We have reached 36 weeks in this pregnancy and are slowly trudging our way towards 37! Catriona has spent the last few weeks stubbornly not growing (she ended up dropping 4 weeks of growth total prior to this weeks doctors appointment). So this week we did an ultrasound to check on her growth and the amniotic fluid levels. Thankfully everything came out well. She is estimated to be around 6 pounds 11 ounces at this point (which is amazing considering how small my bump is compared to when I was pregnant with Liam!) and while my amniotic fluid levels are on the lower end of normal they should be fine for the remainder of the pregnancy. Her head is down, the contractions are becoming more frequent, and we are playing a waiting game to meet her.
I continue to have (what has become) my normal migraines, tachycardia, and passing out. For the last week my symptoms have been somewhat relieved, I even had 3 good days in a row where I was able to be up and about without any chest or head pain, but for an added treat these last few days I have been enjoying some third trimester sickness (which is amazingly just like the first trimester was). I have a cardiology consult tomorrow and am hopeful to find some answers to what can be done for this chronic chest pressure, shoulder pain, and episodes of tachycardia. That said, I am very aware that any medication that could be given to relieve those symptoms for me has to wait until after Catriona’s arrival, so I am learning to live with it and take it easy when things really start to act up.
On Monday my sister-in-law came over to the house to take some maternity picture for us since we are currently unable to travel to the photographer that we used to do the maternity shoot we did when pregnant with Liam (Linden Photography in Central NH). I spent some time this morning playing around on Photoshop and touching up the lighting on the pictures. I am pretty happy with the results, and so thankful to Aunty Moonshine for taking them for us. Though this has been a difficult pregnancy we are planning on it being my last pregnancy and I want to be able to look back on this time and remember how it has helped us grow as a family later on. I wish I had enough Photoshop talent to reduce the (well-earned) shadows and bags under my eyes… you would think someone who spends as much time in bed as I have been lately wouldn’t have any but I can’t seem to sleep for more than two hours at a time thanks to our little girls efforts to escape the womb.
We continue to be grateful for everyone’s prayers and well wishes. The support of our family and friends has truly have been an amazing help in us pulling through this pregnancy!
Momma's Finding Her Balance 
Wonderful pictures! I hope your health will improve, it sounds scary right now! Babies are hard on our bodies, but so worth it! Take care of yourself.
LikeLike
Thank you! I am hopeful in regards to my health. Either the problems with my heart rate have been brought on by the pregnancy or they were defects that were there all along that I was unaware of. Thankfully with the first possibility they will resolve after delivery and with the second there are medications and procedures that can help resolve or control the issue and I can be thankful that it was found early thanks to the pregnancy rather than suddenly years in the future (arrhythmias can cause heart attacks or lead to congestive heart failure, among other scary things, if untreated).
LikeLike