This is it! The downhill slide! I have exactly 9 weeks until my c-section, and I am so looking forward to it. Honestly, I have wanted this baby in my arms from the moment I found out I was pregnant. It’s been a hard pregnancy, and that has made me want baby here that much more.
Unfortunately, I got some news from my dr’s office this week that wasn’t what I had hoped for. I was already fairly certain I would flunk the 1 hour glucose test – and I did. However, I worked out a deal with my doctor. I get to skip the 3 hour and the visit to the endocrinologist and in return, I take my blood sugars and report back to her nurse anything that isn’t within range.
But, the really rough news is that I am severely anemic. Yes, I’m always anemic, but this time, I had hope. I did better than I ever have with my regimen of vitamins and iron. I was faithful about taking it, and I really felt like it was helping. But, it wasn’t. I am now on a high powered prescription iron, and will be rechecked in a few weeks. It’s such a bummer to work so hard to do things “right,” only to have them not turn out as you would expect.
I still haven’t taken many photos this pregnancy because of how I feel and my size, but my oldest daughter is determined to get some photos of me, so I’m going to comply and let her do a photo shoot. (By the way, her latest issue of Teen Photographer magazine is available for free download! Snag it HERE!)
My husband did take a photo of me at my OB appointment last week, so I thought I would share that one. Aspen came with us so the doctor could see her now that she’s a toddler and not a tiny baby. It was so fun to have her along with us!
So, that’s that…63 days to go. I am starting to feel “nesty” (I am certain that is a word), but I am not able to accomplish a lot at one time, so I take everything in bite-sized pieces. This coming week I’m planning on slowly working through the house and organizing some things that have been sorely neglected. After that, I’m just going to keep trucking along to the end!
Have a blessed weekend!
Jennifer Williams says
I love her magazine!! Thanks so much, my daughter will love this!! Good luck with your c section and the rest of your pregnancy!! x
Andrea says
You look beautiful
Samantha says
You look beautiful! I’m sorry this has been hard. Aspen is so big! Everything I say sounds trite. You know what to do. Trust yourself and your body.
Tara Vos says
I hope the extra iron they have prescribed brings you energy and you can enter the first few days of your new baby with more energy!
rebecca says
I’m so happy to hear an update!
Sorry to hear about the health “troubles”- not sure how low your iron is but my doctor just informed me mine was an “8”…. they didn’t seem to happy about that though!
However with only six weeks to go I just don’t know that I can stomach iron supplements!! I procrastinated on my blood work because I already knew the results would be low. We are setting a record here in southern ontario for humidity and heat- NOT helpful for nausea as it is. Plus I am wearing full toe-to-hip compression stockings now for my legs (warm!).
anyway- I love the picture of you two.
Have fun nesting- my nesting has definitely slowed down this week- the last 6 weeks are always a challenge- but the light at the end of the tunnel is closer!
Not sure if any other women have hip trouble and pain the last 6 weeks??? it is hard to sleep especially. Some times have been better than others though- so praying for a good time as it is just starting to disturb me!
Blessings Amy to you and your precious baby. so great to be on this journey at the same time as another mom with a house full!
Rebecca
Mrs. D says
You look so cute, Amy! And I can’t believe how much Aspen has grown. That stinks about your news, but I am glad that it’s a fixable thing 🙂
Meryl says
I’m praying for your iron & blood sugar levels. Iron supplements sure made me miserable. When I was pregnant with my twins, I couldn’t keep the iron supplements down (even in the third trimester). My doctor suggested I add spinach to everything & try eating Cream of Wheat for breakfast. I put massive amounts of spinach in our lasagna, quiches, breakfast eggs, etc. I also made smoothies with it. When it wasn’t an egg breakfast day, I ate Cream of Wheat (flavored with my own cooked cinnamon apples) instead of waffles/pancakes.My numbers actually came back up almost to normal & my family ate healthier in the process. Hang in there, Amy! What a joyous time!
Diana says
Congratulations on your approaching birth!! I’m so with you on wanting hard pregnancies to be over. You are awesome!
Amy says
You look great !! Many prayers for you and baby 🙂 I am about 10 weeks behind you . Thanks so much for sharing your heart . Blessings ~ amy
Sarah h says
Hi Amy!
I love seeing your beautiful belly! I get really big when I’m pregnant too.
I was severely anemic in my last pregnancy- even though I had done everything right, so I empathize with you there. I ended up seeing a hematologist and getting IV infusions of Venofer, an iron. It worked wonders for me!! My hemoglobin went from 8.4 to 10.2 in 3 weeks time and in 6 weeks was over 11. The sides effects of the infusions weren’t fun, fatigue, achiness and such- but for me it was totally worth it. When I wasn’t anemic anymore I felt like a new woman and was able to enjoy the last weeks of my pregnancy and my Other kiddos. I just wanted to offer you that story.
(P.S. My official guess is 9 pounds, 15 ounce GIRL!)
Jessica says
Hello!
Congrats on the new baby! I too was diagnosed with Gestational Diabetes for the first time during my sixth pregnancy. I was so dissapointed, because I am a very healthy eater! Anyway, I sincerely prayed to God for wisdom, and He clearly led me to a book called Goodbye Diabetes by Wes Youngberg. I read the entire thing in one evening and immediately began making changes. My OB was so impressed with how controlled my levels were that he said I should let all his other GD patients know what I was doing! Anyway, the number one thing that helped was taking a light walk immediately after each meal. The book is life changing, really. Anyhow, just felt compelled to share that with you, because I felt so much better. (And didn’t gain anymore weight either;))
Best wishes and blessings!
holly Castillo says
Beautiful!
Josi says
Thanks for sharing Amy. Little Aspen at your feet in the picture is a good reminder of what you’re doing all this hard work for…..the prize at the end! I look forward to the surprise of who this little one is. I love the anticipation!
Also, thanks again for the ministry of this blog. I have been working all summer purging unnecessary things in our home. Things that are draining me in life for too long. Some of these things we have sentimental attachment to (common in our home) but I know we need them gone to make life more simple. I had a discouraging moment the other day and sat down and cried, feeling overwhelmed. Then I decided to look at your blog because I knew you had written on this subject at different times. I pulled up some of your postings from the past and they were a good boost of encouragement for me to keep going. It was just what I needed. I especially needed the reminder that it’s not about organizing, it’s about owning less so it doesn’t own me! That’s definitely what I need. Thanks Amy 🙂
S.T. says
I was anemic when pregnant with my twins. My friend who has much medical and natural medical knowledge told me of this product: http://www.swansonvitamins.com/flora-floradix-iron-herbs-8-5-fl-oz-liquid. There are different sizes and maybe different varieties. I’m not sure exactly which I took, but I believe it really helped me. I think I took it twice a day.
Amy says
That’s what I was taking that wasn’t working. However, I have more than just an iron deficiency…it’s a B deficiency causing the iron deficiency, so I feel like if I could figure out the right combo, I could get this under control. Just not sure what that combo is.
Andie Birdsell says
Amy, I love the pic of your beautiful smile…your preggo belly & Aspen at your feet…just beautiful!!! I look forward to seeing more pics 🙂 I am so sorry about the medical stuff. I know you said that the iron deficiency is due to the B deficiency (I have had both severely & had to have IV infusions weekly) the underlying cause is due to my celiacs disease (autoimmune disease caused by gluten). B/C of this, it destroys your intestines (the ability to absorb the nutrients needed). Is it possible that you may have celiacs disease? Have you been tested to rule this out? If you haven’t been tested yet, go to celiacsdisease.org & click under the celiacs disease tab at the top & then scroll to the left under the black words “understanding celiacs disease” & scroll down to the screening & diagnosis (under this area, somewhere on that page they have a link with the screening & it shows a list of all the “tests” that should be ran. Have them run “every” one of them! Sometimes they only order one of them & it comes back negative BUT if you have them run ALL of them, you’ll have a clearer & more acurate diagnosis) May not at all be your case but worth checking into! I will be praying that your body is able to be nourished the way it needs so that you may be the healthiest you can be for both yourself & this precious little one that will be in your arms soon!
Amy says
Thanks, Andie! 🙂
S.T. says
Oh, I’m sorry you’ve already tried that product, and it didn’t help. May God give you strength and wisdom.
Tammy says
You look so good! My dear friend is a week overdue with #9. She’s being pressured to induce, but is holding out. I’ll be praying for you both to be healthy and feel better until you’re holding those bundles of joy!
Pam says
Hi Amy – – I have you in my prayers. Regarding your anemia – – for what it is worth, when I was pregnant with my 2nd son who is now grown and married, I was extremely anemic and worried because I couldn’t tolerate those high powered iron supplements. He told me not to get too uptight about the baby. That God designed our bodies so that the baby will get what he needs anyway. The problem is that I (or in this case you) would be a bit worse off, but usually able to re-coop at completion of the pregnancy. Now I don’t know if that is just “old school” thinking or not, since Morgan is now 28. But God is amazing and He has a plan!!
Amy says
My previous OB said the same thing, but I think my biggest concern is the c-section. Where I know this is going to be a c-section, I want to make sure I don’t end up needing a blood transfusion. That said, I’ve never needed one before, even with c-sections, so I’ll probably be just fine. 🙂
C Jam says
Have you looked into placenta encapsulation? It is supposed to help with hormone balance, iron levels, and a bunch of other things.
mary says
I was severely anemic with my last baby (number 5) and it worried me too. I took something called spa tone, which is totally natural and I had three a day in some orange juice and I had two supplements from the doctor. I managed to get from a six up to a nine by week 36. So you can do it. I also concentrated on eating as much spinach, turkey, kale and beef as possible. And of course praying for strength and knowing that the lord will bless all your efforts.
Elizabeth says
HI! New to the blog and am wondering how many c-sections you have had? I am due for my fifth and am nervous about it.
Amy says
This will be my 4th. It is my first time of having 2 in a row.
C says
Maybe 9 was your peak and 10 was not the best idea.
Steward your health and your body well– you only get one shot at this life.
Amy says
Perhaps, but probably not the best thing to say to a pregnant mama. 😉