Since my kids love this ticker, I thought I’d put it up again for their sake. 🙂
My doctor’s appointment was this past week and my OB was able to immediately get baby’s heartbeat…PHEW! 170 and moving like crazy! Which would explain why I’m feeling a decent amount of movement already. Busy, busy baby!
What else is going on:
*I’ll be following a modified gestational diabetic diet to hopefully keep baby under 11 pounds this time. 😉 But, I must admit the prospect of a low sugar diet during Christmas time doesn’t really sound like much fun. However, right now, not eating sweets really isn’t an issue. They still make me quite ill and I have to balance any carbs I eat with protein.
*I need to be more diligent about wearing my belly brace. My last baby went quite overdue despite the fact I would contract and contract for hours and then nothing. My diastasis keeps me from carrying baby in the proper position on my own, so with the brace baby’s head will stay on my cervix better and hopefully keep contractions going. (Can’t believe I’m talking labor/delivery already!)
This is the maternity brace I own and it really is great and quite comfortable, especially if worn over a camisole or belly band.
*I feel so good, I overdo it…a lot. And then I sleep and sleep and sleep the next day. It never fails and I have yet to figure out how to NOT overdo it because by the time I realize it, it is too late. I’m exhausted and have to sleep. Oh well. At least I get a lot done every couple of days!
*Floradix tastes nasty now. Still taking it, but definitely NOT craving it as I once did. It’s a little over $10 cheaper on Amazon, so that’s where I am getting it now.
*Next month is my sonogram. You might be wondering…Do we or do we not find out gender. Well, here’s the deal: We NEVER let them tell us, but we do not hide our eyes, and after so many, we are pretty good at reading sonograms, but reading them yourself does leave that shadow of a doubt that makes me wash only the gender-neutral stuff prior to baby’s arrival. 😉
Have a great weekend all!
(this post does contain affiliate links)
Josi says
Wow, great to hear you’re feeling so much better. Growing a baby is hard work! I’m in with your kids… Love the ticker! Just curious, when the baby is currently the size of an orange do you actually crave oranges? Ha! And what’s the full term produce item?… Pumpkin, watermelon, hmmm? Anticipating the arrival of a new family member is so exciting! I rejoice with you 🙂
Amy says
I’ve never used this ticker, so my guess is watermelon. 😉
Kristin says
Amy – I too need to follow a modified gestational diabetic plan, as my last baby was 10 lbs (over 2 weeks before HER due date). I would LOVE it if you would post the diet you’re following – it would help me so much! Of course, I won’t put it into effect until my morning sickness has passed (I’m about 8 weeks), so I have a while! TIA 🙂
Amy says
I’m going to talk about it a little more as soon as I can get my thoughts on straight, but suffice it to say, what I’ve been doing to help with the morning sickness (higher protein) is pretty much going to continue.
Annie says
I would love to know if you recommend a good abdominal binder for post partum use?
Thanks!
Amy says
My doctor and I are talking about this one. I like the Pain Reliever brace from this post ( https://raisingarrows.net/2010/12/the-perfect-diastasis-recti-brace/ ), but I would like something a little less bulky. She’s been telling me about a binder they use in the hospital for post-c-section mamas. I’ll let you know if I find something beside the Pain Reliever one.
Stacy says
I’ve used a Bamboo Belly bandit after both of my girls (I had c-sections). It was fabulous! (I used one from the hospital for about a week both times. They put it on right away after a c-section to help the healing process.)
Annie says
Thanks to you both for the advice! I am due in just over 5 weeks. I am having my 5th c-section and have never been offered a binder!! I will ask my Dr. this next week if the hospital has them available. I noticed after my last c-section that everything felt very loose and I had absolutely no structure in pulling things back in. I also dealt with a very sore back for the first few months, so I am thinking I would be a good candidate for one!
Thanks again!!
Amy says
The hospital I had my c-sections in did not offer anything either. I was very interested in hearing my new OB (and new hospital) do offer something.
Carrie*Lynne says
OH I never tire of hearing new heartbeats 🙂 I always tend to tear up – what a beautiful sound.
I just started reading your blogs and thought I should introduce myself
I am a young stay at home Mom (will be 30 this winter hahaha) and my Husband and I have 4 kids and are waiting for the Lord to bless us with #5 .. we have 3 boys ages 10 (Gabriel) 4 (Jedidiah) 2 (Malachi) and one Daughter age 7 (Moriah)
I come from a Family of 12 and was home schooled and LOVED it. My oldest son is special needs and that has brought many struggles along our way but we are learning to adapt to curve balls.
We home school also which works out great since we live next door to my parents and they are very involved in helping teach our children.
OOPS that was long – But I wanted to say I am learning from your blogs so Thank You – I found you by searching for Skirt articles.
Have a Beautiful day 🙂
Diana says
I am so glad to hear that all is going well! What wonderful news!!!
I noticed that you say that you can’t eat sweet things because they make you sick. That’s fascinating, because with my last baby, I used a very-low-carb and high-protein diet to prevent hyperemesis – I’m always curious to see that things like that work for other people. I noticed that sweet things definitely made me feel terrible (after a brief period of feeling great) – I’m glad to see it wasn’t just in my head.
Love the blog, as always!!
Amy says
I’m hypoglycemic as well, so in pregnancy I am acutely aware of how awful I feel if I eat too many sweets/carbs.
Kate @ Modern Alternative Mama says
Yay for a heartbeat and everything looking good. 🙂
Stacy says
I didn’t know that diastasis recti could prevent babies from descending. I’m so glad you said that it can impede labor. My first baby was an emergency c-section because her cord was wrapped around her neck several times. I really wanted a vbac with our second in February, but I never went into labor despite going two weeks longer than my first and having regular contractions every night. My nurse midwife told me after she was born that I had pretty significant muscle separation. I just ordered a Tupler Kit so I can start healing my diastasis before we get pregnant again.
Stacie says
Reading this post put joy in my heart.
Melinda says
I have gestational diabetes with this pregnancy; it is challenging to follow a GD diet! But I’ve had the chance to experiment with alternate flours and sweeteners that don’t affect my blood sugar as much. It’s been fun trying some new things in my kitchen!
Amy says
Anything you’d like to share? 😉
jackie says
thank you so much for the info on the maternity brace! i am going to look into that…I am a week behind you, with #4. I too, have diastis recti, and my last child went past due date and 10.6 lbs..maybe I should limit sugar too? ugh! We are praying now for 3rd vbac, but I have placenta previa, so we may be delivering early. Thanks so much for all your pregnancy posts over the past few weeks, they have been so helpful to me!
Amy says
Just wanted to mention that this early in the pregnancy, it is very likely your placenta will move. 🙂
jackie says
aw thank you! we are praying it does! the way it looks though, it’s not super likely..but we will see, anything is possible!
Mary A. says
Glad to hear you and baby are doing so well! I think I was guilty of overdoing it the last few days and completely understand just having to sleep. I was blessed that my husband was off work and took care of our daughter while I napped for an hour, but honestly I felt like I could have slept for twelve. Love the ticker, too- apparently our little one is now the size of a large, orange squash but I really feel like I’m carrying around a huge pumpkin. 🙂
Maria says
I was just wondering if you have tried mixing the Floradix with some orange juice or the like? It could mask the taste a little, plus some more vitamin C is always good along with iron 🙂
I personnaly LOVE Floradix and could drink it as juice, unfortunately it is so very expensive in my part of the world…
Congrats on the pregnancy! Oh how I would love to join you in those ranks, but husband is very much opposed to any more babies. Am praying for a change of heart 🙂
Blessings,
Maria
Amy says
I just bought some more orange juice to try with it. We’re not big juice drinkers (hate the expense!), but I love oj and hope it helps. 🙂
Stacey says
Did you know that you can get Floradix tablets? I take them often during pregnancy. So much easier than the liquid!
Amy says
Thanks for the tip!
Danielle B says
Hi Amy!!
So glad the pregnancy is progressing well. Love your blog!
I follow another blogger who had GD with her last 2 pregnancies.
Here is her journey, and some recipes.
http://bethany.preciousinfants.com/categories/263/gestational-diabetes-1.aspx