preparing for sick leave

I have decided that it's finally time to take my Dr's advice and go on sick leave.  She has been suggesting this for the past two months (actually, maybe it's been more than that).  And I have to say that for most of the 2nd trimester, I felt pretty good.  I didn't want to rush into the sick leave thing because getting out everyday and keeping busy with work has had some advantages.  Although I feel huge, I haven't gained as much as I did with my first pregnancy.  And it has helped pass the time more quickly.

However, it's time to rest.  Teaching young children requires a lot of physical energy.  And if I were one of the lucky ladies of this world who have healthy, normal pregnancies, I'd try to hang in there til the very end.  Or if I had an office job, I'd stay on longer.  But I'm not one of those women nor do I have one of those jobs.

Aside from a history of one preterm baby, I've had a lot of stuff going on this time around.  The spotting, the actual bleeding, the placenta problems, and some more spotting.  Yeah, these are the parts that have certainly not been fun. 

For example, I had some recent spotting.  Two seperate episodes, one brown and one pink.  Both causing a bit of concern, although I didn't panic.  I believe that I mentioned the brown spotting in the previous post.  My Dr. ordered an ultrasound for that (which was good) and told me that I need more rest.  The pink spotting I mentioned to the ER Dr. when I went to have an absess on my leg looked at (which btw, they didn't have to call the surgeon for, I was given a local antibiotic cream, told to continue the oral antibiotic I was already on for an infection, and it is healing on it's own....thank God...draining an absess can be very painful).  With my history, the ER OB/GYN informed me that everything MUST be investigated.  So, she ordered a CTG scan (which I'm a pro at bcuz I had to do this every 8 hours for 1/2 an hour each session for the whole week before little guy was born). 

This scan monitors baby's heart rate and checks for contractions.  Two sensors are strapped onto Mommy's belly, and she gets to relax in bed.  This time I was given a little switch and asked to pushed the button each time I felt the baby move.  For more info, click here.  p.s.  This is also where I got the above image.

My scan showed that baby was fine, but the Dr. still wanted an ultrasound done.  She was concerned about the placenta and the cervix.  So she was able to get me in for an "urgent" ultrasound, which thankfully showed that baby and everything else are fine.  And again I was told, "more rest".

So, it's that time.  To finally listen. 

image via

My priority is to keep this pregnancy going along for as long as possible, for baby's sake.  So, in less than 2 weeks, I'll be going on leave.  I hate to leave my students at this time, in the middle of the year, but they'll be fine.  My supervisor is in the process of hiring my sub, and if we find her in time, I can train her before I go on leave.

I'm just trying to get things all ready and organized for the sub and then I'll be on my way.  I won't return until after my maternity leave.  That's a weird feeling, but not a bad one.  I think I'll get more time with little guy and hubby, which is a great feeling.  :) 

And on a happy note, my friends are throwing me a baby shower this weekend, complete with a Thanksgiving dinner.  Yay!  I'm excited more about the food than the gifts or the games...lol.  Little guy is super excited.  On the same day he gets to have his Star of the Week party at school and then a party for "his baby" in the evening (where he'll get to play with 27 of his friends...yes, I have a lot of friends, who have a lot of kids...lol).

So, here's to less than 2 more weeks of work!  

pregnancy update. 28 weeks.

Aren't you all excited?  I'm writing 2 posts in one day.  LOL.  I've been so busy and so occupied it isn't even funny.  I've had no extra time for blogging.  However, I have sort of made this blog a place where my family can read up on my pregnancy details and I'm sure they've been wondering what's going on.  So an update is in order.

I had an appointment with my OB/GYN this past week.  I mentioned to her that I had some brown spotting a week before.  And btw, if you ever experience brown spotting, you must inform your Dr.  I only had it once so I didn't panic.  I decided that if I were to see if again, I would go to the ER and get checked.  Knowing that I had an appt. and with only seeing it that one time, I waited until I went to the Dr. (also I had nothing out of the ordinary; the baby was moving as usual, there were no cramps, etc).  I personally thought that it could've been related to the suppositories that I have to take.  But who knows. 

My Dr. is being extra cautious with me.  We want to try our best to prevent another preterm birth, but at the same time be prepared in case it's inevitable.  Also, it's around this time that many Drs will order some more testing.  So this is the list of things my Dr wanted:

• Glucose Test...For this test I had to fast for 8 hours.  I was only allowed to drink water.  They will take one tube of blood and then give you a sweet orange drink (it's kinda like the orange drink that they had at McDonald's when I was little).  Then you have to wait for two hours.  After the 2 hour period, they will take another tube of blood.  The blood gets sent to the lab and they will determine if you have gestational diabetes (diabetes that occurs only in pregnancy).  My result:  no diabetes
• Blood Test...Just a routine blood test to make sure things are all good and healthy.  My result:  A slight infection.  I have to take an antibiotic and use a vaginal creme for one week (which is no fun because those suppositories I was talking about before now have to be used rectally...ew).
• Urine Test...Another routine test done throughout pregnany.  My result:  good, no problems.
• Steriod Injections...I had to have these done when I was admitted a week before little guy was born.  The injections will help the baby's lungs to develop in case of an early birth.  There are two injections and they are given 12 hours apart.  And I have to say that while the actual injection itself doesn't bother me, the after part does.  It hurts for a little while after.  I had a sore bottom, but don't worry, it goes away after a small amount of time.
• Ultrasound...I never mind my Dr requesting one of these.  I like to see the baby and make sure he's alright in there.  And our littlest little guy is doing just fine.  He was actually chilling out and resting his hand on his face.  And he already resembles his big brother, at least in utero.  And in addition to that, the placenta is good.  It's in the upper segment, which is where it should be.  So that's a major plus (remember before, I had bleeding because the placenta was low and there was a small detachment?). 

So all in all, things are coming along well.  My Dr wanted to give me a sick leave so that I stop working.  I'm going to hang in there for a few more weeks and then most likely take her up on the idea.  It's becoming more and more difficult at work.  I teach 2nd grade and that involves a lot of physical activity.  I will not push myself, so knowing my limits, my time at work before baby arrives is getting shorter.  I already informed my supervisor to start looking for my sub as I will be on leave sooner than later.

And because my ultrasound is telling me that I'm 28 weeks and due 6th of Feb (a week earlier than our previous date), I'm even more concentrated on getting baby's things ready.  I have 90% of my list complete.  We have a few more things to buy and we'll be ready for this baby to arrive.  I'll be packing the hospital bags in the near future as well.
From my first child I learned.  It's never too early to be prepared and ready.

image via google

yes i'm getting "big", it's called being pregnant

Rule #1 when talking to a pregnant woman....NEVER, and I mean, NEVER, EVER tell her that she looks too big or too small.  It is THE most insulting thing you can say and it will send her into a mental panic.

Telling a woman that she looks too small to be whatever month she is in will make her worry that her baby is not growing enough.

Telling a woman she is too big will make her worry that she will deliver a full grown elephant (not to mention that you're basically telling her that she looks like a whale, and believe me, she already feels like one, so no need to make her feel any worse).

The truth of the matter is that all women and all pregnancies are different.  You simply cannot compare, SO DON'T!  Keep your mouth shout and you'll save her the worry and stress, and yourself a black eye.  ;)

In my own personal case, I have had people saying the word "big" and boy does that make me mad.  Ok, first of all, there's a human being growing inside my body.  Of course, I will get big.  If you stuff a pita pocket with food does it stay flat or look bigger?  I think we all get what I'm saying.  And second of all, I care only what my Dr has to say on the matter.  If she think I'm "big" or "too big", she'll be sure to tell me.  This I am sure.

And I would like to thank Demi Moore.  I'm not into the whole posing nude for a cover thing, but she did pose while she was 7 months pregnant (which is the month I am now in).

And while my behind and what not are not as slim looking as hers, my belly size is actually a bit smaller.  And, no, she's not pregnant with twins in this picture.  So there people.  Just google images of pregnant women and you'll see how many different shapes and sizes that women can be while pregnant.

So yes, my stomach is big.  That's because I'm pregnant.  Duh!

Ok, off my soapbox now.  ;)

image via wikipedia

baby laundry

I'm currently on a 10 day vacation, thanks to a religious holiday.  And this Mama needs it.  Little Guy is also excited to have some time off school.  During my vacations, I like to tackle projects around the house that I normally don't have time for during school days.  The list for this particular vacation includes a lot of what I like to call "Baby Prep".  So, I've begun washing for Baby Brother.  Baby clothes are so tiny and adorable.  They make Little Guy look not so little...lol.  But I must admit I've been having a lot of thinking moments.  Realizing that we're about to start from the beginning with a  new baby can weigh on the mind a bit.  However, we'll be fine.  Thinking about the baby on the way and actually handling the baby once he/she's here are completely different.  We tend to worry ourselves for nothing. 

So, back to my baby clothes washing...

We have a combination of clothes for Baby Brother.  Some things from Little Guy are in new condition and I held on to those just in case, which has now become very helpful.  However, there was still shopping to be done.  I'm the 2nd girl in my family so I'm used to hand-me-downs...lol.  And even though I feel no childhood trama from that, I still want each of my children to feel like an individual, starting from birth.  So some new pieces were needed.

Because we're living in the Middle East, my product options are a bit different than what I use in the U.S.  My only option for detergent is Pigeon.

And yes, I'm a firm believer that a baby detergent should be used for newborns.  I actually used it for Little Guy until he was about 1 year old.  Babies have such sensitive skin, and products like Tide seem too harsh in those early weeks and months.  When I'm in the U.S. I like to use Dreft detergent.

I also use baby fabric softner.  I prefer Baby Downy.

I have a front loading dryer (looks like a front loading washing machine, with a see-through door) so fabric sheets don't work all that well.  Although I have used them, they tend to get stuck in the front door/vent area and therefore are not moving about with the clothes like they should.  I have since found Bounce dryer bars which work great with a front loading dryer.  It looks like a bar of soap that hooks into a holder, that sticks inside the drum of the dryer.  They last 30-60 days, depending on which bar you buy.  But because these are fragranced, I just remove the bar during the baby clothes drying.  I figure with the Baby Downy, the clothes should be fine (which they are).  But when I'm staying in the U.S. with a standard drying machine, I buy fragrance-free fabric sheets.

And for all those cute teeny tiny baby accessories like socks and hats, I've been using my lingerie laundry bags.  They are perfect for small things.  I haven't lost a sock yet.  You can find these at a number of places.  I have several from different stores including Walmart, Target, and Dollar General.

And most importantly, don't forget to put these freshly washed clothes in a clean place like a closet, dresser, or container.  Baby Brother is not due until February.  We need to keep his clothes clean.  :)

And with that I'm off to continue the washing.  Next up, towels and blankets.

all images found thru google search

update

I've been a blog slacker.  But, as a pregnant working Mom, life is busy and full.  I have limited "extra time".  And these days I'd much rather go to sleep at a decent hour than stay up late on the computer.  I've been pretty good about getting an average of 8 hours of sleep a night and it's helping.  I'm able to get up on time for work as well as get little guy up and ready for school.  Make no mistake:  A PREGNANT WOMAN MUST GET PLENTY OF REST AND ENOUGH TO EAT.  Follow this rule and you may actually have enough energy to make it through each day.  ;)
So, a little update is in order since it's been over a month.  Geez!  Sorry about that, btw.

My placenta problems seem to have improved.  I've had another ultrasound and Dr's appt. since my last post and things are looking better.  My Dr. explained to me that because of the small detachment I had, there was a small collection of blood.  This is sometimes absorbed by the body, but sometimes it'll exit the body (which is what happen to me).  The important thing is to make sure the problem doesn't get worse.  But thankfully, everything looks much better.  The placenta has moved up thanks to a growing uterus, and no more detachment problems.  We'll keep an eye on this as we move forward. 

We have great news as well.  We have found out the gender of our new little one...

Little guy gets to have a baby brother.  We didn't have a preference in gender, but I'm excited for little guy.  I almost wish they'd be closer in age.  Raising two boys shall be interesting.  But, I'm up for the challenge.  ;)

We've been tackling our shopping list for the new baby.  I am a HUGE fan of Carters, especially for babies, and have bought many new outfits, among other things.  I also have things that I saved from little guy that I can use.  We've been buying packs of diapers and wipes as well.  We buy some everytime we go grocery shopping.  A newborn baby goes through an average of 10 diapers a day!  Best to stock up now.  ;)

Baby brother has been moving a lot these days.  His movements are still what I consider to be light, but there's no mistaking what they are.  He's sneaky I must say.  Hubby was only able to feel once so far, and everytime little guy tries to feel, baby brother takes a break...lol.  But not to worry, these movements will increase in number and in intensity.  I remember this from my first time around.  Little guy loved kicking my rib cage when he was hanging out in there.

My energy has picked up somewhat.  This is common in the 2nd trimester.  And this is also why it is a good idea to do most of the baby preparation during this time.  Take advantage of the ability to get things done, trust me!  Because of work, I have very early mornings, so by evening I'm done.  But during the day, I'm able to get things accomplished.

My friends are planning a baby shower for me next month.  My Mom and sister had one for me when I was pregnant with little guy.  I wasn't really expecting one since this isn't my first, but I think it'll be a lot of fun.  Baby showers are a great help too, I must say, especially for first time parents.  The gifts help Mommy and Daddy save money for other important things that will be needed for baby.

Picking a baby name is very challenging.  We are working on that.  I know, my family members are all curious about this topic.  I'm not sure that we'll even share the name choice until after baby arrives.  A baby's name is something that the parents and siblings should pick out of love.  It is not something up for critic from others.  When my Mom named me Kylie, some people thought it was strange and too different.  But you know what?  It is sooo me, and it is one thing that I've always loved about myself, even as a little girl.  I hope we can find a great name for this baby.

I'll be on vacation soon, and I hope to blog a bit more.  I have a million and one things I could write about...lol.  Hope to return soon.  :)

image via google

placenta problems

Okay, I'm mad at my placenta.  It is causing me problems and stress.  And a pregnanct woman does not need anything extra to worry about.  Hubby jokes and says that maybe this placenta is not a genuine part.  After I explain you may agree.

Two days ago, I had a 2nd bleeding episode.  And again, I'm talking about bright red blood and the amount that you would find during your "friend's" monthly visit.  I didn't have any other symptoms just the bleeding.  So, I went to the ER yet again.

Before I continue, let me back up a little....One week prior I had an appt. with my new Dr.  She delivered my son and I was thrilled to find out that she rejoined the hospital after a long leave of absence.  Just that one appt. with her made me feel a thousand times better about everything.  She's awesome.  She did a quick ultrasound in her clinic to check things out and informed me within 2 seconds that I have a low lying placenta and that is the cause for bleeding.  Hello, previous hospital...Hello, previous doctors...Why, did you all not tell me this.  It's not the best news, but it's not the worst.  And it at least calms a nervous Mama down.  Answers people.  That's all we patients are asking for.

Because of this low lying placenta of mine and my previous preterm experience my Dr. has me taking progesterone suppositories twice a day.  Studies have shown that progesterone can help prevent preterm birth.  My Dr. also suggested that I not work and was willing to write me a sick leave.  But after some discussion we agreed on light work duty for now instead.  And btw, my school actually worked with me on this and reduced my classes (which is a good thing, because had they not I would've taken my Dr. up on her full sick leave idea).  She also told me that I need plenty of rest and no stress.  She will see me next month and also had me schedule an official ultrasound right before my next appt. with her.

Fast forward to my 2nd bleeding episode two days ago...At the ER (and btw, the hospital I transferred to has it's own maternity ER with an OB/GYN always on duty and nurses who are experienced in this field), I was asked some questions and looked at.  The Dr. did not want to do any internal exams of any kind as it could disrupt things.  By this point the bleeding had slowed down to only light spotting.  She checked the baby's heartbeat which was good.  And sent me to have an ultrasound.  The good news is that the ultrasound showed that baby is good.  He/she's moving, and has a good heartbeat.  My cervix is also good.  The bad news is that they saw a small detachment of the placenta and some blood, which is why I'm experiencing the bleeding.  They told me that while this is not normal, it does sometimes happen.  I was then sent back to the ER Dr. who wrote me a sick leave for the next day.  She told me to rest and take it easy until the bleeding stops.  She informed me that I need to be careful as I have two problems right now; a low placenta and a small detachment.  She also reminded me that I should not forget that my son was preterm which in itself puts me at a higher risk.  What fun (I'm being totally sarcastic of course).

When I came home, I of course had to do a little placenta research.  First of all, if you don't know what a placenta is, I'll tell you.  It's an organ that will start to develop and grow once the egg is implanted.  It is very important as it supplies nutrients and oxygen to your baby.  Here's a picture:

When a woman is diagnosed with a low lying placenta earlier in pregnancy, such as myself, it's not immediate cause for concern.  That's because as the uterus grows, the placenta can grow with and move up.  But if it does not, than a woman may be diagnosed with placenta previa.  This is when the placenta is so low that it touches or fully covers the cervix (the opening where baby will come through).  My Dr. has not used this term for me yet, so I'm hopeful that there's a chance it can shift up before delivery.  If a woman has placenta previa, she will be monitored closely and most often the baby will need to be delivered via C-section (because the opening will be blocked and baby will not have a place to come out).

I am a bit concerned about this small detachment business though.  That's because if the placenta detaches from the uterus, serious problems can occur.  Babies have died from this (because their nutrients have been cut off).  And the mother can experience serious bleeding.  However, in these causes, the problem was undetected and therefore proper care and action was not able to be taken.  In my case, we can see through ultrasound that there's a small detachment so we can closely monitor it (I should maybe be thankful for the bleeding as it was a sign that something's going on).  In some cases, it may resolve itself.  If not, I would end up on bedrest, as we try to prolong the pregnancy as long as possible.  And for my family members who read this, do not worry, as my problem has not reached this point and there's a chance it never will.  I just like to be aware and prepare myself, just in case.  After getting worried myself (darn internet that has way too much info), I found this question and answer that helped ease my concerns a bit.

So, after all this crazy fun bag full of news, and a lot of built up worry, I had my big cry yesterday.  Yep, I just let it all out, in the shower.  My tears may have been more than the water coming from the showerhead.  But let me tell you that a good cry does a lot of good.  I felt much, MUCH better afterwards.  I just have to except that my body is not good at being pregnant and that I will have to deal with these weird things.  Hey, it could be A LOT worse.  The good news is that so far the bleeding has stopped.  And I will be seeing my Dr in 2-3 weeks.  I already have my next ultrasound scheduled too.  I'm going to a good hospital and feel that I'm in good hands.

But honestly, I have this gut feeling that this baby may come early too.  I hope I'm wrong.  But I won't be surprised.  So, I'm going to get cracking on this baby list of things that I need and be ready.  I also plan to pack a hospital bag for myself from now.  With these kinds of complications you never know when a trip to the ER can result in an overnight observation stay.  And let's face it, hospital gowns are pretty ugly.  I want some cute PJ's at least.  ;)

And finally, let me just say that I never thought I'd talk this much about placentas.  Just sayin...

image via wikipedia

yes, i'd like a new battery, please

I feel worn out.  As if my battery is completely drained. 

And the crazy part is that I'm having trouble sleeping.  Go figure.  It's kinda like a cruel joke because I will definitely not be able to catch up on sleep once baby arrives.  That was something I really had to adjust to when little guy was born.  I'm fine on 7-8 hours of sleep, but it was definitely a challenge having that sleep broken up by waking up every 2-3 hours.

Some of my sleep problems are from all the adjusting I've been trying to do.  We were on vacation for one month, in a completely different time zone.  When we came back we were still on summer break so we did the night owl routine of staying up all night and sleeping all day.  But now we need to change.  I start work in a couple of days and little guy will start school next week so we've been trying to shift our sleeping pattern.

But I keep waking up.  I wake up to pee.  I wake up because I'm hungry.  I wake up because I seem to be having some leg problems (only in one leg, it could be worse I guess).  And then once I wake up, I stay awake, thinking. 

You know, thinking can be a dangerous thing.  This brain of mine is in overdrive.  I, of course, think about all things baby.  I think about preparing for the baby.  I think about preparing little guy for the baby.  I think about managing work, two children, and a husband (because we all know that husbands are like children).  I think about the new school year that I'm about to begin.  I think about what kind of students I'll be teaching this year (God, please let them be well-behaved angels).  I think about thinking, and then get mad at myself for doing so much of it. 

And btw, this is all different than worrying.  Worrying is an entirely different category that I'm doing a pretty good job of defeating.  For now.

So, every morning I wake up after only 3 hours of sleep.  I go do the pee thing then try to lay down to sleep only to be greeted by my belly grumbling for food.  I go downstairs and eat a bowl of cereal or drink a glass (make that a double) of milk.  Then I head back up to bed to try and sleep.  And that's when the thinking or leg discomfort (sometimes both) begin.  Then I lay there for about 2 hours before I fall back asleep.  After waking up and eating breakfast, little guy plays and I watch a little TV, and then BAM!  It hits me.  Exhaustion.  As if I had no sleep at all.  I fall asleep on the couch.  This dozing off can be as little as 10 minutes or as much as an entire Disney movie (Which may or may not have just happened the other day.  Hey, at least little guy was entertained while I snored away).

I'm so hoping that this will improve once we get back to our work/school schedules.  Or else I'm gonna need a new battery, like now.

In more positive news, I'm starting 17 weeks, and I will see my Dr. in a couple of days.  And maybe, just maybe, I've felt some movement (If you're pregnant and haven't felt anything at this time DO NOT worry.  I'm a 2nd timer which means it's more common to feel things earlier.  You will feel movement anywhere from 18 to 22 weeks, just FYI).

I have a ton of things I want to write about (Remember all that thinking?  Blogging was in there too).  My laptop's in the shop so once I get that back I hope to get cracking on some new blog posts.  Until then I'll be snoozing on my couch.  ;)

image via yahoo image search