The End of the Second Trimester

From what I understand, the "glory days" of this pregnancy will be crashing to an end soon. :)

I had another OB appointment today. Dr. Herr said that Noah is growing well and his heartbeat is strong. I had to do the "sugar test" today to check for gestational diabetes. I should get the results on Monday. I had to chug a bottle of what tasted kind of like orange soda, sit for an hour, and then have my blood drawn. Fun, fun. I got a prescription for Nexxium to help with the heartburn and hopefully the disturbing chest pains. We talked about those crampy feelings I get, counting kicks (there should be at least 10 movements in a 2-hour period), watching out for pre-term labor, Braxton-Hicks (lo and behold, I have those now!) and my delivery options. People have been passionately trying to dissuade me from having a c-section but I am feeling a bit better after talking things over with my doc. I get to start visiting the doctor every two weeks for the duration of the pregnancy. I have really enjoyed Dr. Herr and would highly recommend her.

Exciting news! We have a 3D sonogram scheduled for February 3. I'm sure everyone will get to share in the fun since I think they send us home with pics and more video. Or maybe we'll sell tickets to offset the cost of this joyous event. ;) 30 minutes of watching our baby in action and seeing what he looks like, sort of, will be well worth it I'm sure.

This week I read the book Belly Laughs by Jenny McCarthy. Oh my word...she is frank about her experience with pregnancy. It was pretty funny (giggling out loud) and lots of thinking, "Wow, that is so true and I would love to say that myself..." However, for the sake of the moms out there reading (you know, mine and Jeremy's), I will refrain from being that blunt and honest! ;) Oh, and I started a women's bible study group through my church this week that I am excited about...except that I haven't started my studying yet. Gotta get on the ball! This is week is John 1-7.

But I will end with this prego story! Early this morning I was dreaming about several odd, random things as usual, when I dreamed about this little kid kicking me in the stomach. At that point, I awoke to discover that it was actually Noah going to town, kicking the heck out me. He doesn't usually awaken me, so I must have been squishing him a bit or something. I got this email from the "What to Expect" website today and it clearly summarizes my nightly slumbering habits:

Week 27: Back to Sleep
"I can't sleep on my stomach any more — but is it safe to sleep on my back?"
Call it a Murphy's Bed Law of Pregnancy — now that you need a good night's sleep more than ever, it's getting harder and harder to get one. Getting comfortable in bed isn't easy anymore — especially if your favorite position is tummy-down and your tummy is currently the size of a watermelon (a very squirmy watermelon). But before you flip onto your back to catch those z's you crave, consider this: Experts recommend that pregnant women not sleep on their backs during the second and third trimesters because the weight of the growing uterus and baby pressing on major veins can interfere with optimum circulation (and circulation is a pregnancy's best friend).
So what position should you shift to when you're in search of slumber? Your best bedtime bet is to lie on your side. Though it's less important which side you choose, the left side allows for maximum blood flow (less pressure on the vena cava) and could reduce swelling in the legs. To get yourself comfy in that position, pull out all the stops — and all the pillows. You can try putting one pillow between your legs, one under your belly, and one behind your back — or any other improvised combination that allows you to sleep like a baby. You can try a wedge-shaped pillow for support. Another option is a full-length body pillow (which, when you shift positions with it, actually provides good training for alligator wrestling).
Best intentions (and nightly get-comfortable rituals) notwithstanding, you can't always control what pose your body strikes in your sleep. If you wake up on your tummy or your back — no harm done. That you woke up in the first place is probably your body's way of telling you to change positions (and maybe that it's time to pee again). So (after your trip to the bathroom) just haul yourself back into position — which at this point is probably no small undertaking (relocate four pillows, swing over the legs and belly, push out buttocks, rearrange the pillows…are you comfortable yet?).