I feel like my pregnancy is on fast-forward right now. I had my 23 weeks pregnant doctor’s appointment today and everything went very well. It was the usual appointment where we got to hear the baby’s heartbeat (in the 160’s) and I asked questions. Short and sweet!
My next appointment is in 4 weeks and that will be the dreaded glucose test appointment. I’ve heard such horror stories about the drink, and I almost wish that it was a complete surprise because now I’m totally psyching myself that it’s going to be awful. Not good, right?!
On a more exciting note, we have another ultrasound scheduled for next Wednesday. It’s just a routine one to check the growth, anatomy, and cardiac since the baby is quite a bit bigger now. My dr. said that she does these ultrasounds with everyone and that it’s nothing to worry about. Initially I was nervous because my order form specifically says, “Check growth and anatomy, esp. cardiac”.
The “esp. cardiac” part made me have tears in the car actually. My great husband reminded me that the dr. was talking about how the heart has grown from being small at the last ultrasound (17 weeks pregnant) to being a lot bigger at 24 weeks. He was right and I didn’t obsess (or cry) over it anymore. After all, if my dr. was worried, she would have told me.
Tarzan and I went to lunch after my appointment and as soon as I stepped out of the car when we got to the restaurant, I felt some pressure in my lower pelvic area. It was definitely a feeling that I have never felt before. Not painful, but just some pressure.
Naturally, since I’ve never felt this before, I freaked out. I immediately called my doctor’s office, but they were closed. Oy. Tarzan talked me through it and told me that it was probably my uterus stretching and that it wasn’t cause for concern. While I wanted to believe him completely, I didn’t because frankly, he’s never been pregnant and he was just guessing. A logical guess, but a guess nonetheless.
Of course I twittered about it and got tons and tons of responses. There were a couple of really dumb responses like “Better get to the hospital now”, but overall, people gave me great advice and made me feel a lot better. I love Twitter and if you responded to my tweet – thanks!
From what people said, it seems like pressure is normal and will only increase as my pregnancy goes further and further. Many people said that it could be round ligament pains, my uterus stretching, or the baby just moving around down there. All of those sound like sound responses and it was great that my worries went right out the window. If I have any other concerns I will definitely call my doctor’s office, but I think that I’m okay with my changing, pregnant body right now.
Oh, and I gained 4 pounds during the past 4-weeks. A lot better than the 9 pounds that I gained the previous month. Again, no concern from my doctor, so I’m good with that. In total I’ve gained 19 pounds, which makes me on target for staying within 25-35 pounds.
You might also want to read:
- 15 week doctor appointment: Baby and Uterus doing great!
- 34 weeks pregnant: OB pregnancy appointment
- 19 weeks pregnancy appointment: Big baby, movement, and pregnancy weight gain
- 38 weeks pregnant: OB pregnancy appointment, date night, & my labor dream
- 37 weeks pregnant: Full term OB pregnancy appointment
= a post from Mommy Jane 
= a post from Daddy Tarzan
{ 13 comments… read them below or add one }
We have to go back to the high risk doctor for another anatomy scan too. One of the babies wouldn’t let them get a good look at her heart. Stubborn kids. We actually have 2 ultrasounds in 2 weeks. It’s going to be crazy.
With Adia’s pregnancy I had one huge weight gain and after that it was back to only a couple pounds every month. My doctor actually got mad at me for not gaining more! I just couldn’t win with her.
We won’t even talk about pelvic pressure. I’ve been waddling for weeks and Baby A keeps attacking my cervix. Drives me nuts. I have one kid in the ribs and the other on the cervix. Of course, Adia managed to do both towards the end of that pregnancy.
Ask for the orange flavored drink and make sure it’s chilled. It tastes like orange soda, just quite a bit sweeter. My Ob/Gyn gave me my bottle to take home and chill overnight so it would be easier to drink the next morning. Good luck! With both of my pregnancies I had to come back and do the three-hour glucose tolerance test, because of slightly elevated sugar readings with the first test. Luckily, I did not develop gestational diabetes either time.
Three babies, three glucose tests. No big deal. ya it’s a strong sweet taste but if it’s cold and you drink it quick you will be fine. This last test I got all freaked out about it and worried about it, but it was fine. The drink wasn’t at all bad and like we said if it’s cold you can hardly notice how strongly sweet it is. You’ll do great.
You are so lucky to have such a supportive and loving husband that is so positive. His advice was peaceful and perfect just as you need from him. And really what would you expect of a baby Tarzan. He is most likely swinging from vines and acting like a monkey in there.
I get that “pressure” all the time, and by pressure I mean it feels like she’s gonna fall out of my butt bc she’s so low. I geuss it’s just her “settling” from when I go from sitting to standing. There’s a lot of weird s*** that happens to our bodies when we bake a baby in our belly, they really need to write a book so we don’t freak out and call the doctor only to have the doctor (I paraphrase and may be a tad out of context) basically say “no jacka$$ that’s totally normal”.
All I can say about the glucose test is that it is not as bad as people make it out to be. Yes, it is VERY sweet. Yes, it does have a weird flavor. No, it will not make you sick. I personally liked the orange flavored one over the lemon-lime flavored one. Reminded me of a super sweet orange soda.
And the pressure is so normal. There are many things that are having to adjust to your growing baby and it is normal for it to cause some discomfort. I always found some relief from pelvic pain and pressure by laying on my bed with a pillow under my bum.
Well it sounds like I’ll be ok for the glucose test because my dr mentioned that it was an orange drink. I will ask them to chill it so that it goes down easier.
So very glad to hear that all this pressure is normal. New and different feelings make me a little apprehensive, if you couldn’t tell
You don’t actually HAVE to have the glucose test. Because all my previous random glucose tests were fine, and I was low risk for gestational diabetes, my midwife said she was happy with me not having it. Instead I had a random glucose test and a ?polycose test and since they both came back normal I never had the one where you have a drink. It also produces a lot of false positives. Apparently there are a lot of other clinical signs that can let the dr know if you’re heading towards GD. (and if you were, having a big sugary drink would be bad for you!)
Just another perspective!
When I took the glucose drink, it was a cola type drink. Tasted like pop to me- not nasty or extra sweet at all. Went down easy. No prob, and then just a bloodtest. Nothing to stress over too much.
Jenny – Thanks for a different perspective, but I definitely want to have it done. I know that there can be many false positives with the 1st one hour test, but that’s okay… Better for my peace of mind for sure and I just don’t want to take the risk of something happening from not doing it. But again, thanks for your perspective!
Helen – Thanks! I’m actually more worried about the blood work since it hurt so bad last time. Hopefully it will be a different person drawing the blood this time!
I know Tarzan is working hard but where are the 22 and 23 week belly pictures? I get so excited to see how you are growing! Have Tarzan take a minute and click away.
We did take a 23 week picture, but sadly we forgot to take a 22 week picture.
I will make him post the 23 week picture later today for sure… It’s nice to see that you missed my 2 pictures! We will never miss another picture, so don’t worry there!!
I’ve heard one horror story re: the glucose test and one person saying, “It’s not so bad. I liked my drink!” So…Don’t get too freaked out! Apparently the fruit punch is better than the orange. According to the two people I’ve talked to about it, anyway.
I recently took my glucose test and it wasn’t that bad! I elected to drink the orange drink, which tasted like the McDonalds orange drink from when we were kiddos. I was totally freaked out that I would throw up and have a huge hissy fit with the drink but it was no drama.