This pregnancy is surely different then when I was pregnant carrying Olivia. 

Difference:

1)      The way my belly is shaped.  With baby #1 (Olivia) I was filled out horizontal.  As if I had a donut tube around my waist.  With baby #2, not so the case.  I am growing outwards and you can still see the shape of my waist line. 

2)      Baby #1 I didn’t have much of morning/ all day sickness compared to Baby #2.  Baby #1 I threw up 1x and that was it.  Baby #2 I threw up many times.  Both pregnancies I had terrible headaches that I just had to sleep it off to get rid of it (I opt not to take any meds for headaches).

3)      Baby #2 my back and my hits hurt more.

4)      Baby #1 all I wanted to do was sleep and take it easy.  Baby #2 I’m more active (maybe because I have baby #1 to take care of).

At week 20 (Jan 31, 2010) we found out that we’re having another GIRL !!! When I came back from my glucose exam (Feb. 28, 2010- 24wks) I asked the nurse if I can get another ultrasound to reconfirm it was still a GIRL.. and sure enough it is!!!  YAY!!!

 We’re very excited that we’re having TWO little girls!  It works out perfectly because we have so many beautiful girl clothes and shoes of Olivia’s that we can reuse for baby #2.  So we don’t have to prepare for much except for another crib and potentially a double stroller for the future when I am brave enough to venture out with TWO girls.

Names

We’ve had a hard time trying to come up with sweet baby girl names.  There are so many that I like however many are taken by family and extended family members.  So far we have decided to call Baby #2 Emily Ann Huynh.

Here are some ultrasound photos of Emily (Emmie).

Profile picture of Emmie @ 24 weeks

Emmie @24weeks

It's a GIRL = 3 lines

Since Emmie’s going to be delivered via C-section (just like her older sister) I get to pick my delivery date… Emmie’s official due date is June 19, 2011.  Since it’s a C-Section my Dr. would prefer I deliver a week before the due date.  But I would probably prefer the date June 16 … 6/16/11 easy numbers to remember. Plus its on a Thursday… gives us till Sat/sun to go home.  Plus it’s a weekend for Grandma and Grandpa to help and take care of Olivia while we’re in the hospital.

Olivia is pretty excited about having an “EM” to play with.  She would from time to time crawl up to my belly and lift my shirt to kiss my belly and point to it and say “EM”  (little brother/sister in vietnamese).  Or when asked where Baby is she would point to my belly and kiss my belly.  I think she’ll make a great big sister.  She’s already learning how to change her stuff animal’s diapers and put powder on their butt.  She also knows how to cradle them and burp them.  When they are cold she shares her blankie with them, a very sweet scene I might add! 

On the pregnancy note:  AWFUL is what I feel.  Vomitting and feeling nauseous all day long is a horrible way to feel when you have to work, be a mother and a wife.  Its an all day sickness but mostly in the evenings then during the day.  I hope this will be over right when my first trimester is OVER! 

I’m very thankful for my husband and my parents… they have been so supportive with my AWFUL sickness by watching and caring for Olivia so I can just rest or sleep right after I get home from work!!!  YAY to them!

Yesterday, I was having a ‘ME’ Day with my sister in laws and close friends at the St. Regis Spa and after that we had tea time by the pool on a BEAUTIFUL Sunday afternoon. The set up was gorgeous, however, I wasn’t feeling so good to enjoy my ‘ME’ time. Later that afternoon I was anxious to get home and crawl into bed which I did for the rest of that day. My wonderful husband took care of our daughter (bath, lunch time, play time, dinner time and also did the laundry and got Olivia ready for bed) and sick vomiting myself.

Is this to early to feel and go through all these problems? I could barely even munch on crackers… the crackers made me want to throw up even more so. It wasn’t a very pleasant day. two thumbs down.

Period due and missed- Oct. 10, 2010 (sunday).

Test #1- Oct.10, 2010= pregnant (4 weeks)

Test #2- Oct.11, 2010= pregnant

Meet with Dr. La- 6 weeks appointment= Confirmed pregnant.  Heart beat 91bps.  Had to schedule for another ultra sound at 7weeks (Nov. 1, 2010 @ 8am) Hopefully BB#2 will have a stronger heart beat by then.  Ultrasound shows baby at a mer .4cm and heartbeat just started beating within a couple days. The sack is good and big. Doc saw a little blood clot… just hoping that it will pass and get pushed out as the baby grows bigger.  Baby #2 due date:  June 19, 2011.

Symptoms:
I’m starting to feel nauseous and uneasy in the mornings.  I have to eat breakfast in order to make the feeling go away.  Very sleepy.  All I want to do is pass out and sleep.  Starting to get lots of cramping (started around week 4 to current) but no bleeding (thank goodness).  Nurse says the cramping is normal… its my uterus expanding making room for the baby.

Kind of worried… people say the 2nd time around I would be bigger than the 1st and 2nd baby should be bigger than the 1st… keep in mind Olivia was 10.3lbs heavy when born… i can’t imagine what 2nd baby will weigh in at. All i know, this time around.. i need to control my cheese burger intake

Cravings: Pan cakes from McD’s.- satisfied 2 times this week !
 

Olivia was due on Feb. 11, 2009 and yet she has not made her  grand appearance.  We are terribly anxious for her arrival… actually all our family members are too.  I guess she is on her own time and schedule.   On Tuesday, we went to see Dr. La and not much improvement.  I only dialated 1cm, not enough to get induced by the weekend.  Dr. La said if I were 3cm then he would induce me.  He feels that my body isn’t ready yet and doesn’t want to put my body through a lot of stress because it would just take much longer and more pain.  So we’ve opt to wait one more week.  Next Tuesday, he’ll check me one more time and he’s already schedule me to be induced Tuesday night and hopefully Wednesday the 18^th will be the arrival of Baby Olivia (unless she decides to come out earlier).

Sleeping is even more difficult because my belly is so big and heavy.  I have to sleep in my recliner and it seems to be the MOST comfy position for me.  I keep waking up at the same times for the past month and a half… at 2.30am and 5.30am and 6.30-7.00am I wonder if these are her times she’ll wake up when she’ s out?  They say that whatever her sleep patterns in the belly are it will be the same when she comes out, if so papa needs to be ready for it… because mama needs to recoup and sleep.

Dropped- I think she has dropped… my belly definitely sits lower and I can breath much easier.  Sometimes I feel as if she is about to poke out of her entrance hole.   Also my lower belly feels like the skin is stretching big time!  It itches like crazy even if I apply layers and layers of oils and lotion… does no good L  It itches so much that it would wake me up in the middle of the night.  I was told not to scratch or else it would could leave stretch marks but it itches so much to the point where I DON’T CARE! I have actually put a cold wet towel over it and it makes my itchy area feel a lot better.

Well hopefully she’ll come out by this weekend… maybe on Valentine’s Day?  I’ll keep ya’ll posted.   

Belly size- 43.5 inches,  Dilation- 0,   Effacing- 50% ,   7 day forecast- Not going into labor this week.

What happens during my weekly check ups? 

Basic routine of    1.  Weighting 2. Blood pressure 3. pee in a cup to test all sorts of things

Go to private room 1.  Un dress from waist down and sit on table covered by pink sheet. 2. Ask any questions or concerns that happened within the week 3. hear the heart beat of baby. 4. Doctor will check if you’ve dilated and your effacement and where the head is positioned and other stuff i dont know.  5.  Doctor will inform you on your status and update you on when you could potentially deliver. 

And that is it… see Dr. next week and same routine plays. 

Getting heavier and heavier.  Only gained 1 lb in 1 week. and half of that goes to baby O.  She is getting very heavy to lug around.  Sleeping on my sides  with a pillow between my thighs are the best positions right now for me.  But when I have to switch from one side to the other…  it is very difficult.  I have to hold on to my belly and sllllowwwly rock from side to side slowly and eventually i’ll land on my opposite side. 

Baby O, is still pretty active in her tight space.  She still manages to kick me in my right ribs.  I notice when i drink OJ or something soury sweet she is active.  I have no idea if she likes it or dislikes it.  All i know is, it gets her moving around.  

My eatting habits… I don’t thnk i have any weird cravings like pickles and ice cream and what not… however, I do eat small meals every 2-3 hours.  Lately, I’m going through a fruit bars phase.  My mouth feels so hot and dry and a nice COLD fruit bar does the trick!!! 

Counting down now… I technically have 3 more weeks (due date 2/11)  but I am ready for her to make her grand appearance soon!!!!!

A friend just recently gave birth.  We wish Tina, David and Baby Gavin the best!  Tina was a day late and had to be induced.  She was waiting to dilate for 12 hours, pushed for 2 hours and then the DR. realized that Baby Gavin was positioned side ways and then the c- section begain.  Baby Gavin David Yi born on 1/16/09.  Heathly boy weighted 7.15lbs and 20 inches long.  I can’t wait to hear more stories of her labor and c-section! 

Rick and I would like to thank Van, Del, Sophia and Ava for their thoughtful gift to Olivia.  It surely was a wonderful suprise in the mail!!!!! I can’t wait for Olivia to try on her cute clothes she got from them.

1. What’s normal and abnormal during the last trimester
2. Stages of labor, signs of contractions
3. Process of labor
4. Breathing techniques and relaxation
5. How to choose a pediatrician
6. What a cesarean delivery looks like vs a vaginal delivery
7. post partum signs
8. Lastly, we took a tour of the birthing department of the hospital.

Signs of labor:

Most women experience some of these or all of these days or weeks before labor:

1. Engagement- the baby drops more deeply into the woman’s pelvis.  Breathing may become easier.  More pelvic pressure and frequent need to go to the rest room.
2. Loss of mucous plug- mucous discharge that is bloodish in color and may go unnoticed. Sometimes people don’t even notice this.
3. Increase vaginal discharge
4. Diarrhea- softer stool or diarrhea are often noticed in days prior to labor.
5. Braxton- Hicks Contractions or practice labor- where the belly tights up and releases after a while.  These are “warm-up contractions”.
6. Spurt of Energy- Do not give into this urge and do spring cleaning; this energy is meant for labor!

The membranes usually rupture sometime during labor (your sac breaks), about 25% of the time they rupture before contractions begin. 

Practice labor:

1. Usually are irregular and do not become closer, stronger or longer.
2. Walking or changing activity may stop them.
3. A hot bath or warm drink may stop them.
4. Located chiefly in abdomen.
5. No bloody show.

The Cervix:  does not efface or dilate   The baby:  does not move down in the pelvis.

True Labor:

1. Have fairly regularly pattern becoming closer, stronger and longer over the hours.
2. Walking usually increases their intensity.
3. A hot bath or warm drink will not stop them.
4. Begin in back and move to the front
5. Bloody show.

The Cervix: Effaces and dilates.  The baby:  Moves down in the pelvis.

Breathing patterns:

Stage 1:  Labor

1^st Phase:  Early Labor- 

contractions last about 30-60 seconds long and it could take about 5-20 mins apart till the next contraction. 

Dilation:  0-3cm

Breathing:  Cleansing breath- Inhale through nose… and exhale through mouth through out contractions and end w/ cleansing breath.

2^nd Phase:  Active Labor-

Contractions last about 45-60 seconds long and it could take about 2-5 mins apart till the next contraction.

Dilation:  3-7cm

Breathing:  Cleansing breath- inhale through nose, exhale through mouth.  Pant (HE- HE- HE- HE…) through out contraction till its over and end with cleansing breath.

3^rd Phase:  Transition breath-

Contractions last about 60-90 seconds long and it could take about 2-3 mins apart till the next contraction.

Dilation:  7-10 cm

Breath:  Cleansing breath- inhale through nose, exhale through mouth.  Pant/ Blow ( HE- HE- HE- HE- Blow) through out contractions till it’s over.  End with cleansing breath.

Stage 2:  Pushing

Contractions last about 45-90 seconds long and it could take bout 3-5 mins apart till the next contraction.

Dilation:  10 cm- birth

Breathing:  Cleansing breath- inhale through nose, exhale through mouth.  Tilt head back, inhale, chin to chest and for a count to 10 push.  Tilt head back, fast inhale. Chin to chest and count to 10 for a push. Continue till contraction is over or until doctor stays to stop pushing.  

If doctor says to stop pushing, pant (He he he he he)

Stage 3:  Delivery of the placenta

When to go to the hospital:

Standard rule is 5-1-1.  Contractions less then or 5 minutes apart, 1 minute long and followed that pattern for at least 1 hour. 

My packing List for the hospital… what to pack for a 2 day stay?

-          Insurance card/info, hospital forms, receipts if already paid insurance deductible and birthing plan.

-          2-3 pairs of non skid socks (to walk around the hospital before and after labor)

-          1 robe- to cover up your beautiful hospital gown that you don’t mind getting messed up or bloody

-          2 maternity bras- people suggest no underwire bras and also nursing pads.

-          2 Lip balms.  All the breathing techniques used before and during labor will dry up your lips.  1 your husband can hold on to and another for back up just incase he looses it.

-          Toiletries and personal items- hairbrush, toothbrush, shampoo/conditioner/body wash, deodorant, face wash, mouthwash, makeup if needed, lotion, contacts and solution or glasses, hair clips/ hair bands, bath towel and a face wash cloth

-          Sugar free candy or something to keep your mouth moist

-          Snacks for when you or hubby is hungry (granola bars)

-          Camera, extra memory cards, charger for camera

-          Cell phone, cell phone charger and list of numbers to let people know you’ve delivered

-          2 comfortable hospital stay clothes that don’t mind getting dirty or stains on (just in case)

-          1 going home clothes for mommy

-          1 going home clothes for baby

-          2 outfits for daddy and all his gear if he is staying with mommy over night

-          If want, you can bring a extra favorite pillow (use a colored pillow case to distinguish your personal pillow versus hospital pillow)

Your baby doesn’t have much room to maneuver now that he’s over 18 inches long and tips the scales at 5 1/4 pounds (pick up a honeydew melon). Because it’s so snug in your womb, he isn’t likely to be doing somersaults anymore, but the number of times he kicks should remain about the same. His kidneys are fully developed now, and his liver can process some waste products. Most of his basic physical development is now complete — he’ll spend the next few weeks putting on weight.

How your life’s changing:

Your uterus — which was entirely tucked away inside your pelvis when you conceived — now reaches up under your rib cage. If you could peek inside your womb, you’d see that there’s more baby than amniotic fluid in there now. Your ballooning uterus is crowding your other internal organs, too, which is why you probably have to urinate more often and may be dealing with heartburn and other gastrointestinal distress. If you’re not grappling with these annoyances, you’re one of the lucky few.

From here on out, you’ll start seeing your practitioner every week. Sometime between now and 37 weeks, she’ll do a vaginal and rectal culture to check for bacteria called Group B streptococci (GBS). (Don’t worry — the swab is the size of a regular cotton swab, and it won’t hurt at all.) GBS is usually harmless in adults, but if you have it and pass it on to your baby during birth, it can cause serious complications, such as pneumonia, meningitis, or a blood infection. Because 10 to 30 percent of pregnant women have the bacteria and don’t know it, it’s vital to be screened. (The bacteria come and go on their own — that’s why you weren’t screened earlier in pregnancy.) If you’re a GBS carrier, you’ll get IV antibiotics during labor, which will greatly reduce your baby’s risk of infection.

This is also a good time to create a birth plan. Using our form will help you focus on specifics — like who’ll be present, what pain management techniques you want to try, and where you want your baby to stay after you deliver. It will give you a starting point to discuss your preferences with your medical team. Childbirth is unpredictable, and chances are you won’t follow your plan to the letter, but thinking about your choices ahead of time — and sharing your preferences with your caregiver — should take some of the anxiety out of the process.

What’s new with me?  Nothing’s really new… same problems…

1. Hard to sleep on back and sides.  So I alternate between bed and recliner chair through out the night.  I notice if I go to be early I’ll end up waking up at 12.30 am and fall back to sleep in about an hr or so and then wake up again at 5am.  They say what ever my sleep pattern is now it is preparing for the baby’s wake up call when she’s out. GREAT!

2. Indigestion.  Tums are my new best friend. After I eat or drink i need to sit up for a long while… if not, and i lay down i will feel as if my food or my liquids are riding up my throat… YUCK not a great feeling!

3. Swollen.  Still very swollen! My feet, my ankles, knees, wrists, fingers and face.  All i can do is elevate my feet and stop eatting salty foods.

5 more weeks to go…..

Our appointment was at 8am.  Rick and I brought my parents there.  I figured they would love to see what baby Olivia looked like in my belly just as much as we did.  After we arrived there promptly at 8am I had to fill out some forms and present a note from my doctor giving his O.K. We went back in to the ultrasound room.  It was very spacious and it was a comfortable environment for families.  There was 1 large plasma TV screen in the front and also smaller flat screen TV’s on the side for everyone to be involved and see baby O.  The ultra sound technician was very polite and asked if we brought music to put on our video… I didn’t bring any because I didn’t know to do such a thing… but no worries; they had their own soft baby music to put as background on the video of our 4D ultrasound.  (the Video came with our package we selected). 

I really had a great experience with the 4D… and would suggest it to anyone who is thinking twice about doing this.  If our doctor had the machine in his office we would have just gotten it done there but since he didn’t we looked for other resources that had this option. 

Below are some pictures from our 4D ultrasound. 

 

 

 

How your baby’s growing:

By now, your baby weighs 3.75 pounds (pick up a large jicama) and is about 16.7 inches long, taking up a lot of space in your uterus. You’re gaining about a pound a week and roughly half of that goes right to your baby. In fact, she’ll gain a third to half of her birth weight during the next 7 weeks as she fattens up for survival outside the womb. She now has toenails, fingernails, and real hair (or at least respectable peach fuzz). Her skin is becoming soft and smooth as she plumps up in preparation for birth.

How your life’s changing:

To accommodate you and your baby’s growing needs, your blood volume has increased 40 to 50 percent since you got pregnant. With your uterus pushing up near your diaphragm and crowding your stomach, the consequences may be shortness of breath and heartburn. To help relieve your discomfort, try sleeping propped up with pillows and eating smaller meals more often.

You may have lower-back pain as your pregnancy advances. If you do, let your caregiver know right away, particularly if you haven’t had back pain before, since it can be a sign of preterm labor.

Assuming it’s not preterm labor that’s ailing you, you can probably blame your growing uterus and hormonal changes for your aching back. Your expanding uterus shifts your center of gravity and stretches out and weakens your abdominal muscles, changing your posture and putting a strain on your back. Hormonal changes in pregnancy loosen your joints and the ligaments that attach your pelvic bones to your spine. This can make you feel less stable and cause pain when you walk, stand, sit for long periods, roll over in bed, get out of a low chair or the tub, bend, or lift things.

My body-

I have gained about 2-3lbs in 2 weeks…I’m not so sure if its actual weight or if its water retention?  I also read that within these last months my blood production will also increase too… so is my weight increase due to actual food weight gain or is it blood volume and water retention?   I also noticed that my hands even my knuckles are swollen and so are my ankles and feet.  I don’t eat that much salty food … so I’m not so sure how I’m so swollen. 

For the past 1 ½ weeks I have not been able to sleep very well.  I keep waking up every 2 hours.  I’ve jotted down my times.  I’d wake up at 12.30am, 2.30, 4.30 and 6.30am. Not having a sound peaceful sleep is getting very annoying.  I’d wake up all wide eyed and next to me I hear Rick sound asleep… makes me so jealous.  I just want to turn towards him and smack him to wake up and keep me company…. But that would be awful for me to do such a thing.  Hehehe. 

Trying to get comfy in bed for bedtime is very difficult.  I would sleep on my back with TONS (5-7 pillows) behind me but after awhile it would get uncomfortable because my belly is large. Since it is large the weight puts lots of pressure on my back so then I turn to my right side and TRY and get comfy but after awhile the right arm and parts of my right side and chest would start to tingle and I’d loose feeling.  And then I turn to the left side… and then the process repeats itself.  I’ve now resorted to the recliner rocker  chair that we got.  I will sleep on that for a couple hours and then my back starts to ache and I’ll hop back in bed to sleep on my sides… and then I’ll hop back on the recliner… This is the cycle I go through to try and sleep!  Very tiring I tell you!!!