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Week 12
~ Decisions
Well I was hoping to have something more to say this week, but it's been a pretty boring week again, well, aside from my sister's visit! I had my midwife appointment, but when I showed up I got the bad news that she had just been called to the hospital for a birth. So my appointment was rescheduled for February 22. That seems like such a long way off! I'm also a bit disappointed because I haven't gotten a call back from the midwife. I had a few questions such as when to stop the progesterone supplement that I need answered before I see her. I also want to know what my levels are. She hasn't called me to tell me those since early January. It makes me wonder why I am paying all this money every other week to get the test done! The nurse couldn't even find a test result in my chart from the last time I had blood drawn. I had left the message for a call back last Wednesday; it's now Monday (the midwife doesn't work Friday) so I guess I will call again after 2 pm when the office opens again after lunch.
Since I was planning to be out anyway we ran an errand instead. I had to end up at the mall because the store I planned to go to in this strip mall had been leveled! They are putting up a whole new complex that should be ready this summer. That tells you how often I go shopping. I had no idea this was going to happen. I hate shopping, and since I hardly ever do shop I parked on the wrong side of the mall! I didn't have the stroller with me and didn't want to carry Tommy in the sling because I was tired and my back hurt, and fortunately he cooperated and walked almost the whole time! We had a long hike to the other side of the mall and I ended up stopping and getting a bottle of creamy lavender bubble bath from Tommy for my mom's birthday. Tommy was so cute. He insisted on carrying the little bag, well, for a while at least. He started dragging it after we passed another three or four stores so I took it from him then. I was really happy to see that he walked and mostly held my hand and stayed right by me in the stores. He was even well behaved at the candy store where I stopped to get my sister some heart shaped red hots as a surprise! This should make it easier when the baby arrives. I still haven't decided if I want to get a double stroller. I use our regular stroller so rarely and it's a lot of money to spend! I think I might do ok with the sling and the single stroller for when Tommy gets cranky or tired of walking or at the most I might invest in a less expensive double umbrella stroller instead of a big fancy one.
I had a great visit with my sister. There was some confusion picking her up at the airport because her flight came in so early and I wasn't there yet, but in the end it all worked out. I was feeling ill all day and didn't know if it was because I didn't eat much, just a few crackers and some fruit at a La Leche League meeting, or if I was coming down with something. Even after eating some I didn't feel much better though. It's different than my typical morning sickness. I'm very tired, but not completely spent like my normal pregnancy tired. I'm slightly dizzy and have a sour stomach as well. It put a damper on the visit because I was needing to take naps, but Tommy and my sister got in a lot of good quality play time while I napped. I'm still feeling miserable right now, and for this past week I've been throwing up more. Typically I do a lot of dry heaving when pregnant, but I've actually been throwing up. Smells set me off very easily, especially changing Tommy's diapers. I'm pretty much guaranteed to get sick during every change of a dirty diaper! Tom's on diaper duty now when he is home, but unfortunately I have to deal with it all day when he's at work.
Tom made us spaghetti with meatballs for dinner that first night of my sister's visit while she and I went out grocery shopping. When we got home Tommy had had a little accident and had a huge goose egg on his forehead! Tom doesn't know how he did it, and he didn't even really cry, but he had this red hard lump that was literally the size of an egg on his forehead. I let them handle putting the groceries away while I nursed Tommy and tried to put some ice on the lump. He settled for a cold washcloth. We think he climbed up on some boxes in the vanity area of the master bathroom to try to reach the light switch and he fell and hit his head on the towel rod perhaps. We caught him turning on and off the light later that night and sure enough he fell again leaning over to reach the light switch! This kid gets into everything! He's fine though, the swelling was down to nothing in the morning and it has healed remarkably fast. In just four days it's not even a blue bruise anymore, just yellow. I don't know where this kid gets his tolerance for pain! He cries for a bit when he gets hurt, but forgets about it pretty soon and goes back to being a daredevil! With the amount of bruises on him I'm surprised no one has called child protective services on us yet! His newest trick started last night is to knock over his high chair so it falls in such a way that the tray is knocked off. Then he sets it upright and pushes it over under the telephone; then he climbs up and gets the phone and turns it on and starts dialing and talking! And just today he discovered how to get into the cabinets and drawers that I have child safety locks on! It's not a fluke. He practiced getting in over and over again into the bathroom cabinets earlier. Normally we don't allow him in the toilet areas, unless we are there too, but in our bedroom we have to really watch it now. The vanity area is separate and there is no door to block him away from it! I guess the entire bedroom door will now have to remain closed. I was enjoying being able to rest in bed with him playing in the room. He's only 19 months old! I can't believe he gets through the child locks on drawers already. He was able to open some low quality ones at friend's houses several months ago, but we have really difficult safety locks!
Well I have been interrupted so many times writing this week's journal that I now actually have some baby news! I just got off the phone with my midwife and my progesterone has really increased finally! It was around 10 on January 20th and it went up to over 20 on February 7th! So finally it is at a good level. This does make sense because now that I am 12 weeks the placenta should have fully attached and taken over progesterone production. When this prescription of progesterone suppositories is finished I won't need them anymore. I can't wait! I'm tired of the mess and having to remember to use them twice a day. Overall I still don't know if they were worth it. My progesterone levels were low the entire time so I don't know if they helped, but I suppose without the supplement they might have been even lower. I'm wondering if this sudden surge in progesterone is also why I have started feeling more ill as well. Some say that progesterone is what might cause morning sickness, although I must be pretty sensitive because I had it when I was at those low levels too. We talked about starting to take red raspberry leaf tea. I should be drinking two cups a day now that the bleeding has stopped and everything seems to be fine with the baby. It is supposed to help tone the uterus and prepare you for labor and delivery.
I got interrupted again and decided to call a doula that I have wanted to interview. I've talked with her before and really liked her. I have interviewed one other so far in person and a few on the phone. This is going to be a hard choice! I think it's coming down to these two. They have both been doulaing (is that a word) for over two years. The first has done 13 births and the second has done around 23 or so. The first only takes two births a month and has taken time off for her pregnancy and the birth of her now two year old and the second doula only does one birth a month. They are both outgoing, the second more so than the first, and they are both very friendly, and I seemed to have clicked with both of them! Which is bad. Clicking with only one would sure make the decision easier. The first is a certified massage therapist as well as a doula and she throws in a free massage in her price. She also charges $150 less than the second, but they are both on the very low end for doulas in my area. They have never had to use each other as a backup, but they do back each other up just in case of an emergency. My lower back has really been hurting me so I called the massage therapist/doula to set up an appointment with her. I figure if I really like the way she massages that might be the deciding factor! I know I responded well to the little bit of counter pressure and massage that my mom did for me during my last labor. Oh decisions, decisions!
Well that's just about it for this week. Hopefully next week as this first trimester finishes up I'll be feeling better and more energetic. I'm not counting on it though! With Tommy I didn't feel good until the very end of my second trimester, but I can hope at least! I do need a serious energy boost. The apartment is a mess!
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