Two of my cousins threw the party for me here at my house, as I'm still on bed rest. They really went all out with decorations, food, gifts - the whole deal. There were about 14-15 guests, including 4 little girls who had a ball playing on their own the whole time. It was so nice to be surrounded by such a caring, generous group of friends and family - my husband's support has been great, but there's so much to be said for female camaraderie. We had a nice little lunch spread, then played a few games, had cake and opened gifts. There were so many beautiful baby things I'm so excited to use, and I feel MUCH better stocked now and prepared for baby's arrival than I did last week. My husband's busy this morning washing all the new baby clothes, blankets and burp rags to put away in the nursery! All in all, it was a very special, fun afternoon. We're also having a couples baby shower next Saturday night, which is the next big event I'm looking forward to!

I was on my feet way too much yesterday, so am really trying my best to stay in bed and take it easy to make up for it.


March 5, 2008

Just back from my weekly OB visit. My cervix is now at the shortest its been thus far (2.1 cm) and there's a little bit more funneling on the inside, although both ends still seem to be fairly tightly closed. My doctor wanted to do another fetal fibronectin swab, but because we didn't do it before my cervical length check, we have to wait 48 hours (the lube they use for the vaginal ultrasound can skew the fibronectin results). My hubby's supposed to be going to Florida on a business trip March 12 through 16, so we were going to insist on another FFN early next week anyway. We'll be having one on Monday to get the results back before he's supposed to hop on a plane Wednesday and plan accordingly.

For now, I'm just to stay the bed rest course for another few weeks and keep taking the terbutaline pills for contractions as needed. I am SO amazed it was 8 weeks ago that my cervix originally shortened and I've been able to basically maintain the length in the same general range since that time. Bed rest is certainly no picnic, but I'd MUCH rather be at home than in the hospital hooked up to an IV of magnesium sulfate (from what I've read, that stuff scares me to death!) The doctor will still try to stop my contractions if I go into labor before 36 weeks, but that goal feels so much closer and more attainable now than it did a few weeks ago.


March 10, 2008

Yikes - my cervix is now down to 1.4 cm with more internal funneling (still no dilating, though)!!! I think we might be getting close... although my fetal fibronectin test is still negative. My OB told me to stay hydrated and to start taking my terbutaline pills every four hours whether I think I need them or not. Yuck - I hate them. I can't understand how they can make me shaky and jittery, but still drowsy at the same time. She wants to see me again on FRIDAY! My husband is supposed to be taking a business trip to Florida this coming weekend, but I don't think that's going to be happening now... :)

We had our second baby shower on Saturday - it was a couples shower/dinner party thrown by two girlfriends. Very laid back, very fun. The food was fabulous and it was so great to just get out of the house for an evening and lie on someone else's couch for a change. We got some great gifts - everyone has been so generous, I think our registry is pretty well accounted for now! Going through everything the next day was like waking up on Christmas morning. My hubby washed all the clothes, sheets and stuff and the nursery is really looking good. Now all we need is the baby!


March 14, 2008

Went in for my cervix check this morning and it is now 2.6 cm with no funneling! As nasty as the terbutaline pill side effects are, the medication is apparently doing its job to stop my contractions. I feel much more reassured now about making it another few weeks to that magic full-term mark. Even better news - NO MORE ROUTINE CERVICAL LENGTH CHECKS! My OB felt good enough about my measurements today that she's not going to order any more, unless some kind of unexpected problem emerges in the next week or so. (Knock on wood.)

I have just been exhausted this week. Feel like I could nap all day long! Heartburn is kicking up these past few days, and I have the worst sore muscles on the right side of my stomach (ligament pain, I'm assuming). Everytime I try to roll over onto that side, it hurts. Sleeping comfortably is getting to be more of a challenge every night, maybe that's why I've been so tired during the day. Still having the dreaded discharge - YUCK!

Baby's kicks are unbelievably strong now, I'm think he/she is seriously starting to run out of room. My stomach was rolling and straining so much the other night, my husband was convinced the baby was attempting to climb out through my belly button.

So exciting to read about the women on here who are already delivering healthy babies! I can't imagine I will last until my due date - am hoping I won't, in fact! As soon as I hit full-term, get off bed rest and go off my meds, I really, REALLY hope things will kick into action. I am READY.


34-35 weeks! Almost there!!!


March 17, 2008

Was having some contractions last night and started to get kinda excited when they kept going even after I took my terbutaline, but they did finally stop after three hours or so. In addition to not sleeping well just because I'm uncomfortable, I'm now having some lower back pain, crazy restless legs and borderline leg cramps at night, too. My poor husband - he's been so great about putting up with me bitching and crying all the time that I don't feel good!

Had my weekly checkup this afternoon - my cervix is starting to open slightly on the outside now, but no real dilation as of yet. They went ahead and did my beta strep test today. I've gained 25 pounds and my blood pressure is great. Baby's heartbeat was 137-145 and he/she is still head down and in position. ONE MORE WEEK ON BED REST and then I'm FREE!!! I can not wait. I think hubby and I might cheat and go out for a low-key dinner on Sunday night for my birthday...

Happy St. Paddy's Day, mommies, and best of luck with all of your little leprechauns! :)


March 24, 2008

I kept secretly hoping that I'd go into labor yesterday so the baby and I could share a birthday, but no such luck... I did have some cramping and a few contractions yesterday afternoon, but I'm starting to feel like the boy who cried wolf. Every time my hubby and I get excited and think things are getting underway, they tail off and stop.

Had my 36-week checkup this morning - my cervix is soft, but still closed and no dilation yet. Unbelievable that after all this worrying for the past 3 months about whether or not my cervix was going to hold up, now it looks like I might actually end up going the full-term distance after all. The OB said I can stop taking my terbutaline pills (big YAY!), but she still wants me to rest and take it easy for one more week, especially since my husband is supposed to be going to Miami on business Thursday through Saturday. Once I hit 37 weeks, I'm totally off restrictions, so as soon as he gets back, we are going into Operation "whatever it takes to bring on the labor"! I cheated a little bit over the weekend by walking around in the yard and making dinner, and it wore me out. I really need to start getting a little muscle strength back if I'm ever going to make it through labor!

The baby's heartbeat is strong and on the fast side (a girl, perhaps??) and the OB estimated he/she now weighs between 5 1/2 and 6 pounds. Still can't believe our little one will be here soon. Getting a little nervous about the birthing process at this point, but looking forward to hearing those magic words - "It's time to push!"

Is anyone else starting to feel like a ticking time bomb? I'm getting calls every day from people wanting to know if there's any action yet. It's nice of people to care, don't get me wrong, but I'm so tired of having the same conversation over and over. I may just record a message on my voice mail saying - "No news yet, don't call us, we'll call you!"


March 31, 2008

Just home from our weekly appointment - FINALLY, some progress to report! I am 1.5 cm dilated and 80 percent effaced! The baby's head is still a little high, but that could change quickly. If I haven't gone into full labor by 38 weeks (which the OB thinks is unlikely), she will induce me. So the baby will DEFINITELY be coming sometime in the next 10 days or so!

I was having some contractions again over the weekend, and I was going to be REALLY disappointed if we went into today and she said that nothing had changed. I've been feeling so achy, crampy, nauseous and just generally crappy, I am so relieved to see the light at the end of this tunnel!




37 weeks - FINALLY full term!


April 7, 2008

Wow - another week down! I am now dilated 2.0 to 2.5 cm. Not as much progress as I'd hoped from last week, especially since I've tried to be much more active, but every little bit gets us closer I suppose. Am really sore and bleeding like a stuck pig after my exam today - yuck. I actually thought my water might be breaking after the exam because I was peeing about every 10 minutes and it seemed like there was a lot of fluid and blood dripping out, but it seems to have stopped now on both counts. After not having a period for nine months, it was something of a shock to see that much blood at one time again. I hope I can handle the actual childbirth without getting completely grossed out!

They did a non-stress test today because I said it felt like the baby's movements had slowed down a little bit, but everything looks great. I've also somehow managed to gain four pounds within the last week - yikes! I thought the weight gain was supposed to tail off around this time... I'm right around 30 pounds now, which is well within the normal range, so I guess I'll be happy with that!

The doctor still thinks I could go into labor at any time, but has scheduled me for an induction next Monday at 8 a.m. I really feel like it will happen naturally before then, but who knows. This little one has continued to surprise me throughout the entire pregnancy! Am moody, tired and achy, am sooooo glad to finally know that my baby will be here in just one more week, if not sooner!


April 8, 2008

I think I may have lost my plug tonight! Have been lightly spotting brownish blood most of today (a continuation of my lovely cervical exam results yesterday), but nothing major. Then I went to go pee tonight and when I wiped, there was a largish blob of something gross on the TP. Looked kind of like a heavy period clot. I was grossed out at first, but then I realized what it probably was. This was definitely clumpy and more than just your garden variety spotting. I ran outside to tell my hubby who was working in the yard, he was ready to drop everything and run me to the hospital that very second! I know it could still be awhile before the big action starts, but I was so excited to see something going on down there!

It's funny, you read about all these things that occur during pregnancy, but you can never fully comprehend what it's going to be like until they happen to you. I never even had any concept of what a mucus plug was last year at this time, and now it's the first question everyone asks me about! Another one of those lovely things no one warns you about...