I know it's been a while since I last updated any news about the baby or the pregnancy in general. So I'm writing this up, in between sleeping and sneezing and blowing my nose, because I seem to have finally succumbed to this cold both Brant and Colleen have had.
Baby's moving around a lot. We still can't feel him from the outside, but I feel him so much it's a little ridiculous that Brant can't share this with me. I guess it's still my little gift, for now.
The last appointment with the midwives was difficult. Emotionally and practically. We had, with our permission, a nurse-practitioner in school for midwifery on her 2nd clinical rotation, rather than Karen or Sharon. This practitioner was great in many respects--friendly, warm, joking, understanding--but she still came from a clinical paradigm that was a little difficult to interact with.
My blood pressure had spiked from the previous appointments. It was still low, and very very healthy, but it moved away from the past levels, and showed a spike in the trend I'd been setting. So she asked me about it, asked if I'd been stressed out lately, been eating more salt than usual, all those questions. It's funny how defensive I felt. And this was just the beginning.
She then told me I'd gained 31 pounds so far. This was a shock to me, as I've really only gained it in my belly, breasts, and a little in my thighs. I look the same all over the rest of me, so 31 pounds seemed like a lot. Still, the 'normal' (imagine my snort here, please) range of weight gain is 25-40lbs, so I'm still doing fine, especially since many ladies gain much of their weight in the second trimester and taper off. The practitioner said as much, but she did start questioning me about my eating habits, which made me want to smack her. Was I eating more starches than normal? How about sweets? I could go crazy with vegetables and fruits, but I should watch out for other things with more calories. When I told her I'm a vegetarian, and my challenge has been to get enough calories, it humbled her a little bit. I wasn't going out to McDonalds or Eagans and eating burgers daily.
It really pissed me off, mostly because it made me feel bad about the care I'm taking of myself and our baby. Not only was my blood pressure slightly irregular, but I may or may not be gaining too much weight. I was nearly in tears. I felt...almost ashamed. And both of these things were baffling, considering, just 3.5 weeks earlier, babe was weighing in at the 56% which isn't too big at all!
To be fair, on reflection, I have been eating extra sugar lately (mostly in the form of Newman's Own mint-o's...they're the organic version of Oreos and DELICIOUS). I realized that ever since I've been able to eat food again, I've been relishing the fact that, once more, it tastes good! So I've been reeling it in, cutting out the sugar and making sure I'm eating my sprouted grains again rather than refined wheat.
It was just a hard appointment. That, and what I thought was a yeast infection was STILL a BV infection (gardnerella). When I was treated for this earlier in the pregnancy, it apparently hadn't fully left. The challenge is that BV is treated with Flagyl, an anti-parastic medication that is clinically proven to cause cancer in lab rats. Before this information was printed on the label of the medication, I'd taken it at least 2 times in my life, and I only took it this third time because I want to be as healthy as possible for this little baby. But I refused to take it again. It didn't work. It chronically doesn't work in my body. And if I develop cancer later on, is that going to benefit my little one? Hell no.
So, in tandem with my own natural remedies (nutrients, garlic, etc), I agreed to take an antibiotic that is the second best choice for a bacterial infection like this. It's safety for pregnancy is rated category B, so this better do the trick, because I'm not taking it again.
I've reinvigorated my health regimen: inulin (as a prebiotic fiber) daily, Healthforce Nutritional's Fruits of the Earth (water-solulable antioxidant complex) daily, New Chapter's All Flora daily, 1 TB molasses daily (for the calcium), and 1 qt infusion of nettles, daily (dark enough to look almost black). And of course, my prenatals and DHA (both from New Chapter).
I'm sorry this appointment was a challenging one for you. I'm sure she didn't mean anything by it, but I understand your defensive feelings. Perhaps she was just trying to be really thorough and not taking the individual patient into as much consideration. who knows.
ReplyDeleteI hadn't gained any weight in the first few months of pregnancy. Then I gained 10 lbs in a month. When my Dr. came in I halfway jokingly said, "Are you mad at me?" hahahah She laughed and said no, but that I would want to keep an eye on it and be careful. I did. I gained 35 lbs in the course of my pregnancy, but keep in mind that "bigger" girls are supposed to gain less, "smaller" girls are to gain more. And you fall into the category of the "smaller."
I know that yeast runs rampant in pregnancy and treatments keep it at bay but that's it. It reoccurs constantly. (at least it did for me), do you think BV is the same deal?
I can't believe your baby is an eggplant!!! So exciting!!!
Don't stress at all about the weight gain. Anna Lisa is 100% correct, and so are you in knowing that there is no "normal". Also remember that you could have an average size baby, but be carrying LOTS of amniotic fluid and blood! Your body is doing everything it needs to do to take care of your little man, and you're doing everything you need to do to take care of yourself.
ReplyDeleteThe only reason I can imagine her questioning you more intensely is because a spike in blood pressure and weight gain can be signs of pre-eclampsia. But if that was a worry, she should've mentioned it to you directly, and also told you to watch out for other warning signs (swollen hands/feet, etc.).
With both Felicity and Evelynne, I've had huge weight gain at the end of my second trimester/beginning of my third. I even measured four weeks early because I became so huge (and only in my stomach/uterus)... But now I'm measuring just one week ahead. Babies in the womb are just like babies in your arms; they grow through growth spurts and so long as they (and you) are healthy and happy, don't stress.
I love you.
Both of you are right~and I know the student had her heart in the right place. Gretchen pointed out that around week 25 sometimes BP levels go up, and also that some students get so excited about diagnosing and putting their knowledge into practice, that they stumble over themselves sometimes.
ReplyDeleteBV and yeast are both VERY common in pregnancy, Anna Lisa. What compounds the BV issue is that some women (and nobody knows why) have it chronically regardless of some of the standard issues (sexual activity, diet, hygiene, bathing habits, etc.). And I might fall into this category now. The most important thing for me to remember is that he'll be fine. I just want everything to be great, because when he's born he'll be inoculated with all of my healthy bacteria down there, and I don't want anything unhealthy there for him, you know?
Suzy, I love you too :)