Good news

I had my doctors appointment this evening to recheck my blood pressure and it is back to normal after 5 days of bed rest. My blood tests were all normal, too, so it is very good news. Charles joined me on this visit, his first, and quite liked the doctor. We all agreed that it would be best that I do not return to work and while I don't have to adhere to strict bed rest, I should take things very, very easy. I will return in 2 weeks to recheck my pressures. Being the person that I am, I'm sure I'll be checking it myself a few times a week just for peace of mind. Work has been notified (literally within minutes after my appointment!) and now the flood of paper work begins. Once that is done, I will thoroughly enjoy my time at home and away from the stress of work.

26 week update

3 weeks ago in Vancouver

Measuring your baby from top to toe with his legs extended, he is about 14 inches/35.6 centimetres. He weighs a little more than 1.6 pounds/ 760 grams. Your baby's eyes begin to open around now. Response to sound grows more consistent toward the end of the seventh month, when the network of nerves to the ear is complete. He also continues to take small breaths and although he's only breathing in water and not air, it's still good practice for when he's born. Since your baby is now growing so fast, and brain development is so intense at this stage, your nutrition is very important.

I've also read that baby may be turning itself around to the head down position already. I can't imagine being upside down for 14 weeks! Since being on bed rest the baby has been very active. Yesterday, I had very funny sensations for quite awhile at the front of my uterus and wonder if that was baby turning around. He/she tried to wake me up several times early this morning, but I won, sleeping until 9:30!

It's just day 2 of bed rest & I'm a little restless. Unfortunately, the temperature has been back up to 32 degrees again making the apartment icky. I've read quite a bit, mostly about birthing with some 'light' Stephen King reading in between. Charles returned home yesterday afternoon and has been very supportive. He just got back from Sears after purchasing a stroller & car seat and is now making me lunch! I'm so very lucky.

Bed rest it is...

More of this now!

I had an unfortunately stressful doctors appointment today which requires me to adhere to bed rest until Tuesday. My blood pressure is higher than normal and my doctor is concerned. I went for more blood tests, to check my electrolytes and liver enzymes, and have to return to the doctors on Tuesday for a recheck.

I am to be on the couch or in bed, only to get up to go to the bathroom or get something to eat. Also, all salt & sugar has to be cut from my diet (no Starbucks!). He warned that if my pressure is not back to normal on Tuesday, I will have to leave work effective immediately. Work is really the least of my concerns at the moment.

Thankfully my book order from amazon.ca arrived yesterday, so I'm stocked up and ready to lounge. I think the cat will appreciate having me around. I wish I could teach her to massage my feet for the days Charles is away!

25 week update

Apparently I've been busy as I haven't sat at the computer for awhile! All is well with us. The baby moves about at different times throughout the day, but mostly at night when I am trying to sleep. It is a very unique & special feeling. We purchased our first baby item, a play yard, yesterday. Charles & I are both overwhelmed by the assortment of various baby items and plan to sit down soon and do some research before spending more money!

Work has been very busy, so I look forward to my mat leave which will start August 13. All I can do during my rotations is work, come home, lay on the couch, eat and go to bed. My first day or two off is spent relaxing & trying to reduce the swelling in my fat feet.

We enjoyed a visit from Kris, Shendah, Kieran & Aiden this past week! It was their first visit since I moved to Calgary and we were very busy. The boys enjoyed the zoo and the dinosaur museum in Drumheller. On the last day the 'big' boys enjoyed a very early morning round of golf while the girls relaxed in an air conditioned mall!

Our next exciting visit is from Charles' parents this weekend. His Mom visited just after finding out I was pregnant but his father has not visited since Charles & I started dating so it will be a fun time.

Our little one is doing some neat things... when I poke my belly, he/she will sometimes respond and apparently he/she will double in weight over the next 4 weeks - yikes!

We had an amazing time in Nova Scotia and enjoyed all the precious time we had together. As my vigorous hiking days are put on hold, we did a lot of sightseeing and as much walking as I could muster. We would love to return someday to tackle all the hiking trails with baby! I was pleasantly surprised with Halifax; it is a quaint city with character and of course the harbour front adds to its charm. Charles informed me today, though, that it unfortunately has one of the highest crime rates in Canada. Probably has something to do with all the French living there!! Just kidding, of course.

After 2 weeks of relaxation we are both back to work & reality. After my last rotation I have decided to take my maternity leave as early as possible, which is 12 weeks before my due date. So as of August 13th I am free, free of all the chaos & stress of the crazy vet hospital!! Too many hours on my feet without breaks, late lunches and job hazards are not worth the risk to my health or the baby's.

Now that we are at 23 weeks things are becoming more real. For the past 2 weeks I have been feeling baby move and am starting to enjoy the quiet times I have to share with the baby. Besides the ever present fatigue, I am now enjoying sausage feet! I can no longer fit into any of my shoes and will live in flip-flops from now on.

Charles & I are trying to decide what childbirth classes to take as we have to register soon. I just want to know how to get the job done without drugs and have Charles prepared as much as possible so he doesn't end up on the floor!

There's definitely something in there!!

The life of a cat. Why can't she pitch in and clean?

Today is the first day of obvious, consistent baby movement! After a much needed long sleep last night, I woke this morning to vigorous movements by the fetus as I laid partially on my belly. The movement happened a few times at work during the morning when I would have my belly pressed up against a counter. Then after lunch, a co-worker demonstrated craniosacral therapy on me which had me lying on my back and the fetus really started to dance! He/she moved throughout the evening and also while I enjoyed my bath. I can't describe the feeling, just that it's like... well, something inside my belly!





I had a routine prenatal appointment today and I received a clean bill of health by my doctor; normal blood pressure, baby is measuring well and has a good heart beat. Next month I will have more blood tests including testing for gestational diabetes. I can't believe I'm almost at that point already. I mentioned to the doctor that I am extremely tired after work and he said it's important that as soon as I get home to lay on my left side for at least 1 to 2 hours to recuperate and ensure the placenta (baby) is receiving all the blood it needs from me. He said, and these are his exact words, "no cooking or cleaning when you get home. Get right onto the couch or bed and rest". Oh Charles... your culinary skills are required!! Tomorrow is our big ultrasound appointment so hopefully we'll have some good pictures to share.





And if I didn't have enough to worry about... Josey had major dental work on Sunday and it was discovered then that she probably has feline herpesvirus. She has bilateral corneal ulcers and has been having sneezing fits since we moved into the apartment. So, it's antibiotic eye ointment twice a day, an oral antibiotic twice a day and an amino acid supplement twice a day. Do you think she loves me right now?! And just to add more excitement, I returned home this evening to discover that she partially chewed and drained her fentanyl patch (an adhesive patch that delivers a narcotic through her skin, that is not meant to be ingested and can be fatal). I phoned a vet I work with and he said to monitor her closely for respiratory depression/lethargy but more than likely it drained onto the couch/carpet. I wasn't worried as she ate her dinner and ran away from me while I tried to put in her eye ointment. I'm going to bed now so if she chooses to slip into a coma I'll have to deal with her in the morning!

Today I'm quite tired. I set up my alarm wrong and woke me up at 2:25 am instead of 4:25am. They're both really early, but after the fire alarm at 3am in Edmonton the night before, I really needed a good sleep. Oh well! Maybe tonight I'll sleep. At least I've got the ultrasound to cheer about, which keeps me awake when I have nothing to do. I would trade my job anytime with Kim today.

The other exciting part is our trip to Nova Scotia in 2 days. It is so nice to go somewhere else, have some fish (too bad Kim doesn't like it, but I don't like eggplants or never been of huge fan of tofu, so it's fair) relax on the beach, enjoy the views of Cabot trail, the French town of Louisbourg...

And since I'm writing about things that are exciting me, I can't wait to see my girl at home, I've been on the road now for 8 of the last 9 days. Bye from Toronto.