27 Weeks, 6 Days

Today I had another ob/gyne check-up, which begins my 2 week appointments. There was both good news and bad news.

GOOD:

I only gained three pounds since my last appointment three weeks ago. I was hoping it would be less than that, but at least it wasn't more! My weight gain was actually more on track with where it should be.

My blood pressure keeps going down. This has surprised me. I've never struggled with high blood pressure, but I'm getting readings that are even lower than what I get when I'm not pregnant. I'm not quite sure why this is happening, but I won't complain!

I'm not supposed to cut any sugar or carbs until after the test. When I told her I'd been cutting back, she told me that could actually cause me to flunk the test because my body won't be used to the sugar. So I'm back to eating "normally", but I don't want to go overboard.

The baby's heartbeat was good - 146.

I've made it to 28 weeks (tomorrow, anyway) and that is a milestone in the baby's development, particularly for the eyes. By the 28th week they are fully formed and the eyelids have opened. The baby should now be around 2 pounds.

BAD:

I found out the 60-80 ounces of water I am drinking each day is nowhere near what I should be drinking. She told me I should be drinking a gallon a day - around 120 ounces! I don't know how I'm going to manage to drink all of that, but I'll try. I think I might fill a gallon jug with water each morning so I know exactly how much I'm drinking.

I got some more info. about the glucose test. Unfortunately they have to draw my blood four separate times. I was really hoping she would say they would draw it from an i.v. or just use a blood sugar monitor (the finger poke type). Oh well, I'll live!

I measured two centimeters ahead at this appointment - something I never did with the boys and have not done so far with this one either. The dr. said that is even more reason to get the 3 hr. glucose test done because possibly the baby is growing too large because of GD. I hope not because he still has quite a while to grow in there and I really don't want to deliver a big baby! If the test comes back negative I'm not sure what she will consider next as a possibility for being ahead of schedule.

I told the doctor I've been having some stronger contractions lately. She told me real labor contractions need to last 60-90 seconds, but I mentioned that I'm nervous because I had similar contractions with my other two boys and it always caused early dilation. She offered to do an exam, which I was hoping for (even though I dislike them). The news wasn't terribly bad, but it wasn't terribly good either. My cervix is soft (but thankfully still high) and she put me down as a finger tip dilated, though she said it was barely that. If I was 34 weeks I wouldn't be bothered by this news, but since I am only at 28 tomorrow it wasn't exactly what I wanted to hear. I don't quite know what to do with this information, except to be extra vigilant to take it easy when my body starts sending me signals.

Please continue to pray for a continued, healthy pregnancy and that I pass my test Friday morning!