25 Week Appointment for Seth

I've been having frightening and bizarre nightmares lately about Seth's arms and legs shrinking or falling away from his body. I wake up freaked out and have felt very anxious about going in for my next appointment. I've just needed to see my little buddy on the ultrasound machine... I've needed to see his long arms and legs, a healthy beating heart, and a growing baby to put my over-active imagination at ease.

I've had other issues that have concerned me about this pregnancy so far too...

For starters, I'm already having contractions! Very sporadic contractions, but contractions none the less! Apparently, at my next appointment, I have to start having non stress tests every time I go in. Joy! As of right now, I've been put on "limited bed rest". I'm not confined to bed, but I'm under orders to limit my picking up of the kids and to stay off my feet as much as possible. The only form of exercise he wants me doing is possibly swimming. If I have more than 5 contractions in an hour I am to head straight for the hospital... sporadic or not. These next 15 weeks are looking like they could be real fun!

One of my complaints for Dr. Joy today was how sore and swollen I've been in my "female area" lately. Sorry if that's a little too much info for some of you...

After an ultrasound, I was informed the reason for the discomfort is because Mr. Seth is already nice and comfortable in a head down position in my pelvis. So when I feel like I need to walk around holding my belly up because there is so much pressure it feels like Seth could just topple out at any moment... yeah,.. that's because he's deemed my pelvis as a nice firm pillow for his sweet little head.

You know what was kind of neat though? Dr. Joy commented on Seth's position. He said it looked like Seth was kneeling instead of being in the "normal" fetal position. When I asked if that were something to worry about, he quickly assured me it wasn't and that he only brought it up because it seemed fitting for this pregnancy. I just thought it was neat!

As far as Seth's arms and legs... I'm happy to report they have not fallen away from his body! Quite the opposite actually. Dr .Joy spent time to let me see each of Seth's limbs and commented on how "robust" this not so little bundle has become already. I asked "Is that your way of saying I have a butterball in my belly?" while Dr. Joy just laughed and said "he's definitely a healthy boy"! It was true music to my ears to hear those words.

Speaking of robust, my weight gain is really starting to irritate me. Dr. Joy tested my thyroid today and I will do my GD testing at my next appointment. I am barely eating anything! I haven't been hungry lately so I've been forcing myself to eat, but I gained 8 pounds in just under a month. I've already gained 30 pounds this pregnancy and it's making me really uncomfortable in my own skin. I'm so scared I'm going to balloon up like I did with Wyatt and it will cause my water to break early. I gained 42 pounds in the last 3 1/2 weeks with Wyatt and I don't want history to repeat itself. I'll update when I get my thyroid results back. Hopefully it's a quick fix or nothing to worry about at all.

Lets see, what else have I not covered?

Ah, starting on March 29th I have to drive into Knoxville to the UT hospital every 4 weeks to monitor Seth's growth. Dr. Joy said with as robust as Seth looks now he highly doubts I'll have to worry about him suffering from growth restriction, but that he'd rather be safe than sorry. I agree 100% and you'll hear no complaining from me at getting the opportunity to see Seth even more often than I do already :)

Other than that, I was told it's already time to go register at the hospital. Oh my! And Dr. Joy recommended that a sibling class might be a good idea for Ansley and Eli to aide them in the idea that this baby (hopefully) will get to come home after he leaves my belly. Ansley still asks me periodically when baby Seth is going to heaven like Wyatt did... I think the class sounds like a good idea. Maybe it will help all of us come around to the idea that Seth might just join our family the way we hope he will.

Sorry about the rambling post... We covered a lot of ground at my appointment today! Also, I don't have a new picture to share unless you absolutely must see another "It's a BOY" picture. It's becoming very clear to Dr. Joy and I that Seth likes to show off his boyishness. Seth and his big brother Eli will get along just fine!