This appointment was also a big one because I did the glucose test. The nurse had given me the drink (I chose fruit punch) and instructions before we left our last appointment, and it has been sitting in the fridge since. I went to the YMCA downtown early this morning and showered there to avoid Mopac traffic, so drank my juice while I got ready. You hear so many stories about how badly it tastes, but I thought it was actually pretty yummy! And my friends who had just done it talked about how jittery they felt the rest of the day, and I felt just fine. I'm not sure if that's a good thing or a bad thing.... But I'd like to think all my ice cream, cookie, and pie eating has trained me well for this day.
I got to Dr. Cowan's office just before 8:00am for our appointment. As I walking in, I called Nelson to see where he was. He was walking to his car downtown! He thought the appointment was at 8:30, so I told him to not worry about it. We weren't getting a sonogram, it was just a check-up, and then I'd do the blood work. So poor Nelson missed this one.
The appointment itself was pretty uneventful. The protein in my urine was normal, my blood pressure was normal, and Baby Girl's heartbeat was about 140 bpm, so normal. The nurse (who was from another office, but just helping Dr. Cowan that day) did freak me out a little bit because she was telling me how she had her little girl at 24 weeks 2 days, and she has mild cerebral palsy, was stillborn for about 5 minutes, and only has 1/4 of the back of her brain. So of course I'm paying super close attention to every feeling I get this week. But I just think about what I told her, that her little girl sounds happy and that's all that matters, and I feel (a little) better.
Dr. Cowan and I just chatted about some stuff, but everything's all good. I told him we were scheduled for our classes already - first one on Saturday! - and he seemed impressed. Since week 28 falls during the holidays, we won't be going back until I'm technically 29 weeks. That's super freaky to think about!
Mom's Take at Week 24: Baby Girl has been on the move. I'm feeling her a lot more now. It took a while since I have the anterior placenta, but there have been moments where I happen to be looking at my tummy right as she kicks / punches, and you can actually see it pop out. It hasn't been disruptive or kept me up at night (yet), so I'm still in the fun stages. Baby showers are officially in the works! It's weird to think that the holidays are approaching quickly, then we have showers and finish up classes, and by that point our bags should be packed just in case Baby Girl decides to take after her cousins and come four weeks early. I'm feeling pretty good about everything going on and the planning; I only start to stress as I think about bringing her back to Grandma's and where will she sleep and how will I pack with a newborn and how will I unpack with a newborn.... I need to stop writing about it now.
Dad's Take at Week 24: Nelson felt her for the first time last week a couple days before Thanksgiving! Most of the movements are sporadic, so it's hard for me to time it well. But one night I was on the couch and he was laying on the floor, and I felt like she was awake and active. I told him to come sit by me and see if he could feel. The first movement must've been like a graze because I actually didn't feel it, but he goes, "I felt it! I felt it! I felt it!" and immediately put his hand back. This happened, again, another graze, and his reaction was the same. The third time was an actual punch / kick that I could feel. It was fun to see him excited about it :) Other than that, he just stares at my bare tummy and comments on how big it is - so thoughtful. I think he's in for a rude awakening come week 34 haha! He's still been very supportive and loving and helpful, and part of it (I think) is because he knows how emotional I am right now and how easily I cry ;)
