Pregnancy is super fun—until it isn’t.
The past couple of weeks have been the hardest of my pregnancy so far. I had just written to a friend that pregnancy had dealt kindly with me, which is so true, but then I started having some complications. At my 22 week ultrasound, I found out that I had placenta previa.
My 26 week midwife appointment was super overwhelming, as she prepared me for the good possibility that my placenta will not have moved, that I will have to watch for bleeding, that I shouldn’t exercise or lift anything, and that I will have to have a c-section if it doesn’t move.
I left that appointment and cried in my car on the way home.
Now here we are: the week of my 28-week ultrasound. I thought it would never come! My ultrasound is on Friday, and it will tell us if my placenta has moved (which would get rid of my restrictions (yay!), and allow me to try for a natural birth (double yay!)) or hasn’t moved (restrictions for the rest of my pregnancy, heightened awareness of bleeding, and a c-section). I will also be taking my glucose test. Such a fun day. Ha ha!
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As I prepare mentally for this appointment, I am trying to remind myself of three things:
- A c-section is not what I want, but it isn’t the end of the world. There is still life after a c-section.
- Baby is healthy, and I am too. There’s quite a lot to be thankful for.
- This stress will all be worth it in the end.
- Once I know one way or another, I can prepare for either outcome.
I am hoping this week goes fast, and praying that the placenta will have resolved.
Our Babymoon
We just got back from a week in LA! We spent a lot of time with Saia’s family (thanks Bob and Dar!), did some sight-seeing, ate a lot of delicious food, and walked along the ocean.
Traveling while pregnant was definitely a bit more stressful than traveling non-pregnant, but everything went seamlessly, and I am grateful that we could squeeze in the trip before I hit my third trimester.
Plus, look at that view! Wish Nebraska had one of these oceans. Ha ha!
How far along: 28 weeks–THIRD TRIMESTER, baby!
Due date: August 29
Gender: It’s a surprise! The majority of the old wives’ tales say it is a boy (read that post HERE). Do you think they are right?
How big is baby? Baby is as big as an eggplant! Baby now measures 15 inches, and weighs 2.25 pounds!
This week, baby: is adding billions of neurons to that brain of his/hers. He/she is dreaming (during REM sleep cycles), blinking his/her eyelashes, and is getting chubbier!
Exercise: Due to my placenta previa, and some bleeding I had, my midwife told me to really take it easy. No real exercise, just my normal household stuff. I am hoping that our ultrasound this week will tell us that the placenta has moved, and I’ll be cleared to exercise again.
What I’m googling: placenta previa. Every day until I have my ultrasound. Sigh.
Purchases I’ve made: This was a great week for acquiring baby gear! This past weekend was my home town’s annual garage sale day, and so I went home and garage saled with my parents, and sibs. It was great garage saling with my Mom, because she gave me tips on what I might really need–I bought a car seat, a traveling high chair (similar to this one!) that I had wanted, this changing pad, a changing pad cover, a bag full of pacifiers, a bag full of baby socks, an Aden +Anais swaddle cloth, a baby hat, a few baby clothes, and my Mom bought me some burp cloths and onesies!
How are you feeling? Mentally, I am struggling while I wait to see if my placenta has moved. Physically, I am feeling pretty good.
Maternity clothes: I found THREE PAIRS OF MATERNITY SHORTS at the garage sales!! I also found a gorgeous maternity sun dress, and several shirts! Garage sales rock. In Nebraska, we’ve already had some 80 and 90-degree days and I was miserable in my maternity jeans. I have a few skirts, but I knew I needed to find some shorts, stat! I am in love with my maternity shorts. They are the best.
Sleep: Still sleeping like a rock.
Best moment this week: Hanging out with my family while getting baby stuff at garage sales.
Worst moment this week: The gnawing worry about this placenta issue.
Miss anything? I miss being able to exercise, and I miss my natural delivery plans.
Movement: Lots and lots! Baby moves a lot these days. We went and saw my sister perform in a local theater group, and while she was singing a song–baby woke up, and was going crazy in there. He/she definitely reacts to loud noises.
Cravings/Eating: We ate so well on our babymoon, I am pretty sure I gained several pounds! I am really trying to guzzle the water down to combat any swelling, and so I constantly have a glass (or big jar) of water/herbal tea in my hands these days.
Symptoms: low back pain, inability to sit up (I have to roll over), sore feet/ankles, occasional motion sickness (especially if I’m hungry).
How’s Daddy doing? Let me just say, that pregnancy has made me beyond grateful that I married such a wonderful man. He has been such a sweetheart throughout this entire pregnancy: from doing all the shopping/cooking/errands during my first trimester, to being the greatest encourager throughout these placenta issues to daily telling me how beautiful he thinks I am: I just love this guy.
Looking forward to: our ultrasound this week! Definitely feeling excited and scared about this appointment.
Your babymoon sounds like so much fun! I hope your appointment goes well and you get to see more of your baby during the ultrasound!
Toward the end of my pregnancy I started to develop mild pre-eclampsia and my midwife told me I would have to be induced. It was something I had not planned for and so, knew nothing about. It was so scary and really hard to give up the all-natural birth that I wanted so bad! I’m so sorry you have to deal with this. Know that I am praying for you and praying the placenta moves and all the worry will turn to sweet joy and giddy excitement again. I know I wasn’t in the same boat as you are, but something that helped me was remembering that not being able to have a completely natural birth did not make me a bad mom. Doing what we know is best for our babies makes us good moms. 🙂
I am sorry you have to be worried about that! It is hard when you want to be full of joy and have things work out the way you planned. I definitely went through that with this pregnancy. I really had to do a lot of self work to mentally prepare myself for our C-section. The last few ultrasounds were a bit difficult because I knew that the boys hadn’t moved. But I tried to focus on how wonderful it was just to get to see them and how healthy they were. If you do have to have a C-section, I will say that it was not the experience I wanted, but I felt very loved and supported by those performing it. Definitely ask for things like skin to skin as soon as possible. And if they are willing, delayed cord clamping. But also mentally prepare yourself not just for the surgery, but for the recovery. I was not prepared well for this part.Recovering from a natural birth isn’t always easy, but it is easier than a C-section in most cases. If you do have to have a C-section, look into buying some ace bandages or wraps and things that will help during recovery. I will hopefully be posting a little bit more about this on our blog soon! It is not the end of the world. But there can be a grieving process, and I get that! It wasn’t what I wanted, but it kept our boys safe, and they were both born very healthy.