Pregnancy Report {26 Weeks}

26 Weeks – Baby Bump!

It’s official. Yes, I’m officially large.

I’ve definitely transitioned from that earlier stage when people are surprised at how not-very-pregnant I look, to the point where people are surprised at how very-very-pregnant I seem to suddenly look. I know this because everyone I run into seems completely unable to not say something.

“Wow! You’ve popped!”

“Last week you could still hide it pretty well, not so much anymore!”

“Wow, you are definitely pregnant!”

Yep. Yep, I sure am. Definitely pregnant. And I’ve definitely already gained an impressive 25 pounds, impressive in the way that I cringe every time I step on the scale, and yet I compulsively climb aboard every day, multiple times, it’s like a sickness.

I’ve never gained this much this early, so this has actually been kind of hard for me. I feel 36 weeks pregnant, not 26 weeks, and I’m finding it rather hard to imagine another 14 weeks, or more…

At my most recent midwife appointment we discussed my recent Level II ultrasound, and the fact that this baby’s umbilical cord inserts way over on the edge of the placenta. I guess it’s called placenta battledore, or marginal cord insertion. Typically, the umbilical cord inserts pretty much in the center. I’ve never had this before, nor had I even heard of it before, but this is baby #10, and I guess the more babies I have the more the statistical likelihood of something unusual, right?

From what I understand so far, it’s generally not a problem, but it does need to be monitored, as it has been shown to be linked with a higher incidence of intrauterine growth retardation, resulting in a low birth-weight baby. On more rare occasions, it can result in progression into a velamentous cord insertion as a result of “placental trophotropism”, which carries with it more risks.

Basically, what this means for me with this pregnancy is that baby will be monitored more closely than usual. I was told that I’ll be starting non-stress tests every week at 30 weeks. I’ve only ever had to do the non-stress test thing a couple times in the last couple weeks of my last couple pregnancies.

I’m not thrilled at the idea of weekly appointments for such a long stretch of my pregnancy, but a mom’s gotta do what a mom’s gotta do, right? And, after all, keeping extra busy will help time fly, right?

In other 26 weeks news – my blood pressure was nice and low at 90/56, and I was reminded that at my next appointment (28 weeks) I get to come early to drink my least favorite drink, that nasty glucose syrup “pop”, for my gestational diabetes test. I have only ever failed the 1-hour test one time, with my last pregnancy, but I passed the 3-hour test with no problem. I’m a little nervous about this one, probably because I just watched my sister go through an unpleasant time with gestational diabetes, and am currently watching a good friend really not have a fun time with it…

I think I’m also kind of nervous about it because ever since I finished my Whole30 dietary experiment/experience, I’ve been such a major carb-hound. It’s been crazy. I loved the way I was eating on the Whole30. I loved the way I was feeling by the end of the Whole30. I had every intention of slowly easing off of it and mostly continuing to eat like that for the long term.

And then I ate some ice cream. I’m not even a big fan of ice cream. Seriously. But… I’m blaming it on the pregnancy.

And then I went back to my standard morning toast for breakfast. That was a big mistake. Bread is my weakness. Hot buttered toast is one of my love languages.

It’s been downhill ever since. And it probably explains my rapid weight gain this time around. And I should probably get my crazy carb-consuming under control before I eat myself right into gestational diabetes. Ugh.

I’m usually really good about eating a healthy, clean, mostly whole foods diet, but this pregnancy has just been different for me.

The upside to “popping” early? More weeks to wear a couple of the cute new maternity tops and dresses I found on some great sales!

Always look on the bright side, right?