SAW OUR LITTLE JUNE BUG AGAIN!!!

We really did get to see June Bug this morning and it was so wonderful.  Jason's Mother is in town and we thought it would be fun to head over to our local elective ultrasound boutique to get a peek at our precious little babe.  It was.  The bug was so snuggly in there, all squished up against and wrapped around the placenta.  We fell in love all over again.  It was such a wonderful little treat and a great way to spend the morning with Oma, Nana, Papa, and the boys.  Afterward, we had lunch at Lucille's and then topped of the day with a visit to Babies R' Us where we bought a little something to add to our Bugs wardrobe.  Oh --- and we got some bottles.  It was a good GOOD day!!!

LOOKS LIKE ALL THE WORKING OUT IS RUBBING OFF....

HAD ANOTHER ULTRASOUND TODAY....

Yep.... definitely STILL cooking!!! Bwahahahahahaha.....

IT'S A HARSH REALITY....

SUBSEQUENT PREGNANCIES AND CRAMPING...

I have heard that uteran pain and cramping, round ligament pain, and after birth pains all get worse with each subsequent pregnancy and boy oh boy is it true.  I cannot sleep (day or night) without my uterus burning and cramping.  So strange.  It has me thinking that those afterbirth cramps are gonna be a real doozy this time around.  Holy moly this is gonna be one crazy ride.  Not to worry though, I am still out of my mind with excitement about giving birth again!!!  It may hurt like hell, but there is nothing like it in the world and man does it make me feel like super woman.  I know.  I know.  I am a tried and true nutter.  LOL.

UP ALL HOURS OF THE NIGHT...

I cannot stop myself.  I am up until 2am EVERY night scouring the internet for the newest, greatest, and most adorable baby "stuff".  I am baby registry crazy and I am crazy about this little BUG!!!  Absolutely, head over heels, in love with our soon to be newest edition.  All I think about is giving June Bug the best welcome home with the most precious of little baby items.  I can't wait to wrap that little body in footie jammies and aden and anais muslin swaddles!!!  I am even GAGA over these fabulous muslin wraps that I found on Etsy.  Lightweight, breathable wraps that will allow me to wear my precious summer babe without either of us melting and suffocating in the heat.  You know I love wearing my bitty babies!!!  Heck, I wore Miles until he was well over 2 years old.  Love it love it love it.

IT'S TIME FOR THE CUSTOMARY GIANT BOOBIES POST

Yep.  It's that time again.  Time to go shopping for bigger boulder holders.  Man, it just keeps happening faster and faster with each pregnancy.  I don't know why I don't just hold on to the bigger bras in the first place.  I think I am just so relieved to be back to my normal size that I feel the need to have a giant  bra burning party!!!  Honestly, though, this time around I am really enjoying them.... so far.  They haven't gotten too painful yet!!!  But, alas, I still need some bras that don't cut into my "new" assets and, as we all know, Jason LOVES bra shopping!!!  Merry Christmas to him!!!! LOL.

PREGNANCY WEIGHT GAIN

Since I didn't get in to see my Midwife until I was 11 weeks pregnant, I opted to chart my own pregnancy weight gain beginning at 4 weeks.  I figured she would love to have the weights from the weeks before our first appointment and she did!!! She also told me to just go ahead and keep using my scale, at home, to take my weight.  I was so freaking happy!!!  I don't know about anyone else, but I truly believe that the scales in doctors offices are of the devil.  I have yet to set foot on one of  those things that didn't put me at at least 10lbs. over what my scale reads at home.  I have two home scales a digital one and a good old, nothing fancy, spring scale.  These two scales measure within 2 to 3 lbs of each other and I like the numbers they give me.  I swear they never recalibrate or readjust those doctor office scales.  Anyhow, this pregnancy I have been making sure to eat as healthy as I can and getting a good amount of exercise.  I want to make sure that I gain enough weight, and good quality weight for my health and for the baby's health.  I am trying (TRYING) to avoid too much junk food and eating things for breakfast like an avocado with a deviled egg and a serving of yogurt.  This isn't always easy when all I really want is a McDonalds Sausage Biscuit meal.  I, of course, do cave in to some of my cravings, but I have been pretty good about limiting the junk food.  Last night I was dying for a Chipotle Burrito, but I decided to go a little healthier and opted for the Chipotle Salad loaded with chicken and veggies!!!  Still covered it in chipotle tabasco sauce!!!  So yummy.  Well, the hard work is paying off, and at the end of the first trimester my weight gain was a whopping 1lb.!!!  The recommended weight gain for first trimester is 1-4lbs.  I did lose a few pounds in the beginning when I started eating healthier and taking my workouts more seriously, but I am currently 1lb. over pre-pregnancy weight and really looking forward to the even bigger changes that are to come in the second trimester.  Second trimester recommendation is 1-2lbs. per week as the baby is now starting to put on mass and weight!!!  How cool!!!  I will finally start to get that big, tight, round belly that is obvious pregnancy belly and not just "oh hey.... are you bloated?"!!!  LOL!!!!  We shall see if I can stay within the recommended 1-2lbs. per week.  I had a few weeks in both of my first pregnancies where I put on 7-9lbs. which was -- well -- really kind of fantastical.  I still have no idea how that happened.  I remember having a really good laugh with Renee about it.  She kept asking me.... "What the heck did you eat?????"  Bwahahahahahahaha...  "I ate a babe-ay!!!!!"  Nom Nom.!!!  LOL.  The truth is, I grow GINORMO babies and some weeks they just plump up more than others.  I am thinking that this pregnancy will be no different!!!  Anyhow, momma and baby are doing very well and are very healthy.  I am so proud of how well I have been taking care of the both of us!!!

OH SO CRAMPY....

I am thinking that June Bug and I are going through another little growth spurt as I was hit with some moderate low back aches and round ligament pain that had me on self required bed rest last night.  The low back ache was somewhat alarming, but when the round ligament pain kicked in I knew that June Bug and I were fine and that we just needed to take it easy.  Today I am still experiencing some mild round ligament pain, but all in all feeling loads better.

OH YOU FEISTY LITTLE FETUS!!!

My dear little June Bug....  I woke up during a nap the other day to our bug kicking and punching the holy heck outta my uterus!!!  I was so giddy.  Ever since then this little one has been giving momma some not so gentle nudges all day long.  I haven't been around Jason when they are happening to see if he can feel them yet, but I am hoping that tonight our little bean will get on another roll and we will have a chance to find out!!!  I am planning on enjoying every last early kick and punch.  They are so soft and gentle and wonderful.  I know in just a months time they will become those not so gentle blows to the ribs and kidneys!!!  Bwahahahahahahaha.  ALL of my kiddos know just the right rib spot to wedge a good kick into!!!  Oh how I love my beans!!!

WE HAVE CONFIRMATION!!!

The results are back and we are so happy (and relieved) to announce that Baby June Bug is Rhesus Negative just like momma!!!  This is such a blessing in that we don't have to worry in any way about blood sensitization or the need for Rhogam or transfusions.  What a wonderful gift for the holidays.  We also received confirmation that momma did in fact see the correct gender during the 12 week First Trimester Screening.  Let's just say that this momma has seen her fair share of 12 week scans (3 now to be exact) and knows what the parts look like or not.  So, we have scheduled our gender reveal party and have sent out invites.  Now we just have to hope and pray that we can keep sealed lips for another few weeks.  We will be revealing the name we have chosen for our baby on that day as well.  It should prove to be a really fun and surprising day!!!

13 WEEKS PREGNANT

Yay! It’s the last week of the first trimester and you did it. We’re not just talking about getting through those work meetings without falling asleep (or puking!), we’re talking about how you’ve completed one whole third of your pregnancy -- and the reputed toughest one at that. You’ve grown a fetus that has vocal cords, teeth and even fingerprints (wow!) and you probably kept this incredible news (mostly) secret while you constantly wished you could shout it from the rooftops -- or, at the very least, use it as an excuse for getting to work late. It’s about this time that many parents-to-be start spreading the word (to more people than just close family and friends) that there’s a baby on the way. But know that there are no hard and fast rules about when you should divulge your secret. It could be after your next prenatal doctor visit, once you start showing or at a big family event where everyone will be gathered. Or maybe everyone already knows! That’s totally your call.

your baby's the size of a peach!

She's about 2.9 inches long and weighs about .81 ounces, and -- proportion-wise -- her head's now about 1/3 the size of her body (remember? It used to be bigger!).

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your baby at 13 weeks

• Can you believe she's forming vocal cords and teeth?!
• And even though she's still teeny, she already has fingerprints.
• Her intestines are moving from the umbilical cord to their more permanent place, in her tummy.

 pregnancy symptoms at 13 weeks

• Visible veins, thanks to your increased blood flow.
• Less fatigue and nausea, as you enter the second trimester, which is known to be the least symptomatic.
• Maybe an increased sex drive -- enjoy!

 your must-do's

• Schedule your second trimester tests.

 your nice-to-do's

• Celebrate -- one trimester down, two to go!
• Start planning maternity leave
• Make sure you're exercising! You'll probably feel more energized during the second trimester, so take advantage.

OLD WIVES TALES - GENDER PREDICTION

Seeing as how there has been so much anticipation surrounding the gender of baby June Bug we thought that it would a lot of fun to put all of the Old Wives Tales about gender prediction to the test.  There are LOTS of people who are on team "girl" and, of course, a few (like momma) who are on team "it doesn't really matter but another boy would be super nice" and it was so much fun to see what the wives tales predict.  We compiled results from several different tests and the final tally is very VERY close!!!  So without further ado:

BAKING SODA TEST = GIRL

CHINESE PREDICTION CHART = GIRL

INTELLIGENDER = BOY

DRANO = GIRL

LOW OR HIGH BUMP = BOY

ACNE = GIRL

RING SWING = GIRL

FETAL HEART RATE = GIRL

CRAVING SALTY/SWEET FOOD = BOY

MORNING SICKNESS = BOY

KEY TEST = BOY

FATHER TO BE SYMPATHY WEIGHT = BOY

TOTAL:

BOY = 6

GIRL = 6

As you can see it was VERY close..... a dead heat in fact.   If everyone remembers our last pregnancy blog, the Intelligender said boy and we indeed had a boy!!! I am definitely carrying the same as my last two pregnancies (at least so far) and I have been blessed, yet again, with no morning sickness.  I do have some acne and, I do not even think about sweets, and Jason appears to weigh the same as he always has.  All so very interesting.  We do also have the Ultrasound Techs best guess/Nub Theory to go by, but I am afraid that there is a little more validity to that prediction and I withheld the results until further notice!!! LOL!!!  Of course, this was all in good fun, and we will be over the moon no matter what the gender of our little bug is.  We adore the idea of a little sister for the boys to look over and love on, but we also get giddy at the thought of having a house full boys, three brothers to take on the world!!!  Momma would always love another adoring "momma's boy" or a little girl to do girlie things with.  Daddy loves the idea of having a little princess to walk down the aisle one day and is very keen on the idea of having another pal to monkey around with and be "one of the guys" with!!!  

FIRST TRIMESTER SCREENING AND UPDATED DUE DATE

Had our First Trimester Screening today!!!  It was our first look at baby June Bug and he/she was so absolutely perfect.  Dr. Samadi said the baby looks beautiful and that the nuchal fold is nice and thin.  We got to see and hear his/her heart beating and we watched June bug really wriggle and move.  He/she even had us a cracking up with several minutes of trying to get a thumb in the mouth.  June bug isn't very coordinated or accurate yet and it was such a wonderful sight to see him/her trying to cram that little thumb in there and totally missing. Of course, it is too soon to tell for sure what the gender is, but the tech and I took a pretty close look and we both have the same suspicion.  We will most likely know for sure this afternoon when Renee gets in touch with us to tell us the blood test results.  We won't be revealing what we think it is or what the test results say just yet because we do plan on having a little gender reveal party!!!  We are realy looking forward to that!!!  One last big thing, we were given a new due date as the baby is measuring 13 weeks 1 day.  This means that we are looking forward to baby making their arrival closer to the 17th of June rather than the 22.  Works for us!!!  All in all it was an incredible visit and we are so grateful for another beautiful First Trimester Screening and another healthy looking and sounding babe!!!

12 WEEK BELLY PIC

The bump has not budged in the last 4 weeks!!! Despite that I can already feel the top of my uterus about 2 inches above my pubic bone!!! Love it.

FIRST PRENATAL APPOINTMENT

Our first prenatal appointment has come and gone!!!  There's not too much to report.  We were not able to pick up June Bugs heartbeat on the fetal doppler yet, so we will have to wait until our next appointment to hear that precious little woosh woosh.  That was kind of a bummer, as I was hoping to hear that wonderful sound.  We did all of the usual blood and urine tests.  There was no protein or glucose present and I will have to wait for the lab to send back the rest of the results.  We did do a new blood test that I am very excited about.  It tests my blood for traces of fetal DNA in order to get a blood type for the baby.  I wrote a separate post about this below, explaining what it all means and why.  But I will add that this test also indicates the gender of the baby and we are very excited to announce that we will know whether or not June Bug is a boy or a girl by Monday!!!  The anticipation is almost unbearable.  Everything else was just routine questions and talking about my diet and the supplements I am taking.  I was given the okay to ditch my nasty prenatal vitamin as Renee says that the my liquid B Complex, liquid D3, Salmon Oil, and liquid Calcium mixed into beet and carrot juice provides ample amounts of what I need.  I also told her that I am eating tons of greens, broccoli, and vitamin c loaded fruits.  Which reminds me....  I have a kiwi in the fridge that is calling my name.  xoxoxoxo

INCREDIBLE ADVANCEMENT IN PERINATOLOGY

If you followed our last pregnancy blog, then you may already know that I have a Rhesus Negative blood type.  This is, under normal circumstances, not a big deal, but when I become pregnant it can be a matter of life and death for my unborn child (especially for second or more fetuses). If my unborn baby happens to also have a Rhesus Negative blood type then everything is a-ok.  But, if my baby happens to have a Rhesus Positive blood type, as Lennon did, then things can become very complicated.  If a Rhesus Negative mother's blood mixes with her Rhesus Positive fetuses blood then the mother's body begins creating antibodies against ALL positive blood.  These antibodies will attack the blood of the fetus and future fetuses, resulting in sever anemia and most likely still birth. Fortunately, for Lennon, Miles was O-negative.  This means that there was never a chance of blood sensitization during my first pregnancy, which means I never developed antibodies, which in turn means my pregnancy with Lennon was like having a first time pregnancy in relationship to blood sensitization.  It was highly unlikely that mine and Lennon's blood would mix (barring any unforseen injuries).  BUT.... once I gave birth to Lennon the possibility that our blood may have mixed in the labor and birth process increased.  This means that in order to be safe for future pregnancies, I needed to receive a dose of a "vaccination" called Rhogam.  With my sensitivities to vaccines, I was very hesitant to get this shot, but decided that the benefit outweighed  the risk.  This is where you may remember my post about my severe allergic reaction to the Rhogam shot, my ambulance ride, and stay in the ER only a day after my little Lennon was born.  Well, seeing as how we are pregnant again, I am very grateful that I received the shot, despite the intense arthritic pain and swelling that I experienced for over a year after having had that shot.  But there is a new blood test out, this year, that searches out tiny fetal dna fragments in the mother's blood stream that indicates babies blood type in the early EARLY stages of pregnancy.  This means that if mother's have, in fact, developed rhesus disease, then doctors can begin blood transfusions early on that  prevent anemia and save the baby's life.  INCREDIBLE!!!  This also means that we will know, right away, whether or not I will actually need to risk the vaccination again, opt out and sterilize, or not even need it because baby is rhesus negative.   I am over the moon.  There is also one other teeny tiny advantage this blood test.  Since this test involves fragments of DNA from the fetus, they can also determine the gender of the baby.  Obvious,y, the health of the baby is what's most important, but when my midwife mentioned that we would also be able to tell the gender I was beyond excited.  So....  we will have our results back on Monday, and we should know whether or not June Bug is Rhesus Negative or Positive and whether or not our bug will be a he or a she.  That puts us at a gender determination at 12 weeks 2 days preggo!!!  Woohoo!!!

ARTICLE ABOUT THE BLOOD TEST I RECEIVED....

Blood test breakthrough for unborn babies

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Scientists have developed a genetic test which can help diagnose a potentially fatal blood disorder in babies while they are still in the womb, it emerged today.

The technique has been designed to help pregnant women with Rhesus disease, which occurs when the mother's immune system reacts against her baby's blood type.

Under the new procedure, doctors are able to extract the unborn baby's DNA from a sample of the mother's blood.

This allows them to determine the developing foetus' blood group just a few weeks into the pregnancy.

The team behind the pioneering blood test are now hoping it could be used to identify and treat other inherited genetic diseases in unborn children.

The research and development of the technique was carried out by a team from the Blood Transfusion Service at Southmead Hospital and the University of the West of England, led by Professor Peter Soothill, from the University of Bristol.

"It is now possible to do genetic tests on unborn babies from their mother's blood," he said.

"This is invaluable in terms of treating Rhesus disease, but what is really exciting is the opportunities it has for the future.

"What is surprising is that there are free-floating DNA in the mother's blood. That could have important health implications."

Rhesus disease occurs in about one in a hundred cases of pregnant women with Rhesus negative blood having babies with Rhesus positive blood.

In the worst instances of the disease, the mother's body produces antibodies which attack the baby's red blood cells.

This causes the developing foetus to become anaemic and can ultimately lead to miscarriage or stillbirth.

Rhesus disease had been difficult to detect until late on during a pregnancy, and mothers deemed to be at risk often had to undergo a amniocentesis test.

This carries a risk of miscarriage as well as making the disease more severe.

But Prof Soothill's new procedure means mothers can now be diagnosed at an early stage and not have to undergo the high risk test.

It also means the baby can be given regular blood transfusions through the umbilical cord to ensure it remains healthy and does not have to be born prematurely.

Professor Soothill said about 17% of all pregnant women had Rhesus negative blood, but that only one in 100 of these who then had Rhesus positive babies developed the disease.

He said about four years work had gone into developing the procedure, which he added, was now attracting interest from all over the world.

"There is nowhere else in the world that is doing this at the moment," he said.

"We have had blood samples from the United States and other parts of the world."

The professor said he hoped the test, which has so far been carried out on 140 women with 100% accuracy, would soon become more widely available.

He said it could ultimately be used to reduce the number of intrusive procedures carried out during pregnancy.

Rachel and Dave Lewis, from Yatton, Bristol, are one of the first couples to benefit from the pioneering new procedure.

The couple's first child, three-year-old Rohan, had to be born prematurely by Caesarean section after Mrs Lewis was identified late on in her pregnancy as having Rhesus disease.

Rohan had become anaemic and had to spend several weeks in intensive care and under phototherapy lights before he was allowed home.

When Mrs Lewis fell pregnant with the couple's second child, Alanna, she was offered the pioneering test after just a few days by staff at St Michael's hospital in Bristol.

The test showed again that she had Rhesus disease, but this time doctors were able to monitor her condition and carry out regular blood transfusions to ensure the baby was kept healthy throughout the nine-month term.

"This time has been completely different," said Mrs Lewis. "With Rohan, I was discharged and had to go home without my baby. I was a nervous wreck.

"With Alanna, I have been monitored right throughout the pregnancy, which gave us so much more confidence.

"She has not needed any special care, she feeds better - she is just a normal healthy, happy baby. The last time was traumatic, this time I felt safe."