Hello Round Ligament Pain

Since Wednesday, June 23rd, I have been having random pain near my pelvic bone, mostly on the right side bot really all over. It feels as if there is pain, kind of like growing pains when I was 10 years old, but in my front pelvis and in lower back near my rectum. They would come and go. I called the Doctor on Wednesday and she said I could take tylenol for them if I wanted. I am tougher than that and told her I could handle it without. I didn't want to take it unless it was unbearable. All day yesterday pain continued here and there. I called this morning and the nurse squeezed me in at 11 am to see the doctor. I saw Dr. Serrano. It was my first time meeting her and she was so nice. She did a internal check and said cervix was fine. Then she pushed on my stomach and I reacted accordingly. I said "OW OW OW, that is it. " She explainded that it was normal and just round ligament pain. She also suggested that I try to keep track of my bowl movements and try to go at least once a day be regular.

http://www.webmd.com/baby/pregnancy-round-ligament-pain

22 Weeks

Baby's now the size of a papaya!
Baby's settling into sleep cycles, snoozing about 12 to 14 hours a day. It shouldn't be hard to figure out when -- just pay attention to those kicks as they start and stop.Real estate within your belly is getting tight, with growing baby leaving little room for your lungs to...well...breathe. Expect the huffing and puffing to start soon. There's not much room for your belly button, either -- it'll pop out any day now. At 11 inches (the length of a spaghetti squash) and almost 1 pound, your baby is starting to look like a miniature newborn. His lips, eyelids, and eyebrows are becoming more distinct, and he's even developing tiny tooth buds beneath his gums. His eyes have formed, but his irises (the colored part of the eye) still lack pigment. If you could see inside your womb, you'd be able to spot the fine hair (lanugo) that covers his body and the deep wrinkles on his skin, which he'll sport until he adds a padding of fat to fill them in. Inside his belly, his pancreas — essential for the production of some important hormones — is developing steadily.

As of late, I think I may have a bladder infection. I called the OB nurse and she said it could be round ligament pain, constipation or an UTI. She said that if I am concerned to just come in for a pee test and they can tell right away. Yesterday I felt lite pain when I sat down as if someone was sitting on my intestines or bladder. Not to concerned, but if it continues I may have it checked out tomorrow, just to be safe.

I am drinking cranberry juice and eating lots of fruit. My two pairs of tall girl shorts still fit but getting tighter by the day. I have a few maternity shorts, but tummy is not big enough yet to take advantage of them.

I feel great otherwise and lots of energy. Mike was on garnet and gold website showing me FSU outfits that he liked and wanted to get the baby. The baseball team lost at the world series last night, so he is kind of bummed about it still today.

Shannon is labor this morning. They broke her water and she has been given pitocin. We should be seeing Zander later today!

Jimmy Kimmel Live

Last night the Jimmy Kimmel Live episode aired on TV. This was so incredibly fun! When in LA, on a whim we went from stand by line for tickets, to ticket line, to front row. I owe a lot of this to my co-worker Candace for speaking up and asking to sit in the front row. Chris Rock was so funny and I can't believe how Jimmy says, "Best Entrance Ever" to open the show. Click Here for the link to the video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q1QtSN--KqM

Mike got a "high five"

This morning I had been feeling the baby move a lot right after I ate oatmeal. I said to Mike he should really come over and feel it. James just told him it would be a few weeks till he felt something. I said, "Well, just come over and try for a minute." He put his hand on my tummy. I put mine on top of his. Within 20 seconds Baby Higgins gave him a high five. Mike laughed and loved it! It was so cool!

21 Weeks

Baby's now the size of a banana!
Baby's digestive system is busy creating meconium (a tarry black substance made of swallowed amniotic fluid, digestive secretion, and dead cells), which will fill the first diaper after birth. And, if baby is a girl, her womb is now stocked up with her lifetime supply of six million eggs (the number will drop to around one million by birth).

We accomplished another big pre-baby house goal: Buster was neutered on Friday! This was a long time coming and it was a very emotional time. I cried all morning when I took him to the vet. He couldn't have any water/food for 12 hours before and that was heartbreaking. He is doing fantastic almost 6 days post-op.

Here are other pre-baby tasks:

1. Paint the exterior of the house.
2. Landscape the front of the house.
3. Get new carpet for upstairs.
4. Paint nursery and buy a trundle/futon
5. Organize our garage and get stuff moved to Chipotle Storage.

We have set aside money for these projects and are very excited to get these moving. Several of them are way over due!

Overall I feel great and energy is still up. I have begun to feel flutters and light bumps and kicks. I feel them after I eat, right before bed and sometimes when I am driving. Nothing to big, just little reminders that something is in there.

We are officially counting down to July 1st when we find out what Baby Higgins is! I don't care either way. I just think I want to know so I can start planning and picking out the items for its arrival. Mike is Captain of "TEAM BOY" but I know he will be just excited either way. By then we will be 23 weeks. Most everyone I have talked to who has kids found out weeks before then.

Mandi/Shannon are busy planning the shower with all our friends on August 28th. Ms. Janke and Donna are planning another for Abbey Drive friends on September 12th. Fun fun! We have some of the best friends and family ever. Baby Higgins is so loved and he/she is not even here yet!

20 Weeks

Baby's now the size of a cantaloupe!Baby gulps down several ounces of amniotic fluid every day, both for nutrition and to practice swallowing and digesting. And, these days, those taste buds actually work! Studies show that after birth, babies respond best to tastes they've already had via amniotic fluid. Meaning, think about what you'd like your future child to eat as you prepare your own lunch.You're halfway there...and at one of the great milestones of pregnancy. Increased blood flow is making the pelvic area extra-sensitive, libido is resurging, and the weight gain has just barely begun He's also around 6 1/2 inches long from head to bottom and about 10 inches from head to heel — the length of a banana. (The way your baby is measured changes now.) He's swallowing more these days, which is good practice for his digestive system. He's also producing meconium, a black, sticky by-product of digestion. This gooey substance will accumulate in his bowels, and you'll see it in his first soiled diaper (although some babies pass meconium in the womb or during delivery).

Went to the doctors for my monthly check up and all is well. Blood pressure was 112/60 and I am up five pounds from where I started. She said that all the blood test were complete and they looked perfect. She asked if I felt movement and I said I wasn't sure. This past week in LA, two nights I felt like a swoosh feeling in my tummy but could not tell if that was the baby. She held the doppler up there and we heard the heartbeat and the swoosh of the baby moving all around. She said I will be noticing it more in the coming weeks.

LA trip was great! I had lots of energy and went out with my colleagues like normal, minus the captain and coke of course. It was fun telling some of my LSM friends in other parts of the country that didn't know yet. All were very excited. The flight to LA was forever long... almost 5 hours. I did go pee on the plane which was horrible as expected. I hate that box.

We won't know the sex until July 1st. Today we got one of the big things checked off our list of things to do before baby which was Buster getting neutered. What a relief! Next up, I am going to find a painter and landscaper. Stay tuned.

19 Weeks

Baby's now the size of a mango!Vernix caseosa, a greasy white substance made of lanugo, oil, and dead skin cells (yum) now coats baby's skin, shielding it from the amniotic fluid. (Picture yourself after a nine-month bath, and the need for protection makes sense.) You might get to see the vernix at birth, especially if baby is premature.Those nasty leg cramps are probably making it tough to get comfortable. One way to ease the pain: Extend your leg and flex your ankle and toes toward your knees. Or enlist your partner for a calf (and back!) massage. Good news: Your now-bulging belly should get you a little more compassion from everyone around you.

Feeling great! I am about to head out to LA for five days! This is Baby Higgins third flight (Dallas, Miami and LA). Baby Higgins will also be flying to Pittsburgh and Las Vegas before its born. Talk about skymiles!

Currently not fitting into many shorts or jeans. Time to go shopping. I might head to Old Navy today to pick up shorts and capris.